Current Residents
Class of 2021
Richard Chen, MD
Hometown: Edison, NJ
Undergrad: Drexel University
Medical school: Drexel University
Favorite sport: Tennis
On my travel bucket list: Japan
Favorite NJ activity: Fishing
Favorite NJ restaurant: Mitsuwa food court
Michael Chung, MD
Hometown: Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Undergrad: Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut
Medical school: Larner College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Favorite book: Mistborn
Favorite restaurant in NJ: Dong Bo Sung
Favorite Movie: The Bourne Identity
If I weren’t a physician, I would be: a physical therapist
Ashleigh Lemaire, MD
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergrad: University of Pittsburgh, Bachelors in Nursing
Medical school: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Favorite book: Harry Potter series!!!
If I weren’t a physician, I would be: an interior designer
Favorite way to spend a weekend: right now, sleeping in, spending time with family then date night with my husband.
Favorite NJ activity: Going to the shore for weekend getaways!
Jennifer Mbianda, MD
Hometown: Freeport, Bahamas
Undergrad: Georgia State University
Medical school: Ross University
On my travel bucket list: Santorini, Greece / Paris
If I could have any superpower, I’d choose: to eradicate all evil/injustice in the world
Favorite way to spend a weekend: Sleeping, family time, interior decorating
If I weren’t a physician, I would be: a youth counselor/party planner
Thai Tran, MD
Hometown: Atlantic City, NJ
Undergrad: Stockton University of NJ
Medical school: Ross University
Favorite sports team: Philly Eagles
Favorite read: House of God by Samuel Shem
On my travel bucket list: Thailand
If I could have any superpower, I'd choose: being able to transport through space like Nightcrawler on X-Men
Class of 2022
Kenya Cabrera, MD
Hometown: North Plainfield, NJ
Undergrad: Seton Hall University
Medical school: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Favorite book: The Catcher in the Rye
If I were an animal I would be: a hamster-All they do is sleep, exercise occasionally, and hoard food, just like I do!
Little known fact: I can play a few songs on the ukulele
Emmanuel Martinez Alcaraz, MD, MA
Hometown: Cuautitlan Izcalli, DF, Mexico
Undergrad: The College of New Jersey
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Favortie book: Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History by Michel-Rolph Trouillot
Hidden Talent: milking cows and goats
If I weren't a physician, I would be: a community organizer and social justice advocate
Haarika Reddy, MD
Hometown: Monroe Township, NJ
Undergrad: The College of New Jersey
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Favorite book: Pride and Prejudice
Travel Bucket List: I would love to see the Northern Lights
If I weren't a physician, I would be: An art historian
Michael Song, MD
Hometown: High Bridge, NJ
Undergrad: Messiah College
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Hidden Talent: I play the guitar
If I weren't a physician: I would attempt to be a musician
Favorite NJ activity: hiking, kayaking, and golf
Annie Truss, MD
Hometown: Bridgewater, NJ
Undergrad: Gettysburg College
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Travel Bucket List: Alberta, Canada and Iceland.
If I weren't a physician: I would be a veterinarian for a rescue shelter
Ideal weekend: Taking my dog for a long hike followed by a home cooked meal
If I were an animal I would be: my very spoiled rescue dog
Class of 2023
Cansu Baycora, DO
Hometown: Wayne, NJ
Undergrad: Rutgers University
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Ideal Weekend: one day of a nice hike and home-cooked meal, one day of exploring a city and trying new restaurants
Travel Bucket List: visit every state in the country
If I weren't a physician, I would be a teacher.
Miah Brawley, MD
Hometown: Newton Falls, Ohio
Undergrad: Youngstown State University
Medical school: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Last book read: Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel García Márquez
Favorite book: Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte and the Harry Potter series
On my travel bucket list: Italy to explore all of the historic landmarks and to eat as much Italian cuisine as possible.
If I were an animal I would be: House cat so I can be cute and hilarious while eating and sleeping all the time.
Tajal Desai, DO
Hometown: Elmhurst, Queens
Undergrad: Hunter College
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Travel Bucket List: hot air balloon ride in Cappadocia, Turkey; whale watching in the Azores Islands; safari in the Serengeti
If I weren't a physician I would be: a food blogger/critic/food show host
Ideal weekend: exploring pop up exhibits/shops, trying new restaurants, cuddling some kitties, and ending the night with wine and cheese
If I could have any superpower, I’d choose: teleportation because I love to travel but hate the commute
Michelle Gorbonosov, MD
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Undergrad: Macaulay Honors at CUNY Brooklyn College
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical School
Hidden Talent: I can lick both my elbows.
Ideal Weekend: Spending time at the beach with my family and then eating at a delicious restaurant for dinner
If I weren’t a physician, I would be: a college professor and an art history guide at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Travel Bucket List: Thailand, Laos & Cambodia
Rebecca Shipkin, MD
Hometown: Houston, TX and East Brunswick, NJ
Undergrad: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Little known fact #1: My husband and I combined our last names (Shipan and Temkin) to make Shipkin
Little known fact #2: I've lived in 5 states (TX, NJ, MA, MO, WI), England, Australia, Kenya, and have traveled to more than 30 countries with my family