Transitional Year Residents

Ronald Harris, MD, MMCi
Hometown: Durham, NC
Education
Undergraduate Education: UNC-Chapel Hill
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Future Specialty: Anesthesiology
Why Choose BayCare: I chose BayCare because I wanted to be close to family while training in a supportive and innovative health system. There is a lot of rapid growth and pragmatic ventures that I see improving healthcare for patients and providers alike. I’d like to be at the forefront of those efforts.

Travis Hotchkiss, MD
Hometown: Layton, UT
Education
Undergraduate Education: Utah State University
Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine
Future Specialty: Anesthesiology
Why Choose BayCare: BayCare offered a dream opportunity to me – the opportunity to learn excellent care at a premier community-focused hospital in a new and exciting area! I couldn’t be more excited to discover what this year holds in store.

Isha Jhingan, MD
Hometown: Oklahoma City, OK
Education
Undergraduate Education: University of Oklahoma
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Future Specialty: Dermatology
Why Choose BayCare: BayCare offers broad clinical exposure and is one of the few transitional year programs that includes pediatrics. Given that my advanced specialty, dermatology, involves caring for many pediatric patients, I wanted to gain experience in that area as well. Plus coming from a landlocked state, it’ll be fun to be close to the beaches!

Kenzie Keeney, MD
Hometown: Taylor, UT
Education
Undergraduate Education: Weber State University
Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine
Future Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)
Why Choose BayCare: I was so impressed by the welcoming culture, strong clinical training, mentorship and opportunities for electives at BayCare. Plus, being close to family in beautiful Tampa makes this the perfect place to grow as a new physician and prepare for PM&R residency.

Vishaal Kondoor, MD, MBA
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Education
Undergraduate Education: Emory University
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
Future Specialty: Interventional Radiology
Why Choose BayCare: Exceptional commitment to high quality medicine and healthcare. Great location with great weather. Very impressed with their Transitional Year cohort as well.

Nahleh Koochak, DO
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Education
Undergraduate Education: University of California, Riverside
Medical School: Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Specialty: Dermatology
Why Choose BayCare: BayCare immediately felt like home, even from the virtual interview all the way through orientation, where that feeling was confirmed by the most incredible coresidents and faculty. In a place where residents feel valued and appreciated, we can give our patients the excellent care and support they need and deserve.

Yutong (Crystal) Li, MD
Hometown: Middletown, DE
Education
Undergraduate Education: New York University
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Future Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Why Choose BayCare: Location definitely matters! I may not be a beach person, but I always look forward to my annual Florida getaway—especially with family in Tampa. I'm truly excited to grow with this program and take the next step toward my radiology residency journey in New York!

Neal Malhotra, DO
Hometown: New Brunswick, NJ
Education
Undergraduate Education: Florida State University
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine – Bradenton
Future Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Why Choose BayCare: I chose BayCare because they offered the perfect balance between my two top priorities: my family and receiving exceptional medical training. In addition, the hospital’s positive culture—from leadership to peers—created a welcoming and supportive environment that made it an ideal place to grow personally and professionally.

Kamso Okonkwo, MD
Hometown: Mississauga, ON, Canada
Education
Undergraduate Education: Columbia University
Medical School: University of Southern California
Future Specialty: Anesthesiology
Why Choose BayCare: I chose BayCare because of its strong clinical training, supportive faculty and commitment to resident wellness. This program's emphasis on hands-on experience and its welcoming environment made it the ideal place to build a solid foundation for my career.

Collin Payne, DO
Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Education
Undergraduate Education: University of Florida
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Why Choose BayCare: I chose BayCare because of their reputation in the community for being fair and honest. I also looked forward to the prospect of joining an inaugural class and helping mold the program for years to come. Dr. Bhakta and Yana were also pivotal in my decision to rank this program highly.

Michelle Samaniego, MD
Hometown: San Antonio, TX
Education
Undergraduate Education: University of Southern California
Medical School: Texas Tech Health Sciences Center El Paso
Future Specialty: Dermatology
Why Choose BayCare: I chose BayCare for its commitment to patient-centered care, supportive learning environment and dedication to community health. Its collaborative culture and diverse patient population make it an ideal place to grow clinically while giving back to the community.

Ravi C. Shah, DO
Hometown: Tampa, FL
Education
Undergraduate Education: University of South Florida
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)
Why Choose BayCare: As a Tampa native, I was drawn to BayCare’s diverse training, supportive culture and leadership’s clear vision for developing well-rounded, service-oriented physicians. It is the ideal foundation before continuing my PM&R training - and I hope to return and serve this community in the future.

S. Anthony Siena, DO
Hometown: Webster, NY
Education
Undergraduate Education: Northeastern University
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Future Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R)
Why Choose BayCare: As a Transitional Year preparing for my PM&R training, I was looking for the best training I could get for my future medical career. BayCare was exactly what I was looking for, and I'm so happy to have ended up in beautiful, sunny Tampa!

Pranit Singh, MD
Hometown: Lexington, MA
Education
Undergraduate Education: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine
Future Specialty: Radiation Oncology
Why Choose BayCare: I chose BayCare for the diverse patient population and robust clinical training. There is a clear institutional emphasis on compassionate care and collaboration which resonates strongly with my goals and approach to medicine.

Gabrielle van den Hoek, MD
Hometown: Sevenoaks, UK
Education
Undergraduate Education: Dartmouth College
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Future Specialty: Diagnostic Radiology
Why Choose BayCare: I chose BayCare because I wanted exposure to a wide variety of specialties and clinical settings to better prepare for my future training and career in radiology. I was also drawn to BayCare’s emphasis on compassionate patient care and supportive team culture.