St. Louis Family Medicine Residents

Mona Dagher, M.D.

Mona Dagher (she/her) is from Lebanon and currently lives in St. Louis. She completed her medical training at the University of Balamand Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences. She is currently completing a geriatric medicine fellowship at Saint Louis University. After an explosion in Beruit claimed the lives of 300 people and left 300,000 homeless, Dagher co-founded Hand-in-Hand, which provides essential aid to those directly or indirectly affected by the tragic event. She enjoys guitar, piano, cooking and tennis. She is also profient in French and Arabic. 

Matthew J. Dreyer, M.D.

Matthew Dreyer (he/him) is from Godfrey, Illinois, and Tulsa, Oklahoma. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Chemistry from Lindenwood University, and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management from the University of Mount Saint Vincent. Dreyer received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Outside of medicine, Dreyer enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, playing and watching sports, and playing online card games. He has a strong interest in sports medicine.

Natasha M. Ignatowski, M.D.

Natasha Ignatowski (she/her) is from Wisconsin. She completed her undergraduate degree at University of Madison-Wisconsin and will complete medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She was a co-leader of Wellness Inspired Student Enrichment and volunteered with MEDiC, a student-run program which offers free health care to underserved populations. She also worked as a behavioral therapist technician for the Wisconsin Early Autism Project. Ignatowski enjoys photography, team sports and travel. 

Dani P. Kander, D.O.

Dani Kander (they/them) is a St. Louis native. They earned a degree in biological sciences at the University of Chicago before studying nutrition at Saint Louis University. Kander served two years with AmeriCorps HealthCorps at Grace Hill Health Centers (now Affinia Healthcare). They also worked at Affinia as a registered dietitian and manager of WIC and nutrition services before heading to medical school. Kander will complete their medical school training from A.T. Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. In their free time, Kander enjoys being with their family and two dogs, visiting museums and spending time in nature. 

Duyen K. Pham, D.O.

Duyen Pham (she/her) is from Worcester, Massachusetts. She completed her undergraduate work at University of Massachusets-Dartmouth, where she also earned a Master of Science in Chemistry. On her journey, she has worked as a medical assistant, phlebotomist, medical interpreter, pharmacy technician, direct caregiver and research assistant. Prior to entering medical school, she volunteered as a food server at St. John's Food for the Poor Program, a playspace activity leader at Horizon for Homeless Children, and an emergency room greeter at local hospitals. She also has a great interest in research, with 26 publications in covalent-metal organic networks, psilocybin derivatives and biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases. She will complete her medical school training at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Outside of medicine, Pham enjoys snowboarding, powerlifting and swimming. She was born in Vietnam and is fluent in Vietnamese. 

Kobe A. Young, M.D.

Kobe Young (he/him) completed his undergraduate work at Texas Tech University and will finish his medical education at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. He has a strong interest in geriatric medicine and worked as a graduate researcher in the Cognition, Aging, Sleep and Health Lab at the University of Missouri, and as the pharmacy chair for MedZou, a student-run, free clinic that provides care to local community members without access to health care. Young enjoys disc golf, floral design and horticulture, and hiking and trail running. 

Thomas Cassimatis, M.D.

Ohio State University College of Medicine

Cassimatis is from Saint Peters, Missouri. He earned a B.S. from the University of Missouri-Columbia in biological sciences. He completed post-baccalaureate clinical research with the National Institutes for Health studying the effects of drugs, diets and diseases on metabolism. Cassimatis received his M.D. from Ohio State University College of Medicine. During medical school he served on the executive board of Healthy LifeStars working to teach healthful eating and exercise habits to groups of elementary aged children. Cassimatis is a lifelong swimmer, triathlete and loves the outdoors. He has summited ten of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks.

Galen Hoft, D.O.

Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hoft is from St. Louis. He earned a B.S. in Secondary Language Arts Education from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a pre-medicine post-baccalaureate degree from Washington University. He earned his M.P.H. from the Washington University in St. Louis in 2022. He served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso from 2014 to 2016. He received his Doctor of Osteopathy degree from Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He has a strong interest in serving traditionally marginalized communities and in addiction medicine and harm reduction strategies.

Farhan Hussain, M.D.

Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Hussain is from California. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of California at San Diego in physiology and neuroscience where he was the commissioner of school spirit. He completed his M.D. from Saint Louis University School of Medicine where he has been deeply involved in clinical research. During his medical school career, he rotated at the Family Care Health Center where he exhibited a particular interest in improving health literacy. Outside of medicine, Hussain enjoys volleyball, pickleball, basketball, tennis and skateboarding. He is also a competitively ranked video gamer.

Joseph Mooney, M.D.

University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine

Mooney is from Missouri and has lived in many communities throughout the state. He completed his B.A. from Loyola University Chicago in Spanish language and literature. He worked as a bilingual educator for kindergarten and first grade students at Saint Louis Language Immersion School for five years before completing his pre-medical studies at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. He completed his M.D at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine in 2023. He spent the 2023-24 academic year in a pathology residency at the University of Nebraska where he realized he was meant for family medicine all along. Outside of medicine, Mooney has an interest in urban farming and a love of music and singing.

Belainesh ‘Bella’ Nigeda, D.O.

Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Nigeda is from Chicago, Illinois. She completed her B.S. in biological sciences from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and an M.P.H. from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. She received her D.O. from Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine where she was involved with the Student National Medical Association and was vice-president of the Student Government Association. Nigeda is the principal investigator on a mixed methods research study exploring the experiences of Black birthing patients who used a doula during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has an ongoing interest in addressing inequities in maternal and infant health.

Maura Walsh, M.D.

Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Walsh is from Arlington Heights, Illinois. She earned a B.A. from the University of Notre Dame where she majored in neuroscience and behavior and minored in poverty studies and Latino studies. She received her M.D from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine where she is a Gold Humanism Society Member and a member of the Community and Global Health Honors Program. Walsh completed extensive volunteerism with the Quinn Community Center in Maywood, Illinois, during medical school. She also did impactful work reflecting on vocation, wellness, emotional intelligence and mindfulness with her peers and colleagues. She has experience working in an FQHC with a migrant farmworker population and speaks Spanish. 

Robert Besancenez, M.D.

Ross University School of Medicine

Robert is from St. Louis. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Missouri Baptist University in St. Louis. Robert received his Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine. His hobbies include short-track speed skating, exercise and physical fitness, automotive electronics, piano and guitar, and international travel.

Ishak Hossain, M.D.

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.

Ishak is from Tulsa, Oklahoma.  He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology: Global Health, with a minor in biology at Washington University in St. Louis. Ishak received his Doctor of Medicine from the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing soccer and refereeing, and playing competitive chess.

Lexi Kremer-Callahan, M.D.

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Lexi grew up in Mattoon, Illinois.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington.  Lexi received her Doctor of Medicine from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. Outside of medicine, Lexi’s interests include trivia, cooking, crocheting, running, gardening, sewing, hiking, ATV-riding, attending concerts and fantasy sports.

Gretchen Landgraf, D.O.

Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Gretchen grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and St. Louis.  She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition/Dietetics at Saint Louis University and a Post-Baccalaureate Pre-Medical
Certificate from Washington University.  Gretchen received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She enjoys yoga, tennis, water skiing, playing board games, going to concerts with friends and volunteering in the Kansas City community

Ashna Mahadev, M.D.

University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine

Ashna grew up in O’Fallon, Missouri.  She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine, and a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation at Washington University in St. Louis. Ashna received her Doctor of Medicine from University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine. Outside of medicine, she enjoys scuba diving, training therapy dogs, travel focused on culture, history, and local architecture, and she’s working towards her private pilot’s license.

Tyeler Rayburn, M.D.

University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Tyeler grew up in Brantley, Alabama. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology at Troy University in Troy, AL. Tyeler received his Doctor of Medicine from University of South Alabama College of Medicine. His hobbies include reading, weightlifting, paddleboarding, cycling, swimming, and traveling.