Class of 2024

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Class of 2023

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

Class of 2022

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!

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.

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.

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.

Class of 2021

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? Sanford Medical Center, Fargo, ND

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

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? Pediatric Cardiac ICU fellow, Lurie Children’s, Chicago, IL

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? Cardiac ICU and ECMO Fellow, Birmingham Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, UK

Class of 2020

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? Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist, Advocate Children’s Hospital, Oakland, IL

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? Adult Hospitalist and Pediatric Intensivist, Johns Hopkins University

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? Cardiology Fellow, Johns Hopkins University

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? Anesthesia Residency, Johns Hopkins University

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