OB/GYN Residents | Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency Program | MedStar Health

Current Residents—The MedStar Health—Washington Hospital Center Residency Program in Obstetrics and Gynecology

Click here to see a slideshow of our current residents.

Fourth-Year Residents: Class of 2026

Noha Ahmed

Noha Ahmed, DO

Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduate: Tufts University School of Medicine
Major: Biomedical Sciences
Undergraduate: Tufts University
Major: Biopsychology
Hobbies and Interests: Crafting (watercolors, polymer clay earrings), Indian classical dance, running, gardening, rock climbing, reading, women's health and working with older adults

Karmen Brooks

Karmen Brooks, MD

Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Graduate: Meharry Medical College
Major: Medical Sciences
Graduate: American University
Major: Global Environmental Policy/Global Health
Undergraduate: Spelman College
Major: Environmental Science and Spanish
Hobbies and Interests:
• Recipe creator and curator
• Host of dinner parties with expertly crafted menus
• Content creator on my digital platform, @aroseinthekitchen
• Sauce connoisseur with a keen ability to easily pick up flavor profiles
• Strengthening my proficiency in both Spanish & Portuguese through engaging in virtual lessons and conversations
• Traveling to visit every continent by 30 - only Australia and Antarctica left
• Running with Peloton Treadmill Workouts
• Hiking with my dog, Abigail Indigo Brooks

Jessica Fine

Jessica Fine, MD

Medical School: University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Miami
Major: Chemistry
Hobbies and Interests:
• Peloton rides
• Perfecting the recipe for homemade black & white cookies
• Skiing
• Hiking
• Football (Baltimore Ravens and University of Miami Hurricanes)
Bria Johnson

Bria Johnson, MD

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Graduate: Georgetown University
Major: Physiology and Biophysics
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Major: Biology
Hobbies and Interests: Health and exercise enthusiast, cooking/baking, music, reality television, brunch, and spending time with friends and family!
Crystal Johnson

Crystal Johnson, MD

Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Harvard University
Major: Human Evolutionary Biology
Hobbies and Interests: YouTube, crochet, all things self-care, museum hopping, and eating my way through DC

Claire Jones

Claire (CJ) Jones, MD

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Columbia College at Columbia University
Major: Biochemistry
Hobbies and Interests: Spending time and keeping up with my friends, exploring restaurants on Eater DC, designing and hosting themed birthday parties, reading 52 novels each year, playing with my two kittens named Ghost and Uno, fitness boxing, indoor cycling, traveling with the aim of one day visiting all seven continents, baking cupcakes with intricate designs from the cookbook “Hello Cupcake”

Gurpinder Kaur

Gurpinder Kaur, MD

Medical School: New York Medical College
Undergraduate: Adelphi University
Major: Biology
Minor: Chemistry
Concentration: English and Humanities
Hobbies and Interests: I love hosting (and catering/decorating for) events, DIY-ing crafty projects, and doing makeup and photography. In my free time I like to be in Queens (where I’m from) trying out all the endless brunch spots there with my friends and family

Allison Kumnick

Allison Kumnick, MD, MPH

Medical School: University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Miami University
Major: Biochemistry and Neuroscience
Hobbies and Interests:
• CrossFit and Olympic-style weightlifting (since 2016)
• Hiking: summited Mt. Kilimanjaro (2016) and reached Everest Base Camp (2017)
• Using art and imagination to create personalized, thoughtful gifts
• Spending time with my eight siblings & stepsiblings spread between two continents

Nicole Legro

Nicole Legro, MD

Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Toronto
Major: Biochemistry
Hobbies and Interests:
• Running: Toronto Waterfront Marathon, 2016; Mountains 2 Beach Marathon, 2018; Mountains 2 Beach Marathon,
• Skiing: Participated in travel ski-racing program in high-school, attended weekly ski club in college, spent one winter ski season in France after college
• Learning French: Completed immersive French language program after college, achieved proficiency in written and oral French

Ria Richards

Ria Richards, MD

Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Undergraduate: Wayne State University
Major: Nutrition and Food Science
Hobbies and Interests: Running (ran a half marathon to Canada and back), reading, singing, traveling with my husband and son, enjoying, and dancing to Bollywood music, and trying new restaurants

Third-Year Residents: Class of 2027

Olubunmi Ajao

Olubunmi Ajao-Brunson, MD

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Graduate: Weill Cornell Medical College
Major: Physiology
Graduate: George Mason University & Georgetown University
Major: Advanced Biomedical Science
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Major: Chemistry, African American and African Studies
Hobbies and Interests: “For as long as I can remember I've enjoyed the intricacies of styling hair. In my free time, I enjoy binge watching Netflix, reading novels, and traveling and exploring new places. I also enjoy learning and embracing my Nigerian heritage and culture. In addition, I take pleasure in crocheting, knitting, and sewing. I enjoy listening to different musical playlists while roller skating.”

Milena Aksentijevich

Milena Aksentijevich, MD

Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Graduate: Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
Major: International Health Management
Undergraduate: University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland
Major: Economics
Hobbies and Interests: "For the mind and body, I love listening to history and science podcasts, weightlifting and HIIT, and am currently learning how to golf. For the soul, I love family barbecues and Olympics, playing card games (especially rummy), very long walks, and getting dressed up to go out with friends.  I'm also very connected to my Serbian heritage and am actively involved in the Serbian American Medical Association and cheering for Novak Djokovic!"

Mia Benavidez

Mia Benavidez, MD

Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine
Undergraduate: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Biochemistry
Hobbies and Interests:
Playing volleyball and basketball, listening to audiobooks, trying new restaurants, and going on walks

Ariana Davis

Ariana Davis, MD

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Graduate: Loyola University
Major: Medical Physiology
Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
Major: Spanish, Medicine, Health, and Society
Hobbies and Interests:
"I love exploring the DC food & drink scene, working out, and spending time with friends & family"

Deborah Druckerman

Deborah Druckerman, MD

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Graduate: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Major: Premedical Graduate Program
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Major: Biomedical Engineering
Hobbies and Interests:
"Cooking/Baking: I've had my sourdough starter for 6 years. I share my homemade eats on @DebsHomemade on Instagram Woodworking: build and finish fine furniture with my family. I am most proud of my solid maple butcherblock table Mindfulness: certified mindfulness guide through Contemplative Sciences Center at UVA. I also love yoga Gardening: I grow my own potted Meyer lemons and a variety of herbs Hiking: exploring the many trails of Shenandoah with my partner and my dog In progress- creating latte art"

Hadjira Ishaq

Hadjira Ishaq, MD

Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Graduate: University of Maryland College Park
Major: Certificate in Global Health
Undergraduate: University of Maryland College Park
Major: Cellular Biology & Molecular Genetics
Hobbies and Interests:
"Playing the cello explains, in part, my interest in surgery because I enjoy improving my manual skills. A melody can always be sweeter, your fingers can fly faster, and your tone can be richer; becoming a musician is a process of constant evolution. I use cooking recipes from different countries and reading novels by diverse authors to explore the world. On the weekends, I enjoy watching movies or going salsa dancing with friends."

Alma Jusufagic

Alma Jusufagic, MD, MPH

Hometown: Campbell, CA
Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Graduate: UCLA Fielding School of Public Health
Major: Health Policy and Management
Undergraduate: UCLA
Major: Neuroscience (major), Spanish (minor)
Hobbies and Interests:
"Swimming (open water preferred), kayaking, traveling, being a tourist in my own city, hiking, cooking (especially Persian and Thai cuisine), baking (mostly Bosnian goodies), and Crafts"

Madalyn Myers

Madalyn Myers, MD

Hometown: Norfolk, MA
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Loyola University Maryland
Major: Biopsychology (major), Natural Sciences (minor)
Hobbies and Interests:
"Exercising:  after 15 years of competitive swimming, I have happily hung up my goggles in exchange for weights
 Hiking: most recently Grand Canyon, Rocky Mountain, & Shenandoah National Parks
 Traveling: backpacked across 10 European cities in 30 days
 Other favorite pastimes include going for walks with friends, eating delicious foods, listening to podcasts, and drinking coffee"

Michelle Regal

Michelle Regal Ludowieg, MD

Medical School: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado, Peru
Hobbies and Interests:
"Volleyball: Played at national competitions; as team captain I developed my leadership skills, discipline, and sense of responsibility. Knitting: Explore my creativity knitting scarves and cardigans while strengthening my fine motor skills and attention to detail.
Crosswords: Every Sunday, I bring my problem-solving skills to the breakfast table, looking forward to complete the newspaper's puzzle. Numismatics: Strive to collect all special edition Peruvian coins."

Jennifer Welch

Jennifer Welch, MD

Hometown: Decatur, TX
Previous Residency Training: Baylor College of Medicine
Specialty: Surgery
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Undergraduate: Baylor University
Major: Medical Humanities
Hobbies and Interests:
"I love to travel and explore new cities, food, coffee, and culture! I also enjoy time out hiking and kayaking and have started to dabble in rock climbing. I appreciate any and all book recommendations with my most recent favorite reads being "Educated", "Project Hail Mary", and "A Song of Achilles."

Second-Year Residents: Class of 2028

Hailegeorgis Asires

Hailegeorgis Asires, MD

Hometown: Debre Markos, Ethiopia
Medical School: Jimma University College of Public Health and Medical Sciences
Hobbies and Interests: Spending time with family and friends, watching soccer and stand up comedy shows

Kristina Brewer

Kristina Brewer, MD

Hometown: Natick, Massachusetts
Medical School: University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Boston University
Major: Neuroscience
Hobbies and Interests: Running and hiking, loves exploring the city on foot, and cooking new dishes

Frederick Durham

Frederick Durham, MD

Hometown: Hagerstown, Maryland
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Graduate: Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Major: Environmental Science and Engineering
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Major: Molecular and Cellular Biology
Hobbies and Interests: Spending time with pets, board games, D&D, reading, cooking, video games, hiking/camping, traveling, lacrosse, seeing plays around DC and writing poetry

Madeline Holt

Madeline Holt, MD

Hometown: Ormond Beach, Florida
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Undergraduate: Furman University
Major: Health Sciences
Hobbies and Interests: Enjoys running, getting outdoors, taking her cats on walks and going on adventures with friends

Rohini Kousalya-Siva

Rohini Kousalya Siva, MD

Hometown: Edison, NJ and Westminster, MD
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Graduate: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Major: Biomedical Science
Graduate: The Dartmouth Institute
Major: Public Health
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Major: Public Health
Hobbies and Interests: Mystery novels, hiking, traveling, playing with her cats, baking and healthcare advocacy

Sophia Lee

Sophia Lee, MD

Hometown: Corpus Christi, TX
Medical School: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School
Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
Major: Cinema and Media Arts, Medicine, Health and Society
Hobbies and Interests: Reading, watching film, NYT mini crossword, cooking, baking, making ice cream, eating, and spending time with her cats

Vibha Shekhar

Vibha Shekhar, MD

Hometown: Richmond, VA
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Virginia Commonwealth University
Major: Biology
Hobbies and Interests: Watching reality TV with friends, playing the switch, hanging out with family and reading books

William Stallings

William Stallings, MD

Hometown: Sumter, SC
Medical School: Medical University South Carolina College of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of South Carolina
Major: Biochemistry and French
Hobbies and Interests: Thrifting and vintage stores, last minute travel, RuPaul’s Drag Race universe, being social, exploring restaurants, bars and coffee shops, discussing personality types, and podcasts like the Daily or Exploration Live

Gabrielle Stone

Gabrielle Stone, MD

Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans
Graduate: Louisiana State University Health Science Center School of Public Health
Major: Public Health
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
Major: Health and Societies, Chemistry
Hobbies and Interests: Pilates, taking long walks with friends or family, exploring new restaurants/live music/comedy shows, wandering around art museums and watching reality TV or sports with friends

Megan Wallace

Megan Wallace, MD

Hometown: Oceanside, NY
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Wellesley College
Major: Neuroscience
Hobbies and Interests: Working out, softball, exploring the different neighborhoods and rooftop bars of the city

First-Year Residents: Class of 2029

Claire Bartel

Claire Bartel, MD

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Graduate: Georgetown University
Major: Special Master’s Program in Physiology and Biophysics
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Major: Biology
Hobbies and Interests: Baking, running, hot yoga, hanging out with friends/boyfriend, playing and snuggling with my cat, watching crime TV, exploring new restaurants in DC and watching TikTok cooking videos

James Castro Aguerta

James Castro Argueta, MD

Hometown: Leesburg, Virginia
Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine
Graduate: Georgetown University and George Mason University
Major: Advanced Biomedical Sciences
Undergraduate: The College of William & Mary
Major: German Studies
Minor: Biochemistry
Hobbies and Interests: Ultra-running, weight lifting, attending Washington Spirit games, hiking, reading, Pokemon GO, and learning languages

Norah Fanning

Norah Fanning, MD

Hometown: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Medical School: Central Michigan College of Medicine
Graduate: University of Michigan Rackham School of Graduate Studies
Major: Physiology
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Major: Cultural Anthropology
Minor: Global Health Studies and Spanish
Hobbies and Interests: Touching grass (running, hiking, biking, skiing, long walks), food of all kinds (cooking,
baking, brunch, nice dinners, sweet treats), working out, podcasts and reading

Marni Friedlander

Marni Friedlander, DO

Hometown: Darnestown, MD
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduate: Johns Hopkins University
Major: Biotechnology
Undergraduate: Pennsylvania State University
Major: Biology and Health Focus
Hobbies and Interests: Reading, hanging with my husband, dog, family and friends, and going to the beach

Alexus Jackson

Alexus Jackson, MD

Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Undergraduate: Georgia State University
Major: Neuroscience
Hobbies and Interests: Gardening & Painting

Sarah Rubin

Sarah Rubin, MD

Hometown: New Paltz, New York
Medical School: New York Medical College
Undergraduate: The University of Chicago
Major: Biochemistry & Chemistry
Hobbies and Interests: I really like exploring and finding discounted/ free events in the city, like live music and comedy (I love a good deal!). I also love hiking and being outside every chance I get— shout out Nike Running Club App. I also enjoy reading and a good sip-and-paint :)

Elizabeth Smolenski

Elizabeth Smolenski, MD

Hometown: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Undergraduate: College of Charleston Honors College
Major: Biochemistry
Hobbies and Interests: Crocheting and reading

Anagha Srirangam

Anagha Srirangam, DO

Hometown: San Diego, California
Medical School: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: Rice University
Major: Kinesiology with concentration in Sports Medicine
Minor: Biochemistry & Cell Biology
Hobbies and Interests: Baking, dancing, go to the gym, and reading

Lisa Wu

Lisa Wu, MD

Hometown: Saint Louis, Missouri
Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Yale University
Major: Molecular, Cellular & Developmental Biology
Hobbies and Interests: Painting, running, going to museums, trying out new kinds of foods, novelty coffee drinks, and hiking

Gabriella Yacovone

Gabriella Yacovone, MD

Hometown: Queens, New York originally but now Cary, North Carolina
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Graduate: Georgetown University:
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Major: Biology
Minors: Chemistry & Religious Studies
Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, cooking/baking, plant propagation, and working out

Additional information

For more information, please contact:


Mary Nguyen

Mary Nguyen
OB/GYN Medical Education
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
MedStar Washington Hospital Center
110 Irving Street, NW Suite 5B-45
Washington, D.C., 20010
P: 202-877-8035
F: 202-877-5435
Email: Mary.P.Nguyen@MedStar.net

Or:

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital
P: 202-444-8533
F: 202-444-4018