Third Year Fellows
Uba Chinyere Udeh, MD
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Harrisburg
I am excited about my upcoming training at Rush. I was drawn to Rush due to the exceptional support and collegial atmosphere I witnessed during my interview. The institution’s commitment to delivering excellent clinical training, along with numerous research and educational prospects, greatly appealed to me.
My primary interests include ILD and pulmonary hypertension, as well as quality improvement and medical education.
When I am not working, I thoroughly enjoy hiking, cooking, and shipping. I can’t wait to explore the vibrant city of Chicago during my time there.
Manuel Hache Marliere, MD
Residency: Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
I chose Rush because of the complex care training that fellows receive and the opportunity to provide care to an underserved and diverse community. During my interviews, I was impressed by the positive attitude and camaraderie of the fellows, and I knew I wanted to be a part of a place where people were excited to come to work.
My clinical interests include mechanical ventilation, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and medical education. My research interests include ARDS, Obstructive disease, and end-of-life care.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife and our miniature schnauzer, Baguette. I also enjoy running and exploring new coffee shops.
Emmy Mai, MD
Residency: University of Cincinnati Medical Center
Rush University is clearly a fantastic program that I am excited to train at. Their core values aligned with mine- training clinically strong fellows, high quality patient care, diversity in staff and pathologies. In addition, I felt that the faculty I met, even virtually, were welcoming, friendly, and intelligent. My interests in pulmonology include pulmonary hypertension and COPD/asthma, but I am open to exploring more niches! Outside of the hospital, I like running, hiking, reading, and binge-watching TV.
Guillermo Asmar Vargas, MD
Residency: TriHealth Good Samaritan Hospital
During my Internal Medicine Residency, I had the opportunity to do a 1-month rotation at Rush University Medical Center. I experienced firsthand the broad exposure to both pulmonary medicine and critical care that the fellowship program offered. But more importantly, I enjoyed working with the fellows and attendings who welcomed me as one of their own, and I felt like an integral part of the team. Additionally, the family-oriented and camaraderie environment at Rush played an essential role in my decision to train here. Because of these reasons, I chose Rush as my top choice for fellowship training.
My clinical interest in Pulmonary & Critical Care includes pulmonary hypertension, interventional pulmonology, POCUS, and palliative care in the ICU.
Outside of medicine, I like spending time with my family exploring new places (especially new restaurants), traveling, and playing video games with my friends from the Dominican Republic.
Second Year Fellows
Sidra Salman, MD
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Morningside-West
I chose Rush University's Pulmonary-Critical Care fellowship due to the diverse clinical opportunities and patient population, emphasis on medical education, and supportive faculty and fellows. I have a particular interest in medical education and interventional procedures. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring new restaurants in Chicago, baking, piano, and spending time with my little Maltipoo Dobby.
Jesse Kelso, MD
Residency: University of Chicago (NorthShore)
I chose Rush because I knew at the end of fellowship I would be as well trained as anyone in the country. I hope to be a game changer in ICU literature and efficiency, and I know it will be the great teaching of the physicians at Rush that will get me there. In my free time I like exercising and will agree to do any activity any time that involves moving. Looking forward to the next few years!
Francis Cocjin, MD
Residency: Loyola University Medical Center
I chose Rush for its reputation of delivering exceptional patient care and fostering a strong sense of community among its trainees. Even during the virtual interview process, I felt the camaraderie that my friends who trained here prior always raved about. My career interests include medical education (particularly at the medical student level) and pulmonary hypertension. Beyond medicine, I enjoy playing board games, rock climbing, and exploring Chicago's diverse culinary scene with my partner.
Arianne Wenk, MD
Residency: University of Illinois Chicago
I’m excited to start fellowship in Pulmonary Critical Care at Rush University to learn from both the excellent faculty and diverse patient population. I completed medical school at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine and then completed a dual residency in Internal Medicine-Emergency Medicine at University of Illinois Chicago. Currently I am intrigued by pulmonary hypertension but am interested to dive deeper into the world of pulmonary medicine and explore more areas. I am also passionate about post ICU syndrome and ways to prevent delirium in the ICU. Outside of my medical pursuits, I find joy in spending time with my dog, Cannoli, indulging in a good book, exploring new destinations through travel, and expressing my creativity through crocheting and more.
First Year Fellows
Paul Harper, MD
Residency: Loyola University Medical Center
About me: On the interview trail, Rush stood out as my clear top choice for fellowship training due to its high diverse pathology, outstanding mentorship, and strong emphasis on innovation. I was looking for a program that would allow me to maximize opportunities both inside and outside of the pulmonary and critical care department, and it was clear that Rush offered exactly that. My professional interests include interventional pulmonology, advanced bronchoscopy, medical education and preventive medicine.
Outside the hospital, I enjoy golfing, staying active by exploring the city with my wife and our dog, and spending my free time repairing and restoring automatic watches.
Christina Liu, MD
Residency: John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County
About me: During my Internal Medicine residency program, I had an opportunity to participate in a 2-week pulmonology rotation at Rush. I was drawn to the culture of camaraderie fostered in those short two weeks, as well as the strong focus on quality patient care and medical education. I am excited to learn alongside compassionate and driven individuals these next three years as we strive to become well-rounded pulmonary critical care physicians.
My clinical interests include ILD, medical education, and interventional pulmonology. When not at work, I enjoy taking long walks along Lake Michigan with my husband, traveling and exploring different cultures, and playing the violin.
Michael Zhang, MD
Residency: Saint Louis University
I am absolutely delighted to be undertaking Pulmonary Critical Care fellowship training at Rush! Through the interview process, it was evident that Rush is a program that both nurtures and challenges its trainees. The faculty were so welcoming and genuine, which made my decision easy. I could not have asked for a better place to train or people to learn from.
My clinical interests lie in prevention of complications in the ICU, as well as data science applications in critical care, and healthcare as a whole.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my wife and my dog, Link. I am partial to a good espresso and am a hopeless fan of the Carlton Blues in the AFL (Australian Football League).
Harsh Sura, MD
Residency: Insight Hospital and Medical Center
About me: I wanted to be at Rush because I was looking for a program where I could grow under the guidance of exceptional faculty and gain exposure to a wide range of pulmonary and critical care experiences and I also wanted to continue my practice in Chicago. My interests lie in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS), interventional pulmonology, and lung cancer, but I’m equally excited to explore all facets of the field during fellowship.
What stood out to me about Rush was the strong academic environment, diverse clinical exposure, and the genuine sense of support and mentorship. Outside of medicine, I’m a big-time soccer fanatic and enjoying cooking and trying out new dishes in my free time.