Healthcare Professionals ► Medical Education ► Graduate Medical Education (GME) ► Pediatric Residency Program ► Who We Are

Return to
Pediatric Residency Program

Who We Are

Meet Our Residents

“I grew up in Peru hearing about Nicklaus Children's Hospital as the center where people came for answers when all their other options had run out. It was not until I started residency that I understood that NCH is not only a center of excellence where people from across America come to find answers, but also a place full of amazing people, compassionate mentors, reliable workers, and most importantly, full of warm-hearted friends.”

Giancarlo Giovannini Sanguineti
Class of 2022 Current Chief Resident

“I always found Pediatrics to be the specialty that brings families together and allows us doctors to witness the joy a child brings to their life. During my interview season, I was looking for a program that would make me feel at home, feel like part of a family and would also provide me with the educational resources to succeed as a Pediatrician. I found it at Nicklaus Children's Hospital! My favorite aspect of training at NCH is the sense of teamwork and trustworthiness of all the doctors, nurses, and rest of the staff; they all work together to provide the best healthcare to our kids!”

Karen Hanze Villavicencio
Class of 2022

“During my social service year in medical school in Honduras, I learned about Global Health and its impact in underserved communities. Knowing that NCH participates actively in such initiatives, by both sending assistance abroad and accepting transfers from the rest of America, played a crucial role in my decision to join the NCH family. Physicians, nurses, ancillary staff, and support services (child life, clowns, music therapy, dog therapy and more) all work together as a team to provide the best integral care to the local and international communities. And in case you were wondering… yes, doctors get pet therapy too!”

Pablo Jose Napky Raudales
Class of 2022

“There is nothing better than walking into work and feeling like you’re at home. In addition to having amazing co-residents, NCH provides me with the necessary support, learning opportunities, and mentors I need to become a competent and well-rounded pediatrician.”

Roxana Navarro
Class of 2023

“When they say that you should choose a residency program where you will be happy - it is real! I've felt the warmth of the NCH family since my interview day. Not one day has passed without me thinking that!I'm in love with what I do, and I’m so happy with the people that surround me. That is what I love the most about NCH - the people. Everyone is kind, helpful, and patient. I would choose NCH again in a heartbeat!”

Maricarmen Dionisio
Class of 2023

“Training at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital has been an amazing experience, from our diverse patient population, the family atmosphere among our residents, and our caring faculty and mentors. NCH provides the perfect combination to foster learning while also promoting collaboration, it is a privilege to serve as chief resident and give back to the program that has taught me so much in 3 short years. Growing up in Miami, I always felt NCH to be like home, but the relationships I established over the last 3 years will last a lifetime.”

Stephanie San Martin, MD
Class of 2022 Current Chief Resident

"As a pediatric resident at Nicklaus, I appreciate the support that is provided by our co-residents and upper-level residents, the attendings, faculty, and ancillary staff. Whenever I seek any help, it is easy to find. I also appreciate that the entire facility is dedicated solely to the care of children. It warms my heart to walk the halls and see the faces of happy children and family members, knowing that they have just received top-tier care at NCH."

Breyonna Maddox, MD
Class of 2025

“The program makes a great effort in making you feel at home, even if you are far from your hometown and family. Attendings and staff get to know you on a first-name basis and become your friends. Miami's weather and the hospital facilities make NCH a beautiful place to work at.”

Alejandra Frauenfelder Sanchez, MD
Class of 2025 Rising Chief Resident

"The beauty of training at Nicklaus Children’s is the perfect balance of diversity and experience that everyone has to offer. Being a free-standing children’s hospital, everyone is passionate about working with kids, and I instantly felt welcomed and supported by my co-residents and faculty. I also love the patient population and the community I get to serve daily. With Miami being a large, multicultural city, you are exposed to a high volume of cases and that allows you to see it all and do it all. This city is warm, colorful, and vibrant and moving back home was the best decision I could have made. My favorite thing about Miami is 100% the weather!"

Daniela Castro, DO
Class of 2025

"Some of the aspects I like about NCH, among others, include the culture of the program. I believe it makes NCH unique. I have personally experienced both a high level of professionalism and human warmth from all the staff. Residents become family and everyone works to help each other displaying true teamwork. I also like that the attendings are approachable and encourage us to study."

Milena Fraustro Sanchez, MD
Class of 2025

"My husband and I couples-matched at Nicklaus Children’s, and we couldn't be happier. We welcomed our first baby during our intern year and the program has gone above and beyond to make sure our family feels supported."

Alaina Durkac, MD
Class of 2024

Chief Residents PGY-3 Residents PGY-2 Residents PGY-1 Residents

Our Commitment to Diversity

Diversity is a cornerstone of the Pediatric Residency Program at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. Our goal is to draw people with a variety of backgrounds and life experiences to join as a team in learning, growing and in serving our patient population here in South Florida. Miami is a uniquely multicultural city, and our residency program is a reflection of the many diverse influences that shape our community.

Our residency program is committed to recruiting, training and supporting all prospective candidates inclusive of those who identify as underrepresented in medicine, non-traditional students, and those who come to us from abroad. We are proud to have such a wide representation of diversity within our program and have residents who represent various cultures, ethnicities, religions, languages, families, and backgrounds. We are committed to creating a culture that not only accepts, but also celebrates our collective differences and our common passion for Pediatrics!

Residents and Fellows Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) 4-Year Trends

Chief Residents

Giancarlo Giovannini Sanguineti, MD

Stephanie San Martin, MD

PGY-3
Class of 2023

Daniela Aguilar Abisad, MD

Saleh Alsulami, MD

Melissa Castro, MD

Jacob Convissar, DO

Jeanette Coriat, MD

Jonathan Creech, MD

Maricarmen Dionisio, MD

Michael Elias, MD

Kaela Ellis, DO

Erileen Garcia Roldan, MD

Paulina Gines, DO

Eva Glenn, MD

Camila Gonzalez Arragon, MD

Nicole Jackson, MD

Gabriela Lins, DO

Daniel McGraw, MD

Andrea Montaño, MD

Roxana Navarro, MD

Megha Patel, DO

Larissa Romanow, MD

Antonia Rovira, MD

Wendy Tamayo, MD

Marleni R. Torres Nuñez, MD

Zoe Underill, MD

Ricardo Luis Vega Auz, MD

Amanda Wedelich, MD

Zara Zaidi, MD

Alejandra Frauenfelder Sanchez, MD

PGY-2
Class of 2024

Daniela Albors-Agullo, M.D.

Khalifah Aldawsari, M.D.

Andrea Alonzo, M.D.

Maria Arrate, D.O.

Evelina Dedic, D.O.

Devarshi Desai, D.O.

Courtney Hundzinski, D.O.

Alaina Durkac, M.D.

Veronica Echanove Iturralde, M.D.

Alia Elnaji, D.O.

Andrew Garcia, M.D.

Keishla Gonzalez Sanchez, M.D.

Dianelis Hernandez, M.D.

Aldo Majluta, M.D.

Stephanie Mangels, M.D.

Claudia Mattos, D.O.

Lorein Moya Rodriguez, M.D.

Braden Olsen, M.D.

Camila Pabon, M.D.

Angela Parra Del Riego Freundt- Thurne, M.D.

Agustina Reca, M.D.

Sandra Rios Melendez, M.D.

Andres Rodriguez, M.D.

Gretel Rodriguez, D.O.

Sandra Siatkowski, M.D.

Gabriela Teixeira-Bell, D.O.

Ifrah Waheed, M.D.

Louis Durkac, M.D.

PGY-1
Class of 2025

Almaha Alshehri, MD

Lina Ayala Castro, MD

Maria Florencia Badino, MD

Stephanie Blount, DO

Estefany Cadavid, MD

Daniela Castro, DO

Karina Delgado, DO

Silvia Carolina Escudero Lara, MD

Taimy Falcon Rodriguez, MD

Natalie Fernandez, MD

Natalia Figueroa Ramos, MD

Milena Fraustro Sanchez, MD

Alicia German Dihmes, MD

Maria Daniela Godoy, MD

Melanie Hew, MD

Enrique Konstat Korzenny, MD

Jake Lesser, MD

Becky Li, MD

Breyonna Maddox, DO

Andrea Martinez Sanchez, MD

Laura Maza Portuondo, MD

Maria Camila Mejia Plazas, MD

Christina Perez-Arche, MD

Mark Pilarski, DO

Daniela Ramirez Duque, MD

Pavneet Sandhu, MD

Jessica Valencia, MD

Joselyn Ye Tay, MD

Resident Committees

Wellness Committee

Responsibilities include assisting in the scheduling of speakers and wellness activities in the core curriculum conference series (lectures, meditation sessions, yoga, art/music therapy), compiling useful health-related information for residents (lists of health providers, healthy eating, physical activity), coordinating program sport teams/ events (softball, soccer), planning program social events (annual holiday party, class retreats, BBQ and softball game).

Advocacy Committee

Led by the NCH Program AAP National Delegate and Assistant Delegate. Responsibilities include involvement in AAP national, state and legislative advocacy efforts, coordinating resident community outreach via participation in community service activities (health fairs, school health screenings, career days, etc.) and coordinating resident participation in NCH-sponsored advocacy events (Special Olympics sport physicals, NCH 5K, Carlin Family Prom, Holiday gift-giving project, and Specialty camps such as VACC Camp, UOTS Camp, etc.).

Scholarly Activity Committee

Responsibilities include assisting with the development of a central repository of resident research projects, providing co-residents with guidance through the research process via senior-junior resident mentorship, maintaining a list of major pediatric conferences with current submission deadlines for residents to reference.

Recruitment Committee

Responsibilities include collaborating with program leadership to assist in all aspects of recruitment including website design and content, video development, interview day activities, participation in local residency fairs and medical school pediatric interest group activities, and program career development efforts.

Global Health Committee

Responsibilities include developing global health curriculum, compiling of approved global health rotation sites, streamlining global health rotation request process, and providing guidance for global health related resident QI and research projects.

Meet Our Leaders

Beatriz Cunill-De Sautu, MD, FAAP
Pediatric Residency Program Director

Maria Behnam-Terneus, DO, FAAP
Pediatric Residency Program Associate Director

Mark Gabay, DO, FAAP
Pediatric Residency Program Associate Director

Our Alumni

We are proud of the extended professional network that our program has fostered over the years throughout the US and elsewhere. We truly feel that each trainee at our hospital is a part our NCHS family during and beyond their residency. NCH alumni are represented in every field of pediatrics and have been fellowship trained at numerous highly ranked institutions throughout the country. We even have some alumni who practice internationally. Our alumni come together during specialty specific conferences to reconnect with each other and help mentor new trainees into their respective fields. Classes remain connected beyond residency though social media platforms, sharing both their personal and professional accomplishments. We are also very proud of the large number of alumni who stay at NCH after their residency training or return back to NCH after their fellowship training elsewhere. They play a special role in continuing the great tradition of teaching and mentoring our current residents and future colleagues.

Alumni Spotlight

“Training at Nicklaus Children's Hospital was the best thing that happened to my career. I became a great pediatrician and had the best time. There are three things that make NCH a unique training program. First, the people. There is a culture of mutual respect and collaboration that promotes teamwork and gives you a warm homey feeling every time you go in to the hospital. Second, the vast clinical exposure, unique patient population, both healthy and very sick children, and increasing autonomy. Lastly, the medical education team is incredible and will make sure residents get excellent clinical experience and training tailored to their interests. For me, it was the perfect setting to fulfill my life goals, including personal ones. During my time at NCH, my family grew, and I matched at my dream fellowship program. I would train at NCH a million times.”

Alejandro Frade Garcia, MD
Alum, Class of 2019 Chief Resident, Class of 2020 Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellow, Boston Children’s Hospital / Harvard University

“The decision to train at Nicklaus Children´s Hospital for my Pediatric residency was an easy choice. NCH offers everything I was looking for in a training program and more. The hospital provides care in over 40 subspecialty services! I knew that because of this, I would be exposed to a wide variety of cases and pathologies, giving me the foundation to be a well-rounded Pediatrician. The hospital is also home to amazing ancillary services, such as specialized IV teams, Child Life, music therapy, dog therapy and more, making it easy to provide care to your patients with a multidisciplinary and holistic approach. Best of all, when I trained at NCH, I felt like I was part of a close-knit family. My NCH family included my amazing co-residents, the attendings, faculty, staff, and our incredible program leaders. They were all critical in making my training a success and supported, encouraged and nurtured my personal and career goals. I was honored to serve as Chief Resident, and I am eager to continue my fellowship training in Pediatric Emergency Medicine in this great institution!”

Ana Ruiz Castañeda, MD
Alum, Class of 2019 Chief Resident, Class of 2020 Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellow, Nicklaus Children's Hospital

“I was born in Lima, Peru, and I graduated from La Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos. I first came to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital as an observer and was warmly welcomed by the faculty from day one. Imagine my excitement when I returned to this world-class hospital as a Pediatric Resident. All the attending physicians became mentors and close friends, which invested in our career development and provided us with comprehensive training consisting of balanced didactics, research, and patient care. The experience gained from caring for large patient volumes, complex high acuity cases and a variety of challenging clinical situations shaped me into a confident, resourceful and thoughtful Pediatrician ready to start a fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care and to continue my career in clinical and academic medicine. I will be always grateful for completing my training at NCH, a place where I grew both professionally and personally. I developed long-lasting friendships with people who became my family.”

Alejandro Martinez Herrada, MD
Alum, Class of 2018 Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Fellow, Case Western Reserve University - Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital

“After rotating at NCH as a medical student, choosing the program for residency was a simple decision. I saw all that I thought to be important in a residency program: knowledgeable, enthusiastic attendings, supportive co-residents, extraordinary variation of pathology and a positive learning environment. This is exactly what I experienced during my residency and so much more. The Medical Education team works tirelessly for their residents to have the best possible experience. After graduating and now practicing as a general pediatrician, I feel confident in the knowledge and skills Nicklaus Children’s Hospital helped me develop. I am very grateful to have completed my training at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital!”

Anamaria Patzke, MD
Alum, Class of 2020 General Pediatrics, Coral Springs, FL

“I chose NCH for residency because of the incredible experience I had during my rotations as a medical student, and I could not have been happier with my choice! There are a million reasons why I loved my time at NCH. I was trained by the best pediatricians and subspecialists in South Florida and was exposed to a vast array of patients and clinical scenarios. However, the best part of my experience was growing alongside my co-residents. We helped push each other to become better physicians and have formed lifelong friendships. Following residency, I have continued to serve the community I love as Pediatrician at Roads Pediatrics. I know my training at NCH gave me the necessary skills to provide the best care for my patients!”

Diana Abreu Molnar, MD
Alum, Class of 2020 General Pediatrics, Miami, FL

"I was born in Mexico City, Mexico. I am a graduate of Anahuac University School of Medicine. I enjoy learning about various cultures and their histories by travelling, reading, and watching movies. These life passions and interests played a vital part in choosing Nicklaus for my residency. Miami is a vibrant and diverse city, and that lends to unique hospital environment in which we are constantly stimulated, learning, and enriching our professional careers and personal endeavors. Through my mentors and research opportunities, Nicklaus has provided me the tools to succeed and excel in my future career. After residency, I plan to pursue a fellowship in pediatric cardiology."

Rafael Zonana Amkie, MD
Alum, Class of 2020, Pediatric Cardiology Fellow, University of Texas - McGovern Medical School, Houston, TX

"I've had a passion for pediatrics since I was young and have always dreamed of working at Nicklaus Children’s Hospital. My experience at Nicklaus began while working as a volunteer while in undergrad. My favorite aspect of training is the cohesiveness of the NCH community and the diversity of cases seen."

Bianca Soto, MD
Alum, Class of 2020, General Pediatrics, Miami, Florida

"Being from Miami, I had always heard about wonderful experiences my friends and family had at then “Miami Children’s” and that put Nicklaus on my radar when searching for a residency. Then the day I interviewed, I noticed a sense of family not only within the residency program, but with everyone in the hospital. That was unique and made me want to be part of that family."

Freddy Martin, MD
Resident, Class of 2021

"I chose NCH for residency to gain exposure to a wide variety of clinical cases in a supportive program with a family feel. I knew since interview day, it was a family I wanted to be a part of. Some of the best memories I have during training are sleepovers with my co-residents during 3rd year calls and seeing the interns learn and grow professionally during team leader months."

Stephanie Montarroyos, DO, FAAP
Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellow