Meet Our Fellows

First Year

Name	Background
Hillary Chang, DO	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	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.

Second Year

Name

Background

Annette Abraham, MD

Chief Fellow

Hometown: Kerala, India
Medical School: Government Medical College Kottayam, India
Residency: John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship:
I chose Rush/CCH for fellowship after having witnessed, first-hand, during my residency training at CCH, the camaraderie between attending and ID fellows. I appreciate the strong clinical program with research opportunities that match my interest, and I was certain the fellowship program would help me become a skilled, confident ID physician.

Anum Fayyaz, MD

Hometown: Quetta, Pakistan
Medical School: Lahore Medical and Dental College (University of Health Sciences, Lahore)
Residency: University of Oklahoma (Med-Peds)
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship:
The ID fellowship at Rush/CCH provides high-quality, evidence-based, patient-centered care using a multidisciplinary approach. The environment is very supportive and emphasizes trainee wellness as a priority. Also, the location of Rush/CCH is prime and offers easy access to the diverse culture that Chicago has to offer.

Ben Goldenberg, MD

Chief Fellow

Hometown: Munster, Indiana
Medical School: Indiana University
Residency: University of Illinois at Chicago
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship:
I chose Rush/CCH because of the variety of experiences fellows get by rotating at two different sites. The warm, welcoming faculty members I met on the interview day also got me interested in the program, and I like living in Chicago, so I wanted to stay and continue my training here.

Raul Rodriguez, MD

Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Medical School: Universidad Central de Venezuela Escuela de Medicina
Residency: Loyola Medicine MacNeal Hospital
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship:
I chose Rush/CCH because I knew it would give me the necessary clinical exposure to become an excellent ID clinician. With rotations at each institution, one gets a broad exposure to different pathologies, both complex and “bread-and-butter”. That, plus the opportunity to explore research and teaching opportunities, and work with approachable, friendly staff, make it a great place to train.

Alan Salazar, MD

Hometown: Chicago, IL
Medical School: Loyola University of Chicago
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin
Why I Chose Rush/CCH for Fellowship:
I chose Rush/CCH because of the wide breadth of pathology, the availability of mentors, and a culture that prioritized fellow learning and development.

Where are they now?

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

Alumni 2016

Name	Current Activities
Alison VanEperen, DO	Infectious Disease Physician, SSM Health Dean Medical Group, Madison, WI
Chawat Tongma, MD	Chief Hospitalist, Guam Regional Medical Center in Dededo, Guam
Enrique Cornejo Cisneros, MD	Attending Physician, Division of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Hospital Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru Clinical Instructor, Department of Medicine, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru
Megan Buller, MD (Chief Fellow)	Infectious Disease Physician, OhioHealth Physician Group Infectious Diseases, Columbus, OH
Shivani Reddy, DO	Infectious Disease Physician, The Permanente Medical Group, Santa Clara, CA

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

Bhaimia E, Jung JH, Chan EL, Shah NN, Santos CAQ. Breakthrough Hepatitis B Virus Infection in a Liver Transplant Recipient on Lamivudine Prophylaxis for Donor Hepatitis B Core Antibody Seropositivity: A Review of Practices to Prevent De Novo Hepatitis B Virus Infection After Transplant. Journal of Clinical Liver Disease 2021 Aug 30;18(1):22-25 https://aasldpubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/cld.1102
Kazi AS, Hart A, Rajakumar, Janardhan S, Dehghan-Paz I, Rhee Y. Primary Epstein-Barr Virus Infection with Marked Cholestasis, Warm Autoimmune Hemolytic Anemia and Pancytopenia. Accepted for publication in Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice July 2020
Santos CAQ, Rhee Y, Czapka MT, Kazi AS, Proia LA. Make Sure You Have a Safety Net: Updates in the Prevention and Management of Infectious Complications in Stem Cell Transplant Recipients. J Clin Med. 2020 Mar 21;9(3):865
Shimaski T, Seekatz A, Bassis C, 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. Increased relative abundance of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae within the gut microbiota is associated with increased risk of bloodstream infection in long-term acute care hospital patients. Clinical Infectious Diseases 2018 Sep 18: ePub ahead of print
Shimasaki T, Segreti J, Tomich A, Kim J, Hayden MK, Lin MY; CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. Active Screening and Interfacility Communication of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in a Tertiary-Care Hospital. Infection Control Hospital Epidemiology 2018 Jul 19:1-5
Hodgson HA, Sims T, Gonzalez H, Aziz M, Rhee Y, Lewis PO, Jhobalia N, Shields B, Wang SK. Successful Treatment of Cerebral Toxoplasmosis Using Pyrimethamine Oral Solution Compounded From Inexpensive Bulk Powder. Open Forum Infectious Diseases 2018 Apr 18;5(4):ofy055
Rhee Y, Palmer LJ (co-first author), Okamoto K, Gemunden S, Hammouda K, Kemble SK, Lin MY, Lolans K, Fogg L, Guanaga D, Yokoe DS, Weinstein RA, Frendl G (co-senior author), Hayden MK; CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. Differential Effects of Chlorhexidine Skin Cleansing Methods on Residual Chlorhexidine Skin Concentrations and Bacterial Recovery. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 2018 Apr;39(4):405-411
Okamoto K, Rhee Y, Schoeny M, Lolans K, Cheng J, Reddy S, Weinstein RA, Hayden MK, Popovich KJ; CDC Prevention Epicenters Program. Flocked Nylon Swabs Versus RODAC Plates for Detection of Multidrug-Resistant Organisms on Environmental Surfaces in Intensive Care Units. Journal of Hospital Infection 2018 Jan;98(1):105-108
French AL, Martin JW, Evans CT, Peters M, Kessaye SG, Nowicki M, Kuniholm M, Golub E, Augenbraun M, Desai SN; WIHS. Macrophage Activation and the Tumor Necrosis Factor Cascade in Hepatitis C Disease Progression Among HIV-Infected Women Participating in the Women’s Interagency HIV Study. Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes 2017 Dec 1;76(4):438-444
Okamoto K, Lin MY, Havaerkate M, Lolans K, Moore NM, Weiner S, Lyles RD, Blom D, Rhee Y, Kemble S, Fogg L, Hines DW, Weinstein RA, Hayden MK. Modifiable Risk Factors for the Spread of Klebsiella pneumoniae Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Among Long-Term Acute- Care Hospital Patients. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 2017 Jun;38(6):670-677
Rhee Y, Aroutcheva A, Hota B, Weinstein RA, Popovich KJ. Evolving Epidemiology of Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology 2015 Dec;36(12):1417-22
Hodowanec AC, Lee RD, Brady KE, Gao W, Kincaid S, Plants J, Bahk M, Mackman N, Landay LA, Huhn GD. A Matched Cross-sectional Study of the Association between Circulating Tissue Factor Activity, Immune Activation and Advanced Liver Fibrosis in Hepatitis C Infection. BMC Infectious Diseases 2015 Apr 17;15:190
Rhee Y, Popovich KJ. Community-associated Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and HIV. Future Virology 2014 Jul; 9(6): 531-535.

Oral Presentations

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 A, Sansom 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