Class of 2029
Suzanne Ayoubi
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
EM Interests: Critical Care, Medical Education, and Trauma
Why I Chose HUMC: Choosing HUMC felt like an easy decision after my rotation here. From day one, I felt like part of the team and saw firsthand how committed the faculty and residents were to both education and patient care. The combination of a busy emergency department, diverse pathology, and a strong sense of camaraderie made it a place where I knew I would thrive both professionally and personally. Being able to stay in New Jersey, a place I love, and remain close to my family made the decision even more meaningful.
Fun Fact: Outside of medicine, I love traveling and exploring new cultures. I’ve visited more than 15 countries, and one of my lifelong goals is to see every continent in the world.
Yeeun Lina Choi
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
EM Interests: Toxicology, community medicine, medical education
Why I Chose HUMC: HUMC is where I fell in love with Emergency Medicine. The wonderful faculty and staff here nurtured my interest in EM and encouraged me to train alongside them. I was also captivated by the vast level of acuity and diversity of patients I experienced at this busy emergency department. I knew that the experience I get here will prepare me to be a great physician no matter where I practice.
Fun Fact: In between busy shifts, I am currently working on transitioning my competitive tennis skills to competitive pickleball.
Carly Cobbol
Medical School: Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
EM Interests: My interests in emergency medicine include global health and academic medicine. I’m fascinated by how healthcare is delivered around the world and believe some of the greatest opportunities to improve patient care come through collaboration, education, and adapting medicine to different communities and resources. I also hope to pursue a career in medical education, mentoring future residents and medical students along the way.
Why I Chose HUMC: Hackensack checked every box for me. I wanted to train at a busy Level I Trauma Center where I’d be challenged every day, work alongside incredible faculty, and learn from attendings who come from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences. I also wanted opportunities to get involved in research and academic medicine while training at an institution that’s always striving to improve patient care. Just as importantly, I wanted a program where residents genuinely support one another, and everyone I met was down-to-earth, welcoming, and passionate about teaching. Being able to stay in Montclair, with easy access to New York City, while training at such an incredible institution made Hackensack feel like the perfect fit. I’m excited to grow here over the next few years and become the best emergency physician I can be.
Fun Fact: Before starting residency, I spent two months rotating in Cape Town, South Africa. I trained at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, where I rotated through pediatric surgery and the burns clinic, and at Victoria Hospital, where I worked in surgery and palliative care. It was an incredible experience that broadened my perspective on global health, especially the social determinants of health in medicine.
Valeria Fernandez
Medical School: NJMS
EM Interests: Medical Education
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC because I wanted to train at a high-volume, fast-paced emergency department while being surrounded by a supportive and close-knit team. From the beginning, I felt that HUMC was a place where I could grow into a confident emergency physician while genuinely enjoying the people I work with.
Fun Fact: I love spending time with my dog and I love to dance!
Christa Frodella
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
EM Interests: Research, wilderness medicine, sports medicine
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC because the ED offers outstanding exposure to a diverse, high-acuity patient population, allowing residents to build confidence managing everything from routine emergencies to the most complex cases. Equally important, the faculty are deeply committed to resident education and provide exceptional mentorship in a supportive, collaborative learning environment.
Fun Fact: Before becoming a physician, I earned a PhD in Veterinary Medical Science.
Marc Good
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
EM Interests: Ultrasound, EMS, Global Healthcare, Aerospace Medicine
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC for residency because of the great experiences I had as a medical student here during rotations. I saw first-hand the immense volume, complexity, and diversity of patients this hospital cares for. The strong bonds that the residents and faculty had in the emergency department was also something I value. It felt like the ideal environment to continue my training and grow into the emergency physician I aspire to be.
Fun Fact: My peak rating on chess.com is 1780.
Emilie Morse
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
EM Interests: Sports Medicine and Ultrasound
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC because it was evident that the program fosters a supportive learning environment and provides strong clinical exposure with a diverse patient population and large patient volume. Having been raised only a few miles away from the hospital, I was also very excited for the opportunity to return home and serve the community that first inspired me to become a physician.
Fun Fact: I love puzzles! When I finish one, I glue it, frame it, and hang it up on my puzzle wall.
Paavan Patel
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School Of Medicine
EM Interests: Aerospace Medicine, EMS, Event Medicine
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC because of all the amazing faculty, intense volume, and the diverse population. Going to Hackensack’s medical school helped me build connections and find amazing mentors that showed me how amazing EM can be!
Fun Fact: I was (legally) allowed to shoot fireworks at people on top of a dragon in Barcelona! No one got hurt… I think?
Hayley Smith
Medical School: St. George’s University
EM Interests: Sports medicine, pain management
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC for the high acuity, high volume, and patient diversity. The supportive leadership and close-knit residents create a welcoming environment and the perfect place to learn.
Fun Fact: I drive stick.
Jarrell Wiley
Medical School: Rowan-Virtua School Osteopathic Medicine
EM Interests: Pain Medicine/Ultrasound
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose Emergency Medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center because it offers the opportunity to train at one of the nation's premier emergency medicine programs and a Level I Trauma Center. I am excited to learn in a high-acuity environment where I will encounter a wide variety of pathologies and develop the clinical skills needed to confidently care for critically ill and injured patients. My goal is to receive rigorous, comprehensive training that will prepare me to excel in any emergency medicine setting. The hospital's close proximity to several major cities provides exposure to an incredibly diverse patient population, allowing me to better understand and serve patients from a wide range of backgrounds. I was also drawn to the program because of its outstanding faculty, whose breadth of expertise, dedication to teaching, and supportive mentorship foster an exceptional learning environment. Equally important, Hackensack's strong commitment to resident well-being reassures me that I will be challenged, supported, and empowered to grow into the best emergency physician I can be.
Fun Fact: I'm a huge Formula 1 fan and enjoy participating in realistic sim racing events in my free time.
Connor Wirth
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
EM Interests: Toxicology, excited to explore and discover additional interests through residency
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC because I had the opportunity to experience the program early-on as a medical student at HMSOM. Working in this specific ED early in my training allowed me to build relationships with the attendings, residents, and residency faculty, who were consistently welcoming, supportive, and invested in teaching. Those experiences confirmed that it was a place where I could grow as an EM physician. The P3R pathway also made the application process more seamless, and seeing previous graduates from my medical school thrive in the residency program via the P3R pathway gave me confidence that HUMC was the right fit. I knew I wanted to stay in New Jersey, and this program offered the supportive culture and strong, busy, action-packed clinical training I was looking for.
Fun Fact: I'm a huge soccer fan and almost never miss a game.
Alex Zincani
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
EM Interests: Critical Care, Wilderness Medicine, Med Ed/Simulationy
Why I Chose HUMC: I chose HUMC for a few reasons. First of all, while rotating as a student in the ER, I felt that all of the attendings and residents created a productive environment, where student and resident learners alike could thrive and learn in the chaos of the ED. The department has high volume and high acuity, which is exactly what I was looking for. Also, I'm from the area and was born in Bergen county, so it is a privilege for me to get to work in and serve the community that my family and I are from!
Fun Fact: I was awarded employee of the month, for a month where I was mostly on vacation.