Katerina Castillo, M.D.
I was born in Ukraine but spent most of my life growing up in Traverse City, MI as one of 9 (!) children. I attended the University of Michigan for undergrad, where I spent time abroad in El Salvador, Colombia, and Switzerland. After these travels I thought I would move somewhere warmer, but ended up in Minnesota for medical school. Outside of work, I love to spend time with my baby boy and husband, cook and bake plant based food, and explore new cuisines.
Michigan Difference: So many reasons! Coming to Michigan is coming back hoMe, and I am so excited to be back in Ann Arbor. From my interview, it was clear that there was a close community of super fun and kind people, whom I would enjoy working with. The program is very well balanced between Medicine and Pediatrics, and I knew I would get equally strong training on both sides. I also felt the program leadership was focused on training physicians who would work to improve healthcare and care for the underserved. All of this, in addition to all Ann Arbor has to offer, and being close to family, made it the perfect place for me and my family!
Kathryn Herrera-Theut, M.D.
I was born and raised in Arizona and completed my Biochemistry degree at Arizona State University and then went on to medical school at the University of Arizona in Tucson. I am passionate about medical care in rural and underserved communities. I love exploring the outdoors: camping, hiking, and running with friends. I’m a foodie and a huge Chef’s Table fan. In my spare time I also enjoy Catan, audiobooks, and trivia (hopefully back again post covid)!
Michigan Difference: I chose University of Michigan Med-Peds because I was beyond impressed with everyone I met during my interview and the recruitment process. I was also searching for a well-established Med-Peds program that had excellent categorical programs. While I was raised in Arizona, my extended family are all from Michigan, and Michigan feels like a second home. Ann Arbor is also an incredibly fun city with so much art, great food, and beautiful outdoor areas.
Gabrielle Horner, M.D.
I grew up in New Jersey as one of five sisters and moved to Boston to attend Tufts University. I studied Biopsychology as well as Child Development and played on the Tufts women’s lacrosse team (Go Jumbos!). While studying abroad in South Africa I became passionate about public health and after graduation pursued a research assistant position at Massachusetts General Hospital studying health policy. I ultimately had the opportunity to return to Sub-Saharan Africa as a medical student to evaluate community-based HIV medication delivery programs. At Michigan I hope to merge my interests in public health, research and hospital medicine, in whichever form that takes. Outside the hospital, I am excited to find nearby running trails, explore local breweries, host Bachelorette viewing parties and cheer on U of M!
Michigan Difference: At the start of our virtual interview season I wondered how it would be possible to truly get a feel for a program. Those nerves disappeared after my first interview at Michigan, when at the Zoom pre-interview dinner, I could appreciate the genuine enthusiasm and love that residents had for the program. The next morning, Dr. Lukela began the interview day with a reflection on racial health inequities in the context of COVID; this spoke volumes to the program’s mission and resonated with my own values. Altogether, Michigan represented a well-rounded, supportive and fun community that I aspired to join despite never having set foot in Ann Arbor. I am so grateful to be a part of the Michigan Med-Peds family!
Alexa Minc, M.D.
I grew up in the city of Chicago, about a mile west of Wrigley field. I took after my grandfather, who was a jeweler in Argentina, and started learning metalsmithing in my teenage years. I also loved the sciences, so when it came time to enroll in college, I chose to pursue both, in a 5-year dual degree program with Brown University and the Rhode Island School of Design. I majored in cognitive science and jewelry and metalsmithing, respectively. I spent a lot of time during college mentoring teens and adolescents with chronic illnesses, and it was through this that I discovered a passion for medicine. A few years (and a lot of physics and organic chemistry courses) later, I found myself moving to Ann Arbor for medical school at the University of Michigan. During medical school, I continued my work with the disability/chronic illness community, helping found the student organization, Medical Students for Disability Health and Advocacy as well as an American Sign Language elective course for medical students and have continued learning ASL myself. Though I haven’t had a chance to get back to the metals studio, in my free time you can usually find me learning some kind of craft. I have been teaching myself to make clothes, embroider, crochet, or anything I can get my hands on!
Michigan Difference: During medical school, I was able to get to know the med-peds program at Michigan and found an incredibly warm, open, and welcoming group who were passionate about their work. I was impressed by the fact that even with the academic rigor of the program, residents still had time for serious hobbies and lives outside of the hospital. The faculty members were very supportive and take extra time for teaching and helping students and trainees make steps towards achieving their individual career goals. I could tell how accessible and thoughtful the leadership team was and by the end of interview season I knew that Michigan was the right place for me to continue my training.
Majd Mokbel, M.D.
I was born in Dearborn, Michigan to a giant Lebanese family that never let you have a dull moment. Then at the tender age of 3, our family decided to spread our wings and moved to the Bay area in California. But after 8 years away from the extended family and our grandmother’s cooking we decided to come back home to Metro-Detroit where I have stayed until moving to Ann Arbor for medical school and residency. I studied Biochemistry and Spanish at the University of Michigan-Dearborn and then served in City Year Detroit as a corps member for a 6th grade math class on the east side of the city. During medical school, outside of studying and hanging out with my family I helped lead our Project H community clinic and the student group Medical Students of Middle Eastern Descent (MSMD). Outside of the medical world, I love to cook, play basketball, garden, and have a newfound passion in baking babkas (inspired by Seinfeld).
Michigan Difference: Whenever I came across a Med-Peds residents or faculty member during my rotations at Michigan Medicine I could tell that they were my type of people. They were kind, smart, and always willing to help out the medical students. They were also integrated so well into the hospital that it was hard to tell who was Med-Peds at times. Most importantly, the reason I decided to stay at Michigan for my training was the familial feel that residents had with one another. They were in constant contact with each other and would rush to help one another out. That type of supportive environment at the program sealed the deal.
Daniela Sosa, M.D.
I was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to Montreal, Canada at 4 years old (where my dad still lives!). One year later, I arrived in the USA where I was raised in Miami, FL. I completed my B.S. in Biology at Florida International University (FIU), and stayed there for medical school. Prior to medical school I was a mathematics tutor and was convinced I would pursue a career in pediatrics due to my love of working with children. However, I discovered a love for adult medicine in med school, but truly could not give up the chance to work with kids. Once I was introduced to the Med-Peds community I immediately knew it was the right choice. Outside of medicine, I enjoy being outdoors and anything fitness related (weightlifting, yoga, running, hiking). I also love to bake bread (newbie), listen to podcasts, and read. Fun fact: I have the cutest dachshund!
Michigan Difference: I applied to U of M after learning about their strong categorical programs and Med-Peds presence. However, what truly sold me was the program's passion for compassionate care, inclusivity and interest in creating a thriving community. U of M offers a program where I know I will be getting excellent training to not only become a great physician, but also a better human.
Sabrina Wilcox, M.D.
I grew up in Cheyenne, Wyoming and went to undergrad at the University of Wyoming. I met my husband there, with whom I couples matched for residency. Before starting medical school, I worked as a Forensic Chemist for the Public Health Department of Wyoming. I then went on to medical school at the University of Washington, with my clinical rotations spreading across several northwestern states as part of the decentralized WWAMI program. I always had an interest in pediatrics before medical school, but truly fell in love with medicine during my third year. I sought out wonderful mentors who really validated that Med-Peds would be an excellent fit for my interests, and I am forever grateful for their recommendations! In my spare time, I enjoy doing puzzles (a new hobby since the pandemic), baking, running (because of the baking) and hiking. We have two big dogs at home, Finn and Stella, who also consume most of our time and affection when not at work. Right now, my future career interests are in hematology/oncology, as well as continuing my involvement in global health.
Michigan Difference: There are so many reasons that UM was the absolute best fit for both my husband and I. The strength of the categorical programs and the seamless integration of the Med-Peds program was quite obvious even prior to interviewing. However, on interview day the faculty and residents were truly the selling point. They were all so well-connected with each other, easy-going and thoughtful. I think that interviewing virtually brought several challenges, but despite the platform, their rigorous, top-notch training and collegial culture undoubtedly stood out. Lastly, Ann Arbor seemed like an exciting place to live that went above and beyond satisfying our wants - a smaller size, affordable, and with great access to outdoor recreation.
Julia Witowska, M.D.
I grew up in a southwest suburb of Chicago called Wheaton, IL. I then went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for my undergraduate studies, where I majored in molecular and cellular biology and minored in chemistry and Spanish. After college, I attended medical school at the Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine where I first discovered my passion for Med-Peds! While in medical school I was also very involved in research within the realm of medical education and cultural competence within healthcare, and volunteered as a healthcare provider and Polish interpreter at a local free clinic. While I still remain undecided in terms of career plans, I hope to combine my interests in inpatient medicine, transitions of care, and medical education in my future career. In my free time, I enjoy running, traveling, podcasts, exploring new coffee shops or restaurants, and spending time with my family and friends.
Michigan Difference: I was initially drawn to Michigan because of the two strong categorical programs that make up the Med-Peds program, but ultimately chose Michigan because of the people. Everyone I met during my interview day was humble, kind, and down-to-earth. I truly felt that this was a supportive community in which I would thrive during my residency training, and it was clear that the program leadership was committed to making sure each resident reached their individual career goals. I knew this was the right program for me after the interview day, and I am so excited to be a part of the Michigan Med-Peds family!
