1st Year Residents

Vittoria Boni, MD

Elliott D. Brady, MD, MEd

I grew up in the Kansas City, Kansas metropolitan area, a suburban/urban portion of a predominantly rural state. Regularly visiting family in the Kansas countryside, I also retain rural roots. Throughout my K-12 education, sports and musical instruments were big parts of my life, focusing on piano, trombone, and marching baritone toward the end of high school. This passion continued in the University of Kansas (KU) marching band. I was also more than privileged to volunteer in medical missions to Panama at KU as well as underserved medical care at a local FQHC.

At KU School of Medicine, I along with several peers operated our school’s student-run free clinic, JayDoc Free Clinic. My experiences with underserved patients highlighted the importance of population health, spurring a leave of absence to earn a Master of Public Health before my clinical years. This year allowed reflection on my role as a future physician, providing opportunities for networking and research when not in the classroom.

In retrospect I was always a future family physician, but getting to know current family doctors confirmed my decision. Finding creative ways to overcome barriers to care for individuals having trouble navigating the complicated and unforgiving health-care system is deeply rewarding. I love family medicine’s recognition and action prioritizing social conditions’ influence on human health.
 

Alexander T. Cantu, MD

 
I was born and raised in Edinburg, Texas, and lived in the state for my entire life before coming to my second home here in Pennsylvania. After changing my major more times than I have changed my poor truck’s engine oil, I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley majoring in biology and minoring in chemistry and addiction studies. I slowly made my way north for medical school and attended the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.

Throughout my time in medical school, I fell in love with international medicine and traveled to Peru twice as part of a medical mission trip. Through these travels and other volunteering experiences, family medicine was the perfect fit to pursue my passions in: care for the underserved, preventive medicine, and LGBTQ+ health.

Lancaster is a great place to experience something new yet supportive to help me grow as a physician. When not working in scrubs and a white coat, I enjoy traveling, especially in the great outdoors. I like hiking, board games, swimming, reading about history, spending time with my dog, friends, family, partner and eating more tasty food than I should! I look forward to living in this beautiful, historic part of the country.
 

Julie C. Cox, MD

 
I am originally from Valley Forge, PA, outside of Philadelphia. For college, I attended Tufts University in Boston where I studied biology but after graduating, I returned to Philadelphia for my first job at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia conducting pediatric oncology research. Working at CHOP confirmed my desire to become a doctor, so I went back to school at New York Medical College. Much of my volunteer work previously surrounded women’s health and patient advocacy as a crisis counselor and I continued to foster that passion throughout my time in medical school.
 
At NYMC, I was the president of our chapter of the American Medical Women’s Association and worked at the school’s human rights clinic where I assisted with medical evaluations for those seeking asylum in the United States. During my clinical rotations, I realized I had many interests within medicine and enjoyed working in the primary care setting. I plan to include women’s health in my practice but also want to incorporate LGBTQ health, HIV care, immigrant health, nutrition, and geriatrics as my patient panel continues to grow.
 
When I am not working, I really enjoy practicing yoga and biking. My favorite form of exercise is indoor cycling as I am not a skilled dancer but love to pedal the bike to the beat of the music. I’m also a pretty avid fiction reader and am always looking for a new good book. I am so excited to be moving to Lancaster to start my career practicing full spectrum family medicine.
 

Marco A. Cunicelli, DO

 
I’m originally from Langhorne, PA, but my family moved to Guam when I was in elementary school for my dad’s job. After three years there, we had the option to move back to PA or try somewhere new. My family opted to move to the suburbs of Washington, D.C. I spent the rest of my childhood growing up in Northern Virginia before moving to Williamsburg, VA to attend the College of William & Mary.

While there, I studied biology and Hispanic studies and had the opportunity to study abroad in Cadiz, Spain. Following undergrad, I took two years off from school and worked full-time as a patient care technician at Inova Loudoun Hospital and as a substitute teacher with Loudoun County public schools teaching math, Spanish, and English. I also worked at an escape room as a game master during this time.

Following my gap years, I attended the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Blacksburg, VA, where I earned my Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine. In medical school, I had the opportunity to travel on a medical mission trip to Honduras and provide care to the village surrounding Tegucigalpa, Honduras. I was also a member of the OB/GYN and family medicine student organizations where I developed my passion for women’s health and primary care.

When searching for residencies, I knew I wanted to be close to my family in Philly. I was drawn to Lancaster because of its beauty and history, but it was the full-spectrum family medicine curriculum that really sealed the deal. Within medicine, I have specific interests in maternal-child and women’s health, treating the LGBTQIA+ community, contraceptive counseling, HIV primary care, and substance use disorders. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my fiancé, traveling, running, hiking, cooking, watching movies, reading, and playing guitar & piano.
 

Trocon Davis, MD

 
I was born in Springfield, Missouri (a long way from my family’s roots in Liberia), but I have spent most of my life in Philadelphia. As a kid, I was drawn to sports, and football had the strongest pull on me. I was able to play though college and as a pre-med student, I found a way to combine my career interests with sports while shadowing at a sports medicine clinic.

After college, I worked at a qualitative research lab focused on patient-centered health outcomes. This opportunity gave me the chance to speak with people about their experiences engaging with the health-care system, and illuminated some of the challenges that impact how well individuals can care for themselves. This experience prior to medical school encouraged me to view medicine through a lens that always considers a person’s life context and what may affect their ability to effectively manage their own wellness.

During my clinical rotations in medical school, I found myself drawn to the ability of family physicians to take a holistic approach to treating patients and the opportunity to form longitudinal relationships. As excited as I am to start my residency at a program that provides excellent full-spectrum family medicine training, I am more excited to learn from and serve the community of Lancaster County.
 

Kendall R. Dempsey, MD, MS

 
Growing up in Texas, I was able to experience the best of both urban and rural lifestyles before obtaining my bachelor’s degree at The University of Texas at Austin. I stayed in Texas for medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, where I developed my passion for family medicine. Although I cherished my time in El Paso, I was excited to venture out and explore a new area! And Lancaster was a perfect fit, due to its charming atmosphere and even better people.
 
I enjoy all aspects of medicine, and hope to one day practice rural full-spectrum care. As an avid hiker, I spend as much time as possible discovering new trails with my Siberian Husky. I always have my camera with me ready to capture any beautiful scenery or wildlife I might encounter. But as much as I love being outdoors, on a typical day off you will usually find me in a theater catching the latest blockbuster or attending a Broadway musical. I also enjoy any creative outlet such as crafting, painting, karaoke, or cooking.
 

Stephan Elliott, MD

 
I grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and I completed my bachelor’s degree in biomedical science at Grand Valley State University. After graduation, I served for two years as a science and English teacher in the Peace Corps outside of Mbarara, Uganda. As a volunteer, I became good friends with those in my village while learning the value of long-term community service.
 
I loved shadowing my family physician in high school, and having developed a passion for service while abroad, I attended the Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine in Connecticut with the goal of becoming a family physician.
 
My interests in family medicine include service to resource-poor communities, full spectrum practice, and outpatient procedures. Lancaster General Hospital, a robust family medicine program serving both urban and rural populations, provides the perfect training for my professional goals. Outside of medicine I enjoy reading (my favorite author is C.S. Lewis), cooking with my wife, and running.
 

Riley Ewen, DO

 
I grew up in Evanston, Illinois, and attended Virginia Military Institute for my undergraduate studies. Upon graduation I was commissioned as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, where I spent my formative years serving alongside many humble and selfless people who taught me the meaningfulness of simple acts of service in ordinary life. After the Army, my wife and I spent some time doing medical mission and humanitarian relief work in conflict areas in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Caring for others in the face of tremendous suffering and austerity had a profound effect on my life; it ultimately formed the foundation of my passion to serve others as a physician.
 
I attended Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Blacksburg, Virginia, where I maintained a strong interest in global and rural health and community medicine. It was a natural progression from my Catholic faith and previous experiences that I fell in love with the practice and presence of full-spectrum family medicine from the beginning to the end of life. I’m so thankful for the incredible opportunity to grow in the practice of medicine at Lancaster General Hospital.
 
My lovely wife and I currently have three children (the third will be born in July of intern year). In previous years you could find me skiing, climbing, or mountaineering in Alaska, where we lived prior to medical school. Nowadays you could find me with my family, involved in our church parish, reading a good book, carving spoons, sourdough baking, hiking, or biking.
 

Haneen Hussein, DO, MS

 
I was born and raised in Lancaster City and am so excited to be able to come back to complete my medical training at Lancaster General Hospital! I received my bachelor’s degree in public health at Franklin & Marshall College. I moved to Philadelphia to complete my masters in biomedical science and ultimately start medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. My interest in medicine includes full-spectrum primary care, global medicine and refugee health. Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling, hiking, running, swimming, and eating bread.
 

Jeremiah M. Lee, MD

 
I was born in New Orleans, LA, where I spent my early childhood until Hurricane Katrina displaced me and my family to Houston in 2005. I studied neuroscience at the University of Texas at Austin and moved back to Houston for medical school at Baylor College of Medicine. During medical school, I spent a summer working with a family physician named Dr. Bob Paeglow in Albany, NY, who was an inspirational example for how much a family physician could do for their community and for the underserved.
 
My interests have since grown to include maternal-child health, international health, and primary care infrastructure. I feel strongly that I can do the most for my community as a broadly trained clinician and patient advocate, so LGH is a perfect fit because of its full-spectrum training with underserved populations in rural, urban and international settings.
 
I am thrilled to be starting my career here and to be investing in this new community! In my free time, I enjoy cooking, running, spending time in nature, following New Orleans sports teams (Who Dat!), playing chess, and having quality time with loved ones.
 

Gabrielle B. Siegel, MD

 
I was born in Potomac, Maryland, and completed my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. After college, I completed a yearlong social justice fellowship in NYC where I worked on a mobile medical van that served homeless shelters around Manhattan and the Bronx. My favorite part of the job was creating and running health education workshops with the shelter residents.
 
After my fellowship, I started medical school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD. I quickly realized that family medicine was the perfect place for me to practice the breadth of medicine I desired, while focusing on my passion for maternal child health. I could not be more excited to move to Lancaster, and start my training at the esteemed Lancaster General Hospital!
 
Outside of medicine I enjoy being active outdoors with my partner, Steve, a fellow family medicine physician, my family, and our golden doodle Rosie. I love spending my weekends exploring nature via long runs and hikes and sampling the best of the local cuisine.
 

Garret P. Tesman, MD

 
I was born and raised in the beautiful endless sunshine of Santa Barbara, California. After studying physiology at UCLA, I decided that two decades of constant 70-degree weather was enough and that big cities weren’t for me. I headed north to Oregon where I spent a year on the Sheriff’s Search and Rescue team and exploring the back country for fun.
 
While I enjoyed finding lost hikers, I realized I could do much more for my community as a physician. I went east to attend medical school where both my father and his father trained: Drexel/Hahnemann. After four years on the East Coast, I fell in love with both the seasons and a beautiful scientist who I would marry. We agreed we should find a smaller city with lots of charm. Lancaster seemed like the perfect fit! I’ve always loved the idea of comprehensive family medicine, where you get to follow your patients throughout their lives, make meaningful connections, and treat them as more than just patients. I’m so excited to be at LGH!
 
If I’m not at the hospital or walking the dog with my lovely wife, you may find me climbing, skiing, backpacking, or even at the shooting range.
 

2nd Year Residents

John O. Allen, MD

Western Carolina University, BS
University of North Carolina School of Medicine, MD

Pineal Bekere, MD

Samantha L. Bush, DO

University of Delaware, BA
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO

Ryan J. Fischer, MD, MEd

DeSales University, BS
Pennsylvania State University, MEd
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, M

I was born and raised in Lancaster County, and I am thrilled to be coming back to Lancaster to continue my training. Throughout high school and during summer vacations in college, I could often be found working at the local hardware store. My job consisted of everything from filling propane tanks to stocking shelves to my personal favorite, helping customers solve problems (plumbing, electrical, lawn and garden … anything and everything).

I studied biology at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania before going to medical school at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. While in my fourth year of medical school, I worked on an accelerated Masters of Adult Education and Lifelong Learning Degree. While I hope to continue to be involved to some degree in medical education throughout my career, the main motivation was to develop skills to better help patients learn about their own health.

In medical school, I was also fortunate enough to get involved in the Global Health Scholars Program (traveling twice to Zambia) and the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians. I truly believe that the key to the health of a community starts with excellent primary care, and cannot think of a better place to continue to learn as a physician then at the family medicine program here at Lancaster General Hospital. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, traveling, reading, and listening to music or a good podcast..
 

Andrew V.A. Foley, MD, MPH

Franklin & Marshall College, BA
Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, MPH
Harvard Medical School, MD

Lisa Freeman, MD

Dickinson College, BS
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, MD

Kyle R. Lau, MD

University of Minnesota - Twin Cities, BS
University of Minnesota School of Medicine, MD

Robin D. Megill, MD, MSPH

University of Vermont, BS
Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, MSPH
Georgetown University School of Medicine, MD

Ana E. Sanchez, MD

Cornell University, BA
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, MD

Shannon E. Seeland, MD

The Pennsylvania State University, BS
State University of New York Upstate Medical University, MD

Katherine E. Shoemaker, MD

Juniata College, BS
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, MD

Camden Towne, DO, MPH

Grove City College, BS
Arcadia University, MPH
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO