Candace Collins, MD
Hometown: Chatham, NJ
Undergraduate: Georgetown University
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Residency: Hackensack University Medical Center
Research Interests: Simulation, Biotechnology, Artificial Intelligence
Why Johns Hopkins? Johns Hopkins was the full package for me! The hospital has so many resources and serves a diverse patient population with a very active transport service. The education provided to fellows is so organized and thorough. The absolute best part is working with and learning from such a wonderful group of compassionate, supportive, intelligent, and fun people!

Alyssa Eckert, MD
Hometown: Reno, NV
Undergraduate: University of Nevada Reno
Medical School: University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
Residency: University of Utah Pediatric Residency Program
Research Interests: Medical Education, Global Health, Simulation
Why Johns Hopkins?  The people! Hopkins is an especially collaborative group that fosters and celebrates intellectual curiosity and teamwork. I was also drawn to Hopkins for the broad clinical exposure in a high-acuity unit and diverse patient population. Whether you’re interested in medical education, basic sciences, quality improvement, global health (or a little bit of everything like me), the opportunities for mentorship excellent clinical training are unmatched.

Laura Getchell, MD
Hometown: Raymond, ME
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (and proudly a former Maine Track student with the one and only Billy Bennett)
Residency: University of Michigan
Research Interests: I came in thinking simulation and medical education, but I’m quickly realizing how many cool and diverse research opportunities exist, so stay tuned!
Why Johns Hopkins? My very honest answer is that I tried to create the classic data-driven spreadsheet to compare programs, but at the end of the interview trail, I had a gut instinct that Hopkins felt like the best choice for me, and what’s more objective than a gut feeling?! Truly, I appreciated the connections I made with people during my interview day, which made the experience stand out. I felt like everyone was interested in who I am and were already thinking about ways that training at Hopkins could help me continue to grow as a clinician, leader, researcher, and human outside of work.

Natalie Honkala, MD
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children's Hospital
Research Interests: This may change but for now, Simulation and Resuscitation.
Why Johns Hopkins? My decision really came down to the people!  I could tell from my interview that the fellows and faculty genuinely care for each other and support one another both inside and outside of the hospital. And now as a current fellow, I can further attest that this is indeed true. I already feel so welcomed by the PICU/PCICU community. On a more personal note, I wanted a hospital located closer to my family and a schedule free of 24-hour calls!

Ghallia Kaouk, MD
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Residency: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Research Interests: TBD… but interested in Respiratory Physiology, Shock, POCUS, Medical Education
Why Johns Hopkins? The kind and vibrant people, high acuity, thoughtful curriculum and schedule (no 24s!), involvement in transports, research opportunities, and the beauty of the Baltimore Harbor!

Billy Bennett, MD
Hometown: North Kingstown, RI
Undergraduate: Boston College
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: National Capital Consortium at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Research interests: This may change, but for right now, Virtual Reality in Simulation/Education, Music physiology
Why Johns Hopkins? I did a rotation during residency and found all the staff (attendings, fellows, residents, nurses, admin, all of them) to be welcoming, educational, and just nice to be around. I found the emphasis on team dynamics and camaraderie to be refreshingly robust in such a high-stakes and emotionally charged environment.

Riley O'Neil, MD
Hometown: Phelps, MD
Undergraduate: University of Rochester
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Residency: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Research Interests: Implementation Sciences, Simulation, Transfusion Medicine
Why Johns Hopkins? To me, Hopkins offered everything I was looking for to launch my career while supporting myself and my family. My research interests remain quite varied and Hopkins has the expertise and mentorship to give me the guidance I need. Almost as importantly, they were exceptionally welcoming to my family and me, and their schedule affirms their commitment to a strong work-life balance.

Kelsea Smith, MD
Hometown: Yardley, PA
Undergraduate: Yale University
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Residency: NYP/Columbia
Research Interests: Pain, Public Health, QI
Why Johns Hopkins? The people and resources (within the ACCM department, SOM, school of public health, etc.) offer an incredible opportunity for me to explore and expand my interests in pain and public health. This coupled with a rich clinical experience that emphasizes fellow autonomy and education felt like the perfect fit!

Jinnesse Taylor, MD, MPH
Hometown: Gainesville, Fl
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Tulane University
Residency: Louisiana State University Pediatrics (New Orleans)
Research Interests: Health Equity, Medical Educaton
Why Johns Hopkins? When looking for a fellowship, I wanted a community. I wanted somewhere that supported me, not only as a pediatric fellow, but also as a person. Hopkins has the ability to support all of my academic adventures all the while being in a beautiful, vibrant city with such a rich culture. How perfect!

Camille Anderson, MD
Hometown: Olympia, WA
Undergraduate: University of Washington
Medical School: Hofstra/Northwell
Residency: Johns Hopkins University
Research Interests: Medical student/resident education and TBD!
Why Johns Hopkins? I stayed at Hopkins for the autonomy, involvement in patient transports, and the breadth of diagnoses we see. We have an incredible PICU where we care for the most high-acuity patients in a very large geographic area.

Phillip Cohen, MD
Hometown: Washington DC
Undergraduate:  Yale University
Medical School:  University of Pennsylvania
Residency:  Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Research Interests: Access to essential medicines, post-arrest care, global health
Why Johns Hopkins? It was clear from interview day that the fellowship program is thoughtfully organized to balance clinical training, research breadth/depth, and education. Baltimore is a city with rich history and civic pride, which makes it a lot of fun to call one's home.  Hopkins has a multitude of opportunities that can help maximize the fellowship experience.

Victoria Huang, MD
Hometown: Gaithersburg, Maryland
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine
Residency: Johns Hopkins Harriet Lane Pediatric Residency Program
Research Interests: Clinical informatics, predictive analytics
Why Johns Hopkins?: The people – from nursing staff to faculty, and everyone in between! I'm so fortunate that this great group has shaped how I've "grown up" in this institution. I also appreciate the program's dedication to finding the right balance of patient care responsibilities and learning. A schedule without 24hr call shifts is an added bonus!

Kristen Joseph, MD
Hometown: Oviedo, Florida
Undergraduate: University of Miami (Go Canes!)
Medical School: Mayo Clinic School of Medicine
Residency: Lurie Children's Hospital
Research Interests: Global health with a focus on respiratory diseases and management
Why Johns Hopkins? The opportunity to fully integrate my PICU and global health training, meeting great people on the interview day, robust clinical experience, and a very cute niece and nephew in the Baltimore area.

Emily Kemper, MD
Hometown: Boston, MA
Undergraduate: University of Chicago
Medical School: Boston University
Residency: UW/Seattle Children's
Research Interests: Health Equity, Communication, and Medical Education
Why Johns Hopkins? I met so many great people on my interview day, and I was so impressed by the way fellows interacted both with each other and with faculty. At conference, there was such a feeling of comraderie and fun (that came through even on a zoom screen!), but also a focus on evidence based medicine and physiology, which comes together for a really great learning environment. Our education is so purposeful and thought out, plus the research opportunities and support are second to none! Finding all that in a fellow-driven unit with lots of autonomy was a perfect fit!

Anisha Nadkarni, MD
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Residency: Johns Hopkins University
Research Interests: A little bit of everything…still working on narrowing it down 🙂
Why Johns Hopkins?: Definitely the people!! I also love that there are so many opportunities for research, global health, education, etc. I appreciate how much effort is put into a thoughtful education curriculum so we get a good foundation to build our clinical training on. Finally, the program is open to different training paths – as someone doing dual training in PICU and pediatric anesthesiology, it feels great to not only be accepted, but supported in that path.

Ashley Bedner, DO
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Undergraduate: James Madison University
Medical School: Kansas City University COM
Residency: University of Florida/Orlando
Research Interests: Simulation, Shock
Why Johns Hopkins? Hopkins provides an excellent training environment which is created by attendings who are supportive, dedicated to teaching, and many of whom are world-renowned in their research fields. The unit is fellow-run which ensures procedural opportunities and autonomy. I was attracted to the high acuity of the unit and continuous exposure to cardiac patients.
Where are they now? Pediatric Intensivist, University of Florida, Shands Children’s Hospital, Gainesville, FL

Jeff Bolstridge, DO
Hometown: Southborough, MA
Undergraduate: Lafayette College
Medical School: Philadelphia COM
Residency: Brooke Army Medical Center
Research Interests: Trauma, Simulation
Why Johns Hopkins? This program values fellow education and autonomy and has a very welcoming atmosphere. There are amazing clinical opportunities to include transport and trauma.
Where are they now? Pediatric Intensivist, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and Capt. US Army

Chris Donohue, MD
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Undergraduate: University of Maryland
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Residency: Johns Hopkins University
Research Interests: Medical Education, Simulation, Airway, CPR
Why Johns Hopkins? Baltimore is my home, and I'm lucky to have this venerable institution in my backyard. Everyone here is easy to get along with, eager to teach, and dedicated to our patients and community. I have the opportunity to collaborate with experts in my fields of interest across multiple departments, and with world-class resources at my fingertips.
Where are they now? Anesthesia Residency, Johns Hopkins University

Ellen Pittman, MD
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Undergraduate: Dartmouth
Medical School: University of Cincinnati
Residency: Cincinnati Children's
Research Interests: Advocacy, Patient Safety, QI
Why Johns Hopkins? Hopkins has a great mix of quality clinical experiences in a fellow-run unit, a plethora of resources for meaningful research opportunities in my areas of interest, and inspiring people that make me feel welcome (even during virtual interviews!) and appreciated.
Where are they now? Cardiology Fellow, University of Michigan

Alexis Thompson, MD
Hometown: Bridgeport, CT
Undergraduate: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Connecticut
Residency: Brown/Hasbro Children's
Research Interests: Advocacy, Health Disparities and TBD!
Why Johns Hopkins? Really enjoyed talking to all of the faculty and fellows during my interview day. Hopkins has broad clinical exposure including transplant patients and dedicated CICU with  awesome research opportunities and support.
Where are they now? Neurocritical Care fellow, Johns Hopkins

Jim Beal, DO
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Undergraduate: Drexel University
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: St. Christopher's Hospital for Children
Research Interests: Simulation, medical education, and ECMO
Why Johns Hopkins? Felt like it was the best fit for the culture I wanted in a PICU fellowship program. Extremely strong emphasis on fellow autonomy and education. Leadership which truly advocates for fellows and so many resources and opportunities for research.
Where are they now?  Penn State Children’s Hospital

Matt DiGiusto, MD
Hometown: Fayetteville, GA
Undergraduate: University of Mississippi
Medical School: The Ohio State
Residency: Johns Hopkins University
Research Interests: Blood product utilization, intraoperative care effects on postoperative outcomes, and medical education
Why Johns Hopkins? The people! As a resident at Hopkins, I realized very quickly that the PICU here is filled with the most amazing attendings, nurse practitioners, nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, ECMO specialists, etc. and I learned from all of them daily. I wanted to continue my education with such an amazing, supportive, and educational group of individuals. Additionally, I like that all ECMO (even neonatal) is managed in the PICU creating a broader learning experience. I prefer the educational schedule and that there are no 24-hour shifts. Finally, Hopkins has the largest cohort of dual-trained pediatric anesthesiologist-intensivists in the country and having that unique mentorship was important to me.
Where are they now? Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN

Anjali Garg, MD
Hometown: Wyandotte/Farmington Hills, MI
Undergraduate: University of Michigan (Go Blue!)
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Residency: Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital
Research Interests: Social and health disparities/trauma related outcomes in the PICU
Why Johns Hopkins? Great clinical experience, amazing research opportunities, and wonderful people!
Where are they now? Completed T32 Research Fellowship and PhD at Hopkins, now Pediatric Intensivist, Lurie Children’s Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

Anna Grindy, MD
Hometown: Decatur, Illinois
Undergraduate: Trinity College
Medical School: Southern Illinois University
Residency: Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital
Research Interests: TBD!
Why Johns Hopkins? The people in this program are incredible, which was evident to me from my first day on a visiting rotation. There is a true culture of collaboration and teamwork within the fellowship program, across specialities, and among disciplines. I knew that JH would provide me with exceptional clinical experiences, scholarly opportunities, and the skills to be a lifelong leader and learner.
Where are they now? Children’s Hospital of Atlanta, Emory

Katie Macmillan, MD
Hometown: Evansville, IN
Undergraduate: University of South Carolina
Medical School: East Tennessee State University: Quillen
Residency: Prisma Health in Columbia SC
Research Interests: Resident education, SIM, community outreach for safety and prevention
Why Johns Hopkins? I did an away rotation at Hopkins during residency and fell in love with the people! All of the members of the ICU team are continually finding ways to improve the unit, patient experience, and create a welcoming environment for the team members. The use of interdisciplinary rounds gives respect to all the different members who take care of patients. Since starting fellowship, I have been supported with any questions or concerns that I've had.
Compared to other interviews I had been on, Johns Hopkins provides the most fellow input in the cardiac unit. From observing rounds during the interview and my away rotation, I appreciated the ability to let fellows lead rounds with support of attendings only when needed. Leading resident and NP teams is a great resource to prepare for work as an attending.
The punchline is that I feel welcome and accepted as a person, while feeling supported and appropriately challenged as a fellow.
Where are they now? Mercy Children’s, Kansas

Melissa Pavelack, DO
Hometown: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Undergraduate: Ohio State University
Medical School: Midwestern University
Residency: Advocate Children's Hospital
Research Interests: Environmental Exposures & Toxins, Climate Change Health Effects, Natural Disasters
Why Johns Hopkins? Hopkins prioritized creating well-rounded fellows. This was obvious by their strong research support, manageable schedule with no 24h shifts, and clinical spectrum ranging from flight transport to liver transplants.
Where are they now? Completed T32 Research Fellowship and PMH, now Pediatric Intensivist, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI

Elizabeth Brigham, MD
Hometown: Potomac, MD
Undergraduate: William & Mary
Medical School: Penn State College of Medicine
Residency: Penn State Children's Hospital
Research Interests: Trauma, Medical Education, Simulation
Why Johns Hopkins? I came to Hopkins for an away rotation during my 2nd year of residency and loved it!
Where are they now? West Virginia University Children’s Hospital

Jessica LaRosa, MD
Hometown: Roseland, NJ
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Residency: New York Presbyterian Columbia University
Research Interests: Safety & Quality Improvement
Why Johns Hopkins? Location in Baltimore. Amazing fellows & faculty. Strong infrastructure to develop research skills.
Where are they now? Johns Hopkins

Carlie Myers, MD
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Medical School: Florida Atlantic College of Medicine
Residency: Children's National Medical Center DC
Research Interests: Health equity and overcoming health disparities in the PICU
Why Johns Hopkins? I chose Hopkins due to the availability of resources outside of the Bloomberg Children's Hospital including the School of Public Health to support my research interests. This program also has strong leadership that advocates for fellow education and autonomy.
Where are they now? Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

Victoria Surma, MD
Hometown: Bethesda, MD
Undergraduate: University of Maryland, College Park
Medical School: Temple University
Residency: University of Virginia
Research Interests: Predictive monitoring
Why Johns Hopkins? I learn by doing. The culture at Hopkins prioritizes that the unit is fellow-run, which provides the most effective training (in my opinion). It is a tight community where attendings support fellows, and fellows support one another.
Where are they now? Completed Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Children’s National Hospital, now Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist, Johns Hopkins

Sarah Gardner, MD
Hometown: Norwich, VT
Undergraduate: Tufts University
Medical School: University of Vermont
Residency: Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago
Research Interests: Global Health, Sepsis
Why Johns Hopkins? Incredible research opportunities in ANY field (including global health!), a unique amount of fellow autonomy and a strong culture of collegiality.
Where are they now? Completed CICU year at Lurie Children’s, Now Cardiac Intensivist at Advocate Children’s Hospital, IL

Dustin Hansen, MD
Hometown: Rice, MN
Undergraduate: St. John's University (MN)
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Residency: University of Minnesota
Research Interests: Quality/Patient Safety, Global Health
Why Johns Hopkins? There is a great focus on education which includes everything from formal lectures and conferences to procedures and simulation. Very accessible and hands on program director. Wide variety of academic opportunities as well with significant resources to support.
Where are they now? Hennepin Healthcare/University of Minnesota PICU

Jennifer Lee, MD
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical School: University of Queensland/Ochsner Medical Center
Residency: Tulane/Ochsner
Research Interests: Patient Safety/QI
Why Johns Hopkins? I chose Hopkins for not only the clinical experience but also for the resources available for QI/patient safety research. And the people - co-fellows, attendings, nurses, RTs, and all ancillary staff are quite awesome.
Where are they now? Completed ECMO/CICU year at Birmingham Hospital, England, now at University of California, Davis Health

Julie McCaw, MD
Hometown: Birmingham, AL
Undergraduate: Notre Dame
Medical School: Tulane
Residency: Levine Children's at Carolinas Medical Center
Research Interests: Global health, education, TBD
Why Johns Hopkins? I could tell it was a truly fellow-focused program where my clinical skills, education goals, research success, and career development would be prioritized. Everyone I met on interview day was excited to be part of the Hopkins team and easy to get along with, and I appreciated the mix of faculty from different experience and interest backgrounds. Last, but not least, I'm excited to take advantage of frequent transport, anesthesiology, and global health opportunities available to our fellows.
Where are they now? Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX

Hilary Schreiber, MD
Hometown: New York and Michigan
Undergraduate: Wesleyan University
Medical School: Georgetown
Residency: Cornell
Research Interests: Oncology-critical care intersection, management of complications of immune mediated treatments, etc.
Why Johns Hopkins? Broad exposure to complex medical and surgical patients, combined cardiac unit, no 24h call due to night float, a lot of resources for research, and a fun atmosphere to work in.
Where are they now? Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Alex Constas, MD 
Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Undergraduate: McGill University
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Residency: Albany Medical Center
Research Interests: Ergonomics and Biomechanics of Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
Why Johns Hopkins? First and foremost, the people. Everyone was very welcoming from the start and have continued to be a pleasure to work with. Consistent exposure to cardiac patients was also very important to me as they often represent the most complex cohort in any ICU. Finally, the research infrastructure and mentorship opportunities related to my interests were well established.
Where are they now? Cardiac Intensivist, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles

Sid Dante, MD
Hometown: Richmond, VA
Undergraduate: Princeton University
Medical School: Medical College of Virginia/VCU
Residency: University of Chicago Med Peds
Research Interests: Ecmo, neuro-inflammation, monocyte polarization and immune dysfunction; CPR in transport and ECPR for out of hospital and outside hospital patients
Why Johns Hopkins? Transport experience, mixed unit with diverse patient populations, research time and support, and no call on research.
Where are they now? University of Maryland

Erin Herstine, MD
Hometown: Pendleton, SC
Undergraduate: Wofford College
Medical School: University of South Carolina
Residency: University of Louisville
Research Interests: Massive transfusion, whole blood use in CHD
Why Johns Hopkins? I wanted exposures to all aspects of PCCM including anesthesia, transport, SIM education etc, as well as a robust research experience. On my interview day I was impressed with how much autonomy the fellows had and how welcoming the staff was.
Where are they now? Completed Cardiology Fellowship at Johns Hopkins, now Cardiac Intensivist, Norton Children’s Louisville KY

Teresa Lee, MD
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Wright State University
Residency: Inova Fairfax Hospital
Research Interests: Critically ill pediatric oncology patients and predictors of mortality
Why Johns Hopkins? Location in Baltimore. Hopkins PICU is an environment that offers high acuity and complexity in addition to numerous attendings with multidisciplinary backgrounds which lends to unique training.
Where are they now? Completed Anesthesia Residency and Pediatric Anesthesia Fellowship at Johns Hopkins, now Pediatric Intensivist and Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Johns Hopkins

Kami Rogers, MD
Hometown: Spring, TX
Undergraduate: University of Texas at San Antonio
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch
Residency: Johns Hopkins University (Pediatrics)
Research Interests: Cerebral auto-regulation
Why Johns Hopkins? Unprecedented autonomy with a wide range of patients and attendings to learn from. Close cooperation with anesthesia with multiple dual-trained attendings offers expanded opportunities both for research as well as additional training if desired. Our program director also goes to bat for anything and everything that she/we perceive essential to our education and experience.
Where are they now? Lubbock, TX