Program Leadership

Christyn Magill, MD – Program Director

Amy Puchalski, MD – Associate Program Director

Lia Cruz, DO – Associate Program Director

Asuncion Erikson – Program Coordinator

Fellows

PGY-4

Beth Melton, DO

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine-Carolinas Campus

Residency: Wake Forest (Emergency)

“Hi! My name is Beth Melton and I am so happy to be a first year PEM fellow at CMC. I am originally from Michigan and went to Michigan State University for college. I moved to Charlotte shortly after and worked for several years as a medical assistant, EMT, and was a Hyperbaric Technologist at CMC – Mercy. I attended medical school in South Carolina and recently completed my EM residency at Wake Forest. I live in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte now with my husband Tyler, my cat Petrie and my dog Triscuit. Professionally, I have research and clinical interests in preventing child abuse, ED care of sexual assault patients, workplace violence, and global health. Personally, I enjoy cooking and baking, attempting to try every Charlotte restaurant (just ask me for recommendations!), running and hiking, watersports, travel, reading, and crocheting. My favorite thing about CMC so far has been the people. The attendings and teaching are unmatched, and working alongside the phenomenal residents and other fellows makes me happy to come to work every day.”

Taylor Burl, MD

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine

Residency: Hennepin County (Emergency)

“Hello! My name is Taylor and I’m a first-year PEM fellow, along with Beth. I grew up in Newburyport, Massachusetts and have a strong preference for beaches, black dogs, seafood, and New England sports teams. I went to undergrad at Penn State so naturally love the Nittany Lions and college football, too. I stayed in Boston for medical school at Tufts, and recently completed my emergency medicine residency at Hennepin County in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I fell in love with the PEM fellowship at CMC/LCH because it’s a high acuity, high volume, urban hospital program in a city with easy access to the outdoors, a great food and drink scene (I’ve been getting recommendations from Beth since I moved), and lovely neighborhoods to live in. On days off you can find me running, hiking with my dog, browsing flea markets, or reading romance novels and murder mysteries. My research interests include pediatric airway management and pediatric trauma. I’m looking forward to exploring these interests during fellowship, with the support of the wonderful and down-to-earth faculty at CMC/LCH. “

PGY-5

Zack Gibson, DO

Medical School: A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: University of Arizona (Emergency)

Haseeb Khatri, MD

Medical School: Texas A&M

Residency: University of Missouri (Emergency)

Rebecca Raffler, DO

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Carolinas Medical Center (Pediatrics)

“I’m a rare, born and raised, Charlotte native! Despite leaving to do my Undergrad at Brandeis University in Massachusetts, then living in NYC for a few years, I found my way back down south for medical school at VCOM in Spartanburg, SC. It was a very easy decision for me to come back to Charlotte, NC for my Pediatric Residency training at Levine Children’s Hospital and I love it here so much that I stayed for Fellowship. My research interests are on invasive group A strep, sepsis, and am currently the simulation fellow on our Sim Track! While our education and experience are uncontested with the amount of high acuity patients we care for and the diverse pathologies, it’s the people we work with and the city itself that sold this program to me. Charlotte is central to the mountains, beach, and multiple lakes so there’s always something to do and somewhere to be! The food, bar, and activity scene here is amazing and (most importantly) it’s super dog friendly! I can’t imagine being anywhere else. So come hang out with us!”

PGY-6

Maureen Nsofor, MD

Medical School: Morehouse Medical College

Residency: Emory (Pediatrics)

Research Interest: Injury Prevention

“Hi! My name is Maureen and I am a third year PEM fellow. I was born in Nigeria but grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. I attended the University of Georgia (Go DAWGS) and Morehouse School of Medicine. I completed a pediatrics residency at Emory/CHOA. I knew I would pursue PEM as early as 4th year of medical school. It is scary, exciting, exhausting, fulfilling, and honestly a privilege. So many emotions can be experienced in just one shift, and I love it. My areas of interest in PEM include medical education and injury prevention. My fellow project is looking at firearm injuries in the city of Charlotte and mapping hot spots of such injuries. I enjoy spending the day with my son and husband. We are always down for a stroll in the many trails in CLT or a hike up Crowders mountain. I am also a brunch kinda gal and can’t get enough of all the yummy places to eat in CLT.”

Alumni

Ali Rosser, MD

Medical School: SUNY Upstate

Residency: Stony Brook (Emergency Medicine)

Research Interest: Simulation and Medical Education

Current Position: Dell Children’s Hospital – Austin

Kendra Jackson, MD

Medical School: University of Virginia

Residency: Carolinas Medical Center (Pediatrics)

Research Interest: HIV and Medical Education

Current Position: Johns Hopkins University

Lizz Olson, MD

Medical School: Wake Forest

Residency: Carolinas Medical Center (Emergency Medicine)

Research Interest: Informatics and HIV

Current Position: Medical College of Georgia

Erica Scott, MD

Medical School: Texas Tech

Residency: East Carolina University (Emergency Medicine)

Research Interest: Global Health and Medical Education

Current Position: UT Southwestern

Whitney Ficker, MD

Medical School: University of Missouri

Residency: University of Missouri (Pediatrics)

Research Interest: Human Trafficking

Current Position: University of Missouri

Elise Alves Graber, MD

Medical School: University of Miami

Residency: University of Miami (Pediatrics)

Current Position: Jackson Health System

Juliana Jaramillo, MD

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Residency: King’s Country Hospital/SUNY Downstate (Emergency Medicine)

Current Position: East Carolina University

Vanessa Goff, MD

Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine

Residency: Children’s National Health System (Pediatrics)