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Home Graduate Medical Education Residencies and Fellowships Pediatric Residency Current Residents

Current Residents

Pediatric Residency
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  • Emiline Bero, MD

    Emiline Bero, MD

    • Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
    • Hometown: Originally from Allentown, PA but raised in the little Caribbean island of Antigua
    • Medical Interest: PICU or Adolescent Health - Huge advocate for mental health so I hope to incorporate that into whatever I specialize in
    • Hobbies: I'm SO fascinated by modern homesteading, so my hobbies revolve around it - making jams, pickles, baking, beekeeping; I also enjoy portrait sketching with charcoal, making charcuterie boards and water-sports (kayaking and snorkeling).
    • Fun Fact: I was in a viral Tik Tok video with over 192K views that showed me in action on my NICU elective!
    Julia Burns, DO

    Julia Burns, DO

    • Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Undergraduate: Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA
    • Hometown: Cherry Hill, NJ
    • Medical Interests: General Pediatrics & Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
    • Hobbies: Baking and cooking, trying new restaurants, spending time with friends and family
    • Fun Fact: During medical school, I adopted my dog, Riley. She is an 11-year-old lab mix with cataracts. So, we are exploring the Lehigh Valley one smell and snack at a time!
    Erika Plogstedt, MD

    Erika Plogstedt, MD

    • Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
    • Undergraduate: Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Hometown: Orlando, FL
    • Medical Interests: General Pediatrics and Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
    • Hobbies: Exploring new cities, supporting the Phillies and the Eagles, watching Broadway musicals, and collecting Disney pins.
    • Fun Fact: I've been to 51 countries!
    Lexis Torres, MD

    Lexis Torres, MD

    • Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
    • Undergraduate: Moravian College (University)
    • Hometown: Bethlehem, PA
    • Medical Interests: I am currently very interested in Gastroenterology, but I also enjoy general pediatrics and pediatric hospital medicine.
    • Hobbies: Tennis, softball, drawing, doing puzzles, going to different local coffee shops, watch the Phillies
    • Fun Fact: My dad played match-maker and set me and my husband up and then ended up being the one to marry us :)
    Rebecca Weaner, DO

    Rebecca Weaner, DO

    • Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Undergraduate: West Chester University of Pennsylvania
    • Hometown: Yardley, PA
    • Medical Interest: Neonatology or Pediatric Emergency Medicine
    • Hobbies: Volunteering at animal shelters, crochet, drawing, board games and playing the saxophone!
    • Fun Fact: I can juggle!
    Christina Youssef, MD

    Christina Youssef, MD

    • Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
    • Undergraduate: Cornell University, NY
    • Hometown: Jersey City, NJ
    • Medical Interest: Infectious Disease
    • Hobbies: Art, listening to podcasts, indoor cycling, traveling, chess, comedy shows and trying new recipes.
    • Fun Fact: I enjoy making origamis and giving them away
  • Ashley George Joseph, DO

    Ashley George Joseph, DO

    • Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Undergraduate School: Rutgers University New Brunswick, NJ
    • Hometown: Jersey City, NJ
    • Medical Interest: Not sure! Possibly general pediatrics, inpatient pediatrics, NICU, or GI!
    • Hobbies: Dancing, watching international movies, and trying new foods!
    • Fun Fact: I've been learning Indian classical dance for almost 20 years!
    Yekaterina Okouneva, DO

    Yekaterina Okouneva, DO

    • Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Undergraduate: Stony Brook
    • Medical Interests: Gastroenterology
    • Hobbies: Anything art-related, traveling, photography
    • Fun Fact: During my "free time" between my Bachelors and medical schools, I was a Ceramic Installation Artist! I've shown in Brooklyn and had my work sent to China
    Engerlina Olivares, MD

    Engerlina Olivares, MD

    • Medical School: Caribbean Medical University School of Medicine
    • Undergraduate: College of States Island
    • Medical Interests: Hematology/Oncology, Critical Care
    • Hobbies: Candle making, reading, video games
    • Fun Fact: I used to play the piano and would like to learn the violin!
    Paige Payne, DO

    Paige Payne, DO

    • Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Undergraduate: University of Oklahoma
    • Medical Interests: Neonatology or PEM
    • Hobbies: I enjoy exercise classes like aerial skills, indoor surging, and circus training
    • Fun Fact: I grew up learning how to drive a manual transmission car!
    Amanda Pitts, DO

    Amanda Pitts, DO

    • Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
    • Undergraduate: University of Alabama (Rolltide!)
    • Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
    • Medical Interest: Child Abuse Pediatrics
    • Hobbies: Spending time with my daughter and our pup, Sunshine! Going to the dog park, Browsing at Homegoods, Reading psychological thrillers, and Naps :)
    • Fun Fact: My dog, Sunshine, is an "old-lady". No one believes me when I tell them she is 9 years old because of how fast she is! I wouldn't believe it either had I not adopted her 8 years ago!
    Rebecca Mary Varghese, DO

    Rebecca Mary Varghese, DO

    • Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
    • Undergraduate: University of California, Irvine
    • Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
    • Medical Interest: Neonatology
    • Hobbies: photography, playing guitar and ukulele, baking, interior design, swimming
    • Fun Fact: I have never seen real snow before.