Third Year Fellows
Akhil Vaid, MD
Bio: I am from Long Island, New York, but have spent big chunks of time all over the New York state. My wife and I recently bought our first house in the Syracuse area. We’re looking forward to exploring the city and are so thrilled at the warm welcome we have received. My free time is primarily spent planning road trips and sneaking in quick five minute chess games between errands. I also love grilling and big cooking projects that I only sometimes finish.
Hometown: Old Westbury, NY
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Pediatric Residency: Stony Brook Children’s hospital
Hobbies: Cooking, chess, board games, and NBA basketball
Interests: Toxicology, ultrasound
Dane Nickel, MD
Bio: I grew up in the very rural setting of southwestern Ontario along the coast of lake Huron. After high school I moved to the metropolis of London Ontario to attend The University of Western Ontario where I received my BMSc with an Honors Specialization in Microbiology and Immunology. I then decided that I needed to travel further for my education and I caught a flight south to the island of Dominica for Medical school. I was able to travel and explore the Caribbean and the continental US during medical school before landing in Upstate NY. I quickly felt at home surrounded by friendly people and great access to hiking and outdoor adventures. I spend my off time exploring the central NY area hiking along the Finger Lakes and the Adirondacks, or snugging with my three miniature pinschers.
Hometown: Port Albert, ON, Canada
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Pediatric Residency: Albany Medical Center
Hobbies: Hiking, Skiing, Traveling, City trekking, Game nights and hanging out with friends and family
Interests: LGBTQ+ youth health, global medicine, POC Ultrasound, sedation, disaster medicine, wilderness medicine
Second Year Fellows
Samantha Ribeiro, MD
Bio: I was born in NYC, raised in FL, and went to college in upstate NY. Thanks to my medical education I have spent time in the Caribbean, NYC, and Buffalo over the past years. I fell in love with upstate NY during my college years and was eager to return to the area for fellowship. Overall, I loved all the people that interviewed me and truly felt that I would get a great education at this program. Outside of the hospital, I love going to see live music, running, and exploring new places to eat or drink.
Hometown: Salt Point, NY
Medical School: St. George’s University
Pediatric Residency: University at Buffalo
Hobbies: Attending concerts, running, cooking, rock climbing, playing with puppies, not so general tomfoolery
Interests: Child Abuse, Ultrasound, Medical Education
Amanda Russo, DO
Bio: I am from Long Island, NY where I also completed my medical school training. I decided to cross over the Hudson River to do my emergency medicine training in northern Jersey. During my residency I fell in love with academic medicine and the pediatric ED, leading to my decision to become a Pediatric Emergency Fellow.
Hometown: Huntington, NY
Medical School: NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
EM Residency: St. Joseph’s University Medical Center
Hobbies: Star Wars, Disney, cooking, arts and crafts, hiking, general tomfoolery
Interests: Academic Medicine, bedside POCUS, International Medicine
First Year Fellows
Lexi Sirota Holtman, DO
Bio: I am from Long Island, NY. I didn’t travel very far for medical school. This is where I met my husband who also completed his residency at SUNY Upstate in Emergency Medicine. Fortunately, he brought me to this beautiful area where I got to complete my residency in pediatrics and now gratefully doing my fellowship with the most amazing group of physicians. Not only are the people great but the surrounding area is amazing and you get to go on hikes, drink at local breweries and swim in the waters of all the finger lakes.
Hometown: East Rockaway, NY
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Middletown
Pediatric Residency: SUNY Upstate
Hobbies: Exercising (currently Orange Theory), kickball, pickleball, walking my dog, eating (especially sushi), traveling and going down to Long Island to see my family
Interests: Ultrasound, procedures, sedation
Ooha Kambhampati, DO
Bio: I grew up close to Utica, NY. I always loved this area and knew I wanted to come back, especially for the Utica Coffee. I went to SUNY Geneseo where I met my husband. After several years in Long Island and NYC, we decided to move back to this amazing area to be closer to family. We’ve loved this area so far exploring all the new restaurants, hiking trails and wineries!
Hometown: New Hartford, NY
Medical School: NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pediatric Residency: NYU Winthrop
Hobbies: Running, Tennis, Knitting, Playing with my new puppy
Interests: Simulation, Steroid Use in Asthma