Pediatric Residents PL-I

Olanike Awotunde, MD

Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine.
Home: Columbia, Maryland.
Career Goals: Deciding between Primary Care and Subspecialty.
Hobbies: Cooking, Watching Cooking shows like MasterChef, Going on walks.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I was looking for a residency program that emphasizes patient centered care and teaching in smaller group settings, and Inova was the perfect fit. Not to mention, I was born and raised in the DMV, so it’s awesome to train in a community near my family and friends and serve a diverse patient population.

Hannah Bashaw, DO

Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Home: Pittsburgh, PA.
Career Goals: Neonatology.
Hobbies: Watching/playing soccer, rooting for all the Pittsburgh sports teams, snowboarding, skiing, trying new ice cream shops.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova because of the location and patient population. I loved the proximity to D.C, especially via metro. During my acting internship at Inova, I was able to see the diverse population. Northern Virginia serves with patients from more rural areas, urban areas and even many coming from other countries. Program pluses: free attached parking garage, 24/7 cafeteria with meal cards, plenty of coffee options in the hospital (Panera, Starbucks, and cafeteria), faculty that loves to teach!

Nicole Conrad, MD

Med School: University of Cincinnati.
Home: Ramsey, NJ.
Career goals: Peds Endo or Primary care.
Hobbies: Sand volleyball, aerial silks, creative writing.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova for several reasons (the size, the location, the faculty), but when I got here, I discovered there was so much more it had to offer. The opportunities to participate in community outreach, advocacy and medical education are just a few examples of what makes Inova unique. The training here goes beyond pathophysiology and clinical skills. At Inova you are constantly learning, whether it be from faculty, peers or patients. I always feel like a valued member of the team, which drives me to do better every day. Plus, my coresidents are amazing humans that I feel so lucky to work with. The facility itself is beautiful, and we are in arms reach of all that DC has to offer. I could not have picked a better place to do residency!

Nicholas Errico, MD

Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Home: Chapel Hill, NC.
Career Goals: I am currently considering PICU and Pulmonology.
Hobbies: Exploring restaurants, walking my dogs, hiking, river tubing, construction/home renovation.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: Inova has a unique balance of high patient volume and complexity mixed with a small feel and close community of residents and attendings. I knew I would get excellent training while forming meaningful relationships with my co-residents.

Annum Faisal, DO

Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Home: Houston, TX.
Career Goals: Hematology/Oncology.
Hobbies: Exploring local coffee shops, playing board games, cooking, hiking, puzzles.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova because I felt it offered a truly wholesome training experience, both in the inpatient and outpatient setting within a mid-sized program. The faculty, staff, and residents are incredibly supportive, and truly advocate for your success both as a physician and an individual. Being in Northern Virginia, the location is unbeatable with beautiful weather and lots of outdoor activities. Diversity is mirrored both in the patient population and residency program which is always a huge plus for learning! The large patient volume allows you to get a solid foundation in bread-and-butter peds along with zebras mixed in! Inova is a fantastic place to train, and I am very grateful to be a part of this program!

Emily Falcon, MD

Medical school: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Home: Vienna, VA
Career goals: General outpatient pediatrics and public health at the federal, state, and local levels.
Hobbies: Baking, going to baseball games (Go Mets!), searching for the best breakfast sandwich in Northern Virginia.
Why Inova: INOVA has a perfect balance, the feel of a small program with the access that comes from being at a leading children’s hospital in a large metro area. I grew up in Fairfax County and value the opportunity to give back to my community.

Serena Haver, MD

Medical School: Universidad Central del Caribe.
Home: Newton, MA.
Career goals: Undecided.
Hobbies: Trying new restaurants & coffee shops, yoga and hiking.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I knew that I wanted to train in a supportive environment with a commitment to resident learning and a diverse patient population. Inova had everything I was looking for in a residency program with the bonus of being in the DMV, which provides endless restaurants to explore!

Dina Nour, DO

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.
Home: Annandale, VA.
Career Goals: Undecided, but excited to explore interests.
Hobbies: Trying new coffee shops and exploring DC. I love to try new recipes and spend time with friends and family!
Why you choose Inova and program pluses: I was drawn to the diversity at Inova both within the program and the patient population. Also, the size of the program is exactly what I was looking for. We have such a supportive faculty too! As a DMV native, it has been nice to be back home again!

Rakshana Selvarajan, MD

Medical School: University of New England.
Home: Trumbull, CT.
Career Goals: Undecided
Hobbies: Spending time with friends and family, [solid core], and traveling.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: Inova has the best combination of academic rigor and a close-knit family feel from being a medium sized program! Everyone here is so supportive! I also love being so close to DC!

Jenna Sheldon, DO

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University - Dr. Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine (NSU-KPCOM).
Home: Eldersburg, MD.
Career Goals: Pulmonology Fellowship or General Outpatient Pediatrician.
Hobbies: playing with my cat, coaching youth lacrosse, going hiking in Virginia along the Potomac River.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: During my interviews I was impressed with Inova’s strong academic program and the level of support I felt from the residents and program leadership. This support has continued to be evident throughout my intern year. I’m so grateful I picked a program where the residents feel like family!

Alexandra Stanford, MD

Medical School: St. George’s University
Home: Winchester, VA
Career Goals: Undecided
Hobbies: Trying new restaurants, being active, & spending time with friends and family.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: It checked all the boxes for me; I knew coming here I was going to get incredible training and was going to be pushed to become the best pediatrician possible all while being surrounded by a true family. You also can’t beat the location!

Jerome Tuttle-Roache, MD

Medical school: Saint Louis University.
Home: Mercer Island, WA.
Career goals: Undecided.
Hobbies: Cooking, video games.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: Program size, location, patient population. Pluses: direct interaction with subspecialists (few fellows), no continuity clinic during inpatient rotations.

Lena Weber, MD

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine.
Home: Bloomington, IN.
Career Goals: Undecided right now!
Hobbies: hanging out with my dog, cooking, gardening/houseplants.
Why you chose Inova and program pluses: Everyone in the program is very welcoming, kind, and supportive, which I felt on interview day. The program size is exactly what I was looking for, and the patient population is very diverse. The location is also great, just outside of DC, there is tons to do and it’s a beautiful area!