We have a wonderful group of residents and hope you’ll get to know them…
Click the photos or names to drop down to their bios.
Co-Chief Resident in Pathology
University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Rhonda Mittenzwei, MD
Co-Chief Resident in Pathology
University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
College: University of California, Santa Barbara, CA
Graduate School: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Medical School: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, LA
Fellowship Plans/Special Interests: Dermatopathology and Genitourinary/Renal Pathology.
Career Goals: I plan to specialize in Dermatopathology and work in an academic medical center or a large community practice.
Hobbies: House renovation projects, graphic design, square foot gardening, and traveling.
Why Duke: Duke offers dedicated faculty, a positive and friendly working environment, case volume and variety, and supportive and enthusiastic co-residents!
Why Durham: Durham is remarkable for affordable housing and easy commutes; great food, culture, and outdoor activities; ample job opportunities for spouses; good weather; and proximity to the beach and mountains.
Hometown: Palmetto, FL
College: University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Bradenton, Bradenton, FL Fellowship Plans: I am most interested in bone and soft tissue pathology (BST), and I plan to complete a BST-specific fellowship followed by either Dermatopathology or Surgical Pathology to both complement and enhance my overall diagnostic skills.
Career Goals: I hope to build a career at an academic institution where I can continue to grow as an expert sarcoma diagnostician, pursue research towards curing these diseases, and help train the next generation of pathologists.
Hobbies and Interests: My hobbies include weight lifting, hiking, paintball, and relaxing with my dog.
Why Duke: The decision of which pathology residency program to choose was based on several factors including reputation, volume and variety of cases, the relationship between the faculty and residents, and location. Duke University Hospital is regarded as one of the best hospitals in the country, and as such, the patient population is vast and varied, which provides ample pathology to learn from. The faculty at Duke are excellent and are all eager to teach the residents and help them achieve their goals, and the residents are like one big family. After living in Florida for my entire life, I wanted to get out and experience new places, but wanted to stay within a reasonable distance as my family is still in Florida, and Duke was perfectly situated.
Why Durham: Durham is a great place to live for several reasons. The cost of living is reasonable and there are numerous things to do from great dining and local breweries to great hiking trails. Durham is also situated within hours of either the beach or the mountains, which makes for an easy weekend getaway.
Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ
College: University of Colorado
Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Gastrointestinal and Liver Pathology.
Career Goals: I plan to specialize in gastrointestinal and liver pathology and work in an academic medical center.
Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, going to the beach, exercising, traveling, cooking, watching sports, and research.
Why Duke: Duke provides a large, tertiary care center with a variety of pathology and expert physicians to learn from. I enjoy the subspecialty rotations, so I focus my studies to specific topics. There is protected time every morning for teaching conferences. I have had plenty of opportunities to complete research projects in my areas of interest.
Why Durham: Durham provides a diverse culture and a beautiful environment. There are many rivers and lakes to enjoy on your time off. It is close to Raleigh, and only a couple hours from the mountains and the beach. In general, the traffic is very manageable, and the cost of living is very affordable on a resident salary.
Hometown: Pune, India
College: BJ Medical College, Pune, India
Medical School: BJ Medical College, Pune, India
Graduate School: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport
Fellowship Plans: Molecular Pathology.
Career Goals: To work as a lab director in a clinical diagnostics lab where I can develop novel tests and technologies that can rapidly be moved from bench to clinic.
Hobbies and Interests: Painting, reading, and movies.
Why Duke and Durham: Research Triangle Park area, nice weather, abundant career opportunities.
Hometown: State College, PA
College: Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT)
Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine, University at Buffalo
Fellowship Plans: I plan on doing a Surgical Pathology subspecialty.
Career Goals: I am really undecided on whether I wish to pursue an academic or private practice position. I do have a strong interest in teaching and like the idea of specializing in a single area, so I am leaning slightly towards academics.
Hobbies and Interests: Golf, tennis, soccer, and PC gaming.
Why Duke: I think the residents are a great group who really look out for each other. The faculty are fantastic pathologists who are dedicated to teaching, and the facilities are top notch.
Why Durham: Honestly, it is sunny here the majority of the time year round. In Buffalo we didn't see the sun for the entire winter; I think that speaks for itself. Otherwise, Durham and the Research Triangle area have a ton of cultural diversity, especially with good food options and just a lot of neat places to explore, like the Duke Gardens.
Hometown: South Orange, New Jersey
College: Montclair State University
Medical School: Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School
Fellowship Plans: I plan to pursue a fellowship in gastrointestinal pathology.
Career Goals: I intend to further my understanding and treatment of digestive diseases. I hope to contribute to the literature in gastrointestinal pathology through research. I will eventually pursue a position at an academic center so I can help develop the next generation of physicians.
Hobbies and Interests: I am quickly excited by our advances in medicine, alternative energy, and space travel. I also enjoy cooking, local and foreign food, and hiking.
Why Duke: The faculty at Duke has been incredible at helping me push my limits as a person and as a physician. I have been exposed to a wide variety of cases that I often read about as being rare, but get to experience multiple times on any given service.
Why Durham: I am pleasantly surprised by the restaurant scene in Durham. As someone who used to live in a much denser metropolitan area, I became used to seeing restaurants sell Pho, kebabs, and dumplings all on the same city block, and Durham has not once disappointed me.
Hometown: London, U.K.
College: University of Durham, U.K. (B.Sc.), Imperial College London (Ph.D.), International Space University, France (M.S.)
Medical School: University of North Carolina
Fellowship Plans: To be determined.
Career Goals: Faculty at an academic center (like Duke!).
Hobbies and Interests: Spending time with my wife and two young daughters. I love running and gardening. I worked at NASA for 10 years as a research scientist in the International Space Station program before going to medical school. I am also an aircraft pilot, so I love everything space and aviation-related. I've worked on scientific expeditions in remote locations such as Antarctica, the Arctic, and far-east Russia, and love experiencing the natural wonders of our planet.
Why Duke: Duke is a special place, and Duke Pathology has a great residency program. From the beautiful campus, to the great faculty and co-residents, this is a wonderful place to work and learn.
Why Durham: The Triangle is a great place to live and raise a family. The weather is great with four seasons, the trees and landscapes are beautiful, the state parks are fantastic, and there is a cosmopolitan, eclectic, and international feel, with a dense collection of great colleges like Duke, UNC, and NC State University. It is a very pleasant and comfortable place to be a resident.
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
College: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: University of Iowa
Fellowship Plans: Hematopathology and Molecular Pathology.
Career Goals: To become an excellent diagnostician.
Hobbies and Interests: Gardening and cooking.
Why Duke: Duke’s academic reputation for excellence is well-deserved, and I appreciate learning from the world-class pathologists who are our attendings. Here, residents are valued members of the healthcare team, and the support from the residency program director is tremendous.
Why Durham: I feel that the Raleigh-Durham area is a perfect blend of big city amenities with small city navigability. It is also a great location for those who love the outdoors, with mountains, lakes, and beaches all within reach. It’s also a good city for foodies – both those who love to cook and those who love to eat!
Hometown: Las Vegas and Reno, Nevada
College: University of Nevada, Reno
Medical School: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Neuropathology and Forensic Pathology
Career Goals: I hope to become a masterful, compassionate forensic pathologist and teacher. My long-term career goals include integrating teaching into my practice or perhaps working near or in conjunction with a teaching institution. I hope to be able to climb the ranks and maybe even be a Chief Medical Examiner one day!
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy CrossFit, playing with my dog, and going to concerts. I am also an avid reader of mostly literary fiction and love to watch horror movies.
Why Duke: Duke was able to offer me a multitude of factors that I felt would be beneficial for my career, both during residency and beyond. We are part of an incredible hospital system that sees a huge variety of patients and pathologies. Additionally, the fellowship opportunities in the area abound. A large part of deciding to come here to pursue Forensics was the opportunity to go to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Raleigh for a forensics rotation.
Why Durham: My husband and I love all that Durham has to offer. It's the perfect balance between a big city and a small town. We live close to plenty of restaurants and breweries, and even walk downtown to enjoy the farmer's market or new food; Durham is definitely pedestrian-friendly. I found a CrossFit gym that I love, and we are able to have quick weekend getaways at all the amazing places around North Carolina.
Hometown: Pleasanton, CA
College: Stanford University
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria
Fellowship Plans: To be determined.
Career Goals: As of yet undecided.
Hobbies and Interests: Rock climbing, cooking, hiking, and camping.
Why Duke: Amazing residents, amazing program, and amazing faculty.
Why Durham: Durham has a great food scene and is close to outdoor climbing, beaches, and camping. There is always something to do, and it’s affordable enough to buy a home.
Hometown: Cary, NC
College: Duke University
Medical School: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Surgical Pathology and Cytopathology.
Career Goals: Community practice pathology, but I haven’t ruled out academics.
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy gardening, cooking, hiking, travelling and dragon boating. I also like to visit art galleries and am excited to take advantage of the music, shows, and dance performances that take place at Duke, UNC, and DPAC. I also will never turn down the opportunity to watch the latest Netflix series.
Why Duke: Two things stood out to me during my externship at Duke: the level of expertise of the faculty and the friendliness of everyone in the program. At Duke, you get to sign out each organ system with an expert in the field and the faculty are open to questions and eager to teach. The residents are extremely intelligent and accomplished but never boastful. They have interesting and unique personalities and backgrounds, and I am looking forward to spending the next four years with them!
Why Durham: Durham and the surrounding Chapel Hill/Raleigh area combine many things that I love to do. There are ample hiking and outdoors activities available, with my favorite places to visit being the Eno River and Umstead State Park. The Duke Gardens and JC Raulston Arboretum are great to visit any time of the year. The annual American Dance Festival is held in Durham. There is the historic Carolina Theater. There are numerous concerts, plays, and dance performances held at Duke, UNC, and DPAC. The Durham/Chapel Hill/Raleigh area has many excellent restaurants with cuisine ranging from Thai, Vietnamese, and Chinese, to Indian, French and amazing BBQ. Finally, Durham is affordable with many excellent apartments within a 10-15 minute drive to the hospital.
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
College: University of Utah
Medical School: University of Utah
Fellowship Plans: Undecided, but interested in Molecular and Pediatric Pathology!
Career Goals: After residency I want to pursue at least one fellowship. I am interested in a career that allows me to teach.
Hobbies and Interests: I love being outdoors, hiking, camping, and skiing. I also love cooking and baking.
Why Duke: I chose Duke University because it seemed like a great place with passionate and intelligent physicians to learn from.
Why Durham: Durham is a beautiful area that is so green! I am excited to explore it further as I begin residency.
Hometown: Fayetteville, GA
College: The Georgia Institute of Technology
Medical School: Tulane University
Fellowship Plans: My initial interests upon entering residency training are Surgical Pathology, Clinical Immunology, and Hematopathology. However, I also have a background in Bioinformatics and am considering Clinical Pathology Informatics fellowships, too.
Career Goals: I am open to a wide variety of practice settings. I could see myself in academic, private, governmental, and/or industry settings. Having a public health and biotechnology background, I would love to incorporate either of those into a clinical practice setting if presented with the right opportunity.
Hobbies and Interests: I have a wide array of hobbies and interests both related and unrelated to work. I have always been involved in a local church. I also love working out at the gym, hiking in the Smoky Mountains, computer programming, touring local attractions, exploring the French Quarter when I am in New Orleans, watching college sports (Go Jackets and Roll Wave!), and spending time with friends and family.
Why Duke: Duke’s reputation is on par with any institution in the country. The opportunities for clinical training and research under world-class faculty combined with Duke’s proximity to the innovative Research Triangle Park make Duke an exciting place to be. The campus is beautiful, and the training facilities are second-to-none. The faculty in the pathology department strongly advocate for their residents’ training needs within the context of DUMC and seek to provide an optimal training experience. However, what really set Duke apart on interview day were the faculty and residents who really seemed to enjoy being at Duke. The residents were the right balance of being pushed to the frontiers of their knowledge-base and ability but not over-burdened.
Why Durham: Being from nearby Georgia, I grew up going on a lot of family vacations to North Carolina and have always loved the state. Though I haven’t been able to explore all the city just yet, Durham is big enough where there is always something to do, yet small enough so that the traffic and cost of living are much more manageable than bigger metropolitan areas. The Eno River State Park and Duke Gardens are cool, easily-accessible, local outdoor venues. I love baseball and basketball, so I hope to catch some Durham Bulls and Duke basketball games. The Triangle area is a young, growing area with a lively college and young professional scene, but it also has a rich history, too. Durham is also a quick day-drive to both the Appalachian Mountains and the beaches of the Carolina coast. Furthermore, it is a short, cheap flight or an easy drive to visit my family back in Atlanta.
Hometown: Louisville, KY
College: University of Louisville
Medical School: University of Louisville
Fellowship Plans: Undecided.
Career Goals: Work at an academic institution that allows me to complete my clinical responsibilities in addition to teaching at the medical school.
Hobbies and Interests: Watching and playing sports, fishing, running, trying all the best restaurants in the Triangle area.
Why Duke: Duke offered me an incredible institution to train at in addition to wonderful people to surround myself with on a daily basis.
Why Durham: I fell in love with Durham the moment I arrived. From the people to the culture, Durham has something for everybody.
Hometown: Dallas, Texas
College: Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB) in Galveston, Texas
Fellowship Plans: Neuropathology +/- Surgical Pathology or Forensics.
Career Goals: Neuropathology in an academic setting, a private practice setting, or as a medical examiner.
Hobbies and Interests: Reading, hiking, martial arts, playing piano, cooking, and stand-up comedy.
Why Duke: Solid pathology program with a beautiful campus and residents and faculty who were so genuinely kind and welcoming on interview day.
Why Durham: Durham has a small town feel and such lovely, green landscapes.
Hometown: Augusta, GA
College: University of Georgia (Go Dawgs!)
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Fellowship Plans: I am not sure yet! I am interested in several different areas of pathology, both in AP and CP, and I am looking forward to residency and getting to delve in further.
Career Goals: I am still deciding between academic and private practice.
Hobbies and Interests: I love to bake and cook. I also enjoy outdoor activities like walking and hiking.
Why Duke: I really just felt drawn to the program at Duke. It had strong AP and CP programs, and the residents seemed like they were learning a lot and were very, very happy here.
Why Durham: It will be the first time I will be living in Durham, so I am excited to explore the city! It wasn’t too far from family and had a great vibe as far as local places that I saw when visiting.
Hometown: Tampa, FL
College: University of Florida
Medical School: University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: GYN/Breast
Career Goals: Having a longstanding interest in women’s health and oncology, I hope to specialize in GYN and breast pathology. Working at an academic medical center appeals to me so that I have ample opportunities to pursue research, teach residents and students, and continue learning and contributing to the field.
Hobbies and Interests: I am a huge foodie! I love to constantly try my hand at new recipes as well as try new restaurants and cuisines. I also love going on adventures with my boyfriend and our dog, traveling, spending time outdoors, and hanging out and exploring with friends.
Why Duke: Duke offers an exceptional training experience with a variety of fellowships, cutting edge technology, high case volume and patient diversity, and distinguished and supportive faculty. The collegial environment among the residents, attendings and staff is incomparable, making Duke a pleasant and exciting place to learn.
Why Durham: The Triangle offers many aspects of living in a big city which I love, such as a growing food scene, breweries, diverse culture, and events in the arts as well as the coziness of living in a small town with comfortable living, community events, farmers markets, and easy access to nature.
Hometown: Shreveport, LA
College: Baylor University
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Forensic Pathology (and potentially neuropathology and/or cardiovascular pathology)
Career Goals: I intend to become a Medical Examiner, conduct research in the field of forensics, and also maintain an affiliation with an academic institution for teaching opportunities.
Hobbies and Interests: All sorts of gardening (including veggies, fruits, flowers, and bonsai), hiking, camping, and attending local festivals.
Why Duke: In addition to Duke's academic rigor, the collegial culture among faculty and residents really stuck in my mind following my visit. Faculty were approachable and friendly, and the residents also all seemed genuinely happy with their training environment. Additionally, I felt that there were ample opportunities to plug into academic research or even conduct original research. Lastly, but equally important for my career goals, Duke Pathology offers an incredible training in autopsy pathology (among other fields) where I will have the opportunity to learn from fantastic pathology assistants and experts in autopsy pathology, cardiovascular pathology, and neuropathology.
Why Durham: Durham struck me as a beautiful, welcoming city that offers plenty to do while also having a small town feel. I definitely plan on taking day trips/weekend trips to the mountains and coast, and I'm excited to explore festivals and events taking place here in Durham. The cost of living is great, and the triangle offers numerous career opportunities for my partner as well. An additional bonus is that we have the chance to rotate through and work for the N.C. Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
College: Duke University
Medical school: University of North Carolina
Fellowship plans: To be determined
Career goals: Continuing to stay involved in academic pathology by teaching, mentoring and attending local and national conferences.
Hobbies and interests: Going to the beach, seafood, walks with my cockapoo, piano, painting, and tennis. I am fortunate that my family lives closeby, so I enjoy going home to see them as often as I can. I really enjoy checking out local art galleries or browsing/exploring new and upcoming artists on social media especially if they are local.
Why Duke: The Duke Pathology Residency Program has a great variety and volume of specimens, and the residents and faculty are so welcoming, knowledgeable, and most of all friendly. There are boundless opportunities for research, involvement in teaching and a strong focus on education. Additionally there is a great balance of autonomy and support. I felt incredibly happy and comfortable at Duke on interview day, and knew this was the place for me!
Why Durham: Durham has so much to offer in terms of good food, culture, outdoor activities, music and art. It’s very relaxing to run in the Duke Forest, take a stroll through the Duke Gardens, or hike around the Eno River. I attended Duke for my undergraduate studies, and had an amazing time both within the academic environment as well as surrounding city. Durham is an incredibly fun and affordable city, and you can always find something to do when you have a day off.
Hometown: Kansas City, KS
College: University of Kansas
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Fellowship Plans: Undecided – there’s potential for GI but I’m keeping an open mind as I go through my training
Career Goals: Also undecided. At the moment I like the idea of working at a VA to encompass aspects of both private and academics.
Hobbies and Interests: I enjoy disc golf, hiking, biking, and, being from Kansas City, barbecuing! I also love sports…love the Kansas City Chiefs and Royals and my Kansas Jayhawks, and I suspect I’ll become a bit of a Duke fan while I am here.
Why Duke: Duke was the right combination of a number of factors for my wife and I. It is a reputable, prestigious program with friendly and personable attendings with a passion for teaching, and I truly believe the program will help me reach whatever career goals I make for myself. In addition to the excellent staff, the residents are all very knowledgeable and willing to help with anything you need.
Why Durham: Durham was another piece of the factors that drew my wife and I to Duke. It’s affordable, it has great diversity and culture, abundant attractions in the triangle area, and the favorable climate makes it great for outdoor adventures. Not only that, it is only a 2-3 hour drive to the mountains or the beach!
Hometown: Miami, Florida
College: Florida International University (FIU)
Medical School: FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Fellowship plans: Not sure, possibly hematopathology
Career goals: I hope to work at an academic hospital where I can teach the next generation of physicians (medical students) and pathologists (residents).
Hobbies and Interests: Hiking, scuba diving, video games
Why Duke: Duke has a excellent reputation in pathology with friendly and enthusiastic residents and staff.
Why Durham: Coming from a large city like Miami, I hoped to live in a less populated area with less traffic, better cost of living, and a cooler climate. Durham is a few hours from the mountains and the ocean to provide ample variety in weekend ventures. The area is beautiful, it is close to my friends and not too far away from my family back in Florida.
