Class of 2029

Virina Akhnoukh

Hometown: Tinley Park, IL
Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago
Medical School: Midwestern University CCOM
Why MacNeal?:  I chose Loyola Medicine MacNeal because I have always wanted to serve the Chicagoland community, which feels like home to me. The program felt like the perfect balance of strong academics and a welcoming, supportive environment. During interview and second look days, everyone was genuine, fun, and easy to connect with, and I could truly see myself growing there both professionally and personally.
Interests in Medicine: I’ve always been passionate about serving patients and my community, especially through preventative health and helping people stay healthy before disease develops. In medical school, I loved a little bit of everything and enjoyed working with people of all ages, which made Family Medicine the perfect fit for me.
Interests Outside of Medicine: Cooking, exploring new restaurants, walks on the lake, traveling, and spending quality time with my friends and family!

Haleigh Czarnecki

Hometown: Northville, MI
Undergraduate: Notre Dame
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why MacNeal?: I was looking for a program with opportunities to learn in a community hospital setting while also having an affiliation with an institution like Loyola. A positive learning environment was very important to me, and everyone I spoke with during my interview at Loyola MacNeal emphasized the supportive teaching faculty and strong resident community. I am also looking forward to exploring the Chicago area!
Interests in Medicine: sports medicine, integrative medicine, lifestyle medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: distance running, hiking, reading, playing the piano, baking, and spending time with family and friends!

Danielle Kulbak

Hometown: Skokie, IL
Undergraduate: University of Illinois Chicago
Medical School: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona (ATSU-SOMA)
Why MacNeal?: I loved the balance of strong academic training while still being deeply rooted in the community. After spending time in Oregon, I realized how important it was for me to come back to the Chicagoland area and train somewhere that felt connected to the people I work with and patients I care for. As a first-generation, working with diverse patient populations and caring for people from different backgrounds is especially meaningful to me. During interview season, I instantly clicked with the residents and faculty, and it was obvious how supportive and genuinely happy everyone was. I also loved the program’s emphasis on mentorship and full-spectrum family medicine. I’m so excited to be joining the MacNeal family!
Interests in Medicine: Women’s health, inpatient medicine, hospice and palliative medicine, and osteopathic manipulative treatment.
Interests Outside of Medicine: running, hiking, biking, backpacking (really anything outdoors), yoga, coffee, baking, reading, and long coffee dates or walks with friends/family

Mary Mooney

Hometown: Ashland, Ohio
Undergraduate: University of Alabama (Roll tide!)
Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Why MacNeal?: I chose MacNeal because it checked all of the boxes I was looking for in a program: full-spectrum training, the opportunity to work with a large Spanish-speaking population, access to genuine and supportive faculty, and just overall a great experience during my interview day that made me feel welcomed. Additionally, my partner and I both love Chicago, and we are excited to have couple’s matched in the same city! 
Interest in Medicine: Immigrant and refugee health, underserved medicine, women’s health
Interests Outside of Medicine: I love going on runs, hiking, playing pickleball, and any other excuse to be outdoors! I also enjoy teaching ESOL classes, traveling to new countries, and spending time with my friends and family. 

Miatta Ndama

Hometown: Indianapolis, IN
Undergraduate: Smith College
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Why MacNeal?: I wanted to train in a program where a shared commitment to serving underserved communities, particularly Black and Brown populations, was central to the culture. Loyola’s longstanding commitment to community engagement and caring for diverse patient populations strongly resonated with me. During my interview, I had thoughtful and genuine conversations with faculty who made me feel truly supported as a future physician and in the interests and projects I hope to pursue throughout residency. The program’s culture of advocacy and service made it feel like the right place for me to grow personally and professionally.
Interests in Medicine: Women’s health, underserved community medicine, preventive medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: Visiting art museums, theatre (Chicago has a great theatre scene), trivia (Jeopardy fan since I was young), poetry, live music, game nights, NBA (go ‘Cers!), hanging out with my favorite people

Jayna Patel

Hometown: Ashburn, VA
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Medical School: Midwestern University CCOM
Why MacNeal?: Things that were important to me coming into family medicine were strong outpatient/preventative medicine training, addressing community health, and providing care for patients coming from diverse demographics and backgrounds. When I rotated at MacNeal Family Medicine during medical school, I saw that this was a place where these goals of mine would be very well supported in my training. In addition, during my rotation I saw how compassionate the residents and faculty were with their patients and each other, going the extra mile to provide excellent care and to build long-lasting relationships. I felt instantly at home!
Interests in Medicine: Preventative Care, Lifestyle Medicine, OMM, Public Health, Faculty Development
Interests Outside of Medicine: Reading, drawing/painting, walks on the Lakefront trail, exploring different Chicago neighborhoods/restaurants and coffee shops, kayaking, hiking, beach volleyball, going to concerts, spending time with family/friends!

Millen Srivastava

Hometown: South Barrington, IL.
Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Medical school: LMU-DCOM
Why MacNeal?: Growing up in the Chicagoland area, I always knew MacNeal Hospital as a place that cared deeply about its patients. After meeting the residents and faculty, I loved how welcoming, supportive, and down-to-earth everyone was. MacNeal offers strong inpatient training, opportunities to serve a diverse patient population, and a real commitment to community health, all while being connected to Loyola’s academic resources. It felt like the perfect place for me to train. An extra bonus is that it’s in Chicago, aka the best city in the world!
Interests in Medicine: I was drawn to Family Medicine because it places physicians at the heart of the community. By caring for patients and families across all stages of life, family physicians gain a unique understanding of public health challenges and can advocate for their patients both inside and outside the exam room. I love the specialty's emphasis on relationships, advocacy, prevention, and continuity of care, as well as the opportunity to pursue my interests in Sports Medicine and public health.
Interests Outside of Medicine: Pilates, dance, fashion, political advocacy, spending time with family and friends, and watching "Friends" on repeat!

Thomas Swiderski

Hometown: Palatine, IL
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Why MacNeal?: Growing up in the Chicago suburbs, coming back home was always part of the plan, and MacNeal made that decision easy. The program's strong sports medicine reputation and history of supporting residents through fellowship matched exactly where I want to take my career, while also giving me the training I need to become a well-rounded family medicine physician along the way. That said, what really sealed the deal was the people. From the moment I interviewed, the faculty and residents made it feel less like a program and more like a community. I couldn't be happier to be back home and be part of MacNeal.
Interests in Medicine: Sports medicine, outpatient medicine, pain management, ultrasound
Interests Outside of Medicine: Chicago sports, Michigan Wolverines football and basketball, golf, classic rock, walks and dog parks with my goldendoodle Bear

Danielle Thistle

Hometown: Brookfield, Wisconsin
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Why MacNeal?: I chose MacNeal for several key reasons. During my interview, the relaxed and welcoming atmosphere stood out, and I genuinely enjoyed connecting with both the residents and faculty. I knew immediately that this would be a supportive environment where I could thrive during my training. In addition, I am drawn to MacNeal’s commitment to its patient population; the program offers the perfect blend of a tight-knit community with strong academic affiliations.
Interests in Medicine: preventative medicine, community health, health disparities, women's health, mental health
Interests Outside of Medicine: rock climbing, cooking, running, traveling, reading

Eleni Vasilopoulos

Hometown: Northbrook, IL
Undergraduate: Temple University, Philadelphia
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine (MSUCOM)
Why MacNeal?: I chose MacNeal because the program felt genuine from the very beginning. During my interview day, I was struck by how open and welcoming everyone was both toward me, but also in the way they spoke about their patients and the community they serve. There was a humility and sincerity to the residents and faculty that made the culture feel incredibly supportive, down-to-earth, and patient-centered. I wanted to train somewhere that values strong clinical medicine while never losing sight of the human side of care, and MacNeal felt like the kind of place where I could grow into that kind of Family Medicine physician. Additionally, the location felt like a perfect fit for this stage of my life, as MacNeal sits almost directly between the north and west suburbs where our families are from, allowing my husband and me to stay closely connected to both sides of our support system.
Interests in Medicine: I was drawn to Family Medicine because of the relationships it allows physicians to build over time. Throughout medical school, some of the most meaningful moments for me were occasions where I saw patients I had previously cared for, sometimes even across different rotations and specialties. I want to be the kind of physician who truly listens to patients, understands their stories, and becomes someone they can trust through every stage of life.
Interests Outside of Medicine: Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling, cooking, trying different restaurants, and anything connected to Greek culture and language. Some of my favorite memories have come from sharing meals and hosting family and friends, whether it’s a big holiday gathering or a last-minute dinner at home.

Katherine Walker

Hometown: Western Springs, IL
Undergraduate: University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario
Medical School: University of Illinois Chicago 
Why MacNeal?: The focus on community connection and the positive and encouraging learning environment are what initially drew me to MacNeal. I was drawn to Family Medicine because of the broad scope of practice available and the potential to connect with patients and their families and work with them in sickness and in health. 
Interests in Medicine: reproductive health and justice. 
Interests Outside of Medicine: I enjoy baking and sharing goodies with my friends and family, caring for my many plants, sewing and playing soccer. 

Audrey Yu

Hometown: Plainfield, IL
Undergraduate: University of Missouri - Kansas City
Medical School: University of Missouri - Kansas City
Why MacNeal?: What stood out to me about MacNeal was the welcoming and supportive environment the program creates for its residents. I appreciated the strong emphasis on education, wellness, and preparing residents to become confident, compassionate physicians through a well-established curriculum. Alongside that, being from the Chicagoland area, I loved the opportunity to be close to home while being able to explore and experience the city. I am so grateful and excited to be part of the MacNeal family!
Interests in Medicine: Lifestyle and preventative medicine
Interests Outside of Medicine: Trying new foods and cooking, scrapbooking, gaming, working out, and spending time with family, friends, and my cat.