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Division of Hematology & Oncology Hematology Oncology
  1. Division of Hematology-Oncology
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  4. Combined Hematology-Oncology Track
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Current Fellows

group of doctors

Third Year Fellows - Class of 2024

Class of 2024

Hemali Batra-Sharma, M.D.

Hometown: Des Moines, IA

Medical School: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

IM Residency: University of California, San Diego

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  My co-fellows, our faculty mentors' teaching and support, and the life in beautiful San Diego

Research and Career Interests:  Academic breast medical oncology and global health

Posters/Presentations/Publications:

  • Kiser ET, Wacker MA, Gaur Dixit U, Batra-Sharma H, Chen Y, Wilson ME. The Inflammatory Effects of Dietary Lipids Regulate Growth of Parasites during Visceral Leishmaniasis. mSphere. 2021 Aug 25;6(4):e0042321. PMID: 34259561.
  • Batra-Sharma H, Sell R, Stefanko DP, Mahooti S. Hepatoid Adenocarcinoma of the Lung. American THoracic Society 2020 Annual Conference.
  • Kiser ET, Lima ID, Gaur Dixit U, Turcott EA, Lockard RD, Batra-Sharma H, Nascimento EL, Jeronimo SMB, Wilson ME. Epidemiological and Experimental Evidence for Sex-Dependent Differences in the Outcome of Leishmania Infantum Infection. American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 2018 Jan; 98(1): 142-145. PMID: 29165220.
  • Batra-Sharma, H, Yeung, K, Shatsky, RA. Therapeutic Strategies for Metaplastic Breast Cancer: A Clinicopathologic Analysis of a Single Institution Cohort. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2023; 41(16_suppl). doi: 10.1200/jco.2023.41.16_suppl.e13128. (2023 ASCO Annual Meeting abstract)
  • Batra-Sharma, H, Sivakumar, S, Kumar, PA, Sokol, ES, Shatsky, RA, Ross, JS. Genomic Landscape and Clinical Outcomes of Triple-Negative Invasive Lobular Carcinoma. Submitted as an abstract for the 2023 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium.

Hobbies: Travel, hiking, Pilates, cooking with friends and family

Justin Chen, M.D.

Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT

Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine

IM Residency: University of California, San Diego

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  The people! I chose to stay at UCSD for fellowship becasue I knew that I would thrive here. The faculty are extremely supportive, helpful, and egaged in fellow education and my co-fellows are extremely down-to-earth and friendly

Research and Career Interests:  Currently pursuing research into indolent lymphomas and CLL. Considering a career in academic hematology of in community practice

Posters/Presentations/Publications: 

  • Chen CJ, Kim LT, Weaver A, Cruz D, Patel SP. Characterizing severe acute kidney injury in patients treated with immune checkpoint inhibitors. Poster presented at Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer Annual Meeting. 2020 Nov 10-15

Hobbies: Running, hiking, exploring San Diego's breweries, and searching for the best California burrito in San Diego

Renee Cheng, M.D.

Hometown: Naperville, IL

Medical School: University of Illinois at Chicago

IM Residency: University of Illinois, Chicago, IL

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  My co-fellows and the supportive culture here!

Research and Career Interests:  Malignant Hematology / BMT

Posters/Presentations/Publications: 

  • Cheng R, Singh A, Nasa P, Han J, Zhang X, Alfaro D. Kavoliunaite L, Nwachukwu C, Woodward K, Molokie R, Gordeuk V, & Gowhari M. (December, 2020). Outcomes in Vaso-Occlusive Crisis Treatment in the Emergency Department vs. Acute Care Observation Center. Poster presented at: American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting 2020; San Diego, CA USA.
  • Cheng, R., Srisuwananukorn, A., Han, J., Gowhari, M., Njoku, F., Hussain, F.A., Molokie, R., Gordeuk, V.R., & Saraf, S.L.. (December, 2020). Lower Apache II Score and Exchange Transfusions Predict Better Outcomes in the Intensive Care Unit for Patients with Sickle Cell Disease. Poster presented at: American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting 2020; San Diego, CA, USA.
  • Cheng, R., Patel R., Kang, S., Tian F., Zhang X., Han J., Patel J., Zilberstein N., Gordeuk V., & Gowhari M.. (December, 2019). Imple mentation of a Standard Order Set at a Sickle Cell Acute Care Observation Unit. Poster presented at: American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting 2019; Orlando, FL, USA.
  • Kwan J.M., Cheng R.G., & Feldman L.E.. Hepatotoxicity and Recurrent NSTEMI While on Pembrolizumab for Metastatic Giant Cell Bone Tumor. The American Journal of the Medical Sciences. 2019, Apr; 357(4): 343-347. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 30638772.
  • Price T.T., Burness M.L., Sivan A, Warner M.J., Cheng R., Lee C.H., Olivere L., Comatas K., Magnani J., Kim Lyerly H., Cheng Q., McCall C.M., Sipkins D.A.. Dormant breast cancer micrometastases reside in specific bone marrow niches that regulate their transit to and from bone. Science Translational Medicine. 2016, May; 8(340): 340-73. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 27225183.
  • Price T., Burness M., Sivan A., Cheng R., Mangnani J.L., & Sipkins D.A.. (April, 2014). Breast Cancer Cells Metastasize to Bone through E-Selectin Positive Vascular Gateways. Poster presented at: American Association of Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2014; San Diego, CA, USA.
  • Marcus E., Holloway N., Galligan C., Cheng R., McDunn M., Robinson P., & DeVine K.. (June, 2011). Oncology Appointment Compliance in Navigated and Non-Navigated Patients Receiving Radiation Therapy in an Urban Public Hospital. Poster presented at: American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) Annual Meeting 2011; Chicago, IL, USA.

Hobbies: Spending time with my family, our little baby boy, and friends! We love going to the zoo, seeing the seals at La Jolla, and exploring San Diego!

Sharon Choi, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Orange County, CA

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago

IM Residency: University of California, San Diego

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  The people and supportive environment make our program stand out. you also can’t beat San Diego.

Research and Career Interests:  Translational research in solid tumor oncology

Posters/Presentations/Publications: 

  • Choi, S.H., Smith, S.A., & Morrissey, J.H. (2017). Polyphosphate accelerates factor V activation by factor XIa. Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 113(3), 599–604.
  • Choi, S.H., Smith, S.A., & Morrissey, J.H. Platelet Polyphosphate Enhances Activation of Factor XI by Thrombin. American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting. Orlando, FL. December, 2015.
  • Puy, C., Tucker, E.I., Wong, Z.C., Gailani, D., Smith, S.A., Choi, S.H., McCarty, O.J.T. (2015). Factor XII promotes blood coagulation independent of factor XI in the presence of long chain polyphosphate. Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis: JTH, 11(7), 1341–1352.
  • Choi, S.H., Smith, S.A., Collins, J.N., Travers, R.J., Cooley, B.C., & Morrissey, J.H. (2014). Inhibition of polyphosphate as a novel strategy for preventing thrombosis and inflammation. Blood, 120(26), 5103-5110.
  • Choi, S.H., Smith, S.A. & Morrissey, J.H. Polyphosphate: an ancient molecule that links platelets, coagulation, and inflammation. International Society on Thrombosis & Hemostasis Biennial Congress. Kyoto, Japan. July, 2014.
  • Choi, S.H., Smith, S.A., & Morrissey, J.H. (2013). Polyphosphate is a cofactor for the activation of factor XI by thrombin. Blood, 118(26), 6963-6970.
    Morrissey, J.H., Choi, S.H., & Smith, S.A. (2014). Polyphosphate: an ancient molecule that links platelets, coagulation, and inflammation. Blood, 119(25), 5972-5979.
  • Choi, S.H., Collins, J.N.R., Smith, S.A., Davis-Harrison, R.L., Rienstra, C.M., and Morrissey, J.H.  (2013). Phosphoramidate end labeling of inorganic polyphosphates: Facile manipulation of polyphosphate for investigating and modulating its biological activities.  Biochemistry, 49:  9935-41.
  • Choi, S.H., Davis-Harrison, R.L., Smith, S.A., Collins, J.N.R., Rienstra, C.M., and Morrissey, J.H.  Covalent End-Labeling of Polyphosphate Facilitates Studies of Its Procoagulant Activities and Development of Enhanced Agents to Treat Bleeding. American Society of Hematology.  Atlanta, GA.  December 2012.
  • Choi, S.H. and Morrissey, J.H. Polyphosphate Accelerates Factor V Activation by Factor XIa. Gordon Research Conference – Hemostasis. Waterville Valley, NH. July 2012.
  • Smith, S.A., Choi, S.H., Davis-Harrison, R., Huyck, J., Boettcher, J., Rienstra, C.M., & Morrissey, J.H. (2012). Polyphosphate exerts differential effects on blood clotting, depending on polymer size. Blood, 116(20), 4353-4359.
  • Helsten, T.L., Bunch, T.A., Kato, H., Yamanouchi, J., Choi, S.H., Jannuzi, A.L., Feral, C.C., Ginsberg, M.H., Brower, D.L., Shattil, S.J.  (2010).  Differences in regulation of Drosophila and vertebrate integrin affinity by talin.  Molecular Biology of the Cell, 8:  3589-98.

Hobbies: Cooking, trying out new food, Cardinals baseball, traveling (when time/money permits)

Peter Moussa, M.D.

Hometown: Cairo, Egypt

Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada

IM Residency: Albert Einstein Medical Center

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  Definitely the people! My co-fellows and faculty make fellowship here a very special experience. We also get to see a wide range of cases in hematology/oncology, as well as patients on clinical trials, affording fellows a great balance of academic and clinical exposure.

Research and Career Interests:  Solid tumor oncology. I am currently doing research with my mentor Dr. Shumei Kato looking into alternate immune co-stimulatory pathways that may be targeted to augment immune-system anti-cancer activity.

Posters/Presentations/Publications: 

  • Moussa P, Fodil N, Vidal S. Cmv5: A Genetic Modulator of CMV Resistance. Poster presented at 13th meeting of Natural immunity 2012; Pacific Grove, CA, USA.
  • Moussa P, Fodil N, Vidal S. Exome Capture and Next Generation Sequencing to Identify Cmv5. Poster presented at the Canadian Human and Statistical Genetics meeting 2012; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.
  • Moussa P, Marton J, Vidal SM, Fodil-Cornu N. Genetic dissection of NK cell responses. Front Immunol. 2013 Jan 18;3:425.
  • Fodil N, Langlais D, Moussa P (co-second), Boivin GA, Di Pietrantonio T, Radovanovic I, Dumaine A, Blanchette M, Schurr E, Gros P, Vidal SM. Specific dysregulation of IFNγ production by natural killer cells confers susceptibility to viral infection. PLoS Pathog. 2014 Dec 4;10(12):e1004511.
  • Moussa P, Abrahamsen G, Fodil N, Goazpalakrishnan RP, Mancini M, Dissen E, Sæther PC, Wiltshire SA, Boivin GA, Caignard G, Spurkland A, Vidal SM. Reduced MCMV Δm157 viral clearance in the absence of TSAd. Sci Rep. 2015 Mar 18;5:9219.
  • Fox T, Azmaiparashvili Z, Moussa P, Monla-Hassan J. Hemihyperplasia and Deep Vein Thrombosis: Clues to a Rare Underlying Syndrome (Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome). Poster presented at ACP South Eastern Regional annual conference 2018; Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  • Jorge V, Tiu A, Moussa P, Gupta S, Djibo DA, Dourado C. Survival Disparities of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Community-Based Inner-City Cancer Center. Poster presented in ASCO annual meeting 2019; Chicago, IL, USA.
  • Moussa P, Tiu A, Stemple J, Lo K, Dourado C. IRIS posing as HLH in an AIDS patient with diffuse Kaposi sarcoma. Poster presented at ACP South Eastern Regional annual conference 2019; Philadelphia, PA, USA.
  • Kim K, Jorge V, Tiu A, Moussa P, Gupta S, Djibo D, Dourado C. Early Mortality after Diagnosis of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Retrospective, Single Urban-Community Hospital Study. ASH 2019 conference abstract; Blood 2019; 134 (Supplement_1): 5335.
  • Tiu A, Jorge V, Moussa P, Djibo DA, Gupta S, Alpdogan O, Dourado C. Survival Disparities of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in a Community-Based Inner-City Cancer Center. Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2021 Apr;21(4):205-215.
  • Swaminathan N, Moussa P, Mody N, Lo KB, Patarroyo-Aponte G. COVID-19 in HIV-infected patients: A case series and literature review. J Med Virol. 2021 May;93(5):2557-2563.

Hobbies: Spending time with family, traveling, videogames, and finding good restaurants in SD. I also like soccer and a Liverpool fan.

Poorva Vaidya, M.D. (Chief Fellow)

Hometown: Irvine, CA

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine

IM Residency: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  My co-fellows, the enthusiasm of faculty mentors, and living in San Diego!

Research and Career Interests:  Solid Tumor Oncology

Posters/Presentations/Publications: 

  • In, GK., Vaidya, P., Filkins, A., Hermel, DJ., King, KG., Ragab, O., et al. (2020). PD-1 inhibition therapy for advanced cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective analysis from the University of Southern California. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol. doi: 10.1007/s00432-020-03458-6.
  • Hasnain, Z., Nilanon, T., Li M., Mejia, A., Kolatkar A., Nocera, L., Shahabi, C., Cozzens Philips, FA., Lee, J., Hanlon, SE., Vaidya, P., Ueno, NT., Yennu, S., Newton PK., Kuhn, P., Nieva, J. (2020). Quantified kinematics to evaluate patient chemotherapy risks in clinic. JCO Clinical Cancer Informatics, 4:583-601. doi: 10.1200/CCI..20.00010
  • Vaidya, P., Khedro, K., Yaghmour, B., Yaghmour, G.  (2019). Midostaurin related interstitial lung injury in FLT3+ acute myeloid leukemia post-allogeneic transplant. World Journal of Oncology, 10(6):237-239. doi:10.14740/wjon1232
  • Hagiya, A., Vaidya, P., Khedro, T., Yaghmour B., Siddiqi I., Yaghmour G. (2019). Bone Marrow Features in Patients with acute myeloid leukemia treated with novel targeted isocitrate dehydrogenase 1/2 inhibitors. World Journal of Oncology, 10(6):226-230. doi: 10.14740/wjon1231
  • Vaidya, P., Ragab, O., Mehta, A., Lin, S., In, GK. (2019). Concurrent radiation therapy with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibition leads to a complete response in advanced, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. JAAD Case Reports, 5(9): 763-766. doi: 10.1016/j.jdcr.2019.06.026
  • Montoya, D., Inkeles M., Liu, P., Realegeno, S., Teles, R., Vaidya, P…Modlin R.L. (2014). IL-32 is a molecular marker of a host defense network in human tuberculosis. Science Translational Medicine 6(250):250ra114.  doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.3009546.

Hobbies: Board games, reading for book club, early morning hikes, finding San Diego's best coffee shops

Second Year Fellows - Class of 2025

Class of 2025

Elizabeth Behrens Conner, M.D.

Hometown: Newburgh, IN

Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine

IM Residency: Rush University, Chicago, IL

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  The people! Especially my co-fellows

Research and Career Interests:  GI Oncology

Posters/Presentations/Publications:

  • Warrior S, Behrens E, Thomas J, Gezer S, Venugopal P, Jain S. Prevention of Thromboembolic Events in Patients with COVID-19. TH Open. 2021 Aug 2;5(3):e415-e419. doi: 10.1055/a-1576-6201. PMID: 34595386; PMCID: PMC8463134.
  • Myint ZW, McCormick J, Chauhan A, Behrens E, Anthony LB. Management of Diffuse Idiopathic Pulmonary Neuroendocrine Cell Hyperplasia: Review and a Single Center Experience. Lung. 2018 Oct;196(5):577-581. doi: 10.1007/s00408-018-0149-z. Epub 2018 Aug 25. PMID: 30167840.
  • Rajendran S, Behrens E, Pawley B. Catastrophic cerebral hemorrhage and edema in a patient with pneumococcal meningitis. Clinical Imaging. 2018 Nov-Dec;52:302-304. doi: 10.1016/j.clinimag.2018.07.016. Epub 2018 Jul 24. PMID: 30216857.
  • Bennett R, Behrens E, Zinn A, Duncheon C, and Lamkin TJ “Mustard gas surrogate, 2-chloroethyl ethylsulfide (2-CEES), induces centrosome amplification and aneuploidy in human and mouse cells: 2-CEES induces centrosome amplification and chromosome instability” Cell Biology and Toxicology. 2014. Aug 30;(4):195-205. PMID: 24894427.
Hobbies: Scuba diving, any/all beach activities, traveling

Kaitlyn Dykes, M.D.

Hometown: Byron, MN

Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University

IM Residency: MedStar Georgetown University, Washington, DC

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  Learning how to take care of heme-onc patients! I particularly love the VA clinic, where we are given hands on experience as the primary oncologist/hematologist for patients.

Research and Career Interests:  Hematologic Malignancies / Bone Marrow Transplant

Posters/Presentations/Publications:

  • Cook, M., Dykes, K., White, K., Desale, S., Agrawal, R., Fernandez, S., ... & Lai, C. (December, 2021). Thrombotic and Clinical Outcomes in Patients with Hematologic Malignancy and COVID-19. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clml.2021.12.011.
  • Dykes, K., Desale, S., Javaid, B., Miatlovich, K., Kessler, C (November, 2021). A new reality for multiple myeloma renal failure: US data report on kidney transplant outcomes. Clinical Lymphoma Myeloma and Leukemia, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clml.2021.11.002.
  • Dykes, K., Kessler, C. (October, 2021). First Report of COVID-19 Vaccine-Induced Flare of Compensated Congenital Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura. Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis, doi: 10.1097/MBC.0000000000001097.
  • Dykes, K., Johnson, C., Gong, J., McKenzie, S., Husseinzadeh, H. (January, 2021). Bleeding and thrombotic adverse events in hospitalized patients under empiric treatment for suspected heparin-induced thrombocytopenia while awaiting confirmatory testing. Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Hemostasis, https://doi.org/10.1177/1076029621996473.
  • Dykes, K., Peedin, A. (July, 2020). Educational Case: A Case of Transfusion-Transmitted Babesiosis: Diagnostic Perspectives Across the Clinical Laboratory. Academic Pathology, https://doi.org/10.1177/2374289520951929.
  • Gaugler, J., Dykes, K. (2018) Assessing mechanisms of benefit in adult day programs: the adult day services process and use measures, Aging & Mental Health, DOI: 10.1080/13607863.2018.1481931.
  • Dykes, K., Sarkinen, K., Louwagie, K., Gaugler, J. (2016). Respite Care, Current Status and Future Of. In N. Pachana (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Geropsychology (pp. Sect. 3, Chap. 42). Singapore: Springer Singapore.
  • Dykes, K., Pomportl, M., Gronseth, B., Friedman, J. (2015). Long-Lived Human Populations (Blue Zones). In S. Whitbourne (Ed.), Wi ley-Blackwell’s Encyclopedia of Adulthood and Aging (pp. doi:10.1002/97811185). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
  • Sarkinen, K., Dykes, K. (2015). Elder Abuse and Neglect. In S. K. Whitbourne (Ed.), The Encyclopedia of Adulthood and Aging (pp. doi:10.1002/97811185). Hoboken: John Wiley & Sons.
Hobbies: Exploring San Diego and the local areas with my husband and our furry friend, Rusty. I also love running, reading, and dabbling with art projects.

Amanda Herrmann, M.D.

Hometown: Skillman, NJ

Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

IM Residency: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  Being surrounded by and learning from the smartest people I have ever met in the most beautiful part of the country! I am inspired by the work of my co-fellows and faculty mentors in this field and also love that we can enjoy San Diego together. Some of my favorite memories from the last year include painting on the beach in La Jolla with my co-fellows and running a half marathon around Mission Bay with my VA clinic team!

Research and Career Interests:  Solid tumor oncology, thoracic oncology

Posters/Presentations/Publications:

  • Hsu R, Herrmann A, Gaur K, Bing X, Nieva J. (2022) “Evaluating Real World Mutational Differences Between Hispanics and Asians with NSCLC at a Large Academic Institution in Los Angeles.” Clinical Lung Cancer 2022 Nov;23(7):e443-e452. PMID 35902325.
  • Marmarelis M, Grady C, Liu G, Patel D, Liu S, Montenegro G, Patil T, Nieva J, Herrmann A, Marrone K, Lam V, Sun F, Dowell J, Velcheti V, Nguyen M, Miller K, Iams Q, Hwang Q, Camidge DR, Aggarwal C. (2022) “Treatment patterns and outcomes in ALK or ROS1 altered NSCLC: An ATOMIC Registry Study.” Journal of Clinical Oncology 40:16_suppl, 9077-9077.
  • Montenegro G, Vanderwalde A, Raez L, Nieva J, Feldman R, Herrmann A, Nagaska M, Ikpeazu C, Mamdani H, Pai S, Wozniac A, Spira A, Lopes G, Liu S, Kim C. (2021) P76.43 “Co-occurring Genomic Alterations and Treatment Outcomes in Patients with EGFR Exon 20 Insertion Positive NSCLC.” Journal of Thoracic Oncology 16(3). S605-S606.
  • Herrmann A, Lin S, Elatre W, Nieva J. (2019) “An Identity Crisis: Small Cell Transformation in EGFR Mutated NSCLC.” Poster presentation: American College of Physicians, Southern California Chapter Scientific Meeting, Carlsbad, CA. 
  • Sedhom D, Herrmann A, D’Souza M, Fyfe-Kirschner B, Zaldana F, Schlesinger N, Rustgi V. (2018) Vanishing Bile Duct Syndrome in a Patient with Uterine Cancer and Paraneoplastic Systemic Sclerosis: A Complex Clinical Challenge. ACG Case Reports Journal 2018(5): e95. PMID 30643839.
  • Friedlander S, Herrmann A, Lowry D, Mepham E, Lek M, North K, Organ C. (2013) ACTN3 Allele Frequency in Humans Covaries with Global Latitudinal Gradient. PLoS ONE 8(1): e52282. PMID 23359641.
Hobbies: Running (a lot), swimming in the ocean after long runs, soccer (go LAFC!), exploring San Diego, finding new restaurants

Tridu Huynh, M.D.

Hometown: San Diego, CA

Medical School: University of Vermont - College of Medicine

IM Residency: Scripps Green, La Jolla, CA

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  My co-fellows as well as attendings dedicated to teaching!

Research and Career Interests:  Basic/translational immuno-oncology, cancer stem cell

Posters/Presentations/Publications:

  • Huynh T.R., Le D.T., Burt B., Van Buren G., Abeynaike S.A., Zalfa C., Nikzad R., Kheradmand F., Tyner J.J., Paust S., (2021). “Natural Killer Cells and Cytotoxic T-Lymphocytes are Required to Clear Solid Tumor in a Patient-Derived-Xenograft.” JCI Insight.
  • Abeynaike SA, Huynh TR, Mehmood A, Kim T, Frank K, Gao K, Zalfa C, Gandarilla A, Shultz L, Paust S. (2023). “Human Hematopoietic Stem Cell Engrafted IL-15 Transgenic NSG Mice Support Robust NK Cell Responses and Sustained HIV-1 Infection.” Viruses.
  • Huynh T.R., Botta G., Spierling-Bagsic S.R., Schaffer R., Lin R., Sigal D. (2023). “Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy in Borderline-Resectable and Locally-Advanced Pancreatic Cancer Patients.” Cancer Med.
  • Cham J., Pandey A.C., New J., Huynh T.R., Hong L., Orendain N., Topol E.J., Nicholson L.J. (2022). “6 month serologic response to the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine among healthcare workers.” PLOS One.
  • Nowyhed H.N., Huynh T.R., Thomas G.D., Blatchley A., Hedrick C.C. (2015). “Cutting Edge: The Orphan Nuclear Receptor Nr4a1 Regulates CD8+ T Cell Expansion and Effector Function Through Direct Repression of Irf4.” J Immunol.
  • Nowyhed H.N., Huynh T.R., Blatchley A., Wu R., Thomas G.D., Hedrick C.C. (2015). “The Nuclear Receptor Nr4a1 Controls CD8 T Cell Development Through Transcriptional Suppression of Runx3.” Sci Rep.
  • Huynh T.R., Decker B., Fries T., Tunguturi A. (2018). “A Case of Lateral Medullary Infarction with Cardiovascular Autonomic Dysfunction: An Unusual Presentation with Review of the Literature.” Clin Auton Res.
  • Huynh T.R., Lekovic G., Lu C., Drazin D. (2018) “Myxopapillary Ependymoma with Anaplastic Features: A Case Report with Review of the Literature.” Surg Neuro Intl.
Hobbies: Tennis, travel, food, Japanese culture

Katarina Vsiljevic, M.D.

Hometown: Belgrade, Serbia

Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine

IM Residency: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla CA 

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  My cofellows!

Research and Career Interests:  Solid Tumors

Posters/Presentations/Publications:

  • Vasiljevic K, Patel S. Characterizing Myositis in Patients Receiving Immune-Checkpoint Inhibitors while on Statin Therapy. Annual UCSD Internal Medicine Resident Research Symposium, 2021.
  • Vasiljevic K, McGuire WC, Crotty Alexander LE. Multiple Serous Cavity Involvement of Aggressive Plasma Cell Neoplasm. American Thoracic Society Annual Meeting, 2021.
  • Vasiljevic K, Kwan B, and Gupta V. A Stroke of Bad Luck: Pulmonary Mucormycosis with Rare Embolic Phenomenon. American College of Physicians Annual Meeting, 2020.
Hobbies: Running, hiking, cycling, weightlifting, painting

Zoe Zhang, M.D.

Hometown: China and New York City, NY

Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine

IM Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA

What is your favorite part of UCSD fellowship?  Meeting all my co-fellows who have been an amazing source of support and whom I love to hang out with in and out of the hospital.

Research and Career Interests:  Breast Oncology

Posters/Presentations/Publications:

  • Zhang, X., Yeung, K.T. Metastatic Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Curr Breast Cancer Rep (2023).
  • Zhang X, Khurana A, Hirani S, Kidd J, Paul A. Paraneoplastic Glomerulonephropathy Associated With Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Descriptive Analysis of Published Reports. Cureus. 2023;15(3):e36928. Cited in Cited in PubMed; PMID: 37131574. Pub Status: Published.
  • Zhang X., Ashcraft K.A., Betof A.W., Nair S.K., Dewhirst M.W.. (2019, Jun). Can Exercise-Induced Modulation of the Tumor Physiologic Microenvironment Improve Antitumor Immunity?. Cancer Research , 79(10), 2447-2456.
  • Zhang X., Khurana A., Paul A.. (2020, April 28). Paraneoplastic Glomerulonephropathies Associated with Solid Tumor: A Review of Published Literature [Poster presented]. AACR Annual Meeting 2020/Virtual, VA, USA.
  • Zhang X., Ashcraft K.A., Betof A.W., Nair S.K., Dewhirst M.W.. (2019, Jun). Can Exercise-Induced Modulation of the Tumor Physiologic Microenvironment Improve Antitumor Immunity?. Cancer Research , 79(10), 2447-2456. Cited in PubMed; PMID: 31068341. Pub Status: Published.
  • Ashcraft K.A., Hannan J.L., Eichenbaum G., Zhang X., Pak E.S., Faught A.M., Patel P., Dewhirst M.W., Koontz B.F.. (2019, Apr). Clarifying the Relative Impacts of Vascular and Nerve Injury That Culminate in Erectile Dysfunction in a Pilot Study Using a Rat Model of Prostate Irradiation and a Thrombopoietin Mimetic.. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys., 103(5), 1212-1220..Cited in PubMed; PMID: 30529374. Pub Status: Published.
Hobbies: hiking, drawing, fashion design

First Year Fellows - Class of 2026

Class of 2026

Tali Azenkot, M.D.

Hometown: San Jose, CA

Medical School: University of California, Davis

IM Residency: University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA

Tanim Jain, M.D.

Hometown: Queens (New York City), NY

Medical School: Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell

IM Residency: Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

Brian Ji, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Madison, WI

Medical School: Columbia University

IM Residency: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Eric Roth, M.D., Ph.D. (PSTP)

Hometown: Carmel, IN

Medical School: Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

IM Residency: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA

Tro Sekayan, M.D. (Hematology Track)

Hometown: Damascus, Syria and Los Angeles, CA

Medical School: University of Damascus Faculty of Medicine

IM Residency: Midwestern University GME Consortium/Verde Valley Medicne Center, Cottonwood, AZ

Christina Snider, M.D.

Hometown: Augusta, GA

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University

IM Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN

Alexander Tong, M.D., Ph.D.

Hometown: Dallas, TX

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University

IM Residency: University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA