Our Current Residents

Gregory Alexander, MD
PGY-5
Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

Greg originally grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ and went to Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University for medical school. Prior to arriving at the University of Maryland, he did his internship at St. Luke's University Health system in Bethlehem, PA. He is an avid supporter of all Philadelphia sports teams - in particular the Phillies and the Eagles. In his free time, he enjoys pickup basketball games and exploring the restaurant scene in Baltimore.

Why University Maryland? Greg chose University of Maryland for its excellent clinical training, the cohesiveness of the residents, and access to cutting edge technology such as proton therapy and hyperthermia.

Justin Cohen, MD
PGY-5
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Justin is originally from Silver Spring, MD. He earned his undergraduate degree from Fairleigh Dickinson University and his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed his preliminary year internship at the Greater Baltimore Medical Center. His research interests include lung, head and neck, rectal cancer, and hyperthermia. He has four rambunctious boys who are all diehard fishermen, and loves spending time with them in the great outdoors.

Why University Maryland? Justin appreciates the excellent clinical training that he receives at Maryland, and the close relationships that he has with everyone in the department.

Ariel Pollock, MD
PGY-5
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Ari grew up in Wheeling, WV and completed her undergraduate and medical school training in New York City, at Columbia University and Icahn School of Medicine respectively. She did a preliminary medicine internship at Allegheny General Hospital. During her time in residency she has been involved in various research projects, with a particular focus in gynecologic cancer research. In her free time, she loves doing workout classes with friends, walking around the harbor or hiking, and going out to happy hour!

Why University of Maryland? Ari’s favorite part of the University of Maryland residency program is the people, as she loves working with the faculty and the residents, and has found a collegial cooperative environment where she can truly excel.

Rebecca Krc, DO
PGY-4, Co-Chief Resident
A. T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

Rebecca is originally from St. Louis, MO, and completed her undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry in Arkansas while competing in Division II swimming. She graduated medical school in 2018 from Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed her intern year in Kansas City, MO. Her clinical/research interests include gynecologic brachytherapy, central nervous system, and head and neck malignancies. In her spare time, she enjoys the outdoors (hiking, triathlons, kayaking) as well as spending time with family and friends.

Why University of Maryland? What Rebecca loves about the University of Maryland is the collegial atmosphere among the residents and attendings. At Maryland there are innumerable opportunities to pursue her professional interests, including fine-tuning her clinical skills, research, education, survivorship, and more.

Bansi Savla, MD
PGY-4, Co-Chief Resident
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine

Bansi grew up in Mason, OH and moved to Clearwater, Florida in high school. She attended Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, FL where she majored in biology. She completed medical school at the University of South Florida and her intern year at St. Petersburg General Hospital. In her free time, she enjoys weightlifting, going on walks around the Baltimore Harbor, trying new coffee shops and spending time with her husband, co-residents and 3 ferrets! 

Why University Maryland? Bansi chose University of Maryland for residency after rotating in the department during her fourth year of medical school, as the program encompassed all of the things she valued - a genuinely warm and fun collegial environment amongst residents and attendings alike, and strong clinical training with a clear commitment to resident education and supporting research endeavors. While her interests in the field are broad and continue to evolve, she currently has a special interest in gynecologic brachytherapy and cancer disparities. 

James Assif, MD
PGY-3
SUNY Upstate Medical University

James has a long record of commitment to academic endeavors, initially cultivated through his chemistry and biochemistry experiences at Connecticut College, and subsequent technology-driven basic science research during his gap year at Aerodyne Research, Inc. in Boston, MA. He has since transitioned his efforts to clinical outcomes research while completing his training at the University of Maryland. Outside of work, he finds passion in outdoor activities and his continued involvement in athletics after his collegiate track and field career, and spends much of his free time participating in multiple recreational soccer leagues in Baltimore. He is not only proud to be a resident of the University of Maryland Radiation Oncology team, but describes his experience with much gratitude.

Why University Maryland? James chose Maryland not only for the program's strength in training, but because of the family he gets to be a part of for his four years in training. He has made lasting relationships with his mentors, co-residents, and coworkers that aren’t found easily in a training program.

Soha Bazyar, MD
PGY-3
Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

Mother, wife, bioengineer, and radiation oncology resident, Soha lives them all together. Born and raised in Iran, she moved to the U.S. shortly after finishing medical school at the Mashhad University of Medical Sciences. Amazed by the innovative role of engineering in medicine, she applied for a PhD program in the department of bioengineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During her thesis project, she got to know the field of radiation oncology, and worked on its different aspects including physics and radiation biology. During her free time, she loves doing projects around the house. After theater, gym, and an outdoor playground, what will be her next project?

Why University Maryland? Soha enjoys going to work every day. She loves the culture and the community in the department. At Maryland, not only does she receive great training and research opportunities, but also the supportive environment of the department which enables her as a mom to have a great work-life balance.

Hua-Ren Ryan Cherng, MD
PGY-3
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Ryan was, believe it or not, born at the hospital he currently works at, but grew up about 30 minutes away from Baltimore. He went to the University of Pennsylvania for college, then returned to the University of Maryland for his medical school training, and stayed on as a resident. In his free time, Ryan enjoys the outdoors, hiking, playing tennis, going to breweries/wineries, going to new museums, and traveling. 

Why University Maryland? Ryan loves the comradery and collegiality of this residency and his co-residents, the commitment to education demonstrated by the faculty, and the breadth of training that this program offers.

Alexander Allen, MD
PGY-2
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine

Alexander grew up in Virginia Beach, VA and attended Yale University as an undergraduate student, where he majored in molecular biology. He then received his MD from the Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, followed by a transitional year internship at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, VA. His clinical and research interests include stereotactic radiosurgery and the treatment of oligometastatic disease, as well as treatment of the central nervous system, thoracic, and hematologic malignancies. In his spare time, he enjoys playing recreational soccer and basketball, fishing, drawing, painting, and cheering on the Ravens.

Why University of Maryland? When Alexander was applying to residency, Maryland had everything he was looking for in a program: excellent clinical training and volume, access to a variety of technologies including hyperthermia, Gamma Knife, on-site proton radiotherapy, robust clinical research with ample opportunities for resident involvement, and nationally renowned clinical and physics faculty. He remembered being blown away on his interview day after hearing about these features of the program, and also seeing how incredibly friendly and approachable all of the residents and attendings were. It also didn't hurt that he had been a Baltimore Ravens fan since childhood, and the stadium is a 4-minute drive from the hospital.

Matthew Brown, MD
PGY-2
University of Alabama School of Medicine

Matthew grew up in Huntsville, AL and spent most of his life there through medical school. He thoroughly enjoyed all his oncology rotations, and combined with his interests in the physical sciences, radiation oncology was an obvious choice for him. During his free time, he enjoys swimming, playing the piano, and exploring Baltimore as well as the surrounding areas.

Why University Maryland? Matthew was initially drawn to the University of Maryland by the wide range of cutting-edge technologies employed in the department, and eh was particularly impressed by both the clinical and research training benefits that came with that. He chose Maryland because the culture of the program stuck out to as being heavily education-focused, and his experiences here have only further confirmed that.

Muhammad Ali Hamza, MD
PGY-2
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Muhammad is a Baltimore native through and through. He attended Baltimore City Public Schools through high school, went to Johns Hopkins University for college, and completed medical school at the University of Maryland. He is interested in examining health care disparities related to cancer care, as well as the impact of cancer on mental health. In his free time, he likes to spend time with friends and family, read, and watch the Baltimore Ravens.

Why University of Maryland? One thing that attracted Muhammad to the residency program at the University of Maryland was the emphasis on advancing the field of radiation oncology through multidisciplinary research and innovation while still keeping patient care, compassion, and empathy at the forefront.

Adeniyi Olabumuyi, MBBS
University of Ibadan College of Medicine

Austin Thompson, MD
California Northstate University College of Medicine

Reza Zarinshenas, MD
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Sarah Anne McAvoy, MD
Assistant Professor
Vice Chair for Education
Residency Program Director

‌Wendla K. Citron, MD
Assistant Professor
Residency Program Associate Director‌