Here at the pediatrics team, we strive to make sure every team member feels the support and encouragement needed to leave each day feeling like they made a difference. Attendings become mentors, staff becomes friends, and co-residents become family. Every day, you will be presented with opportunities to enhance your learning through patient interactions, independence, and procedures. These opportunities and quality of our team members are the reasons you will leave this program as an accomplished physician with memories to last a lifetime.
Each of us has a story. This story is woven together with the challenges and triumphs we have each experienced on our journey toward residency. Here at our program, we cherish these individual stories, and we work to bring these stories together to form a unified, collective story of compassion, respect, resilience, and love. We bloom together.
Within the Pediatrics team here at CAMC, we not only work towards becoming great pediatricians, but also effective teachers, lifelong learners and valuable members of the community. Being one of the only few children's hospital in the state, we are entrusted with the care of West Virginia's youth. We accomplish this important task with a tight-knit group of co-residents, attendings and staff all willing to support one another. Not only do we cheer each other on with career goals, but we recognize the importance of wellbeing and balance during your time in the residency.
PGL 3 Residents
Rhyan Bailey, DO
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
Interests/Hobbies: Traveling, exploring, going on adventures, trekking, listening to music, participating in outdoor activities and painting.
Future Goals: Fellowship
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: Calm place and less traffic.
Strengths of our program: Close knit program, supportive leadership and faculty.
Fatou Conteh, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Staying indoors, cooking, baking and having fun with family.
Future Goals: I used to love infectious disease, mainly because of the different regions I have trained in, however, outpatient pediatrics has recently found a way to my heart. I love the idea of having my own patients to see regularly and building that continuity.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: I lived in Atlanta before moving to Charleston, so I know what heavy traffic is. The best part about our little world here is that you can get anywhere within 15-20 minutes.
Strengths of our program: Our program is wonderful, but most importantly I love how everyone is like family. I love that you can easily access our leadership with any concerns at any time and they will always be there for you. Our pediatrics program is home away from home.
Marissa Frazie, DO
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
Interests/Hobbies: In my spare time I love cooking, hiking with my husband, Lucas, and our dog, Ellie, reading and all things WVU sports!
Future Goals: Outpatient Pediatrics in West Virginia
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: The outdoor activities! I also love living in a place that feels like home, and I'll always appreciate the kind people of West Virginia.
Strengths of our program: I really feel that we are all on one team. We go out of our way to support one another in both work and home lives.
Charis Kasler, DO
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.
Ghada Naji, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Listening to music, swimming, cooking for my family/friends, dancing in Zumba classes and knitting.
Future Goals: Pediatric endocrinology
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: nice nature, great friendly people and no traffic.
Strengths of our program: Mentoring relationship between the faculty and the residents. The program is dedicated to creating independent successful physicians. The program has a great group of residents to work with.
Michelle Russell, DO
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.
PGL 2 Residents
Ankita Adhikari, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Writing, painting, growing house plants, playing basketball and exploring new hobbies!
Future Goals: I'm currently passionate about working as a Pediatrics Hospitalist, but I also value having continuity of care with my patients. I'm excited to see how this journey unfolds and look forward to making a positive impact.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: My favorite part of Charleston, WV, is how green and friendly it is. Plus, with no traffic and everything close by, it's like living in a cozy, hassle-free wonderland!
Strengths of our program: We're like one big, supportive family here. The residents are wonderful, and the seniors are always there with a helping hand and a smile.
Ayesha Birjees, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Cooking and painting.
Future Goals: Hospitalist as of now.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: I like being surrounded by nature.
Strengths of our program: The supportive seniors and attendings.
Egor Cherkasov, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Any type of physical activity. I am committed to self-development.
Future Goals: Improve access to health care worldwide.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: I like the nature, people and the calm environment.
Strengths of our program: I like the robust faculty support, varied clinical experiences, outstanding training facilities and extensive educational resources, all within a friendly and welcoming atmosphere.
Harshitha Dhanpalreddy, MD, MS
Interests/Hobbies: Listening to old songs, hiking and trying new restaurants
Future Goals: Going into a fellowship, traveling to different countries and enjoying different cuisines.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: The stunning natural landscapes, riverside music activities and drivable distance to bigger cities.
Strengths of our program: Exposure to a wide variety of pathologies, along with supportive seniors and faculties, makes it a great place to train and learn.
Zubaira Khan, DO
Interests/Hobbies: Reading and playing pickleball
Future Goals: Outpatient Pediatrics
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: Charleston has always been home to me. I love being close to my family. I also love the people and natural beauty of West Virginia!
Strengths of our program: Great seniors and attendings who give you autonomy but also are passionate about teaching!
Dua Syed, MD
Interests/Hobbies: I'm all about getting creative, whether it's crafting something unique, diving into epic anime or whipping up delicious dishes in the kitchen. Art, anime and cooking are my go-to escapes.
Future Goals: I want to explore intensive care a bit more before making my decision. Whether it's the NICU or the PICU, I wish to make a difference in the lives of families. A fellowship is definitely in the books for me!
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: The people! Warm, friendly and always ready to lend a hand. The city itself has such a welcoming vibe, making it easy to feel at home no matter where you're from. It's the kind of place where you can truly connect with others and build a community.
Strengths of our programs: Our program boasts experienced faculty who are always eager to teach and provide invaluable support. They ensure that every issue is addressed and you have the guidance and resources needed to succeed.
PGL 1 Residents
Kaweeta Ahuja, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Listening to music, traveling, doing yoga and spending time with family.
Future Goals: General Pediatrics, but open to sub-specialty
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: The people of Charleston are very welcoming and friendly. It is easy to commute to work or around the city, and there is a variety of ethnic foods and the beautiful scenic views.
Strengths of our program: Diverse group of residents and faculty, friendly atmosphere like family and approachable faculty. I am blessed to be part of the CAMC pediatrics family.
Mutaz Almomani, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Going to the gym, listening to music and watching football games.
Future Goals: I’m planning to pursue a career in pediatric neonatology (NICU).
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: The people here are incredibly kind and welcoming. The area is surrounded by beautiful nature and green spaces. It’s calm and not overcrowded.
Strengths of our program: The program offers excellent support for residents in all aspects. Everyone at the hospital — from attendings to staff — is approachable, friendly and helpful. The supervision is well-balanced, providing both structured guidance and opportunities to grow independently.
Yerassyl Ibragim, MD
Gurleen Kaur, MD
Evgenii Kravchenko, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and dog, skiing, running and table tennis.
Future Goals: General Pediatrics
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: I haven't explored much yet, but I am already in love with the gorgeous nature, mountains, forests and animals, as well as the kind and friendly people who try to help you no matter what.
Strengths of our program: CAMC's Pediatric Residency program is like a family, offering excellent learning opportunities and a supportive environment for residents.
Astha Kumari, MD
Interests/Hobbies: I love expressing myself through dance, interior design and fashion. I enjoy organizing things in creative ways, spending time outdoors and I’ve recently started exploring aviation as a new hobby. I’m also a big dog person and a proud Rottweiler mom!
Future Goals: I’m leaning toward pursuing a fellowship, but I’m keeping an open mind to see what truly resonates with me throughout residency.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: The people! Charleston has such a warm, welcoming vibe. Everyone you meet is kind, open to conversation, and always willing to help.
Strengths of our program: What really stood out to me about the program is how far everyone is willing to go to support you. It’s such a tight-knit, supportive community and the sense of family here is incredibly strong!
Stephanie Lin, DO
Interests/Hobbies: Anime, Kpop, reading, video games and traveling.
Future Goals: Outpatient Pediatrics in West Virginia
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: West Virginia is truly a beautiful state. I love driving through the mountains, hiking through the woods, going to festivals and just enjoying the fresh air and soothing sounds of nature. The people in West Virginia are also very kind; everywhere you go, people will treat you like family and won’t hesitate to help you out.
Strengths of our program: When I rotated here, the environment seemed to be very positive and supportive. The program leadership team was very kind and welcoming and made me feel like I would be a valued and appreciated member of the program if I was a resident here.
Artur Polechshuk, MD
Interests/Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy writing music and performing on stage. Whenever I get the chance, I love to travel even to the most unusual corners of the world.
Future Goals: Over the next three years, I hope to decide between general pediatrics and pursuing a subspecialty. In any case, my goal is to become a true professional in my field.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: I’m genuinely amazed by the natural beauty here (and trust me, I’ve been to 26 countries) and by how kind and welcoming the people are. Combine that with delicious food and the charming streets of Charleston, and it’s hard to imagine wanting to leave.
Strengths of our program: Exceptional support, both on a personal and professional level. This year has been incredibly challenging for us as first-year residents, and we made it through thanks to the strong support we received from our program. From the very first moment after Match Day, we felt like part of the team and part of a family.
Hiba Shaukat, MD
Carolina Sparkman, DO
Kseniia Tonkoshkurova, MD
Interests/Hobbies: Filming and editing videos — I run a YouTube channel. Also love playing volleyball and traveling.
Future Goals: To become a true professional in whichever field of pediatrics I choose.
Best part(s) of life in Charleston and/or WV: The beautiful nature surrounding the city, the charming historic downtown, the walkability, and the rich cultural life — despite being a small city, it never feels like one when it comes to things to do.
Strengths of our program: I chose this program because during the interview, I felt an incredible sense of calm and acceptance. I could be my true self with the people here and felt a deep connection — like if I matched here, I would find a new, very supportive family. And that’s exactly what happened.
