Farnoosh Shariati, MD - My name is Farnoosh Shariati and I am from Tallahassee Florida. I obtained both my undergraduate and Medical degree from Florida State University. As an Undergraduate I had a deep passion for helping those in need. This passion not only led me to the field of medicine but also allowed me to start two non-profit organizations along with a leadership Program at FSU College of Medicine. Through these experiences I’ve learned the importance of leadership and the positive impact it can have in patient care through advocacy, selfless service, and teamwork. Given my love for helping the underserved and my interest in the field of cardiology, I’ve chosen Ochsner Medical Center for its patient centered reputation and for numerous opportunities it provides us young physicians through research, strong Mentorship, patient and medical diversity in order maximize our potentials and make a big impact in our chosen fields.

Stephanie Ferrell, MD - I took an non-traditional path to internal medicine but I’ve loved the journey. I did undergrad in South Carolina, majoring in Biology at Columbia College, a small liberal arts school. I worked in a pharmacy during college and ended up applying to pharmacy school. I worked as a pharmacist for several years but realized how much I wanted to be more involved in patient care. I was actually working at Ochsner hospital pharmacy when I was accepted to LSU Shreveport School of Medicine. I’m happy to be home in New Orleans and working and learning at Ochsner in their IM residency program. I interviewed at many great programs in the South but Ochsner’s program had the best schedule and the most real-world approach to training. The program has done a great job at combining compassionate care with clinical education and practice management. Afternoon educational sessions, rather than morning reports, allow me to prioritize patient care in the beginning of the day and my professional development in the afternoons. Ochsner also has a multitude of specialties unlike any other in the region which provides an opportunity to work with very talented and passionate clinicians. Whether your interest is critical care, hepatology, epilespy, or anything in between, Ochsner has opportunities for these experiences for motivated individuals. After my residency, I hope to either pursue hospitalist medicine or pulmonary critical care fellowship. I know with the opportunity here, I’ll be well prepared for wherever life takes me.

Austin Tutor, MD - I grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and received a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Memphis. I then attended medical school at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. I chose Ochsner due to its reputation for rigorous training and also the diverse patient population that New Orleans offers. I have really enjoyed the strong emphasis the program places on quality education and lectures. Also, Ochsner fosters professional but personal relationships with attending physicians, creating an environment in which it is easy to learn. After residency I plan on either practicing hospital medicine or applying for a cardiology fellowship.

Helen Yuan, MD - As a PGY2 in the Internal Medicine program at Ochsner, I’m excited for the new challenges ahead in my training as I pursue Hematology and Oncology. The Ochsner program is vigorous yet caring. The packed schedules and new cases are accompanied by ready to teach attendings, supportive fellows, enthusiastic co-residents, and responsible staff. Our patients are special too – they come from all over the world and are appreciative of the care that they receive. A smile or a kind word from my patients always warms my heart and reminds me why I love medicine. Even though I grew up in Boston, Massachusetts and did my undergrad at Bates College in Maine, I went to medical school at the University of Queensland-Ochsner Clinical School. What I have discovered living here is that New Orleans is a unique city. It has fabulous music, food, people, and the Saints! (Who dat?) Not only do I love New Orleans but also this program. I feel lucky to train in a place where resident wellness and education are priorities, and everyone works as a team to provide optimal patient care. Ochsner Internal Medicine is a residency program that I would choose over and over again.

Vijay Nijjar, MD - I am a Louisiana boy through and through. I was born and raised in Alexandria, Louisiana. I went to undergrad at Louisiana College in Pineville, LA and graduate school at Tulane University after that. Growing up here I always heard about Ochsner so for medical school I attended the University of Queensland School of Medicine as one of the UQ-Ochsner cohort of students. What I love about training here is the diverse patient population we have here. Because Ochsner is a large regional referral center, we get exposure to all medical sub-specialties and get to see a wide range of patients with very complex problems. Despite that, though, there is still a community hospital feel here which is really important to me. The city of New Orleans is also an amazing place to do residency because the people are nice, the food is awesome, and there's always something going on. Although, if I'm being honest, probably the biggest reason I decided to stay at Ochsner was Taco Tuesday.

Harman Khaira, MD - Born and raised outside of Toronto, Canada and attended the University of Western Ontario (Go Mustangs!) where I completed my Honours Specialization in Health Sciences. I completed medical school at the University of Queensland where I was first introduced to the Ochsner Clinic Foundation through the Ochsner Clinical School. Through that rotation in New Orleans, I was exposed to the excellent staff at Ochsner. Ochsner provides the opportunity to experience health care in a large regional referral center with many specialties under one roof in a truly unique city. Ochsner allows you to expand yourself in both clinical and academic medicine in a nurturing environment. Residency here allows you to strike that great work-life balance and focus on yourself, both in and outside of medicine. After residency, I plan on applying for a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care. Few of the influencers of that decision are the large ICU at Ochsner and the high level of care we are able to provide for patients.

Laura Rivers, MD - My name is Laura Rivers. I am a native of Lafayette, Louisiana and I went to the University of Louisiana for undergrad. I attended LSU Health Sciences in Shreveport for medical school. I chose the Ochsner Internal Medicine Residency because of its welcoming and supportive environment that I first discovered on my interview here. The faculty are very approachable and are dedicated to resident education. In addition, I had grown up in Louisiana so I knew that Ochsner was one of the best medical centers in the state. I especially like the 4+2 schedule which allows for work life balance and at the same time prepares you for life after residency. I plan to pursue a fellowship in Rheumatology post residency.

Ivana Okor, MD - I am from Nigeria and I spent the early years of my childhood in Lagos Nigeria before moving to Georgia, US. I completed my undergraduate training at Georgia Southern University. After college, I attended Texas A & M where I was awarded an MPH in the field of Epidemiology. I was privileged to pursue and obtain a degree in Osteopathic Medicine at Nova Southeastern University, Florida. I chose to complete my Internal medicine training at Ochsner because I felt a great fit for me. I was impressed during the interview with the work culture, enthusiasm and dedication of the residents and faculty. Since I have been here I have felt very supported by my co-residents, upper levels and faculty and this has made my training a lot easier than expected.

Victoria Simenson, MD - I was born in New Orleans at what is now Ochsner Baptist, but I grew up in Tampa, Florida. I went to undergrad at the University of South Florida and then went to medical school at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine in Dothan, Alabama. Growing up, I heard so many stories from my parents about their adventures in NOLA. They worked in the French Quarter, ate at Port of Call, and took walks on the levee. When I had the opportunity to come here myself for training, I was excited to finally get to explore the city my family loved so much. Ochsner has been a great learning experience, and New Orleans is a beautiful place to live and work. I’m planning to apply for hematology/oncology fellowship next year. I’m glad that I chose to train somewhere with a hematology/oncology fellowship- I have been fortunate enough to be included in many research projects with the fellows and attendings here which will help boost my application.

Logan Sonier, MD - Hi! My name's Logan, and I'm a third year IM resident here at Ochsner. I'm originally from South Louisiana, and went to college at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux (Go Colonels!), where I graduated with a major in Biology and minors in Chemistry and the Humanities. I then went to LSU for medical school here in New Orleans. My husband and I were lucky enough to couples match at Ochsner (he's in Radiology). We chose Ochsner for both personal reasons - we love New Orleans and we're close to our families and friends - and for professional ones. Ochsner is a large, tertiary referral center, which allows you to see a huge variety of patients from the "bread and butter" primary care clinic visits, to the most complicated Critical Care cases in the Gulf South. We've gotten great training here at Ochsner, but there is life outside of residency. We've made amazing friends and New Orleans is such a fun place to live! Post-residency, I'm pursuing a career in Infectious Diseases.

Tewodros Alemu, MD - My name is Tewodros Alemu. I’m originally from Ethiopia. I grew up in Atlanta, GA. I completed my undergrad at the university of Georgia with bachelors in biology. I went to the university of Queensland for medical school and completed the last two years of clinical rotation at Ochsner. I chose Ochsner because I thought I’d receive better training having seen the diversity of patient population as a medical student. As a resident, I feel well supported by faculty and the program in general. I enjoy the autonomy we have in the hospital as residents and the diversity of pathology we see. It truly is one of the best decisions I’ve made.