2029 Residents
Joanna Atai-Calel, MD
Medical School: UTHealth Houston – McGovern Medical School
Undergrad: Rice University
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Writing, vegetable gardening, cooking Nigerian food, exploring different cuisines, and spending time with my family and our many pets
Why McGovern: While attending McGovern Medical School, I soon realized that I wanted to remain here for training. The opportunities to learn hands-on and through mentorship are unparalleled–and so is the McGovern community. I knew that if I trained here, I would be set up to have a successful career in emergency medicine. I also have family here, so that’s always a plus!
Interests Within EM: Social EM, Advocacy, Disaster Medicine
Fun Fact: My husband and I are really into fragrances. We enjoy exploring niche as well as local and city-specific perfumes and colognes. But of course, I don’t wear any while on shift!
Vivianne Benbrook, MD, MS
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Undergrad: University of Colorado – Boulder
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Activities/Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, trying new restaurants and coffee shops
Why McGovern: I chose UTHealth Houston because I was looking for a program where I would be exposed to a high volume of complex patients. Additionally, during the interview process I was struck by how welcoming the residents and faculty were. They were honest about the challenges of residency but also showed how much they supported one another. That sense of community really stood out to me.
Interests Within EM: Global health, Addiction Medicine
Fun Fact: Even though I’m not a great singer by any means, one of my favorite ways to spend an evening is at a piano bar. I may not always hit the right notes, but I’ll always have a good time!
Cierra Bennett, MD
Medical School: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Undergrad: Missouri Southern State University
Hometown: Wyandotte, OK
Activities/Hobbies: Playing with my dogs, anything outside, running, exploring Houston, Netflix binges
Why McGovern: UT Health Houston was one of my first interviews and remained at the top of my list throughout the interview season. This program had everything I could want and more, training at the biggest medical center in the world, supportive faculty and co residents, and endless fellowship opportunities. During the second look everyone was approachable and seemed happy to be there, plus seeing the giraffes from the helipad was pretty cool.
Interests Within EM: Critical Care
Fun Fact: I built an agility course for my dogs!
Pooja Bollampally, DO, MPH
Medical School: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergrad: Trinity University
Hometown: Houston, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Baking, Cooking, Spoiling my dogs, Watching my plants grow, Trying new foods
Why McGovern: I chose UTHealth Houston/McGovern because of the incredible variety and acuity of the clinical training. Working at both Memorial Hermann and LBJ offers the opportunity to care for patients across very different settings, from a high-acuity tertiary referral center to a community hospital serving some of Houston’s most vulnerable populations. That really speaks to my public health heart, a passion fostered during my time working in population health here in Houston before medical school. During my visiting rotation, I was also drawn to how supportive the people are, the collaborative learning environment, and the program’s strong culture of teaching.
Interests Within EM: EMS, Social EM, Trauma, Ultrasound
Fun Fact: My front two teeth are mostly fake! I lost a battle with a concrete wall when I was a kid.
Matthew Carey, MD
Medical School: UT Southwestern Medical School
Undergrad: Rice University
Hometown: Little Rock, AR
Activities/Hobbies: Piano, music, movies, running, spending time with my wife and our dog Dobby
Why McGovern: Training here offers a genuinely unique combination of patient diversity, volume, and acuity. Between the second-to-none trauma and complex patient exposure at Memorial Hermann, the opportunity to care for underserved and vulnerable patient populations at LBJ, and the clinical educators operating on the cutting edge of emergency medicine, I knew that this was the perfect place to continue my medical education. Houston has also become a home to myself, my wife, and my family, and I cannot wait to see how the city continues to evolve over the next few years as I grow as a physician.
Interests Within EM: Aerospace Medicine, Ultrasound, Med Ed
Fun Fact: I was the music director for acapella groups both in college, where we got to compete like in Pitch Perfect, and in medical school, where we sang the national anthem at an NBA game!
Arianna Fallahian, MD
Medical School: University of Kansas – School of Medicine
Undergrad: University of Kansas
Hometown: Overland Park, Kansas
Activities/Hobbies: Traveling, cooking/baking, running, yoga, playing soccer and tennis, reading, being outdoors, going to concerts, gardening
Why McGovern: I was fortunate enough to complete an away rotation at McGovern and was so impressed by the level of training that residents received in this program. Everybody I interacted with was incredibly skilled, friendly, and eager to teach, which made my rotation such a transformative experience. During my rotation, I also had the opportunity to perform so many procedures in just 4 weeks, which I absolutely loved. I knew I wanted to train at a place with high acuity and volume that would challenge me during residency but set me up for success in my future career, and McGovern offers the perfect environment for that.
Interests Within EM: Global Health, Medical Ed, Event Medicine, Pain Management
Fun Fact: I worked as a substitute teacher during my fourth year of medical school and taught students from kindergarten all the way to 12th grade!
Zoie Fan, MD
Medical School: UTSA – Long School of Medicine
Undergrad: UT – Austin
Hometown: Plano, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Exploring new restaurants/cafes, trying different matcha drinks, supporting local pop-ups
Why McGovern: When I came for my second look, I was impressed by the clinical training site as well as the many opportunities to explore subsects of EM, such as EMS, medical education, and more. I knew I wanted to train at a large academic center as well as to serve the county population, so I thought McGovern would provide the perfect blend between the two. I look forward to being able to train at one of the busiest medical centers in the world!
Interests Within EM: Med Ed, Critical Care, Event Medicine, Social EM
Fun Fact: I was an event medicine EMT and got to work some very cool events, including Austin City Limits, Formula 1, MotoGP, and more! My favorite experience was being behind the barricades during Sabrina Carpenter’s ACL performance, though my hearing has paid the price for it.
Michael Hernandez, DO, MS
Medical School: Sam Houston State University – College of Osteopathic University
Undergrad: Trinity University
Hometown: East Bernard, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Weightlifting, video games, NFL (Bear Down!), NBA, adventuring with my wife, napping with my dogs
Why McGovern: I chose UTHealth Houston/McGovern to train at the global titan in medicine that is the Texas Medical Center, and because of how amazing the experience was during my audition rotation. During my audition, I got to care for an incredibly diverse patient population, and work alongside talented physicians whose enthusiasm for the field matched my own. I knew that here I could reach my potential as a physician.
Interests Within EM: Sports Medicine (Rockets, what’s up?), Ultrasound
Fun Fact: I was a ‘Husky’ child model when I was younger, doing some commercials and catalogs for companies like WM and Academy Sports + Outdoors. I got into the business after winning ‘Most Photogenic’ at a western-themed child’s beauty pageant.
Morenike Isola, MD
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Undergrad: University of Georgia
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Activities/Hobbies: Traveling, baking, reading, movies
Why McGovern: I knew I wanted to return to Houston for residency because I love the community, the diversity, and the opportunities the city offers. During my audition rotation at McGovern, I was drawn to the program’s strong educational culture and the way residents were trained to confidently manage high-acuity patients. I had grown tremendously by the end of my rotation and was even more excited about a career in emergency medicine. That experience made me realize that if I could grow that much in four weeks, McGovern was the place where I wanted to spend the next three years.
Interests Within EM: Social EM, Ultrasound
Fun Fact: I love to travel! I’ve been fortunate to visit more than 20 countries and over 20 U.S. states…and counting!
Bradley Kent, MD
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – School of Medicine
Undergrad: Texas Tech University
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Hiking, mountaineering, spelunking, exploring restaurants, cooking, attending concerts, hanging out with my cats, fishing, hunting, visiting zoos
Why McGovern: McGovern was my top choice because it offers the opportunity to train at a high-volume Level I trauma center caring for an incredibly diverse and medically complex patient population. I was drawn to the breadth of pathology, volume, and acuity because I knew this setting would push me to become a confident, adaptable, and compassionate emergency physician. During my second look, I was struck by how approachable the faculty were and how intentionally they cultivated a culture where residents are supported, encouraged, and empowered to excel. Beyond the hospital, Houston immediately felt like a place where I could build a life, with its incredible food scene, vibrant arts community, Houston Symphony, and endless opportunities to explore new interests. I could envision myself joining a program and city that value continuous improvement, where I can contribute meaningfully to the patients and community I serve while continuing to grow as a physician and person.
Interests Within EM: Critical care, Wilderness medicine
Fun Fact: I lived on an ostrich farm for two years during medical school.
Emma Lakey, MD
Medical School: Tillman J. Fertitta Family College of Medicine
Undergrad: Texas Tech University
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Activities/Hobbies: Hanging out with my dog, trying new foods or restaurants, watching Vampire Diaries/Twilight
Why McGovern: The second look! Loving who you work with and vibing with the culture of the program makes driving in Houston traffic more bearable. The patient population of the city coupled with the supportive faculty leaves every graduate well equipped with the skills they need to be a top EM physician.
Interests Within EM: Women’s Health, Wilderness Medicine
Fun Fact: I read Twilight in elementary school (Team Edward) and have been obsessed with vampires ever since.
Erin Madden, DO, MPH
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center
Undergrad: Texas A&M University
Hometown: Coppell, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Spending time with my dog, pottery, hiking, catching up with friends, rewatching sitcoms on repeat, and adding stamps to my passport
Why McGovern: During the residency application process, it was clear that UTH Houston had a robust, well-rounded EM training program across a variety of settings. I knew I wanted to be challenged with a high volume and high acuity, and being at the Texas Medical Center provides the setting for unparalleled training. Finally, as a born-and-raised Texan, getting to train here is a great bonus!
Interests Within EM: Ultrasound, Social EM | Public Health, Global Health, Wilderness Medicine
Fun Fact: I spent about 5 weeks hiking about 500 miles across France and Spain on the Camino de Santiago!
Hanna Mavric, DO
Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergrad: University of Iowa
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Activities/Hobbies: Food, TV Shows, Cooking, Anything that involves a good time with family or friends
Why McGovern: After finishing my away rotation at UTHealth Houston I felt like I found my future home. I was constantly supported and uplifted by surrounding faculty and residents. I valued the different skills that each member brought to the team! The acuity here is one I couldn’t even compare to other hospitals and I knew this was the program that was going to make me the best physician I could be!
Interests Within EM: Social EM, Street Medicine, Critical Care
Fun Fact: I am a black belt in Taekwondo! I am fluent in Bosnian!
Jacob Menchaca, DO, MPH
Medical School: University of North Texas Health Science Center
Undergrad: Texas A&M University
Hometown: Odessa, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Video gaming, Board games, Pickleball, Rock climbing, Trying out new coffee shops
Why McGovern: After interview day and my second look, I knew UTHealth Houston is where I wanted to continue my training. Everyone was incredibly welcoming, and the relationships between the residents and faculty made it easy to picture myself here. Getting to train in the Texas Medical Center, see high-acuity pathology, and care for a diverse and underserved community checked every box for me. Plus, I would finally have the chance to check out the food everyone raves about in Houston.
Interests Within EM: EMS, Tactical Medicine, Sports Medicine, Social EM, Street Medicine
Fun Fact: I have been bitten by a prairie dog twice. It was the same prairie dog both times; I don’t think he liked me.
Hannah Reckmeyer, MD, MEng
Medical School: Texas A&M – School of Engineering Medicine (EnMed)
Undergrad: Texas A&M University
Hometown: Trophy Club, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Hiking, playing soccer, trying new sports, being involved in my church community, dreaming about getting a dog, and spending time with my soon-to-be husband.
Why McGovern: Residency is a short but formative chapter, and I wanted to spend it at a program that would make every day count. McGovern offers outstanding clinical training and fosters a culture where the faculty are truly invested in each resident’s growth and success. As a born-and-raised Texan, it’s especially meaningful to continue caring for the Houston community.
Interests Within EM: Med Ed, Wilderness Medicine, Innovation
Fun Fact: One of my favorite adventures was summiting Mount Kilimanjaro with my family!
Haydn Rich, MD
Medical School: UTHealth Houston – McGovern Medical School
Undergrad: UT – Austin
Hometown:
Activities/Hobbies:
Why McGovern:
Interests Within EM:
Fun Fact:
Jonathan “Jay” Sauer, MD
Medical School: UTHealth Houston – McGovern Medical School
Undergrad: Georgia Institute of Tech | Purdue University
Hometown: Dearborn, MI
Activities/Hobbies: Working on my car, woodworking, and chess.
Why McGovern: As a medical student at McGovern, I saw the quality of resident that this program produced and knew I wanted to be one of them. The volume and acuity is second to none.
Interests Within EM: Community and international EM
Fun Fact: I spent 4 months backpacking through South America before medical school and would love to take another lap.
Christopher Story, MD, MS
Medical School: Texas A&M University – School of Medicine
Undergrad: Texas A&M University
Hometown: Deer Park, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Back country camping, Fly-fishing, Skiing in the Winter, Pickleballing, Lifting weights and Running, Spending time with friends and family, Playing with my dog Sampson, and relaxing by bingeing good movies/tv.
Why McGovern: I chose UT Houston because Houston is where I fell in love with medicine. I grew up taking my family down into the medical center to receive world class care and was influenced at a young age as to just how meaningful a life this profession could offer. UT Houston was specifically inspiring for me due to its rich history as a pioneer in Emergency medical care and Life Flight’s intimate impact on the Greater Houston area. I believe being only 1 of 2 Level 1 Trauma Centers for all of Houston helps this program stand out as a place to receive unparalleled exposure to all of the experiences you would ever need to become a competent and confident Emergency Medicine Physician.
Interests Within EM: Sports Medicine, Ultrasound, Critical Care
Fun Fact: I once slept all night in a field next to American Bison in Yellowstone National Park – worst sleep of my life!
Morgan Watkins-Jones, MD, MS
Medical School: Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergrad: Mississippi St. University
Hometown: Hoover, AL
Activities/Hobbies: Puzzles, home decorating, reading, watching makeup tutorials, walking my dogs
Why McGovern: I was already familiar with Houston because I lived here during graduate school and knew it was somewhere I could see myself living long-term. However, once I started my away rotation at McGovern, I knew UTHealth Houston was somewhere I wanted to train. The autonomy I was given as a medical student to take ownership of my patients coupled with the support from residents and attending physicians gave me the space and confidence to grow. Additionally, I knew the acuity and volume I would be exposed to while training at UTHealth Houston would give me the competencies I need to reach my full potential within the field of Emergency Medicine.
Interests Within EM: Global health, EMS, Ultrasound
Fun Fact: I am learning Greek ahead of taking my dream vacation to Greece.
Joselyn Yang, MD
Medical School: UTHealth Houston – McGovern Medical School
Undergrad: Vanderbilt University
Hometown: Sugar Land, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Spending all my free time w my dog, Hanging out w family and friends, Reading, Watching trashy TV.
Why McGovern: I grew up in the Houston area and came back for med school at McGovern. As soon as I came home, I knew that I never wanted to leave again! Aside from being close to family and friends, I absolutely fell in love with the ED here as a third year med student. The attendings and the residents here taught me everything I know about EM, and I knew without a doubt that there was nowhere I would rather train. The acuity, variety, and volume at this program is unmatched, but most importantly, I loved the culture. Everyone was always supportive and enthusiastic, constantly encouraging me to improve and learn.
Interests Within EM: Ultrasound, Palliative
Fun Fact: My friends and I started competitive speed puzzling during med school. Our team is split up now because of residency, but hopefully we’ll be able to compete together again soon! (Our team name is Rest in Pieces)
Edmundo Zorrilla, DO
Medical School: Sam Houston State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergrad: Lamar University
Hometown: Beaumont, TX
Activities/Hobbies: Spending time with family, weightlifting, functional training, trying out new foods.
Why McGovern: When I interviewed for this program I was really impressed with the diverse populations that are cared for here, it met the expectations that I was looking for in choosing a program to train. When I visited the campus during the Second Look event I knew immediately that this was a place where I could grow and belong.
Interests Within EM: EMS, Ultrasound
Fun Fact: I worked at a roller rink during my teenage years so I am a pretty good roller skater.