Class of 2026
PGY-1
Abdelrahman Dabash, MD
Abdelrahman was born in Dakahliya, Egypt and raised in Al-Khobar, KSA. He attended the Faculty of Medicine at Cairo University where he received his doctorate degree. He worked as an NGS analyst for 2 years prior to coming to GWU. His academic interests include Gastrointestinal pathology, hematopathology, and molecular pathology. In his spare time, Abdelrahman enjoys playing soccer, swimming, outdoor activities, and writing Arabic calligraphy. Abdelrahman is pursuing AP/CP training.
PGY-1
Maryam Mehdipour Dalivand, MD
Maryam was born and raised in Rasht, Iran. She attended Guilan University of Medical Sciences where she received her doctorate degree. She participated in research for several years in different institutions. In her spare time, Maryam enjoys cooking, outdoor activities, yoga and spending time with family and friends. Maryam is pursuing AP/CP training.
PGY-1
Hayk Simonyan, MD
Hayk Simonyan was born and raised in Yerevan, Armenia. He attended Yerevan State Medical University after Mkhitar Heratsi where he received his doctorate degree. He did his research at The George Washington University. His studies were focused on transcription factor activation in the SFO-PVN axis that leads to cardio-metabolic changes mediated by obesity, oxidative stress, and angiotensin-II. One of his other projects included collaboration with the National Cancer Institute, working on alternative treatment for glioblastoma multiforme. His academic interests include surgical pathology and informatics. In his spare time, Hayk enjoys spending time with family, playing soccer, tennis, and skiing. Hayk is pursuing AP/CP training.
PGY-1
Katelyn Swanson, DO
Kate Swanson was born in Erie, PA and raised in Ramsey, IN. She was certified as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist during undergraduate studies in Indianapolis, IN. She attended Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill where she received her doctorate degree. She completed a Transitional Year Internship at Walter Reed Military Medical Center, followed by 2 years as a General Medical Officer in the US Navy. Her academic interests are still broad. In her spare time, Kate enjoys hanging out with her husband Ben, gardening, hiking, baking, kayaking/canoeing, and being a Mom to her 2.5 year old son, Teddy. Kate is pursuing AP/CP training.
Class of 2025
PGY-2
Maikel Benitez Barzaga, MD
Maikel was born and raised in Bayamo, Cuba. He graduated from the Universidad de Medicas de Santiago de Cuba where he received his doctoral degree. Before joining residency he was involved in research focused on Flow Cytometry, Stem cell and T cell enumeration. His academic interests include Surgical Pathology and Molecular Pathology. In his spare time, Maikel enjoys traveling with family, outdoor activities and reading. Maikel is pursing his AP/CP residency training.
PGY-2
Stevephen Hung, MD, PhD
Stevephen grew up in Rockville, Maryland. He attended Case Western Reserve University, where he studied enhanced mutations in colon cancer in the lab of Dr. Peter Scacheri, where he earned his PhD. His academic interests include cytopathology and molecular pathology. In his spare time, Stevephen enjoys video games, playing basketball, and learning how to invest.
PGY-2
Samir Husami, MBBS
Samir was born and raised in Homs, Syria. He attended Jordan University of Science and Technology where he received his doctorate degree. As a research fellow at Washington University in St. Louis, MO, Samir worked on transplant glomerulopathy and glomerular changes in kidney transplants. His academic interests included gastrointestinal pathology, hematopathology, and molecular pathology. In his spare, time, Samir enjoys playing tennis, reading, and exploring Washington, D.C.
PGY-2
Zoon Tariq, MD
Zoon was born and raised in Pakistan. She holds her medical degree from Oxford University in the United Kingdom. She has worked on HIV-1 latency at the Sir William Dunn School of Pathology at Oxford, and also holds a Masters in Molecular Medicine. Her academic interests include Surgical Pathology, Cytopathology, and Molecular Pathology. In her spare time, she enjoys teaching medical students, cooking, and traveling.
Class of 2024
PGY-3
CARLA AYALA-SORIANO, MD
Carla was born and raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. She attended Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine where she received her doctorate degree. She completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of Puerto Rico. She spent an additional year completing a Post Bachelor Certificate in Citotechnology. Her academic interests include Cytopathology and Dermatopathology. In her spare time, Carla enjoys cooking, traveling, listen to music, and outdoor activities. Carla is pursuing AP/CP training.
PGY-3
DIVYA MAMILLA, MD
Divya was born and raised in Hyderabad, India. She attended Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences where she received her doctorate degree. She participated in research for few years in the Division of Medical Neuroendocrinology at National Institutes of Health where her work was focused on neuroendocrine tumors, particularly pheochromocytoma and paragangliomas. Her academic interests include endocrine pathology, soft tissue, and bone pathology. In her spare time, Divya enjoys shopping, cooking, gardening, and listening to Indian music. Divya is pursuing AP/CP training.
PGY-3
Ilianne Vega Prado, MD
Ilianne (Ili) was born and raised in Santa Clara Cuba. She attended the University of Medical Sciences where she received her doctorate degree. After six years of Microbiology training, she completed the first two years of residency at HCA Florida Brandon Regional Hospital AP/CP program and transferred to GWUH to complete her final two years of training. Her academic interests include medical microbiology, cytology, breast, and GI pathology. In her spare time, Ili enjoys visiting museums, walking the streets of Washington D.C., and eating out. Ili is pursuing AP/CP training.
PGY-3
NAVITHA WODDOR, DO
Navitha was born and raised in Bangalore, India. She attended New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine where she received her doctorate degree. Before joining medical school, she was involved in performing Qualitative and Quantitative research design analysis and has conducted research in Multiple Sclerosis and Dementia. Her academic interests include hematopathology and surgical pathology. In her spare time, Navitha enjoys hiking, sketching, and travelling, whether it is visiting museums or touring old mansions. Navitha is pursuing AP/CP training.
Class of 2023
PGY-4
RAMI ABDULBAKI, MD
Rami was born in Chicago and raised in Syria. He attended Jordan University of Science and Technology Faculty of Medicine where he received his doctorate degree. Before residency, he has done multiple research projects at Emory University and Cleveland Clinic. His academic interests include hematopathology and surgical pathology. In his spare time, Rami enjoys hiking, running, traveling, and playing soccer. Rami is pursuing AP/CP training.
PGY-4
FATIMA AL-BAQALI, MD
Fatima attended Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar where she received her doctorate degree. Her academic interest includes forensic pathology. Fatima is pursuing AP/CP training.
PGY-4
WILLIAM GESZTES, MD
William was born and raised in New York, USA. He pursued his undergraduate and graduate studies in Business Administration at Lund University, Sweden. Following an international business career, he attended Semmelweis University where he received his medical doctorate degree in 2015 and subsequent medical licenses in Hungary and Sweden. Before starting residency, he pursued research at the Center for Prostate Disease Research (CPDR)/Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine (HJF), and the Joint Pathology Center (JPC). His academic interests include molecular biomarkers of aggressive prostate cancer. In his spare time, William enjoys traveling, sports, and spending time with his family. William is pursuing a combined AP/CP training.