2026 DOM fellowship matches announced for July start dates

Jan. 7, 2026
David Mogollon, Communications Manager, Department of Medicine

A total of 37 physicians matched into fellowship training programs at the Department of Medicine, according to recently released Match Day results from December. Thirteen incoming U of A fellows are internal picks.

[Collage of faces of incoming physicians who matched into fellowship programs at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Medicine. ]

Collage of faces of incoming physicians who matched into fellowship programs at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson’s Department of Medicine. See below for 13 others from the College of Medicine – Tucson who matched into fellowship programs elsewhere.

David Mogollon, Department of Medicine

Very few spots remain unfilled and some residents could still catch a break with a fellowship program in coming months, but the Department of Medicine fellowship program directors were in large part more than happy with the results of Fellowship Match Day 2025, which fell on Dec. 3 last year.

You would be excused for missing the flurry of activity, as that was the same day as the DOM’s Annual Year-End Faculty & Staff Luncheon in the COM-T Social Hall.

“We were fortunate to match an exceptional group of fellows this year, each bringing unique strengths and experiences to our program. Our nephrology division looks forward to the talent, passion and dedication they will contribute to the UA Nephrology community. We are truly excited to welcome them aboard,” said Amy Sussman, MD, who is the Nephrology Fellowship program director as well as the DOM’s vice chair of education and Internal Medicine Clerkship director.

In all, 37 fellows have been picked so far to start in fellowships within the Department of Medicine come July 1. Of those, 10 are from the DOM’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, one is a current Division of Cardiology fellow (and former U of A IM resident) moving to a more advanced program there, and two are current assistant professors (one a former U of A IM resident) on the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson faculty. To date, 13 more IM residents from the DOM matched into fellowship programs elsewhere — including two who got sports medicine fellowships whose Match Day was Jan. 7.

Here are results from Fellowship Match Day (by division and program):

CARDIOLOGY

[Images of three men: Khaled Almorsy, MBBCh, Arthur Gallegos, MD, and Aarish Khan, MBBCh]

Khaled Almorsy, MBBCh, Arthur Gallegos, MD,
and Aarish Khan, MBBCh

Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship

Khaled Almorsy, MBBCh | IM residency training at McLaren Flint Internal Medicine Group Practice, Flint Michigan, via Michigan State University (2023-26). Medical degree (2019) from Al-Azhar University Faculty of Medicine, Cairo, Egypt. Publication.

Arthur Gallegos, MD | IM residency training at University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics, Madison, Wisconsin (2023-25). Medical degree (2023) from UNLV Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine, Las Vegas. Publication.

Aarish Husain Khan, MBBCh | IM residency training at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (2023-26). Medical degree (2020) from Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland School of Medicine, Dublin, Ireland. Publication.

[Sahithi Sharma, MBBS, Jasraj Singh, MD, and Vikram Singh, MD]

Sahithi Sharma, MBBS, Jasraj Singh, MD,
and Vikram Singh, MD

Sahithi Sharma, MBBS | Currently in Women’s Heart Disease Fellowship with the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at Los Angeles’ Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (2025-26). IM residency training at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso (2022-25). Medical degree (2020) from Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences & Research Centre, Bengaluru, India. She also has been a research collaborator, visiting research fellow and trainee at Mayo Clinic Arizona starting in May 2021. Publications.

Jasraj Singh, MD | Fellowship training includes Preventive Cardiology Fellowship (2025-26) and NIH R38 StARR Fellowship in Translational Clinical Research (2024-25), Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota. IM residency training at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Rochester (2021-24). Medical degree (2021) from University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. Publications.

Vikram Singh, MD | Currently chief resident, Internal Medicine Residency Program, University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson (2025-26). IM Residency training at University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson (2022-25). Medical degree (2022) from Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science, Chicago.

Interventional Cardiology Fellowship

[Harshith Chandra Kumar, MBBS, and Christy Lougheed, MD]

Harshith Chandra Kumar, MBBS,
and Christy Lougheed, MD

Harshith Chandrakumar, MBBS | Currently in Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, New York (2023-26). IM residency training at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn (2019-22), where was chief resident (2022-23). Medical degree (2017) from PSG Institute of Medical Sciences, Coimbatore, India. Publications.

Christy Lougheed, MD | Currently in Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, where also completed IM residency training (2020-23). Medical degree from Medical University of the Americas, Charlestown, Nevis & St. Kitts (2020). Also holds BSN from University of British Columbia, Kelowna, Canada (2007). In 2022, she was a winner of the Charles W. Hall Jr. & Virginia C. Hall Memorial Endowment Award for Outstanding House Officer in the Cardiac Care Unit from the DOM’s Division of Cardiology.

Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship

[Michael Fatuyi, MD]

Michael Fatuyi, MD

Michael Fatuyi, MD | Currently in Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at the University of Wisconsin, Madison (2023-26). IM residency training at Good Samaritan Trihealth Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio (2020-23), via University of Cincinnati. Medical degree from Windsor University School of Medicine, Cayon, St. Kitts & Nevis (2019). Publications.

The Heart Failure & Cardiology Transplant Fellowship has been idled for several years.

Still in interview season for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship match.

ENDOCRINOLOGY

Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism Fellowship

[Dima Abu Afifeh, MD, Jia Ee Chia, MBBS, and Yijing Ding, MB MSurg, MS]

Dima Abu Afifeh, MD, Jia Ee Chia, MBBS,
and Yijing Ding, MB MSurg, MS

Dima Abu Afifeh, MD | Currently chief resident (2025-26) in the IM residency program (2022-25) at Northwest Health Tucson. Medical degree (2020) from University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan, where she was born and raised.

Jia Ee Chia, MBBS | Currently in the IM residency program (2023-26) at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in El Paso, Texas. Medical degree from the International Medical University Faculty of Medicine and Health in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Publications.

Yijing Ding, MB, MSurg | Currently in the IM residency program (2023-26) at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, which is affiliated with the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School. She previously was a resident physician (2007-10) at the Obstetrics & Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and earned her medical degree (2007) from Fudan University’s Shanghai Medical College. She also holds a master’s degree in biostatistics (2014) from the University of Florida.

GASTROENTEROLOGY & HEPATOLOGY

Gastroenterology Fellowship

[Samuel Cheong, DO, and Sabrina Ho, MD, and Kyle Schneider, MD]

Samuel Cheong, DO, and Sabrina Ho, MD,
and Kyle Schneider, MD

Samuel Hoyong Cheong, DO | Currently a chief resident (2025-26) with the IM residency program (2022-25) at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson. Medical degree (2022) from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. Publications.

Sabrina Ho, MD | Currently in the IM residency program (2023-26) at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson. Medical degree (2023) from the University of Nevada Las Vegas School of Medicine in Reno, Nevada. Undergraduate degree in computer engineering (2019) from Washington University in St. Louis. Publications.

Kyle Schneider, MD | Currently a chief resident (2025-26) in the IM residency program (2022-25) at Methodist Health System in Dallas. Medical degree (2023) from the Burnett School of Medicine at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in molecular biology (2018) from Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Publications.

GENERAL INTERNAL MEDICINE, GERIATRICS & PALLIATIVE MEDICINE

Geriatric Medicine Fellowship

[Vannessa Adams, DO, and Cecillia Lee, MD]

Vannessa Adams, DO, and
Cecillia Lee, MD

Vannessa Adams, DO | Currently in IM residency program (2023-26) at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson. Medical degree from the Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine (2023) in Parker, Colorado.

Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship

Cecillia S. Lee, MD | Currently an assistant professor in the Department of Family & Community Medicine at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center – Tucson. Family medicine residency training (2021-23) at Los Angeles’ Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills Medical Center in affiliation with the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Medical degree from the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (2021) in Camden, New Jersey.

HEMATOLOGY & ONCOLOGY

Hematology & Medical Oncology Fellowship

[Tom Marco, DO, Ahmad Iftikhar, MBBS, and Tara Ballouz, MD]

Tom Marco, DO, Ahmad Iftikhar, MBBS,
and Tara Ballouz, MD

Tom Marco, DO | Currently in the IM residency program at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson (2023-26). Medical degree from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona (2023), from which she also holds a master’s degree (2019) in biomedical sciences. She earned her bachelor’s degree (2018) in psychology from Ohio State University in Columbus. Publications.

Ahmad Iftikhar, MBBS | Currently a clinical assistant professor in the Division of Inpatient Medicine at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson (2021-24). IM residency training at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson (2018-21). Medical degree from the Rawalpindi Medical College (2015) in Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Publications.

Tara Ballouz, MD | Currently in the IM residency program at Mayo Clinic Scottsdale (2023-26). Medical degree (2023) from Western Michigan University’s Homer Stryker, MD, School of Medicine in Kalamazoo. Publications.

The Integrative Medicine in Hematology Oncology Fellowship, held in coordination with the Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine and Mayo Clinic Arizona, offers hematology-oncology fellows a chance to add to their studies to broaden their care options. Participating fellows usually are named at a later date.

INFECTIOUS DISEASES 

[Preetham Venkateswaran, MD]

Preetham K.
Venkateswaran, MD

Infectious Diseases Fellowship 

Preetham K. Venkateswaran, MD | Currently a hospitalist in Southern California. IM residency training (2020-23) at McLaren Flint – MSU Program in Flint, Michigan, affiliated with Michigan State University. Medical degree (2018) from St. Martinus University Faculty of Medicine, Willemstad, Curaçao. He also holds a bachelor’s degree (2015) from the American University of Antigua College of Medicine, St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda.

NEPHROLOGY

Nephrology Fellowship

[Alexander Johnson, DO, MS, Steven Younger, MD, and Kelvin Dan, MD]

Alexander Johnson, DO, MS, Steven Younger, MD,
and Kelvin Dan, MD

Alexander L. Johnson, DO, MA | Currently a chief resident (2025-26) in the IM residency program (2023-25) at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles. Medical degree (2023) from the Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Campbell County, Virginia. Also holds master’s degree (2019) in biomedical sciences from Midwestern University, Glendale, Arizona, and bachelor’s degree (2017) in biology from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix.

Steven J. Younger, MD | Currently a hospitalist in the Phoenix area affiliated with Banner Health. IM residency training (1999-2002) at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. Medical degree (1999) from the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Also holds a bachelor's degree (1994) in biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Boulder.

Kelvin Dan, MD | Served as interim deputy chief of family medicine (2024-25) at Tséhootsooí Medical Center in Fort Defiance, Arizona, where he’s a staff physician. Currently a participant in the American College of Physicians Arizona Chapter’s Early Career Physician Leadership Mentoring Program. He previously served as a hospitalist at Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix. IM residency training (2017-20) at the U of A College of Medicine – Phoenix. Medical degree (2017) from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine & Health Sciences in Bismarck. He also holds a master’s degree in physiology (2013) and a bachelor’s degree in biology (2009) from the University of Arizona. Publication.

PULMONARY, ALLERGY, CRITICAL CARE & SLEEP MEDICINE 

[Kelechi Okpara, MD, PharmD, and Naiem Habib, DO]

Kelechi Okpara, MD, PharmD,
and Naiem Habib, DO

Allergy & Immunology Fellowship 

Kelechi Okpara, MD, PharmD | IM residency training at the University of California, San Francisco (2023-26). Medical degree (2023) from UCLA/Drew Medical Education Program. She also holds a bachelor’s degree (2017) and doctor of pharmacy degree (2018) from Boston’s Northeastern University. Publications.

Naiem Habib, DO | IM residency training at New York-Presbyterian Queens Hospital, New York, New York (2023-26). Medical degree (2023) from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in economics (2016) from New York City’s Fordham University.

Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship

[Audrey Adkins, MD, Spencer Hassman, DO, and Madison Hoffer, MD]

Audrey Adkins, MD, Spencer Hassman, DO,
and Madison Hoffer, MD

Audrey Adkins, MD | IM residency training (2022-25) as well as medical degree (2022) from U of A College of Medicine – Tucson. As a Citizen Potawatomi Nation tribal member, she started her health care career as an EMT for Native Air in Mesa, Arizona, where she served a number of Native populations throughout the state before returning to school as an adult learner to become a physician.

Spencer Hassman, DO | IM residency training at Washington State University, Everett, Washington (2023-26), where he also was a chief resident. Medical degree (2023) from Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine in Meridian, Idaho.

Madison Hoffer, MD | A hospitalist with the DOM’s Division of Inpatient Medicine since completing IM residency training here at the College of Medicine – Tucson (2022-25). Medical degree (2022) from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. Publications.

[Sabrina Soin, DO, Frank Ventura, MD, and Tushita Verma, DO, MPH]

Sabrina Soin, DO, Frank Ventura, MD,
and Tushita Verma, DO, MPH

Sabrina Soin, DO | IM residency training at University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson (2023-26). Medical degree (2023) from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, Clark County, Nevada. Publications.

Frank Ventura, MD | Nocturnist at Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist, since completing IM residency training at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina (2022-25). Medical degree (2022) from University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) John Sealey School of Medicine, Galveston. Publications.

Tushita Verma, DO, MPH | Served as chief resident (2025-26) after IM residency training (2022-25) at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque. Master’s in public health and medical degree (2022) from A.T. Still University of Osteopathic Medicine, Phoenix, Arizona. Publications.

Critical Care Track of PCCM Fellowship

[Gabriel Coleman, MD, and Fred Ly, DO]

Gabriel Coleman, MD, and Fred Ly, DO

Gabriel Coleman, MD | Emergency medicine residency training at Western Michigan University’s Home Stryker, MD, School of Medicine, Kalamazoo (2023-26). Medical degree (2023) from the Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis.

Sleep Medicine Fellowship

Trung “Fred” Ly, DO | Family medicine residency training at UTMB John Sealey School of Medicine, Galveston, Texas (2023-26). Medical degree (2023) at Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

RHEUMATOLOGY

Rheumatology Fellowship

[McKenzie Cummins, DO, Frank Delgado, MD, and Susie Gong, MD]

McKenzie Cummins, DO, Frank Delgado, MD,
and Susie Gong, MD

McKenzie B. Cummins, DO | IM residency training at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson (2023-26). Medical degree (2023) from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California. Bachelor’s degree in biology (2017) from Arizona State University in Tempe. She’s won multiple honors and awards during her U of A career, including Outstanding Resident in Rheumatology (2025).

Frank M. Delgado, MD | Currently in IM residency training (2023-26) at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in Albuquerque. Medical degree (2021) from the Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas (UPC) Escuela de Medicina in Lima, Peru. Bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering (2013) from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Xiaoshan “Susie” Gong, MD | IM residency training (2023-26) at the U of A College of Medicine – Tucson. Medical degree (2023) from the Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and a bachelor’s degree (2017) from UNLV as well. Publications here and here.

MORE FELLOWSHIPS MATCHES 

[Max Hart, MD, MEd]

Max Hart, MD, MEd

Among other U of A Internal Medicine Residency Program – Tucson residents, chief residents or graduates who matched into fellowships at other institutions are:

  • Maxwell Hart, MD, MEd (currently a U of A IM chief resident) | Gastroenterology Fellowship, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque
  • Akira A. Folk, DO | Gastroenterology Fellowship, Honor Health, Phoenix
  • Paulina A. Kuzmin, DO | Endocrinology Fellowship, HMH Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune Township, New Jersey
  • Franklin Liu, MD | Gastroenterology Fellowship, Sunrise Health, Las Vegas, Nevada
  • Alejandro “Alex” Zamora, MD | Hospice & Palliative Medicine Fellowship, University of Alabama, Birmingham
  • Allysha Yasuda, MD | Nephrology Fellowship, University of Utah, Salt Lake City
  • Zain S. Mehdi, DO | Endocrinology Fellowship, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill. 

  • Hoang Nhat “Nelson” Pham, MD | Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 

    [Left to right by row: Akira Folk, DO; Paulina Kuzmin, DO; Franklin Liu, MD; Alex Zamora, MD; Allysha Yasuda, MD; Zain Mehdi, DO; Nelson Pham, MD; Amith Rao, MD; Steve Sainbayar, DO; Manmeet Singh, MD; Grant Collins, MD; and Andrew Lee, MD]

    L-R by row: Akira Folk, DO; Paulina Kuzmin, DO; Franklin Liu, MD; Alex Zamora, MD; Allysha
    Yasuda, MD; Zain Mehdi, DO; Nelson Pham, MD; Amith Rao, MD; Steve Sainbayar, DO;
    Manmeet Singh, MD; Grant Collins, MD; and Andrew Lee, MD

  • Amith Rao, MD | Hematology & Oncology Fellowship, University of Tennessee, Knoxville
  • Enkhtsogt “Steve” Sainbayar, DO | Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, HCA Overland Park Medical Center, Kansas
  • Manmeet Singh, MD | Nephrology Fellowship, University of California, Irvine
  • Grant Collins, MD | Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa
  • Andrew S. Lee, MD | Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of Nebraska, Omaha

Congratulations, one and all!

NOTE: The Division of Dermatology was spun off as a standalone department in July 2025, so for information regarding the Advanced Dermatology Residency Program or Micrographic Surgery & Dermatologic Oncology Fellowship, please contact Bersabe Lopez: bersabelopez@arizona.edu or 520-694-2021.

Contacts

David Mogollon
mogollon@arizona.edu
520-626-1137