Meet Our Residents
PGY-1 Class
Anjan Ghosh, MD
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Dr. Ghosh grew up in Chicago, IL (aka best city in the world) before going to Northwestern University where he majored in Neuroscience and minored in Music Composition. During his time at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, he earned his medical degree and founded the Antifragility Initiative Music Program (AMP), a hospital-based violence intervention program designed to provide music production education to youth who had previously been hospitalized for traumatic injuries. In his free time Anjan loves to go dancing at clubs/raves, going to concerts, and having lively philosophical debates with friends such as “Does orange work better as a color or as a fruit?”
Samantha Cronin, MD
Albany Medical College
Dr. Gowani was born and raised outside Chicago, IL. She attended the University of Michigan, where she studied Public Health. She then worked as a community doula serving pregnant teens in underserved areas of Chicago. She received her medical degree from Albany Medical College and worked closely with the New York State Department of Health on their Birth Equity Improvement Project. In her free time, she enjoys (free!) workout classes, picnicking in NYC parks, and snack shopping at Trader Joe's.
Jamie Harkey, MD
Albany Medical College
Dr. Harkey grew up in Naperville, Illinois and earned her bachelor's degree in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology from Washington University in St. Louis. She went on to earn her master's degree in physiology & biophysics from Georgetown University before attending medical school at Albany Medical College, where she earned an MD with Distinction in Bioethics. She is passionate about advocating for women and enjoys working in multidisciplinary teams to improve women's healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys cooking with her partner and playing with her dogs, Coco and Bailey.
Cherita Moore, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Moore is a first generation Caribbean American originally from Boston, MA. She has a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with a minor in Spanish Language from UMass Amherst. She holds an osteopathic degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Suwannee, Georgia where she served on the Osteopathic Committee of the Student National Medical Association. In her free time, she enjoys yoga, meditation, and occasionally participates in choreography and semi-professional dance performances.
Sara Tomerak, MD
Weill Cornell Medicine
Dr Tomerak was born in Cairo, Egypt and raised in the UK. She later moved to Qatar where she finished high school and completed a six-year MD program at Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar. During medical school, she enjoyed tutoring other medical students. After residency, she is hoping to complete an MFM fellowship and then take on an academic position. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, taking long walks, and trying out new coffee shops.
PGY-2 Class
Rohitha Baskar, MD
Medical College of Georgia
Dr. Baskar was born in India and raised in Atlanta, GA. She completed a seven-year BS/MD program at the Medical College of Georgia. During medical school, she served as the Curriculum Vice President of her class where she fought to bring important changes to grading policies, curriculum schedules, and much more. After completing residency, she hopes to move back to the South and take on an academic role in her hometown. In her free time, she likes to plan her next trip, eat at new restaurants, hang out with her friends, and watch a lot of crime docu-series.
Samantha Cronin, MD
Weill Cornell Medical College
Dr. Cronin grew up in West Orange, NJ and Brewster, NY before going to Vassar College and majoring in Anthropology. She received her medical degree at Weill Cornell Medical College where she was actively involved with the Weill Cornell Center for Human Rights. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, reading, trying new cuisines, and going to the theater with friends.
Mariem del Rio, MD
St. George’s University
Dr. Del Rio was born in Cuba and raised in Tampa, FL. She completed a BS in Biology and a Master of Public Health at the University of Florida. She worked as a clinical research coordinator before pursuing her medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine. She mentors and tutors medical students at First Step that are studying for their USMLE boards. During her free time, she enjoys traveling, exploring NYC hot spots, and spending time with friends, family, and her husky Max.
Dvora Kluwgant, MD
Medical School for International Health at Ben Gurion University
Dvora was born in Johannesburg, South Africa and grew up in Florida. She completed her undergrad at Stern College in NYC, after which she moved to Israel to attend medical school at the Medical School for International Health at Ben Gurion University. After medical school, she completed a Masters in Public at the University of Melbourne. She is excited to have returned to NYC to pursue her residency training at Brooklyn Methodist. Dvora hopes to specialize in Maternal Fetal Medicine after finishing residency.
Michael Kim, MD
Albany Medical College
Dr. Kim was born in Maryland, and grew up in South Korea and Los Angeles. He obtained his undergraduate degree at UCLA and his medical degree at Albany Medical College. He loves to both teach and learn new things, having also completed a year serving with AmeriCorps. His favorite season is winter, and can be found skiing the slopes throughout the world.
PGY-3 Class
Larysa Aheyeva, DO
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Aheyeva was born and grew up in Belarus. She obtained her medical degree from Vitebsk Medical University with Cum Laude Distinction. She completed an Ob-Gyn residency in Belarus before moving to the USA. Dr. Aheyeva received her medical degree in America at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. She loves spending time and travelling together with her family and friends. She enjoys outdoor activities, exploring the magic of the city and watching Christmas movies.
Mahmood Al-Orphaly, MD
Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar
Dr. Al-Orphaly is Iraqi, born in Iraq, raised in UAE, and went to Weill Cornell Medicine in Qatar. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, gaming, or watching movies and TV shows.
Liann Ammar, MD
St. George’s University
Alexandra Hamilton, MD
St. George’s University
Dr. Hamilton grew up in Kingston, Jamaica. She completed a BA in Neuroscience at Vassar College, a MS in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown University, and a MD at St. George’s School of Medicine. She serves as a mentor and tutor to many as an academic curator at First Step. In her free time she enjoys working out, reconnecting with friends over dinner and a glass of wine, and planning her next big vacation!
PGY-4 Class
Kiara Blough, DO
Rocky Vista University
Dr. Blough grew up outside of Boston, but has spent the last 10 years in Denver, CO where she obtained her medical degree from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Along with her clinical roles, she is a health policy nerd, a patient advocate, and is committed to combating disparities in our health care system. Outside of work, she enjoys coffee shops, breweries, and live music. In her off time, she escapes to the mountains to recharge by rock climbing, mountain biking, fly fishing, and snowboarding! She loves the energy and diversity of Brooklyn and is excited to start as an intern!
Erin Caraher, MD
New York Medical College
Dr. Caraher grew up in Massapequa, NY. She went to the University of Pittsburgh for undergrad and earned her medical degree from New York Medical College. In her free time you can find her at the beach, snowboarding, working out or spending time with her friends and family.
Katherine Ida “KI” Halper, MD
Ben Gurion University
Dr. Halper grew up just over the bridge in Manhattan. She went to undergrad at Wesleyan University and after graduating spent time abroad teaching in Thailand. She then made the leap overseas again to get her MD in Israel at Ben Gurion University. When she has time off she loves to watch movies, eat sushi, go to Broadway musicals, and bake banana bread.
Stanislas Monfront, MD
New York Medical College
Dr. Monfront was born into a French family and grew up in London, UK. He came to the states in 2009. He obtained his BA from Williams College and his medical degree from New York Medical College. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, playing board games, reading for his Sci-Fi book club, or biking around NYC. He’s usually seen with his cat Pamplemousse!