Resident Bios

 

PGY 4

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

 

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

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

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. 

 

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 2

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 

 

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)

 

PGY 1

Sean Backer-Meurke, DO

Dr. Backer grew up in Gothenburg, Sweden, and came to the US as a collegiate student athlete in football back in 2016. After obtaining his undergraduate degree, he pursued his medical degree at Nova Southeastern University in South Florida. He always resonated with care for immigrant and underserved populations and found a passion for women’s health through his rotations and family history. As a result, he started a cervical cancer and HPV education initiative in South Florida that he hopes to continue to grow in the future.  

Why LSU? In my choice of program, I was determined to go somewhere with a clear mission of making a difference in underserved communities and where I could get high volume and good surgical training. LSU checked all my boxes, and I could not be happier about living in New Orleans. 

Hobbies: Football, track and field, Muay Thai, and learning new languages and cultures 

Anelise Diener, DO

Dr. Diener was born and raised in San Antonio, TX. She is a proud Longhorn and received her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin. While in college, she was a member of the women’s swim team. She stayed in Austin for an extra year after graduation to train for the US Olympic Swimming Trials. With the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, she hung up her cap and goggles and moved to Fort Worth to start medical school. At UNTHSC Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine, she developed a passion for underserved populations and reproductive justice. Her research efforts focused on contraception access for women experiencing homelessness. She has advocated for women’s healthcare and reproductive autonomy from the local level to Capitol Hill. She is looking forward to combining her passion for underserved populations, reproductive autonomy, and patient advocacy to serve the women of New Orleans and Louisiana.  

Why LSU: The combination of an underserved, high risk patient population, a fun group of residents, supportive faculty, and delicious food in a historic city! 

Hobbies: Collecting a home library, cooking ethnic foods, spending time outside around water, and sharing experiences with her partner, Geoff and dog, Ellie Mae 

 

Estefania Guthrie Beckstrom, MD

Dr. Guthrie is from Houston, TX. She attended the University of Notre Dame for undergrad where she was a cheerleader and a barista for four years. She went back home to Houston for medical school at McGovern where she trained with a predominantly Spanish-speaking patient population. She became passionate about increasing Spanish fluency among her classmates and served as the Medical Spanish course coordinator for her class during her second year of medical school. She fell in love with OBGYN during her third year rotation on labor and delivery. Her professional interests include healthcare disparities and medical student education and mentorship.  

Why LSU? I wanted to serve a diverse patient population in a big city with people who genuinely love and support one another, and LSU checked all of those boxes for me. 

Hobbies: spending time with my siblings, flipping furniture/anything DIY home renovation, reading, working out, playing with my puppy Beignet 

Claire Mersereau, MD

Dr. Mersereau was born and raised in Portland, Oregon before moving to New Orleans for college at Tulane University. She received her Bachelor of Science majoring in Neuroscience and started developing her interest in Ob/Gyn working at a lab studying pre-eclampsia. Claire spent a year after college working at local pediatric clinic before matriculating to LSU New Orleans for medical school. Her third-year clerkship cemented her love for women's health and reproductive justice.  She resides in Uptown New Orleans with her husband and 2 perfect cats. 

Why LSU? As a medical student at LSU, I got to witness the program's culture firsthand and see how prepared and well trained the residents were. I loved the faculty and the city so it was an easy decision to stay! 

Hobbies: Reading, long walks and hiking, thrifting, my cats,  happy hour/restaurants, hanging with my co interns, relaxing on my porch

 

Kayla Saikaly, MD

Dr. Saikaly was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She received a BS in Psychobiology at UCLA. After college, she worked in education as a substitute teacher and grant writer for LAUSD. She then attended Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington DC for her MD. Throughout medical school, she discovered her interests in women's health, especially focusing on women in vulnerable populations such as those experiencing homelessness and the LGBTQ+ community.

Why LSU? She knew that coming to such a diverse city like New Orleans would be extremely exciting, but stimulating for her residency goals! 

Hobbies: Music is a huge passion of mine! I play multiple musical instruments and love to pursue DJing house/techno around different cities. I also love traveling to new places, trying new restaurants/foods, and hosting friends anytime! 

 

Elizabeth Schneider, MD

Dr. Schneider was born and raised in Memphis, TN. She received her BS in Biochemistry & Public Health at the University of Miami and then returned to Memphis for medical school at the University of Tennessee. Through her experiences, she recognized her passion for reproductive health, empowering women, and understanding barriers to care.  In medical school, she found herself particularly interested in education and advocacy for Memphis youth. She was in charge of an organization that taught comprehensive reproductive health to middle and high school students across the city.  She also has a love for the operating room and is happy to be in a specialty with the perfect mix of surgery and primary care.  

Why LSU?  New Orleans is a unique city with many opportunities to serve and improve the health of its people. The residents are supported and challenged every day, the program is advocacy-centered, and the people are welcoming and social!

Hobbies: budget-friendly travel, happy hour, long walks with my dog, festivals, cocktail making, eating crawfish