PGY2

Hi all! My name is Alex Bennett. I’m from outside of Chicago in Aurora where I grew up with a big, crazy family. I moved slightly east to Ann Arbor to attend the University of Michigan for undergrad and studied neuroscience and Spanish.  There, I fell in love with global health and traveling during my study abroad experiences in Argentina and Spain, and knew I was ultimately working toward a career in medicine. I stayed in Ann Arbor to work as an EMT and PCA for a year after graduation but eventually moved farther east for medical school here at UMass! It wasn’t until my third-year clerkships that I found OB/Gyn to be my passion, from the diverse care  provided throughout a patient’s life to the incredible work that can be done through patient advocacy.  I absolutely love the community at UMass and in Worcester and could not be more thrilled to stay in a place I consider my second home. Although I envision myself eventually heading back to the Midwest,  I know that I will be prepared for whatever career path I choose with the training and mentoring provided by the amazing faculty and staff here. While I am not in the hospital, I love to be active with my puppy, ZuZu, who is a ball of energy and is just learning to run with me! We love to hike and take trips to dog-friendly breweries and restaurants in the area. I also love to travel, visit my family and friends as much as possible, bake, read, and generally continue to explore the northeast! 

Hi! I’m Rachel Himel. My family moved around a lot as I was growing up, so I’ve experienced a little slice of many parts of the US. I went to college and graduate school at the University of Montana where I studied English and Education. I was a teacher for 9 years before applying to medical school. Education is a deep-seated passion of mine. I believe it’s our biggest tool for righting the world’s wrongs. My career goals lie in the world of academic medicine. My husband and I were looking to spend the years of residency at an academic program located in a place where we could have easy access to nature, a backyard for our dogs, and a supportive community for our baby (who is on the way!).  I can say with my whole heart that we’ve found that and more at UMass. It is truly a gem of a residency program. The residents are a supportive, cohesive team, and the leadership is excellent at teaching us to care for the people, souls, and uteruses of Massachusetts.  

Hi! My name is Edesiri; I often go by Des. I am originally from the Bronx but mostly grew up in CT. I went to Boston University for college and returned to CT where I spent a year as an ophthalmic technician before starting medical school at UConn. I was always interested in becoming a physician, but during my third year rotating through OBGYN, I was able to form a clearer idea of the type of physician I wanted to be. For me, OBGYN encompasses all the aspects of medicine that I enjoy: continuity of care and preventive medicine, surgery and procedures, and advocacy. I'm excited to be back in Massachusetts and growing fond of Worcester and the amazing residents and faculty I work with each day. In my free time, I enjoy getting vitamin D on long walks or hikes, dancing, and discovering fun new hobbies like kickboxing and hot yoga.

Hi! I'm Rachael and am so glad to have matched here at UMass! I grew up in Virginia and went to UVA for Undergrad (go hoos!), where I studied biochemistry and global health. I knew from a young age that I wanted to pursue medicine and seeing how much public health impacts health led me to the University of Miami for medical school, where I was able to study medicine and public health together for both an MD and MPH degree. Throughout my time in Miami, I was drawn to OB/GYN for its public health and social justice components as well as the excitement of birth and surgical care. I can't wait to get to practice all those aspects and more at UMass! Outside of work, I love traveling with my wife, doing outdoor yoga, and cooking heartwarming meals with family and friends.

Hi! I’m Shahar. I grew up in Arizona and then moved to New York City where I studied Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at New York University. In medical school, I discovered my passion for OB/GYN starting in my third year and was able to further grow my interest throughout my fourth year. I spent most of my fourth year working in Brooklyn and the Bronx with a diverse high-risk patient population. I spent my first year of residency at Flushing Hospital Medical Center before joining UMass Chan Medical School / UMass Memorial Health.

I plan on being a generalist and am particularly interested in obstetrics. I’m excited to continue my training here at UMass Chan, where I’ve found an incredible community dedicated to patient care and teaching. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my cat Artemis, exploring the Northeast, and trying all the coffee shops in town. I’m looking forward to the years ahead!

Hello! I’m Akanksha, I grew up in Massachusetts and went to Boston University where I studied Biology & Psychology. After college, I worked as a clinical research coordinator in the Women’s Hormones and Aging Research Program where I helped run clinical trials and observational studies to improve the quality of life for women going through the menopause transition. I then returned to Boston University for medical school where I found my passion for obstetrics and gynecology, and researched risk factors and interventions for obstetric hemorrhage. I also founded the National South Asian Medical Student Association, a non-profit organization whose mission is to support medical students and address the health needs of the South Asian American community. I am so excited to continue my training at UMass Memorial and working in the same maternity center where my mom had my sister! Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking, swimming, and caring for my many houseplants