Family Medicine Residency Program

FIRST YEAR

CLASS OF 2012

Aalia Al-Barwani, MD

“I come from a land from a far away land where the caravan camels roam…”

As some of you may recognize this is part of the lyrics to the theme song from Disney’s Aladdin. Being an Arab, one of my colleagues jokingly asked if I came here on my magic carpet. Ok, so maybe I didn’t but it sure has been a long journey. I grew up, one of five kids, in the United Arab Emirates. I went to medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. My father, an Omani by nationality was born and raised on the beautiful island of Zanzibar. My mother is a through and through Nigerian and the two of them met in Scotland. This is the usual spiel I give when people ask me where I am from. Then I ask them, “so where AM I from?”

It wasn’t until my last year of medical school that I realized my zeal for Family Medicine. Among many other attributes, I love the variety, flexibility and the continuity of care that it has to offer. I am particularly interested in international medicine and women’s health.

Determined to fulfill my vision of a Family Doctor, I decided to fly across the world to join what I have seen so far to be a truly unique group of people. I am excited to be here and even more so to embark on this road to a whole new world!

Rachel Ampadu, MD

Born and raised in the beautiful country of Ghana, I moved to NYC when I was 12 years old and eventually to Worcester, MA, where I attended junior high and high school. I always knew that I was going to embark on a career in the healthcare field growing up and watching my mother who is a nurse. After completing three years of undergraduate studies at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, I realized that pharmacy wasn't for me. My affinity for a more gratifying career in preventive healthcare convinced me to enroll in medical school at St.

Matthews University in Grand Cayman, where I earned my MD and a Master's in Health Administration.

I'm super excited, grateful and honored to be a part of the UCONN/St.

Francis family medicine residency. I currently live with my sister Ama in Tolland, CT.

Though I have a "slight" fear of flying, my interests include traveling, global health, exploring different cultures and obstetrics.

I look forward to exploring Connecticut and all it has to offer with the little time I'll have outside residency.

Thomas Graziano, MD

I grew up about thirty miles away from Hartford in West Springfield, Massachusetts. I was one of those kids who always wanted to be a doctor; I'd read everything in my school library on health and anatomy by the fourth grade. But after high school, I thought I'd be happier in the field of diagnostic imaging technology so prior to medical school I worked as a Nuclear Medicine Technologist for about 11 years .

After deciding that I still wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a physician, I attended the University of Massachusetts, from which I graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor's of Science in Biology. Immediately afterward, I followed my academic interests and became a research assistant in neuroendocrine lab at umass, studying the molecular mechanisms of circadian rhythms.

I attended The University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, MA and upon completion of my medical degree, took a preliminary intern position in general surgery at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield. I learned a great deal in that position but decided my heart was in primary care and so have come to the Uconn Family Medicine program.

When I am not working, I'm likely to be found spending time with my family. I am recently remarried and have 2 daughters, Andrea 13, Julia 9 and an 18 month old son, Xander. We enjoy hiking/camping swimming and amusement parks.

I am excited about the UConn Family Medicine Residency Program and I look forward to the new experiences and challenges ahead. The faculty are amazing and give so much of their time and talent to the program. I consider it a privilege to learn from them and care for the people of this community.

John Kouch, MD

Although my early years were spent in Wisconsin and Virginia, the majority of my life has been spent in the great state of Connecticut. My local roots are strong as I have attended college, medical school, and now residency within the state!

Having rotated at the Asylum Hill Family Practice Center (where the UConn/St. Francis Family Medicine Residency is based) as a medical student, I was remarkably impressed by the dedicated faculty, caring staff, and friendly residents. As impressive was the residency program’s strong commitment to the education of its residents and students as well as the dedication to the care of the surrounding community. Having said this, I am incredibly excited and grateful to be continuing the next step in my education in this residency program!

When I’m not at work, my interests include playing the piano, hiking, listening to country music, and (of course) rooting for the New York Yankees!

Rolf Janzen, DC, MD

I was born in the big city of Toronto; and then years later moved to the rural area of Ontario. In the 20 years since, I owned and operated two Complementary & Alternative Medicine (C.A.M.) practices simultaneously in both urban and rural settings-at clinics in Branford and Port Dover, Ontario. Now at this exciting juncture in my "antipodean" life of opposites, I feel fortunate to find myself in UConn’s highly regarded Family Medicine program. In my view, family medicine should be integrative and also, patient centered ~ whether it’s vertical care(ambulatory) –or- horizontal medicine (at the bedside). From my perspective, to optimize, maintain or restore health & well-being, we must judiciously embrace and rationally reconcile different health care paradigms employing a strong evidence based approach whenever possible. For me, UConn/St. Francis Hospital FM department offers exactly such a premier program.

My path to Hartford, CT has been quite a lengthy one after undergraduate & graduate studies in ---Kinesiology, Nutritional biochemistry, naturopathic Chiropractic & Acupuncture, and finally allopathic medicine at the universities of –Guelph, Bridgeport, Toronto, Beijing, Saba-Netherlands-Antilles, respectively. By coming to UConn, I know that I have taken the definitive and culminating step in my exciting evolutionary odyssey of trying to build and cross medical bridges rather than burn them.

A special interest of mine is "Geriatric Sports Medicine" and as a result, I take great joy in watching master athletes excel in their various events. Accordingly, I endeavor to positively attitudinize and activate the habitually sedentary to adopt a more active and healthy lifestyle. To those who are not "into sports"’ I nevertheless encourage them to be ‘a sport’ and train sensibly for their ultimate "event" called-LIFE…Carpe diem!

In my past life, I have been blessed with a wonderful family. Doreen, my kind wife, has provided enormous everlasting emotional support. My dear daughter Kirsten, the bio-anthropologist, has become my ecological and social conscience. I am grateful to Derek, my stalwart son, whose keen mind cognitively challenges me as only soon-to-be-lawyer could do…I really must keep on his good side!

My outside passions include-travel, climbing, hiking, skiing and X-Country running.

F.Y.I.

When I’m not on the wards or in the clinic, you will likely find me rejuvenating i.e. ‘running myself ragged’ on the beautiful and rugged Ragged Mountain reservoir trails south of New Britain; or if I’m not there, my spirits maybe soaring from the natural splendor on top of nearby Talcott Mountain.