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Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Department of Pediatrics

Meet the Fellows

Current Fellows

Alisha Bouzaher, MD, MS

Alisha Bouzaher, MD, MS (2022-2025)

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Undergraduate: Tufts University (BA, Child Development), Boston, MA
  • Medical School: Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
  • Residency: Weill Cornell Medical School/New York-Presbyterian Hospital (Pediatrics), New York, NY
  • Research: Early Screening for Parental Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
Chris Mattson, MD, MHPE

Chris Mattson, MD, MHPE (2022-2025)

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Undergraduate: Indiana University (BA, Biochemistry & Spanish), Bloomington, IN
  • Medical School: The Pritzker School of Medicine at University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
  • Residency: University of Chicago/Comer Children’s Hospital (Pediatrics), Chicago, IL
  • Research: The Impact of Assessment Characteristics and Components on the Reliability of Assessment of Medical Students on Clinical Clerkships
Cara Pritchett, MD

Cara Pritchett, MD (2022-2025)

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Undergraduate: University of South Carolina (BS, Biological Sciences), Columbia, SC
  • Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine, Galveston, TX
  • Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
  • Research: Evaluation of the microcirculation and its relationship with organ dysfunction in children who undergo cardiopulmonary bypass
Leah Setar, MD

Leah Setar, MD (2022-2025)

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Undergraduate: University of California (BS, Cell & Developmental Biology), Santa Barbara, CA
  • Medical School: Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL
  • Residency: McGaw Medical Center Northwestern University, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL
  • Research: Epithelial Mechanisms of Defense, Damage and Repair in Viral Respiratory Disease
Jennifer Grage, MD

Jennifer Grage, MD (2023-2026) Jennifer Grage's NameDrop

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: UIC College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
  • Residency: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL
Read Bio

I am an Illinois lifer and am so excited to continue my training at Lurie Children's Hospital. My academic passions include improving care for children with medical complexities and improving resident education in caring for these children. I look forward to continuing my work with the Lurie Complex Care Team throughout fellowship. Outside of the hospital I enjoy doting on my 16-year-old cat, spending time with my family, and cooking vegetarian recipes with my husband

Leah Jorgensen-Kamin, DO

Leah Jorgensen-Kamin, DO (2023-2026) Leah Jorgensen-Kamin's NameDrop

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: Midwestern Univ. Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, Chicago, IL
  • Residency: University of Texas/Austin – Dell Medical School, Austin, TX
Read Bio

I am a former chief resident whose area of interest is medical education and dysregulation of the inflammasome. I'm married with a baby, two dogs and a cat. I have cooked my way through multiple cookbooks and love trying new things in the kitchen. Avid outdoors person.

Reshma Joshi, DO, MS

Reshma Joshi, DO, MS (2023-2026) Reshma Joshi's NameDrop

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, IA
  • Residency: Medical College of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
  • Research: Cerebral Autoregulation in Infants with Congenital Heart Disease undergoing Cardiopulmonary Bypass
Read Bio

Former chief resident whose research project was titled Building Resiliency Amongst PICU Care Providers. Comes to us having completed a residency in Child Neurology. Enjoy Chicago sports teams, yoga, travelling, and anything foodie related (except ketchup on hot dogs).

Natalia Philpott, MD

Natalia Philpott, MD (2023-2026) Natalia Philpott's NameDrop

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: University of Texas School of Medicine/San Antonio, San Antonio, TX
  • Residency: Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
Read Bio

Completed her residency in 2021, worked as a NICU hospitalist at Emory while her husband completed EIS fellowship at the CDC. Her academic interests lie in addressing health disparities in, and prior to arrival to, the intensive care unit. She enjoys international travel, spending time outdoors with her dogs, and cardio kickboxing.

Caitlin Thirnbeck, DO, MPH

Caitlin Thirnbeck, DO, MPH (2023-2026) Caitlin Thirnbeck's NameDrop

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Des Moines, IA
  • Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics Pediatrics Residency, Iowa City, IA
  • Research: Assessment of bag-mask-ventilation skill in pediatric residents
Read Bio

I am a former chief resident with an interest in staying in medical education. I have a wonderful 8-year-old dog, Kinnick. I enjoy reading, hanging out with friends, and enjoying the outdoors. 

Catherine Waymel, MD

Catherine Waymel, MD (2024-2027)

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
  • Residency: University of Chicago/Comer Children’s Hospital
Stephanie Granada, MD

Stephanie Granada, MD (2024-2027)

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons
  • Residency: Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Jason Alex Villeda, MD

Jason Alex Villeda, MD (2024-2027)

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
  • Residency: Children’s National Hospital, Washington DC
Alison Austermuehle, MD

Alison Austermuehle, MD (2024-2027)

  • Program: Critical Care
  • Medical School: University of Chicago, The Pritzker School of Medicine
  • Residency: McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern Univ/Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

 

 

Past Fellows

First Position After Graduation

Nicole Drawbridge, MD (2021-2024) Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care, Children’s Medical Center Dallas (Univ of TX Southwestern), Dallas, TX

Ryan Hurtado, MD, PhD (2021-2024) Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care, OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois, Peoria, IL

Aleks Olszewski, MD, MA (2021-2024) Attending Physician & Asst. Professor of Pediatrics, Pediatric Critical Care, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Mary Pilarz, MD  (2021-2024) Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Elizabeth Bleed, MD, MA (2020-2023): Attending Physician & Asst. Professor, Pediatric Critical Care – Children’s Hospital & Medical Center Omaha, Omaha, NE

Paula Magee, MD, MPH (2020-2023): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – Children's Hospital of Philadelphia , Philadelphia, PA

Vidya Mahavadi, MD (2020-2023): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – Valley Children’s Hospital, Fresno, CA 

Ann Prybylowski, MD (2020-2023):Attending Physician, Critical Care –  Levine Children’s Hospital, Charlotte, NC

Matt Rowland, MD (2020-2023): Attending Physician & Assistant Professor in Pediatric Anesthesiology & Pediatric Critical Care – Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago,  Chicago, IL

Jessica Christiano, MD (2019-2022): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – Connecticut Children's Medical Center, Hartford, CT

Rustin Meister, MD (2019-2022): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – Medical University of South Carolina/Shawn Jenkins Children’s Hospital, Charleston, SC

Sarah Walker, MD (2019-2022): Advanced Research Training Fellow, Pediatric Critical Care – Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Alicia Williams, MD (2019 - 2022): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – UT Southwestern/Children’s Medical Center of Dallas, Dallas, TX

Cara Cecil, MD (2018-2021): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Elitsa Nicolaou, MD (2018-2021): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI

Andrew Prigge, MD (2018-2021): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Lauren Rissman, MD (2018-2021): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care – Mattel Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles, CA

Colleen Badke, MD (2017-2020): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care, Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Amanda Becker, MD (2017-2020): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care, Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Zachary Daniels, MD (2017-2020): Fellow, Pediatric Neurocritical Care,  Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL

Jason Espinoza, MD (2017-2020): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care, Riley Hospital for Children/Indiana University Healthcare, Indianapolis, IN

Deborah Sung, MD (2017-2020): Attending Physician, Pediatric Critical Care, Valley Children’s Hospital, Fresno, CA

 

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