PGL 3 Residents
Zeina Almajthoub, MD
Hometown: Jordan
Interests/Hobbies: Reading, Hiking
Future Goals: I am planning to apply for a fellowship
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: It is a small city that has a great potential. I love how quiet it is with the beauty of the nature & mountains. Also, the people here are very friendly.
Strengths of our program: Protected teaching for the residents with good balance between education & service responsibilities. The leadership is very flexible and considerate when they put the residents’ monthly schedules. The hospital is a referral center for whole southern West Virginia and that exposes us to a very diverse level of pathology.
Nirali Borad, MD
Hometown: Rajkot, India
Interests/Hobbies: Art & Craft, Painting
Future Goals: General Pediatrics
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: Charleston is a beautiful city with very less pollution as it is located amidst hills. It has less traffic and so it’s very easy to reach anywhere in the city in 15-20 minutes. Overall, Charleston is a not so big town yet it has everything one may want.
Strengths of our program: All the faculty members are very approachable; seniors have always helped and guided me since the first day of my residency.
Jackson Casto, DO
Hometown: Milford, OH
Interests/Hobbies: Coffee brewing/drinking, snowboarding, golfing
Future Goals: Serve the pediatric population of WV
Best part(s) of life in Charleston/WV: Great food and many outdoor activities
Strengths of our program: Unopposed working with sub-specialists, working so closely with attendings.
Adam Whiteley, MD
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Interests/Hobbies: Trumpet playing, soccer, volleyball, scuba diving, sailing, traveling, eating and sometimes cooking
Future Goals: PICU and possibly palliative care
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: Access to nature, food scene, cost of living and no traffic
Strengths of our program: Strong faculty-to-resident teaching and face-time, high level of autonomy/responsibility and great co-residents
PGL 2 Residents
Rojin Arefi, MD
Hometown: Great Falls, Virginia
Interests/Hobbies: I love exploring new ways to understand our world and its inhabitants (human and other-than-human alike!), whether it be through books, photography, poetry, podcasts, or via something as simple as a stroll on a familiar road. You can often find me out in nature, where I enjoy identifying local flora and fauna. I'm always eager to brainstorm innovative ways to promote physician wellness with my colleagues. My husband and I love to travel the world together, and I also manage my mischievous Holland lop rabbit's YouTube channel. I strive to see magic and wonder in simple things; our pediatric patients are my greatest inspiration for this practice.
Future Goals: Pediatric emergency medicine or general pediatrics, with a focus on integrative medicine.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: West Virginia is incredibly beautiful during all four seasons. There is NO traffic! The rhythm of life in Charleston is conducive to rest and relaxation. Our patient population is warm and kind.
Strengths of our program: Our program leadership is 110% committed to the growth, well-being, and happiness of its residents. They listen to our concerns and advocate on our behalf on a regular basis. Our attendings provide excellent teaching, and are always readily available to mentor and guide us on our learning journey. Our residents are very friendly, genuine, compassionate and supportive of one another -- we're one big, loving family!
Akash Daswaney, MD
Hometown: Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Interests/Hobbies: Going to the gym and playing table tennis
Future Goals: PICU, Pediatrics Cardiology, Pediatrics Pulmonology
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: No traffic. The greenery and home-like feeling.
Strengths of our program: Autonomy provided to residents. Focus on resident education. The residents, attendings and leadership!
Lucas Ryan, MD
Megha Suri, MD
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Interests/Hobbies: Traveling, reading, interior design and home renovation, arts and crafts, and wine enthusiast
Future Goals: Lots - but to be determined
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: Picturesque natural beauty, friendly community, great places to eat and has everything you'll need during residency
Strengths of our program: Supportive faculty that's always working to give us the best experience, amazing and caring co-residents, diverse pathology, progressive autonomy and probably the CUTEST population you'll get to serve.
Abhijeet Trivedi, MD
Medical Education:
MD (Pediatrics) - Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai, India
MRCPCH: Member of Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health, UK
PICU Fellowship: Surya Hospital, Mumbai, India
Hometown: Rajkot, India
Interests/Hobbies: Traveling, listening to music and watching movies.
Future Goals: General Pediatrics
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: No traffic, easy to reach everywhere and has great mountains, hiking and the best nature.
Strengths of our program: Good academics, very friendly and supportive environment, small program - so you get to know each other very well, attendings are always ready to teach and help residents and the opportunity to see a variety of cases.
Katelyn Wampler, MD
Hometown: Nokesville, VA
Interests/Hobbies: Skiing, hiking, playing volleyball and traveling.
Future Goals: General Pediatrics
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: Beautiful scenery and great hiking.
Strengths of our program: Amazing co-residents
Samantha Westbrook, DO
Kristi Wu, DO
PGL 1 Residents
Rhyan Bailey, DO
Hometown: Rock, WV
Future Goals: My future plans include becoming a general pediatrician and practicing in my hometown community.
Interests/Hobbies: My hobbies include hanging out with my husband, my family and my cats. I also like to hunt for fossils and learn about extinct animals, and I enjoy crafting. :)
Niharika Bheemisetty, MD
Fatou Conteh, MD
Marissa Frazie, DO
Hometown: Charleston, WV
Interests/Hobbies: Reading, indoor gardening/houseplants, interior design and home renovation, traveling and spending time with family, friends and my dog and two cats.
Future Goals: General Pediatrics, but open to sub-specializing.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: It's home! After being away for my undergraduate and medical degrees, I was thankful to finally come back home to Charleston. Charleston is cozy, everything is easily accessible and the people are friendly. There are many beautiful hiking areas throughout the state that I take my dog to. It's also easy to travel with the local airport and a few international airports within 1-3 hour drives from here.
Strengths of our program: Attending physicians that are excellent teachers, the opportunities to serve a diverse patient population and wonderful, friendly and caring co-residents.
Megan Goodwin, DO
Charis Kasler, DO
Hometown: Boardman, OH
Interests/Hobbies: Jigsaw puzzles, sudoku, photography, hiking, theatre and playing with my cats.
Future Goals: General Pediatrics or Developmental Behavioral
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: Beautiful scenery for photography and hiking, great food and great people.
Strengths of our program: The senior residents are incredibly supportive, willing to give autonomy when you feel ready and step in for assistance when you don't. There's a lot of direct interaction with attendings that allows for important educational opportunities. And of course, a tight knit community of residents to make even the stressful days a little better.
Michelle Russell, DO
Hometown: Pulaski, PA
Interests/Hobbies: Playing the flute, enjoying WWE, watching/reading anything Sci-Fi or fantasy, volunteering in the community and budding plant enthusiast.
Future Goals: Pediatric Hospitalist, PEM, pediatric rheumatology, adolescent medicine and palliative care.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: The people here are so kind! I also love the access to nature and the variety of food!!
Strengths of our program: Our residents are amazing! Everyone is so friendly and kind. The program leadership always strives to make sure the program continues to get better! High level of autonomy/responsibility. Working closely with attendings.