Brett Slajus
Welcome to Loyola and Hines VA Hospital! I grew up in the Metro Detroit area in Michigan, before attending the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for my bachelor’s degree and master’s in public health. I then went to medical school at Loyola University Chicago and was thrilled to stay on as a resident because of the exceptional training.
This coming academic year, I look forward to serving as one of the Chief Residents in Quality and Safety at Hines VA Hospital. Our program has a robust quality improvement curriculum for our residents, spanning all three years of training with additional opportunities related to quality improvement. I am excited to collaborate with our residents this year while also building my own skills, which I hope to apply as a future Pulmonary Critical Care intensivist. Outside of the hospital, I love cooking, gardening, hiking, traveling, and hanging out with my cat.
Vineela Appalaneni
Hi everyone!
Welcome to Loyola and the Hines VA! I am excited to be one of your Chief Residents for Quality and Safety (CRQS) and will be primarily located at the Hines VA. My main focus next year will be running our QI curriculum for interns as well as mentoring our PGY-2s participating in the QIPS (Quality Improvement and Patient Safety) Elective. I am excited to work with you all while also participating in the national VA CRQS program and expanding my own QI knowledge base.
I grew up in Dayton, Ohio, before attending the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) for undergrad. I went back home to Ohio to attend medical school at the University of Cincinnati before moving to the best city ever for residency! After my Chief year, I plan to pursue GI fellowship.
Outside of the hospital, I love taking pictures of food at my favorite restaurants (ask me about my phone case), adding books to my Kindle, and taking long walks around the city with my husband.
Feel free to come to me with any questions about QI or patient safety issues, ideas for projects you may have, or any restaurant recommendations!
Ankita Nallani 
Welcome to the Loyola Internal Medicine Residency Program! Originally from Troy, MI, I made my way down to Missouri for undergrad studying biology at Washington University in St. Louis and medical school at University of Missouri. I then moved to Chicago for my internal medicine residency here at Loyola. I am looking forward to serving as ambulatory chief resident before pursuing fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Outside of the hospital, you can find me spending time with my husband exploring Chicago restaurants and coffee shops, walking along the riverwalk or lakefront, and singing as part of the residency band.
John Levinson 
Welcome to Loyola! I'm excited to be the 2025-2026 Internal Medicine Research Chief Resident. I am originally from Moorestown, New Jersey. Then I went to the University of Maryland for undergrad where I studied Neuroscience. Afterwards, I took a gap year where I scribed for an orthopedic surgeon and volunteered at Children's National in DC. Next, I went to Rush Medical College for medical school and finally matched at Loyola for Internal Medicine.
I'm looking forward to serving as research chief resident here at Loyola this year before pursuing fellowship in cardiology. Outside of the hospital, I love going on walks with my dog and playing guitar in our resident band: Ankita and the Boyz.
Veronica Williams 
Welcome to the Loyola Internal Medicine Residency Program! I’m originally from the Northwest Side of Chicago and went to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska for my undergraduate education, where I majored in Biology and Spanish. From there, I stayed in the Midwest and went to medical school at Oakland University William Beaumont (OUWB) School of Medicine in Rochester, Michigan. I was so excited to match at Loyola for residency and finally come back to Chicago!
I’m thrilled to be serving as the 2025-2026 Loyola Inpatient Chief Resident and am especially looking forward to supporting resident education by leading Gen Med morning report. After completing my chief year, I plan to pursue fellowship in Gastroenterology. Outside of the hospital, I spend my time at the gym, running or biking on either the Lakefront Trail or the Bloomingdale Trail (The 606), or checking out Chicago’s incredible restaurant scene with loved ones!
Daniel Gryzlo
Welcome to Loyola and Hines VA! 
I grew up just a stone's throw away in Oak Park. I went to the University of Illinois for college and then came back to Chicago for medical school at Northwestern University. Priding myself on being a true Chicago local, I spend most of my free time exploring all the city has to offer: restaurants, biking the lake front trail, beaches, museums, and most importantly watching the Cubs at Wrigley Field. I am excited to stay on as the Hines Inpatient Chief Resident next year and build my skills teaching/educating the medical students and residents. Come up to the 14th floor for candy/snacks and Chicago sports hot takes!
