Meet Our Fellows

First Year

ID Fellows 2025 2

Name Background  
Emily Adochio, MD

Hometown: Naperville, IL
Medical School: Rush Medical College
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: I️ chose Rush because of their commitment to health equity and their work with underserved communities. Rush’s relationship with Cook County allows for fellows to work with a diverse patient population, including those that are traditionally marginalized. They also have connections with the CORE Center, and since I️ am interested in HIV, this was a big positive for me. I️ also liked the Career Development Pathway Program which allows fellows to explore many different interests in ID. Lastly, I️ went to Rush for medical school so I️ know that everyone is very nice and approachable!


Jeries Alsahoury, MD

Hometown: Alsip, IL
Medical School: Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: Choosing the combined Rush/CCH Fellowship was a clear choice for me because my top priority was my happiness. I saw how much the ID fellows and attending physicians enjoyed working at Rush and CCH and it inspired me to continue my training here. Taking care of patients at County has been a complete privilege. The CORE Center has also been an incredible opportunity for me as I am strongly interested in providing care to HIV/AIDS patients. Outside of the hospitals there are a never-ending amount of great sites to see, restaurants to enjoy, and activities to do right here in Chicago! Also, the sushi here is amazing.

 

Malika Gill, MD

Hometown: Mesa, Arizona
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine
Residency: University of Pennsylvania
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: I chose Rush/CCH ID for fellowship because I wanted to train in a city where I was exposed to the diverse patient population that makes the subject of ID uniquely interesting. I felt this program would provide me with strong clinical experience I could take forward in pursuit of my interests of both global health and transplant ID. I also felt the collegiality between the ID fellows and attendings was unmatched and cultivated a supportive learning environment. 

Ana Istrate, MD

Hometown: I really consider my hometowns to be both Deerfield, Illinois, where I spent most of my childhood, and Constanța, Romania, where I spent the first few years of my life.
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Inc.
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: I chose Rush primarily for the sincerity and enthusiasm I noticed on my interview day, but also for the diversity of experience offered by two neighboring hospital systems. I have also long had an interest in neuroinfectious disease, something that Rush has a particular focus in.

Matt McGath, MD

Hometown: Freeport, IL
Medical School: University College of Medicine in Rockford
Residency: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Internal Medicine Residency Program
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: I chose Rush because of the wide variety of clinical experiences afforded by working at both RUMC and Cook County. One of my main areas of interest within ID is HIV/AIDS, and the CORE Center offers an unparalleled opportunity for further education and experience in the care of patients living with HIV. Everyone during the interview day was also extremely welcoming and their passion for ID and fellow education was obvious. I am also really looking forward to living, working, and learning in Chicago, which I think is one of the best cities in the world.


 Second Year 

 

 

Name Background  

Hillary Chang, DO

Chief Fellow

Hometown: Skokie, Illinois
Medical School: Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Rush University Medical Center/Cook County Hospital Internal Medicine Primary Care Program
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: For residency, I trained at the combined Rush/Stroger Internal Medicine - Primary Care program and I experienced how well the education at both hospitals complemented each other. Working at a tertiary care center like Rush and a safety net hospital like Stroger exposes you to a diverse patient population with various complexities and pathologies. The ID fellowship trains strong clinicians with opportunities for research, and it was an easy decision to stay for the fellowship!

Francesca Cozzi, MD

Chief Fellow

Hometown: Elmhurst, Illinois
Medical School: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
Residency: Loyola University School of Medicine
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: I’m drawn to the problem-solving and analytical aspects of Infectious Disease, as well as the focus on the integration of new clinical research and evidence-based medicine into the management of disease states that have been battled by physicians for thousands of years! I chose Rush because of the breadth of experience and exposure offered between Rush, Stroger, The Core Center, etc. as well as the vibrant faculty, and can’t wait to get started at this bustling, busy academic center!

Jae Hyung Jung, MD

Hometown: Northbrook, Illinois
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Residency: Rush University Medical Center
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: I chose Rush/CCH because of its strong clinical training, exposure to unique and diverse pathology, and opportunities to explore various pathways within infectious diseases. Also, as a graduate of the Rush residency program, I knew this program is full of mentors who are extremely invested in fellows’ learning experiences and will always help to cultivate our interests in ID. This is ultimately why I wanted to continue my training here.

Christine Lucky, MD

Hometown: Chandler, Arizona
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Residency: Indiana University
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: I’m excited to train at Rush because of the breadth of clinical experiences in infectious diseases. The partnership between Rush University and Cook County Health means we get the benefits of an academic referral center and a large county hospital with an associated HIV clinic (CORE Center: one of the largest in the country).

Robert Petrak, MD

Hometown: Burr Ridge, Illinois
Medical School: St. George’s University
Residency: Advocate Luthern General Hospital
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship: I went into Infectious Disease for many reasons. I love how ID encompasses the entire body and requires you to maintain much of your IM knowledge, I find microbiology fascinating, and lastly, my family is heavily involved with infectious disease. I chose Rush because that’s where all of my ID mentors trained and it’s widely known as the best place to train for ID.

 

Where are they now?

Alumni 2023

Name Current Activities

Annette Abraham, MD
Chief Fellow

Franciscan Health, Michicagn City, Indiana (Private Practice)
Anum Fayyaz, MD University of Miami, Transplant Infectious Disease Fellowship

Ben Goldenberg, MD
Chief Fellow

St. Mary Medical Center, Hobart, Indiana

Raul Rodriguez, MD University of Miami, Transplant Infectious Disease Fellowship
Alan Salazar, MD Metro Infectious Diseases Consultant (Private Practice) 

Alumni 2022

Name Current Activities
Hina Farooq, MD Infectious Disease & Internal Medicine San Joaquin Hospital in California
Haseeba Khan, MD Microbiology Fellowship at University of Indiana Indianapolis
Manuela Reyna-Quito, MD

Infectious Disease Faculty at Cook County Hospital

Thomas Waller, DO Private Practice at Resurrection & Lutheran with Northwest Infectious Disease
James Wilson, DO Critical Care Fellowship at Rush

Alumni 2021

Name Current Activities

Elias Baied, DO

Attending the Mahidol Bangkok School of Tropical Medicine to pursue a diploma in tropical medicine and hygiene

Eric Bhaimia, DO Transplant Infectious Diseases fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota

Subina Gurung
Chief Fellow

Infectious Disease Physician at Metro Infectious Disease Consultants (private practice group) in Chicago

Do Young Kim, MD
3rd Year Research Fellow

Medical Microbiology Fellowship at Northshore/University of Chicago
Eunsun “Emma” Lee, MD Infectious Disease Physician at Hill Crest Medical Center in Tulsa, OK. Tulsa Hospitalists Inc.
Abigail Santos, MD Infectious Disease Physician at Med Center Health in Bowling Green, KY

Alumni 2020

   
Laura Hernandez, MD
Chief Fellow
Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Rush University Medical Center and Cook County Health in Chicago, IL
Aamir Kazi, MD Transplant Infectious Disease Fellowship, University of Texas Houston and MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Huma Saeed, MD Transplant Infectious Disease Fellowship, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Nyal Siddiqi, DO Infectious Disease Physician, Metro Infectious Diseases Consultants, Arlington Heights, IL
Jolie Guevara-Keenan, MD Infectious Disease Physician, Community Health Center of Snohomish County, Everett, WA

Alumni 2019

Name Current Activities

Sarah Sansom, DO
Chief Fellow

Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Rush University Medical Center and Cook County Health in Chicago, IL

Will Stoecker, MD Infectious Disease Physician, Metro Infectious Diseases Consultants, Arlington Heights, IL
Marc Schulman, MD Infectious Disease Physician, Dupont Circle Physicians Group, Washington, DC
Lorrance Majewski, DO Hospitalist, Guam

Alumni 2018

Name Current Activities
Andrew Simms, MD
Chief Fellow

Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Rush University Medical Center and Cook County Health in Chicago, IL

Hemil Gonzalez, MD Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Julie (Akright) Kehdi, DO Infectious Disease Physician, Spectrum Health Medical Group, Grand Rapids, MI
Meredith Coyle, MD Infectious Disease Physician, Ascension St. John Hospital & Medical Center, Detroit, MI
Taeyong Sim, MD Infectious Disease Physician, Clinical Infectious Diseases Specialist, Las Vegas, NV

Alumni 2017

Name Current Activities
LDara Grennan, MD Fellow, Morris Fishbein Fellowship in Medical Editing at JAMA, Chicago, IL
Jonathan Martin, DO Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Diseases, Cook County Health, Chicago, IL
Ka Yeon Lee, MD Infectious Disease Physician, Metro Infectious Disease Consultants in Huntsville, AL
Philip Dwek, MD
Chief Fellow

Adjunct Professor, Western University in London, Ontario, Canada
Fellow, Tropical Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Toronto, Canada

Teppei Shimasaki, MD Assistant Professor, Division of Infectious Disease, Kyorin University Hospital in Mitaka, Tokyo, Japan
Fellow Awards
  • 2019-2020 ACTG Minority HIV Investigator Mentoring Program Awardee - Hemil Gonzalez, MD
  • 2019 IDWeek Travel Grant - Sarah Sanson, DO
  • 2019 IDWeek Travel Grant - Aamir Kazi, MBBS
  • 2019 IDWeek Travel Grant - Laura Hernandez Guarin, MD
  • 2018 RUMC Fellow Teacher of the Year - Andrew Simms, MD
  • 2018 IDWeek Oral Presentation- Teppei Shimasaki, MD
  • 2018 IDWeek Travel Grant - Teppei Shimasaki, MD
  • 2018 IDWeek Robert C. Moellering Trainee Award - Teppei Shimaski, MD
  • 2018 IDWeek Young Investigator Award - Kyle Popovich, MD
  • 2018 RUMC ID Magnanimous Fellow Award - Meredith Coyle, MD
  • 2018 SHEA Jonathan Freeman Scholarship - Teppei Shimasaki, MD
  • 2017 IDWeek Travel Grant - Hemil Gonzalez
  • 2015 AST Fellows Symposium Travel Grant - Yoona Rhee, MD
  • 2014 IDWeek Travel Grant - Yoona Rhee, MD
  • 2013 IDWeek Travel Grant - Jonathan Claus, MD
  • 2010 SHEA Barry Farr Award - Kyle Popovich, MD
  • 2009 SHEA Trainee Award - Kyle Popovich, MD
  • 2008 SHEA Travel Award - Kyle Popovich, MD
  • 2008 SHEA Travel Award - Michael Lin, MD

* Data are incomplete before 2018

Fellow Publications and Presentations

Papers

Oral Presentations

  • Christopher Szewcyzk, Hemil Gonzalez. A Severe Case of Lupus Cerebritis. Poster presentation accepted at the AAN Summer Conference on July 15-16, 2022, in San Francisco, CA.

  • Sansom SE, Lin M, Schoeny M, Fukuda C, Shimasaki T, Dangana T, Moore N, Yelin R, Rhee Y, Tabith L, Sheng J, Cornejo Cisneros E, Murray J, Chang K, Lolans K, Ariston M, Rotunno W, Ramos H, Li H, Aboushaala K, Iwai N, Bassis B, Bell P, Young V, Hayden MK, for the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. Admission and Discharge Sampling Underestimates Multidrug-Resistant Organisms (MDRO) Acquisitions in an Intensive Care Unit. SHEA Spring 2021. April 16, 2021. 

  • SHEA Spring 2021. “SHEA’s Role in Leadership during COVID-19.” Virtual conference, April 13-16, 2021. Invited opening plenary speaker. 

  • 6th International Conference on Healthcare Associated Infections: Decennial Day. “Attacking healthcare transmission of AMR on multiple fronts: antibiotics, the microbiome, and containment.” Virtual conference, April 12, 2021. Invited symposium speaker.

  • Shimasaki T, Rhee Y, Yelin RD, Ariston M, Ollison S, Fogg L, Dangana T, Cornejo-Cisneros E, Weinstein RA, Lolans K, Schoeny M, Lin MY, Moore NM, Hayden MK; CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. The gut: a veiled reservoir for multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) below the tip of the iceberg. IDWeek 2018.
  • Shimasaki T, Seekatz AM, Bassis CM, Rhee Y, Yelin RD, Fogg L, Dangana T, Cornejo Cisneros E, Weinstein RA, Okamoto K, Lolans K, Schoeny M, Lin MY, Moore NM, Young VB, Hayden MK; CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. High relative abundance of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) within the gut microbiota is associated with increased risk of bloodstream infection (BSI) in long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) patients. SHEA Spring 2018 Conference.
  • Seekatz A, Bassis CM, Lolans K, Yelin RD, Moore NM, Okamoto K, Rhee Y, Bell P, Dangana T, Sidimirova G, Weinstein RA, Fogg L, Lin MY, Young VB, Hayden MK; CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. Longitudinal comparison of the microbiota during Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) acquisition in long-term acute care hospital patients. IDWeek 2017. “Geriatric Research Award.”
  • Popovich KJ, Green S, Okamoto K, Rhee Y, Hayden MK, Weinstein RA. Genomic epidemiology of USA300 MRSA in intensive care units (ICUs) using whole genome sequencing (WGS). IDWeek 2016.​
  • Okamoto K, Lin MY, Haverkate M, Lolans K, Moore NM, Weiner S, Lyles RD, Blom D, Rhee Y, Kemble S, Fogg L, Hines DW, Weinstein R, Hayden MK; CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. Risk Factors for Acquisition of Rectal Colonization with KPC-producing Enterobacteriaceae (KPC) among long-term acute card (LTACH) patients. IDWeek 2015.
  • Hayden MK, Sikka MK, Portillo LM, Xu B, Weiner S, Fogg L, Zhang H, Didwania V, Lolans K, Donlan R, Weinstein RA, Trick W. A randomized cross-over clinical trial to compare 3.15% chlorhexidine/70% isopropyl alcohol vs 70% isopropyl alcohol alone and 5s vs 15s scrub for routine disinfection of needleless connectors on central venous catheters in an adult medical intensive care unit. IDWeek 2014.

Posters

  • Hart A, Kazi A, Rajakumar P, Dehghan-Paz, Rhee Y. A Case of Primary EBV Infection Complicated by Pronounced Jaundice with Cholestasis, Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Pancytopenia. Illinois Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics annual educational conference 2019.
  • Kazi ASansom S, Varughese C, Hodgson H, Won S. Love Thy Steward – Who Does Not Love Antimicrobial Stewardship. IDWeek 2019.
  • Sansom S, Kazi A, Moore N, Won S. Effect of adjusted CLSI breakpoints on center-wide fluoroquinolone susceptibilities for Enterobacteriaceae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa: Is it time to restrict empiric fluoroquinolone use? IDWeek 2019. 
  • Sansom S, Burke K, Adeyemi O. Predictors of Cardiovascular Outcomes in Older HIV-Infected Patients: CORE50 Cohort 10 Year Follow Up. IDWeek 2018.
  • Simms A, Gonzalez H, Moore NM, Chapman LA, Lolans K, and Trenholme GM. Co-circulation of Influenza A and B During the 2016-2017 Influenza Season at Rush University Medical Center. IDWeek 2017.
  • Martin J, Burke K, Boettcher J, Bhalerao N, Huhn G. Reluctance to Prescribe Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) Among Internal Medicine Residents (IMRs) Training at a U.S. Hospital with a Large HIV-infected Population. IDWeek 2017.
  • Martin J, Adeyemi O, Burke K, Alvarez I, Winston C, Markham S, Go B, Huhn G. Comparative Steatosis Rates by Liver Biopsy and Transient Elastography Controlled Attenuated Parameter (CAP) in Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV/HCV Coinfection in a Large U.S. Hepatitis Clinic: Time to Take Notice. International AIDS Society Conference on HIV Science 2017.
  • Martin J, Adeyemi O, Burke K, Alvarez I, Winston C, Markham S, Go B, Huhn G. Comparative Steatosis Rates by Liver Biopsy and Transient Elastography Controlled Attenuated Parameter (CAP) in Hepatitis C (HCV) and HIV/HCV Coinfection in a Large U.S. Hepatitis Clinic. International HIV/Viral Hepatitis Co-Infection Meeting 2017.
  • Okamoto K, Rhee Y, Schoeny M, Lolans K, Cheng J, Reddy S, Salazar E, Warpinski G, Carr M, Mcilroy G, Mangan P, Weinstein RA, Hayden MK, Popovich K. Impact of doffing errors on healthcare worker (HCW) self-contamination when caring for patients on contact precautions (CP). IDWeek 2016.
  • Okamoto K, Rhee Y, Schoeny M, Cheng J, Reddy S, Salazar E, Warpinski G, Weinstein RA, Hayden MK, Popovich K. Importance of healthcare worker (HCW) personal protective equipment (PPE) in reducing doffing errors – correlation with HCW characteristics and perceptions. IDWeek 2016.
  • Seekatz A, Bassis CM, Lolans K, Okamoto K, Moore NM, Rhee Y, Bardowski L, Bell P, Salazar E, Dangana T, Sidimirova G, Weinstein RA, Fogg L, Lin MY, Young VB, Hayden MK. Fecal microbiota dynamics during Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) acquisition in long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) patients. IDWeek 2016.
  • Bassis CM, Seekatz A, Fogg L, Lolans K, Moore NM, Okamoto K, Rhee Y, Bardowski L, Bell P, Salazar E, Dangana T, Sidimirova G, Weinstein RA, Lin MY, Young VB, Hayden MK. Gut microbiota and clinical predictors of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) carriage among patients at the time of admission to a long-term acute care hospital (LTACH). IDWeek 2016.
  • Cisneros EC, Morency-Potvin P, Wang S, Simms A, Nguyen DC, Varughese C, Hanson A, Singh K, Trenholme GM, and Won S. Impact of a Newly Implemented Antimicrobial Stewardship Program for Patients with Bloodstream Infections (BSI) in the Absence of Rapid Diagnostic Technology (RDT). IDWeek 2016.
  • Santos C, Shimasaki T, Kishen E, Won S, Hanson A, Marinakos G, Tomich A, Hota B, and Segreti J. Impact of Avoiding Central Vascular Catheter-Drawn Blood Samples for Culture in a Large Tertiary Care University Hospital. IDWeek 2016.
  • Okamoto K, Rhee Y, Schoeny M, Lolans K, Cheng J, Reddy S, Salzar E, Carr M, Mangan P, McIlroy G, Weinstein RA, Hayden MK, Popovich KJ. Comparing ESwab and RODAC plates for detection of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDRO) on surfaces. SHEA Spring 2016 Conference.
  • Kim J, Segreti J, Tomich A, Tongma C, Hayden MK, Lin MY. Surveillance and inter-facility communication for carbepenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). SHEA Spring 2016 Conference. “Top Poster Abstract Award.”
  • Rhee Y, Okamoto K, Kemble SK, Lolans K, Lin M, Fogg L, Weinstein RA, Hayden MK. Comparison of 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)-impregnated cloth vs 4% liquid cleansing. SHEA Spring 2016 Conference.
  • Kemble S, Claus J, Lolans K, Lindsley J, and Singh K. Validation of Rosco Diagnostica Diffusion Discs for Identification of Carbapenem Resistance Mechanisms in a Clinical Laboratory. IDWeek 2014.
  • Rhee Y, Aroutcheva A, Hota B, Weinstein R, and Popovich K. Evolving Epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia. IDWeek 2014.

* Fellows Bolded