Internal Medicine Residents

Meghan Baumer, D.O.

Meghan Baumer is the chief resident for quality improvement and patient safety. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, she completed her undergraduate education at Saint Louis University before heading south to earn her medical degree from Lincoln Memorial University in Tennessee.

Baumer is deeply committed to advancing both patient care and the resident experience, with a particular focus on building systems that are safer, more efficient and more human-centered. Her professional interests include quality improvement, patient safety and medical education, and she is passionate about developing initiatives that meaningfully improve patient outcomes while supporting resident well-being and engagement. She is especially interested in fostering a culture where trainees feel empowered to identify gaps in care and lead sustainable changes. 

Outside of the hospital, Baumer enjoys practicing yoga and pilates to stay balanced and energized. She also values spending time with family and friends, which keeps her grounded and connected beyond medicine. In addition, she is an avid Tennessee Volunteers fan and SLU Billikens basketball fan. Go Vols and Roll Bills!

Jeet Das, M.D.

Jeet Das grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and earned an undergraduate degree from UCLA. After completing two research years in pediatric palliative care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, he completed medical school at the University of Michigan.

Das' professional interests are medical education, clinical research and navigating difficult conversations. Outside of work, he enjoys reading and running. 

Kelly Hoofman, M.D.

Kelly Hoofman was born and raised in Washington, Missouri, whch is a small town near St. Louis, Missouri. She studied chemical engineering at the University of Missouri before attending medical school at the University of Kansas. 

Hoofman was elated to come back home to St. Louis for residency training at Saint Louis University! She was drawn to the program during interview season due to its authentic culture of support, camaraderie and the pursuit of excellence. After three years of residency training, she is thrilled and honored to remain with the program as a chief resident. 

Outside of medicine, Hoofman enjoys reading, music, nature and chasing after her four-year-old son with her husband (usually at the St. Louis Zoo). She plans to pursue a career in hospital medicine. 

Ashley Noonan, M.D.

Ashley Noonan is from St. Louis, Missouri --- or more precisely, Belleville, Illinois, just across the Mississippi River. She proudly considers herself a lifelong St. Louisan. She attended Saint Louis University, where she studied nutrition and dietetics and competed as a Division I volleyball player. It was during this time that her love for fitness and food evolved into a deeper passion for comprehensive health, ultimately guiding her toward a career in medicine. She then ventured 100 miles from home to attend medical school at Southern Illinois University.

Noonan is honored to serve as a chief resident and intends to focus her efforts on medical education and resident well-being. 

Outside of the hospital, Noonan enjoys spending time with her growing family, indoor cycling and exploring new foods at the Tower Grove Farmers' Market. 

Nevel Vaidyan, M.D.

Nevel Vaidyan was born in Providence, Rhode Island, and lived in Boston, Massachusetts, for the formative years of his childhood. His family moved to St. Louis, Missouri, in 2005, and he has lived here since. 

Vaidyan went to Saint Louis University to complete his undergraduate studies before attending Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. He then had the opportunity to return to SLU to complete his internal medicine residency and embark on his career as an internist. Vaidyan feels privileged to serve as chief resident and contribute to the program that has played a tremendous role in shaping his personal and professional growth. 

Outside of medicine, Vaidyan enjoys winning Catan matches, spending time with his family (including his dog, Duke) and rooting for his hometown basketball team, the Boston Celtics. 

Liam Arnold, D.O.

Medical school: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of British Columbia

Sabella Blanc, D.O.

Medical school: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Graduate school: Arkansas College of Health Education 
Undergraduate school: University of Oklahoma

Oliver Chrisler, M.D.

Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri-Kansas City

Rohan Das, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Creighton University

Kelly Fan, M.D.

Medical school: University of Illinois College of Medicine - Rockford
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois at Chicago

Gillian Gascon, D.O.

Medical school: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Undergraduate school: Point Loma Nazarene University

Abbas Hoteit, M.D.

Medical school: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine
Undergraduate school: American University of Beirut

Nathan Jacobs, M.D.

Medical school: Drexel University College of Medicine
Undergraduate school: John Brown University

Brian Kierl, M.D.

Medical school: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Oklahoma State University

Kyleigh Kirbach, M.D.

Medical school: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
Graduate school: Saint Louis University
Undergraduate school: Illinois Wesleyan University

Lara Makhoul, M.D.

Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri-Kansas City

Anila Mamidi, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of California, San Diego

Ladislao Marrero-Rivera, M.D.

Medical school: Ponce Health Sciences University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Puerto Rico

Nicolas McDonald, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Creighton University

Amanda Morgan, D.O.

Medical school: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis

Michaella-Jana Nasr, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Colorado Boulder

Benny Ni, M.D. 

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Graduate school: Baylor University
Undergraduate school: Baylor University

Iris Ariane Paladi-Noel, M.D.

Medical school: Universitatea de Medicin i Farmacie Carol Davila Facultatea de Medicin

Manoj Palavalli, M.D.

Medical school: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri Columbia

Vaidehi Panchal, D.O.

Medical school: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois Chicago

Christopher Phan, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri Columbia

Nicholas Philip, D.O.

Medical school: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Undergraduate school: University of Rochester

Nathan Ramos, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Creighton University

Nishat Shaik, M.D.

Medical school: Guntur Medical College

Tina Sood, M.D.

Medical school: Government Medical College Chandigarh

Isra Taha, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois at Chicago

Jacob Wise, M.D.

Medical school: Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine
Graduate school: Washington University Olin Business School
Undergraduate school: College of the Holy Cross

Krystel Abi Karam, M.D.

Medical school: Université Saint-Joseph Faculté de Médecine

Mohammed Yaman Al Matni, M.D.

Medical school: University of Damascus Faculty of Medicine

Sarah Baghdadi, M.D.

Medical school: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Johns Hopkins University

Claire Boehm, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Rockhurst University

Patrick Brotherton, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Rockhurst University

Mitchell Casiano, M.D.

Medical school: University of Louisville School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Indiana University-Bloomington

Lucas Cline, M.D.

Medical school: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Tulsa

Vanisa Ezukuse, M.D.

Medical school: American University of the Caribbean (AUC) School of Medicine
Graduate school: Western University
Undergraduate school: McGill University

James Hendrixson, M.D.

Medical school: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Central Arkansas

Matthew Hoang, M.D.

Medical school: University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita
Undergraduate school: Newman University

Weronika Hodorowicz, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Karissa Jackson, M.D.

Medical school: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Loyola University Chicago

Jared James, M.D.

Medical school: University of Arkansas College of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Arkansas

Hassan Kawtharany, M.D.

Medical school: Lebanese University

Husam Kivan, M.D.

Medical school: Ondokuz Mayis Universitesi

Serena Le, D.O.

Medical school: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of California-Santa Cruz

Yanquing "Geri" Lyu, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Nadine Mahmoud, M.D.

Medical school: Lebanese University

Heun Min, M.D.

Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin
Undergraduate school: College of William & Mary

Vijay Nellutla, M.D.

Medical school: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Yuanzun Peng, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Rice University

Tony Pham, M.D.

Medical school: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Kansas 

Jack Sansone, M.D.

Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Indiana University

Allison Shildt, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Arkansas

Matthew Thompson, M.D.

Medical school: Louisiana State University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Louisiana Lafayette

Matthew Toedt, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Georgia Institute of Technology

Rohan Tripathi, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Saint Louis University

Jarrett Wade, D.O.

Medical school: A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Evan Xu, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis

Leora Abrams, M.D.

Medical school: University of Nevada - Las Vegas

Ian Alberts, M.D.

Medical school: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine

Hari Anandarajah, M.D.

Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin

Kaitlynn Borik, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Alec Falkenhain, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Blake Miyamoto, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Sasha Jane Abi Aad, M.D.

Medical school: Université Saint-Joseph Faculté de Médecine
Graduate school: Université Saint-Joseph Faculté de Médecine

Sahar Al Hussein, M.D.

Medical school: University of Damascus

Yasmin Ali, M.D.

Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Pennsylvania State University

Hannah Boe, M.D.

Medical school: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Saint Louis University

Anna Bower, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

Cathy Chi, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chirag Divecha, M.D.

Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
Graduate school: University of Illinois at Chicago
Undergraduate school: Indiana University

Youssef Hafez, M.D.

Medical school: University of Alexandria

Amanda Lams, D.O.

Medical school: A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate school: Elmhurst University

Aditya Katyal, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Saint Louis University

Kirsten Kent, M.D.

Medical school: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Kansas

Maryam Makhdoom, M.D.

Medicial school: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Southern Illinois University-Carbondale

Shalaka Nimmagadda, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Northwestern University

Aratrika Pal, M.D.

Medical school: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri-Kansas City

William Park, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Saint Louis University

Cole Piening, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Rockhurst University

Kylie Pluim, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: The University of Utah

Arjun Ramachandran, M.D.

Medical school: Drexel University College of Medicine
Undergraduate school: St. Olaf College

Monica Rao, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Saint Louis University

William Rudder, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Rockhurst University

Fatima Saeed, M.D.

Medical school: King Edward Medical College

Megan Schutte, M.D.

Medical school: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
Graduate school: Vanderbilt University
Undergraduate school: University of Georgia

Dania Shoaib, D.O.

Medical school: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Kansas

Cole Sonksen, D.O.

Medical school: A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate school: Columbia College (Missouri)

Thomas Szewczyk, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: University of Maine

Inshal Tariq, M.D.

Medical school: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Maryville University

Eric Donahue, M.D.

Medical school: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
Undergraduate degree: University of Notre Dame

Houri Esmaeil Khanian, M.D.

Medical school: Iran University of Medical Sciences

Mark Marino, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Loyola University Chicago

Rohail Memon, M.D.

Medical school: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Northwestern University

Omar Moussa Pasha, M.D.

Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Undergraduate school: Rice University

Elie Ghoulam, M.D.

Class of 2020
Gastroenterology and hepatology fellow 

As a SLU graduate, I am grateful that the internal medicine program allowed me to become comfortable with acute and long-term, complex patient care, and exposed me to diverse pathology in a tertiary university hospital setting. The program’s main goal is to train well-rounded internists with a solid foundation in evidence-based, high value care medicine, but it also offers the platform for research and mentorship from experts in subspecialty fields. Program leaders are constantly working in the residents’ best interests, and this is evident in the immediate response and action to feedback. At the risk of sounding corny, I genuinely feel that the support and culture offered by the program makes the residents feel like a close-knit family that can count on each other in and out of the hospital.

Nikhil Malhotra, M.D.

Class of 2019
Cardiology fellow

I really loved my time at SLU. The residents are supportive, fun-loving, and eager to learn and I made lifelong friends during my time there. Sure, residency was tough at times, but I think that's a necessary part of training to be a confident and capable doctor. Now, as a fellow, when the service gets busy and the patients are really sick, I'm able to reassure myself that I can handle it because I've done it before. Being able to fall back on that reassurance is so valuable.

Cassie Shaw, M.D.

Class of 2016
Associate program director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

When I was selecting residency, I put all of my focus on finding a program where I could simply get along with the people; I counted on our country’s residency governing bodies to ensure I was actually trained. I don’t think I’ve ever been so wrong in thinking these reasons were enough to choose SLU. I didn’t just get along with my colleagues - three years after completing residency, they remain my lifelong friends, confidants and mentors. In residency, my co-residents and attendings pushed me clinically and academically to stretch into places of discomfort, places which they recognized as untapped strengths, places that SLU allowed me to hone into skills which continue to serve me as an academic attending physician and hospital leader. Not only was I wrong about the depth of the relationships I would be able to form, I was wrong about ACGME alone guiding my education. SLU’s residency leaders are innovative and thoughtful in their approach to education. They consider resident needs and learning style. Further, outside of didactics, I was pushed clinically, caring for sick, underserved populations with just the right amount of autonomy. This balance allowed me to create my own style of medicine and be confident in taking excellent, evidence based and humanistic care of patients in my practice now. I would choose SLU over and over again for residency, although, this time, I would be more informed about the interpersonal, clinical and academic training that SLU can uniquely provide.