Meet Our Residents
Class of 2027
Elim Cho, MD
Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Prelim/TY: Sinai Hospital Baltimore, Internal Medicine
Fun fact: An art museum somewhere has a blurb written by me
Angelina (Angel) Fluet, MD
Hometown: Warren, New Jersey
Medical School: University of California, San Francisco
Prelim/TY: Morristown Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun fact: I was a college pole vaulter!
Dwayne Gentle, MD
Hometown: Nanuet, NY
Medical School: Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Prelim/TY: Plainview Hospital, Transitional Year
Fun fact: Back in my glory days, I participated in the opening ceremony of the 2009 U.S. Open (tennis)
James Guider, MD
Hometown: Morristown, NJ
Medical School: Rutgers NJMS
Prelim/TY: Overlook Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun fact: I enjoy making homemade hotsauce
Steven Lacombe, DO
Hometown: Mission Viejo, CA
Medical School: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Prelim/TY: Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Transitional Year
Fun fact: I was a competitive gymnast for 20 years and competed as a NCAA Division 1 athlete.
Vyvan Nguyen, MD
Hometown: Edison, NJ
Medical School: Rutgers NJMS
Prelim/TY: Morristown Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun fact: I'm a Costco enthusiast and bagel connoisseur!!!
Ivani Proaño-Cordova, DO
Hometown: Newark, NJ
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Harlem
Prelim/TY: New York Presbyterian Queens, Internal Medicine
Fun fact: I can still recite the Shakespeare sonnet I memorized in high school
Lauren Sibley, MD
Hometown: Fairfax, VA
Medical School: University of North Carolina
Prelim/TY: University of North Carolina, Internal Medicine
Fun fact: I love insects and have my own small collection that I've caught, identified, and photographed!
Class of 2028
Sofiya Blyznyuk, DO
Hometown: Born in Hremiach, Ukraine. Raised in Cleveland, Ohio
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Internal Medicine
Prelim/TY: OhioHealth, Riverside Methodist Hospital
Fun Fact: Married for 6 years; my husband is also from Ukraine, and our families were in neighboring villages, but we met each other in the USA when he decided to take a road trip from New Jersey to Ohio; the rest is history. I have a toddler girlie and a baby boy on the way. We love the ocean, can be there always, anytime and any weather.
Valerie Bresier, MD
Hometown: Queens, NY
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Prelim/TY: Albany Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I had a self-portrait displayed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Laureen Chan, MD
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Medical School: SUNY Downstate
Prelim/TY: Northwell South Shore University Hospital, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I like to play the piano and mahjong
Alyson Galanga, MD
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Medical School: University of Texas at Houston – McGovern Medical School
Prelim/TY: UCLA-Harbor Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I have a deadlift world record but can’t pick up my own laundry basket because I’m literally just a girl.
Esther Lee, DO
Hometown: Duluth, Georgia
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine – Georgia
Prelim/TY: Morristown Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I enjoy making floral arrangements in my free time!
Junjia Liu, MD
Hometown: China
Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Prelim/TY: North Shore University Hospital / Long Island Jewish Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: One of my life goals is to visit all 50 states - about 80% complete.
Marie Mazzeo-Weaver, MD
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Medical School: NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Prelim/TY: Mount Sinai Morningside/West, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I take my cat on walks and even taught her some tricks
Marichelle Pita, DO
Hometown: Queens, NY
Medical School: NYIT College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Prelim/TY: RWJBH Community Medical Center, Transitional Year
Fun Fact: In college, French was my second major, and I even lived in Paris, France for 6 months!
Ian Steller, DO
Hometown: Santa Maria, CA
Medical School: Western University
Prelim/TY: UC Irvine, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I love adaptive sports and was an assistant instructor at an adaptive golf clinic
Class of 2029
Magdalena (Maggie) Botrous, DO
Hometown: Cedar Grove, NJ
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Elmira, NY
Prelim/TY: RWJBH Community Medical Center, Transitional Year
Fun Fact: I was a thrower for my college's track and field team! My main events were the hammer throw and weight throw!
Kate Briones, DO
Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Medical School: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine – Mesa AZ
Prelim/TY: Kaweah Delta Medical Center, Transitional Year
Fun Fact: My journey into rehab started with a shoulder injury from judo, an Olympic throwing sport. Going through rehab myself inspired me to become a physical therapist assistant, and working as a PTA is where I truly fell in love with helping people regain their function and independence. That passion ultimately led me to medicine and eventually to finding my home in PM&R! I also rescued an orange cat named Zenitsu (after the Demon Slayer character) and he may be part Maine Coon!
Allie Immerso, MD
Hometown: Brick, NJ
Medical School: Rutgers NJMS
Prelim/TY: Morristown Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I couldn't give up softball after college and now play coed slow-pitch
Matthew Lee, MD
Hometown: Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
Prelim/TY: Englewood Hospital, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I collect Pokémon cards, which were a lot less expensive when I was 10 years old.
Jason Marcus, DO
Hometown: Colorado Springs, CO
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University
Prelim/TY: Broward Health North, Transitional Year
Fun Fact: I sneeze when I eat too much
Hilarie Perez, DO
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Medical School: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Prelim/TY: Stony Brook, Transitional Year
Fun Fact: I’m a lover of spontaneous road trips
Marinos Pylarinos, MD
Hometown: Cumberland, RI
Medical School: Rutgers NJMS
Prelim/TY: Rutgers NJMS, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: I was on ESPN U in undergrad when I won the first and only College Arm Wrestling League (CAWL to Arms) championship.
Gerardo Rivera-Colón, DO
Hometown: Jackson, NJ
Medical School: Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine
Prelim/TY: Morristown Medical Center, Internal Medicine
Fun Fact: My parents have 7 chickens; so if you want free eggs give me a call
Robert Steinberg, DO
Hometown: Lake Ronkonkoma, NY
Medical School: NYIT College Of Osteopathic Medicine
Prelim/TY: Northwell Plainview Hospital, Transitional Year
Fun Fact: I played in the Junior Olympics for Volleyball in high school.
