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Current Residents

 

PL3 Class of 2026

Wenyu Deng, MD

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Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Undergraduate: New York University

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Hobbies: Traditional and digital illustration, animation, photography, and karaoke

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: High surgical and clinical volume with plenty of hands-on experience, strong sense of collegiality among residents, excellent and devoted faculty, and the opportunity to care for Brooklyn’s diverse and underserved patient population


Rebecca Friedes, MD

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Hometown: East Hampton, NY

Undergraduate: New York University

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Hobbies: Baking, eating (especially new foods!), longboarding, kickball, hiking, dancing, traveling

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: The huge diversity in patient populations and pathologies. The residents and faculty are so warm and welcoming. Downstate and Brooklyn truly feel like my home, and I’m lucky to be able to stay here!


Allen Ganjei, MD

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Hometown: Brookline, Massachusetts

Undergraduate: Brandeis University

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Hobbies: Cooking, hosting dinners with friends, photography, art history, weight lifting

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: High procedural/surgical volume, a broad patient population, and camaraderie amongst residents.


Aram Singh Garewal, MD

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Hometown: Hawthorne, NJ

Undergraduate: College of the Holy Cross

Medical School: The Robert Larner, M.D., College of Medicine at the University of Vermont

Hobbies: Weight Lifting, Cooking, Golf, Traveling

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: This program enables me to work with an incredibly diverse patient population and provides me with a strong hands-on clinical experience. Additionally, I get to live in New York City and explore the amazing food options, music scene, and nightlife. I also get to live close to my friends and family.


John Petrie, MD

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Hometown: Setauket, New York

Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University

Medical School: SUNY at Buffalo, Jacobs School of Medicine and Biological Sciences

Hobbies: Fencing, biking, working out, traveling, reading fiction novels

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Diverse patient population, unique pathology, supportive faculty and a collaborative resident family.


Koosha Ramezani, MD

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Hometown: Gorgan, Iran

Medical School: Beheshti University of Medical Sciences

Hobbies: Running, Hiking, Playing Soccer; Anything Outdoors, Photography, Playing Tombak (Traditional Persian Percussion), Listening to Podcasts, Adding movies to my Letterboxd list!

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: SUNY Downstate ophthalmology residency program will expose me to a diverse patient population as well as a wide range of ocular pathologies. Our department has a long history of excellence and the faculty are so passionate about and dedicated to resident teaching. Residents are extremely supportive and collegial which makes training enjoyable. I am excited to be a part of this department and work and live in Brooklyn, one of the most vibrant and diverse communities of New York City!


Matthew Wilneff, MD

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Hometown: Highland Park, IL

Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Medical School: Florida Atlantic University

Hobbies: I enjoy boxing, weightlifting, and video games. Going on hikes with my wife Shannon, and relaxing at home with our two cats, Mimi and Osi

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Strong comradery among residents. Training within a population that will allow me to handle any pathology I encounter in the future.


Brian Wollocko, MD

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Hometown: Monroe, NY

Undergraduate: Skidmore College

Medical School: The Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University (Stony Brook Medical School)

Hobbies: Hiking, Running, Camping, Cooking, Spending time with loved ones

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: I wanted to train at a program that allowed me to have supervised autonomy, to let me practically develop my skills, and to be exposed to high volume and diverse pathology. I wanted to be able to leave residency being prepared to approach and handle anything that my career will throw at me.


PL2 Class of 2027

Evan Afshin, MD

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Hometown: Plainview, New York 

Undergraduate: Macaulay Honors College at Queens College  

Medical School: New York Medical College  

Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, tennis, anything outdoors/nature, photography, creating GIFs/memes, DIY projects, and spending time with family and friends 

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: I wanted to continue training in NYC! Downstate offers robust clinical training with its diverse population, extensive pathology exposure, and high clinical volume. I wanted a place that would promote autonomy and I was drawn by the fact that so many faculty members also trained at Downstate and either stayed or returned after fellowship. Lastly, you could feel the comradery and support amongst the residents. 


Palaiologos Alexopoulos, MD

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Hometown: Athens, Greece

Undergraduate: University of Athens Medical School

Medical School: University of Athens Medical School

Hobbies: Film, soccer & tennis, hosting radio shows / podcasts, attending music festivals & listening to albums, finding hidden gems in the city

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Wonderful people to work with & supportive environment, optimal balance between supervision and autonomy, extensive volume and diversity in cases (especially surgical); and, of course, its location in the best city in the world.


Gabriel Kabarriti, MD

Photo of Subhashini Chandrasekaran

Hometown: Brooklyn, NY

Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University

Medical School: SUNY Downstate 

Hobbies: Traveling, biking, trying new coffee shops

 Why I chose SUNY Downstate: The training at Downstate through its diverse patient population and hands-on experience provides a truly comprehensive training. The Faculty and residents are supportive, dedicated, and devoted to caring for your development as an ophthalmologist. As a medical student, I saw first-hand the great clinical experience residents get and I am lucky to be able to continue my training here! 


Jasmine Mahajan, MD

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Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Undergraduate: The College of New Jersey

Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Hobbies: teaching and learning dance, exploring NYC (particularly cute cafes), collecting snow globes, drinking lots of coffee, and cardio kickboxing

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: diverse patient population, camaraderie amongst residents and faculty, unique cases and pathology, and being in Brooklyn!


Nairi Rostomian, DO

Photo of Jasmine Mahajan, MDHometown: Los Angeles, CA

Undergraduate: University of California Santa Barbara

Medical School: Kansas City University 

Hobbies: Armenian music & dance, pilates, anything outdoors including hiking, climbing, and camping, traveling & learning about different cultures, enjoying all forms of live music, and quality time with my amazingly supportive family and friends

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Seeing how confidently the seniors in this program navigate Ophthalmology from the clinic to the OR, all I could think was I hope I am that clinically sound and  comfortable coming out of residency. Besides the high volume and broad disease pathology that comes with serving the population of Brooklyn, New York provides a diverse and lively atmosphere, with a large Armenian community and incredible co-residents that make it feel like a second home.


Omar Siddique, MD

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Hometown: Queens, NY

Undergraduate: Macaulay Honors College at Hunter College

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Hobbies: Basketball, weightlifting, video games, science fiction

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Growing up in New York City, there is nowhere else I consider home. Having the opportunity to train at such a storied program, care for the diverse patient population, and encounter every pathology under the sun while still being so close to friends and family was a no brainer. On top of that, the great camaraderie between residents and excellent fellowship match results make SUNY Downstate second to none.


Jose Sinon, MD

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Hometown: Ithaca, NY

Undergraduate: Binghamton University

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Hobbies: Exploring nature, playing and watching sports, gardening

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: great training with diverse pathology and supportive faculty


Sapna Syal, MD

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Hometown: Brick, NJ

Undergraduate: Princeton University

Medical School: Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Hobbies: working out, historical fiction, traveling, and eating donuts

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: high volume program with the gamut of pathology, diverse patient population, camaraderie among residents, mentorship from attendings, and living in Brooklyn!


PL1 Class of 2028

Rucha Borkhetaria, MD

Photo of Rucha Borkhetaria, MDHometown: Somerset, NJ 

Undergraduate: The College of New Jersey  

Medical School: Penn State College of Medicine  

Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, tennis, anything outdoors/nature, photography, creating GIFs/memes, DIY projects, and spending time with family and friends 

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Downstate provides truly robust training through its supervised autonomy, where I’ve seen the senior residents manage a high volume of complex pathology with such confidence and ease. In addition to providing a diverse patient population, Brooklyn is the best place to live, especially alongside our wonderful co-residents that become like family!


Maria Canellos, DO

Photo of Maria Canellos, DOHometown: Manhasset Hills, NY

Undergraduate: SUNY Geneseo 

Medical School: NYITCOM

Hobbies: : Traveling, tennis, baking, spending time with my family and friends

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: I chose SUNY Downstate because of its strong reputation for producing confident and skilled ophthalmologists through hands-on training and early independence. I value the high volume of clinical and surgical experience, as well as the diverse patient population. There is a great sense of camaraderie and support among the residents and faculty. Downstate felt like the perfect place for me to grow not only as a clinician but also as an individual, and I am grateful to be a part of this program.


David Castillejos, MD

Photo of David Castillejos, MDHometown: San Diego, CA

Undergraduate: Columbia University

Medical School: Columbia University

Hobbies: Running, walking, exploring, eating, Spending time with loved ones

 Why I chose SUNY Downstate: I wanted to feel comfortable with a wide range of pathologies and patient populations. I also wanted to feel comfortable with autonomy as I learned how to be an ophthalmologist. Downstate provides these elements with good mentorship to help me grow and learn. In these ways I hope to leave residency feeling comfortable with any pathology a patient might present with.


Charles Karrasch, MD, PhD

Photo of Charles Karrasch, MD, PhDHometown: Reno, NV

Undergraduate: University of Nevada, Reno

Medical and Graduate School: SUNY Downstate

Hobbies: Snowboarding, cycling, tennis, hanging out with my wife and kids in Prospect Park.

 Why I chose SUNY Downstate: I enjoyed my time as a student at Downstate, and I am fortunate to remain here for residency. Downstate’s ophthalmology program has a reputation for autonomy, high volume, and diverse patients and pathology. I also love the density and energy of the city.

 


Aysha Malik, MD

Photo of Aysha Malik, MDHometown: Long Island

Undergraduate: Boston University

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Hobbies: Junk Journaling, cooking, puzzles, reading fantasy books, trying new restaurants in NYC 

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Having gone to medical school at Downstate and now continuing my medical training here, I can truly state that the patient population in East Flatbush and Brooklyn in general is extremely grateful for everything we do. It motivates you to keep working and striving toward your medical goals. Downstate also fosters a sense of community like no other. I have made best friends during medical school and residency that have helped me get through the demanding and rigorous journey that is medicine. Lastly, there’s no place like NYC and Brooklyn. 


Megh Shah, MD

Photo of Megh Shah, MDHometown: East Brunswick, NJ

Undergraduate: The College of New Jersey

Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Hobbies: Distance running, Indian classical singing, photography, exploring the city, collecting decks of playing cards, and traveling when I can.

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: When I rotated at Downstate as a student I fell in love with the patient population and realized how many different pathologies I would be exposed to.  The training is robust and will allow me to feel confident in my abilities afterwards.  The residents are always there for each other and each class becomes a family.  Brooklyn is also a place to live and work with losts of things to do!


Gabriel Shlager, MD

Photo of Gabriel Shlager, MDHometown: San Francisco, CA

Undergraduate: Connecticut College

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine

Hobbies: Breadmaking, cooking, skiing, card games, attending concerts, and bachata dancing

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Friendly atmosphere, graduated autonomy, highly diverse pathology with the opportunity to be a part of and serve the Brooklyn community.  Excited to be back in NYC and enjoy what the city has to offer!


Mohamed Sylla, MD

Photo of Mohamed Sylla, MDHometown: Dakar (Senegal) and Bronx

Undergraduate: BMCC, The City College of New York

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Hobbies: Traditional oil painting, Workout

Why I chose SUNY Downstate: Large underserved, diverse patient population. Amazing opportunity to learn from amazing faculty and residents.