Residency Leadership

Heather Lounsbury, MD – Interim Residency Program Director
Heather Lounsbury is a graduate of this residency program and completed a fellowship in medical education also here at UVA. Originally from Arizona, she attended undergrad at Creighton University and then medical school at University of Arizona. Her interests in emergency medicine include medical education, teaching with chalk talks, and cardiovascular medicine research. Her interests outside medicine include travel (she aims to reach every continent soon), reading, and vegan cooking. She has 3 children, 3 dogs (Bear, Panda, and Dobson), and a cat.

Jake Ottenhoff, DO – Assistant Residency Program Director
Jake Ottenhoff completed emergency medicine residency at Detroit Medical Center (Sinai-Grace) before ultrasound fellowship here at UVA. He is originally from Michigan and attended undergrad at the University of Michigan, then medical school at Michigan State University. His interests include trauma, resuscitation, ultrasound, and procedural training. He also enjoys hiking, camping, skiing, sailing, and chasing his 3 kids.

Nardos Makonnen, MD – Assistant Residency Program Director
Nardos Makonnen attended medical school at Drexel University in Philadelphia and came to UVA for residency. She went to George Washington University for a global health fellowship and to complete her MPH in global health policy. Her fellowship work mostly focused on EM residency development, as well as creating research curriculums in India and Ethiopia. Her hobbies outside of work include running, hiking, reading autobiographies, cooking, and listening to podcasts.

Abigail Kerns, MD – Assistant Residency Program Director
Abigail Kerns is originally from West Virginia where she attended undergraduate and medical school at West Virginia University. She completed residency at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She then came to the University of Virginia where she completed her fellowship in Medical Toxicology and Blue Ridge Poison Center. Her medical interests include forensic toxicology and poison center management. Outside of work, she enjoys anything outdoors and having to do with mountains or water – including biking, running, and hiking.

Aileen Watchko, MA – Emergency Medicine Medical Education Administrator
Aileen Watchko is a graduate of the University of Virginia with a masters degrees in Medical Anthropology from George Mason University. Born in Seoul, she has lived in Panama and Spain and calls Virginia home. She is an active participant in CORD’s EMARC committee and currently heads up the GMEC committee at UVA. Her interests outside work include travel, food, and event planning.