Resident Bios

 

PGY 4

Deanna Dawson, MD

Dr. Dawson was born in Honolulu, HI but grew up in Northern California. She received a Bachelor of Science in Health Sciences at the University of California, Santa Cruz. She received her MD from the University of California, San Francisco, and her Master’s in Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley. During medical school she participated in the Student National Medical Association, as well as numerous social justice and advocacy efforts through White Coats for Black Lives and the Do No Harm Coalition. She is passionate about social justice, reproductive justice and health equity, and hopes to use her platform and privilege as a physician to advocate for and uplift the most marginalized populations in our society.  She looks forward to eating her way through New Orleans.

Why LSU? The patient population, diversity, and the food!

Hobbies: Anything food related, politics, and spending time with family and friends.

 

Eleanor Germano, MD

Dr. Germano was born and raised in Kankakee, Illinois about 1 hour south of Chicago. Her parents are both in the performing arts so she grew up doing music, dance, and theater. She has always loved big cities living so close to Chicago so she moved to the city for undergrad at Loyola University Chicago. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in biology with minors in biostatistics and sociology. She then went on to attend medical school at the University of Iowa. During medical school, she worked as a philanthropy chair to support a local domestic violence shelter and spent over three months in Uganda working at a maternal hospital. While Dr. Germano loved her time in Iowa, she was ready to move back to a big city for residency and was interested in a program that worked with diverse and underserved patient populations – New Orleans fit that bill. She also loved that the residents and faculty were from all over the country with many different backgrounds. It has been a challenge moving so far away from her family but LSU Ob/Gyn has become her new family.

Why LSU? The city and the diverse patient population, residents, and faculty.

Hobbies: Cooking and baking, knitting, and playing with her beloved boxer dog Tulip; but whenever she gets the chance, she loves to travel and explore new places and cultures.

 

Allison Lazenby, MD

Dr. Lazenby grew up in Opelika, AL. She attended Auburn University, where she double majored in Biomedical Sciences and Spanish. She stuck around for an extra year to obtain a Masters degree in Biological Sciences, then moved to Birmingham where she attended UAB School of Medicine. During medical school, she worked as the clinic director at UAB’s student-run free healthcare clinic and completed a short-term research fellowship in Zambia where she studied lower-cost alternatives to neonatal incubators. She decided to pursue OB/GYN after rotating in Tuscaloosa, AL, during her third year of medical school, and is so excited to have matched at LSU for residency. Her professional interests include healthcare disparities, global health, and medical student education.

Why LSU? I fell in love with LSU on interview day for multiple reasons. The residents here are a unique and diverse group of people who are similarly passionate about the women they serve. They also love to spend time together outside of work, and do so a lot! (Like, A LOT.) The program directors at LSU genuinely care about each resident and their individual academic goals. Finally, New Orleans is an amazing place to live, with the best restaurants, festivals, live music and outdoor activities.

Hobbies: Tennis, hiking, baking

 

Sara Lever, MD

Dr. Sara Lever was born and raised in the Baltimore area. She attended the University of Rochester where she studied Public Health and Spanish. It was during her undergraduate studies where she began to meld her passions for the health sciences and Spanish language both locally and abroad. Following her undergraduate studies, she relocated back to the Mid-Atlantic where she worked in pediatric mood disorder research for two years before starting medical school at the University of Maryland. Prior to graduating medical school, Dr. Lever spent a year in Guatemala working for a non-profit that runs a prenatal care training program for traditional midwives in rural Mayan communities. It was here that she further deepened her interest in women’s health in resource-restricted settings while also learning how to navigate a health care system built on both Mayan and biomedically-based health beliefs. She hopes to continue to explore her interests in high risk obstetrics, as well as better understand and address the social, political, and economic barriers to care for women in Louisiana. She is so excited to learn more about New Orleans, and enjoy the beautiful art and music as well as delicious food that this vibrant city has to offer!

Why LSU? I was drawn to the program at LSU-NO as I felt it would provide the perfect balance of exposure to OB/GYN care in rural and urban settings. I was also inspired by the residents and faculty that I met at LSU and their dedication to providing access to high quality OB/GYN specialty and primary care for women in the New Orleans area.

Hobbies: knitting, yoga, dabbling in the ukulele, catching up with friends and family on the zoom

 

Alexandra Thomas, MD

Dr. Thomas was born and raised in San Diego, CA. She and her parents all moved out of Southern California when she left for college to attend Georgetown University, so she called four different cities home for the next ten years. When she moved to Washington, DC, her mother moved to the middle of nowhere, Idaho, and her father moved to Oakland, California. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Science. She went on to receive her Master’s Degree in Physiology and Biophysics at Georgetown and then worked as a medical assistant at an OB/GYN practice before attending medical school at Georgetown. Throughout her time in Washington, DC, she had the opportunity to learn about health advocacy through a unique lens and looks forward to further developing her interest in this field during residency. Three degrees later, she moved to New Orleans and is incredibly excited to continue her training in OB/GYN at LSU. Outside of medicine, she enjoys running (in this heat, let’s be honest…it’s more of a fast-paced walk), cross-stitching, and listening to live music.

Why LSU? I chose LSU because I wanted to train in a setting that promotes health advocacy and that increases access to care among medically underserved communities. I wanted to learn as much, if not more, from the patients that I serve as I do from the textbooks that I read. I wanted to accomplish these goals alongside the wonderful and incredibly supportive family at LSU.

Hobbies: running, cross-stitching, and listening to live music

 

PGY 3

Rachel Denneny, MD

Dr. Denneny was born in La Jolla, California but spent most of her life growing up outside of DC in Fairfax, Virginia. She attended undergrad at the College of William and Mary in the quaint colonial town of Williamsburg, VA, where she earned a B.S. in Kinesiology, and minored in Anthropology. She attended medical school at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where she discovered that she was drawn to all things Ob/Gyn and knew that it was the perfect fit. She's looking forward to integrating her interests in patient advocacy and medical education throughout her time here at LSU, in addition to exploring the vibrant city of New Orleans that she now calls home.

Why LSU? I knew that I wanted to be in a big city and work with a diverse patient population with medically complex needs. Even though I interviewed over Zoom, I could tell that the residents were all really supportive of one another, and I also appreciated the strong sense of mentorship between the faculty and residents. I was also sold on the idea of moving to and exploring a new city, and it has not dissapointed me!

Hobbies: Running, reading, hiking, baking, listening to podcasts

 

Jonte Ellison, MD

Dr. Ellison is a native New Orleanian, born and raised in the New Orleans East area. She received a bachelor's degree in biological engineering from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA. After graduating she worked for two years as a researcher for the United States Department of Agriculture in the food and feed safety unit studying aflatoxins. She then attended LSU School of Medicine in New Orleans where she quickly recognized her passion for women’s health and social justice. She served as co-creator and co leader of the Critical Consciousness in Medicine Workshop series which aims to instill cultural openness and humility in future physicians. During her 3rd year clerkship in OBGYN here at LSU (and 7 months pregnant herself) she fell in love with the unique patients and the supportive environment of the LSU OBGYN program. She is excited to remain at LSU NOLA in her hometown for residency and is interested in becoming a generalist.

Why LSU?  Unique diverse patient population as well as faculty. Great city!

Hobbies: local festivals, trying new restaurants, spending time with family

 

Saskya Etienne, MD

Dr. Etienne was born in New York at Lenox Hill Hospital where Beyoncé had Blue Ivy so Beyoncé is her auntie. She lived in Haiti until she was 12 years old and moved to Miami in 2008. She went to Florida International University (FIU) and graduated with a Bachelor’s in Arts in Chemistry and minors in Biology and Psychology. Before starting her medical education she worked at Apple and started her new passion in Boxing. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine at FIU. She enjoys both the surgical aspect and the continuity of care with patients in ObGyn. She is ready to embark on her journey in ObGyn at LSU and would like to explore the idea of a more surgical fellowship. She loves boxing and is now a cat mom of 2 and misses her beautiful brindle pup back in Miami. 

Why LSU? Because of the patient variety and the opportunity for creativity in a low resource environment. 

Hobbies: boxing, yoga, any kind of movement, outdoor activities, cooking, hanging out with her friends. “

 

Cameron Holmes, MD

Dr. Holmes was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Texas A&M University. After graduating, he worked as a worship leader in Houston before returning to San Antonio for medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSCA). During this time, Dr. Holmes was in charge of managing the six student-run free clinics at UTHSCSA, serving refugees, homeless families, the LGBTQ population, and women recovering from substance abuse. Over the last twelve years, Dr. Holmes has actively pursued his passion for global health by serving the underserved populations of Costa Rica, Guatemala, Ghana, Senegal, and Ethiopia.

Why LSU: 

DIVERSITY: The program is made up of residents from all over the country and from all walks of life.

RICH CULTURE/TRADITION: New Orleans has so much character and history everywhere you look.

PEOPLE: New Orleans brings Southern hospitality to a whole new level! The people of New Orleans are so incredibly strong, loyal, and they know how to have a good time.

Hobbies: Singing, playing piano, snow skiing, traveling with my wife, and photography.

 

Keiko Leong, MD

Keiko was raised between Honolulu, HI and Seattle, WA. She grew up a ballet dancer and playing classical piano. She attended an immersion Spanish school and was first exposed to health disparities while attending school in Mexico during her elementary school years. She moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University for undergrad, where she majored in Neuroscience, public health and dance. Four years in New Orleans wasn't enough, so she decided to stay four more to earn her MD and MPH at LSU (and then four more for residency)! During medical school, Keiko found herself particularly interested in research, education and interventions surrounding HIV and STIs. After her third year rotation in OBGYN, there was no question that this was the field for her. It combined her extracurricular interests, her passion for public health and her love of the operating room. As a COVID fourth year, Keiko became very familiar with the LSU New Orleans program and saw the program had everything she was looking for: excellently-trained residents that were like family, a committment to the patient population of New Orleans, a diverse faculty and resident base, and program directors that were devoted to constantly evaluating and improving the program for residents and patients alike. She is so excited to be a part of such a special program in the best city in the world.

Why LSU? The people! The residents, faculty, and patients make this place so special.

Hobbies: Dance, going to see live music, trying new restaurants, NOLA festivals, watching bad TV and eating snacks/drinking wine.

 

Sylvia Lobo, MD

Dr. Lobo was born and raised in Chicago, IL. She majored in Biological Sciences with a Specialization in Endocrinology and in Psychology at the University of Chicago. She received her Doctor of Medicine from Boston University. Dr. Lobo loves OB/GYN for its variety, and her professional interests include global health and family planning.

Why LSU? Diversity in the patient population as well as the faculty and residents of the program, and really great energy from the residents on my interview day!

Hobbies: Spending time outdoors, biking, reading, hanging out with my co-residents and newly adopted cat Maisy

 

PGY 2

Julia Hernandez, MD

Dr. Hernandez was born and raised in Tacoma, WA. She received her Bachelor of Science in Cellular and Molecular Biology 

& Bachelor of Arts in History from Tulane University in 2014. She then continued at Tulane University and earned her Master of Science in Pharmacology in 2015. From there, Dr. Hernandez moved to Washington, DC to attend Georgetown University where she participated in the Georgetown Experimental Medical Studies (GEMS) program prior to earning her MD from Georgetown University School of Medicine in 2022. While in medical school, Dr. Hernandez had the opportunity to learn more about health advocacy and social justice. Through this exposure, she realized her passions lie in providing healthcare to marginalized communities, health equity, reproductive justice and maternal morbidity and mortality. She is excited to continue expanding on these passions as an OB/GYN at LSU!

Why LSU? I chose LSU because I wanted to be in a place with a diverse patient population AND with a diverse group of residents/faculty. LSU checked both of those boxes instantly. Plus, having lived in New Orleans prior to medical school, it almost felt like coming home!

Hobbies: Peloton, listening to music/podcasts, riding my bike around NOLA, grabbing drinks/food with friends

 

Chaya Karunasiri, MD

Dr. Karunasiri was born in Albany, New York and raised in Sri Lanka until she was 11 years old. She then moved to Maine with her family in 2006. She attended the University of Maine where she majored in Biology, then moved to Boston to attend Tufts University School of Medicine. She decided to pursue OBGYN after her 3rd year rotation in Damariscotta, Maine after she was inspired by her preceptor and the amazing midwives she got to learn from. After having spent her adult life in New England, she was craving the heat and sunshine and was very excited to match at LSU NOLA for residency. Her professional interests includes medical student education & serving underserved communities. 

Why LSU: Everyone I met on interview day (on zoom)! I was also drawn to the location- I love the tropical weather and I can't wait to explore the amazing cuisine. 

Hobbies: Kayaking, foraging for mushrooms, listening to podcasts, drinking spicy margaritas. 

 

Juan Naranjo, MD

Dr. Naranjo was born and raised in Miami, Florida. He received his Bachelor of Science in Exercise Physiology at Florida State University. He then went on to study medicine at Ponce Health Sciences University in Ponce, Puerto Rico, where he discovered his passion for surgery and women’​s health. Dr. Naranjo is especially interested in reproductive endocrinology and infertility, as well as minimally invasive surgery. Outside of medicine, he loves music and spends much of his free time playing the drums, DJing, discovering new artists, and going to live performances. Dr. Naranjo is thrilled to be training in a city with such a rich culture and looks forward to serving the women of New Orleans.

Why LSU? The supportive training environment and high acuity, diverse patient population.

Hobbies: Playing the drums, DJing, working out, and exploring new places and trying different foods.

 

Aleah Singleton, MD

Dr. Singleton was born in Fayetteville, NC but during her adolescence, moved all over the southeast with her family. She finally decided to put down roots in South Carolina. She attended the University of South Carolina where she majored in Biology with a minor in Spanish. During undergrad, she volunteered as a sexual health special interest group leader and fell in love with reproductive health and preventative medicine.  Dr. Singleton obtained her medical degree from the Medical University of South Carolina in beautiful Charleston, SC. There she continued to develop a passion for women's health. 

Why LSU:  New Orleans has a very unique and diverse patient population with rare pathology.  Along with the diverse population, the residents and faculty also reflect the cultural diversity of the city. It was very important to me to train with a program that is actively increasing diversity, working within their community, and one that presents its residents with a myriad of opportunities to learn. 

My hobbies:  I love dancing, crocheting, traveling, and exploring different brunch spots around town 

 

Chloe Smith, MD

Dr. Smith grew up in Southeast Texas, with the exception of three years spent in Kuantan, Malaysia. These years led to a lifelong love of travel and learning about other cultures. She completed a biology degree at the University of Alabama (roll tide!), and then moved to New Orleans on a whim. She worked in the service industry, as an EMT, and for a local nonprofit before attending medical school at LSU New Orleans. Always with a strong interest in women's health, she worked with Medical Students for Choice and found herself drawn to the wonderful field of OBGYN. She plans to be a generalist, enjoying the full diversity of women's health while maintaining a strong interest in family planning.  

Why LSU? After working as an EMT, the patient population of New Orleans holds a special place in my heart. On top of that, LSU is a Ryan program and supports the opportunity to receive abortion education. Finally, the residents here are warm and make learning fun - exactly who I want to work with.

Hobbies: Dancing with the NOLA Chorus Girls, spending time in the sun, Dolly Parton fangirl-ing, home decor, and snuggling her two cats, Ham and Estelle. 

 

Viktoria Taskov, DO

Dr. Taskov was born in Bulgaria, but moved to Fort Worth, Texas in her early childhood and stayed there until residency. She attended college at Texas Christian University and medical school at UNTHSC Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Throughout her first 2 years of medical school she was heavily involved in Medical Students for Choice (MSFC) where she served as the chapter president. This furthered her interest in patient advocacy and reproductive justice. She went on to serve for MSFC at a national level as the experienced student leader for the state of Texas. Advocacy remains an interest of hers and she hopes to be able to incorporate it throughout her time in residency as well. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her partner, Michael and their dog, Zeke. She could not be more elated to be a part of the LSU family!

Why LSU? The city, diverse patient population we get to serve, and the people within the program. Everyone here is so warm and welcoming and always willing to help and make sure that you learn! The food scene in New Orleans also doesn’t hurt!

Hobbies: Weightlifting, painting, thrifting, baking, and watching Love Island UK.

 

PGY 1

Maya Bragg, MD

Dr. Bragg was born and raised in Peoria, Illinois. Before graduating high school, she always knew she wanted a taste of Southern hospitality. Her dreams came to fruition, and she was able to attend Xavier University of Louisiana for undergrad. From there, she graduated magna cum laude with a major in Biology and minors in Chemistry and Spanish. While at Xavier, she worked as a medical scribe in the ED at Oschner, which solidified her passion for medicine. Her love for OB/GYN developed as a third-year medical student at Meharry Medical College. She is excited to return to NOLA to care for one of the most vulnerable patient populations in the United States. And also, WHO DAT! 

Why LSU? I was drawn to the welcoming environment that the residents provided at my first social with program. I remember telling myself, "Yep, I think I found my people." I genuinely feel at home here! And add New Orleans food, culture, and diversity on top of that! 

Hobbies: trying new restaurants, relaxing on a swing in City Park, cooking, and re-watching reality TV shows. 

Kayla Eboreime, MD

Dr.Eboreime was raised in Round Rock, TX. She went to The University of Texas at Austin, where she majored in Public Health and minored in African Diaspora Studies. She went on to Medical School at the University of Texas Medical Branch. As a medical student, she further cultivated her passion for round table dialogue and advocacy. She founded and curated the Unveiled Panel&Dialogue series, her favorite installations being ‘The State of Black Maternal Health’ and ‘Cliteracy’. Dr. Eboreime has always been passionate about serving women and will continue to expand her capacity to advocate and empower women as an OBGYN.  

Why LSU: The flavor, culture and passion of the city is like no other. The patient population is diverse! The program is advocacy centered, warm and dedicated to learning.   

Hobbies: Live music, Brunch, dance workout classes, long walks, and spending time with loved ones 

Brittany Ikwuagwu, MD

Dr. Ikwuagwu was born and raised in Houston, TX. She received her Bachelor’s of Science and Art in Biochemistry at the University of Texas at Austin in 2018. She then continued at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center Houston. While there, Dr. Ikwuagwu discovered her passion for public health and health policy and pursued a dual degree with the UTHealth’s School of Public Health. After her third year of medical school, Dr. Ikwuagwu took a year off to pursue the Government Relations Advocacy Fellowship with the American Medical Association. In this position, Dr. Ikwuagwu moved to Washington DC to work in the advocacy business unit, and was able to talk to medical students across the country about the power of advocacy. In this position, she was also able to meet with legislators on maternal health policy and become more involved with organized medicine on a national level. She is excited to take care of the people of New Orleans!  

Why LSU? The community and inclusive feeling. I wanted to be at a program that felt like family and served a diverse population.  

Hobbies: Traveling (I’m on an adventure to visit 30 countries and I’ve been to 20 so far), yoga, skincare, and reading romantic novels. 

Kristin Malone, MD

Dr. Malone was born and raised in Memphis, TN. She attended undergrad at the University of Tennessee at Martin where she majored in Biology. She then returned to her hometown to attend the University of Memphis where she received her Master of Public Health. As a graduate student, she spent much of her time working with community partners to improve the health of marginalized people in her community. Following graduate school, she spent 2 years as a high school Biology and Chemistry teacher at her alma mater. She later matriculated into medical school at Meharry Medical College in Nashville, TN. During medical school, she was heavily involved with Meharry’s Henry W. Foster Ob/Gyn interest group, serving on the executive board for 2 years. She also served as an officer of Meharry’s student government association and spearheaded movements to help improve students’ educational experiences. Through her diverse experiences in public health and education, she has maintained her passion for serving the underserved and women’s health. 

Why LSU? The diversity in not only the patient population but also the faculty and residents of the program. The rich culture and history of New Orleans make this place like no other. 

Tina Nguyen, MD

Dr. Nguyen (she/her) is a New Orleans native. She graduated from Tulane University with a B.A. in Gender and Sexuality Studies in 2018. She then went on to get her Doctor of Medicine at Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans. She has known that she wanted to be an OBGYN since college and is passionate about providing comprehensive and compassionate reproductive healthcare and addressing health inequities faced by the unique patient population in New Orleans. During medical school, she was involved in the leadership of several student organizations including the Women’s Health Research Consortium and Students Advocating for Equity in Medicine and participated in programs that taught sexual education to high school students. In her free time, she loves to try new restaurants in New Orleans and revisiting old favorites. She enjoys cooking and baking for her family and friends and hosting dinners where she can bring people together.  

Why LSU? New Orleans is and will always be my home. It is a privilege to be able to learn how to be a great doctor by taking care of my community. 

Hobbies: Cooking, trying new restaurants, traveling, dinner parties 

Meghana Reddy, MD

Dr. Reddy was born in Queens, NY and spent the rest of her childhood growing up in Long Island, NY. She received a BA in Health & Societies (Public Health) at the University of Pennsylvania. After college, she worked at a healthcare market research firm in NYC where she learned all about a different side of healthcare. She wanted to be closer to her family, who at the time had moved from NY to Dallas, and attended UT Southwestern for her MD. Throughout med school, she deepened her interests in women's health research and working with underserved communities. She is so excited to train to be a compassionate & socially conscious OB/GYN at an incredible program! 

Why LSU? The diversity in both the patient population, faculty and residents! This is a very supportive training environment where we get exposure to all types of patients and pathology. I'm also excited to be closer to family that lives here and explore New Orleans! 

My hobbies: HIIT Classes, biking, trying new restaurants and happy hours, traveling, embroidering (attempting to)