Current Residents
Check out our current residents! They are diverse yet commonly united. Our residents are from all over the world, around the country, various medical schools, and they work together to advance the field of Emergency Medicine, clinically and academically.
INTERNS
Hello! I grew up in Charlottesville and attended UVA for undergrad. I attended medical school in Pakistan and came back to Charlottesville to work here as a research associate in the Department of Anesthesiology while I took my licensing exams. Outside of EM, my passions include traveling, discovering new food places, and spending as much time outside as possible.
Name: Joel Buenrostro
Preferred name: Joel
Pronouns: he/him
Hometown: Tallahassee, FL
Undergrad: University of Florida
Med school: West Virginia University
Hobbies: climbing, hiking, birdwatching, guitar, Florida Gators sports
Ask me about getting outdoors around Charlottesville and where to get a tasty beverage!
Fun fact: I have played in an international ultimate frisbee tournament
Future Plans: Gain more exposure in global health, wilderness medicine, and toxicology
Preferred name: Analise
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Jacksonville, FL
Undergrad: Florida Gulf Coast University
Med school: Florida State University
Hobbies: DIY house projects, gardening, hiking, camping, running
Ask me about: anything! Work-life balance, having a partner who is not in healthcare, managing finances in residency
Interesting fact about me: I ran a full marathon in medical school (0/10 would not recommend).
Future Plans: not sure yet, but plan to be involved with global health in some capacity.
Name: Amanda Gaines
Preferred Name: Amanda
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Undergrad: UNC Chapel Hill
Graduate Degree: University of Cincinnati
Med School: Penn State College of Medicine
Hobbies: Soccer, pickleball, peloton, dog training
Ask me about: EM, sports, pets
Interesting fact about me: I have volunteered training service dogs for 7 years
Future Plans: Unsure at the moment, may consider a fellowship or community hospital jobs
Hello, my name is Luisa (she/her/hers). I was born in Bogota, Colombia and lived there until I was 4 years old. Then my family moved to the US, and I grew up in Tampa, Florida. I went to the University of Florida for undergrad where I began volunteering as an emergency medical responder for our student EMS unit. This cemented my love for EM. After college I attended the University of South Florida for an MS in Medical Sciences and then went to Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Now, I am so excited to join the UVA EM family! I love to bake, hike, travel, paint, dance, and enjoy time with friends and family. One fun fact about me is I love to make elaborate gingerbread houses over the holidays (one year I made mini–Notre Dame Cathedral). I think I’m interested in going into academic medicine in the future, but I would also love to explore global emergency medicine. Feel free to ask me about EM or cool food recs in Cville!
Hello! I was born and grew up in the northern part of India. I attended medical school at Pt. B.D. Sharma PGIMS Rohtak, Haryana, and pursued a general surgery residency at the same institution. Then I moved to the US as a Research Fellow in New York for five years before relocating to Virginia for further research. I’m excited to be a part of the UVA family and the opportunities the program has to offer. My specific interests include global health and academics. I love to dance, specifically the classical dance forms of India. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with friends and family, playing cricket, pickleball, cooking, and engaging in mindfulness activities. I am beyond grateful to be a part of UVA EM and look forward to exploring Charlottesville.” Thank you for taking the time to read about my journey and interests.
Hello! I’m John (he/him) and I am a lifelong native of the state of Virginia, having grown up in Lexington just on the other side of Afton mountain, completed 4 years of college here in Charlottesville and spent the past 4 years by the beach down in Norfolk attending EVMS. I am one of four siblings to follow in our mother’s footsteps and earn bachelor’s degree from UVa, so one could say being a Wahoo is in my blood, and I am so excited to be back in the 434! Some of my interests within EM include ultrasound and medical education, but you can ask me about literally anything on the topic and I would love to chat, I love everything about this field of medicine. Some of my interests outside medicine include just about anything sports-related, hiking, breweries/wineries, and most of all hanging with my amazing wife and cat watching a good movie.
Interesting fact: I once hiked an 8,000-foot mountain in Canada.
Future plans: TBD
Hi all! I was born in Portland, Maine and grew up nearby in Falmouth, Maine. I went to college nearby at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, where I worked as a ski instructor and did a lot of research with fruit flies. I spent a year working as an ED scribe before starting medical school at Tufts. I met my partner Amanda in medical school, and we are both so thrilled to be at UVA (it turns out that Virginia IS for lovers!) In my spare time, I love hiking and skiing, reading books and manga, cooking, and trying out local diners – of which Charlottesville has many. That said, I also enjoy a trip to Waffle House. Thanks for reading!!
Name: Erik C. Shaw
Preferred name: E-dawg
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Butte, Montana
Undergrad: Montana State University
Med school: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies: Playing outside in the mountains, baking, taking naps, tending to my houseplants, drinking too much coffee.
Ask me about: My sourdough starter Meghan, doing a second residency, being fabulous.
Interesting fact about me: Growing up my neighbor was Evel Knievel.
Future Plans: Unclear! Likely the standard fare (work, travel, etc…), however I’m embracing all possibilities.
Name: Katie Smith
Preferred name: Katie
Pronouns: She/Her
Hometown: St. Clairsville, OH
Undergrad: Columbia University
Med school: University of Cincinnati
Hobbies: Trail running, mountain biking, playing laser pointer with my cat, discovering the best pancake location in town, roaming around fancy grocery stores, & drinking oodles of black coffee at places that give free refills
Ask me about: best trails off the blue ridge parkway to go running, coffee shops in Cville that give free refills
Interesting fact about me: I was struck by lightning in a car in the middle of nowhere Texas (car was totaled, I was fine!)
Future Plans: I completed an IHS rotation in Shiprock, NM and loved it—maybe I will return to that for a while, but I’m not totally certain!
PGY-2
Hello! I’m from Washington, D.C. I attended the University of Michigan for undergrad where I studied English and Biology, and then Wake Forest for medical school. Before medical school, I worked as an EMT in Detroit and, during my summers, used my WEMT to lead backcountry kayaking trips in the Rockies. EM has always been where I hoped I would end up in medicine, and has been my passion from the get-go. Outside of medicine, I’m an avid whitewater kayaker, biker, and climber. I also love to make things – some of the projects I’m most proud of include a working pocket watch and a wood-carved relief map of the Grand Canyon.
I was born and raised in Charlottesville (graduated from WAHS) and started my undergrad at Brigham Young University. After completing freshman year, I spent 2 years as a missionary in Cuiabá, Brazil, after which I returned and completed my undergraduate degree at BYU. That was also where I met my wife, Rebekah, and we were married a year before starting medical school at the Penn State College of Medicine. During medical school, our three boys, Charlie, Richie, and Teddy, were born. My hobbies include tinkering with technology, and as a family we enjoy DIY projects, puddle jumping, and anything involving the outdoors (camping, hiking, biking, and campfire cooking). We are very excited to return to Charlottesville and be a part of UVA EM!
Hi! I grew up in Tampa, Florida and have been making my way up the East Coast over the last few years. I went to Florida State for undergrad (go Noles!) and attended Wake Forest for medical school (go Deacs!). My interest for EM began while I was working as a scribe in the ED during my gap year. This continued to grow throughout medical school and, after discovering my passion for Global Health and Social EM, I knew I couldn’t turn back! Outside of the hospital I love exploring the outdoors, gardening, finding the best coffee shops in town and baking.
Hi, my name is Ola El Kebbi, born and raised in Beirut, the city that made me fall in love with Emergency Medicine. I completed my MD with a minor in biomedical engineering at the American University of Beirut before pursuing a two year research fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at the same institution. I then completed an intern year in Pediatrics in New York City before finally matching into Emergency Medicine here at UVA EM! My interests include research, medical education, and quality improvement. In my free time, I love to paint while listening to random podcasts. My friends rely on me when it comes to organizing camping trips, barbecues, and hikes. Also, you can always count on me for new music recommendations and beautiful biking routes.
Hello! I was born and raised in Midlothian, VA. I attended Virginia Tech for college, VCU for post-bacc, Liberty for med school, and am now at UVA for residency! But long before becoming a Hokie, Ram, Flame, or Cavalier, I always wanted to be a doctor. Eventually, my experiences as an ED scribe would completely sell me on the magical chaos that is Emergency Medicine. It is a privilege to match at UVA and entrust my training to some of the best educators that medicine can offer. As for long-term EM goals, I like to teach and hope to take part in mentoring the next generation of physicians.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy going out with friends for drinks and Karaoke! You can also find me at home playing the guitar or Super Smash Bros. Melee. If you sing/play an instrument, we should definitely jam. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Hi guys! I got the opportunity to bounce around a bit growing up. After some awesome stints in Hawaii and South Korea, I was lucky enough to land in Virginia and attend UVA for undergrad. After, I went to the Frank H Netter School of Medicine up in Connecticut and had a great time, but I’m stoked to come back to UVA and Charlottesville. My educational interests primarily revolve around wilderness and disaster medicine. When I’m not in the hospital or punishing myself with question banks, I love anything that gets me active and outside. Skiing is my favorite hobby, and I’m trying to learn to mountain bike with as few C-collars necessary as possible. On chill days, I try to cook new, and what are now mostly edible, foods and throw unreasonable amounts of various things on the grill.
Hey! My name is Jai and I am one of the Emergency Medicine residents. I am very lucky to be a part of our incredible crew here at UVA. I was born in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and moved to Cincinnati as an adolescent (big Bengals fan here, Who Dey!). I most recently lived in northern Virginia and went to medical school here at UVA.
I spend my non-hospital time going to the gym, spending time with my wonderful niece and nephew, playing soccer and basketball, and making music. I have been trying to practice electric guitar recently and really enjoy the learning process of learning a new instrument! I love the city of Charlottesville and all the food spots – although I make an unhealthy amount of visits to Raising Cane’s. The Rivanna Trail, the Frisbee golf course off of 29, the Quirk Rooftop, and Carter Mountain are some of my favorite places here in Charlottesville.
Hi! I was born and raised in Spokane, Washington all the way out on the west coast! I went to a small university in my hometown for college where I got to play soccer. I then went to the University of Washington for medical school! My husband and I couples matched and are both thrilled to be moving to beautiful Charlottesville for each of our residency training! I love to explore the outdoors, hang out with my dog Nellie, and play any sport or game although not always well!
Hey all! I was born in Saudi Arabia where I lived for 10 years before relocating to Egypt. In Egypt, I grew up in a small village called Elshmout where my favorite activities were cycling and berry picking. I graduated from the College of Human Medicine at Banha University in Egypt where I fell in love with emergency medicine. My interests in medicine include global health and medical education. I am super excited to join the UVA EM team and live in beautiful Charlottesville for the next 3 years. When I am not video calling my family, I enjoy reading, playing chess, cycling, swimming, watching comedies, and hanging out with my friends.
Hello! My name is Ethan and I am originally from a small town outside of Baltimore called Sykesville. I attended James Madison University for undergrad (Go Dukes!) where I volunteered as an EMT, then completed a Master’s in DC before returning to Virginia for medical school at EVMS. I am beyond excited to return to the mountains of VA and continue my education at UVA! My interests in EM include ultrasound, prehospital medicine, and wilderness medicine. In my spare time, I enjoy hiking, camping, trivia, exploring breweries, and spending time with my border collie, Kona.
Hi! My name is Sigal, and I’m originally from Indianapolis. I went to Indiana University for a degree in Psychology and Spanish, and then for medical school. I got interested in medicine after spending a year in Israel, during which I was a first responder with the ambulance service in Haifa. My husband and I are so excited to live in the beautiful mountains of Charlottesville, and I’m so happy to be part of the UVA EM team! Within EM, I’m interested in global health, public health, and pretty much everything else. Outside of EM, I love a good hike, camp, cycle or run, or some crochet on the couch with a sitcom on.
Hola! I’m originally from Manatí, Puerto Rico. I went to Penn State (We Are!) for undergrad where I majored in Biology. I then returned to Puerto Rico for medical school at Ponce Health Sciences University. I am super excited and happy to join the UVA EM team and explore all the things Charlottesville has to offer. Outside of medicine, I love nearly all sports but by far my favorite is fútbol (Hala Madrid!). On top of that, I love traveling, going to the beach, video games, music, and any type of outdoor activities. Oh, and I have Panda German Shepherd who probably loves the beach as much as I do.
PGY-3
Hello! I’m from Lexington, VA, where I was an EMT and volunteer firefighter throughout high school. I went to Wake Forest for undergrad, where I studied chemistry. After graduating, I spent a year doing medical research in NYC before heading to DC for a master’s degree and then medical school. I’m delighted to be returning to Virginia for residency and join the UVA EM family. In my free time, I enjoy drinking coffee, playing tennis, cooking, and spending as much time outside as possible.
Hello! I was born in West Virginia, but raised right across the border in southwest Virginia, and attended Virginia Tech for college where I majored in biochemistry. I graduated from medical school at UVA and was happy to match here for residency as well. Although I’m still a Hokie at heart, I’m excited for my time in Charlottesville to continue! In my free time, I enjoy fly fishing, playing golf, and reading. My interests within EM include toxicology and critical care.
Hey/Hola! I was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, went to the University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez Campus for undergrad and went to medical school at Ponce Health Sciences University. I’ve been all around my little island and have lived there my whole life. I am super excited to be here in UVA and experience something new with the wonderful people at this program. My interest in emergency medicine started with a shadowing experience I had my first year of med school. I was in the busy ED of a hospital in the south of PR, and the attending ran to where I was eating lunch and told me “come quick we are doing an emergency pacemaker and you’re going to help”. I saw so many procedures and different people that I just fell in love with it then and there. Things about me: I love the beach (even though I’m always pale – sunblock people), I am always reading fun books, and currently I’m learning about hiking in VA. I’m excited for the snow and snowboarding too. Also I have a little toy poodle that I’m excited to see experience snow for the first time!
Hi! I was born in Chicago but raised in Charlotte, NC. I went to undergrad and grad school at UNC-Wilmington where I studied chemistry, but decided life in a lab wasn’t for me and took a left turn into medicine. I then went to medical school at Brody School of Medicine in eastern NC where I discovered my passion for emergency medicine! My EM interests include ultrasound, education, and wilderness medicine. Outside of medicine, you can find me mountain biking, rock climbing, going for long walks in the woods with my hound dog Kirk, playing the piano, or napping. I’m excited to move to gorgeous Charlottesville and be part of the UVA team!
Hey there! I’ve done a lot of moving, so it’s hard to say where I’m from, but I was born in Paraguay, partly raised in the States, then spent most of my late teens and adult life between Brazil and Argentina where I went to medical school and met my wife. We are very happy to be living in such a beautiful city and have a growing list of places we want to see and visit. I am thrilled to continue my learning as part of the UVA EM team, and hope to grow in areas of academic interest such as global EM and academics. Life outside of the hospital is important and revolves around family, friends and hobbies such as sports, outdoors and music!
Hey what’s up y’all! I was born in Fairfax, Virginia and moved to like…five different cities all throughout the state. I went to Virginia Tech (wow) for undergrad and then moved to the Electric City (Scranton, PA) at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine for my Master’s degree and MD. I love BBQ’ing, throwing socials, enjoying a nice cold brew, building furniture, fixing cars, home repair, pretending like I know how to surf, playing guitar to a mediocre degree, and the typical nature things that everyone likes! My academic interests include Global Health and Ultrasound. Having been here for just over a month, Charlottesville has not disappointed with so many different things to do. Too many things. I am beyond stoked to join the UVA EM family and can’t wait to see where this journey takes me!
I am delighted and honored to be training at UVA Hospital with some is the most wonderful colleagues! After living in DC proper for 8 years, during undergrad and medical school, my family and I are looking forward to embracing the scenery and greenery that central Virginia has to offer!
Hi! My name is Nick. I am from Salem, OR. I graduated from Western Oregon University with a degree in Chemistry. I attended medical school at Pacific Northwest University in Washington State. My Wife, Sam, and I have two incredible daughters, Lyla and Kallie. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending my time with the family, hiking, fishing, camping, barbequing. In the future my goal is to work in rural and underserved communities. I also hope to learn more about Global Medicine. We are looking forward to moving to Charlottesville and exploring all the outdoors activities it has to offer. I am so excited and beyond grateful to be joining the UVA EM Crew!
Hi there! Your typical Florida girl, I was born and raised in Tampa and went to the University of Florida for undergrad. My interest in emergency medicine began while I was working as a scribe in college. I attended medical school at George Washington University in DC, where I developed a passion for health policy. I am also incredibly passionate about innovation, specifically artificial intelligence integration into medical practice. I love the outdoors and am so excited to be spending the next 3 years in a place as beautiful as Charlottesville! If I’m not outside, I’m usually watching soccer (#YNWA) or listening to music and attempting to play things on my keyboard.
Hi! I’m originally from Mississippi, and I graduated from the University of Mississippi with a degree in English and went on to complete my medical degree and the UM School of Medicine. I’m a bit… atypical, as I completed a residency in Pediatrics at the University of Virginia, then a chief resident year, and then decided to continue my training in General Emergency Medicine! My wife, Vivian, and I (and now our dog, Sully, and our daughter, Nin) have been in Charlottesville for going on 5 years and I really can’t say enough good things about it. From the outdoor access (if you’re interested in mountain biking, hit me up!), to the food, to the live music and beyond, it’s truly a great place to live. With that in mind, the Emergency Medicine program is truly the cherry on top. The clinical experience balances education and patient care extremely well, the faculty is approachable, responsive, and loves to teach, and the collegiality within the program is excellent. Good luck to everyone applying this year, and please do not hesitate to reach out with any questions!
Hola! I am originally from Peru, later moved to Northern Virginia, and went to Indiana for medical school. I became interested in EM when I started scribing, and now my interests lie in global health and critical care. Outside of medicine, I salsa dance and I backpack around the world whenever I get the chance. I am excited to live in Charlottesville, close to home, and check out all the outdoorsy activities it has to offer.
My name is John and I am from Denver, CO. Only after undergrad in Portland, OR and a little time ski-bumming around Colorado did I realize that medicine was my calling. I did a post-bac program at WashU in St. Louis, where I met my better half, Emily, and then went to Chicago for medical school at Rush Medical College. Now I can’t wait to join the UVA EM family and see what the next few years hold! In the ED, I’m interested in critical care, toxicology, and wilderness medicine. Outside the ED, our favorite things include our little old dog Sophie, hiking, cycling, climbing, skiing, cooking, and checking out all the breweries, wineries, coffee shops, and restaurants that we can.