Alumni Class of 2022

Ashley Czaplicki, D.O.

EM Interests: Public health, medical education

Why I Chose HUMC: Our team is hardworking, earnest, and down to earth. Every day of work brings a wide variety of patients and pathology. Always learning new things!

Fun Fact: I won an Oscar Mayer Wienermobile in a supermarket sweepstakes as a kid (notably a vegetarian for >15 years). P.S. Abby has never shared her lasagna with me.

Maya Saltzman, M.D.

EM Interests: Event Medicine

Why I Chose HUMC: I love the people I work with. Grateful for the great critical care experience. Lots of nerds and geeks here at Hackensack.

Fun Fact: You can find me at many of the nearby anime conventions.

Richard Devasagayaraj, M.D.

EM Interests: Critical Care, Ultrasound, Medical Education

Why I Chose HUMC: HUMC delivers an abundance of pathology with excellent mentorship experiences. Residents make up an integral part of the team and support each other. The community feel to this program is unparalleled.

Fun Fact: I like playing basketball, watching movies, and hanging out with my family when I’m off.

Kenneth Tam, D.O.

EM Interests: Ultrasound, Critical Care, Pediatrics

Why I Chose HUMC: I chose Hackensack for the great residents, staff, and attendings and I stayed for the amazing training from complex, sick patients I haven’t seen anywhere else… and the meal card money. I’m your local Michelin Star guide for any food or drink recommendations in the area.

Fun Fact: Always down to play tennis, basketball or any other sport you can think of.

Rebecca Maghen, M.D.

EM Interests: Simulation and Quality Improvement

Why I Chose HUMC: I chose Hackensack EM because of the inviting, family-like atmosphere, and the exposure to sick, high acuity and medically complex patients. My amazing and supportive co-residents and faculty make it a great place to work!

Fun Fact: I speak 4 languages (Farsi, Spanish, Hebrew) and have been able to use all of them with patients during residency!

Mark Burgess, D.O.

EM Interests: Ultrasound and Simulation

Why I Chose HUMC:  I chose Hackensack EM Program because of the ample opportunity to complete procedures, pursue personal interests in Medical Education, and grow as a future Emergency Medicine Physician.

Fun Fact: I serve as our local Yinzer and am always available to catch a Steelers Game.

Aleq Jaffrey, M.D., M.P.H.

EM Interests: Health Equity, Quality, Disaster Medicine

Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC because of the ~vibes~ here, how chill everyone is, and how important equity and inclusion in medicine are to the program.

Fun Fact: I will challenge and crush anyone at a game of YiGiOh cards (your move…) also I make better lasagna than Abby and I *actually* share my cooking.

Tony Edholm, M.D.

EM Interests: Administration and Sports Medicine

Why I Chose HUMC: I chose Hackensack for the community within the residency. HUMC is a high-volume, high-acuity medical center that maintains a small tight knit feel within the department. Our residents are very close with each other.

Fun Fact: I was a high school teacher and football coach prior to attending medical school.

Abby Lowe, D.O.

EM Interests: Quality Improvement, Medical Education

Why I Chose HUMC: Our residency has a great team atmosphere with great mentorship. While working, the department sees high-volume/high-acuity which makes for a great place to learn. The surrounding area provides many fun things to do while outside of work (often with co-residents and attendings!)

Fun Fact: I really enjoy cooking-the great work/life balance our program provides gives me time to cook 2-3 times each week! My favorite thing to make is lasagna–and yes I do share. 🙂

Jasmine Sayegh, M.D.

EM Interests: Critical Care and Health Equity

Why I Chose HUMC: I chose this program because of our focus on resident wellbeing and wellness. In addition, I wanted to train in an institution with high acuity, and Hackensack ER offers that!

Fun Fact: I’m trilingual (English, Arabic and Spanish) and love to sing 90’s R&B! I have no comments about lasagna— but would love to eat some!

Angela Gonzalez, D.O.

Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Middletown

EM Interests: Critical Care, Palliative Medicine, International Medicine

Why I Chose HUMC:  It’s a privilege to train at the hospital most other hospitals in the surrounding area transfer their critical patients to. We see it all- high acuity, high volume and a diverse set of patients (both culturally and pathology-wise). We have a great set of mentors that are approachable and wonderful teachers.

Fun Fact: I’ll drop anything for my family. I love to travel. Exercise and nature walks are my favorite forms of stress relief. I’ve learned that seeing this work as a purpose and not just a job will keep you going through the worst times.

Edward Egan, M.D.

EM Interests: Street Medicine, Health Equity, Medical Education

Why I Chose HUMC: HUMC is fast-paced, high volume, and has ultra high acuity patients that provide endless learning opportunities. Having known many of the attendings and residents prior to working here I came for the family atmosphere and awesome co-residents that have my back… Not to mention that we have access to some of the best food in the world with NYC being so close.

Fun Fact: I’m a competitive beach and indoor volleyball player when I’m not in the ED or doing advocacy work. I also LOVE hanging out with my dog, Sella… Named after the Sella Turcica since I got her during my endocrine block in medical school.