Transitional Year Residency

Hi everyone! My name is Caroline, and I am thrilled to be a part of the Transitional Year program at MAHEC. I grew up in Roanoke, Virginia and studied Biology and Spanish at UNC Chapel Hill where I pole vaulted for their Track & Field Program – go Heels! I received my Masters degree in Physiology at Georgetown University before completing medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. I am looking forward to heading back to D.C. for my Dermatology residency at George Washington in 2025.

In my free time, I enjoy trying new restaurants and breweries, live music and stand-up comedy shows, and am excited to explore Asheville with my husband and our energetic black lab, Noosa.

I grew up in Richmond, Virginia, attended Virginia Tech for my undergraduate studies and then returned to Richmond to join the MSTP program at Virginia Commonwealth University. As a Ph.D. student, I was lucky enough to focus my studies on one of my true passions, the immune effects of radiotherapy and immunotherapy for solid tumors. While in Richmond, I spent my spare time playing sports and music with family and friends and talking their ears off about patient advocacy in clinical trials and trauma informed care. Like so many others, my devoted interest in cancer studies was inspired by a family member and I am thrilled to continue my medical training at The University of Miami as a Resident in Radiation Oncology once my year here at MAHEC is over.

I chose MAHEC because of the people here and because of our shared values. I talked about by interests in clinical trials equity and in trauma informed care education for medical professional and during my interview, MAHEC was the only program to ask me about these. I could not be happier with my choice and I am so grateful to be here in Asheville.

Hey guys! My name is Casey Engel and I’m so excited to join MAHEC for my transitional year before returning to Virginia Tech Carilion for dermatology residency. I’m from Northern Virginia and went to the University of Virginia for undergrad and Virginia Tech Carilion for medical school. I was drawn to MAHEC for its comprehensive clinical training, supportive learning environment, and emphasis on community engagement. I'm passionate about pediatric and women's health dermatology, making MAHEC's diverse clinical rotations, including Ob/Gyn and pediatrics, a perfect fit for my career aspirations.

Outside of medicine, I love to hike and run with my dog Bodo, craft charcuterie boards, cook for friends, and travel. I’m excited to explore the mountains, breweries, and restaurants that Asheville offers!

Hello! My name is Matthew Gallardo. I am originally from Hattiesburg, MS. I graduated from Duke University in Durham, NC with a major in Chemistry and a minor in medical sociology. I then hopped over to Columbus, OH for medical school. I am thrilled to be making my way back to North Carolina for my Transitional Year at MAHEC and Dermatology Training at University of North Carolina!

MAHEC has so much to offer that I am excited to take advantage of during the next year. Opportunities for exposure to a wide variety of disciplines and patients will prepare me well for the rest of my training and broaden my perspective of clinical medicine. From cardiology to surgery to lifestyle medicine to dermatology, I can’t wait to emerge from MAHEC a well-rounded PGY2.

Asheville is also an incredible city that my wife and I have already come to love! I can’t wait to further explore the local hiking, breweries, and restaurants in the area (and quickly figure out which ones are dog friendly for our pup, Olive) as well as spend time in with our cats Frankie and Luna. I also enjoy all things Duke basketball, biking, and finding free time to play video games or watch movies.

My name is Danielle Hanuschak and I am very excited to be joining the MAHEC Transitional Year Program! Originally from the sunshine state of Florida, I completed my undergraduate studies at Florida State University (go Noles!), where I majored in Exercise Physiology. I then attended medical school at Florida International University in Miami. After my transitional year at MAHEC, I will be heading to Vanderbilt to continue my residency training in Diagnostic Radiology.

The Smoky Mountains were the setting for many of my family’s vacations, making Western North Carolina a special place with many great memories. What I love most about Asheville is the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains and its vibrant art, music, and culinary scene. During my free time, I enjoy hiking, horseback riding, ATV riding, and tubing down the rivers. I look forward to experiencing everything Asheville has to offer while immersing myself in the excellent clinical opportunities provided by MAHEC

Hello, My name is Saad Jafri and I am so excited to be a Transitional Year resident at MAHEC! I grew up in Hampton Roads, VA, studied biology at Old Dominion University, and attended medical school at Eastern Virginia Medical School. Following this year I will be traveling to University of Maryland to continue my training in anesthesiology!

In my free time I enjoy spending time outdoors, playing sports, trying new restaurants, watching movies, and going to concerts. I look forward to experiencing all that Asheville has to offer!

Hi everyone! My name is Stephen Kirchner, and I’m thrilled to be completing my transitional year residency at MAHEC. I was born in Washington DC, but grew up in the UK before returning to the states for undergrad, attending Duke University where I studied Biology. I stayed at Duke for an MD/PhD program, studying innate antiviral responses of the skin. After my year here at MAHEC, I’ll head west to University of Washington in Seattle for Dermatology Residency!

I’ve had the privilege of visiting Asheville many times through the years, and knew I’d love to train here. I’m excited to spend time hiking all along the Blue Ridge with my fiancé and dog this year. When not working, I’m often watching sports or playing board games with my family. I’m looking forward to a great year here at MAHEC!

Hi everyone! My name is Carla and I am thrilled to be joining MAHEC for my transitional year before heading to the University of Virginia for anesthesia residency. I am from Charleston, SC and went to Clemson University for undergrad – go tigers! I then returned to my hometown of Charleston to finish medical school at the Medical University of South Carolina. While at Clemson I came to love the Blue Ridge Mountains and hiking, so I’m super excited to get to live in Asheville!

While interviewing for residencies, I loved the emphasis MAHEC had on both inpatient and outpatient services as well as the variety of interesting electives to choose from. In my free time, I love to spend time outdoors, read, and bake! Some of my favorite hobbies outdoors are hiking, running, and playing tennis.

Howdy! I was born in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and moved to the US with my family when I was 6. I grew up in Tennessee and South Carolina and later stayed in SC to major in biochemistry at the University of South Carolina (GO COCKS!). During this time, I worked at a children’s education center, raised money for women’s education efforts in Bangladesh, and learned resilience by rooting for one of the worst teams in the SEC.

I stayed at USC for medical school in Greenville, SC. I discovered a love of radiology through the opportunity to get to help every single specialty in medicine through imaging interpretation. I spent my weekends off in medical school visiting Asheville, and I’m beyond excited I get to stay and do my transitional year here! After my time here in Asheville, I will head to the University of Alabama Birmingham to do my residency training in Diagnostic Radiology!

When I’m not working, you can catch me biking on the beautiful trails around Asheville, furiously competing at pickleball, or unwinding with some of my co-residents at Sierra Nevada. I’m excited to get a chance to provide care for you and your loved ones this year!

My name is Nick Roberts, and I am excited to be completing my Transitional Year at MAHEC. I grew up in Tinley Park, Illinois, and attended Michigan State University. Following graduation, I joined the United States Marine Corps and served as a field artillery officer. After separating from the military, I attended the ETSU Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee. I will be completing my diagnostic radiology residency training at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

In my free time, I enjoy fly fishing, swimming, and playing pickleball. I am eager for the opportunity to continue caring for patients across Appalachia.

Hey Guys! My name is Shane Stephenson and I am super excited to be joining the MAHEC Transitional Year program before heading to Wake Forest for my diagnostic radiology residency! I grew up going to summer camp in North Carolina, so I am thrilled to be heading back to the area. I was born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama before heading to Clemson University for my undergraduate degree. There, I completed my BS in Health Sciences before heading back to Alabama to the University of South Alabama in Mobile for medical school.

In my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors; whether that be fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, running, or biking. I can’t wait to explore Asheville and the surrounding areas over the next year!

Hi everyone! My name is Mara Trifoi, and I could not be more excited to be joining the MAHEC family for my transitional year! I was born in Sighetu Marmatiei, Romania and raised in Wyomissing, PA after my parents moved to the United States when I was six years old. Growing up I enjoyed playing tennis and spending time outdoors. I attended Albright College where I received my undergraduate degree in Biology and discovered my passion for science and service. Following college, I had the opportunity to attend medical school at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, PA. In medical school, I was drawn to cutaneous oncology and forming long last relationships with patients which lead me to pursue a career in Dermatology.

MAHEC stood out to me for its supportive culture, exposure to rural healthcare, and diverse elective options. With my interest in rural health, I am eager to learn more about the challenges rural communities face and how we can work to improve healthcare access for these communities. I am also looking forward to the Lifestyle in Medicine elective and incorporating it into my future practice!

I am so ecstatic to be moving to Asheville, NC! Outside of the hospital, I enjoy spending my time hiking, running, and playing pickleball.

My name is Katie Weidner and I’m so excited to be part of the Transitional Year program at MAHEC. I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana. I attended Tulane and UVA before graduating from Louisiana State University where I studied mathematics. I also received an MA in liberal arts/linguistics from LSU before attending medical school at LSU New Orleans. I will be staying in North Carolina next year for my diagnostic radiology residency at Wake Forest.

In my free time I enjoy gardening, drawing, hiking, and spending time with my dog, Lily. Growing up, I spent many summer vacations in the Blue Ridge mountains and I’m looking forward to exploring Asheville during the upcoming year.