Class of 2026

Meet the MacNeal Transitional Year Residency Class of 2026

Shiv Bajaj

Medical School: George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Career Goals: Becoming a knowledgeable and kind radiologist who uses his expertise to better the world around him! :)
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: Being from the Chicago suburbs, I knew I wanted to give back to my community and work in the area that raised me. MacNeal Hospital serves a diverse patient population that will allow me to develop a strong foundation before starting my advanced program. Additionally, the supportive and kind culture at MacNeal was a strong driving force.
Interests outside of medicine: Traveling, hiking, trying new restaurants and cafes, spending time with my two cats, and playing my Nintendo Switch!

Juana Barrera Bayona

Medical School: UCSF
Specialty: Work in an academic setting.
Career Goals: There is a strong, shared commitment to patient care and well-being. I enjoy working with this patient population and appreciate the opportunity to regularly practice my medical Spanish. The environment is highly collaborative, and the staff are consistently proactive.
Interests outside of medicine: Reading, traveling, exploring new cuisines and picnics with friends/family.

Dylan Boye

Medical School: Rush Medical College
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Career Goals: I'm really excited about becoming a Diagnostic Radiologist. I'm still deciding whether I'd want to do academic medicine, as I love the idea of mentoring other trainees, but think the flexibility that comes with private practice could be attractive as well! As long as I get to look at all that imaging to support patients' care, I'll be just fine.
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I was attracted to MacNeal by the excitement that was apparent in all residents and faculty on the interview day!
Interests outside of medicine: Concerts, skateboarding, walking Chicago street festivals, and the E-Sport Rocket League!  

Urjita Das

Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Specialty: Ophthalmology
Career Goals: I aim to deliver compassionate, humanistic, patient-centric care to a diverse patient population. I hope to work in an environment where I can be an advocate, resource, and educator for my patients, whether that's working on health policy, connecting my patients to financial resources, or empowering them with the knowledge of their condition.
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: MacNeal has access to a diverse patient population who present with variety of acute and chronic conditions and confounding social determinants of health which may present barriers to care or longitudinal follow-up. I hope that this exposure provides me with the professional ability to problem solve for my patients so that I can provide recommendations that allow them to better manage their health.
Interests outside of medicine: I enjoy weight lifting, hot mat pilates, reformer pilates, long-walks, tennis/pickleball, and biking! I also enjoy exploring house/EDM scenes, cooking, watching thriller TV shows, and hosting my friends.

MacKenzie Griffith

Medical School: Rush Medical College
Specialty: Dermatology
Career Goals: To be a general dermatologist.
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I like the community-focused atmosphere and variety of patients we serve.
Interests outside of medicine: Reading, baking, swimming.

Samantha Hu

Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Specialty: Ophthalmology
Career Goals: To provide personalized care and to advocate for vulnerable populations
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: The diverse patient population
Interests outside of medicine: Running, baking, hiking, trying different matcha lattes

Kevin Kim

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Career Goals: I aspire to become a radiologist who can utilize artificial intelligence to enhance diagnostic accuracy, improve patient outcomes, and increase healthcare efficiency. I aim to be at the forefront of leveraging emerging technologies to advance the field of radiology and optimize clinical decision-making.
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I chose MacNeal Hospital because of its supportive learning environment, diverse patient population, and balanced curriculum, all of which will help me grow into a well-rounded physician.
Interests outside of medicine: Playing tennis, baking Levain Bakery cookies, watching TV shows and movies

Christopher Koeller

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University
Specialty: Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Career Goals: To become a proficient physiatrist and to create an environment that allows my patients to maximize their potential and quality of life
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: MacNeal offers quality medical education, a supportive staff, and the opportunity to work with a diverse range of patients
Interests outside of medicine: Soccer, volleyball, weightlifting, hiking, and anything outdoors. Still patiently waiting for a Bears Super Bowl (this is the year!)

Parker Marsh

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Specialty: Ophthalmology
Career Goals: I am highly motivated to become a surgeon dedicated to providing exceptional patient care and ensuring positive surgical outcomes.
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I really enjoyed meeting the team on interview day and I think I will enjoy my time at MacNeal because of the great work atmosphere and the diverse patient population.
Interests outside of medicine: I enjoy cycling, golfing, running, pickle ball, beach volleyball, video games, and going out with friends downtown.    

Matthew Myhand

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology 
Career Goals: Clinical practice, Research, Academic and Industry Leadership
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: Program quality, patient population, location.  
Interests outside of medicine: Fitness and exercise, tennis, golf, travel, surfing, kitesurfing, Spanish language and Latin American culture.

Abhishek Ramini

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Specialty: Ophthalmology
Career Goals: Subspecialty fellowship, commitment to giving back to the community and playing a role in academic medicine
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: The strong commitment to the patients and the local community
Interests outside of medicine: Travel, tennis, golf, photography

Richard Regester

Medical School: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Specialty: Dermatology
Career Goals: To become a compassionate and skilled dermatologist with a potential focus on pediatric or procedural dermatology. I aim to build a strong clinical foundation during my time at MacNeal to prepare for the rest of residency!
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I appreciate MacNeal’s strong commitment to serving a diverse patient population, its supportive teaching environment, and the opportunity to work closely with dedicated faculty in a community-focused setting.
Interests outside of medicine: I’m an avid sports fan, especially of the Huskers and Vikings. I enjoy hiking, fishing, golfing, and spending time outdoors, but I also unwind with video games and spending time with friends and family.

Jennifer Rowley

Medical School: Harvard Medical School
Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Career Goals: Keeping an open mind - interested in molecular imaging, but also the brain is pretty rad
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: Very integrated with the internal medicine program which is a great group of very smart and very kind folks that we work alongside with every day.
Interests outside of medicine: My dog June, live music, cooking projects, long walks around Oak Park.

Justin Wang

Medical School: Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine
Specialty: Radiology
Career Goals: I strive to become a skilled and knowledgeable radiologist who can integrate imaging with improving patient outcomes. I also hope to be involved in teaching and mentoring the future generation of radiologists and medical providers.
What I like about MacNeal Hospital: I chose MacNeal for its strong clinical curriculum and mix of core and elective options that serves a culturally diverse local community.
Interests outside of medicine: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. I also love playing all kinds of sports, especially golf, volleyball, tennis and badminton.