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Resident Profiles

Third Year Residents

Asha Abraham, MD

  • Class of 2024
  • Hometown: Floral Park, New York
  • Undergraduate Training: Stony Brook University
  • Medical School: Medical University of the Americas
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: Netflix, Traveling, Spinning

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?
I would like to pursue having a career that combines Hospitalist practice and Urgent Care. Eventually, I would also like to be involved in teaching either medical students or residents.

WHY CHOOSE DEACONESS?
I really appreciated the friendliness of the faculty and the staff, during my interview. After meeting some of the residents during my interview day, I knew that I could see myself a part of this program. Being a part of an unopposed rural program, allows residents more one on one time with the attending physicians and the ability to treat a wide variety of pathologies. This program not only develops you into being a well-rounded physician but also a community leader.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF LIVING IN MADISONVILLE?
Two things I love about Madisonville is the fresh air and bright stars at night due to the minimal pollution in our area. Coming from New York, I also appreciate that I can get to work in under 10 minutes. But the best part of all is the people. Everyone I have met here has been so welcoming and I could not be more grateful to be able to take care of the people in this community.


Hoda Ahwazi, MD

  • Class of 2024
  • Hometown: Orange County, California
  • Undergraduate Training: University of California, Irvine (UCI)
  • Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: Established artist- specialized in oil painting on canvas; Play guitar; Hiking with my dog; Fluent in 3 languages; Learning/trying a variety of cultural foods; Traveler

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?
To become a competent, successful, well-rounded physician. I want to have a positive impact on as many people’s lives as possible. As a human being we all are different, we have different goals in life, and live differently. I will consider all the individualistic uniqueness and provide the best treatment options tailored to the needs of my patients. My goal is to impact the individual and community health in a more realistic, happier and healthier way, to achieve this I will be there for my patients every step of the way, and provide breakthrough treatments options.

WHY CHOOSE DEACONESS?
For me the biggest factor in choosing a residency program was based on my interaction with people, the curriculum, friendliness of the program, autonomy provided at work and learning, work and life balance, strength of the program based on my end goals, and support provided by experienced faculty. From the first interactions with the faculty and staff, I felt I could call it my residency program. Everyone was so friendly, genuine, and delivered beyond expectation. I am so happy to call this family medicine program my family for the next 3 years and beyond.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF LIVING IN MADISONVILLE?
People here are so welcoming and friendly. The town is so peaceful, green, short driving distance to crowded cities like Nashville, Clarksville TN, Evansville, IN, and a few hours flight to New York, Chicago, and Miami for weekend getaways. You will find refreshing peace and quiet, everything slows down, everyone really does know everyone, enjoying the four seasons, and no traffic whatsoever. You can gaze at stars without having a building block your view and you can take a deep breath and catch up on life.


Anne Margaret Hernaez, MD

  • Class of 2024
  • Hometown: Green Oaks, Illinois
  • Undergraduate Training: University of Illinois at Chicago
  • Medical School: St. Matthew’s University - School of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: I enjoy singing along to Disney songs in the car, trying new foods, eating foods, and most anything else involving food and animated films.

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?
My goal is to become a primary care physician in a community that needs education on health and where I can make a difference to patients there and the community.

WHY CHOOSE DEACONESS?
I chose the program that I felt aligned with my goals of the physician I am working to become. The physician that I want to be for my patients is the kind that works with them in a partnership and for their best interest. I want to motivate patients to take part in their own healthcare and, in my interview; I found that this program did just that. Therefore, I look forward to everything we can learn from each other.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF LIVING IN MADISONVILLE?
Madisonville is small and full of warm, approachable people. Because of the size it is easier to get to know who I get to work with and because of the size of the physical city, it is much easier not to get lost. I enjoy Mahr Park and the farmer‘s market in particular.


Tehmina Khan, MD

  • Class of 2024
  • Hometown: Albany, New York
  • Undergraduate Training: University at Albany
  • Medical School: Avalon University
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: Spontaneous adventures, traveling, cooking

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?

  • Leave a positive impact during interactions with patients
  • Focus on preventative care for patients both in inpatient and outpatient settings

WHY CHOOSE DEACONESS?

  • The warmth and friendlies from all members of the residency during interviews made it feel like home even before I got to Madisonville.
  • Autonomy provided and healthy work/life balance
  • I am so happy to call this program my family for the next three years and beyond.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF LIVING IN MADISONVILLE?

  • Madisonville is a small town and everyone you come in contact with is warm and welcoming. Traffic is limited and coming from NY that is a change I embrace!
  • Close proximity to larger cities like Evansville, Clarksville and Nashville
  • Easy accessibility to airports

Maria Palacios, MD

  • Class of 2024
  • Hometown: Cuenca, Ecuador
  • Undergraduate Training: Queens College, City University of New York
  • Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: I love to travel and learn about new cultures.

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?
I would like to work in a clinic that serves the Hispanic community. Not only by helping them with any medical problems, but by incentivization of preventive medicine.

WHY CHOOSE DEACONESS?
I was looking for a program that was going to give me good medical training while emphasizing the resident's well-being. Additionally, I felt very welcomed during my interview, and I immediately knew I was going to work with a wonderful team.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF LIVING IN MADISONVILLE?
Living in Madisonville is a good change after living in a fast-paced city. Everyone is very friendly and welcoming.


Tyler Smith, MD

  • Class of 2024
  • Hometown: Central City, KY
  • Undergraduate Training: University of the Cumberlands, Williamsburg, KY
  • Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: Tennis, football, basketball, disc golf, video games, boating, wakeboarding, traveling, hiking

WHAT ARE YOUR CAREER GOALS?
To be a physician who provides great healthcare for my friends, family, and neighbors. I wish to work in an outpatient rural setting so I can better know my patients beyond just their medical concerns and have more opportunity to positively impact their lives.

WHY CHOOSE DEACONESS?
I am from the Madisonville area, I was born in this hospital, and all of my family and friends still live nearby so this is the perfect setting for me to fulfill my career goals. The smaller hospital setting allows us residents many hands on experiences in caring for patients, and receive more one on one instruction from our attendings. We have the opportunity to do procedures, deliveries, and practice medical care without having to compete with other residents from other fields of medicine. Additionally, the residents and faculty of the residency are like family. Everyone is willing to help each other and are great to be around when we have our social activities outside of the hospital. Baptist Health Deaconess provides an all-around excellent setting for learning, training, and growing as a physician.

WHAT IS THE BEST PART OF LIVING IN MADISONVILLE?
Coming from a hometown of 6,000 people, Madisonville is a great step up in living because it is a rural setting but has more options for food and social activities. There are several different fast food restaurants (if you are a fast food lover like me) and there is a small variety of sit down restaurants (if you like going out for dinner). The two parks here are large enough for picnics or outside activities, and both have walking trails next to small lakes. These trails can be very scenic and great places to go if you have a pet who loves to take walks as I do. The location is ideal as well since you can get to bigger cities quickly like Evansville (50 minutes) and Nashville (1.5 hours) if you need a bigger setting during your free time.


Second Year Residents

Humza Ansari, MDHumza Ansari, MD

  • Class of 2025
  • Hometown: Orlando, FL
  • Undergraduate Training: University of Central Florida
  • Medical School: Windsor University School of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: My hobbies include playing basketball, watching sports, outdoor adventures, and finding the best places to eat in between!

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
Madisonville is an excellent fit for me as I am interested in rural medicine as well as Dermatology which I feel is an often-underrepresented area in rural communities. As clinicians in Madisonville, we are provided the opportunity to care for, advocate for, and educate our tight-knit community, while building the long-lasting relationships which made me want to be a Family physician.


Gauty Athouriste, MDGauty Athouriste, MD

  • Class of 2025
  • Hometown: Miami, FL
  • Undergraduate Training: Florida Atlantic University - Boca Raton, FL
  • Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking and spending time with my family. I have a passion for music and occasionally sing at my community church.

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
Having the opportunity to serve in a rural setting in an unopposed fashion cemented my decision to move to Madisonville. I desire to be in a dedicated program that continues to challenge me — one that promotes evidenced-based learning and values resident wellness. Additionally, my past work in nursing sets the stage towards my goals as a family physician to provide excellent and compassionate clinical care. This program equips me with the tools necessary to contribute to the advancement of the field through advocacy for the underserved.


Marium Iqbal, MDMarium Iqbal, MD

  • Class of 2025
  • Hometown: St. Louis, MO
  • Undergraduate Training: New York Institute of Technology
  • Medical School: Windsor University School of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: Traveling, cooking, yoga, and trying out new restaurants

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
When I was interviewing for residency, I knew I wanted to be a part of a program that I can comfortably call my second family, and I can proudly say that Baptist Health Deaconess has become just that. All the faculty and the residents have been so kind and welcoming, and I enjoy being surrounded by people who love working and spending time together. I feel confident that BHD will provide me with all the skills I need to become a well-rounded family physician. I chose to come to Madisonville because I knew I wanted to train in a close-knit community, where patients feel comfortable with their primary care physician and are able to rely on them during their time in need. I love that BHD is an unopposed program in a rural area, so we are able to get a lot hands-on experience in every specialty. In this program, we are not only training to become family physicians, but also psychiatrists, dermatologists, OBGYNs, ER docs etc; it is a great place to learn a little bit of everything. I am excited to see what the future holds at BHD!


Mohammad Hadi Masood, MDMohammad Hadi Masood, MD

  • Class of 2025
  • Hometown: Orlando, FL
  • Undergraduate Training: University of Central Florida
  • Medical School: American University of Integrative Sciences School of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: Movies, sports, traveling

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
The warmth and friendliness of all members of the residency during my interview. They truly made it feel like home even before I arrived in Madisonville. Now that I have been here for a few months, I can proudly say it’s true. I had the opportunity to experience firsthand the friendliness of the program, the exceptional faculty/staff, and how they all genuinely care to provide a positive learning environment. Everyone is willing to help each other and is a pleasure to be around. I am proud to be a part of this Family Medicine program and confident I will receive the training to come out as a well-rounded physician.


Catherine Montz, MDCatherine Montz, MD

  • Class of 2025
  • Hometown: Madisonville, KY
  • Undergraduate Training: University of Louisville
  • Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: During the summer months I enjoy tending to my garden. I enjoy hiking with my dogs and spending time with all my pets. I also enjoy crafting and remodeling projects.

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
I chose Madisonville because I wanted to serve the community I grew up in! It is an honor to be home giving back the town who helped shape me into the physician I am today. I look forward to learning more from my community during my residency at Baptist Health Deaconess and provide exceptional care for you and your families.


First Year Residents

Madeeha Ahmed, MDMadeeha Ahmed, MD

  • Class of 2026
  • Hometown: Dallas, TX
  • Undergraduate Training: Sam Houston State University, Houston, TX
  • Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
  • Hobbies: There are so many things I love! Traveling, eating delicious food, playing violin/piano, live music and karaoke, working out, Astronomy, movies and binging my favorite shows, and spending time with my husband and our family and friends. Fun Fact: I won a dance contest when I was 10-years-old and the prize was a mini-sofa

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
I never thought I would find a program that embodied why I love medicine in the first place, but I found that at Baptist. The residents and faculty were like a family with each other. They actually cared about who we were as people, what we value, and the type of future we want to build. When I met all the residents at the meet-and-greet, I remember thinking they all looked so happy!! Everyone from the faculty and staff to residents presented their authentic selves and what we saw is truly what we got. BHDM was the only interview where faculty members gave practical advice saying “even if you don’t come here, do this-and-this thing because it will help you in the future, make sure you look for these things in your contracts, etc.” It was proof that the BHDM program provides career and personal development on another level. I have no doubt that BHDM will help me prepare for the future, while enjoying this rewarding and challenging process now.

CAREER GOALS
My goal is to be the type of family physician that I have always wanted my parents, family, and friends to have. A physician who cares not only about their physical health, but about them as a human. In a program like this I’ll have the opportunity to work with many different specialists first-hand, and not get lost in a sea of residents at larger programs or hospitals. Learning in this type of unopposed residency program will strengthen my knowledge of various specialties which will allow me to be the more holistic physician that I’d like to become. It will also give me the opportunity to work in rural areas with limited specialist support and possibly help people that otherwise wouldn’t have been able to get the help they need. I’m ready and excited to learn to be a great physician who patients trust and to be a physician who cares about my patients mentally, emotionally, and physically.


Uqba Ahmed, MDUqba Ahmed, MD

  • Class of 2026
  • Hometown: Frisco, TX
  • Undergraduate Training: University of Ontario Institute of Technology
  • Medical School: Caribbean Medical University
  • Hobbies: roots extend to India, but the richest years of my life were those spent in Pickering and Toronto, Canada which were where the cities I grew up in. I've lived in so many different areas across the US, but this is my first time in Madisonville, Kentucky. Outside of work I enjoy music, piano, soccer, ping-pong, home renovations, travelling, watching standup comedy shows, exploring nearby parks and nature trails and most importantly spending quality time with my wife, friends and family. Fun Fact: I can’t read music but I can play the piano by ear on my phone and pick up on random pattern of keys to play.

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
I chose BHDFM because I loved my interactions with all the residents and faculty on the interview day and they truly felt like a family. Finding a residency program that felt like home was very important to me. I wanted to choose a program that was diverse, had a supportive environment with a comprehensive curriculum and provided equally high quality of clinical training in both hospital and outpatient settings. In addition, I'm glad that I'll be able to work with underserved populations while learning my best to serve and advocate for them. I strongly felt that BHDFM would be a place where I would get excellent overall training and have opportunities to grow in the areas I am most passionate about.

CAREER GOALS
I am primarily interested in hospital medicine, preventative and lifestyle medicine, procedures, and general practice primary care.


Hachel Cruz-Pardo, MDHachel Cruz-Pardo, MD

  • Class of 2026
  • Hometown: Miami, FL
  • Undergraduate Training: City college Miami, AVALON University
  • Medical School: AVALON University of Medicine
  • Hobbies: Gardening, hiking, animals, singing, kayaking

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
My goal was to find a program that would train me to become proficient in every health condition that I could face during my medical career. I decided to come to Baptist Health because, during my rotations in rural areas, I realized that my passion was to bring medical care to underserved communities. In addition, I want to bring excellent care to the geriatric population. Baptist Health had it all, integrated unopposed training, the underserved population, and access to geriatrics care training.

CAREER GOALS
My career goals are to work outpatient and inpatient. Create a medical office to integrate traditional, preventive medicine and procedures where the patients can find all their medical needs in one place.


Jasmin Goocher, MDJasmin Goocher, MD

  • Class of 2026
  • Hometown: Spring, TX
  • Undergraduate Training: St. John's University
  • Medical School: American University of Antigua
  • Hobbies: CrossFit, enjoying the outdoors with my family and our dog, trying new foods.

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
When deciding where I wanted to complete my residency, I knew I wanted to do it in a rural setting where the program would be unopposed. Baptist Health Deaconess had both. After my interview, where I felt very comfortable and welcomed, I realized how the current residents and faculty/staff treated each other like family. That’s when I knew Baptist was where I wanted to be.

CAREER GOALS
After completing residency, I would like to work in a family medicine clinic where I can focus on the importance of weight management and the impact it has on one’s health.


Jake Judd, MDJake Judd, MD

  • Class of 2026
  • Hometown: Pima, AZ
  • Undergraduate Training: I studied Athletic Training at Weber State University in Ogden, UT
  • Medical School: American University of Antigua
  • Hobbies: I love doing anything with my wife and kids such as camping, going to the sand dunes for the weekend, dancing in the kitchen or just simply watching a movie. Growing up my family’s hobby was rodeo. I particularly enjoy participating in the Team Roping event. I also enjoy carpentry.

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
I chose Baptist Health Deaconess because I felt like I really clicked with some of the residents I got to meet when I visited the campus. I also enjoyed the small town feel while I was visiting, and I felt very comfortable there due to my upbringing in a small town. I feel like the training I will get here will be similar to what I will experience in my career back in Arizona.

CAREER GOALS
I would like to eventually return home to AZ and raise my children around family. I would like to join a family practice and in addition the family medicine use my education in athletic training to offer sports medicine as well.


Joseph Rollins, DOJoseph Rollins, DO

  • Class of 2026
  • Hometown: Corbin, KY
  • Undergraduate Training: Eastern Kentucky University
  • Medical School: University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Hobbies/Fun Fact: I am a hobby junkie – I’ve not met one I don’t like. I am a very hands-on person and enjoy expressing my creativity through woodworking, sewing, painting, drawing, and home-brewing. In addition, I love tinkering with technology, video games, and strategy table top games.

WHY I CHOSE BAPTIST HEALTH DEACONESS MADISONVILLE
I have a life long relationship with Baptist Health – I was born at Baptist Health Corbin (then Baptist Regional Medical Center), my mom was a nurse there, and I completed my medical school clerkships with Baptist Health Richmond, so I’ve come to know the excellence in care that the hospital system offers. What’s more, Baptist Health Deaconess offered the things I most desired in my medical training: the opportunity to learn and practice rural health in a facility with the advantages of a major healthcare system and an unopposed residency that would allow me to reach my full potential as a Family Medicine Physician. Their genuine care, compassion, and dedication to not only their patients and community, but to their residents, really solidified my decision.

CAREER GOALS
My goal is to practice as a Family Medicine Physician in rural Kentucky. I want to give back and support the communities that raised me throughout my journey to becoming a doctor. I want to use my knowledge and position as a pillar in my community to advocate and support marginalized groups and ensure that they are afforded quality and compassionate care.


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