Breadcrumbs
Emergency Medicine Residents: Student Profiles 2025-26
PGY1
Mariam Ahmer
Hometown: London, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: Hi, I’m Mariam! I was born in Ottawa, grew up across Canada (mostly London Ontario) and the MENA, and eventually found my home in Toronto. I’m excited to be staying here for Emergency Medicine! Within EM, I’m especially interested in dignity in care and optimizing EM delivery for marginalized populations. Outside of the hospital, you’ll usually find me experimenting in the kitchen, being an unlicensed therapist to my friends, or exploring the Toronto boroughs. When I need a break, I’m café-hopping across the city—always judging the coffee and the seating.
Francesca Casciola
Hometown: Victoria, British Columbia
Medical School: University of Auckland Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences
Bio: Hi my name is Francesca! I am originally from Victoria BC, but I’ve just moved to Toronto from New Zealand where I lived for 5 years and completed my medical school at the University of Auckland. My family consists of my husband Tyrell and our two dogs Reuben and Mars whom we brought with us from NZ. I love running with my dogs in the woods, drinking far too much tea, and eating baked goods. This year I’m hoping to learn how to canoe with my dogs - so if you have tips let me know!
Hannah Drkulec
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I grew up in Windsor, Ontario and went on to complete my undergraduate degree in engineering at the University of Iowa before moving to Toronto for medical school. I’m incredibly excited to now be staying in the city to complete my EM residency! Outside of the hospital, you’ll often find me playing soccer or volleyball, going for a run, or experimenting in the kitchen. I’m passionate about staying active, spending time outdoors, and trying new recipes. Academically, I’m looking forward to exploring interests in sports medicine, addictions, and innovation in the emergency department over the next few years.
Niroshan Kalaiarasan
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
Medical School: University College Dublin School of Medicine
Bio: I grew up in Brampton all my life and completed my undergrad at UofT. After COVID shut everything down I figured I would get out when I could and moved to Dublin, Ireland for medical school. I'm thrilled to be back at UofT to close the circle. My academic interests lie in Trauma and EMS medicine. Outside of the ED, I love traveling, DnD, being active either on the trails or in the gym, and spending time with my dog who could not care any less for me.
Aafia Maqsood
Medical School: University of Saskatchewan
Bio: I was born in Pakistan, raised in Toronto from Kindergarten to grade 5, and then moved to Saskatchewan where I spent the rest of my time. While I decided to swap the 306 for the Six, I left behind my fave little human, Zoya, my 4 year old niece. My goal in Toronto is to try all the Michelin-mention restaurants (hit me up with suggests).
Outside the ED you can find me playing card games, watching Rom-coms, stirring up friendly debates and playing devils advocate, and designing obstacle courses for family and friends (it gets competitive).
Ainsley Matthewson
Hometown: Belleville, Ontario
Medical School: University College Dublin School of Medicine
Bio: After doing most of my growing up in Belleville, ON, and completing my undergraduate degree at uOttawa, I moved to Dublin, Ireland for medical school. I am so excited to be in Toronto for residency and am ready to embrace my city-girl life. My special interests in emergency medicine include medical education and pre-hospital medicine. When I'm not working, you can find me at the gym or in a Pilates class, trying all of Toronto's restaurants, planning my next big trip, or spending the rest of my free time with my beloved friends!
Melissa Mok
Medical School: University of Calgary
Bio: I’m so excited to be joining this cohort and EM at U of T! I recently completed medical school in Calgary. Prior to that I worked as an outpost nurse in the Northwest Territories and in both clinical and leadership roles across the North and Ontario, with a focus on improving access to care. I also have my Masters in Global Health and Development from UCL. I’m especially interested in trauma, rural care, and making health systems work better for the people who rely on them.
Outside of the hospital, you’ll find me exploring both the world and my backyard with my daughter, and hunting for the best pour-over in the city.
Lara Murphy
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: Born and raised in the GTA and having completed medical school at UofT, I am so excited to be staying close to home in Toronto for residency! My academic interests in EM include addictions medicine, sports medicine, and trauma. Outside of the emergency department, I love biking around and exploring the city, being outdoors, and trying new coffee shops!
Pranav Tandon
Hometown: Lucknow, India
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I’ve been a Toronto local since 2005 after moving from Lucknow, India. After undergrad at Western and a master’s at McMaster, I settled back home in Toronto for med school and am thrilled to continue the adventure here.
My academic interests include global health, critical care, and medical education. My life philosophy is to have fun every day. Outside of work, you’ll probably find me catching Pokémon whenever I can, keeping up with pop culture and new music, playing tennis, or downing a triple pack of Kirkland Greek Yogurt.
Emma Wallace
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical School: Queens University
Bio: I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University before heading to medical school at Queen's. I am excited for a career in emergency medicine because you never know what you’re going to see on shift, and you get to meet amazing people every day.
Outside of work I can be found trying to beat traffic via city bike, thrift shopping, and carrying my family’s curse of cheering for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Andrea Weckman
Hometown: Kitchener, Ontario
Medical School: McMaster University
Bio: Born and raised in Kitchener ON, I headed to McGill for undergrad - mostly to play varsity hockey with my friends. Since then, I’ve completed my PhD in global maternal-child health at U of T, and my MD at McMaster. A proud educational lifer, I’m thrilled to be back in Toronto for five more years with U of T EM! Outside of the ED, you can catch me playing a variety of recreational sports, trying to keep my succulents alive, exploring Ontario’s breweries and cocktail bars, and bopping around the outdoors with my wife and our very good dog, Jarvis.
Katelyn Cairns (Mississauga Stream)
Hometown: Belleville, Ontario
Medical School: McMaster University
Bio: I was born and raised in Belleville before making my way to Western for my undergrad, and then McMaster for medical school. I’m super excited to continue my training at U of T, and explore my current interests in pediatric EM, pre-hospital medicine, and trauma. Outside of the ED, you can find me swimming, running, or trying a new activity before finding a place to get a little treat!
Fazila Kassam (Mississauga Stream)
Hometown: Etobicoke, Ontario
Medical School: University of British Columbia
Bio: Born and raised in Etobicoke, I did my undergrad at U of T and my Master’s at McMaster before heading west for med school—where the mountains stole my heart (and my lung capacity). While I’ll miss the hikes and overpriced oat lattes, I’m thrilled to be back home training in Emergency Medicine!
My interests include global emergency medicine, palliative care in the ED, and medical education—basically, anything that lets me connect with people and keep learning on the fly.
When I’m not deep in the organized chaos of the ED, you’ll likely find me pretending to be a barista on a cafe crawl, powerlifting to justify my brunch habits, loitering near large bodies of water for “peace,” or making something artsy that may or may not end up on my bedroom wall.
PGY2
Hailie Auld
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical school: University of Glasgow
Bio: Born and raised in Toronto, I did my undergrad at Queen’s before making the jump to Scotland for medical school. Whilst I will miss Glasgow’s many bakeries, the people, and the ability to be up a munro within 30 min of leaving my house, I am so excited to be a part of the U of T family and learn from the best! My interests so far in EM include social medicine, pre hospital care/trauma and medical education. I’m looking forward to trying all the new restaurants I’ve missed, having time to work through my Goodreads challenge (I topped 101 books in 2022), and showing the city to my South Carolina rescue pup Mollie.
Erica Chang
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Medical school: University of Alberta
Bio: Being a ‘Berta gal for most of my life, I’m excited to have settled in Toronto for Emergency Medicine (EM). I completed an undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences, followed by a masters degree in the Department of Surgery. My interests in EM include trauma, addictions medicine, and critical care. Outside of the ED, you’ll find me hiking, skiing, biking, or convincing my friends to play spikeball on a hot day.
Sauleha Farooq
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta
Medical school: University of Alberta
Bio: An Alberta-lifer, I did all my schooling in Edmonton and am so excited to be making the move to Toronto. I look forward to learning more about global health and critical care, in addition to pre-hospital medicine. When I am not in the ED, I balance my time between yapping, walking and going to the gym.
Tali Fedorovsky
Hometown: Vaughan, Ontario
Medical school: University of Toronto
Bio: After a brief stint at McMaster University for my undergraduate and master’s degrees, I returned to Toronto to complete my MD and I am thrilled that I get to stick around for residency training now! My academic interests include Social EM, Medical Education, and QI. Outside of the ED, I love playing board games with my friends, learning new languages, and traveling the world every chance I get. If you ever want to catch my attention, just mention puppies or food and I’m all ears!
Gabriele Jagelaviciute
Hometown: Vaughan, Ontario
Medical school: Queen's University
Bio: I was born in Kaunas, Lithuania and moved to Canada when I was younger and then grew up in Vaughan. I went to Western for my undergrad and then moved to Kingston for medical school at Queen’s. After all this time away I’m excited to be back in Toronto for residency! My academic interests include prehospital care, gender equity in medicine, and trauma. Outside of the department I love hiking, yoga, cuddling my cat Sunny, and baking/cooking!
George Kachkovski
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Medical school: McMaster University
Bio: Hi, I’m George, and I’m excited to be a part of the U of T Emergency Medicine Program! Raised in Toronto, I fell in love with Vancouver and moved there in 2013 to study at UBC. I returned to Ontario to complete medical school at McMaster, and I’m stoked to be training at the University of Toronto. My academic interests include addictions medicine, medical education, and working alongside and learning from the street community. Outside of the hospital, you can find me exploring the city's bar and coffee scene, taking photos, or scrolling endlessly on TikTok. I am a proud dog Godfather and love spending time with my friends’ dogs.
Soha Khorsand
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical school: University of Ottawa
Bio: I grew up in Toronto as the eldest daughter in a big middle eastern family. I did my undergraduate studies at Western before moving to Ottawa for medical school. I am so excited to be back home for EM residency! When I’m not in the emerg you can find me training for some race (I am the world’s slowest triathlete), dabbling in the arts, and keeping up with the latest celebrity gossip. Over the next few years I’m looking forward to exploring interests in social emergency medicine and trauma!
Josh Neposlan
Hometown: Windsor, Ontario
Medical school: University of Western Ontario
Bio: Proudly born and raised in south Detroit (Windsor, Ontario), I stayed home for my undergrad (Go Lancers!) followed by a master's at McMaster and medical school at Western. I am thrilled that what is now a decade-long Ontario university tour has led me to the EM program in Toronto. While I've traded my dreams of pitching for the Tigers for a set of scrubs and a Figs vest, I can often still be found on the baseball field in my spare time. As a resident, I look forward to exploring the Toronto coffee scene as well as my interests in Addictions and Sports Medicine.
Paul Randlett
Hometown: Cornwall, Ontario
Medical school: University of Limerick
Bio: Hi, I’m Paul, one of the new PGY-1 Emergency Residents. I grew up in Cornwall, small town between Ottawa and Montreal. I did my undergraduate training in mechanical engineering at Queen’s University. I focused on prosthetics and implant device design After my engineering studies I ventured into the social sciences and completed a Master of Arts degree at Royal Roads in B.C. My studies focused largely on Disaster Management in developing countries as well as Human Security Issues and Peace Building. Following a few years of work in residential construction/framing in Toronto and in my home-town I worked overseas in logistics/construction to support humanitarian missions. It was while ‘on mission’ that I realized my passion was to work directly with people instead of in a supporting role. I studied medicine in Limerick, Ireland, and am happy to be joining the Emergency Medicine residency program at the University of Toronto.
PGY3
Faiza Ahmed
Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
Medical school: Jinnah Sindh Medical University
Bio: I am an IMG from Karachi, Pakistan, a city known for its vibrant energy that never sleeps. Apart from my medical pursuits, I enjoy designing Eastern clothes which allow me to explore how different cuts, colours, and patterns influence people's moods. As a cat enthusiast, I eagerly anticipate fulfilling a promise to my daughter. Once I complete my residency and she is capable of caring for one, we will joyfully welcome a feline companion into our lives. I am also a good cook and take great pleasure in hosting friends. Prepare yourself for an explosion of flavors, as my mouthwatering biryani requires a high spice tolerance to fully appreciate its awesomeness.
Academically, my interests lie in global health, critical care, and disaster management. I am driven to make a positive impact on a global scale, ensuring the well-being of individuals during critical and challenging times. Through my dedication to these areas, I aim to improve emergency medical care and contribute to the resilience of communities in the face of adversity."
Brian Daniel Booth
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical School: Trinity College Dublin
Bio: After 5 years abroad, I could not be happier to be a PGY1 EM resident at the University of Toronto! I grew up in Etobicoke and there is no place like home. Prior to medical school, I completed my undergraduate degree at McMaster University. I have academic interests in pre-hospital care, simulation learning, and medical education. Outside of my professional life, you can find me working on any project I can get my hands on. From custom cars and motorcycles to home renovations to custom leather goods, I love to create. I am looking forward to making new friends, building partnerships, and seeing patients. Say hello if you see me!
Sophia Duong
Hometown: Hamilton, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I'm a proud Hamilton, Ontario native, born and raised. As a second-generation immigrant, a part of my journey has been about finding my place in the world. Since attending medical school at UofT, I have met people from all walks of life and gained a newfound appreciation for my heritage and the diverse human experiences around me. I'm stoked to be part of the EM program, where I can use my experience to care for our amazing community. When I'm not studying, you'll catch me exploring the grocery store or farmer's market for new ingredients to experiment with in the kitchen. I'm also a tennis enthusiast and occasionally carry my kitty in a backpack for a stroll through the park (don't judge!). My academic interests include medical device development, social medicine, healthcare accessibility, and immigrant health. I can't wait to embark on this incredible journey with the awesome UofT EM family.
Matt Hacker-Teper
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I was born and raised in Toronto, but moved away to complete my undergraduate degree in French (Northwestern University) and a master’s degree in Family Medicine (McGill University). I returned home for medical school and am so stoked to be continuing my training here! When I’m not bouncing around our amazing emergency departments, you can find me completing my part-time culinary degree, running triathlons, exploring cocktail bars, hitting an unreasonable amount of golf balls in my condo’s simulator, or hanging with friends at a local park.
Mina Khan
Hometown: Montreal, Quebec
Medical School: McGill University
Bio: I grew up in Montreal and completed med school at McGill - donc oui, je parle français! I’m so excited to discover the amazing city of Toronto and join the UofT EM family. My academic interests (so far) include medical education and global health. Outside of medicine you’ll probably find me in a martial arts gym or a pool.
Toni Li
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
Medical School: Queen's University
Bio: Having studied biology and economics at Western and medical school at Queen’s, I’m excited to be living in Toronto for the first time! Prior to EM, I worked for Canada’s nuclear regulator, a public health agency, and played violin professionally in symphony orchestras. My areas of interests currently include trauma, medical education, marginalized population health, and health policy and administration. Outside of medicine, you’ll find me searching for fresh pow to shred, stockpiling lactase for cheesecake and ice cream, or battling mosquitoes in a canoe.
Bruno Manetti Previero
Hometown: Sao Paulo, Brazil
Medical School: Universidade de Santo Amaro (UNISA) – Sao Paulo, Brazil
Bio: I was born and raised in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Always a big-city person, I graduated and did my first residency training in the same place. After starting my professional life, I realized that I wanted to pursue an international journey to expand my personal life and career experiences. That was when I moved to Canada with my wife and my little Yorkie in 2019 for a Clinical Fellowship program. We fell in love with the life-style in the city of Toronto and decided that Canada is the place that, from now on, we want to call home. I am certain that the Emergency Medicine program at U of T will allow me to keep growing as a doctor and be part of a fantastic new family. Outside of medicine, you can find me exploring the beautiful parks of Toronto, admiring the Harbourfront, hanging out with my family and friends in one of the city’s pubs or breweries, or listening to good old classic rock n’ roll music.
Kwasi Nkansah Junior
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: Driven by life's adventures, from new cuisines to exploring the extremes of human physiology, I'm thrilled to be in Toronto, embracing the world of emergency medicine with its kerosene-fueled challenges and opportunities to explore the extremes of physiology. Inspired by the most extreme environment there is—space—I've embarked on aerospace medicine research pursuits, reaching for the stars while keeping feet firmly on the ground. When not donning my lulu pants and scrub top you will find me honing my hand-eye coordination moonlighting as a barber—saving lives (bad hair days). In my down time i also enjoy jamming on the piano, and crafting mixology creations.
Jackie Tsang
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: Born in Edmonton and raised in Toronto (read as: Mississauga), I did my undergrad at Western before heading home for a combined MD/MBA at UofT.
I love all things critical care, pain, and addictions medicine. I also enjoy being a decidedly average endurance runner, wearing an unreasonable amount of sunscreen, and travelling to eat my body’s weight in local foods!
Kenneth Williams
Hometown: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: Hey, my name is Kenneth, I am originally from Halifax, NS in the East Coast (Best Coast) and completed my BSc in Biochemistry and Aquaculture at Mount Allison University in NB. I then found myself a fish out of water in the big city of Toronto for my MSc in cardiac tissue engineering then my MD.
If I am not in the ED, you'll find me helping out with MedEd, on the water paddling with the Canadian National Dragon Boat Team, exploring new skiing spots, and/or a hiking trail with my young pup, a Whippet called Decker (short for Deck the Halls, a Christmas baby).
Devon Wilton
Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario
Medical School: McMaster University
Bio: Originally from Mississauga, I found my home in Toronto during undergrad and am so excited to be back for residency after a few years in Hamilton for med school. My interests in medicine include health policy, social medicine, queer health, and trauma. Outside of the hospital, I like long walks on the Toronto island beaches, a sunny patio, and splitting time between the big city and the great outdoors. I'm so looking forward to meeting new friends and colleagues in the Toronto EM family over the next few years!
Matthew Yip
Hometown: Richmond Hill, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I'm the oldest brother to two sisters and a labradoodle named Gatsby. I grew up in Richmond Hill, studied at Western for my undergrad, completed my MD in Toronto, and I'm thrilled to be here again for residency. My academic interests include health informatics and health systems. Outside the department, you'll find me exploring cafes and restaurants around the city, camping in a provincial park, or in my kitchen cooking, baking, and (most importantly) eating.
PGY 4
Bipandeep (Bipan) Abbat
Hometown: Brampton, Ontario
Medical School: McMaster University
Bio: Originally from India, I moved to Canada when I was 9 years old. After completing my undergrad and medical school at McMaster, I’m excited to start this journey in emergency medicine. In my free time, you can find me cooking, swimming or playing board games (unless I’m napping). My academic interests include social medicine, knowledge translation, and medical education. I’m looking forward to exploring this amazing city (and trying not to get lost)!
Aida Darweish
Medical School: Aden University
Bio: Aida is an international medical graduate who moved to Canada from Saudi Arabia in 2019. She completed her simulation fellowship at Harvard Medical School and critical care fellowship at SBHSC. She is interested in continuing her educational experience, learning throughout EM residency program. She is interested in creating multidisciplinary team training courses to improve teamwork and communication as quality improvement and patient safety projects. Aida is keen to learn all the tips and tricks of how an excellent healthcare system can provide the best care to ED patients. On the other hand, Aida likes spending time with family and friends, and enjoying time with her kids in all seasons of Canadian weather.
Minnie Fu
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical School: Queen’s University
Bio: I was born in Singapore but grew up in Toronto from the age of 2. I went to McGill for undergrad and did research at Yale and NYU before completing my medical school at Queen’s. After all this time away, I am so excited to come home to Toronto for EM residency! My academic interests include QI, MedEd, inner city health, and trauma-informed care. Outside of medicine, you can find me watering my 50+ houseplants, hanging with my pet rabbit Remi, or participating in any activity that involves being in the water, on some form of water, or next to water.
Shoban Jayamohan
Hometown: Toronto/Scarborough, Ontario
Medical School: AUA College of Medicine
Bio: I was born and raised in Scarborough. I'm a first-generation Canadian born to parents who came to Canada as refugees nurturing visions of brighter days and better ways! I've spent the last several years in the United States, primarily in New York City, so I am excited to finally be back home! Outside of work, I love traveling, being a foody, hanging out with friends, making music, and being the biggest bandwagon fan of the Raptors and Leafs when they're in the playoffs. Academic interests in pain medicine, sports medicine, and continuing my work with indigenous and marginalized communities.
Jordi Klein
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical school: University of Toronto
Bio: Born and raised in the GTA, I did my undergrad in Guelph before bouncing back to Toronto for medical school. My interests in EM include med ed, prehospital care, trauma-informed approaches, and medical humanities. Outside of medicine, I enjoy rock climbing, creative writing, and playing board games.
Daniel Dongjoo Lee
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical school: UofT
Bio: I was born in Seoul, Korea, and bounced around between several cities in Ontario before making Toronto home for high school, Western University for undergrad, and returning to Toronto for medical school. I am absolutely ecstatic to continue learning, growing, and playing here over the next 5 years.My hobbies often change but always include group sports, concerts, and type II fun. During residency I hope to build my skills in quality improvement, critical care, and creating and sticking to a budget.
Emanuel (Manny) Mastrangelo
Hometown: Markham, Ontario
Medical School: U of T
Bio: Growing up, you would most likely find me riding around on my bike, kicking a soccer ball or just kicking it with friends… truly, not much has changed. I’ve completed all of my training at UofT, and am thrilled to be back in my favourite city doing what I love most. Prior to Medical School, I’ve spent time working in BC planting trees and in inner-city Toronto’s EDs as a clerical assistant. On my spare time, catch me cooking up a meal for friends and listening to a new record on vinyl. Passionate about food, footy, F1, FB Marketplace (lol) and friends.
Christina Stevenson
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical School: University of Limerick
Bio: While I really enjoyed studying and hiking the breath-taking trails and mountains across Ireland, I am very excited to be home and continuing my studies in EM at UofT. In my free time, I love staying active hitting the slopes, long distance running, and breaking a sweat with some HIIT classes. I’m also always up for trying a new restaurant or some interesting recipes at home. Over the next few years, I look forward to pursuing my interests in Trauma and Sports Medicine.
Punithan Thiagalingam
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I am joining the program all the way from Toronto, Ontario in Canada. My interests include emergency medicine, education, and smiling enthusiastically in photos!
Sara Amritah Vaughan
Hometown: Cobourg, Ontario
Medical school: University of Toronto
Bio: Originally from Stoke-on-Trent, England, I grew up in a big, soccer-loving family, playing footy with my four younger brothers and watching Premier League Football (sadly an Arsenal fan…). Prior to med school at UofT, I completed my undergrad in the states at Howard U. I am incredibly excited to be joining the UofT EM family and to be continuing my training in the big city! My (current) academic interests include medical education and sports medicine.
PGY5
Fayad Al-Haimus
Hometown: Baghdad, Iraq
Medical School: University of Baghdad
Bio: I was born in Baghdad where it is over 35°c most of the year. I completed my medical school at University of Baghdad before moving to live in Hamilton, ON where I spent the last 2 years exploring evidence-based research initiatives within the field of Emergency Medicine and Thrombosis at McMaster University. My best personal characteristics are resilience and flexibility. I love being part of teamwork environment and thrive in it. Biking is one of my greatest joys. I am also an avid reader; I like reading fiction novels and English poetry. I cannot say no to outdoor activities and exploring new coffee places. My medical interests include trauma medicine and research.
Ian Beamish
Hometown: Ottawa, Ontario
Medical School: McGill University
Bio: I grew up on a dairy and vegetable farm outside of Ottawa and our family took home the Gold Medal in the Corn Picking Olympics in ‘96 (…held on our own farm …competing against ourselves)! It’s been hard to repeat that early win but joining the UofT EM family sure feels like solid gold. My wife and I Iove wilderness camping, hosting dinner parties and perfecting the over-easy fried egg. Medical interests include point-of-care ultrasound and medical education.
Kate Dillon
Hometown: Lakefield, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I grew up in the small town of Lakefield, Ontario before heading to London, Ontario for my undergraduate and master's degrees. I finally landed in Toronto for Medical School and am excited to spend the next 5 years in the big city! In my spare time I enjoy exploring Toronto's amazing restaurants and playing with my dog Luna.
Mazen El-Baba
Hometown: where the wind blows. Previously Saida, Lebanon; Guelph; London, ON; and Toronto)
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I was born and raised in Lebanon and became a naturalized Canadian in Toronto (2005). I completed my undergrad and Master's in Neuroscience before discovering my passion for Emergency Medicine in medical school. My interests within EM include resuscitation, global health, disaster medicine, and POCUS application in these settings. Outside of medicine, I love to travel in a pandemic free world, hike/explore, and host dinners.
Hanna Jalali
Hometown: Peterborough, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: Originally from Minsk, Belarus (not a city in Russia as many “Friends” fans may believe), my family moved to Canada when I was younger and I grew up in Peterborough, aka “the gateway to cottage country”. I spent 4 amazing years at Western for an undergrad in physiology and came to Toronto for medical school. I fell in love with this beautiful city and the people here and am so excited to be continuing with the EM family in Toronto! I am always looking for friends to go on long walks/hikes, taste-test my cooking adventures, and book my next trip with.
Ashwin Pillai
Hometown: Mumbai, India
Medical School: NDMVPS Medical college, Nashik, India
Bio: Artisticus Docisumus. Commonly known as Art Doc, this strange being is known for his clinical skills as a doctor as well as his artistic ventures. This migratory species has travelled all around the world with his artist partner; but can only be spotted in Scarborough now. When not saving lives, he can be found creating sustainable furniture, writing short stories, meditating and walking his three beloved huskies. Also loves food.
Sampreeth Rao
Hometown: Scarborough, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: Born in India and bred in Scarborough's diverse suburbs, I grew up telling stories through film. Surprisingly, filmmaking and emergency medicine have a lot in common, and I’m excited to combine both to improve care for our society’s most vulnerable. I’m also a huge sports fan – thankfully the Raptors’ 2019 chip still fuels my foolhardy love for the New Orleans Saints and Arsenal Football Club.
Sarah Schwartz
Hometown: Deer Lake, Newfoundland
Medical School: National University of Ireland
Bio: I've lived in a few different provinces and countries and have had a wide range of jobs including construction and physiotherapy. So happy to be back in Toronto where the Leafs live, and I can work my way through the best nachos, breweries and plant shops in the city.
Kara Tastad
Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
Medical School: University of Saskatchewan
Bio: I was born and raised in the Saskatchewan prairies, and I am excited to swap the prairie skies with the city skylines of Toronto! In my spare time, you will find me painting, dancing around my apartment to Taylor Swift, or enjoying board game nights with family/friends. I am ecstatic to be a part of the Toronto EM Team! My interests include Trauma and Addictions Medicine.
Rachel Trister
Hometown: Toronto, Ontario
Medical School: University of Toronto
Bio: I was born and raised in Toronto and completed medical school at UofT. I am ecstatic to continue my medical training as an EM resident in my hometown, making my loyalty to the city second only to the Indianapolis Colts. Over the next 5 years, I hope to continue running along the water, over-indulging in local vegetarian cuisine, and making itineraries for my next big trips (post-COVID of course). My academic interests include Addictions Medicine and inner-city health.