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CLASS OF 2011
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Christopher Doan, MD |
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I was born
in Alaska and raised in Oklahoma thanks to my father being in the US Air
Force. My extended family hails from Ann Arbor, Michigan, and I
dreamed of going to the U of M from a young age. However, I
decided to go to the University of Oklahoma due to its practicality (and
low cost), and that was the best decision I could have made…… We
went on to win the national title in football my freshman year.
After graduating magna cum
laude with a BS in chemistry, I went directly into medical school at the
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Throughout my
training, I was fortunate to be exposed to mentors who exemplified the
important role primary care plays in our health care system. Aside
from a future in primary care, one of my career goals is to be active in
public health and policy making/reform.
My interests
include playing and watching most sports, traveling, cooking/eating
great food, watching movies, and experiencing other cultures. I
especially enjoy visiting my girlfriend’s home country of France and her
relatives (and French cuisine). A former trumpet player myself, I
enjoy going to live performances and musicals/operas. I look
forward to my new experience in Connecticut, being a part of the UCONN
family, and being closer to my parents who now reside in central New
Jersey.
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Elissa Freedman, MD |
I was born and raised in New
York’s Hudson Valley, but at the young age of 14 ventured off to
boarding school at the Loomis Chaffee School in the Hartford area. My
first job was as the kitchen aid in the school infirmary and now it
seems as though my life is coming full circle as I have returned to
Hartford once again. I spent my undergraduate years doing a combined
program between Columbia University and the Jewish Theological Seminary
where I received bachelors degrees in Jewish Studies and Sociology.
Throughout my undergraduate years, I frequently juggled several jobs but
was particularly dedicated to my service as an emergency medical
technician. This led me to complete a third degree, in nursing, and I
went on to work in a Pediatric Neurology and Neurosurgery Unit for a
couple of years. Having realized my ultimate goal of becoming a
physician, I simultaneously completed my pre-med requirements.
At Ben Gurion University’s Medical School for International Health, the
unique international health curriculum, which emphasized primary care
including community, preventive, and population-based medicine prepared
us to serve in the most remote and undeveloped parts of the world. This
foundation also guides me today in tackling the challenges faced in
inner-city America. Prior to joining UConn family medicine, I complete a
transitional year internship at Maryland General Hospital in Baltimore,
Maryland.
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Naveen Garg, MD |
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I was born
in Montreal, Canada – where I have lived the majority of my life! I am
Hindu-Punjabi and have been fortunate to visit and tour India over a
dozen times, spending time with my very large and fun-loving extended
family. I have always been guided and mentored, not only by my loving
parents, but also by my elder sister and brother – who have given me all
the strength to be where I am today. Though the saying “Jack of all
trades…” fits me to a key – I could not envision my life without the
world of Medicine. Having graduated from a Bachelors of Science in
Physical Therapy at McGill University in Montreal, I decided to continue
the study of Medicine by attending Saba University in the
Netherlands-Antilles. During the last two years, I have had the splendid
opportunity to live in New York City – not only completing my rotations,
but also making the most of Manhattan!
For me,
there’s nothing like spending time with my family and friends – either
relaxing at home or going out for a night on the town! I thoroughly
enjoy cooking and of course along with that comes experiencing fine
cuisine and traveling the world. I am a fan of Hollywood movies and an
avid dancer (Indian, Salsa, Ballroom…) If socializing, shopping and
weddings were considered hobbies – I would be the master of them all!!
Moving to
Hartford and becoming a part of the UConn/St. Francis Hospital family
has been dream come true. It’s satisfying to be able to practice Family
Medicine in an excellent program with fantastic faculty/residents, work
with a diverse patient population and above all it’s just a short
distance from home – I could not ask for anything better. I look forward
to my new life in CT and eagerly await the adventures that are in store
for me!
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Hana Hagos, MD |
It is with great delight I introduce myself. Born
the fifth child of six children in my home country of Ethiopia, my
journey began when
I
left at the age of six, from there our family moved to various
countries, like Zimbabwe, Kenya, Canada, and United States. I was
privileged to experience monumental events that have changed and molded
my perspective of humanity and life, which in turn fueled my desire to
bring healing through medicine. After High School I had a desire to
explore elements outside my comfort zone, thus ventured to Las Vegas to
pursue my undergraduate degree at University of Nevada, Las Vegas. It is
here I learned to love writing, hiking and training for triathlons.
After graduating from college I still wished to fulfill my dream of
being a physician and the desire to see life outside of North America I
pursued part of my medical education in England, then later returned to
the United States to complete the remainder.
This
journey has been fulfilling, challenging and shaping of self; through it
all I thank God for giving me the strength and ability to continue on
this path along with my family and fiance.
I am
thrilled to begin a new chapter that is getting me closer to my
aspiration of becoming an excellent physician, at a good program.
Monique Martin, MD |
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I was born
in Hartford, CT one of the poorest cities in the heart of one of our
nation’s wealthiest states. Ironically, in an environment that was
stifling and uninspiring to most, I was motivated to pursue my dreams.
After graduating from Hartford Public High, I received a bachelors of
science in Biology, Child Development, and Spanish and a doctorate of
medicine, both at Tufts University, earning a prestigious title as
“Double Jumbo.” In my free time I enjoy international travel,
learning about different cultures, mentoring, dancing, and spending time
with my loved ones. Family medicine is a profession that
epitomizes my philosophy and encapsulates my joy and fervor for life. I
consider myself lucky to be able to care for patients and I am very
pleased to be a part of the medical community at the UCONN/ST. Francis
Family Medicine Residency Program. Most of all, I am happy to be
home!
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Pavlina
Natcheva-Smitaman, MD |
I was
born in Biala, Bulgaria where I spent the first twenty years of my life
training to become a teacher. It was a great experience and has given me
tools that I still use today; however, I wanted more for myself. So not
knowing a word of English I immigrated to Toronto, Canada. There I
worked as a cashier in donut shops, as a waitress in restaurants and as
a daycare teacher while teaching myself English with movie rentals and
night classes. But it was my volunteer time at Toronto’s Hospital for
Sick Children where my heart was set on becoming a doctor. At that time
I did not have a clue about the process of becoming a doctor and I
probably knew all of 500 words in English. Needless to say I had the
gall to take the MCAT’s and scored a miraculous “4”.
Over the next few years I followed my desire to become a physician,
which led me to Columbia University in NYC. There I met the greatest
pain of my life, my future loving husband. From NYC we both went on with
our formal medical training at SUNY Upstate, in the blistering cold of
Syracuse, NY. There I had the fortune of learning from countless people
whom embodied what it meant to be a health care professional. Just
before my second year of medical training, I was also blessed with the
second pain in my life, our rambunctious son Lucas.
My husband and I are both fortunate to come to extraordinary training
programs in Connecticut filled with great minds and bottomless hearts,
ready to give of themselves to the surrounding community. I am very
excited to meet my new colleagues and the new challenges ahead. This is
really going to be fun!
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