Current Residents

Learn More About Our Resident Gatherings

Third Year Residents

Emily Gempler, DO

Hometown: Tampa, FL
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: University of South Florida- Major: Biomedical Sciences Major with Minor in Sociology
Medical school: Lincoln Memorial DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Areas of interest: Geriatrics
Personal interests/hobbies: Photography, Hiking
Why I chose UH: From my experiences in clinical rotations during my third and fourth years of medical school I found that UH really cared about its patients and its employees. I found that the family medicine program itself was small and had a very family-like atmosphere which I was looking for in a residency and being able to directly work one on one with your attending and even your program director was a huge plus. Plus I love living in NE Ohio with lots of things to do and a good diversity of its population.
Favorite quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” –Maya Angelou

Susanne Natalie Janisz, MD

Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: University of Toronto : BSc in Psychology and French
Medical school: Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
Areas of interest: Women’s Health
Personal interests/hobbies: Hiking, Outdoor Sports, Traveling, Movies
Why I chose UH: I love the community aspect, the smaller residency program, and the support of the program
Favorite quote: Don’t rely on motivation for anything. It is fleeting and unreliable. Discipline however, is unyielding. Force yourself to follow through. - Anonymous

Anisa Rista, MD

Hometown: Fier, Albania and Cleveland, Ohio
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: N/A
Medical school: University of Medicine, Tirana
Areas of interest: Outpatient Primary Care, Woman’s Health, Preventive Medicine
Personal interests/hobbies: Basketball, gardening, travel and discovering new places
Why I chose UH: Ever since I visited University Hospitals for the first time, I felt it was the one I wanted to train and work in the future. This desire grew stronger during my rotations at UH Geauga Medical Center, where I found friendly personnel, an exceptional work environment, and doctors committed to excellence in clinical training and patient care. I felt I was part of a big family and that I belonged there. I consider myself lucky to have matched at this program, where every day I perceive the support and encouragement to learn and grow as a physician.
Favorite quote: “Just because something is difficult, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t TRY, it means you should just TRY HARDER”

Janine Wong, DO

Hometown: Parsippany, NJ
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: Mercyhurst University – Biology major, Public Health minor
Medical school: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Areas of interest: Sports medicine, preventative care, integrative medicine, OMT
Personal interests/hobbies: soccer, running, reading, hiking with my family
Why I chose UH: I knew that UH would be a great fit for me when I came for my audition rotation during my fourth year of medical school. Everyone from the attendings, residents, to staff were all welcoming. I also felt that on my interview day UH had checked all the boxes I wanted in a family medicine program. I’m happy to be here to learn and grow as a physician!
Favorite quote: Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” – Benjamin Franklin

Second Year Residents

Maurell James, DO

Hometown: Russel Township, OH
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: John Carroll University/Major-Biology
Medical school: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Areas of interest: Preventative health/general wellness
Personal interests/hobbies: I love martial arts and have been doing it on and off since high school. I also enjoy hikes at the Cleveland Metroparks, baking chocolate chip cookies, fiddling on my guitar, reading, and spending time with friends and family.
Why I chose UH:  I was born at Rainbow Babies and Children, and my pediatrician since birth was Dr. Marilee Gallagher who was an amazing physician. UH has had such a formative impact on my overall development, and each physician that has cared for me at this institution has had such a positive impact. I continue to see UH doctors and would be privileged to train here as a resident. Fun fact, I was also the youngest baby at UH to have an adenoidectomy.
Favorite quote: ‘All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us’ -Tolkien.

Bijal Patel, DO

Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: University of Toledo – Biology with a minor in Chemistry
Medical school: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Areas of interest: preventative care, integrative medicine, Wellness
Personal interests/hobbies: Traveling, Hiking, trying new restaurants,
Why I chose UH:  I wanted to stay in the Cleveland area, as well as at a community hospital. I loved my interview with Geauga and felt like I fit right in. Also, the friendly environment and support confirmed UH as my number 1 choice for residency. 
Favorite quote:  “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.” –Winnie the Pooh

Algert Rista, MD

Hometown: Fier, Albania and Cleveland, OH
Undergraduate Institution and Major/Minor: N/A
Medical school: University of Medicine of Tirana
Areas of interest: Primary Care, Sports Medicine
Personal interests/hobbies: I love playing and watching sports like Soccer (big fan), basketball, tennis, football (just watching). Hiking/ running in the park/ spending time out in nature.
Why I chose UH:  I chose FM UH Geauga because I knew I would find well-structured academic support to train and grow as a physician. UH Geauga offers exposure to a large, diverse patient population in a community hospital setting. At the same time, residents can access the resources of a large academic center at UH Cleveland Medical Center. Opportunities to learn and favorable work-life balance. 
Favorite quote: “In boxing (as in life), a man doesn’t lose when he gets knocked down; he loses when he won’t get up.” - Father Stu

John Zakhary, DO, MBA

Hometown: Rochester, NY
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: Rochester Institute of Technology, BS Biomedical Sciences
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, NY
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: My ultimate career goal is to become a fulltime outpatient primary care provider. Areas of interest include lifestyle medicine, nutrition and exercise science, OMT/MSK, mental health care and the intersection/implementation of these in the primary care setting.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Fitness, cooking, making music, drone flying, amateur indoor gardening, Church history & theology
Why I chose UH Geauga: I chose UH Geauga for several reasons. Primarily, the culture and how much the program invests into the success of its residents. Additionally, how closely the training, skills and interests of the faculty align with goals that I have for my training and how the clinics are based in true community, primary care settings.
Favorite Quote: Life is 10% what happens to you, and 90% how you react to it - Pastor Charles Swindoll

First Year Residents

Nirmiti Borkhetaria, DO

Hometown: Iselin, NJ
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: The College of New Jersey, Major: Biology, Minors: Public Health, Psychology
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Aesthetics and Cosmetics, Sports Medicine, Geriatrics
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Singing, art, traveling, reading, trying new restaurants, spending time with my husband, family, and friends!
Why I chose UH Geauga: I felt immediately welcomed into the UH Geauga family when I auditioned here as a 4th year medical student. The attendings, residents, and staff are passionate about teaching and care about their community and patients. I am very excited to continue my medical training and grow as a physician at UH Geauga. 
Favorite Quote: “All that shines above us also shines within

Ryan Doyle, DO

Hometown: Chardon, Ohio
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: Miami University – Biology major
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Preventative medicine, sports medicine, mental health, clinic-based procedures
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Cleveland sports teams, the Caribbean, weight lifting, reggae music, quality time with family and friends
Why I chose UH Geauga: I chose UH Geauga for several reasons. For one, I was born and raised in Chardon/Geauga County. To me, there is no better community to serve than the one that began to shape me into who I am today. Secondly, being a lifelong Northeast Ohioan, I am acutely aware of the high quality care that University Hospitals consistently provides to its surrounding communities, and I am grateful to be a part of such a highly-regarded health system. I knew this program would be the perfect fit for me after interviewing with the faculty and residents, where everybody was so welcoming, supportive, and passionate about the program and in practicing family medicine itself. These beliefs were cemented when I did my audition rotation here and saw firsthand the program’s collaborative environment and dedication to both patient care and resident education.
Favorite Quote: “We have two lives, and the second begins when we realize we only have one.” – Confucius

Elizabeth Friedman. DO

Hometown: Fleetwood, PA
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor:
Albright College Reading, PA; Biotechnology/Pre-Med BS
Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH; Bioethics MA
Medical School: Ohio University HCOM, Cleveland
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: General family practice/OMT/integrative medicine
Personal Interests/Hobbies:  gardening, cooking, lifting weights
Why I chose UH Geauga: Great people, great educational opportunities, patient population
Favorite Quote: “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better.  The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”  Theodore Roosevelt

Morgan Powell, DO

Hometown: Chardon, Ohio
Undergraduate Institute and Major/Minor: The Ohio State University, B.S. Biochemistry, Business Minor
Medical School:  Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional/Medical Areas of Interest/Future Aspirations: Rural medicine, Sports, Endocrinology, Networking, General Practice
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Hiking, biking, running, camping, kayaking, finance
Why I chose UH Geauga: I always wanted to come back to my hometown, and with this program’s track record of producing amazing physicians, it provided me the opportunity to do so. Through my initial interactions with the program, the entire staff showed me how they are some of the best people. They have always been supportive through my endeavors and are always excited to teach me something new. Furthermore, UH Geauga allows me to learn from physicians throughout this area, which will help expand my perspectives and build a network to provide the best possible patient care throughout my career. I have always felt welcome with this program, all the way since my initial audition rotation, and I look forward to continuing forward that cordiality as I grow as a physician.
Favorite Quote: “Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game” ― Babe Ruth