Eman Abdelgadir, MBBS
AP/CP
Eman was born and raised in Khartoum, Sudan, and earned her medical degree from the University Of Khartoum Faculty Of Medicine. As part of her early career development, she completed an externship at Khartoum blood bank and joined Mayo clinic as a research trainee, where her work focused on acute cellular rejection of the kidney transplant. These experiences strengthened her interest in pathology and immunology. She has now joined the Washington University in St Louis Department of Pathology & Immunology as an AP/CP resident and is excited to further explore and grow within the field.

Salvador Alejo, MD, PhD
CP
Sal is a native of Las Vegas, Nevada. He earned his MD and PhD as part of the South Texas MSTP at UT Health San Antonio, where his graduate studies focused on epigenetics and DNA repair in glioblastoma and gynecologic malignancies. He has broad interests in clinical pathology. Outside of medicine, Sal is an avid sports fan and roots for his hometown Vegas Golden Knights and Las Vegas Raiders.

Feyza Cetin, MD
AP/CP
Feyza was born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, and earned her medical degree from Koç University School of Medicine. After graduation, she moved to the United States and joined the University of Wisconsin–Madison as a post-doctoral research fellow studying neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury, during which her interest in pathology emerged. She is now pursuing AP/CP residency training and is excited to explore the breadth of the field. In her free time, she enjoys playing piano, crocheting small animal figures, traveling, and spending time with her cats.

Austin Chan, MD
AP/CP
Austin was born and raised in New York City, and over the years the midwest has become a second home. After earning his biochemistry degree at WashU, he spent two years in Chicago at Lawndale Christian Health Center, where he met life-long mentors that shaped his core understanding of medicine. He returned to NYC for medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and fell for pathology largely thanks to the great group of residents and attendings. Now he’s back at WashU for residency and is interested in nearly every anatomical subspecialty. Outside of the hospital, he spends his free time snowboarding, playing tennis, and cooking whenever he gets the chance.

Andres Dajles, MD, PhD
CP
Andres was born in Cali, Colombia, and grew up in Naples, Florida. He earned a B.A. in Mathematics from Ave Maria University in Naples, FL, before heading to Alaska, where he completed an M.S. in Statistics at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. After receiving his M.D. and PhD in Biostatistics from the University of Iowa as part of the Iowa MSTP, he decided to join the CP-only program at WashU with the hopes of eventually pursuing a fellowship in Transfusion Medicine and Blood Banking. Outside of medicine, mathematics and statistics, Andres enjoys exploring the St. Louis’s restaurant scene, visiting local parks with his wife, and spending time with his two dogs.

Frances Fan, MD
AP/CP
Frances is from California. She received her BA in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of California, Berkeley. She received her MD from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, where she completed a post-sophomore fellowship in the Department of Pathology. In 2025, she joined the Washington University in St Louis Department of Pathology & Immunology as an AP/CP resident. She is interested in surgical pathology, though is currently undifferentiated with regards to subspecialty.

Matthew Lordo, MD, PhD
CP/PSTP
Matt was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio. He received a B.S., Summa cum laude with honors research distinction in biomedical science from the Ohio State University. He also completed his MD/PhD training at Ohio State with his graduate studies focusing on the developmental blockade of Natural Killer (NK) cells in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). In medical school, he served as President of the Pathology Student Interest Group. During his third and fourth years of medical school, he completed elective rotations in Pathology, including hematopathology and transfusion medicine, which solidified his interest into matching into Pathology. In 2025, he was elated to match into the PSTP CP training program at Washington University in St. Louis where he hopes to gain additional clinical training in hematopathology as well as post-doctoral training studying the effects of the leukemic microenvironment on adoptive NK cellular therapies. Outside of work, he enjoys playing music, having recently joined the baritone section of the St. Louis Brass Band, as well as true crime documentaries, going on walks, and playing with his cat, Mocha.

Sameera Mahajan, MBBS
AP/CP
Sameera was born and raised in Pune, India. She completed her medical school training at Bharati Vidyapeeth University and subsequently pursued her AP/CP Pathology residency at SKNMC, Pune. After moving to the United States to be with her family, she prepared for the USMLE Steps and completed several pathology observerships across the Midwest, including two observerships at Washington University in St. Louis. Her pathology interests include Breast and Gynecologic Pathology as well as Dermatopathology. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, trip planning, shopping, cooking, and spending quality time with her family and friends. She is also a proud pet parent to two guinea pigs named after the famous Korean panda twins — Rui and Hui.

Chris Rassmann, MD
AP/CP
Chris was born in Austin, Texas but spent most of his life in Little Rock, Arkansas. He received a B.S. In Biology and a minor in Philosophy from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. He then attended the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences with the intention of becoming a pathologist. He earned is M.D. in 2025 and was excited to join the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University as an AP/CP resident with a longstanding interest in pursuing dermatopathology. In his free time, he enjoys PC gaming with friends all the way back from elementary school, and trying international foods.

Tina Roostaei, MD, MPH
AP/NP/PSTP
Tina was born and raised in Tehran, Iran. She earned her medical degree and master’s in public health from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, where she also became involved in multiple sclerosis research. She then pursued her passion for molecular research in neurological disorders as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Toronto, Canada, and later at Columbia University in New York. Tina is currently an anatomical and neuropathology resident and plans to continue her research as part of the physician-scientist training program. Her goal is to identify targets for the treatment and prevention of neurological disorders through integrative multi-modal studies leveraging genomic, cellular, and tissue-morphologic information. Outside of work, Tina enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going for walks, and exploring new brunch spots.

Melisachew Yeshi, MD
AP/CP
Meli was born and raised in Ethiopia, where his journey in medicine began. He earned his MD from the University of Gondar, initially envisioning a future as a clinician—just as his mother had hoped, stethoscope and all. But along the way, he discovered a deeper fascination with the world of pathology. This passion led him to pursue anatomic pathology training at Addis Ababa University, followed by cytopathology training at Washington University in St. Louis. He is now thrilled to return to WashU, joining the Department of Pathology & Immunology as an AP/CP resident. His current interests include gynecologic, breast, and gastrointestinal pathology. Outside the work, Meli enjoys playing and watching soccer, and ping-pong, and cherishes time spent with family and friends. 

Alessio Beffa, MD
AP /CP
Alessio was born and raised in St. Louis. He received a B.S. in Biochemistry from The University of Tulsa in Oklahoma. He then attended Saint Louis University School of Medicine during which he completed a Post-Sophomore Fellowship in the Department of Pathology. During his PSF year, he enjoyed the diversity of cases and opportunities for teaching which led him to pursue a career in pathology. After earning his M.D. in 2024, he was excited to join the Department of Pathology & Immunology at Washington University as an AP/CP resident with current interest in surgical pathology. He enjoys triathlons and spending time with his family including his wife, son, and two Saint Bernards, Ellie and Banks. 

Rebecca Crowther, MD, PhD 
AP/PSTP
Becca hails from West Deptford, New Jersey. She graduated summa cum laude from Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ. She completed her MD and PhD degrees as part of the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine Medical Scientist Training Program. She earned her PhD in Immunology, studying metabolic changes in immune cells during tuberculosis infection in the labs of Joseph Qualls, PhD and Sing Sing Way, MD, PhD at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. As part of the Physician-Scientist Training Program, she plans to continue studying the immune response to infections. In her spare time, she enjoys cross stitching, cooking, and playing board games with her wife, Kaitlyn. 

Maryam Mohammed, MBBS 
AP/CP
Maryam was born in Sudan and grew up between Sudan, Saudi Arabia, and Canada. She attended medical school at the University of Khartoum, Sudan. Her passion for pathology goes back to her pre-clinical years,  where she won prizes for the best performances in Clinical Immunology and Pathology. Inspired by her mentors, she completed several attachments, including at the National Hemophilia Center, Sudan’s leading center for bleeding disorders. During her time in Canada, she cofounded a tele-health clinic with the Sudanese Canadian Health Professionals association, which provided medical relief to people affected by the recent conflict in Sudan since April 2023.  She is currently an AP/CP resident and is excited to explore her interests in pathology. Maryam is an avid journaler, an amateur calligrapher, and loves fountain pens and Japanese stationery. 

Nila Palaniappan, MD
AP/CP
Nila was born and raised in Columbia, Missouri. She attended the BA/MD program at the University of Missouri-Kansas City for her undergraduate and medical education. She took a gap year in medical school to pursue research at WashU in Dr. Urano’s lab studying Wolfram Syndrome and ultimately returned to WashU to begin pathology residency training in AP and CP.  She initially found the field of pathology growing up, as her best friend’s dad was a dermatopathologist. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, exploring the national parks, practicing yoga, and finding new restaurants to try.

Alexa Powers, MD 
AP/CP
Alexa was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated from Princeton University with a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology and a certificate in Italian Language and Culture, while competing as a member of the Women’s Varsity Swim Team. She attended medical school at Saint Louis University where she also completed a Post-Sophomore Fellowship. During medical school, she developed an interest in teaching, leading her to pursue a distinction in medical education while helping to augment the preclinical curriculum. She is currently an AP/CP resident with an interest in surgical pathology. In her free time, she enjoys running, farmer’s markets, gardening, traveling, and drinking coffee. 

Julia Rockcole, DO
AP/CP 
Julia hails from Metro Detroit, Michigan where she spent her formative years. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and later pursued her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Nova Southeastern University in Clearwater, Florida. Between undergrad and medical school, Julia worked at a dermatology office where she first gained exposure to pathology. Although Julia does like dermatopathology, she is also currently interested in GI and medical renal pathology.  
Julia is thrilled about her residency at Washington University in St. Louis, where she looks forward to delving into various aspects of pathology as an AP/CP resident while learning from experts in this field. Beyond medicine, Julia enjoys listening to music and attending concerts, staying active with her Peloton bike, bowling, or unwinding at home while cheering on the Detroit Red Wings! 

Alicia Vagnozzi, MD, PhD
AP/NP/PTSP
Alicia grew up in Okemos, Michigan – and yes, she will use her hand to show you where in the state that is. She completed her undergraduate studies at Northwestern University, where she started out in the Integrated Science Program, but quantum physics quickly made her switch to biology. After college, she worked for several years as a research technician at the University of Michigan with Dr. Sunny Wong, where she studied the role of various stem cell populations in wound healing. It was here where she realized that bench research was her true passion.  She completed her MD and PhD degrees at Case Western Reserve University, working in Dr. Polyxeni (Pola) Philippidou’s lab to explore the molecular mechanisms of respiratory neural circuit development. She is excited to become involved in the neuroscience research at WashU, both as a future neuropathology fellow and as part of the Physician Scientist Training Program. In her spare time, Alicia enjoys watching documentaries, gardening, and completing home improvement projects. 

Tay Wilson, MD, PhD
CP/PSTP 
Tay was born, raised, and lived her entire life until residency in Memphis, TN. She attended Rhodes College for her undergraduate studies where she majored in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She completed her MD and PhD degrees at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) through a partnership between UTHSC and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. During her PhD, she analyzed regulatory T cell receptor repertoires, classified the immune microenvironment of glioblastoma, and identified a transcriptional signature unique to highly effective CD19-specific CAR-T cells. During this time, she recognized her passion for cellular therapies and decided upon clinical pathology to further her career. Tay is a CP resident with main interests in Transfusion Medicine and Molecular Pathology but is excited to learn all facets of clinical pathology. She would like to continue immunotherapy research during the PSTP. Outside of work, Tay enjoys reading fantasy novels, discovering new (and old) music, and hanging out with her husband, Treston, and puppy son, Bartholomew.

Hongnan (Amanda) Xu, MBBS 
CP
Hongnan Xu was born in Heilongjiang, China. She completed her medical degree at Harbin Medical University. In 2014 she moved to Long Island NY and began working on her master’s degree in clinical laboratory sciences. She worked as a laboratory technologist and developed great interests in blood banking and transfusion medicine, which solidified her choice to pursue a career in clinical pathology. In her free time, she enjoys jogging, swimming, and Zumba classes, then after a good workout she likes to try different cuisines and come home to spend time with her cats.   

Margaret Axelrod, MD, PhD
AP/PSTP
Maggie was raised in New Jersey. She attended Georgetown University for her undergraduate studies. She completed her MD and PhD degrees as part of the Vanderbilt University Medical Scientist Training Program. During her PhD, she studied one of the deadliest side effects of anti-cancer immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitor associated myocarditis. As part of the PSTP, she plans to continue doing research in tumor immunology. Outside of work, she enjoys biking, reading, rock climbing and hiking.

Xin Duan, MBBS, PhD
AP/CP
Xin, originally from Guangzhou, China, is a PGY-2 resident in the Pathology department. Guangzhou, known for its delectable Cantonese cuisine and vibrant blend of overseas and local cultures, is where Xin completed his medical degree at Sun Yat-sen University School of Medicine. After completing his residency in sugery, Xin moved to the United States to pursue his PhD and postdoctoral training in orthopedic surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. Xin’s research focuses on bone and soft tissue diseases, specifically the inflammation and autophagy pathways in cartilage injury and the interventions to prevent chondrocyte damage using a nanoparticle-based in-vivo drug delivery system. During his research year, Xin worked closely with many pathologists at Washington University in St. Louis and developed a passion for pathology, leading him to pursue pathology residency training at the same institution. Outside of work, Xin enjoys spending time outdoors hiking or jogging, as well as weightlifting, playing board games and RPGs with friends.

El Harith Elsiddig, MD
AP/CP
Harith was born in Philadelphia, PA, but spent most of his formative years in the southwest suburbs of Chicago. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign where he considered a pre-medical track, but instead majored in accountancy. Harith worked as an auditor and then as a consultant at one of the “big four” accounting firms. It was during these years that he realized the urge for medicine never dissipated. He enrolled in a post-bacc program at Dominican University, stayed in Chicago for medical school at Loyola University’s Stritch School of Medicine, and graduated in May 2023. During Medical school, he was awarded a research grant by the Illinois Society for the prevention of Blindness for work with the Departments of Pathology and Ophthalmology. It was during this period that he realized his passion for pathology and research. Harith is currently an AP/CP resident with wide interests. During his free time, he enjoys basketball, soccer, learning video animation, and exploring St. Louis with his wife and daughter.

Margaret Fink, MD
AP/CP
Margaret was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. She completed her BS in neuroscience at The College of William & Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. She then worked at the NIH for two years in a clinical research group investigating the genetics behind very rare pediatric neuromuscular disorders, where she had her first experience in pathology looking at muscle biopsy slides. She came back home to Chicago to attend medical school at Northwestern University. In her free time she enjoys riding her Peloton bike, doing jigsaw puzzles, listening to podcasts (specifically the podcast Spilled Milk), and has a goal to walk every possible path in Forest Park.

Carly Maucione, MD
CP
Carly was born and raised in central New Jersey, where she also attended undergraduate school at Rutgers University. After getting her degree in biological sciences, she went on to attend medical school at Penn State College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania. She sought out clinical experiences in blood bank and transfusion medicine as well as hematopathology, which solidified her choice to pursue a career in clinical pathology. She enjoys anything outside, especially the beach. If it involves antiquing, art, or plants, she’s interested! She is hoping to add some more national parks to her list in the near future.

Ruth Melka, MD
AP/CP
Ruth was raised in Georgia and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Duke University. She attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia. She is excited to explore her interests in pathology as an AP/CP resident. In her spare time, she enjoys reading, watching tv/movies, and spending time with family and friends.

Grace Perkins, DO
AP/CP
Grace moved to St. Louis from Greenfield, Indiana. She grew up there in the country with 4 siblings and tried out many sports growing up. She attended Indiana University- Bloomington and received a B.S. in Microbiology. She then attended Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Indianapolis and received her D.O. in 2023. Throughout her undergraduate career and medical school she participated in microbiology research, with a focus in emerging biotechnology and new identification methods for pathogens. She has a 5 year old Pitbull named Echo, who has won the owner-appointed award ‘Most Handsome Dog’ many times (by a landslide). When she is not playing with Echo, she can be found reading mystery books, exercising, and tending houseplants.

Ana Villanueva, MD
AP/CP
Ana was born and raised in Comerío, Puerto Rico. She completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Puerto Rico. She then attended medical school at the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara. After finishing medical school, she joined a Research Lab at Washington University in St. Louis and worked with a multidisciplinary team of pathologists, scientists, cardiologists, and radiologists to study the immune signatures in mouse and human cardiac sarcoidosis. After living in St. Louis for some time, she is happy to stay in Missouri and join the AP/CP program at WashU. Outside of work Ana enjoys outdoor activities, kayaking, gardening, traveling, sudoku puzzles, and spending time with family and friends.

Katherine Williams, MD
AP/CP
Katherine was raised in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and attended Salem College for her undergraduate studies in biochemistry and cell and molecular biology. After college she spent two years working in the molecular infectious disease laboratory at the LabCorp center for esoteric testing where she performed qualitative and quantitative analysis of HIV, HCV, and HBV. While there her love of laboratory medicine grew and she chose to pursue medical education with the intention of pursuing pathology. She went on to attend the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill where she sought out experience in a variety of areas within pathology. In her free time she enjoys oil painting, reading, doing puzzles, hiking, and spending time with her many animals.

Franklin Woode, MD
AP/CP
Franklin is from Barnhart, Missouri, a small town about 25 miles south of Saint Louis. He graduated from Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey with a BA in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology before returning to Missouri to work as a STEM specialty tutor at Harris-Stowe State University in Saint Louis and attend medical school at the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Medicine. It was there that he discovered his interest in pathology, leading him to complete a Post-Sophomore Fellowship in the department of Pathology and Anatomical Sciences. He is very excited for the opportunity to explore his interest in pathology with some of the most respected figures in the field as an AP/CP resident at Washington University, as well as the opportunity to reacquaint himself with Saint Louis, which he visited often throughout his childhood. Although he is keeping an open mind regarding what area of pathology he would like to pursue, he is certain he would like teaching and medical education to play a prominent role in his future career. Outside of medicine, he likes to spend his time lifting weights, biking, walking his dogs, cooking, exploring Saint Louis, and learning to play the guitar.

Justin Burk, DO
AP/CP
Justin grew up in Poland, Ohio. He completed his BS in neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh. He went on to complete the post-baccalaureate program at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and subsequently earned his DO from LECOM. Justin enjoyed being a peer tutor and an author for the Truelearn question bank during his time in medical school. He is currently an AP/CP resident and is excited to learn everything that WashU has to offer but has particular interests in cytology and cardiothoracic pathology. In his free time, Justin enjoys reading, watching sports, video games, skiing, golfing (poorly), and exploring the city. 

Udita Chapagain, MD
AP/CP
Udita is originally from Nepal and earned her MBBS from the College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, and her MD in Pathology from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu. She briefly worked as a pathologist at Civil Services Hospital in Kathmandu and received specialized training in gynecologic oncopathology at ASAN Medical Center in Seoul, South Korea—an experience that inspired her focus on gynecologic and breast pathology. She completed an out-of-track gyn/breast pathology fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis and is now concluding her final year of residency. Udita lives in St. Louis with her family and enjoys singing, meditating, cooking, and social service.

Kyle Goodman, MD, PhD
AP/CP
Kyle was born in upstate New York but raised in Cary, North Carolina. He attended North Carolina State University for his undergraduate studies and earned degrees in chemical engineering and psychology through the interdisciplinary Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program. He then spent a year at the NIH in a post-baccalaureate research fellowship prior to joining the MSTP at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He conducted his dissertation research with Dr. David Hendrixson on bacterial signal transduction pathways in Campylobacter jejuni that modulate host colonization. Kyle is currently a third year AP/CP resident and will be staying at WashU for the combined renal and genitourinary pathology fellowship. Outside of work, he enjoys playing hockey, ice skating, bowling, weightlifting, and drinking coffee. 

Maloree Khan, DO
AP/CP
Maloree grew up in the Midwest and completed her undergraduate training at University of Missouri Columbia where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. She completed medical school at Kansas City University where received her D.O. degree. Throughout college and medical school she stayed involved with research projects ranging in topics from cardiovascular physiology to immunotherapy. In her free time she enjoys reading, poetry, running, and spending time with loved ones.

Jiannan Li, MD, PhD
AP/CP
Jiannan was born and raised in Heilongjiang, China, which is famous for its winter wonderland. She completed her medical school in Sichuan University and pursued a PhD in autoimmune kidney disease in Peking University, China. Her thesis focuses on the disease mechanism and epidemiology of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) disease. She came to the U.S. for her postdoctoral research training at the Cleveland Clinic, she utilized her research skills to unravel potential medications for Crohn’s disease intestinal fibrosis, and her research was funded by Crohn’s & Colitis Foundation of America. In the meantime, she worked closely with GI pathologists at the Cleveland Clinic, and fell in love with pathology, thus deciding to pursue the pathology residency training at Washington University in St. Louis. She is an incoming AP/CP resident and most interested in GI/liver pathology. Outside work, she enjoys yoga, swimming, handcrafting, planting flowers and cooking. 

Clay Marolt, DO
AP/CP
Clay was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He earned his bachelor’s degree in Biology at Truman State University and his master’s degree in Biomedical Science at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, MO. He attended medical school at Kansas City University in Kansas City, MO, where he also completed a post-sophomore teaching and research fellowship in Clinical Anatomy. He is currently an AP/CP resident interested in Hematopathology. In his free time he enjoys hiking & camping, cooking, exploring National Parks with his wife, Megan, and spoiling his dog, Ginger. 

Jackson Rowe, MD
AP/CP
Jackson grew up in Aurora, Colorado, completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado at Boulder. He then earned his MD at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and will be staying at WashU to complete a transfusion medicine fellowship following graduation. Jackson enjoys snowboarding, video games, and watching anime.