Family & Community Medicine Residency

I was born in upstate NY and raised in motels throughout California, where my parents worked in the hospitality industry. I completed my undergraduate studies at UC Berkeley, majoring in Business Administration at the Haas School of Business. Upon graduation, I began a career in operations and data analytics at Dropbox in San Francisco. Around this time, I had the opportunity to serve as a health educator for under-resourced high schools in the East Bay Area, volunteer at a local hospital, and shadow primary care physicians.  These formative experiences shaped my growing interest in medicine, exposing me to existing health disparities in my community and the important role primary care physicians play as care providers, educators and advocates for their patients.

I began my medical journey by attending Bryn Mawr College’s PostbaccalaureatePremedical Program for career changers. After completion, I worked at UCSF Medical Center where I integrated skills from my prior work on projects such as designing an electronic survey system for a major breast cancer therapy quality of life study. I also served as a patient advocate for the Patient Support Corps program, helping patients with new cancer diagnoses navigate their appointments and make informed treatment decisions.

I attended medical school at Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) at Jefferson. My clinical experiences reinforced my decision to pursue Family Medicine, particularly the opportunity to form longitudinal relationships with patients, engage in community health initiatives, experience a wide breadth of patient presentations, and practice preventative care. All these reasons, combined with a commitment to caring for the underserved made Jefferson the ideal residency program. I’m excited to stay at Jefferson for my training and continue serving the Philadelphia community. Outside of medicine, I enjoy exploring the city’s food scene, watching Formula 1 and the NBA (Lakers Nation!), and taking long treks on the Schuylkill River Trail.

My name is Chinonso Akuchie and I was born in Houston, Texas to Nigerian immigrants. I went to Brown University through the Program of Liberal Medical Education, where I obtained a degree in Health and Human Sciences and  I continued on to attend medical school at The Warren Alpert Medical School. 

Since I was young, I have had an interest and passion for medicine. As I continued my medical education, I learned that I enjoyed everything about the field from delivering babies to inpatient medicine to doing procedures. I discovered that family medicine is the perfect field for me— it is a field that allows physicians to interact with and develop long lasting relationships with a large and diverse patient population and as well as explore a wide variety of ever evolving interests.  

Jefferson immediately felt like a place that I could see myself learning and growing at for years to come. Residents and faculty alike are so clearly passionate about the community and that passion is palpable; it’s what drew me to this program. Outside of residency, I hope to continue doing things that I love: reading, painting, cooking, and adventuring. I am so excited to live and work in the city of brotherly love! 

I grew up in Park Ridge, New Jersey with my mom and sister. I left my hometown for the first time to attend Vassar College, where I majored in Hispanic Studies and Neuroscience. Within Hispanic Studies, I focused on Latin American film and protest movements.  In the neuroscience department, I studied sensory ecology and researched hearing in saw-whet owls (widely known as the cutest owl). However, I pivoted towards medicine after discovering how much I loved caring for my community as an EMT. Throughout my time in college, I helped run a campus EMS service and advocated for harm reduction approaches to substance use. The experience cemented my desire to practice medicine as a means of working toward a more just society.

After undergrad, I moved back to Northern NJ and worked as a research assistant at the Nathan Kline Institute for Psychiatric Research, where I studied brain development throughout the life span. In doing so, I developed a strong interest in preventative care, as I witnessed the close ties between a person’s social, environmental, and economic circumstances and their mental and physical health.

These interests carried over into medical school at Harvard, where I fell in love with family medicine. I found that it allowed me to build long-term relationships with patients while exploring the areas I am passionate about, which include reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming care, and improving access to healthcare among equity-seeking groups. This made Jefferson an obvious choice, with its close ties to the Philly community and strong academic foundation.

Outside of work, I love going for walks around the city with my partner, snuggling with my cat, cooking, hiking, reading, hanging out at the Jersey shore, and sampling the Philly food scene!

I grew up in a suburb of Boston and went to undergrad at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. I majored in biochemistry and minored in rhetoric with a concentration in film studies. It was here that I discovered my love for ultimate frisbee, and continue to play the sport to this day!

Following undergrad I moved back to Boston and joined a rheumatology and immunology laboratory at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Before medical school, I left this job and moved to Denver, where I lived with friends and hiked, climbed, camped, canvassed, and composted my heart out. I then began medical school at the University of Michigan, where I got involved in street medicine, gynecologic research, and the tutoring of local elementary and college students.

I have always wanted to work with patients who face barriers to accessing medical care. I chose Jeff because it was clear to me that this community is truly committed to the marginalized populations they serve. Additionally, I knew Jeff would support me in pursuing my many interests, including sexual and reproductive health, gender-affirming care, addiction medicine, HIV care, adolescent medicine, and mental health care.

Outside of work, you can find me sleeping, puttering around my house, and finding ways to get outside!

I was born in Trinidad and Tobago and was raised in Brooklyn, NY. As a child, I was drawn to medicine based on my experiences with Childhood Asthma. I was an Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) student at Stony Brook University during my undergraduate studies. Since then, I participated in various pipeline programs, including NERA Medprep and CSTEP. As a product of these programs, I am passionate about mentoring, advocating for, and empowering disadvantaged students to achieve their academic goals.

At Hackensack SOM, I volunteered as a student mentor/academic success coach for underrepresented students in medicine. I was a volunteer navigator for the Hackensack Meridian Health Accountable Health Community (AHC) Program, bridging clinical and community services by addressing health-related social needs. I have always been passionate about primary care and advocating for underserved communities, and family medicine cultivated this passion. In medical school, I was the founding president of the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) and vice-president of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA). I am most proud of creating a student-led pipeline program called Hackensack Physician Pipeline Program (HPPP) to help undergraduate students apply to professional programs by providing research, mentorship, and shadowing opportunities. 

In recognition of my research on smoking cessation in disadvantaged communities, I was awarded the Excellence in Public Health Award in 2023 by the US Public Health Service Physician Professional Advisory Committee. This led me to pursue a master’s in public health from Jefferson College of Population Health to further my education on positively impacting communities from a population health standpoint. Jefferson was a top option for continuing my residency training due to its robust academic background, urban location, and commitment to caring for the community. This program mirrors my goals in community medicine, advocacy, and dedication to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in medical education as a physician.

I love home improvement, DIY projects, exposed brick walls, and being a plant mom. My favorite activities include trying foods from different cultures, exploring cafes, and experimenting with lattes. My favorite aspect about moving to Philly is its rich history, artistic vibes, and great food options!

I grew up in Gainesville, FL, but I’ve been slowly working my way north to escape the humidity! In 2018, I got my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at UNC-Chapel Hill and moved to Bethesda, where I completed 2 years as a post-baccalaureate researcher for the National Cancer Institute. My gap years were filled with an abundance of career exploration and existential questions, but in the end, it brought me to an exciting career in medicine!

Four years later I graduated from medical school at the University of Virginia. During my training, I explored many different specialties, but I eventually realized the common thread in my journey: an interest in aiding the underserved in my community. Throughout medical school, I volunteered at the Charlottesville Free Clinic, helped run UVA’s Homeless Consult Service, and put together a conference entitled “Sheltering Health: Addressing Homelessness and Housing Insecurity in Healthcare”. While my journey to family medicine was circuitous, in the end, it was an easy choice. In my (totally unbiased) opinion, family medicine provides the optimal platform for patient and community advocacy, and Thomas Jefferson truly embodies these ideals.

When I’m not working, you’ll find me reading, snuggling with my cat Daisy, convincing myself to go to a workout class, or exploring the city! 

I was raised in Bucks County, PA, where I developed my connection to the city of Philadelphia. And as for medicine, I have been drawn to it since I was a little girl playing doctor with my Barbie dolls.

For my undergraduate studies, I did a 5-year program across the river at Drexel University to obtain my BS and MS in biomedical engineering, focusing on tissue engineering with a minor in Spanish. At that point in my life, I thought I wanted to grow organs, but after working for my school co-ops at CHOP, I realized I wanted to be on the patient side of things. During college, I fostered dogs from a local shelter and volunteered with Girls on the Run. I took two years off after college to apply to medical school while I worked as a scribe in rheumatology.

I pursued my medical education close to home by attending Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. In medical school, I liked everything and every clerkship, but I did not find the perfect fit until I did my family medicine rotation. I loved the longitudinal relationships that were developed with patients and families. I especially loved seeing mom and baby post birth. Jefferson and the Philadelphia community have served me well for many years. My husband and I have many friends and family here – so it was an easy choice to stay. I am excited to give back to the city and continue to make it a better and healthier place to live. My professional interests include promoting the importance of primary care and access to it, vaccine education, and maternal-child health.

Outside of medicine, I love to cook – a skill I learned from my grandmothers and watching the Food Network growing up. I have multiple signed cook books from my favorite chefs including Giada and Ina Garten. Outside of healthcare I also love to walk my dog (a shih-poo named Koko) and explore different areas in Philly. I am always excited to try a new restaurant or farmers market find. My husband and I have an ever evolving list of the best cheesesteaks and pizzas in the city. What I love most about Philly is the palpable passion that permeates every aspect of the city, whether it's cheering for a sports team, patronizing a local water ice vendor, or any other endeavor—Philly residents approach life with unwavering fervor. This diversity translates into a myriad of unique cultures, neighborhoods, cuisines, and more throughout the city, enriching and educating us all at every chance.

I’m originally from Havana, Cuba however I immigrated to Miami, FL with my parents when I was younger. I attended Florida International University (FIU) in Miami where I majored in Biology and Interdisciplinary Studies. During my time at FIU, I taught Spanish-speaking immigrants English, which was my introduction to working with my community. I took one gap year before medical school where I worked as a scribe at a predominantly Spanish-speaking hospital which solidified my choice to work with Latin and immigrant populations.

I then attended Boston University for medical school where I continued to engage with Latin populations through the Latin Medical Student Association and teach Spanish to my peers through the Medical Spanish club. I was fortunate to participate in the National Medical Fellowship’s Primary Care Leadership Program (PCLP), where I worked with community health site partners and received leadership training from PCLP mentors. Through these experiences, I became interested in Family medicine due to the longitudinal nature of the field combined with ample opportunities to become a community leader. Ultimately, I want to establish a strong presence within my community and actively participate in and lead community events, gradually transitioning into prominent leadership roles.

Jefferson appealed to me and my goals due to their clear commitment to their surrounding communities. I’m particularly excited to engage with the Philly community through the program’s Puentes de Salud clinic. I’m also looking forward to exploring my immigrant and refugee health interests while at Jefferson!

Outside of work, you will probably find me at the gym. I did combat sports for most of my life, but some injuries have caused me to explore other sports. Lately, I’ve been obsessed with improving my 3-pointer on the basketball court. I’m also an avid gamer and a huge fan of massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPGs).

I’ve lived in and around Philadelphia my whole life. I went to Saint Joseph’s University on the Mainline for undergrad and majored in Biology and minored in Art with a concentration in ceramics.  I didn’t travel too far for medical school, but I’ve loved living in the city proper during medical school at Jeff. Like the liberal arts education I received during undergrad, I gravitated towards Jeff because of their focus on delivering holistic medicine. I also felt they cared about fostering my other interests including exploring the intersections between art and health. At SKMC, I had opportunities to learn more about health on an individual, community and public health level. I got involved with a patient care team that worked to address social determinants of health through an interdisciplinary approach. To me, Philadelphia is the perfect place to learn about the medical bio-social intersections of individuals and communities. My call to medicine was the ability to form relationships with individuals to deliver person-centered healthcare.  I chose to stay at Jefferson for residency because I felt that at Jefferson Family Medicine, and Jefferson as an institution, there is a focus on delivering holistic and empathetic care.   

My favorite activities outside of medicine include running, reading and ceramics. I especially love to do these activities with friends. A core memory from medical school was running the Philadelphia Love Run with two other medical students.

My favorite aspect of Philly is the artistic community. Being a ceramicist myself it is so interesting to connect with fellow artists in and out of the hospital! 

Hello everyone! I am so grateful for the opportunity to complete my training at an amazing program like Jefferson. I’m originally from Virginia Beach, Virginia and grew up just a few miles away from the beach. For undergrad, I attended The College of William & Mary and majored in biology and minored in Hispanic studies. While I was a student there, I was a violist in the College’s symphony orchestra and a softball player. I also served as a volunteer Spanish/English interpreter at a federally qualified health center in my college town. I immediately became interested in underserved medicine for the creativity it requires to provide good care with limited resources and the ability to combine my love of medicine with my love of social justice and advocacy. I knew I wanted to do family medicine because of its wealth of opportunities to train and practice in underserved communities, as well as its huge scope of practice, focus on preventative care, and ability to build long-term relationships with patients.

I entered medical school at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine medical school knowing I wanted to become a family physician. At VCU I had the amazing opportunity to be selected for the fmSTAT program, a four-year track for students with a passion for family medicine. Although I love my home state of Virginia, I’m super excited to start a new adventure in Philly and experience the amazing diversity and rich history of the city.

I fell in love with Jefferson because of its clear dedication to serving the most underserved community members of Philadelphia and the amazing opportunities it offers to gain training in areas like HIV care, LGBTQ+ care, and homeless healthcare. I loved that Jefferson would provide me with top-tier training in broad-spectrum family medicine while allowing me to explore my interests within the field.

Outside of residency, you can probably catch me trying to eat my way through the city’s food scene or going to as many concerts as possible and exploring the local music scene. You might also catch me walking along the river and pretending I’m at the beach.  

I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I decided to venture out of my hometown and move to Boston where I got a bachelor's degree in Brain and Cognitive Sciences at Massachusetts Institiute of Technology. During my summers off from college, I would volunteer at hospitals in South Los Angeles, and those experiences caused me to want to address health disparities and work with underserved communities by becoming a physician.

I got to dive deeper into that passion at the University of California San Francisco School of Medicine by being involved in student organizations like White Coats for Black Lives and Clínica Martín-Baró. I learned the power of community-centered care by working with these organizations to increase access to healthcare for Black and Latinx patients. I decided to pursue family medicine to continue forming lifelong relationships with my patients and with my community.

Continuing my training at Jefferson was an easy choice for me because of the family & community medicine program's clear commitment to advocating for our patients and promoting health equity throughout Philadelphia. I'm excited to explore my interests in behavioral health and integrative medicine while here.

Outside of medicine, I love Afro-Carribean dance, trying out new recipes in the kitchen, taking care of my plant babies, and exploring restaurants in the city.

I grew up in a very small town in Southern New Jersey called Shamong. If you've never heard of it, don't worry, no one has (it has one Wawa and a stop light-- that's about it). After finishing high school, I went to The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and majored in Biology after completing one year at Rutgers New Brunswick. Throughout high school and college, I was a competitive cheerleader and won 2nd place at UCA College Nationals. After graduating college, I took a gap year working as a medical scribe for a cardiology group in South Jersey.

I stayed in South Jersey for medical school, attending Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in Camden, NJ. I loved being able to get out into the community and helping Camden's underserved population through our many service programs, my favorite being the Camden Prenatal Collaborative, which helped provide resources to high risk prenatal patients.

Going into medical school, I had a broad array of interests. On recent survey I found from my first year, I noted that I actively did not want to be a Family Medicine physician (joke's on me now). In my 3rd year of medical school, I found that my favorite part of medicine was building long-standing relationships with my patients and connecting with them on a deeper level irrespective of their medical conditions. I also found that Family Medicine provided me the opportunity to explore my interests and seek out further education in whatever area of interests I have, from Maternal Child Health to Point of Care Ultrasound to Medical Education.

Thomas Jefferson was my first choice for residency programs because I could readily identify with the people and their mission. The faculty and residents are so warm and welcoming and really appealed to my inner social butterfly. I also loved the idea of continuing to work with underserved patients in the Philadelphia community, just as I did in Camden.

Outside of medicine, I love to hang out with friends, watch reality TV, take long romantic walks through Barnes & Noble. I love reading good book cuddled up with a blanket sipping coffee. I also love listening to true crime podcasts and taking scenic walks outside. I am also a proud mom to Kiwi, the cutest gray cat you ever did see. Although I still live in Jersey, I'm excited to find the best Philly eats and see where I can get the best pasta to fulfill my carb cravings.

I grew up in Hingham, Massachusetts with my parents and two younger brothers. I went to Bowdoin College in Maine, where I studied neuroscience and education and spent most of my weekends playing outside.

After college, I split my time between two jobs. In the first, I was an international hiking and cycling guide, honing my Spanish skills and my passion for outdoor adventures. In the second, I taught therapeutic horseback riding and was licensed through the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship. Through this work, I had the opportunity to combine my loves of developmental neuroscience, adaptive curriculum design, and integrative therapeutic modalities. I specialized in teaching children with developmental disabilities and adolescents with mental health diagnoses. I have a deep-seated love for trauma-informed teaching and for multidisciplinary collaboration. My students and their families led me on a winding road to medicine.

When I started at Weill Cornell Medical College, I had a vision of the type of doctor that I wanted to be but not the specialty that I wanted to be in. I knew that I wanted to build relationships with my patients and to think broadly about health in the context of their lives and communities. As I explored my interests, I realized that family medicine was a perfect fit. I love that I can practice broad spectrum medicine, that my patients will push me to constantly learn new things, that my career requires me to think holistically, and that justice is a central tenant.

I am so excited to be at Jefferson! As is true of many of us drawn to family medicine, my interests are broad and include integrative medicine, trauma-informed care, reproductive justice, accessible primary care, gender affirming care and addiction medicine. When I’m not working, you can find me on my bike in Wissahickon Valley Park, trying new recipes and exploring Philly with friends.

I’m from Upstate New York. I studied Biology and Health: Science, Society, and Policy at Brandeis University. After college, I served in AmeriCorps VISTA as a rural behavioral health grant writer and program developer. Simultaneously, I worked as a nursing home support attendant and ballet teacher. These experiences established my dream in medicine: care for patients and lead community health projects. This led me to SUNY Upstate Medical University. There, my biggest role models were family medicine physicians who championed healthcare advocacy and full spectrum care. I’m delighted to continue my interests at Jefferson and serve the people of Philadelphia. Outside of medicine, I enjoy hosting potlucks with friends and faith-based communities, rollerblading, watercolor painting, watching ice hockey, and reliving my ballet/orchestra days. In three years, I look forward to trying food from every country that Philadelphia has to offer!

I’m from New York City, but my family moved to Utah when I was young. I spent a lot of time outside in Utah’s mountains before moving back East to go to Colby College in Maine. I spent my time there either nerding out in the chem lab or running around the rugby pitch with my best friends. I took a job in a rural Arkansas town as a high school Algebra II and Chemistry teacher. I fell in love with teaching, but more so, I became impassioned by the stories of my students. After a few years learning about educational, health and racial inequities, I moved back to Portland, Maine where I became a caseworker at a shelter serving Portland’s homeless community. I found my niche working alongside women who were managing substance use disorders, sex work, and histories of childhood trauma. 

I went to Dartmouth for medical school knowing I wanted to be a Family Medicine doctor. I chose Jefferson because of its robust community medicine curriculum and partnerships with amazing clinics all over Philadelphia. I wanted a program that prioritized building a community out of its residency, and Jefferson is the best of them.

I grew up in a rural area of Northeastern Pennsylvania along with my 7 brothers and sisters. I chose to stay close to home for college and attended the University of Scranton majoring in Biomathematics (Go Royals!). It was at Scranton that the value of “cura personalis”, meaning care for the whole person, cultivated my dedication to promoting human dignity and care for mind, body, and spirit. After graduating from the Scranton, I went on to pursue my MPH in Epidemiology at Drexel University which paired my love for math and passion for understanding how to better care for populations through public health initiatives. During my time at Drexel, I saw first-hand how integral preventative medicine was to communities, especially those who were underserved. It was then that I chose to apply to medical school, and I was lucky enough to stay in Philly at Sidney Kimmel Medical College (SKMC) at Jefferson.

While attending SKMC I fell even more in love with Philadelphia and most importantly the people! I value Jefferson’s focus on caring for the underserved and have always felt privileged to be part of this community. I was overjoyed to match here for residency, and I look forward to continuing to learn, grow, and serve this city!

In my free time I enjoy going to any and all Philly sporting events, running along the Schuylkill trail, spending time with my nieces and nephews, and eating my way through Philly’s great restaurant scene. 

I was born in Gatundu, Kenya where some of my fondest childhood memories include chasing my grandma’s chickens and climbing my neighbor’s mango trees despite getting in trouble every time.  During 3rd grade, my family relocated to Worcester, MA and they have remained there since.  I then went off to college not too far away from home, yet far enough. At Boston University I Majored in Biology and Minored in Psychology. It was also there that I took Swahili classes throughout my 4 years as a way of continuing to stay connected to my Kenyan roots. Before medical school I pursued a Master’s degree in medical sciences with my thesis focused on PCOS which is when I discovered my interest in women’s health. I then decided to stay in Boston and attended Tufts University School of Medicine.

Throughout medical school, I continued to pursue my interests in serving underserved populations by volunteering as a sexual and reproductive health counselor in our student-run clinic and becoming a NICU cuddler for neonates with NAS. I was a co-president of SNMA and worked with my colleagues to spearhead various anti-racism campaigns. I continued to incorporate mentorship by serving as a mentee for underrepresented premed students.

I immediately knew I wanted to come to Jefferson because of its impressive community partnerships, the opportunity to train in full-scope FM, its commitment to health equity at the institutional level, and its dedication to fostering a supportive environment. I’m clearly an East Coast girl, no matter the continent, so I am so excited to be in Philly and join the JFMA family!

My interests in Family Medicine include community-based medicine, mentorship, and maternal and reproductive health. Outside of medicine, I enjoy catching up on sleep, binge-watching shows, trying new restaurants (especially for brunch), going to concerts, and being surrounded by water without actually going in!

I was born at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and grew up in southern New Jersey. I always loved people and science and went on to study Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD. I stayed in Baltimore for several years to work in brain cancer research, inpatient psychiatry, and healthcare policy consulting. While living there I also earned a Master’s degree in Biochemistry and a Graduate Certificate in Gerontology. I returned to Philadelphia to study medicine at The Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, where I expanded on my interests in health equity and improving primary care. While there I felt complete when I realized through rotations that family medicine was the obvious and natural path for me to combine my interests into a fulfilling career. I’m so excited to continue learning from my patients and colleagues as a resident at Jefferson. When I’m not working, I’m having adventures and snuggling on the couch with my son, husband, and dog. 

Hello, my name is Adetutu Olowu (please call me Tutu!). I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, to my lovely parents as the third of eventually four children. When I was three years old, my family of six moved to New York, and it has been our home ever since. I have always had a love for science, so it was no surprise to anyone when I decided to pursue a career in medicine.

I attended the freezing yet charming Clarkson University for my undergraduate degree in Biology with a focus in Cognitive Neuroscience. After graduation, I continued my education at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine for a master's in Biomedical Sciences. I took a year off to spend time with my family and explore my interests before finding my way to the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple for a dual degree in Medicine and Urban Bioethics. As I entered medical school, I was eager to learn how to enhance my education to care for underserved communities. In Philadelphia, I found a city with both a significant need and impassioned people dedicated to serving this population. I knew Jefferson was the place for me because this program radiates an undeniable warmth that I knew would bring out the very best in me. I plan to continue exploring the biopsychosocial dimensions of well-being, ethical care delivery, and advocacy in healthcare. I am eager to continue my passion in working hard for those who depend on me, and I am so proud to do that as part of the Jefferson family.

I grew up in Orlando, Florida. While my family is still in Florida, and I love visiting them, Philadelphia has become my adopted home. I went to undergrad at the University of Pennsylvania where I majored in Biological Basis of Behavior and minored in Deaf Studies. While I was at Penn, I worked for the Viral Hepatitis Prevention Program in the Philadelphia Department of Public Health. This experience sparked my interest in harm reduction and addiction medicine. After graduating I spent a year as a research assistant at Philadelphia FIGHT. I worked on studies focusing on adolescent sexual health and attitudes toward PrEP.

I went to medical school at Temple, and I was in the combined MD/MA program in Urban Bioethics. My thesis was an ethical analysis of safe supply, an emerging harm reduction strategy. I chose family medicine because I saw the impact primary care can make on patients’ lives. I was active in student clinics at Prevention Point, Students for a National Health Program, and Medical Students for Choice.

I was drawn to Jefferson Family Medicine because of their involvement in the community. I am interested in addiction medicine, HIV, and adolescent health. Outside of medicine, I love all Philly sports, bad reality TV, and spending time with my husband and our spoiled cat, Peanut.

I am looking forward to learning to become a family physician over the next three years with such an amazing group of co-interns!

I was born in Bayonne, NJ and raised in Jackson, NJ. I am a son, brother, and most proud to be an uncle to two wonderful nieces. I attended Rowan University (Go Profs), and initially pursued a career in Chemical Engineering. Along the way, I realized that the impact I wanted to have on others needed to be at a personal level and decided to explore careers in healthcare. I learned that medicine offers a unique blend of humanism and science, along with the endeavor of lifelong learning. I changed my major and graduated with a B.S. in Biochemistry and was accepted to Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

Cooper Medical School of Rowan University is in the underserved, and vibrantly diverse Camden, NJ. The treasure of CMSRU’s curriculum is the service learning in which students work to serve Camden as their classroom and home. For my part, I worked with at-risk youth in Camden by helping to develop an after-school tutoring and mentorship program named “Homework Heroes.” It is safe to say that this program was the most impactful experience I had in medical school. The children I worked with taught me lessons in patience, humility, perspective, and love. I could write a whole essay about these children, but I do have a word limit for this bio. In short, the beautiful, genuine relationships I made there convinced me, without any doubt, that I am meant to be a family medicine physician.

I am grateful to have found my home at Jefferson. I believe family medicine to be more than a job, or profession, but a calling. At Jefferson, I feel like I am surrounded by likeminded individuals who embrace me as family on this journey. At its core, this program has a devout commitment to serving the diverse community with whom it shares its home. Early in my medical education, the mission to provide excellent health partnership to those who need it the most was instilled in me. It is an electric feeling to know I will show up to work and this mission will be commonplace.

In my free time, I find peace and excitement with outdoor activities like hiking, camping, and kayaking. Eventually, I would love to see all the National Parks. I love plunging a French Press coffee and driving with the windows down testing the limits of the speakers in my car. My family and friends are the most important part of my life, and I cherish all the time I get with them. Lastly, I would be remiss if I did not write about my love of sports. I threw javelin at the collegiate level, but I just happen to love the sports I was mediocre at playing growing up: baseball, basketball, and football. The irony of completing residency at Jefferson is that I am a painfully loyal fan of the New York Mets, which will be an interesting dynamic to navigate while living in Philadelphia. 

As the only daughter of two hardworking Nigerian parents, I was born and raised in Bronx, New York. Although I initially thought I wanted to be a lawyer, I developed a strong interest in medicine while volunteering in my mother’s nonprofit organization, Beacon of Hope Outreach. While participating in community health fairs and global medical missions, I discovered my passion for primary care and community outreach. I enjoyed helping people understand their medical diagnoses and promoting health education.

Inspired by my experience, I founded the Mini-Medical School program and the Wellness committee during my B.S./M.D. training at Sophie Davis/CUNY School of Medicine. I also served as president of the Ob/Gyn Specialty Interest Group and AMWA chapter. In my roles, I valued creating mentorship opportunities for my colleagues and strived to bridge the gap in health equity in Harlem’s most vulnerable populations. My clinical years made me realize how much I valued continuity of care and building strong relationships with my patients. This ultimately drew me to Family Medicine. I knew Family Medicine was the specialty for me within the first two weeks of my rotation.

I knew I wanted a residency program with exceptional academic training and a sense of community amongst residents and faculty, which is what Jefferson offers. During my interview with Jefferson, I was very impressed by the program’s strong commitment to building strong community partnerships and caring for underserved communities in Philadelphia. I knew this program would help me build a career that incorporated mentorship, wellness, and patient advocacy.

In my free time, I enjoy taking scenic walks, traveling, going to concerts, and trying new restaurants. I am very excited to start this new chapter in Philadelphia and explore all the things this city has to offer!

I was born and raised in Northern California, although my family is originally from France, so I grew up with the French and American culture at home. For my undergraduate studies, I moved to Montreal, Canada to attend McGill University where I studied anatomy, Spanish language, and international development in addition to surviving the intensely snowy winters of Canada. I then moved to Baltimore to attend medical school at the University of Maryland. There, I witnessed how often patients face social, economic, and racial barriers to accessing health care. I took a medical Spanish and became passionate about health policy through my involvement with the Maryland State Medical Society. With a group of medical students, I met with legislators at the Maryland General Assembly and U.S. Congress to advocate for legislation that would improve access to health care (ex: legalizing the creation of safe injection sites for opioid overdose prevention). Throughout my career, I plan to continue advocating for my patients' health not only at the individual level in the primary care clinic, but also at a larger scale in state or national legislatures.

I was immediately drawn to Jefferson because of its friendly residents and faculty. I chose this program because of its diverse outpatient community clinics, learning opportunities in reproductive and immigrant health, and all-around supportive environment.

In my free time, I enjoy salsa dancing, learning to play the ukulele, and hosting themed dinner parties for friends. I look forward to discovering the neighborhoods and culture of Philadelphia!

I was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico and moved to the states when I was 8 years old. I lived in Gettysburg, PA until high school graduation and made my way over to Pittsburgh, PA for college at the University of Pittsburgh. I then took a gap year where I did research at Pitt’s Pharmacology and Chemical Biology department. There, I worked with rodents and discovered that wet bench research is not for me. I went to medical school at New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ where I was able to explore my interests in underserved populations and healthcare access disparities.

I first put the idea of becoming a doctor in my head at the age of 6 when I took care of a sick tiny bird. More officially, however, was in middle school when I realized that my love of talking to people and desire to be involved in my community could translate well into a career in the health field. I went into medical school wanting to be in Family Medicine and most people who know me say it makes a lot of sense. I hold a lot of big picture goals and ideas and loved that Jefferson from the very beginning showed interest in allowing me to explore them. I chose Jefferson because of this and because I felt a connection to the vibe of the program and its members.

In my free time I love hanging out with people, playing board games, tending to my fish tanks, and taking trips to Walmart in my sweatpants.

I grew up in a rural town on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. I moved to NYC for college, where I pursued research in school-based health interventions after serving as a teacher’s aide at a preschool for children with special needs in the Bronx. I also was part of a research team for integrated behavioral health in primary care settings. These pursuits fed my love of science and the humanities, mirrored by my decision to major in both Biology and Theology. I left NYC for Virginia, where I joined the primary care track at the University of Virginia SOM.

Through health education endeavors early in med school, I discovered an interest in correctional medicine, leading me to create an interdisciplinary community partnership that allowed for a longitudinal research project that fostered my interests in social justice, addiction medicine, and interprofessional care. This allowed me to further explore the special care needs of marginalized populations, something that led me to Thomas Jefferson to continue my training. I felt this program would support and challenge me in my pursuit of seeking out unique health solutions for underserved communities, all while being part of a community-focused academic department. Outside of residency, I love all outdoor activities, cooking, and working out. I’m so excited to be living in Philadelphia and exploring all it has to offer!

I grew up outside of Baltimore in Owings Mills, Maryland with my parents, sister, and brother. At the age of six, I started swimming competitively when I joined North Baltimore Aquatic Club (NBAC), the same team as Michael Phelps. My passion for competitive swimming continued throughout high school and college, where I became a scholar-athlete at Washington and Lee (W&L) University. At W&L, I double majored in Psychology and Neuroscience. After graduating from W&L, I moved to Providence, Rhode Island to become a clinical research assistant in the Pediatric Mood, Imaging, and NeuroDevelopment (PediMIND) program to work with children and adolescents. My educational background and work experiences ultimately sparked my desire to pursue a career in medicine.

I returned to Baltimore to attend the University of Maryland School of Medicine. At the end of third year, I completed my family medicine clerkship, in which I realized a specialty existed that combined all the aspects of medicine that fascinate me. I loved caring for patients in every stage of life and getting to know patients within the sphere of their broader contexts.

As someone desiring to practice full-scope family medicine in an urban setting with an emphasis on reproductive health, family medicine-obstetrics, and community health, I was drawn to Jefferson. Among the programs I interviewed with, Jefferson stood out to me with its dedication to patient-centered primary care, commitment to community engagement, and most importantly, its people.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with family, running (anywhere from a short jog to training for a marathon), practicing yoga, loudly cheering for the Ravens on Sundays, binge watching terrible reality TV shows, attending happy hours with friends, and trying new coffee shops. I am incredibly excited to explore my new home and start my life in Philly! 

I’m a Philly gal through and through. I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia with my parents, brother, and grandma. I always enjoyed science, and I ended up studying mechanical engineering at Johns Hopkins University. I rediscovered my passion for medicine and pursued my post-baccalaureate pre-medical certificate at Jefferson. I was fortunate enough to attend Sidney Kimmel Medical College, and I made the best memories and friends here. I finally felt at home during my family medicine rotation third year, and the rest is history! I love all things sports medicine and gender-affirming care, and I look forward to life-long learning in all areas. 

On my nights off, I will be at the south Jersey Shore hopping in the ocean or somewhere in Philly with friends sharing memes and cracking jokes. If it’s football season, I’ll be supporting my Eagles. Matching into Jefferson was the best day of my life, but February 4th, 2018 (Super Bowl LII) will forever be a close second. I cannot wait to continue exploring the city with my co-residents!

I was born near Aurora, IL, where I lived with my parents until I was about 6 years old. Once my two younger siblings were born, my parents decided it was time upgrade to a bigger space, so the five of us moved to Yorkville, IL. We remained in Yorkville for the remainder of my childhood, and while there, I developed a penchant for deep-dish pizza, science, and playing sports.  

My mother tells me I was always drawn to medicine growing up. I even asked my grandmother to sew me a white coat for Halloween one year (believe it or not, this isn’t even the nerdiest thing I’ve done). I loved how medicine combined my interests in science, life-long learning, and helping others. 

To pursue my dream of becoming a physician, I attended college at Illinois Wesleyan University, where I studied Biology and played soccer. I met another pre-med student there, Nick, and we decided to get married right after we graduated college in 2017. Nick and I applied to medical school together just a few weeks after getting married, and we were lucky enough to both attend SKMC after finishing our gap year as Emergency Department medical scribes in Peoria, IL. Nick and I will be continuing our journey at Jefferson together – he is going to be a resident in the Jefferson Internal Medicine program (feel free to say “Hi” to him in the hospital and let him know his better half sent you)! 

Throughout my time in medical school, I developed an interest in working with medically-underserved populations, LGBTQ+ health, abortion care, and addiction medicine. Family Medicine was a perfect fit for me as I could pursue all these interests while simultaneously developing longstanding, meaningful relationships with my patients. I was drawn to Jefferson for residency since I knew I would receive training specific to my interests as well as a strong, academic foundation. The residents and attendings at JFMA are also some of the nicest people I’ve ever met. 

Outside of the hospital, I like to cook, bake, read, paint, lift weights, and snuggle with my two cats. I’m always in pursuit of good food, and I’m ecstatic that I get another 3 years to eat my way through Philly! 

I grew up in Arlington, Virginia and attended the College of William and Mary where I studied Kinesiology with a concentration in Public Health. Throughout undergrad I engaged in public health nutrition research, volunteered at free clinics, and was a member of the women’s ultimate frisbee team. 

I spent a year as a healthcare consultant in Washington, DC before starting medical school at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. With an interest in caring for underserved communities, I enrolled in VCU’s underserved medicine track, International/Inner City/Rural Preceptorship (I2CRP). Through this program I learned more about the historic and systemic injustices contributing to stark healthcare disparities in Richmond. As a medical student I volunteered as a clinic coordinator for CARITAS, an organization that provides healthcare screenings for Richmond’s unhoused population at local emergency shelters. I also engaged in research projects on hepatitis C screenings for people with substance use disorders and substance use disorders in pregnancy. These experiences have contributed to my interests in reproductive health, addiction medicine, and caring for people experiencing homelessness. 

I fell in love with family medicine because of the ability to care for people of all ages, form long-lasting relationships with patients, and its prioritization of community health and social justice. 

In my free time, I enjoy hiking, backpacking, picnics, tossing a frisbee, and trying new recipes and restaurants. I could not be more excited to explore Philadelphia and start my training at Jeff!

I was born in Houston, TX and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. Having family both in the US and Nigeria, I was always in between countries. I went to  Rutgers University,New Brunswick where I received my B.A in biological sciences with a minor in French. Though I was premed, I always had an interest in French culture and language. 

I always knew I wanted to pursue medicine, my father was a physician working in Nigeria, so I was exposed to healthcare from an early age. Coming into med school, I was unsure what I wanted to specialize in, but I knew I had a passion for advocacy on all fronts. During my family medicine rotation was when I realized how much I loved longitudinal patient relationships and patient advocacy opportunities.

I chose to stay at Jefferson because the department of family medicine is truly dedicated to serving the local Philadelphia community. We serve a primarily underserved patient population, and we go beyond the four walls of the clinic for our community. JFMA fosters an environment that produces clinically and socially excellent physicians.

When I’m not immersed in medicine, I love any opportunity to get dressed up and go out with my friends! I also love going to the museums in the city, and the occassional concert when my favourite artist is in town. But most of all, I am a homebody and love spending time at home, especially after a long week of work!