PL-I

Name: Nabila Ahmed, MD

Medical School: Lincoln Memorial DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Home: Herndon, VA

Career Goals: General Pediatrics

Hobbies: Travelling, watching basketball (Go Warriors!), and going to local bakeries

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova because having grown up in the DMV area, I’ve witnessed firsthand the exceptional care provided by the health care professionals to their patients. Knowing its reputation for fostering a supportive learning environment and commitment to patient-centered care, I knew that Inova would offer me the ideal setting for my training. And coming back home to family and friends was the icing on the cake!

Name: Sarah Ali Mohammad, MD

Medical School: Al-Nahrain University College of Medicine

Home: Falls Church, VA

Career Goals: Neonatology

Hobbies: Shopping, exploring cozy coffee shops, Indoor rowing, swimming, and Plants enthusiast

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I loved the sense of community, and the tremendous amount of support the program's leadership offers to residents. Inova not only offers perfectly structured and comprehensive learning experience in pediatrics, but also set the ground if you want to pursue a subspeciality in the future and excel in that field too. Also, Inova’s location makes it even more perfect.

Name: Anjana Bhami Shenoy, MD

Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore, India

Home: South Grafton, MA

Career Goals: NICU and clinical research

Hobbies: Singing, playing the flute, trying new restaurants, reading, yoga

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova because I wanted a medium-sized program that would allow me to pursue my career interests in NICU and clinical research while exploring advocacy, so Inova’s proximity to DC and the AAP as well as their large NICU were important factors for me. I also met many wonderful faculty and residents during my interview process, and their commitment to education and learning really resonated with me.

Name: Maria Cheema, DO

Medical School: Touro Collage of Osteopathic Medicine

Home: Alexandria, VA

Career Goals: General Pediatrics/Outpatients

Hobbies: Crocheting, painting, board games, and cooking

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova for a variety of reasons which include the supportive, learning-focused and family friendly environment in addition to its proximity to my hometown. During my interview, I was impressed to see how close the faculty and residents were to each other. I saw that everyone was super supportive and genuinely cared for one another. The program was welcoming and family friendly. Additionally, the program fosters a wonderful learning environment where the faculty and peers support your growth and learning. Inova also has a diverse population where you get to observe and learn about a wide range of pathology. Lastly Inova was the perfect location for me since I wanted to give back to my community and being close to my family was an additional bonus.

Name: Tuana Demir, MD

Medical School: Koc University School of Medicine

Home: Istanbul, Turkey

Career Goals: Undecided for now but thinking of doing a fellowship!

Hobbies: Trying different fitness classes (love Solidcore!), traveling, attending music festivals

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I feel incredibly fortunate to be part of a residency program that fosters such a supportive, positive, and welcoming community. The faculty's genuine passion for teaching and protected time for Academic Halfday create a great learning environment, while the hospital's high patient volume and the diversity of the patient population offer invaluable opportunities for growth. Additionally, the location is a big plus—close to DC, with access to a lot of activities, and the natural beauty of Northern Virginia.

Name: Kenneth Jesse Lopez, MD

Medical School: George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Home: Bowie, Maryland

Career Goals: Pediatric Emergency or Neonatal or Primary Care or Palliative/Ethics

Hobbies: Hiking, Tennis/Pickleball, Music, Board Games, Deep Conversations

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose INOVA due to its mid-sized level with a diverse population of patients. I would have a close and thorough support system with other residents. I will be exposed to bread-and-butter pediatrics and complex pathophysiology. Furthermore, INOVA embodies a culture of mutual respect and humble service for all individuals that it employs and treats. Most important of all, the residency program directors and attendings are incredibly supportive, engaged, adaptive, and personable. I found a home that I will be proud to represent during my residency and beyond.

Name: Andrew McManus, DO

Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University – Debusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Home: Rockville, MD

Career Goals: General Pediatrics/Undecided

Hobbies: Hiking, Rock climbing, chess, trying new restaurants

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I love that it is a medium sized program close to home where you are exposed to a wide variety of illnesses from common to rare, as well as an extremely diverse patient population. Program pluses: free parking on campus, generous benefits package, lots of support from program administration as well as your peers

Name: Tin Nguyen-Phan, DO

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus

Home: Fairfax, VA

Career Goals: Sports Medicine

Hobbies: Golf, cooking, music festivals, card games

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova because growing up in the NOVA area I’ve always dreamed of returning home and serving the community that helped raise me to where I am today. From talking to past residents, I knew this would provide a supportive yet challenging environment for me to continue to learn and grow.

Name: Swathi Deo Vishnu Sambatha, DO

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Virginia Campus

Home: Ashburn, Virginia

Career Goals: Hospital Medicine/Outpatient Medicine

Hobbies: Reading fiction, journaling, trying out new cuisines, and arts/crafts

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova for so many reasons! The medium size of the program offers a supportive network of peers and faculty while the innovative, beautiful campus reflects a forward-thinking approach to healthcare. Their emphasis on the community and strategic location near the nation’s capital provide unique advocacy opportunities as well. As someone who enjoys general pediatric medicine and is deciding between inpatient and outpatient care, I also appreciate that Inova offers a PHM fellowship, one of only two in Virginia. Lastly, the proximity to my hometown allows me to stay close to loved ones and attend important life events. Overall, Inova is the perfect fit for me and I’m so happy to be here!

Name: Ananya Sarkar, MD

Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine

Home: Cupertino, CA

Career Goals: Hospital Medicine

Hobbies: Cooking, board games, arts & crafts

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova because I wanted to be at a medium-sized program that was dedicated to serving the diverse community and focused on resident education and wellness. I was so impressed with how friendly everyone was during my interview and was supportive as my husband and I were navigating both the couples and military match. The hospital is beautiful and some program pluses include a physician lounge with free food, free parking, and an ample education fund and student loan assistance. We have such a close community of residents and I could not be happier with my choice!

Name: Claire Saunders, DO

Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Home: Falls Church, VA

Career Goals: General Pediatrics

Hobbies: Cooking, farmer’s markets and playing with my nieces

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: Inova was in my hometown, so I was able to move near my family which was a priority for me as I chose a program. Inova is also a community hospital but has the resources of an academic institution. Being a part of this program allows me to work closely with members of my community while also giving me access to research, specialty care and the opportunity to learn from a wide variety of disease presentations.

Name: Jahnvi Shah, DO

Medical School: Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine

Home: Fairfax, VA

Career Goals: General Pediatrics

Hobbies: Traveling, baking, running, try new local food spots

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova because I wanted to be at a mid-size program and absolutely loved my interview! The sense of community and support among the residents and faculty was so heartwarming. I grew up in the Northern Virginia area and knew I wanted to come back home and serve the diverse patient population in this community. I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a resident at Inova!

Name: Erica Yi, MD

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Home: Huntingdon Valley, PA

Career Goals: GI or NICU

Hobbies: Baking, swimming, reading

Why you chose Inova and program pluses: I chose Inova because it’s a medium sized program but next to DC, so there are many resources and opportunities available and a wide range of cases from the common to rarer diseases. The attendings and residents were also so nice and seemed to really enjoy the program. I also met many people who stayed after residency or came back, speaking to how amazing it is to be at Inova.