OB/GYN Residency - Current Residents - PGY3

Mahala Ashcherkin, MD

Mahala Ashcherkin comes to us from Kent, Ohio (known for its Harry Potter Festival), and she attended the University of Toledo College of Medicine. In her free time, she enjoys exploring, crafting, gardening, and volleyball!

Why OB/GYN: The intimacy of the relationships we develop with our patients is extremely humbling and motivating to me.
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: Nowhere else did I find such an immediate sense of family and joy. It is a privilege to go into work each day with everyone here. 

Lucy Cheng, MD

Lucy Cheng is from a little bit of everywhere. She grew up moving around Southeast Asia, then to multiple states across the US — including Ohio, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Texas, California and New York. Outside of medicine, her hobbies include calligraphy, dance, cooking and traveling the world.

Why OB/GYN: I knew I wanted to be in a specialty that was surgical/procedural, but with lots of patient interaction and continuity of care. I also realized that I loved to stay busy at work and enjoy variety in my day-to-day. After going through all of my core rotations with only OB/GYN left, I was worried that I wouldn’t like it even though it seemed to fit me perfectly in regards to being a surgical subspecialty with lots of variety and deep patient relationships. Thankfully, I knew just after the first day that this was the specialty for me, and these were my people. I also realized that shared decision making and patient education, especially female patients, were very important to me, as I grew up with strong female presences that didn’t have the opportunities that I had and therefore didn’t have the means/resources to empower themselves. I feel happy going to work every day; I’m so glad I’m an OB/GYN.
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: After applying and interviewing here, I fell in love with the people and the culture. I knew that I would get good training at any of the places I applied to, but it’s the day-to-day and the people that you’re with that make the biggest difference in how you feel coming to work every day. I remember at the interview dinner, one of last year’s chiefs said “intern year and fourth-year are my favorites." I had NEVER heard someone say they loved intern year. And now, as an intern at the college, I really do love it. It also doesn’t hurt that everyone treats each other like family and someone always has your back. I’m lucky to learn and train in a place like this. 

Benjamin Cordy, MD

Benjamin Cordy graduated from his hometown medical school, the University of Washington. Beyond medicine, he spends his time outdoors as much as possible: running, cycling and climbing.

Why OB/GYN: During my third-year rotation, I was impressed by the breadth of surgical and medical opportunities in the field. This variety — combined with the impact that providing good OB/GYN care can have for a patient, her family — and her community, was what drew me to OB/GYN.
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: In addition to the surgical volume, educational opportunities and emphasis on resident wellness, I was attracted to the southwest by long sunny trail runs, tons of climbing and pool-side hangouts.

Kate Curley, MD

Kate Curley is from Richland, MI, and attended George Washington University for medical school. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, spinning and spending time with her husband, their 17-month-old son Patrick and their insane puppy Mila. 

Why OB/GYN: Like a lot of other people, I fell in love with OB/GYN because of the patients and because of the variety. I knew I wanted to be an advocate for women’s health and this specialty allows us to take care of women across their entire lifespan and to focus exclusively on becoming a women’s health expert. And, as someone who loves outpatient medicine and the OR, the variety of OB/GYN is unmatched. There’s nothing quite like being in the clinic one day, the operating room the next, and then running to labor and delivery to help a new life come into the world!
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: Nowhere else did I find such an immediate sense of family and joy. It is a privilege to go into work each day with everyone here.

Bryan Grover, MD

Bryan Grover is from Orem, Utah, and attended the University of Utah for medical school. He enjoys the outdoors, trail running and hanging out with his two kids when he's not at the hospital!

Why OB/GYN: There are so many things I love about the OB/GYN specialty. Apart from the fascinating science, surgery and physiology of OB/GYN, there is also a unique emotional intensity that I don’t think you can find in other specialties. You get to be an integral part of people's lives. It is an amazing and humbling experience to accompany patients through some of the happiest and potentially most devastating moments of their lives. OB/GYN truly embodies humanism in medicine.
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: The moment I heard about this program it was at the top of my list. Nowhere else in the country has such a unique blend of extensive training and unmatched resident wellness. The learning environment is enriched by the diverse patient population and breadth of clinical presentations. I am excited to go to work every day and so grateful I matched here!  

Zia Kanani, MD

Zia Kanani is one of our wonderful new interns! He’s from California originally, and graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He’s planning on being a generalist. He’s also the brother of one of our R3s, Nura Sobhanian! Outside of medicine, he enjoys mountain biking, snowboarding, composing and recording piano pieces, and exploring new restaurants in the area.

Why OB/GYN: I actually didn’t think I would go into OB/GYN in medical school, but I was surprised by the variety of the specialty. I also enjoyed the relationships I got to build with patients during my third-year rotation. And I just really liked L&D.
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: Like everyone else, I was attracted by the culture of the program, and how everyone is very collaborative and puts a lot into building a positive environment. There’s a very strong family atmosphere here. And I didn’t mind the idea of coming to a warmer climate! 

Lelan McCann, MD

Lelan McCann is a born-and-raised Arizona native! She grew up here in the valley, went to ASU for undergrad and stayed in the valley for med school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. She enjoys playing violin and piano, making ice cream, leisure French baking and exploring bodies of water in her free time!

Why OB/GYN: Before my third-year rotations, I thought anything but OB/GYN. After my incredibly hands-on experience here though, I saw the privilege and gravity of being an OB/GYN. It was the deeply human experience of being involved in one of the most personal times of a woman’s life. It has captivated me ever since! 
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: This place is home for me. From the very beginning, everyone in this program treated me as if I belonged. I wanted to train at the institution where I first fell in love with OB/GYN and perpetuate the same passionate and welcoming culture that I experienced as a medical student. I love my family here!

Juliana Peterson, MD

Juliana (Annie) Peterson grew up in Park City, UT (small mountain town, lots of skiing!), and attended medical school at the College of Medicine – Phoenix. She enjoys hiking, biking, trail running, skiing (anything outside, really), spending time with her husband and 13-year-old puppy (also ideally outside), baking, as well as eating said baked goods!

Why OB/GYN: I started my third-year of medical school convinced that I would do anything but OB/GYN; but as the year progressed, I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I fell in love with the variety of the specialty and the incredible connections we can form with our patients, and I especially enjoy the opportunity to empower women! 
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: I know it’s been said a million times, but the culture at this college is the best! I genuinely feel so lucky to get to call the amazing people in this program my co-workers and friends. Not only are the residents and attendings at the college exceptional humans, but they are also incredible teachers and mentors who are exceedingly well trained. This combo makes the College of Medicine – Phoenix my ideal residency program, and I’m so happy to be a part of it!  

Rachel Weigel, MD

Rachel Weigel grew up in Chanhassen, MN (20 min south of Minneapolis), before going to the University of Notre Dame for undergrad. She went to the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities for medical school. Outside of medicine, she loves spending time with family and friends, hiking, baking, cooking new and old recipes, doing yoga, and soaking up the sunshine.

Why OB/GYN: I chose to specialize in Obstetrics and Gynecology for so many reasons! I actually cried (tears of joy) the first time I participated in a cesarean section as a third-year medical student. Aside from the unique mix of inpatient, clinic and surgical management, I found that the unique opportunity in OB/GYN to advocate for women’s well-being and empower each patient throughout their lifetime aligned most with my view of practicing medicine.
Why the College of Medicine – Phoenix: I mean, what’s not to love about this program? The diverse patient population, exposure to surgical subspecialties early in residency, and the prioritization on resident happiness and fulfillment were my favorite aspects of this program as an applicant. As a newly minted intern, I feel so grateful to be part of this residency family!