CURRENT RESIDENTS

Nathaniel Baffoe-Mensah, MD, MPH

Resident

Rutgers University, BA
Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, MD, MPH

I was born in Accra, Ghana, and spent many of my formative years in West Africa. I moved to the U.S. to further my education, settling in New Jersey with my family. I completed my undergraduate education at Rutgers University, New Brunswick, where I majored in biological sciences with minors in nutrition and English. I then went on to medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. At Penn, I took advantage of the opportunity to obtain additional training in public health with a primary focus on global health issues, primarily, in developing nations.

My experiences growing up in Ghana highlighted the importance of family medicine, especially in resource-poor settings. My training in public health reinforced the numerous ways through which a difference can be made. I’m excited about what the field can do in these settings and hope to be able to apply my training in skills in the aforementioned areas. I’m interested in underserved care, lifestyle/preventive health care, and direct primary care. For leisure, I love to blog, cook, sing, read and write web novels.

Priscilla E. O. Esadah, MD

Resident

University at Buffalo, BS
Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University, MD

I was born in Lagos, Nigeria, where I spent the early years of my childhood before moving to Ghana for high school and subsequently to the United States for college. I completed my undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at the University at Buffalo in NY, and stayed Upstate to attend medical school in Syracuse.

My passion for medicine and primary care increased with each progressive stage of my education, which led to my decision to pursue family medicine. I chose to train at Lancaster General Hospital because it affords me strong unopposed training in a supportive and collaborative environment. My specific interests in medicine are integrative medicine and global health, although my current goals are to practice full-spectrum family medicine.

Outside of medicine, I love spending quality time with family, visiting nearby theaters to watch stage plays, painting art, planning events, and catching up with the most popular shows on Netflix.

Allie Hecht, DO

Resident

McGill University, BS
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine, DO

I grew up in Westfield, New Jersey. Yearning to explore and learn in a new environment, I moved to Montreal, QC where I attended McGill University for my undergraduate degree in anatomy and cell biology. After university, I moved to Brooklyn, NY, where I participated in a service corps program, working full-time at Community Healthcare Network organizing classes in complementary medical therapies such as yoga, meditation, reiki and acupuncture in under-resourced communities in NYC. My passion for medicine was always woven into my passion for community healing and integrative approaches to care, which lead me to pursue my medical education at Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine.

The summer after my first year of medical school, I completed my 200-hour yoga teacher training with Kula Collective, strengthening my understanding of the spiritual and physical practice of yoga, with the intention of bringing these principles and skills into my practice of medicine. Throughout my time in medical school, I co-founded Students for Integrative Medicine and became involved with Medical Students for Choice, advocating for reproductive health rights. I am so thrilled to be joining the Family Medicine Residency Program at LGH, where I can train in both urban and rural under-resourced communities in Lancaster County and develop my passions in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), integrative medicine and reproductive health. Outside of medicine, you might find me cooking plant-based meals, singing, playing piano or guitar, hiking or spending quality time with family and friends.

Leila E. Hilal, MD

Resident

University of Pittsburgh, BS
Drexel University College of Medicine, MD

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh (affectionately called “The Burgh”), where I spent 22 years of my life. I grew up with three other siblings, one of whom is my identical twin and will also be my coresident at Lancaster General! I spent most of my childhood playing my violin in classical ensembles but was drawn toward the health-care field after spending a lot of time playing my instrument in hospitals. I attended the University of Pittsburgh for my undergraduate education where I studied biology and minored in chemistry and French.

I then moved to Philadelphia for my medical training at Drexel University College of Medicine. I ended up falling in love with the field of family medicine during my clinical rotations. Family medicine felt like home, with its wide variety of experiences and deep compassion for the community we serve. Despite loving the breadth that family medicine has to offer, I do have developing interests for certain fields. I worked as an intern in the Philadelphia Department of Public Health in the Opioid Outreach office and at Prevention Point which deepened my passion for addiction medicine. In addition, I also really enjoy women’s health, which developed out of working at a women and children’s shelter during medical school.

Outside of medicine, I love cooking big Lebanese meals for friends and family, going hiking, playing my violin (or jamming with any musician I can find), sewing, throwing a frisbee, and trying my hand at photography. I am excited to become part of the Lancaster community and start training alongside some incredible people at LGH!

Olivia E. Hilal, MD

Resident

University of Pittsburgh, BS
Drexel University College of Medicine, MD

I was born and raised in the city of bridges, the town of old steel mills, and Heinz Ketchup–Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. My earlier years were spent performing my viola all over the city, the country, and sometimes across the Atlantic in our family string quartet. Music has always brought me a lot of joy, and I’d often find myself performing for patients at hospitals to share that joy and peace with them. I closed out my chapter in Pittsburgh by attending the University of Pittsburgh where I majored in Biology and minored in French—an ode to my French-speaking Lebanese family as my father is from Beirut.

Philadelphia was the next place to call home, where I spent my medical training at Drexel alongside my best friend, who happens to be my twin sister. I spent a lot of time in the smaller suburbs of Philadelphia during my training and fell in love with providing care for my community and understanding how to be of service to its needs. During the last two years of medical school, I completed my clinical years in hospitals in both the Pittsburgh and Philadelphia areas.

Although big city life was an exciting change, I dreamed of moving somewhere where community is the backbone of the town and neighbors take care of each other. Close to a decade ago, my sister and I had our first experience with Lancaster after performing in a regional orchestra, and now we are so excited to call this beautiful city our home. Above all, I love the broad scope of family medicine, and have also developed an interest in palliative/geriatric and addiction medicine.

When I’m not at the hospital, I’m most likely outside hiking a local trail, whipping up a big batch of middle eastern grape-leaves, or singing and playing my guitar with friends.

Amy Vitalis Hoffman, MD

Resident

University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC), BA
Penn State College of Medicine, University Park, MD

I was born in Fargo, North Dakota but spent most my life on the east coast in Pennsylvania and Maryland. I graduated from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) in 2017 with degrees in biology and health administration and policy. Before medical school, I spent a year working as a certified nurse assistant (CNA).

At the Penn State College of Medicine, I joined the regional campus at University Park. My medical school experience was defined by weekends working at the student-run clinic, involvement with Medical Students for Choice (MSFC), and cooking meals with classmates through a Culinary Medicine Elective. I also explored health advocacy through student leadership within the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP) and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). During the 2021-2022 year, I served as student member to the AAFP Board of Directors.

I love family medicine because it cares about communities and takes a patient-centered approach to health and wellness. Like the scope of family medicine, my interests in medicine are broad. I care deeply about reproductive and health justice, addiction medicine, and gender-affirming care.

In my free time, I enjoy being outdoors, cooking, reading fiction, and playing piano. I am thrilled to make Lancaster my home and immerse myself into this wonderful community!

Khadija Jones-Shelton, DO, MS

Resident

Darton State College, AS
Emory University, BS
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO, MS

I am a true southerner from Thomas County; however, I am proud to say I was raised in Barwick, Georgia, a lovely rural town in South Georgia. Barwick is small in size, but big at heart! My first major exposure to medicine was in first grade when I had open-heart surgery. Growing up, I remained a truly adventurous kid and participated in many sports and outdoor events such as basketball, track and field, softball, cheerleading, and fishing.

Through my passion for basketball and playing the point guard position, I began my journey to my first undergraduate college. I attended Darton State College (DSC), acquired my Associate of Science degree, and had a full athletic scholarship for basketball. Upon completing my time at DSC, I attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, for my Bachelor of Science in Biology degree. I decided to obtain my Master of Biomedical Science with a concentration in medical simulation from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM). I ultimately attended PCOM for my medical school degree.

Growing up in a medically underserved area fueled my interest in rural medicine and my decision to pursue a career in family medicine. I dedicated my time volunteering at various community service events throughout my collegiate years, advocating for holistic and quality health care, and mentoring the next generation of physicians in medically underserved areas. My passions in family medicine are medically underserved populations, women’s health, obstetrics, full-spectrum care, and sports medicine. I was fortunate and thankful to rotate at Lancaster General Hospital for my clinical rotations. I was exposed to the fantastic patient population and faculty at LGH, making the decision to move from Georgia to Pennsylvania easy!

I enjoy being a cat mom, listening to music, watching Disney Plus/Netflix with my husband, crafting, playing basketball, spending time with family outside of medicine, and photography. I am genuinely excited and humbled at the opportunity to call Lancaster my new home, continue my medical training at LGH, and be surrounded by a community with so much diversity!

Omasiri Okogbule-Wonodi, MD

Resident

University of Maryland, BS
State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine, MD

I am a first-generation Nigerian who was born in Lagos, Nigeria, and moved to the U.S. with my parents when I was a baby. I was raised in the beautiful suburbs of Columbia, Maryland, where I completed grade school and eventually attended the University of Maryland, College Park. I majored in neurobiology and physiology, did a lot of volunteering in the community, was in a pre-health fraternity, briefly played on the rugby team, took dance classes, and was a general body/ e-board member of several clubs and organizations.

After college, I decided I wanted to have a meaningful life experience before committing to medical school, so I decided to join the Nigerian National Youth Service Corp (NYSC). NYSC is a year of national service in Nigeria after graduating from college. I served as a community health worker at a public health NGO and worked on the Preventing Mother-to-Child Transmission of HIV Team, which is charged with eliminating maternal-infant transmission of HIV during pregnancy, childbirth, and breastfeeding. This experience allowed me to learn about my culture and opened my eyes to the importance of primary health care and serving the underserved and most vulnerable members of society. It also piqued my interest in global health.

I attended medical school at SUNY Downstate in East Flatbush, Brooklyn NY. I had always had a passion for pediatrics, but after completing clinical rotations I realized that I liked bits and pieces of different fields. I am a big people person who loves building bonds in the community and felt that I wanted to practice medicine in a way that allowed me to have longitudinal relationships to my patients and allowed me to care for the whole patient and not just an illness. My experiences during medical school showed me that the all-encompassing physician is a family medicine physician because they are the “gatekeepers” of health care who possess a unique interphase with the social determinants of health. I aspire to be a physician who builds long-lasting ties and cares about the holistic health of patients, family members, and their communities.

I am so grateful to be given the opportunity to learn full spectrum medicine at the amazing LGH which is also so close to home in Maryland! My passions in family medicine include fm-ob, women’s health/ reproductive health, pediatrics, global health, and procedures.

When I am not in the hospital, I love exploring restaurants and the social scene, listening and dancing to music, dabbling in Netflix and and HBO, exploring cities, and game nights. I also want to get more into fitness and the outdoors, so I am very excited to explore Lancaster!

James O’Shea, MD

Resident

University of Notre Dame, BA
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, MD

I grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia where I spent most of my adolescent and teenage years. Following high school, I attended the University of Notre Dame. Go Irish! While at Notre Dame, I completed a double major in economics and pre-health studies and was fortunate to work with individuals who were recently released from incarceration in South Bend, Indiana. Sharing stories and cooking meals for this vulnerable population fostered my passion for service as I prepared for medical school.

After cheering at many football games, I decided it was time to come back to Philadelphia, and I attended medical school at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. While at Jefferson, I wanted to continue working with underserved populations so I served on the board of Refugee Health Partners, a student run organization that helps refugees receive culturally-conscious care. Through my time caring for refugees and children in transitional housing, I found my passion for family medicine.

While I am most drawn to the full-spectrum care that Lancaster General is well-known for, I also have interests in sports medicine, outpatient procedures and medical leadership. Outside of medicine, I enjoy watching college football, cycling for the City to Shore Ride and eating delicious food. I couldn’t be more excited to serve the Lancaster community!

Pratiti Roy, MD

Resident

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

I am from State College, PA, home of Penn State University. I was lucky enough to have had the opportunity to go to college and then even medical school in my hometown! I graduated from Penn State University with a degree in biochemistry and molecular biology in 2018 and was part of the second graduating class to attend Penn State College of Medicine’s University Park regional campus (class of 2022).

My interests within family medicine are broad and varied. Part of what attracted me to the field in the first place was the sheer scope of care we are trained to provide. I’m thrilled to be at a program that offers a wide breadth of experiences to make trainees the best family docs we can be. I also have a strong interest in narrative medicine and the power of storytelling.

As the daughter of Bangladeshi immigrants, I always enjoy talking to people about my heritage. Outside of medicine, I love to read, garden, and listen to stand-up comedy.

Kaitlyn Saylor, MD

Resident

University of Pittsburgh, BS
Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, MD

I grew up in Altoona, PA but made many trips to Lancaster to visit my aunts and uncles while growing up. Even though most of my family are Penn State fans, I went to the University of Pittsburgh for my degree in biological sciences. I lived and worked in Memphis, TN, for two years before moving to Philadelphia to attend medical school at Temple.

I am ecstatic to return to Lancaster for my family medicine residency. I am interested in practicing full-spectrum family medicine caring for patients of all ages, with specific interests in medication assisted treatment (MAT), women’s health, and procedures.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy watching sports (particularly hockey and football – Go Pens and Steelers!), traveling, baking/cooking, reading, playing board games, and spending time with friends and family.

Trevor L. Shenk, DO

Resident

Messiah College, BA
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO

Growing up in nearby York, PA, I lived close enough to Lancaster General Hospital to be born at the hospital nearly 30 years ago. Since that time, I have enjoyed living in southcentral Pennsylvania where I stayed to complete a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry at Messiah College in Mechanicsburg, PA. After college, I was fortunate to marry my precious wife and to enjoy a year of working as a medical scribe in urgent care centers and at a family medicine practice before moving to Philadelphia for medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Even before I got to medical school, I was committed to the full-spectrum, community, and patient-centered service of family medicine. This commitment only solidified as I enjoyed learning about all aspects of medicine and as I thrived on patient interactions and providing direct patient education and care.

My interests in urban, underserved medicine grew through my work with a federally-qualified health center (FQHC) in north Philadelphia. Over one summer, I spent several weeks going door-to-door with other students and community ambassadors to provide health screenings and COVID-19 vaccine education.

My medical interests include underserved medicine, global medicine, and lifestyle medicine. As a doctor of osteopathic medicine, I also enjoy as much hands-on medicine as I can provide through osteopathic manipulative therapy (OMT). Outside of medicine, I primarily enjoy spending time with my wife and our young son. Together, we enjoy spending as much time outdoors as possible!

Brian Talbot, MD

Resident

Siena College, BA
Albany Medical College, MD

I lived in upstate NY before coming to Lancaster. I grew up just outside of Binghamton and then moved to Albany for my undergraduate and medical training.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in biology from Siena College and received minors in Spanish and religious studies. At Siena, I also discovered my passion for traveling and learning about new cultures when I spent a semester abroad in Valencia, Spain as well as a summer in Managua, Nicaragua.

Continuing my education a few minutes down the road from Siena at Albany Medical College, I am grateful to have met some incredible mentors in the family medicine department who helped me solidify my love for community medicine, academic family medicine, and full-spectrum primary care.

I am thrilled to now be working and learning within the Lancaster, PA community. In my free time, you can find me going for a run, hiking, playing the trumpet, cooking, baking, and, most importantly, spending time with my friends and family.

Kanza T. Bajwa, DO

Resident

The College of New Jersey, BS
Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, DO

I was born and grew up in Galloway, New Jersey. At the age of 12, I moved with my family to Sialkot, Pakistan where we lived for two years. When my family returned to New Jersey we settled in Hamilton, which is where I call home. For my undergraduate degree, I attended The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) and studied biology, with minors in chemistry and psychology. After undergrad, I spent a year conducting research in the development of CAR T cells at the Smilow Center for Translational Research in Philadelphia. My passion to study medicine only grew during my time studying at TCNJ and doing research at Smilow. I had always been fascinated by preventive health care, which I was able to explore when I attended medical school at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine.

During my time at Rowan, I was involved in campus leadership and enjoyed being active in several student clubs. I especially enjoyed working with my classmates and peers as a peer tutor and teaching assistant. At Rowan I explored my interest in primary care and in women’s health and completed additional community service and scholarly work to fulfill an Area of Distinction (AOD) in Women’s Health. I am now very excited to continue my training and pursue my specific interests in women’s health and reproductive health at the Family Medicine Residency Program at LGH! Outside of medicine, I love trying new local cafes and restaurants, reading, learning new recipes, riding rollercoasters and other rides at amusement parks.

Kelsey A. Bentz, DO

Resident

Elizabethtown College, BS
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO

I was born and raised in Camp Hill, PA. Following high school, I slowly made my way across the state to Elizabethtown for my undergraduate degree, and then Philadelphia for medical school.

During medical school I was particularly drawn to family medicine because of the diversity in patient population and broad scope of practice allotted through the field. I have specific interests in obstetrics, sports medicine, and lifestyle medicine.

Outside of medicine I enjoy spending time in the outdoors either hiking or running, taking art classes, and spending time with friends and family.

Jillian J. Dawson, MD

Resident

Georgia State University, BS
Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University, MD

I was born in Long Island, New York and moved to Winder, Georgia when I was 9 years old. I quickly adapted to my new environment and grew to love Georgia and everything it has to offer.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Georgia State University in Atlanta. I then moved to Augusta to complete medical school at Medical College of Georgia. My last two years there were spent in South Georgia, where I was able to experience rural medicine in various forms. I discovered my passion for serving underserved populations and decided my training will be best utilized within those communities.

I am grateful to have met some incredible mentors in the family medicine department who helped me solidify my love for community medicine, full-spectrum primary care, and lifestyle medicine.

I am thrilled to now be working and learning within the Lancaster, PA community. In my free time, you can find me dancing with my hula hoop, jamming to Electronic Dance Music, gardening, exploring new hobbies, and, most importantly, spending time with my friends and family.

Richard Easterling, MD

Resident

University of Mississippi, BS
University of Mississippi School of Medicine, MD

I was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and our family moved up to Madison, Mississippi when I was in first grade and where my parents still live, and where I met my wife when we were in high school. I graduated from the University of Mississippi in 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in biology, and then matriculated into the University of Mississippi Medical Center for med school where I graduated in 2023.

During my time in med school, I was able to serve in various roles in the health-care advocacy space. I served on the Board of Directors for the Mississippi Academy of Family Physicians, and sat on their advocacy committee. This experience gave me the confidence to take part in national advocacy with the AAFP’s Commission on Federal and State Policy, and eventually serve on their board of directors during the 2022-2023 year. I also served as delegate to the AMA-MSS during my M2 year through graduation, also serving as the co-chair on the Committee on Legislation and Advocacy.

Needless to say, I love organized medicine and I feel that family physicians are those best suited to amplify the needs of our patients to the state and national level to bring them the attention they deserve. I also love the continuity of care we have as family physicians, and being a part of an entire family’s care is one of my favorite aspects of family medicine. You can take care of grandma in clinic and go deliver her great-grandbaby in the hospital in the evening, and then watch that child grow up as you take over their care as well.

My interests in medicine lie in health equity, diabetes care, and health justice. Outside of medicine, I’m an avid baker, I love playing video games, and spending any time I can with my wife. I’m extremely excited to make Pennsylvania my home, and to serve the community of Lancaster!

Kaitlin A.C. Ford, MD

Resident

James Madison University, BS
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, MD

I grew up in Richmond, VA as the middle child of five siblings and was inspired to study medicine by my mother who is a nurse. After graduating high school, I headed to the Blue Ridge Mountains for college at James Madison University where I majored in biology with minors in Spanish and mathematics. I also studied in Spain for a semester and have been working hard on my Spanish language skills ever since to best communicate with Spanish-speaking patients. I then returned to Richmond for medical school and fell in love with obstetrics and full spectrum primary care.

My motivation in medicine is building strong relationships with patients and I discovered I could get to know my patients best as a primary care doctor. I am excited for the broad range of training opportunities at Lancaster General and can’t wait to bring those skills into my future practice. Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking, baking, and spending time in the great outdoors with my husband, Hunter, and our dog, Daisy. We look forward to trying new foods and exploring hikes in the Lancaster area!

Mackenzie A. Hintze, MD

Resident

SUNY College at Geneseo, BA
Norton College of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University, MD

I grew up in Orange County, NY with my parents, younger brother, and several lovely pets. My childhood was consumed with choir and band. Upon graduating high school, I entered college at SUNY Geneseo. In college I studied biology and minored in human development, where my love for medicine flourished. I also participated in an acapella group and the Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity.

I entered medical school at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY the summer after graduating college. While there, I was in charge of a student-led medical advocacy group and helped to pioneer involvement in community health. I also volunteered to sing in the hospital choir with the spiritual care department. Ultimately, I decided to pursue family medicine due to my passion for continuity of care, community medicine, and establishing long-lasting patient relationships.

Lancaster’s family medicine residency attracted me for its exceptional faculty and training, the opportunity to have patient panels in both an urban and rural setting, extensive OB/GYN training, and the ability to perform many in-office procedures. I aspire to practice full-spectrum family medicine with emphasis on integrative medicine, advocacy and community work, and family planning--all of which I am excited to experience at LGH. Though I’ve been a New Yorker my entire life up until now, I am thrilled to call Lancaster, Pennsylvania my new home!

Kimberly Jayne, MD

Resident

Trevecca Nazarene University, BS
Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, MD

I was born and raised in a rural community in southern middle Tennessee. I attended college in Nashville, TN, to complete my undergraduate degrees in biology and chemistry. Pennsylvania was a well-known state to me since my parents lived here prior to my birth, and I spent many fun vacations in northeast Pennsylvania visiting my grandparents. With those fond memories in mind, I excitedly moved to Hershey for my medical school training. During medical school, south central PA quickly began to feel like home, and I am so glad to be staying for residency.

My rural roots have inspired my career interests in full-spectrum family medicine and the care of rural and medically underserved populations. My interests outside of medicine include spending time with family, hiking, baking, reading (all book genres welcome), paper crafting, and planning travel to all 50 states.

Logan Lawson, DO, MPH

Resident

Williams College, BA
Thomas Jefferson University, MPH
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO

I was born and raised in Hartford, CT. The elders in my family moved to the city during the Great Migration. So, while I’ve spent the majority of my life in New England, I have roots in the Carolinas, and spent many of my early years with my grandmother who was a self-proclaimed “Gullah-Geeche girl.” The narratives of my family tie me to my love for nature, food, history, and medicine.

Growing up, I lived in the city of Hartford but attended parochial school in a nearby suburb. Straddling two different worlds only minutes a part, I constantly wondered about the origins of inequities in health and education. After school, I would do homework in my local hospital, where my mom worked as a program coordinator for allied health programs. I can still feel the excitement I had when I turned 14 years old, because my age meant I was eligible to volunteer in roles serving patients at the hospital. My love for community medicine developed from this early exposure.

I left Hartford to attend Williams College, located in a small rural town in the Berkshires, in Williamstown, MA. I studied chemistry, Africana studies, and public health, and found friends who have become my sisters. While at Williams, I truly was able to develop my love for nature through agriculture, hiking, and sustainability initiatives. When I traveled to Lancaster for the first time, I was reminded of my love for Williamstown.

As a first-generation college graduate, there were many times when I thought I would never achieve my dreams of becoming a physician. My confidence was restored through a summer program at Yale. My experiences in the program inspired me to create a community for underrepresented students in STEM fields at Williams. Nine years later, the club still exists! After completing my undergraduate degree, my passion for education led me to serve as a high school science teacher through Teach for America in Hartford, before I traveled to Philadelphia to pursue my medical degree.

For the last five years, I have loved living in Pennsylvania. During my third year of medical school, the city of Lancaster became a safe space for me. At that point in my medical education, I made the decision to pursue a graduate degree in public health to participate in research that addresses the questions I had early on about community education and health. On the interview trail I knew I had already fallen in love with Lancaster as a city, but when I found people at LGH who were doing work that aligns with my long-term goals, it became my dream program. My personal and professional interests drew me to Lancaster, and I’m so thrilled to make this place my home while training as a family medicine physician.

Laura Levidy, MD

Resident

New York University, BA
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, MD

I was born and raised in Monmouth County, NJ, in an Italian-American household with three other siblings. I always loved science, and I discovered my interest in medicine while volunteering on my local first aid squad in high school. I went to NYU for undergrad, where I studied chemistry and public health. After college, I moved to the other side of the Hudson River to attend Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ.

I have always enjoyed getting to know my community through service activities. Through community service roles such as a teen health educator, COVID-19 contact tracer, and patient health advocate, I learned about the barriers people face to accessing care. I was drawn to family medicine for its focus on community health and long-lasting patient-physician relationships. I am so excited and honored to be someone’s family doctor! My specific interests in medicine include community medicine, medical education, addiction, HIV primary care, and women’s health.

I spend most of my free time with my husband and family, who love to cook, eat, and sing karaoke together. I also like to collect vinyl and fix up vintage clothes, and I enjoy checking out the many thrift shops and food markets in Lancaster County!

Jessica E. Miller, MD

Resident

University of New Hampshire, BS
University of Maryland School of Medicine, MD

I was born in Columbia, Maryland, but I spent most of my childhood living in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. My father worked in Lancaster during my childhood, so my family spent a lot of time in Lancaster city. I decided I wanted to explore a new part of the country, so I chose to attend the University of New Hampshire. I graduated from the University of New Hampshire Honor’s College with a degree in neuroscience and behavior in 2019. While attending UNH, I also worked as a caregiver in an assisted living and memory care facility, where I grew passionate about the care of the geriatric population.

I matriculated into the University of Maryland School of Medicine directly after my graduation from the University of New Hampshire in 2019. I loved working and learning from the diverse population in Baltimore city and became involved in an organization called Thread which supported at risk youth in the city. Through my medical school, I explored my interest in women’s health as an executive board member for our women’s health organization and my passion for health equity as a founder and member of the White Coats for Black Lives chapter at our university. I was inducted into our university’s chapter of Gold Humanism Honor Society and served as co-president for the 2022-2023 academic year.

My passion for family medicine started during my third year of medical school when I worked with a family physician in the greater Baltimore area who had been practicing for over 40 years. I fell in love with the full spectrum of care provided by family physicians and was excited to be able to care for patients from all ages, all gender-identities, and all different backgrounds. I love forming longitudinal relationships with patients and am excited to have my own continuity patients as a family medicine physician. My interests in the field of family medicine are broad and I am excited to explore them all during my time at LGH. Some of my greatest passions include women’s health and the care of the LGBTQIA+ population, health equity and advocacy, and behavioral health, and addiction medicine.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors with my husband and our two goofy Australian Shepherd dogs, baking, or watching reruns of old sitcoms. I am excited to be back near home for the next three years working with the wonderful Lancaster community!

Sarai A. Nwagbaraocha, DO

Resident

Morgan State University, BS
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, DO

I am a resident of Snow Hill, MD, a small rural town located on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. My academic pursuits began at Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, where I earned a BS in electrical engineering with a chemistry minor. While pursuing my medical education in Philadelphia, where I met my fiancé, an architectural designer for a minority-owned firm.

While I enjoy all aspects of family medicine and aspire to become a full-spectrum primary care physician, I am particularly drawn to maternal-child care and reproductive care for all persons, with a focus on respectful, patient-centered care. I am also keen on serving patients with complex challenges and providing compassionate, personalized care to address their unique needs. My conviction is that every patient deserves access to exceptional care, and I am dedicated to advocating for the best possible outcomes for those grappling with complex health issues.

My leisure activities include walking trails, bicycling, and roller skating, particularly on flat parking lots. Additionally, I am an avid Harry Potter fan and relish listening to fantasy-based audiobooks.

Hehidy Paulino, MD

Resident

CUNY – Hunter College, BA
Weill Cornell Medical College, MD

I was born and raised in Washington Heights, New York, and loved being immersed in my Latin American culture growing up. I’ve held many small jobs throughout high school and college, all of which reminded me that I loved working with other people and had a desire to help others.

Throughout medical school at Weill Cornell Medical College, I solidified my interest in family medicine when I realized that it was the perfect field that combined my interest in being a broad-scope physician with maximum access to patients in my community. After learning about the city of Lancaster and the LGH residency program, I found it to be the perfect setting not only to raise my wonderful 3-year-old daughter, but also to provide outstanding training. As a native New Yorker, I look forward to a different pace of life in Lancaster, PA, but I will always root for the New York Yankees!

In my spare time, I enjoy spending quality time with my daughter and making sure her heart is full. I love to play sudoku, Among Us, The Sims, learning new skills, and listening to True Crime podcasts (I can provide some great recommendations!). Oh and just in case you were wondering, my name is pronounced “Haiti,” like the country!

David Reynoso Cortez, MD, MS

Resident

St. Mary’s College of Maryland, BS
Johns Hopkins University, MS
UC San Diego School of Medicine, MD

I was born and raised in Columbia, Maryland. I earned my undergraduate degree from St. Mary’s College of Maryland where I majored in biology and minored in neuroscience and political science. I then went on to obtain my master’s degree in biotechnology from Johns Hopkins University. I moved out of Maryland for the first time in my life for medical school at UC San Diego School of Medicine. At UCSD, my interest in family medicine only grew as I had the opportunity to work with different underserved communities at various federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and my school’s student-run free clinic.

While I enjoyed venturing out to the West Coast, I am excited to return to the mid-Atlantic to continue my training. I look forward to developing my interests within full-spectrum family medicine, some of which include preventive medicine, reproductive medicine, and outpatient procedures. Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.