Our Current Residents
Take a moment to meet our current residents. We are confident you will feel at home with us.
Chief Residents:
Brian Kistler, M.D.
- Medical School: The University of Toledo College of Medicine
- Undergraduate School: John Carroll University
- Hometown: Monroeville, Ohio
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: Throughout my 3rd and 4th year pediatric rotations, I created several strong friendships with current residents who had amazing things to say about the program. The program has felt like home throughout my time here. I have always felt that attendings here truly have our best interests in mind and are excited to teach. The University of Toledo Pediatrics is filled with positive people who create a great environment for learning and success.
- Future Career Goals: Fellowship is my goal with cardiology as an initial favorite.
- Hobbies: Watching soccer (COYS), playing soccer, pickleball, and volleyball, and biking.
Reema Punni, M.D.
- Medical School: St George's School of Medicine, Grenada
- Undergraduate School: Dalhousie University, Halifax NS
- Hometown: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: During my interview, everyone I met was genuinely kind and welcoming, which was essential to me as I wanted to prioritize working in a supportive team environment when picking a program. Additionally, Toledo's proximity to my hometown was an added benefit.
- Future Career Goals: General pediatrics or a Fellowship in Adolescent Medicine or Developmental Medicine.
- Hobbies: Cooking, baking, puzzles, and crocheting.
Zainab Ahmad, M.D.
- Medical school: Dow Medical College
- Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: The people. My interview felt natural, and I like how the program emphasizes balance with an X+Y schedule. Additionally, Toledo is a small town with big city vibes which I find amazing!
- Future career goals: Undecided but I am ready to explore.
- Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends. Food and creative arts.
Kamaljit Braich, D.O.
- Medical School: Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Undergraduate School: Illinois State University
- Hometown: Palos Hills, Illinois
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: I had a positive interview experience with Dr. Thomas. The residents, attendings, and staff are very welcoming here. They help create a positive learning environment for everyone!
- Future Career Goals: Fellowship in pulmonology or neonatology.
- Hobbies: Pilates, crocheting.
Aisha Mahar, M.D.
- Medical School: Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences
- Hometown: Hyderabad, Pakistan, and Columbus, Ohio
- Why Toledo: Everyone I met during my interview was warm and welcoming. The program seemed to have an overall friendly environment. Also, it is nice to be close to home.
- Hobbies: Cooking, cleaning, and organizing my home/space, and I also enjoy watching documentaries on various social issues.
Pedrum Nazem, M.D.
- Medical school: St. George's University School of Medicine
- Undergraduate School: University of Maryland, College Park
- Hometown: Columbia, Maryland
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: X+Y scheduling, friendly and engaging faculty during interview season, emphasis on resident work-life balance and wellness.
- Future Career Goals: General Pediatrics or Fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine.
- Hobbies: Lifting weights, playing soccer, computer gaming.
Merve Otles, M.D.
- Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
- Undergraduate School: Montclair State University
- Hometown: Paterson, New Jersey
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: I felt very comfortable during my UToledo interview. I appreciated the X+Y scheduling and the absence of fellows, which meant more hands-on experience for residents.
- Future Career Goals: Peds Emergency Medicine or General Peds.
- Hobbies: Traveling, photography, baking, knitting, reading, exploring new areas.
Martin Varghese, M.D.
- Medical School: Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute
- Hometown: New Delhi
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: The program is friendly and inclusive with great teaching and hands-on experience. The 3+1 schedule prevents burnout and balances inpatient and outpatient well.
- Future Career Goals: I’m interested in infectious disease-microbes are amazing.
- Hobbies: Books and bookstores, anime, spending time with my wife and our very pampered cat and dog.
Khaled Abdeljaoued, M.D.
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Medical School: St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
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Undergraduate School: Wayne State University, Detroit, MI
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Hometown: Dakar, Senegal
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Why Toledo Pediatrics: I liked that the program offered a supportive environment and a friendly, positive atmosphere. I also wanted to work with the program’s excellent attendings, who are dedicated teachers who care about their residents. And I appreciated the X+Y schedule.
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Future Career Goals: Undecided
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Hobbies: Travel and cultural exchange; soccer; watching documentaries
Fatima Ahmed, M.D.
- Medical School: University of Khartoum faculty of medicine
- Hometown: Jersey City, New Jersey
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: The University of Toledo Pediatric Residency Program’s X+Y (3+1) scheduling system—which
alternates between inpatient/acute care and dedicated outpatient weeks provides a
well-balanced and thoughtful approach to clinical training and educational development.
This model enhances continuity of care, reduces burnout, and promotes overall resident
wellness. I am particularly drawn to this structure, as it reflects a strong commitment
to resident learning and long-term sustainability.
I also deeply value the program’s diverse patient population and healthcare team, which fosters cultural competence. Most importantly, the welcoming and supportive environment I experienced during my interview affirmed my strong desire to join this collaborative and inclusive community. - Future Career Goals: My primary goal is to build a strong clinical foundation by providing compassionate, evidence-based care to children across diverse settings. I aim to develop proficiency in diagnosing and managing common pediatric illnesses. I am also deeply committed to advocating for children’s health and serving communities with limited access to healthcare services.
- Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy reading, especially books about galaxies and astronomy. I also love to travel and explore historical sites, as well as experience nature through lakes and mountains.
Jesal Bhatt, M.D.
- Medical School: American University of Antigua
- Undergraduate School: Thomas Jefferson University
- Hometown: Toms River, NJ
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: I was drawn to UToledo Pediatrics for its welcoming, family-like atmosphere and supportive teaching environment. The X+Y schedule also stood out, allowing for focused learning and a healthy work-life balance.
- Future Career Goals: I hope to work in outpatient pediatrics, providing community-based care and building long-term relationships with families.
- Hobbies: workout classes, Traveling and exploring new cities, mindfulness practices like meditation
Rabah Halaby, M.D.
- Medical School: Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University
- Hometown: Assiut, Egypt
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: I like Toledo Pediatrics because it offers strong clinical training and a very supportive environment for residents.
- Future Goals: My goal is to become a compassionate pediatrician who provides excellent care for children and supports families.
- Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, cooking new recipes and going for walks.
Tsu-Shan Hsia, M.D.
- Medical School: Poznan University of Medical Sciences (combined with undergrad)
- Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan
- Why Toledo Peds: strong fellowship match rate, friendly residents and faculty members
- Future Career Goal: Cardiology fellowship
- Hobbies: playing the cello (sometimes piano), singing, sketching
Eli Tanenbaum, M.D.
- Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
- Undergraduate School: Pomona College
- Hometown: Claremont, California
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: I enjoyed my interview with Dr. Thomas as well as chatting with then-chief Dr. Assaly. I was also drawn by the affiliation with the University of Toledo and proximity to Detroit.
- Future Career Goals: General Pediatrics
- Hobbies: I enjoy performing and teaching magic, playing Yu-Gi-Oh, exercising with co-residents, studying languages (Arabic and French), and spending time with my wife, family, and friends.
Lillian Walton, M.D.
- Medical School: Indiana University
- Undergraduate School: University of Cincinnati
- Hometown: Indianapolis
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: The program has the benefits of a small program with the same ample opportunities of fellowship and research of a larger program
- Future Career goals: Hospitalist Fellowship
- Hobbies: bouldering and rock climbing, reading, hiking, and video games
Izhar Ahmad, M.D.
- Medical School: Bannu Medical College
- Hometown: Swat, Pakistan
- Why Toledo Peds: I chose Toledo for its unique training experience across the UTMC and ProMedica Health System. I value the early and structured board preparation with the X+Y schedule offers a perfect work-life balance and the program provides diverse clinical exposure and strong academic support. Overall, Toledo is an excellent fit for my growth as a pediatrician.
- Future Career Goals: My future goal is to become a well-rounded pediatrician. I would like to seek guidance from the program and my mentors to help me identify my strengths and determine which subspecialty would be the best fit for me.
- Hobbies: Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and hiking, especially exploring new places. I also love spending time with my family and friends, and I’m a big cricket fan, so I enjoy watching games whenever I get the chance.
Anna Buchholz-Schmeider, M.D.
- Medical School: University of Toledo
- Undergraduate: Iowa State University
- Hometown: Decatur, IL
- Why Toledo Peds: I chose UT Peds because I felt supported and empowered here during medical school and throughout my interviews. I built strong relationships with the residents, attendings, and nursing staff and knew that these were the people I wanted to be around during this next step of my training. I knew I would be challenged to grow and supported when needed to provide the best care for our patients and achieve my dreams along the way.
- Future Career Goals: Outpatient general pediatrics and sports medicine
- Hobbies: Running, Lifting, Reading, Cooking, Cheering on my favorite sports teams
Noor Ghali, M.D.
- Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
- Undergraduate School: University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
- Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: It is a great program close to home that offers personalized training by faculty.
- Future career goals: Undecided
- Hobbies: Cooking, sewing
Hasan Maher Hasan, M.D.
- Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland-Bahrain Campus
- Hometown: Amman, Jordan
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: The amazing people
- Future Career Goals: I hope to do both inpatient and outpatient general pediatrics
- Hobbies: Soccer and Perfume collecting
Randa Hassan, M.D.
- Medical School: University of Kordofan Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sudan
- Hometown: Khartoum, Sudan and Columbus, Ohio
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: I chose Toledo Pediatrics because of its welcoming, family-like environment, supportive faculty, and commitment to resident growth. The 3+1 scheduling model provides an excellent balance between inpatient and outpatient training while promoting learning, wellness, and continuity of care.
- Future Career Goals: I hope to pursue a fellowship while exploring my interests in pediatrics. I am passionate about research, advocacy, and providing compassionate, evidence-based care to children and families.
- Hobbies: I enjoy decorating, spending time with my family, exploring new places, and learning about different cultures.
Elizabeth Heminger, M.D.
- Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
- Undergraduate School: The Ohio State University
- Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: UToledo Pediatrics has a welcoming and supportive learning environment. The 3+1 schedule is great for work life balance.
- Future Career Goals: General Pediatrics
- Hobbies: baking, yoga, and spending time with my family!
Lindsey Jackson, D.O.
- Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Undergraduate School: University of Maryland, Cleveland State University
- Hometown: Cleveland, OH
- Why Toledo Pediatrics: My family lives in Cleveland along with many friends and family throughout Ohio and I love the fact that I have my support system nearby during my time in the residency program here at The University of Toledo.
- Future Career Goals:
- Hobbies: Arts and Crafts, Dance classes, Cooking vegetarian recipes, and attending musicals
Madiha Naveed, M.D.
- Medical School: Baqai Medical College
- Hometown: Karachi, Pakistan
- Why Toledo Peds: UT has a diverse healthcare setting and serves varied patient populations. My priority is joining a program where I can grow professionally and contribute meaningfully to the community.
- Future Career Goals: Fellowship program for Pediatrics
- Hobbies: I am passionate about reading a wide range of novels, exploring culinary traditions by cooking diverse cuisines, hiking to connect with nature, and valuing quality time with my husband and children.