Class of 2027

Pronouns: he/his

Pronunciation of Dr. Micheal Akinboro

Dr. Micheal Akinboro originally hails from Nigeria, where he attended medical school and practiced primary care for five years before relocating to Texas. Micheal served as medical school class president for seven consecutive years, functioning as the primary spokesperson for his class and the liaison between medical students and faculty/administration. During his time in Texas he taught anatomy and physiology as a teaching assistant for Texas A&M and as an adjunct professor for Galen College of Nursing. He has mentored students for future careers in various disciplines in health care. He holds master’s and doctoral degrees in epidemiology from Texas A&M University; his doctoral dissertation focused on ambient temperature and obesity prevalence, and several publications have stemmed from his research. Micheal is committed to preventive care and addressing health at the community level. His research interests include obesity/nutrition, geriatrics, and maternal/child health. In his spare time he enjoys regular physical activity and cooking Nigerian delicacies for friends.

Pronouns: she/her

Pronunciation of Dr. Hannah Diou-Cass

Dr. Hannah Diou-Cass moved to Maine from Florida at age eight and considers New England home. Prior to entering medical school she worked in the hospitality industry and as a scribe and administrative assistant at an OBGYN practice. At UNECOM she was awarded a highly competitive pre-doctoral OMM/anatomy teaching fellowship, served on the executive board of the Latino Medical Student Association, taught medical Spanish to first year medical students, organized cultural humility learning experiences, and sorted donated medical supplies for a Portland-based non-profit. Hannah was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society in recognition of her excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion, and dedication to service. As a third year student, Hannah conducted a retrospective cohort study investigating the length of stay in newborns with neonatal abstinence syndrome who received osteopathic manipulation compared to those who did not. She is a hobby mixologist with an interest in the science of cooking and cocktails, loves to travel and explore other cultures, and is fluent in Spanish.

Pronouns: she/her

Pronunciation of Dr. Katherine Dobosh

Dr. Katherine Dobosh is a first-generation Ukrainian American from New York who was raised in a close-knit rural town with a large Ukrainian community. She speaks several languages, including a dialect of Ukrainian, and trained in ballet as a child, becoming the youngest member of a professional Ukrainian dance company. She has a master’s in public health from Columbia University and a master’s in disability studies from CUNY School of Professional Studies, which she completed during medical school to better understand and address barriers to healthcare access and make medicine more inclusive and accessible. At LECOM, Katherine volunteered with the school’s rural health clinic, participated in the Primary Care Scholars Pathway, and contributed to two research projects. During this time she also raised funds for Ukraine, traveled to Romania to assist Ukrainian refugees, and wrote an article about her experience, which has since been published. She was awarded the Spirit of Volunteerism from the Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association for these efforts. Katherine is a long-time supporter of Make-A-Wish and to date has granted five wishes for critically ill children.

Pronouns: he/him

Pronunciation of Dr. Emmanuel Ebhohimen

Dr. Emmanuel Ebhohimen grew up in Nigeria and attended medical school in West Africa. He was inspired to study medicine after witnessing first-hand the dire consequences of inadequate access to healthcare. At American International University, Emmanuel served as the surgery clerkship class representative and participated in the Gambian Medical Student Association, contributing to a number of community outreach efforts and advocating for health promotion and disease prevention. He also conducted research to explore knowledge, attitudes, and practices of university students towards Covid-19 vaccination. Emmanuel has particular interests in comprehensive care, community health, and hospice and palliative medicine. He is a disciplined practitioner of calisthenics for stress management and in his spare time enjoys delving into the worlds of high fantasy and science fiction through reading.

Pronouns: he/him

Pronunciation of Dr. Joshua Eyitemi

Dr. Joshua Eyitemi was born and raised in rural Nigeria and became a global citizen. He attended medical school in Belarus and subsequently migrated to Canada, where he earned a master’s degree in public health from the University of Saskatchewan. In addition to clinical practice, Dr. Eyitemi is skilled in health systems leadership, operational efficiency, patient safety, and quality improvement. In recent work experience, he led healthcare teams across several service lines, including critical care, renal dialysis, chemotherapy, and primary care services, mainly in rural and underserved areas. Dr. Eyitemi holds a master’s in clinical service operations from Harvard Medical School and has co-authored several journal publications as lead author. He is passionate about family medicine, healthcare leadership, and global health and has a fervent desire to make a meaningful contribution towards eliminating healthcare disparities.

Pronouns: she/her

Dr. Erin Lewis hails from Massachusetts and intends to plant roots in a rural New England community after completing medical training. She has a genuine love for older adults, instilled in part by her grandmother, with whom she shared a close relationship. Erin has a background in computational chemistry and worked as a research assistant at Brigham & Women’s prior to medical school matriculation. She co-authored several journal publications related to aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease. At WVSOM Erin served as vice president of the Geriatrics Club, volunteered with a hospice organization, and represented her peers as base site student representative. A former competitive swimmer, Erin has a decade-plus history of coaching her high school swim team during their winter school breaks. She plans to practice family medicine with a focus on older adults, integrative medicine, and maximizing quality of life.

Pronouns: she/her

Pronunciation of Dr. Josefina Oppenheimer

Dr. Jo Oppenheimer is a native of Argentina, where she attended medical school.  Most recently a resident of Colorado, Jo loves nature and outdoor activities, especially skiing, biking, hiking, and hockey. She is enamored with New England and its changing seasons. Jo has worked as a clinical assistant at an urgent care facility, a high-volume allergy clinic, and a non-profit health center. Bilingual in English and Spanish, Jo has been able to use her language skills to improve health care access and build trust with patients. Her passion for primary care was ignited during medical school, and she is attracted by family medicine’s emphasis on whole-person, comprehensive care. She has a particular interest in women’s health and hopes to incorporate obstetrics into her family medicine practice.

Pronouns: she/her

Pronunciation of Dr. Brianna Petrone

Dr. Brianna Petrone chose to pursue family medicine as part of a dedicated effort to combine her commitment to serving others with a deep personal and professional interest in food and its impact on health. Raised in Rhode Island in a family that valued cooking and community, she completed her undergraduate degree in biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Her early career experiences in research led her to a combined MD/PhD program at Duke, where she focused her doctoral work on developing a new method for dietary assessment using DNA sequencing technology. In her time at Duke, Brianna was actively involved in promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within her department, mentoring young students, and volunteering in community health initiatives. Her volunteer work delivering produce to families experiencing food insecurity cemented her interest in family medicine and working with underserved populations. Brianna is excited to come to Maine to pursue her dream of rural full-scope family medicine practice that is grounded in patients’ lives and communities.  She enjoys spending her free time in the garden, hiking, riding her bike, and visiting the library.

Pronouns: she/her

Pronunciation of Dr. Chayoung Shoulders

Dr. Chayoung (Kelly) Shoulders has a strong interest in geriatric medicine and a longstanding goal to become a family medicine physician with a focus in geriatrics. She spent her childhood in Korea and California, and worked as an EMT full-time while completing undergraduate studies at UCal – Davis. Prior to entering medical school, Kelly worked as a lift technician in a major medical center and a medication technician in a senior care facility, which solidified her career interest in geriatric medicine. She also began volunteering with hospice during that time, visiting patients regularly to help support their daily needs. During medical school Kelly continued volunteering with hospice by offering bereavement support, and assisted people struggling with food insecurity by serving as a food bank volunteer and organizing a weekly community meal at a local church. She served as vice president for PNWU’s First Generation Student Club.

Pronouns: she/her

Pronunciation of Dr. Taylor Simao

Dr. Taylor Simao is a Connecticut native with a passion for geriatrics and a long history of community service. In third grade she began serving meals at a local homeless shelter and continued through college, shaping an early insight into how life circumstances can influence health and access to health care. As an undergraduate at UConn, Taylor studied molecular and cell biology and became involved in basic science research studying germline stem cells of Drosophilia, internationally presenting and co-authoring several publications derived from this work. Volunteering at a local nursing home while completing her undergraduate studies fostered her initial interest in geriatric medicine. Prior to medical school matriculation she worked as a medical assistant in a dermatology office. Taylor’s personal interests include traveling, experiencing new cultures, arts and crafts, and jigsaw puzzles. She also has a predilection for animals in need of extra care and has been adopted by chinchillas, guinea pigs, and two formerly feral felines.