Our Fellows

I was raised in Houston, Texas, and completed my pediatric residency training at El Paso Children’s Hospital with Texas Tech. My fellowship interview day at UVA did not fill like an interview day at all, I immediately felt welcomed by everyone in the department. I came to UVA Pediatrics to get excellent training from exceptional physicians. Now that I have arrived at this facility, I love the atmosphere the fellows and the facility created around them. Something that always surprises everyone I meet is that I cannot swim.

I am originally from the western part of India where I did my med school training. I finished my pediatric residency training at University of Missouri. The Pediatric Gastroenterology program at UVA has a perfect size for learning coupled with great training resources and opportunities for research. On my interview day at UVA, I immediately felt welcomed and at home. Everyone I have met so far has been very helpful and the faculty is easily approachable. While large cities and small towns have their own pros and cons, I believe that Charlottesville represents the best of both worlds: it offers vibe and amenities of a large city, and, at the same time, the charm of a small town. I am excited and looking forward to my training here.

I grew up in Dallas, TX and I’m a Jordanian American. I received my BS in Biology at the University of Texas at Dallas and my MD at Texas Tech University SOM in Lubbock, TX. I completed my residency training in Pediatrics at Texas Tech University. Shortly after getting married this last Summer, my husband and I moved to Charlottesville for my fellowship training in pediatric GI at UVA. My interview with UVA was one-of-a-kind. I was drawn to the wealth of clinical and research opportunities available to provide fellows with a well-rounded training experience. I was impressed by how the program fosters a supportive and collegial atmosphere. I’m thrilled to be at UVA and I look forward to receiving world-class training under the mentorship of talented and dedicated leaders in the field of pediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition.

• Craig McKinney, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Virginia
• Esthermari Gonzalez-Polanco, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, University of Virginia
• Jonathan Medernach, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics