Current Residents
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Third Year Residents
Maurell James, DO
Hometown: Russel Township, OH
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: John Carroll University/Major-Biology
Medical school: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Areas of interest: Preventative health/general wellness
Personal interests/hobbies: I love martial arts and have been doing it on and off since high school. I also enjoy hikes at the Cleveland Metroparks, baking chocolate chip cookies, fiddling on my guitar, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Why I chose UH: I was born at Rainbow Babies and Children, and my pediatrician since birth was Dr. Marilee Gallagher who was an amazing physician. UH has had such a formative impact on my overall development, and each physician that has cared for me at this institution has had such a positive impact. I continue to see UH doctors and would be privileged to train here as a resident. Fun fact, I was also the youngest baby at UH to have an adenoidectomy.
Favorite quote: ‘All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us’ -Tolkien.
Bijal Patel, DO
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: University of Toledo – Biology with a minor in Chemistry
Medical school: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Areas of interest: preventative care, integrative medicine, Wellness
Personal interests/hobbies: Traveling, Hiking, trying new restaurants,
Why I chose UH: I wanted to stay in the Cleveland area, as well as at a community hospital. I loved my interview with Geauga and felt like I fit right in. Also, the friendly environment and support confirmed UH as my number 1 choice for residency.
Favorite quote: “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” –Winnie the Pooh
Algert Rista, MD
Hometown: Fier, Albania and Cleveland, OH
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: N/A
Medical school: University of Medicine of Tirana
Areas of interest: Primary Care, Sports Medicine
Personal interests/hobbies: I love playing and watching sports like Soccer (big fan), basketball, tennis, football (just watching). Hiking/ running in the park/ spending time out in nature.
Why I chose UH: I chose FM UH Geauga because I knew I would find well-structured academic support to train and grow as a physician. UH Geauga offers exposure to a large, diverse patient population in a community hospital setting. At the same time, residents can access the resources of a large academic center at UH Cleveland Medical Center. Opportunities to learn and favorable work-life balance.
Favorite quote: “In boxing (as in life), a man doesn’t lose when he gets knocked down; he loses when he won’t get up.” - Father Stu
John Zakhary, DO, MBA
Hometown: Rochester, NY
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: Rochester Institute of Technology, BS Biomedical Sciences
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, NY
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: My ultimate career goal is to become a fulltime outpatient primary care provider. Areas of interest include lifestyle medicine, nutrition and exercise science, OMT/MSK, mental health care and the intersection/implementation of these in the primary care setting.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Fitness, cooking, making music, drone flying, amateur indoor gardening, Church history & theology
Why I chose UH Geauga: I chose UH Geauga for several reasons. Primarily, the culture and how much the program invests into the success of its residents. Additionally, how closely the training, skills and interests of the faculty align with goals that I have for my training and how the clinics are based in true community, primary care settings.
Favorite Quote: Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it - Pastor Charles Swindoll
Second Year Residents
Nirmiti Borkhetaria, DO
Hometown: Iselin, NJ
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: The College of New Jersey, Major: Biology, Minors: Public Health, Psychology
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Aesthetics and Cosmetics, Sports Medicine, Geriatrics
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Singing, art, traveling, reading, trying new restaurants, spending time with my husband, family, and friends!
Why I chose UH Geauga: I felt immediately welcomed into the UH Geauga family when I auditioned here as a 4th year medical student. The attendings, residents, and staff are passionate about teaching and care about their community and patients. I am very excited to continue my medical training and grow as a physician at UH Geauga.
Favorite Quote: “All that shines above us also shines within
Ryan Doyle, DO
Hometown: Chardon, Ohio
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: Miami University – Biology major
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Preventative medicine, sports medicine, mental health, clinic-based procedures
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Cleveland sports teams, the Caribbean, weight lifting, reggae music, quality time with family and friends
Why I chose UH Geauga: I chose UH Geauga for several reasons. For one, I was born and raised in Chardon/Geauga County. To me, there is no better community to serve than the one that began to shape me into who I am today. Secondly, being a lifelong Northeast Ohioan, I am acutely aware of the high quality care that University Hospitals consistently provides to its surrounding communities, and I am grateful to be a part of such a highly-regarded health system. I knew this program would be the perfect fit for me after interviewing with the faculty and residents, where everybody was so welcoming, supportive, and passionate about the program and in practicing family medicine itself. These beliefs were cemented when I did my audition rotation here and saw firsthand the program’s collaborative environment and dedication to both patient care and resident education.
Favorite Quote: “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius
Elizabeth Friedman. DO
Hometown: Fleetwood, PA
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor:
Albright College Reading, PA; Biotechnology/Pre-Med BS
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Bioethics MA
Medical School: Ohio University HCOM, Cleveland
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: General family practice/OMT/integrative medicine
Personal Interests/Hobbies: gardening, cooking, lifting weights
Why I chose UH Geauga: Great people, great educational opportunities, patient population
Favorite Quote: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Theodore Roosevelt
Morgan Powell, DO
Hometown: Chardon, Ohio
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: The Ohio State University, B.S. Biochemistry, Business Minor
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Rural medicine, Sports, Endocrinology, Networking, General Practice
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Hiking, biking, running, camping, kayaking, finance
Why I chose UH Geauga: I always wanted to come back to my hometown, and with this program’s track record of producing amazing physicians, it provided me the opportunity to do so. Through my initial interactions with the program, the entire staff showed me how they are some of the best people. They have always been supportive through my endeavors and are always excited to teach me something new. Furthermore, UH Geauga allows me to learn from physicians throughout this area, which will help expand my perspectives and build a network to provide the best possible patient care throughout my career. I have always felt welcome with this program, all the way since my initial audition rotation, and I look forward to continuing forward that cordiality as I grow as a physician.
Favorite Quote: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” ― Babe Ruth
First Year Residents
Olivia Bell, DO
Hometown: Solon, Ohio
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: Ohio University
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Women’s Health or Sports Medicine
Personal Interests/Hobbies: water sports and boating, hanging out at my campsite, eating good food and hanging out with fun company, gaming, listening to audiobooks, walking my dog, going to concerts.
Why I chose UH Geauga: The residents and attendings I spoke to during my interview showed me how much comradery and support this program has. This program has a wide range for its patient population which I knew would give me the broadest scope to learn from. I knew it would provide the rigorous learning environment I was looking for in a residency, while also putting an emphasis on work-life balance which is important to me.
Favorite Quote: “I’m not superstitious…but I’m a little stitious“ – Michael Scott
Brandon Fedorko, DO
Hometown: Ebensburg, Pennsylvania
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown, Major: Biology, Minor: Chemistry and Psychology
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Erie campus
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment, Outpatient Primary Care, Preventative medicine
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Hunting and Fishing, Sports, Drawing, Hiking and Traveling, Weightlifting
Why I chose UH Geauga: Throughout my interview, I got the sense that the faculty was genuinely interested in me as a whole person. They were interested in my hobbies, my interests and goals for my career in medicine, as well as making me feel welcomed overall. I got the sense from those few hours that everyone I spoke with was committed to helping me learn and grow. Now that I’m here in person, I know that that feeling was correct. I couldn’t be happier to be in this program!
Favorite Quote: “Aut inveniam viam aut faciam (I shall either find a way or make one)” – Hannibal
Mark Leone, DO
Hometown: Erie, PA
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: Penn State University Major in Biology
Medical School: LECOM Erie
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Outpatient Family Medicine/Sports Medicine/Teaching
Personal Interests/Hobbies: I enjoy baseball in the summer. Specifically rooting on the Yankees. I also enjoy trying new foods around Cleveland. I never realized how many different options there are around the city.
Why I chose UH Geauga: When I was looking for programs, my main goal was to have a program that was located in a community hospital that had access to a larger network. UH Geauga fits that description to a tee! The residency fosters an environment that encourages you to ask the “why” and “how”. It shows that everyone involved in the program truly cares about your wellbeing.
Favorite Quote: “The more that you read, The more things you will know. The more that you learn, The more places you’ll go” Dr. Seuss
Curtis Swearingen, DO
Hometown: Eastlake, OH
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: Hiram College, Major: Biology with Minor in Biomedical Humanities
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine Harrogate, TN
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Outpatient Primary Care, Preventative Care, Sports Medicine
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Weight Lifting, Cleveland Sports Teams, Golf, Video Games
Why I chose UH Geauga: I chose UH Geauga because I was born and raised in Eastlake, OH, and I’m very familiar with the city of Chardon through years of participating in different sports. I’ve always appreciated the rural, tight-knit feel of both Chardon and Geauga County. That sense of community allows for deeper, more personal connections with patients—something I value greatly, both in the clinic and in the hospital. UH also holds a special place in my heart, as my father went through his cancer journey within the UH system. Being from Northeast Ohio, I’ve seen firsthand the high-quality, compassionate care UH provides, and I couldn’t think of a better place to train. I’m excited for the opportunity to give back to the region that shaped me and to serve the community that supported my own healthcare journey.
Favorite Quote: “The Only Person You Are Destined to Become is the Person You Decide to Be” ― Ralph Waldo Emerson