Residents
Class Of 2021
Ubaid Abbasi, MD
Saba University School of Medicine
Ubaid Abbasi, MD, was born in Oghi, Pakistan. At the age of 7, he moved to the United States. Raised in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Abbasi attended McNeese State University where he obtained his undergraduate degree in Biological Science. He furthered his education on the island of Saba, where he earned his doctorate degree from Saba University School of Medicine. Throughout his years of education he’s enjoyed participating in outdoor activities, spending time with family and friends, basketball, and reading. Dr. Abbasi is serving as Chief Resident for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Mohammad “Moe” Bashir, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Mohammad “Moe” Bashir, MD, was born in San Bernardino, CA and raised in Chicago, IL. He received his bachelor’s degree in Biology at Loyola University of Chicago and received his medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine with honors. Outside of medicine he enjoys spending time with his friends and family, golfing, soccer, basketball, watching movies, and the causal Netflix binge. Dr. Bashir is serving as Chief Resident for the 2020-2021 academic year.
Michael Dougherty, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Michael Dougherty, MD, was born in St. Charles, Illinois. He attended Florida State University where he received his undergraduate degree in Biology. Michael received his doctorate degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. His hobbies include being over competitive in sports and watching college football.
Samuel Grimmer, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Samuel Grimmer, MD, was born and raised in Dallas, TX. He met his wife in college and graduated from Texas Christian University with a BS in Neuroscience. After working as a scribe in the Emergency Department for a number of years, Samuel attended and graduated from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He enjoys golf, working out, and spending time with his family.
Nathan Hensler, DO
University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Nathan Hensler, DO, was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. He attended Robert Morris University where he received his undergraduate degree in Environmental Science - Pre-Medicine. Nathan received his doctorate degree from the University of Pikeville - Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine. He enjoys hiking, kayaking, and watching anything sports including his beloved Steelers and Pirates.
Ellin Hossain, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Ellin Hossain, MD is from Boca Raton, FL. She attended Florida Atlantic University where she received her undergraduate degree in Biology. Ellin received her doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. Her hobbies include spending time with her cats, learning new languages, traveling, and watching movies.
Christopher Leiker, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Christopher Leiker, MD, hails from Manhattan, Kansas. The little apple. He attended the University of South Florida where he received his undergraduate degree in Microbiology. He received his medical degree from the American University of the Caribbean. His hobbies include wood working, hiking, scuba diving, and volleyball.
Lauren Tillery, MD
LSU New Orleans School of Medicine
Lauren Tillery, MD, was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She attended the University of Pennsylvania where she received her undergraduate degree in Biological Basis of Behavior. Lauren received a master’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Tulane University. She received her doctorate degree from LSU New Orleans School of Medicine. Her hobbies include reading novels and spending time with friends and family.
Class of 2022
Michael Ascuitto, MD
Louisiana State University
Michael Ascuitto, MD, is a native of New Orleans, Louisiana. He attended Rhodes College in Memphis, Tennessee, where he got his degree in Chemistry and Physics. He participated in the collegiate track team, but more importantly, the frisbee golf team. Michael received his doctorate degree from Louisiana State University. He enjoys catering to his pets Dolce, Aspen, and Bixby.
Jeffry Benjamin, MD
American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Jeffry Benjamin, MD, is a native of Dallas, Texas. He completed his undergraduate degree at Austin College in Sherman, Texas where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in both Psychology and Business Administration. He also attended graduate school at The University of Texas at Dallas where he obtained his Master of Business Administration and Master of Science in Finance. He received his medical degree at the American University of Antigua College of Medicine. Other than medicine he enjoys traveling, fitness and is an avid dog lover and self-proclaimed foodie. He can appreciate a night out exploring the city as well as a night in with a good Netflix binge.
Kathryn "Katie" Cooper, DO
William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Kathryn "Katie" Cooper, DO, is a native of Mississippi and a graduate of William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Mississippi before attending Mississippi College, where she received a Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences. She is interested in practicing broad-spectrum family medicine. Katie enjoys traveling, spending time outdoors, and being with her friends and family in her spare time.
Benjamin "Ben" Ozburn, MD
The American University of the Caribbean
Benjamin "Ben" Ozburn, MD, is a native of Glen Alan, Mississippi. He received a bachelor of science in nursing from Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi, and spent fifteen years in nursing before deciding to return to medical school. His medical degree was earned at The American University of the Caribbean. Ben is married and has two wonderful children. In his spare time he enjoys playing golf, watching sports, and spending time with his family. He is a die-hard Chicago Cubs and Mississippi State football fan.
Pratik Patel, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Pratik Patel, MD, is a native of Waco, Texas. He attended University of Texas at Austin where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology and went on to receive his doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He enjoys traveling, playing and watching sports (especially football), cheering for his Texas Longhorns, cooking and spending time with family and friends.
Devin Petrone, MD
St. Matthews University School of Medicine
Devin Petrone, MD, is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She attended the College of Charleston in South Carolina where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology. Devin received her doctorate degree from St. Matthews University School of Medicine. She enjoys volunteer work, photography, scuba diving, and traveling.
Julissa Plancencio, MD
American International School of Medicine
Julissa Placencio, MD is a native of the Bronx, New York. She attended Concordia College where she received her undergraduate degree in biology. Julissa received her doctorate degree from the American International School of Medicine. She enjoys playing sports, cooking, sudoku, and community service.
Nathan Sugarman, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Nathan Sugarman, MD, is a native of Los Angeles, California. He attended the University of California, Irvine where he earned his Bachelors of Science degree in Biology. Nathan received his doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He enjoys traveling, learning about exotic animals, working on cars, playing video games, and spending time with family.
Class of 2023
Jeremy Adel, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Jeremy Adel, MD, is a native of Gainesville, Florida. He attended Fordham University in the Bronx, New York, on a baseball scholarship where he received his Bachelor of Science. He earned his Master of Medical Science in Mississippi then attended the American University of the Caribbean where he received his doctorate degree. He and his and his wife are doctors in Baton Rouge. He enjoys playing and watching sports, especially SEC football and baseball. He also enjoys playing golf, exercising at the gym and spending time with his wife, family and friends.
Patrick Bergin, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Patrick Bergin, MD, is a native of Burbank, California, and attended Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, where he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology. He received his doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He enjoys watching baseball and hockey, as well as playing golf and various other sports, and enjoys traveling, hiking, and visiting national parks.
Mervina George, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Mervina A. George, MD, is a native of Dominica, West Indies. She attended Rutgers University in New Jersey, majoring in biology and sociology, while working at the university clinic in administrations and received her doctorate from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.
Alakananda “Allie” Mukherjee, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Alakananda “Allie” Mukherjee, MD, was born in West Bengal, India, and immigrated to the Bay Area, California, at the age of six. Her family moved to Plano, Texas, where she attended high school. She received her undergraduate degree in Biology from the University of North Texas in Denton, Texas, and continued her travels to the beautiful island of St. Maarten where she earned her doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. Allie enjoys traveling, exploring new coffee shops, discovering new music, being outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.
Ifeoma "Iffy" Okponyia, MD
American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Ifeoma "Iffy" Okponyia, MD, is a native of Enugu, Nigeria, and at the age of nine, she moved to the United States and was raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry at the University of West Georgia in Carrollton, Georgia, and received her medical degree at the American University of Antigua College of Medicine. She enjoys dancing, traveling, playing and watching sports (especially basketball), community service and spending time with family and friends. She is excited to be here in Louisiana and to experience all the excellent cuisines it has to offer.
Sitara Satish, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Sitara Satish, MD, is a native of Bronx, New York. She attended the University of Chicago where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology and Psychology and received her doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. She enjoys traveling, trying different cuisines (especially desserts), reading and community service and is excited to experience the southern culture and the LSU Tigers!
Valeria "Val" Soegaard, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Valeria "Val" Soegaard, MD, is a native of El Paso, Texas. She attended Texas A&M University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and received her doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. She enjoys going to Puerto Rico to visit her family (and to practice her Spanish), reading, cooking and watching Netflix. She is excited to be back in Baton Rouge as a Family Medicine Resident.
Jeffrey Thiebaud, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Jeffrey Thiebaud, MD, is a native of Dallas, Texas, and spent ten years in the Navy before pursuing a career in medicine. He received his Bachelor of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology from the University of Texas at Austin and received his doctorate from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He enjoys exercise and spending time outdoors with his family.