Class of 2026
Lexi Saunders, MD
CHIEF RESIDENT
Hometown: Ellicottville, NY
Undergraduate: SUNY Geneseo
Medical School: SUNY Upstate
Favorite Chief Complaint: "Other"
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: There are so many things for young adults to do, and experiencing all four seasons!
EM Interests: Rural EM, Ballistics/Tactical EMS, Medical Education Podcasting
Blake Wing, MD
CHIEF RESIDENT
Hometown: Birmingham, Alabama
Undergraduate: University of Alabama
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Favorite Chief Complaint: My tummy hurts
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: Outdoor activities
EM Interests: Sports medicine and EMS
Alexis Bell, MD
Hometown: Lima, NY
Undergraduate: Nazareth College of Rochester
Medical School: St. George's University
Favorite Chief Complaint: Laceration or Abscess
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: It's a great mixture of city and nature/outdoor activities
EM Interests: Ultrasound
Charlie Kolkin, DO
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Undergraduate: Princeton University
Medical School: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite Chief Complaint: Animal bite
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: Great place to fish!
EM Interests: Peds
Chirag Patel, MD
Hometown: Virginia Beach, VA
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Favorite Chief Complaint: Abdominal pain
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: Small city with access to the outdoors, tons of beautiful hikes, and nature nearby
EM Interests: Ultrasound, Sports, Pain, Aerospace
David Nicholas, DO
Hometown: Johnson City, NY
Undergraduate: SUNY Geneseo
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite Chief Complaint: Chest pain
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: Dinosaur BBQ
EM Interests: Wilderness Medicine
Steven Kuang, MD
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: St. George's University
Favorite Chief Complaint: I have gout
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: The people, the outdoors, the climbing gym, and four seasons
EM Interests: Disaster medicine, wilderness medicine, education
Deirdre Regan, MD
Hometown: Garden City, NY
Undergraduate: University of Virginia
Medical School: SUNY Upstate
Favorite Chief Complaint: Any chief complaint provided by a farmer
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: The endless opportunities to get outside
EM Interests: Toxicology, Medical education, Ultrasound
Kaitlyn Lavarnway, MD
Hometown: Syracuse, NY
Undergraduate: University of Rochester
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite Chief Complaint: Farmer - no, his wife didn't tell him to come, and no, he didn't finish the fence
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: So many gorgeous lakes and wineries to visit in the summer and great skiing in the winter!
EM Interests: EMS, eCPR/ECMO, Resuscitation, Medical Education
Shayan Shakeri, MD
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate: University of Toronto
Medical School: St. George's University
Favorite Chief Complaint: Injured [insert body part] while "moshing"
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: Proximity to nature, snowboarding, scenic drives
EM Interests: Sports medicine, critical care
Taymi Hernandes Rodriguez, MD
Hometown: Cuba
Medical School: Medical University of Havana
Favorite Chief Complaint: Dyspnea
Favorite Thing About Syracuse: Onondaga Lake
EM Interests: Critical Care and Trauma
