2022-2023 Residents
First Year
|
Shariam Casiano Vega MD
|
Jaspreet Gill MD
|
Emily Hill DO
|
|
Taz Noori MD
|
Saraja Pandit MD
|
Jack Ritzo MD
|
|
Daniel Yuen MD |
||
Second Year |
||
Ruby Kohly MD Rural Track Resident |
 Travis Frazier MD
Rural Track Resident
Travis Frazier
Hometown: Blanding, Utah Medical School: University of New Mexico School of Medicine Undergraduate: Brigham Young University Major: French I am of the Navajo tribe, hailing from the Utah/New Mexico area. Beginning at a young age, my parents stressed the importance of education and giving back to your community. I have been blessed with the opportunity to further my education and be put in a position to serve others. I come from a small town in rural Utah and have always loved the tight-knit community setting. Throughout my lifetime there, I admired the local physicians, whose skills and availability extends beyond regular business hours. I hope to provide similar care and integrate myself into a community on a deeper level. Interests: Hiking, rock climbing, sports (mostly football), working out, and spending time with my wife and our dog Coco
|
Mankaran Gill
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario, Canada Medical School: Medical University of The Americas (MUA) Undergraduate: University of Toronto Major: H. BSc, Biology and Psychology I decided to choose the path of medicine after I attended a volunteer medical trip to Costa Rica through the completion of my undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto. During the trip, we provided care to patients in underserved communities that did not have access to healthcare. This experience was life changing and made me realize the importance of doctors inspiring me to pursue a career in medicine. Shortly thereafter, I applied and was accepted for medical school at MUA and it turned out to be one of the best decisions I have made thus far. Although my experience there was challenging, it was also rewarding, as I had to transition to living in the Caribbean and then moving to different states in America during my clinical rotations. Despite some hardships, I persevered, learned a lot, and realized my own potential during the process. Now I am excited to build on that foundation through the training I will receive at CMMC in my journey to become a more well-rounded physician! Through the residency interview process, CMMC stood out to me as the strongest choice. The interview process was seamless and the discussions I had with the faculty and residents demonstrated their efforts in creating a comfortable and amazing learning environment. Additionally, with it being close to home and not far from family I have in Montreal, Quebec it made for a perfect fit. With my main goal of becoming a primary care provider, I am confident CMMC will provide me with the tools and training to do so. Overall, I am excited to make the move to Maine and see what the state has to offer! Interests: Watching and playing sports, mainly basketball and soccer. Playing video games, watching movies, going for long car drives as well as site seeing or just hanging out with friends and family while trying new vegetarian foods!
|
|
Kelsey Hickey
Hometown: Norridgewock, ME Medical School: University of New England Undergraduate: University of Maine, Orono Major:Psychology Growing up in small town Maine was my favorite part of childhood – being able to roam through the woods and explore was one of my favorite pastimes. My love for Maine never diminished as I grew up and experienced more of the world; I love to travel but will always consider Maine home. After undergraduate I worked in Boston for a while in research and loved being in the city, but eventually I knew I would be coming home to study medicine at UNE. This experience also taught me that large universities and hospitals weren’t for me; I’m much happier in smaller communities focused on holistic and patient-centered medicine. I’m so grateful for my osteopathic education, and to be able to continue my medical education in Lewiston. The people! Doing residency interviews over ZOOM was tough this season, but when I interviewed with Lewiston it felt more like a conversation with friends. I knew this would be a welcoming place to learn and grow as a physician. Lewiston is a strong program and importantly a beacon of holistic and welcoming healthcare in the surrounding community. I love the diversity of staff and patients in this area, and I am so excited to be part of this wonderful team and legacy going forward Interests: Anything outdoors in Maine! My favorites are hiking the Bigelows, kayaking along the Kennebec River, and running through the innumerable trails. I love exploring new places and especially new foods.
|
Celeste Hutton
Hometown: Lindsay, Ontario, Canada Medical School: National University of Ireland - Galway Undergraduate: McGill University Major:Psychology Ever since I was young, I wanted to be a doctor. I was always captivated by medicine. I can remember begging my mother to take me to the hospital where she worked as a nurse so I could watch different procedures they were performing, even as a child. I originally grew up in a small town a couple of hours north of Toronto, Canada but my journey to become a doctor has given me the opportunity to experience places including Montreal, Canada and Galway, Ireland. Research at the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto really fueled my passion for mental health, which reinforced my desire to pursue medicine and to be able to provide patient-centered, holistic care to patients. Attending medical school across the Atlantic Ocean has deepened my understanding of the different healthcare needs and has given me exposure to many different cultures that have shaped and will continue to shape me into the physician that I will become. I am excited to explore what Maine has to offer and start this journey at CMMC! From the moment I interviewed at CMMC, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. Everyone was so friendly and it truly felt like a family. They offer endless support and I knew that this would make my residency experience very positive. I was attracted to the many unique learning opportunities that CMMC has to offer and that they tailor your learning toward your own career goals which will allow me to become a full spectrum family physician. Coming from a small town myself and hoping to work in underserviced regions, I knew that I wanted a program that could make me the best possible physician for that environment and CMMC was that program! My professional interests include mental health, women’s health and preventive medicine. I also have many interests outside of medicine. As a Canadian, it’s no surprise that I enjoy playing hockey. I also enjoy hiking, running and spending time with my dog, Milo!
|
Rural Track Resident
Jaclyn Israel
Hometown: Huntington Woods, MI Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Undergraduate: University of Michigan Major:Biomolecular Science B.S. & Musicology B.A. Two mantras have heavily influenced my life and its trajectory. “H.A.P.” or “Have A Purpose.” Healthcare presented itself to me as a field of interest in high school, but my passion for medicine did not manifest until much later. I entertained the possibility of almost every other scientific career, hoping that something less daunting than medicine would peak my interest. Alas, my potential career took control of the decision-making process as I signed up for four more years of school and a residency. Now, here I am; and I could not be happier with the choices I’ve made. Medicine has filled my life with so much meaning, has allowed me to meet wonderful people from all walks of life, and has helped me grow so much as an individual. My interests and passions in healthcare include integrative medicine, global health, OMM, street medicine/outreach, medical education, full-spectrum primary care, addiction medicine, chronic disease management, and above all, building a positive healing relationship with my patients. Which brings me to “Why CMMC?” This program provides me with the opportunity to further explore every interest I have, and will probably introduce me to many more that I didn’t even know I needed in my life. Our interview season was a bit unconventional, but even through Zoom this community of people made me feel at home. A challenging yet positive learning environment and a strong sense of familial bonds within the program are exactly what I was looking for, and I truly believe I found it at CMMC. I chose to pursue the Rural Training Track in Rumford because I wanted to get the most out of a full-spectrum primary care training program. My clerkship/clinical years of medical school were based at a rural community hospital in northern Michigan and it opened my eyes up to the expansive possibilities of rural medicine, which I am eager to continue pursuing as a part of this program.
|
|
Luke Ollila
Hometown: Concord, New Hampshire Medical School: University of New England Undergraduate: Boston College Major:Biology Growing up in New Hampshire, I’ve always been in love with the beautiful New England landscape and community. While in high school, I played all kinds of sports including football, baseball, basketball, and alpine ski racing. Eventually, I found my way to Boston College where I studied on a premedical track to achieve my degree in Biology, helping to research HIV/AIDS along the way. After graduating in 2014, I decided to work in another field which required me to move to the Chicago area. While working in this capacity, I always felt called back to medicine, and I eventually found my way back home with the support of my family and friends. In 2017, I came to Maine for medical school, and my fiancé and I quick realized we loved the area and wanted to make it our permanent home! Luckily, we got our wish and we’re excited for everything that the future holds! When I had the privilege to complete many of my clinical rotations during my final year of medical school at CMMC, I realized how much I enjoyed the program due to the amazing people who work here. Every individual was so incredibly welcoming and ready to help in any way they could. Combined with the fact that I’ve always wanted to practice medicine close to home, the Lewiston program proved a perfect match! I could not have been more excited to be welcomed into the program and I am so thrilled to be able to give back to the community and make long-lasting relationships with my patients! In my free time, I love spending time with my family, friends, and animals. I’m always up for new adventures or activities, including traveling to new places. I’m a sports fanatic and love to play any and all games, though football and baseball are my favorites. When I’m watching, I’m a diehard Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics, and Bruins fan! I also love to cook or barbecue although I’m a lousy baker. Additionally, my fiancé and I keep a vegetable garden together (some years are more successful than others). Finally, I enjoy reading when I have time and harbor a lifelong ambition to read all of the works of my favorite author, John Steinbeck.
|
||
Third Year |
||
 Colin Bonnar, MD
Colin Bonnar
Hometown: Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine Undergraduate: Cape Breton University Major:Biology and Psychology Being from Nova Scotia, I wanted a program where I was close to the coast. But more importantly, I wanted a program where I felt at home. Once I interviewed at CMMC, I knew this was the place for me. The residents, faculty, and staff at CMMC are all fantastic. Since day one, the program has been very welcoming, and the faculty is very enthusiastic about teaching. Having a mother who is a family physician, family medicine was an easy residency choice for me, as family docs can have a major impact on their patients, patients’ families, and the surrounding community. It was clear that CMMC would allow me to be involved in the community and learn broad-spectrum medicine. My goal for residency is to be well prepared for life as a family physician and to be able to handle any situation that comes through the door. This program has so much to offer from wilderness and international medicine to sports medicine, Ob/Gyn and even POCUS experience. I am so excited to be here, as it will prepare me to be a well-rounded family physician. I wouldn’t have been able to get here without my friends and family’s unwavering support, especially my wife, Danielle, and of course, my mother. Outside of medicine, I am interested in hockey, running, Cross-fit, sailing, water sports, skiing/snowboarding and especially walking/hiking with our dog, Loki. Maine offers all of that and more. I am privileged to have the honor of serving the community of Lewiston and Auburn.
|
CO-Chief Resident
Eliza Foster
Hometown: Raymond, Maine Medical School: University of New England Undergraduate: Elmira College Major:Biochemistry Born and raised close by in the town of Raymond, I grew up on a tree farm right here in the beautiful state of Maine. I graduated from Gray-New Gloucester High School and continued my education at Elmira College in New York. I had a blast the year between college and medical school working in the tasting room at Finger Lakes Distillery in New York. I also had a great adventure when my alma mater asked me to assist teaching a Marine and Island Ecology class on San Salvador Island in the Bahamas! I went to the University of New England for medical school and am very thankful for my education in osteopathic medicine. I felt blessed that for most of my clinical rotations I was located in Ellsworth, Maine, with quick access to Acadia National Park and MDI, I spent a majority of my free time hiking trails, exploring for hidden caves, and marveling at the rocky coast line. The thing that most attracted me to CMMC was the kindness and friendly atmosphere of this residency program. The faculty and residents are sincere, approachable, and genuinely fun to spend time with. I knew that through the ups and downs of the resident life, there was no other group of people that I would be happier to work alongside and spend my time with. In my free time I enjoy exploring National parks, hiking, canoeing, cycling, and basically anything outdoors! Every year I help my father with the family tradition of making our own homemade maple syrup. I also love drinking coffee to stay awake.
|
Anna Korkhin
Hometown:Brookline, MA Medical School: Technion American Medical School, Haifa, Israel Undergraduate:Brandeis University Major:: Studio Art Originally, I am from St. Petersburg, Russia but due to the soviet regime, like many, my family left their home country. My family first immigrated to Israel due to our Jewish heritage and I ended up spending 6 years of my childhood living in the middle east. My family then moved to the US, initially to New Haven, CT and finally landing in Brookline, MA. Presently, I call Brookline home but I really could call various parts of the world my home. I came back to Israel for medical school due to a continuous interest in exploring my childhood home, learning about the medical system there, and bringing my newly found knowledge back to New England. My many travels and cultural experiences have contributed in shaping my understanding of medicine. I was drawn to family medicine due to the ability to understand an individual’s health in the context of a community, cultural background, lifestyle habits and other family members. I found this an intriguing puzzle to build up as a family practitioner participates in continuously leading a patient on their wellness journey by various means.
|
|
CO-Chief Resident
William Levasseur
Hometown: Lewiston, Maine Medical School: UNECOM Undergraduate: University of New England Major:Medical Biology; Minor: Mathematics As the son of a mechanic and an accountant, I am the first healthcare provider in my family. I grew up in Central Maine, where the values of hard work and big aspirations were instilled by my working-class parents at a young age. Throughout my childhood and years in school, I developed a longing to contribute to society in a meaningful way. This has led me to a rewarding career in medicine. After graduating from medical school, I spent five years as a physician and Captain in the U.S. Army Medical Corps, providing primary care to soldiers, veterans, and their dependents. The more time I have spent serving others here and around the world, the more my passion to address our society's social injustice has intensified. The disadvantages of some populations to access the healthcare they desperately need burns at my conscience, and I am committed with a sense of urgency to provoke change. Since most of my time has been spent caring for young adults, my experience has highlighted the needs of this demographic. With a particular focus on reproductive health and family planning, I will always provide a comfortable environment that encourages patients to broach any topic on their minds. Each of my patients can rely on me to provide the highest quality care, regardless of their age, gender, race, or belief system.
|
 Catherine Lok, DO
Catherine Lok
Hometown: Upper Sandusky, Ohio Medical School: A.T. Still University Undergraduate: Miami University of Ohio Major:Biology and Global Health I believe in patients taking back the power in their health. People’s home diet and physical activity can treat many modern diseases. In our current healthcare climate, people have forgotten how to care for themselves and forgotten just how powerful they are. During my interview conversations with staff and residents here, I was inspired by just how much the people here were of the similar mindset. I felt like the residency could be a place where I could let my patients empower themselves in their health; a place where they could change their lifestyle to eliminate their modern diseases like diabetes and hypertension, not just “manage chronic disease” as is the current medical culture purports. Here I’ve been able to continue to address “upstream” health factors such as addressing systemic health causes (such as racism and homelessness) and advocating for integrative medicine treatments where the patient is in charge (such as lifestyle changes, learning from our medicinal garden, OMM and food as medicine). Most importantly, people here simply have the mindset of patient-empowerment which shows in the small ways we interact with patients everyday.
|
Emily Nguyen
Hometown: Dartmouth, Nova Scotia Medical School: Trinity College Dublin Undergraduate: Bachelor of Science; Master of Science Major:Neuroscience; Physiotherapy As the daughter of Vietnamese refugees, I grew up influenced by their enduring tenacity through poverty, social isolation and cultural barriers as they resettled in Canada. Most significant were their challenges to medical literacy and access to healthcare. Upon reflection of my own upbringing, I realized that even within my own community in Nova Scotia, being a minority and living in a lower socioeconomic area often leads to health inequities. These experiences motivated me to be an active part of the solution and pursue a career in medicine. In medical school, I continued to learn about how social and racial inequality contributes to health disparities and how much work still needs to be done to improve healthcare access for all. With a large international community at Trinity College Dublin, I had the opportunity to work with healthcare professionals from around the world and developed a deeper understanding of the health challenges faced both in Ireland and abroad. Learning about the Irish abortion referendum and violations to reproductive health rights prompted me to become a member of Medical Students for Choice, advocating for bodily autonomy and safe access to abortion. These unique experiences empowered me to be a better health advocate and solidified the idea that together we can use our voices for positive change. I chose CMMC because of their commitment to community, dedication to improvement and supportive learning environment. My philosophy of medicine is rooted in informed choice and equality, and my goal is that all my clients feel supported and empowered to make the choices that are right for them.
|
|
James Poulin
Hometown: Lewiston, ME Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine Undergraduate:University of Notre Dame/University of Maine Major: Biology I was born and raised right here in Lewiston, attended Holy Cross and Saint Dom’s schools and then went off to the University of Notre Dame for undergrad. Something kept calling me back to Maine and I ended up transferring to the University of Maine and graduated with a degree in Biology. As most Mainers know, there is something special about Maine, and being anywhere else never felt right to me. I had the pleasure of working as an EMT in Lewiston in the year between undergrad and going off to medical school. I was lucky enough to end up at Tufts University School of Medicine as part of their Maine Track program, which gave me the unique opportunity to complete all of my clinical rotations in Maine.
|
 Matthew Rausch, DO
Matthew Rausch
Hometown: Buffalo, MN Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Undergraduate:University of Wisconsin – River Falls Major:Biomedical Science I had no intentions of going into medicine until well into my years as an undergrad. All my time was dedicated too busy, messy art studios working to develop my skills in glass and ceramic art. For a number of reasons, my attention turned to the sciences and eventually medicine. I spent three and half years working as an EMT in rural and urban emergency medicine before moving to Maine for medical school in 2016. In that time I also married my wife, Sarah, we gradually developed a menagerie of pets and traveled as much as we were able to. We just bought a house in Gray, ME and can’t wait to continue exploring Maine and beyond.
|
Mankaran Gill MD
Kelsey Hickey DO
Celeste Hutton MD
Jaclyn Israel DO
Luke Ollila DO
Eliza Foster, DO
Anna Korkhin, MD
Matthew R. Levasseur, DO
Emily Nguyen, MD
James Poulin, MD