Residents

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.

Class of 2024

Olivia Bradberry Ragusa, MD - LSU Shreveport School of Medicine

Olivia Ragusa, MD, grew up in Gonzales, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where she majored in Biological Engineering and received her Doctor of Medicine from LSU Shreveport School of Medicine. When she's not working, she loves a fun workout class, cooking, going to brunch, and hanging out with her family.

Brittany Fields, MD - Ross University School of Medicine

Brittany Fields, MD, is a native of Tampa, Florida. She attended the University of South Florida where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Public Health. She earned her Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine. She enjoys cooking, baking, running, hiking, traveling and cheering for her favorite team, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Lori Jones, MD - Meharry Medical College

Lori Jones, MD, is a native of Port Allen, Louisiana. She attended the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology and earned doctorate degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. She enjoys listening to music, watching sports and spending time with family and friends.

Travis Lambert, MD - American University of the Caribbean

Travis Lambert, MD, grew up in Lake Charles, Louisiana. He attended Our Lady of the Lake College in Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he received his Bachelor of Science in Biology/Pre-Professional Human Medicine and earned his doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine. He enjoys rugby, space exploration, running, outdoors and reading.

Semone Phillip, MD - American University of Antigua

Semone Phillip, MD, grew up in St. Croix Virgin Islands. Semone attended Florida Memorial University in Miami where she received her Bachelor of Science in Biology. She is married, has one son and enjoys cooking, reading, spending with family, traveling, and fitness activities which promotes overall health and total well-being.

Nirja Shah, MD - St. George’s University School of Medicine

Nirja Shah, MD, was born in Gujarat, India. At the age of 15, she moved to the United States and settled in Houston, Texas, with her family. She attended the University of Houston where she earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology Exercise Science with honors. Nirja earned her medical doctorate degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine and is pursuing the Master of Public Health - Preventive Medicine track (MPH). She enjoys painting, mehndi/henna, Bollywood dancing, traveling, exploring cities and cuisines, and spending time with her family and friends.

Yordanos Teferra, MD - American University of Antigua

Yordanos Teferra, MD, is a native of Addis Ababa Ethiopia, and at the age of nine she immigrated to Alexandria, Virginia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in bioinformatics at Virginia Commonwealth University. Yordanos continued her education on the island of Antigua, where she earned her doctorate degree from American University of Antigua. She enjoys everything seafood, community service, and spending time with family and friends.

Tiffany Valverde, MD - American University of the Caribbean

Tiffany Valverde, MD, grew up in Palm Coast, Florida. She attended The University of Florida where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Pre-Professional Biology and Entomology & Nematology (yep, bugs and worms). She earned her doctorate degree from the American University of the Caribbean. When she’s not identifying bugs for her nieces and nephews through FaceTime; she enjoys restoring old furniture, quoting Disney movies, gardening and perfecting her growing list of secret cooking recipes.