Meet Our IM Residents

Nazareth Hospital’s Internal Medicine residency program offers a dynamic post-graduate educational experience in the heart of Northeast Philadelphia. Our residents come from many walks of life and go on to pursue careers in a number of medical fields, including:

• Cardiology
• Geriatrics
• Hospitalist Medicine
• Infectious Disease
• Nephrology
• Outpatient Practice
• Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
• Pulmonology/Critical Care

PGY-3

Hamna Ashraf, MD, Chief Resident

Hometown: Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Medical School: Rawalpindi Medical University, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Languages: English, Urdu
Hobbies: Painting, exploring new places and restaurants, spending time with family and friends.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: My favorite thing about Nazareth is the supportive and welcoming environment. I truly value working with colleagues and faculty who are always willing to teach, help, and support one another. It has been a wonderful place to grow both personally and professionally.

Franco Campoli, MD, Chief Resident

Hometown: Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina
Medical School: Universidad Popular Autonoma del Estado de Puebla (UPAEP), Puebla, Mexico
Languages: Spanish, Italian, English
Hobbies: Woodworking, fixing cars/motorcycles, repairing electronics, playing guitar, video games, cooking and rugby
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Strong exposure to bread-and-butter Internal Medicine with a good level of supervised autonomy in patient care.

Kinnera Jalagam, MD, Chief Resident

Hometown: Hyderabad, Telangana, India
Medical School: Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Telangana, India
Languages: English, Telugu and Hindi
Hobbies: Exploring new cities, acrylic painting, being a mother to my new cat Auro Jalagam, cinema and entertainment enthusiast
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Opportunity to learn from brilliant attendings and work alongside exceptional doctors, whom I now have the privilege of calling my friends.

Sai Priyanka Mellacheruvu, MD, Chief Resident

Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Medical School: Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, Ongole, India
Languages: Telugu, Hindi, English
Hobbies: Reading and cooking
Favorite thing about Nazareth: One of my favorite things about Nazareth is the people. The close-knit and supportive community has made it feel like more than just a place to train. I truly value the relationships I’ve built with my co-residents, faculty, and staff, and the sense of camaraderie and teamwork that makes Nazareth feel like home.

Zarmeena Aftab, MD

Hometown: Abbottabad, Pakistan
Medical School: Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Languages: Urdu, English
Hobbies: Travel, baking, hiking, and music
Favorite thing about Nazareth: I enjoy Nazareth Hospital’s supportive and collaborative environment, with excellent hands-on experience and a great balance of autonomy and supervision. Our attendings are approachable, caring, and always available for guidance. I also appreciate the broad exposure to the bread-and-butter of Internal Medicine while training in the vibrant and diverse city of Philadelphia.

Oindrila Deb, MD

Hometown: Sylhet Division of Bangladesh
Medical School: Sylhet Women’s Medical College and Hospital, Bangladesh
Languages: Bangla, English and Hindi
Hobbies: I'm currently exploring Philadelphia through its museums and libraries and rediscovering my love of reading. Beyond that, I enjoy archery, spending time at local coffee shops, traveling, staying active, and cultivating an interest in fashion and design.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: What I value most about Nazareth is its close-knit, supportive faculty and diverse resident community, complemented by strong clinical training that encourages early autonomy and independent clinical decision-making. As an urbanite, its proximity to the heart of Philadelphia is an added privilege, allowing me to enjoy the city’s culture and energy beyond medicine.

Abeera Kali, MD

Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Medical School: Allama Iqbal Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan
Languages: Urdu, Punjabi, English
Hobbies: Photography, Cooking, travelling, playing board games and badminton
Favorite thing about Nazareth: What I value most about Nazareth is its close-knit and supportive community. The attendings are approachable and genuinely invested in our growth. There is a strong sense of camaraderie, and it is not uncommon to build friendships with attendings outside the hospital as well. You can comfortably discuss both professional challenges and life beyond medicine. That sense of belonging and support makes Nazareth feel like more than just a residency program—it feels like a community.

Muhammad Zubair Khan, MD, GME Class Representative

Hometown: Mansehra, Pakistan
Medical School: Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, Pakistan
Languages: English, Urdu, Hidko, Punjabi
Hobbies: Cricket, current affairs, exploring parks, documentaries, car maintenance and cleaning
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The people, the camaraderie, and the supportive learning environment. Nazareth has helped me grow as a physician and as a person, while giving me lifelong friendships, plenty of laughs, and memories I will always cherish!  

Tejaswee Mallela, MD

Hometown: Darsi, Andhra Pradesh, India
Medical School: Soochow University Medical College, Suzhou
Languages: Telugu, English, Hindi (receptive)
Hobbies: Long walks, puzzles, cooking, as mother of two. My favorite way to unwind is traveling and creating beautiful memories with my family.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Residency is demanding, but the environment at Nazareth Hospital is incredibly supportive. No matter how busy a shift gets, the doctors, and specialists are always approachable and ready to help each other out. What I value most is the rich diversity of both our patient population and our medical teams. Working alongside residents from so many different backgrounds creates a welcoming, collaborative environment where we naturally learn from each other's experiences. Caring for patients from all walks of life keeps me grounded and helps our team provide care that genuinely fits the community.

Daniya Muhammad Haroon, MD

Hometown: Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: Bahria University Medical and Dental College, Karachi, Pakistan
Languages: English, Urdu
Hobbies: Cooking, baking, traveling and outdoor activities. I like spending time with family and friends and I love the beach and enjoy relaxing by the ocean.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: I appreciate the supportive and collaborative environment of the program. Everyone is approachable, and residents consistently help one another, fostering a strong sense of teamwork. The program offers numerous wellness initiatives for residents, including access to a gym, library, and an annual wellness beach day. Additionally, we have the opportunity to communicate directly with consultants and learn from their expertise, which greatly enhances our educational experience. The program also provides excellent hands-on procedural training under close supervision.

Rabia Nazir, MD

Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Medical School: Lahore Medical & Dental College, Lahore, Pakistan
Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi
Hobbies: Travel and fitness
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The sense of belonging and the close-knit, supportive community.

Zarak Sarwar, MD, GME Class Representative

Hometown: Nowshera, Pakistan
Medical School: Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, Pakistan  
Languages: Pashto, English, Urdu, Hindi
Hobbies: Tennis, cricket, table tennis, badminton, golf, animals, spending time in nature
Favorite thing about Nazareth: My favorite things about Nazareth are the autonomy, flexibility, and supportive faculty. I have enjoyed growing in confidence and independence throughout residency while having faculty who are always available for guidance. Being in Philadelphia has also provided exposure to a diverse patient population and the opportunity to experience life in a vibrant city. Outside the hospital, I enjoy exploring different cuisines, playing sports with my co-residents and faculty, and spending time with my family.

PGY-2

Salman Altaf, MD

Hometown: Khanewal, Pakistan
Medical School: University College of Medicine and Dentistry (UCMD), Lahore, Pakistan
Languages: Urdu and English
Hobbies: Hiking, going to concerts, pottery, swimming
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The culture and the team.

Corey Brisseau, DO

Hometown: Brooklyn, New York
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Philadelphia, Pa.
Languages/other profession: English
Hobbies: Spending time outdoors, amusement parks, visiting family, baking, bowling, fly fishing, cooking, painting, journaling, spoken word, event planning, playing video games, volunteering and resin art.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Close proximity to my mother and the diverse patient population that the hospital serves.

Swethen Dushianthan, MD

Hometown: Markham Ontario, Canada
Medical School: Caribbean Medical University School of Medicine, Willemstad, Curacao
Languages: English, Tamil
Hobbies: Video games, new restaurants/food, soccer, basketball
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The other residents!

Shen He, DO

Hometown: Ningbo, China
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Philadelphia, Pa.
Languages: Mandarin, English
Hobbies: Craft
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Diverse demographics of staff and patients.

Deaysha Hines, DO

Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Philadelphia, Pa.
Other profession: Being awesome
Hobbies: Scrapbooking, reading, wellness, exploring activities and places around the city
Favorite thing about Nazareth: My peeps. I chose Nazareth because I enjoy serving my community as a physician and contributing to increasing medical literacy and education within patients, so they can be more equal partners in their healthcare and understanding.

Hamza Khawar, MD

Hometown: Gujranwala, Pakistan
Medical School: F.M.H College of Medicine and Dentistry, Lahore, Pakistan
Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi 
Hobbies: Traveling, Cricket, Fitness
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The culture of our program is truly what you would always wish for in a residency, a close-knit, supportive environment where everyone feels like part of a team. Our leadership is more than just leadership; they are approachable friends with whom you can laugh, play, hang out, and share memorable moments, while always being there to guide and support you professionally.

Laura Knittig, DO, GME Class Representative

Hometown: Houston, Texas
Medical School: Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Conroe, Texas
Languages: English, Basic Spanish
Other professions: Teacher, Special Education, EMT 
Hobbies: Reading, Gardening, Video/Board Games, Pickleball, Billiards, Bowling, Women’s Sports
Favorite thing about Nazareth: I love how friendly everyone is and the community I’ve been able to build at this hospital. Medicine is at any residency program, but the people making Nazareth worth being at.

Eliah Lux, MD

Hometown: Penobscot, Maine
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, Ohio
Other professions: UPS driver (former), Army Reservist (current)
Hobbies: Jazz, basketball, watching old man type stuff on PBS
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The people. This is a community hospital, and it has a small community feel, exactly the type of place I was seeking for residency.

Parth Munjal, MD, GME Class Representative

Hometown: Delhi, India
Medical School: Rohilkhand Medical College and Hospital, Bareilly, India
Languages: English, Punjabi, Hindi
Hobbies: Basketball, chess, swimming
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Kind and helpful people, teaching and resident friendly environment.

Yulia Pinegina, MD

Hometown: Kirov, Russia
Medical School: Kirov State Medical Academy, Kirov Oblast, Russia
Languages: Russian and English
Other profession: Professional swimmer
Hobbies: Volleyball, pickleball, traveling, beachgoing
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Everyone is so friendly and helpful, and we’ve all become like one big family. It really feels like coming to work and seeing your friends, which makes it such a lovely place to be.

Natalie Silk, DO

Hometown: Doylestown, Pennsylvania
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hobbies: Crafts, DIY projects, trying new restaurants, traveling and spending time with friends and family.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The people! I love how welcoming and supportive everyone is, and how quickly it feels like you’re part of a close-knit community.

Dhruv Tewari, MD

Hometown: India
Medical School: University College of Medical Sciences and Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital, Dilshad Garden, East Delhi 
Languages: Hindi, English
Hobbies: Sleeping, producing music, exploring nature trails
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Co-residents and attendings

Gibran Torres Ramierz, MD

Hometown: Tijuana, Mexico
Medical School: Centro de Estudios Inversitarios Xochicalco, Esceula de Medicinia Tijuana, Tijuana, Mexico
Languages: English, Spanish, and a little bit of French and German
Other profession: Social media marketing expert
Hobbies: Beyond my work in medicine, I enjoy staying active and engaged through hobbies like woodworking, fixing electronics, hiking, and swimming—really, anything that gets me outdoors. I also find joy in playing guitar, reading fiction, gaming, and kicking around a soccer ball with friends. Most importantly, I cherish spending quality time with my wonderful wife and children.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: I enjoy so many things about Nazareth, mostly the people! Our team is fantastic and I really enjoy my co-residents, attendings, nurses and all the support staff. They are all so approachable and always willing to help, even in the busiest of times. I also really enjoy the diverse range of patients we have. As every day is different, there’s always something new to learn about a variety of different cases.

PGY-1

Annam Humayun, DO

Hometown: Belchertown, Mass.
Undergraduate: UMass Amherst
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, Pa.
Hobbies: Working out, cooking and board games
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The opportunity to serve those who need it most

Kelechi Iwuji, MD

Hometown: Nigeria / Philadelphia, Pa.
Medical School: University of Belgrade School of Medicine, Belgrade, Serbia
Languages: English, German, Serbian, and Igbo
Hobbies: Fashion designing and cooking
Favorite thing about Nazareth: My favorite thing about Nazareth is its strong commitment to caring for the community. As someone who also considers Philadelphia home, Nazareth is very close to where I live, which gives me a meaningful connection to the community we serve. I especially value the program’s community-oriented approach and its emphasis on compassionate, patient-centered care.

Linh Luu, MD

Hometown: Vietnam
Medical School: Pham Ngoc Thach University of Medicine, Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam
Languages: Vietnamese and English
Hobbies: Listening to music and reading
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The amazing support from faculty and residents, plus all the fun activities and great camaraderie!

Giorgi Maisuradze, MD

Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia
Undergraduate: Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Medical School: Tbilisi State Medical University Faculty of Medicine, Tbilisi, Georgia
Languages: Georgian, English, Russian
Hobbies: Basketball, weightlifting, hiking, traveling, and exploring new places.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The supportive and welcoming environment, the strong sense of teamwork, and the opportunity to learn from both my colleagues and patients every day.

Tatiana Morales Tisnes, MD

Hometown: Bogotá, Colombia
Medical School: Colegio Mayor de Nuestra Señora del Rosario, Facultad de Medicina, Bogotá, Colombia
Languages: Spanish and English
Hobbies: Running, hiking, reading, drawing and crocheting
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The supportive environment and sense of community among residents and faculty, as well as the opportunity to care for a diverse patient population.

Gyully Niftalieva, MD

Hometown: Ukhta, Komi Republic, Russia
Medical School: M. Gorky Donetsk National Medical University Faculty of General Medicine, Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine
Languages: English, Russian, Turkish, Azerbaijani, Ukrainian 
Hobbies: Cooking, reading, exploring the mysteries of space and galaxies, photography, art and many other things...
Favorite thing about Nazareth: My favorite things about Nazareth Residency are the supportive, collaborative environment and the friendly people who make me feel welcomed and valued.

Liautaud Prophete II, DO, GME Class Representative

Hometown: Essex County, New Jersey
Undergraduate: Xavier Univeristy of Louisiana
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania=
Other profession: Music executive, co-owner of Joyface Records LLC. / Co-owner of 4oe Records LLC.=
Hobbies: Hiking/biking, music, dog show competitions, and reading=
Favorite thing about Nazareth: My favorite thing about Nazareth are my co-residents.

Jonathan Samuel, DO

Hometown: Bridgeport, Connecticut
Undergraduate: Andrews University
Medical School: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kansas City, Missouri
Other profession: Lifelong learner 
Hobbies: Boxing, gaming, weightlifting, football, basketball
Favorite thing about Nazareth: I like the team-based learning and collaboration and how we all work together to achieve the best outcome for our patients.

Sherish Shaukat, DO

Hometown: Bel Air, Maryland
Undergraduate: St. Joseph's University
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pennsylvania 
Languages: English, Urdu, Hindi, very basic Spanish
Hobbies: Reading, fashion, music, motorsport
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The People!  Everyone is so supportive and kind, they inspire me to work hard every day!

Manisha Shrestha, MD

Hometown: Lalitpur, Nepal
Medical School: B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Languages: English, Nepali, Newari
Hobbies: I enjoy baking and cooking, especially trying out Newari dishes. I love hiking and exploring new trails. I also enjoy playing Ping-Pong.
Favorite thing about Nazareth: My favorite thing about Nazareth is the supportive and welcoming environment. Everyone is approachable and always willing to help. I believe Nazareth Hospital is a place where I can grow personally and professionally and become a better version of myself.

Arham Siddique, MD, GME Glass Representative

Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Medical School: Punjab Medical College, Punjab, Pakistan
Languages: English, Urdu, Punjabi
Hobbies: Traveling, movies, shopping, padel game, cooking, trying new coffee spots of course!
Favorite thing about Nazareth: Nazareth feels like home, is a supportive environment, and provides a sense of community.

Jiling Zeng, MD

Hometown: Hengyang, Hunan Province, China
Medical School: Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
Languages: Chinese and English
Hobbies: Going to the gym and coffee shops; jazz dance
Favorite thing about Nazareth: The vibe, people are friendly and supportive.