Third 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.
Second 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.
First Year Fellows
Benjamin Eastburg, MD
Residency: Rush University Medical Center
About me: I chose to stay at Rush for fellowship because of the exceptional clinical training, diverse patient population, and, most importantly, the people. Having completed my Internal Medicine residency at Rush, I experienced firsthand the collaborative culture among fellows, residents, faculty, nurses, respiratory therapists, and the entire multidisciplinary team. The camaraderie, mutual respect, and shared commitment to providing outstanding patient care made Rush feel like home and made it an easy decision to continue my training here.
My clinical interests include asthma, POCUS, and interventional pulmonology. My research interests include medical education and resident wellness.
Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife, Anne, running and biking along Chicago's lakefront, cheering on the Green Bay Packers, and exploring new restaurants and coffee shops throughout the city.
Nishi Parikh, MD
Residency: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
About me: I chose Rush because of the opportunity to provide care to an underserved population and to learn from complex cases. On my interview day, I felt the camaraderie among the fellows and the overall positive, supportive environment from the faculty. My primary interests include sleep medicine, POCUS, and end-of-life care. Outside of work, I love running, buying new plants, reading, watching Michigan sports (Go Blue!), and exploring new restaurants with my husband.
Nathan Horvat, MD
Residency: Loyola University Medical Center
About me: I chose Rush due to its reputation for providing excellent patient care and strong clinical training opportunities. I was impressed with the supportive training environment that became evident through my conversations with faculty and fellows during the interview process.
My clinical interests include acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock, pulmonary hypertension, and point-of-care ultrasound. Outside of medicine, I enjoy exploring Chicago with my wife and daughter, watching sports, playing guitar, and running.
Mae Leef, MD
Residency: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
About me: I am excited to begin my Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine training at Rush. I was drawn to the program by its outstanding clinical training, supportive learning environment, and strong sense of camaraderie among fellows and faculty. The breadth of clinical experiences and opportunities for growth made it an ideal place to continue my training.
I completed my Internal Medicine residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. My current clinical interests include Interventional Pulmonology, Critical Care Medicine, and ECMO. I look forward to further exploring these areas throughout fellowship while developing the skills to provide exceptional care to critically ill patients.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking and am currently working with my husband to build a family recipe book. I also enjoy spending time with my miniature dachshund, Chilidog, and exploring new restaurants and experiences with family and friends.