Meet the MacNeal Internal Medicine Residency Faculty

Priyanka Sultania Dudani, MD

Internal Medicine Program Director 

Dr. Priyanka Sultania Dudani graduated from the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Nepal and completed her Internal Medicine residency at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County in 2012. She began her career as an academic hospitalist before joining MacNeal Hospital as an Associate Program Director, where she discovered her true calling in Graduate Medical Education (GME). 

A proud native of Nepal, Dr. Dudani draws strength and steadiness from the majestic Himalayas—qualities that shape her unwavering loyalty to the communities she serves. These values guide her leadership as Program Director and IM Residency Program Leader, where she fosters a culture of excellence, compassion, and growth. She serves on the Collaborative Health Equity and Human Impact Committee and the Hospital Patient Safety Committee, advocating for systemic improvements and equitable care. 

Dr. Dudani is deeply passionate about enhancing resident education—not only to prepare trainees for clinical excellence, but to support their holistic development across academics, scholarship, and well-being. Her vision is to create a learning environment that empowers residents to thrive in the real world while staying grounded in empathy and service. 

A key area of interest in her leadership is community medicine. She actively collaborates with community-attending physicians and initiatives such as street medicine, caring for patients experiencing homelessness. Through these efforts, she aims to expose trainees to social health disparities and inspire meaningful service. In her free time, Dr. Dudani enjoys spending quality moments with her husband, daughter, and close friends. She finds joy in cooking, playing volleyball, and practicing hot yoga.

Tonia Gooden, MD

Internal Medicine Associate Program Director

Tonia Gooden, MD graduated from Ross University School of Medicine. After medical school, Dr. Gooden spent a year in Belgium doing research and teaching English as a second language to Chinese students. She then completed her internal medicine residency at Louisiana State University Health Shreveport where she also earned an endorsement as clinical educator, was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society, and served as the Chief Wellness Resident. During the 2022-23 academic year, she was Transitional Year/Internal Medicine Chief Resident at MacNeal.  As the faculty lead for the Wellness Committee, she is committed to resident wellness and enjoys working with the residents to improve the residency experience here at MacNeal.  

Her academic interests include understanding how adults learn medicine and applying these practices to the teaching of internal medicine. She loves teaching clinical pearls while on inpatient rounds or in the clinic and has received several teaching awards. Dr. Gooden is actively involved in scholarly endeavors including work as a Peer Reviewer for multiple journals, personal research and publications, and serving as a mentor for multiple IRB approved resident projects.

Dr. Gooden enjoys SCUBA diving, world travel, tennis, hiking and exploring National Parks with her husband and daughter.

Dr. Gooden’s Publications
Gooden, T. (2023). First Living. Academic Medicine. 98(5), 542-545.

Gooden, T. (2023). First Living. Academic Medicine. 98(5), 542-545.

McCurdy, G., Weis, F., Gooden, T., Cai, Q. (2023).  Gastric Peroral Endoscopic Pyloromyotomy (GPOEM) in patients with refractory gastroparesis. Therapeutic Advances in Gastroenterology, 16, 17562848231151289.

Gooden, T., and Cai, Q. (2022). Invited Commentary: Submucosal Tunneling Endoscopic Resection (STER) for Submucosal Tumors in the Proximal Esophagus. Journal of the American College of Surgeons, 234, 1135-1136. 

Shah, R., Chen, H., Calderon, L., Gooden, T., Mubashir, M., Rashid, S., Raza, S. M., Derise, A., McCurdy, G., Sanders, B., Keilin, S., Cai, Q. (2022). Safety and feasibility of same day discharge after per oral endoscopic pyloromyotomy in refractory gastroparesis: A pilot study. Chinese Medical Journal, 135. 

McCurdy, G., Gooden, T., Weis, F., Mubashir, M., Rashid, S., Raza, S. M., Morris, J., Cai, Q. (2022). POEM, G-POEM, Z-POEM and D-POEM With Unedited Videos. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(10S), e1862–e1863. https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0000868056.08667.ad

Vasikaran, A., Raza, S. M., Mubashir, M., Rashid, S., Tujague, L. L., Wadhwa, S. K., McCurdy, G., Weis, F., Gooden, T., Morris, J., & Cai, Q. (2022). Retrieving an endoscopic cap from the submucosal tunnel during a POEM procedure: Keep an eye on the cap before closing the mucosal incision. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(10S), e265-e265. https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0000858164.43822.6e

Dhaliwal, L., Gooden, T., McCurdy, G., Weis, F., Rashid, S., Raza, S. M., Mubashir, M., Vasikaran, A., Morris, J., & Cai, Q. (2022). Establishing new third space program: Importance of a pre-procedure checklist. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(10S). https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0000861152.88428.de

Mubashir, M., Rashid, S., Raza, S. M., Vasikaran, A., Flowers, A., McCurdy, G., Sanders, B., Abubakar, T., Dhaliwal, L., Gooden, T., Shah, P., Bouchette, P., & Cai, Q. (2022). Gastroparesis cardinal symptom index score on day 1 after G-POEM: A strong predictor for outcome. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 95(6). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2022.04.1157

Bouchette, P., McCurdy, G., Weis, F., Gooden, T., Mubashir, M., Rashid, S., Raza, S. M., Morris, J., & Cai, Q. (2022). Immediate etiology of incidental finding of dilated common bile duct on abdominal images—A preliminary study. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(10S). https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0000857044.79289.87

Raza, S. M., Mubashir, M., Rashid, S., Flowers, A., Vasikaran, A., Dhaliwal, L., McCurdy, G., Sanders, B., Abubakar, T., Gooden, T., Shah, P., Bouchette, P., & Cai, Q. (2022). Short-term outcome of GERD in gastroparesis patients after gastric per oral endoscopic pyloromyotomy—Preliminary results. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 95(6S). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2022.04.1031

Rashid, S., Raza, S. M., Mubashir, M., Derise, A., Vyas, A., McCurdy, G., Sanders, B., Gooden, T., Shah, P., Bouchette, P., Abubakar, T., Dhaliwal, L., & Cai, Q. (2022). Short-term outcomes of per oral endoscopic myotomy for patients with refractory atypical chest pain: A new indication for POEM? The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 117(10S). https://doi.org/10.14309/01.ajg.0000858484.67990.e6

Raza, S. M., Mubashir, M., Rashid, S., Flowers, A., Vasikaran, A., Dhaliwal, L., McCurdy, G., Sanders, B., Abubakar, T., Gooden, T., Shah, P., Bouchette, P., & Cai, Q. (2022). Short-term outcome of GERD in gastroparesis patients after gastric per oral endoscopic pyloromyotomy—Preliminary results. Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 95(6S). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gie.2022.04.1031
 
Gooden, T., and Saad Aldine, S. (2021 October). Management of Large Left Pelvic Abscess Secondary to Acute Diverticulitis. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 116, S825-826. 

Gooden, T., and Harriss, P. (2020 October). Tacrolimus-Induced Remission of Autoimmune Enteropathy. The American Journal of Gastroenterology, 115, S1484.  

Gooden, T. (2018). Boundless Learning. Global Health Program. University of Vermont and Western Connecticut Health Network, 76. https://nuvancegh.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2017-2018_Diaries.pdf&…;

Gooden, T. (2013). Medical Experiments in Concentration Camps during National Socialism: Their Scientific Potential and Ethical Considerations. University of Michigan, Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures. 

Gooden, T. (2012). Practicing Experimentation - The History of German Science. Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures Newsletter, 5. https://lsa.umich.edu/content/dam/german-assets/german-documents/GDSeNe…

Recent Presentations

WBBM Radio – Chicago, Illinois                            Oct. 2024
Vitamin B Deficiency, Seltzers, Detox and Cleanse Diets, Persistent Bloody Nose, Persistent Fever, Beets to Stabilize Blood Pressure, Intermittent Fasting

Society of General Internal Medicine – Midwest, Chicago Illinois        Oct. 2023
No Heartbeat

WBBM Radio – Chicago, Illinois                            Sept. 2023
Anti-Inflammatory Diet; Foods that Beat Fatigue; Foods to Relieve Constipation

Aditi Puri, MD

Internal Medicine Associate Program Director

Aditi Puri, MD completed her medical degree from the University of Alabama Birmingham and internal medicine residency training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After residency, Dr. Puri worked as a hospitalist at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and finished a Master's degree in medical education. She continued to develop her skills as a medical educator at Northwestern University before joining the MacNeal Internal Medicine Residency program in 2022 as an associate program director.

At MacNeal, Dr. Puri focuses on the resident as teacher and quality improvement curricula. While working with residents, Dr. Puri emphasizes autonomy, independent thinking and creating a supportive learning environment.

Her career interests include growth mindset, resident as teachers and leadership development for residents, coaching and faculty development. She has worked on several scholarly projects focusing on growth mindset, anti-racism and resident as teacher using the one-minute preceptor educational technique.

Dr. Puri has served on several national committees including Society of General Internal Medicine Education Commitee and the Association of Academic Internal Medicine Equity Matters Taks Force. Dr. Puri is actively involved in scholarly work including publications with residents and presentations at national conferences.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Puri enjoys spending time with friends and family, reading, traveling and learning photography.

•    Sharma A, Mahajan Z, Mehta S, Puri A. Lemierre syndrome: a diagnostic dilemma of critical care in the post-COVID era. BMJ Case Rep. 2024 Jan 12;17(1):e257143. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2023-257143. PMID: 38216157; PMCID: PMC10806918.
•    Puri A, Raghavan S, Sottile E, Singh M, Snydman LK, Donovan AK, Bonnema R, Lo MC. New ACGME Clinician Educator Milestones as a Roadmap for Faculty Development: a Position Paper from the Society of General Internal Medicine Education Committee. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Jul 5. doi: 10.1007/s11606-023-08272-7. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 37407763.
•    Puri A, Lee CK, Feinglass JM, Chen Y, Lee J, Miller CH, Peterson J, Didwania AK. Designing a Checklist for Directly Observing Use of One-Minute Preceptor Steps on Inpatient Rounds: A Pilot Study. J Contin Educ Health Prof. 2023 Jan 1;43(1):65-67. doi: 10.1097/CEH.0000000000000456. PMID: 36849431.
•    Puri A, Memari M, Sottile EM, Snydman LK, Lee WW, Bonnema RA, Jones D, Nandiwada DR. Changing the Assessment Paradigm: Promoting a Growth Mindset Across the Medical Education Continuum. Am J Med. 2023 Feb;136(2):207-212. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2022.10.004. Epub 2022 Oct 29. PMID: 36441037.
•    Astik GJ, Puri A, Aguilar F, Zhou S, O'Leary KJ. Factors Associated with Use of Inpatient Telehealth for Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients: an Observational Study of 4 Hospitals in a Single Health System. J Gen Intern Med. 2022 Apr;37(5):1325-1327. doi: 10.1007/s11606-021-07220-7. Epub 2022 Feb 7. PMID: 35132553; PMCID: PMC8821859.
•    Atassi G, Manesh R, Patel A, Tariq H, Puri A. The Phantom Menace: Immunodeficiency-Associated Disease in an Immunocompetent Patient. Am J Med. 2021 Dec;134(12):1555-1557. doi: 10.1016/j.amjmed.2021.06.017. Epub 2021 Jul 14. PMID: 34273281.
•    Ufomata E, Merriam S, Puri A, Lupton K, LeFrancois D, Jones D, Nemeth A, Snydman LK, Stark R, Spagnoletti C. A Policy Statement of the Society of General Internal Medicine on Tackling Racism in Medical Education: Reflections on the Past and a Call to Action for the Future. J Gen Intern Med. 2021 Apr;36(4):1077-1081. doi: 10.1007/s11606-020-06445-2. Epub 2021 Jan 22. PMID: 33483823; PMCID: PMC8042052.
•    Forum Article Eloho Ufomata MD MS, Aditi Puri MD MS, Rani Nandiwada MD MS, Carla Spagnoletti MD MS , Rachel Bonnema MD MS. Becoming Anti-Racist in Medical Education: Embracing Discomfort, Acknowledging Culpability, Moving Toward Change. SGIM forum 2020, 43z
•    Aditi Puri MD MS, Matthew Gingo MD, Alison Morris MD. Asthma in HIV-infected population: a review of respiratory symptoms, pulmonary function abnormalities and pathophysiology. Epidemiol 2014, 4: 164

Recent national presentations
•    How have you grown? Stretching the Shape of Assessment to Promote Growth Mindset – Society of General Internal Medicine Meeting May 2024. 
Aditi Puri, Elisa Sottile, Laura Snydman, Milad Memari, Rani Nandiwada
•    Giving Driving Lessons, Not a Driver’s Test Building Learner Competence Through Coaching – Society of General Internal Medicine, May 2023
Elisa Sottile, Aditi Puri, Rani Nandiwada, Milad Memari
•    Coaching Faculty for Growth: Utilizing the New Clinician Educator Milestones Society of General Internal Medicine – Society of General Internal Medicine, May 2023
Aditi Puri, Anna Donnovan, Sreekala Raghavan and Elisa Sottile
•    Hot Off the Press: Integrating the New Clinician Educator Milestones into Faculty Development Programming – Academic Internal Medicine Week, April 2023
Aditi Puri, Anna Donnovan, Sreekala Raghavan and Elisa Sottile
•    Don’t Get L-Austin (Lost in) the Crowd – Society of Hospital Medicine Meeting, March 2023
Annie Massart, Aditi Puri, Reena Hemrajani, Gopi Astik
•    Developing Master Adaptive Learners and the Growth Mindset in the Learning and Working Environment: Creating a Dynamic and Resilient Workforce - Society of General Internal Medicine Meeting, April 2022
Deepa Nandiwada, Milad Memari, Aditi Puri, Laura Snydman, Elisa Sottile

Melissa Arredondo, MD

Transitional Year Program Director

Dr. Melissa Arredondo is native to Illinois and is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.  She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.  She then went on to complete medical school at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She remained at the University of Chicago to complete her med-peds residency. During her final year of med-peds residency she served as the Education Chief.

After residency she gained experience as a pediatric hospitalist and IM Core Faculty inpatient attending at MacNeal Hospital. In 2019 she became the Transitional Year Program director at MacNeal Hospital and continues in her role as an IM core faculty member.

Dr. Arredondo has a passion for medical education and oversees the curriculum for the IM and TY Programs in the areas of health inequities, patient safety, and simulation-based training. Dr. Arredondo also organizes and precepts resident presenters for the CPC and Morbidity and Mortality conferences.  She serves on the Medical Executive Committee and the hospital Morbidity and Mortality Committee and is the Vice-Chair for the IM department at MacNeal.  

When she is not at the hospital, she loves spending time with her daughter, baking bread, and reading books that focus on leadership skills.

Zohaib Haque, DO, MPH

Core Faculty

Zohaib Haque, DO, MPH completed his medical degree at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Haque completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County. He joined as core faculty at MacNeal in 2023 and this is where he has continued his passion for education at the medical student and resident level.  Growing up in the Chicagoland area, Dr. Haque is invested in working in the community and particularly in underserved areas.

Dr. Haque believes in fostering an interactive and dynamic learning environment and has a unique approach when it comes to explaining topics, both medical and non-medical.  He is a strong resident advocate and serves as a mentor for residents and medical students, guiding them in personal and professional growth. 

Outside of medicine, Dr. Haque enjoys sharing meals with friends and family, Chicago sports, stand-up comedy, and collecting sneakers.  

Baudelio Herrada, MD

Core Faculty

Baudelio Herrada, MD, graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria. He completed his residency training at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles and has been a hospitalist for most of his career. He has worked at MacNeal Hospital since 2009. Having grown up on the southwest side of Chicago, MacNeal Hospital serves many of his family and friends. He joined the residency faculty in 2014.

Dr. Herrada’s main focus is teaching hospital medicine. He emphasizes patient safety, efficiency, and proper documentation. He enjoys one-on-one interactions with residents and medical students during rounds and on the hospital units. He encourages thorough history-taking, broad differentials, and well-thought-out treatment plans. He serves as a resident advisor. He also conducts weekly board review sessions. He provides insight and encouragement to residents interested in a hospitalist career. Dr. Herrada enjoys working with residents who bring a good attitude and strong work ethic.

Komal Kaul, MD

Core Faculty

Komal Kaul, MD, is a board-certified internist who completed her clinical training at the Institute of Medicine in Kathmandu Nepal. She first came to Chicago to pursue her Internal Medicine residency at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County.

After training, Dr. Komal worked as a hospitalist at Jeanes Hospital in the Temple University Health System of Philadelphia where she also worked closely with medical students.
Dr. Kaul is a fierce advocate for hospital quality improvement, resource utilization, and end of life care

Jennifer Sardone-Ponnappan, MD

Core Faculty, Clinic Director

Jennifer Sardone-Ponnappan, MD graduated from medical school at The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio and completed Internal Medicine residency at Exempla Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, Colorado. There, she practiced with a traditional internal medicine group until moving to Chicago. She has practiced as core faculty with the Internal Medicine Residency Program since 2012. Her main role is Clinic Director of the residents' continuity clinic at the MacNeal Center for Internal Medicine (MCIM).  

Dr. Sardone believes that open communication is key to the doctor-patient relationship. In the continuity clinic, following patients over time improves a resident's ability to re-evaluate diagnoses and responses to treatments, and develop strong bonds with patients. Dr. Sardone is an advocate of preventive and lifestyle medicine, and has a specialization in Obesity Medicine.

Charles J. Bareis, MD, FACP

Chief Medical Officer, MacNeal Hospital

I have had the privilege of serving as the CMO at MacNeal since 2006.  Since I first started working at MacNeal as a general internist in the early 1990’s, I have been involved with teaching medical students and residents.  One of my most recent activities has been providing support for our Medical Respite program at Sojourner House in Oak Park.  At Sojourner we assist with coordinating health care and housing resources for unhoused patients discharged from local hospitals including MacNeal.  Loyola Students and MacNeal IM residents join me on rounds and learn about the impact of social determinants of health on our patients and how we can help them.

 

Dr. Jaime Belmares

Infectious Diseases Attending

Hi. Welcome to MacNeal. Dr. Belmares serves as the coordinator for the ID rotation in the IM residency program. He is a proud alum of the Faculty of Medicine of the Autonomous University of San Luis Potosi, SLP. Mexico and the Austin Medical Education Programs at the late Brackenridge Hospital in Austin, Tx. He did his ID fellowship at the Loyola University Chicago Medical Center. He also serves as Medical Director for Infection Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship at MacNeal Hospital. 

His main interests currently are general clinical ID and resident education. He makes no qualms about admitting that his single overriding purpose in the ID rotation is to show how ID is the coolest field ever. His aim is to show residents the joy of clinical medicine by working logically through the ID problems of their patients.  

David Cusick, MD

Cardiology Attending

Dr. David Cusick is a board-certified cardiologist at MacNeal Hospital. He earned his medical degree from Indiana University, followed by internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Northwestern University, where he was appointed Chief Medical Resident. He completed his fellowship in Cardiology and has additional training in echocardiography and nuclear cardiology. He also serves as Medical Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at MacNeal Hospital.

Dr. Cusick’s clinical interests include preventative cardiology, coronary artery disease, and congestive heart failure. He is dedicated to advancing patient care and mentoring residents in evidence-based cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Cusick values interdisciplinary teamwork and is committed to improving outcomes for patients and the community.

Naveed Iqbal, MD

Interventional Cardiology Attending

Dr. Naveed Iqbal is an Interventional Cardiologist and serves as the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab. His clinical focus lies in the diagnosis and management of complex cardiovascular disease, with a particular interest in interventional procedures. He is deeply engaged in medical education and quality improvement, actively mentoring residents and leading bedside teaching rounds. Dr. Iqbal is committed to fostering clinical excellence and a culture of continuous learning, and he plays a key role in shaping the educational experience of internal medicine residents.

 

Christopher D. Ochoa, MD

Pulmonology and Critical Care Attending

Dr. Christopher D. Ochoa is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care at Loyola University. He also serves as Director of Respiratory Services at MacNeal Hospital, where he leads clinical care, education, and program development. He enjoys teaching residents on the inpatient and outpatient pulmonary rotations and mentors those pursuing a career in pulmonary and critical care medicine.

He completed his fellowship in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Emory University, where he trained extensively in bronchoscopy, endobronchial ultrasound, and critical care ultrasonography. He earned his MD at the University of Illinois College of Medicine, followed by residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago, where he was recognized with multiple teaching and clinical excellence awards.

Dr. Ochoa is board certified in Pulmonary Medicine, Critical Care Medicine, and Internal Medicine. His academic work includes publications and presentations on COPD, infectious complications of biologic therapies, and critical care management.

Kishin Ramani, MD, FACC

Cardiology Attending

Kishin Ramani, MD, FACC, is a dedicated cardiologist with Heart Care Centers of Illinois and the Director of Noninvasive Cardiology at MacNeal Hospital. With a strong clinical focus on echocardiography and nuclear cardiology, Dr. Ramani has a passion for advancing cardiovascular care through both direct patient interaction and resident education. As a teaching attending, he mentors internal and family medicine residents, guiding them through the arc of their medical training. He thrives on watching residents grow in knowledge and confidence as they progress through their education. Dr. Ramani is especially passionate about fostering critical thinking and lifelong learning among trainees. He incorporates up-to-date research and best practices into his teaching, particularly within noninvasive cardiology, helping residents bridge textbook knowledge with real-world application. His commitment to both patient care and resident development underscore his dual role as both clinician and educator.