The Johns Hopkins All Children's residency class of 2021
The challenges of pediatric residency always are great, but the resilience and adaptability demanded of this year’s class of graduates from the Johns Hopkins All Children’s residency program has never been seen before.
For more than a year, these residents learned amid a pandemic with physical distancing requirements that limited rounding, influenced interactions with patients and families, and turned in-person training opportunities into video conferences.
Through it all, this year’s graduates could be summed up with an important word: “teachable.”
“No matter where we are in our journey, the more teachable we remain, the more unstoppable we become,” says George Jallo, M.D., vice dean and physician-in-chief at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. “When we remain willing to learn from others around us, our own personal experiences, through research and educational opportunities, we can push through any obstacles or boundaries that we face. As the field of medicine continues to evolve and expand, so must we.”
Jallo’s remarks were part of a hybrid graduation ceremony Saturday. The 12 residents met outside at the home of program director Akshata Hopkins, M.D., to receive diplomas and take pictures and then joined their families to watch Jallo’s remarks, awards and other presentations on video conference.
“There is no doubt in my mind that these 12 remarkable women physicians will drive change,” Hopkins says. “Leading innovative change is not easy. You must maneuver the chess board while also influencing lasting change in system organization and policies. Use your strengths to unite, ally and open the doors for leaders, your peers and future generations. It can feel unsurmountable; but if any class has taught us about doing hard things and having grace with complexity, it is your class.”
The graduation award presentations included:
- Resident of the Year: Johnae Snell, M.D.
- Resident Scholar of the Year: Mimi Tudyk, M.D.
- Resident Advocates of the Year: Johnae Snell, M.D., and Shannon Glenn-Otto, M.D.
- Allen Root Award for Continuous Excellence in Residency: Erika Cohen, M.D.
The Johns Hopkins All Children’s residency program focuses on building leadership into its curriculum. Jallo’s remarks noted the challenges these graduates have faced but also the transition and opportunities ahead.
“Throughout your academic journey that has led you to this day, you undoubtedly have had role models,” he says. “Today, as you walk through this metaphoric door into your new world of opportunities, you will be given the chance to become that type of role model to those who will come behind you. I encourage you to look for ways to bring as many along with you on your journey as you are able to. That is where the real success in life lies.”
2021 Johns Hopkins All Children’s Residency Program Graduates
- Kelly Boehlke, M.D., will practice general pediatrics at Community Health Centers of Pinellas.
- Caitlin Brown, M.D., will practice general pediatrics and urgent care medicine.
- Erika Cohen, M.D., will be a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at Le Bonheur Children’s Hospital, University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
- Sarah Czack, M.D., will be a chief resident at Johns Hopkins All Children’s.
- Shannon Glenn-Otto, M.D., will be a chief resident at Johns Hopkins All Children’s.
- Krishma Kumar, M.D., will practice hospital medicine with AdventHealth in Ocala.
- Jheel Pandya, M.D., will be a pediatric rheumatology fellow at New York-Presbyterian Komansky Children's Hospital, Weill Cornell Medicine.
- Janika Prajapati will practice general pediatrics in New Zealand.
- Johnae Snell, M.D., will be a neonatal-perinatal medicine fellow at Texas Children’s Hospital Baylor College of Medicine.
- Mimi Tudyk, M.D., will be a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, St. Louis University School of Medicine.
- Sehrish Viqar, M.D., will practice general pediatrics at Wellstar Creekside Pediatrics in Douglasville, Georgia.
- Melissa White, M.D., will be a pediatric emergency medicine fellow at Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.