Meet Our Residents

Rush-Esperanza Family Medicine Residency Class of 2027.

Image	Loren Alonso, MD Medical School: Xavier University School of Medicine Undergraduate: University of Central Florida Hobbies: Loren enjoys being outdoors, cooking and eating different kinds of foods, music, reading and collecting books, learning languages, exploring new cultures, and pondering the universe.
Image	Amna Haider, DO Medical School: Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Chicago Hobbies: Amna enjoys tapping into her creative side with painting, learning the various features of her Cricut machine, exploring coffee shops, and the Chicago food scene.
Image	Candace Hayes, MD Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University Undergraduate: Rhodes College Hobbies: Candace enjoys listening to Reggaeton and Afrobeats, volunteering at community organizations, and watching movies and documentaries.
Image	Anna Jinnah, MD Medical School: American University of the Caribbean Undergraduate: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Hobbies: Anna enjoys fitness classes, trying new foods, and exploring coffee shops.
Image	Shadi Ramirez-Avalos, MD Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago Hobbies: Shadi enjoys cooking, trying new recipes, playing video games with friends, reading, and practicing cosmetology on her family in her spare time.
Image	Tiffany Ruan, DO Medical School: Kansas City University Osteopathic Medical School Undergraduate: Davidson College Hobbies: Tiffany enjoys running, lifting, playing the piano, traveling (including making travel itineraries for friends and family), and shopping.
Image	Stephanie Saadeh, MD Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
Image	Diego Silva, MD Medical School: La Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina Undergraduate: Baylor University Hobbies: Diego enjoys playing golf, watching movies, playing video games, and going on long walks with his wife.
Image	Katherine Stetkevych, MD Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Hobbies: Katherine enjoys going to museums, as well as thrift and record shops. She also likes riding her bike and going to music shows.

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Image	Matthew Anderson, MD Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Undergraduate: Oklahoma Baptist University Hobbies: Matthew has a passion for jazz saxophone and voice and has previously led small ensembles as a bandleader. He also enjoys choral music and has performed in community productions of Carmina Burana and Beethoven’s 9th Symphony. In his free time, he enjoys cooking plant-based meals that are both healthy and delicious, combining his love for music and wellness.
Image	Zachary Benefield, MD Medical School: Rush Medical College of Rush University Undergraduate: Illinois State University Hobbies: Zachary enjoys traveling and exploring new places, having taken trips to the Caribbean, Universal Studios, and Gatlinburg, Tennessee. In his downtime, he enjoys listening to podcasts on philosophy and medicine, audiobooks in the sci-fi and fantasy genres, and playing Nintendo games. He also loves upbeat music and uses cardio dance as a fun form of exercise.
Image	Riddhi Chaudhari, MD Medical School: Saint James School of Medicine Undergraduate: York University Hobbies: Riddhi is passionate about teaching and enjoys creative outlets such as dancing, singing, and painting. She loves Bollywood dance and aspires to become a Zumba instructor. She enjoys singing in Hindi and Gujarati and continues to explore painting with acrylics and abstract art while hoping to learn oil painting. She also finds joy in weightlifting, with a personal goal of completing fifteen unassisted pull-ups.
Image	Jordan Palmer, DO Medical School: AT Still University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine Undergraduate: Marquette University Hobbies: Jordan is an avid soccer player and fisherman. Fishing allows him to connect with nature and enjoy the peace of the water, while soccer gives him an active way to release stress. In his free time, he enjoys planning scuba diving trips that allow him to explore and experience new adventures. These hobbies help him find balance and stay grounded amidst life’s challenges.
Image	Aidimer Perez, MD Medical School: Loyola University of Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine Undergraduate: Florida International University Hobbies: Aidimer enjoys singing and has been a member of choirs in school, church, and the community, collaborating with talented individuals. She also enjoys cooking Dominican dishes, which connects her to home, especially after moving away for school. She continues to master traditional recipes and share them with friends who enjoy experiencing her culture through food.
Image	Brenda Perez, MD Medical School: La Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara Facultad de Medicina Undergraduate: Dominican University Hobbies: Brenda enjoys studying the Bible through a 52-week reading plan and group discussions, using faith as a way to grow and better serve others. She loves taking outdoor walks in local city parks and along the Chicago 606 Trail, and she regularly participates in 3K walks to raise awareness for Type 1 Diabetes. On weekends, she enjoys exploring new coffee shops and supporting small businesses in her community.
Image	Manuela Tejada, MD Medical School: Universidad CES Escuela de Medicina Hobbies: Manuela enjoys outdoor activities like camping and hiking. Finding places to connect with nature and appreciate the beauty of the world has always been his way to relax and step away from routine. These experiences have shaped her character and strengthened her adaptability skills, keeping her grounded and appreciative of life’s simple moments.
Image	Rubén D. Vega Pérez, MD, MPH Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Undergraduate: Yale University Hobbies: Ruben is a regular patron of the New York Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and Broadway. He recently began taking singing lessons and enjoys both reading and writing poetry. Ruben also loves spoken-word performances and often participates in bar trivia nights or watches Jeopardy! as his favorite evening activity.

Six headshots of residents below the headline Class of 2029

	Elena Carrillo, MD Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Chicago
	Alvyn Hernandez Reyes, MD Medical School: Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
	Jennifer Ngandu, MD Medical School: Saint James School of Medicine, US Undergraduate: Rutgers University
	Kobe Perez, MD Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, MN Undergraduate: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
	Stephany Valladares, MD Medical School: Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL Undergraduate: Northwestern University
	Valentina Vargas Marin, MD Medical School: University of Queensland School of Medicine, AU Undergraduate: Florida State University

Alumni

Daniel Albarran Rivera, MD	Advocate Medical Group Family Medicine, Family Medicine Physician
Leila Elysee-Mitton, MD	Pennsylvania Baystate Health, Family Medicine Physician
Elsa Garcia, MD	Esperanza Health Centers, Family Medicine Physician
Michael Garcia Alicea, MD	Esperanza Health Centers, Family Medicine Physician
Lizbeth Garcia Rodriguez, MD	Esperanza Health Centers, Family Medicine Physician
Alejandro Gonzalez, MD	Loyola Medicine MacNeal Sports Medicine Fellowship
Laura Gonzalez, MD	PCC Maternal Child Health Surgical Obstetrics Fellowship
Anibal Gonzalez Alvarez, MD	Puerto Rico Family Practice, Family Medicine Physician
Mariangeline Gonzalez Ortiz, MD	Northwestern Medicine, Family Medicine Physician Lifestyle Medicine Certification Pathway
Juan C. Rojas, Jr., MD	Esperanza Health Centers, Family Medicine Physician
Michael Romero Chung, DO	Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Family Medicine Physician
Joaquin Zetina Huesca, MD	Esperanza Health Centers, Family Medicine Physician