Current Residents
PGY-4 Residents
Banafsheh Bonnie Shoai, M.D.
2023-2024 Chief Administrative Resident
Morehouse School of Medicine
Email: bshoai@msm.edu
Dr. Banafsheh “Bonnie” Shoai is a Georgia native who grew up in Alpharetta, GA. She
graduated from The Georgia Institute of Technology with a B.S. in Biology and pursued
her medical doctorate at Morehouse School of Medicine. She was drawn to Morehouse
for their mission of providing health equity to all as well as increasing the diversity
in healthcare. For residency, she stayed at Morehouse and is currently a fourth-year
OB/GYN resident. She is interested in general obstetrics and gynecology practice and
family planning. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watching reality tv or dramas,
baking, trying new restaurants and cuisines, and playing with her cat Salem!
Lauren Gibbs, M.D.
2023-2024 Clinical Chief
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Email: lgibbs@msm.edu
Dr. Lauren Gibbs was raised in Huntsville, AL and earned her B.S. in Exercise Science
with a minor in French from the University of Alabama at Birmingham. She subsequently
completed her M.S. in Biomedical and Health Sciences at UAB before attending medical
school at Charles R. Drew University/UCLA in the Urban Underserved College. She is
currently a fourth-year resident who plans to specialize in Reproductive Endocrinology
and Infertility. She is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated and has
a keen interest in mentorship and sustainable pipeline programs. In her free time,
she enjoys attending dance classes in Jazz, Modern, and Ballet as well as attending
theater performances and concerts. She also enjoys roller-skating, bowling, and minigolf
with family and friends.
Joan Han, M.D.
2023-2024 Education Chief
Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Email: jhan@msm.edu
Dr. Joan Han graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor of Science in
Cellular Biology and a minor in Public Health and went on to complete medical school
at the Medical College of Georgia where she graduated as a member of the Gold Humanism
Honor Society. During her medical training, she also ran a free health clinic and
focused her research efforts on HPV-associated cancers. During her residency training
at Morehouse School of Medicine, she has developed special interests in minimally
invasive and robotic gynecologic surgery and is the recipient of the AAGL Special
Resident in Minimally Invasive Surgery Award. When not at work, she enjoys hiking,
traveling, and taking care of her many houseplants and her dog, Daisy.
Sasha Ray, M.D.
2023-2024 Quality/Wellness Chief
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
Email: saray@msm.edu
Dr. Sasha Ray is a fourth-year resident in the MSM OBGYN Program. She was born and
raised in Little Rock, AR. After completing a year at Rhodes College in Memphis, TN,
she transferred to Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN where she graduated with
a double major in African American and Diaspora Studies and Biological Sciences with
a focus in Ecology, Evolution and Organismal Biology. She then attended Hampton University
for a post-baccalaureate program prior to matriculation to medical school back home
at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences where she obtained her MD in 2020.
She was drawn to obstetrics and gynecology by a fascination with the physiology of
pregnancy and the reproductive health of women. Her professional interests include
increasing Black breastfeeding rates through education and access, decreasing the
rates of Black maternal morbidity and mortality, and sexual education all through
a lens of reproductive justice and respectful maternal care. Outside of her scrubs,
Sasha has two cats that she truly feels she should be able to claim on her taxes.
She enjoys reading, meditation, yoga, 90's R&B, brunch, and cooking.
PGY-3 Residents
Thomas Chavez, M.D.
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Email: tchavez@msm.edu
Dr. Thomas Chavez was born in New Jersey and grew up with aspirations of becoming
a professional hockey player. However, it became apparent that going pro was not an
option when no NHL scouts had contacted him by the time he was 18. Needing to choose
a more realistic career, he attended New York University and majored in Neuroscience.
It was during his four years in the Big Apple that he discovered a passion for medicine.
Dr. Chavez volunteered with both Pediatrics and the Emergency Department at Bellevue
Hospital throughout college, and he continued that community service for a year after
graduating in 2015. A year after obtaining his bachelor’s from NYU, Thomas joined
the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine's Class of 2020. His interests included
Pediatrics and General Surgery, and had you asked him at the beginning of his schooling
which field of medicine he wouldn't consider as a career, Obstetrics and Gynecology
would have been an instant response. That all changed after experiencing labor and
delivery for the first time as a third-year medical student, and since then he has
never looked back. Dr. Chavez completed an internship in General Surgery at the University
of Kentucky, where he earned Resident of the Month honors on his Gynecology rotation,
before matching to Morehouse School of Medicine's OB-GYN residency program. Dr. Chavez
is incredibly excited to be living and working in Atlanta and hopes to gain valuable
experience in dealing with health disparities and treating underserved patient populations
at Grady Memorial Hospital. When not at work, he enjoys culinary arts, trying new
cuisines, watching all genres of television from live-action drama to anime, and continues
to play amateur hockey, waiting for that phone call to join the big leagues.
Erica Green, M.D.
Ross University School of Medicine
Email: eagreen@msm.edu
Dr. Erica Green grew up in the inner city of Pittsburgh, PA where she attended Oliver
High School and graduated as the valedictorian. Growing up with a single mother who
was a practicing LPN, she gained her love for medicine and helping others. She graduated
from Pennsylvania State University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and nurtured
her interest in medicine while there as a peer health lead educator, establishing
programs specifically catered to educating minority populations on sexual health.
Dr. Green received a Master's in Biological Sciences from Drexel University and gained
a strong interest in student education, becoming a peer tutor in biochemistry and
anatomy. She earned her Medical Doctorate with Honors from Ross University School
of Medicine. While at Ross, she did not shy away from any leadership role presented
to her and subsequently, became Vice president of the student government association,
Vice president of the Ross chapter of SNMA, a peer tutor, academic coordinator of
Phi Delta Epsilon Fraternity, and bible study leader in Ross Christian Fellowship.
In her free time, she likes to watch the real housewives, hike and spend time with
family and friends. Dr. Green's professional goal is to continue her work with student
education by pursuing a career as an OBGYN residency program director.
Victoria Johnson, M.D.
Morehouse School of Medicine
Email: VLJohnson@msm.edu
Dr. Victoria Johnson was born in Albany, Ga but grew up and attended high school in
Decatur, Ga. After graduating top 5% of her high school class, she attended Georgia
State University and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology. This is also where she
met her amazing husband, Brock. Before medical school, she completed a Master of Science
in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences at Drexel University. Also, during her postgraduate
training, she pursued research at the University of Pennsylvania, publishing her work
on Alcoholic Liver Disease (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28864659/).
Dr. Johnson returned home to Georgia and attended medical school at Morehouse School
of Medicine. During this time, she engaged in a number of community outreach projects
with an emphasis on social determinants of health. She is passionate about advocacy,
health equity, women’s health, and preventive medicine. She is excited and honored
to complete her OB/GYN residency at Morehouse School of Medicine where she can continue
to serve the underserved population. She foresees herself owning a private practice
in her local community and dreams of opening a women’s shelter.
In her spare time, Dr. Johnson enjoys traveling, wine tasting, planning social gatherings
for family and friends, and binge-watching crime TV. She also loves animals and would
love to explore the safaris of Kenya one day. But for now, her love for animals is
expressed by playing fetch with her dog Chance. Dr. Johnson can be reached at VLJohnson@msm.edu.
Oluwadamilola (Lola) Thomas, M.D.
Howard University School of Medicine
Email: othomas@msm.edu
Dr. Oluwadamilola Thomas is a PGY3 Obstetrics and Gynecology resident at Morehouse
School of Medicine. She was born in London and grew up in Massachusetts. She graduated
in 2021 from Howard University College of Medicine. She received her Master's in Biomedical
Sciences in 2017 from Rutgers Graduate School and her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology
and Chemistry from New York University in 2015. Dr. Thomas was Vice President of Activities
of her medical school class for four years. She was very active in various leadership
roles throughout medical school and held numerous positions throughout her four years.
Her most proud accomplishment was her role as Associate Regional Director of the Student
National Medical Association where she put together two large scale conferences for
the pre-medical and medical students of the DC-Maryland-Virginia community. Dr. Thomas
is also very active in research and has numerous publications and poster presentations
in a variety of fields. Dr. Thomas is a strong mentor and takes the time to mentor
various underrepresented individuals in their journey to medical school and residency.
She had the opportunity to be a Student Health Mentor where she worked to increase
the matriculation of minority college students into medical school. Dr. Thomas is
excited for these next four years of residency where she hopes to leave in 2025 as
an exceptional OBGYN. In her free time, Dr. Thomas loves to travel and spend time
brunching with friends when she is off from work or bingeing a new show that Netflix
continues to put out.
PGY-2 Residents
Alexandra Caldwell, M.D.
Morehouse School of Medicine
Email: acaldwell@msm.edu
Dr. Alexandra Caldwell was born in Charlotte, NC and raised in Kannapolis, NC. She
received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from East Carolina University. Dr. Caldwell
taught science at R.J. Reynolds High School for three years and subsequently earned
her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine. She is interested in a career
as an Obstetric Hospitalist. Her interests and hobbies include working out, anything
true crime, and baking. She is a fur mommy to her dogs Miko and Samson.
Katie Peagler, M.D.
Morehouse School of Medicine
Email: kpeagler@msm.edu
Dr. Katie M. Peagler is a DeKalb County native, from Lithonia, GA. She is an alum of Xavier University of Louisiana, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology with honors in English. She also attended Hampton University and graduated summa cum laude with a Master of Science in Medical Science. In May 2022, she received her medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine, where she served as president of the Student Government Association. She is a resident in the obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program, Class of 2026. Her passions include women’s health, community engagement, and mentoring. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, working out, trying new restaurants, and binge-watching reality TV shows.
Tambari Piawah, M.D.
University of South Florida College of Medicine
Email: tpiawah@msm.edu
Dr. Tambari Piawah is a Nigerian American born and raised in Tallahassee, FL. She
received her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a minor in Family, Youth, and Community
Sciences at the University of South Florida, and completed a Master of Science in
Medical Science and medical degree at the University of South Florida. As she continues
her journey as an OB/GYN resident, she hopes to have a generalist career with a focus
on maternal mental health. When she’s not working, Dr. Piawah loves powerlifting,
trying new restaurants, and baking new recipes.
Deidre Wright, M.D.
Medical College of Georgia School of Medicine
Email: dwright@msm.edu
Dr. Deidre Wright was born in New York, but considers herself a Georgia native after
calling it home for 15 years. She received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Emory
University and earned her medical degree from Medical College of Georgia in Augusta,
GA. She is excited to continue her training in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency
Program. Dr. Wright enjoys shopping for good deals (especially clothes and home décor),
Zumba, trying diverse foods, and traveling throughout Japan is at the top of her list.
PGY-1 Residents
Autumn Acklin, M.D.
Meharry Medical College School of Medicine
Email: aacklin@msm.edu
Dr. Autumn Acklin hails from Houston, TX and is a proud alumna of Fisk University
and Meharry Medical College. She chose medicine because of her passion for reproductive
health and health equity. Dr. Acklin hopes to help patients advocate for themselves
and improve outcomes for underserved communities. In her free time, she enjoys trying
new food spots and listening to live music.
Jessie Kue Ndukwe, M.D.
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Email: jkuendukwe@msm.edu
Dr. Jessie Kue Ndukwe is a native of Michigan who attended Evangel University for her undergraduate studies and Wayne State University School of Medicine for medical school. During her time in medical school, Jessie developed an interest in using research as a tool for advocacy and completed a Master of Science in Clinical Research at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. After two years in family medicine residency, Jessie decided to transition to OBGYN, which was always her passion. She is excited to embark on this new journey at Morehouse and further develop her personal and professional goals. When Jessie is not in the hospital, you can find her catching up on a number of reality TV shows (including the Real Housewives of Atlanta!), at the gym, or channeling her creativity through home decor projects. She also enjoys trips abroad with her husband.
Cassandra Maafoh, M.D.
Mercer University School of Medicine
Email: cmaafoh@msm.edu
Dr. Cassandra Maafoh completed her medical education at Mercer University School of Medicine. Her inspiration for pursuing a career as an OB/GYN came from a deep-rooted desire to care for women across their lifespans and throughout their life cycles. As a native of Georgia, Dr. Maafoh is especially aware of the state’s high maternal mortality rate and wants to help reduce this rate and save the lives of numerous mothers. She enjoys traveling, exploring cultures, and intends to visit as many countries as possible.
Destiny Miller, M.D.
Howard University College of Medicine
Email: dmiller@msm.edu
Dr. Destiny Miller is originally from Baltimore, MD and graduated from the illustrious Tuskegee University, and earned a Master’s of Biological Sciences from the MEDPREP program at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. She completed her medical education at Howard University College of Medicine. Her passion for medicine and women’s health began at the age of 16 when she accompanied her mom for the cesarean delivery of her youngest sister. She has dedicated her career to serving the underserved population. Her long-term goal is to own a private practice and comprehensive birthing center in efforts to give all women exceptional health care and birthing experiences.
Amissa Sei, M.D.
Morehouse School of Medicine
Email: asei@msm.edu
Dr. Amissa Sei completed her medical degree at Morehouse School of Medicine. Her interest in medicine was sparked by an admiration for her late uncle who served his country during the Ebola pandemic. Seeing his passion for his patients inspired Dr. Sei to want to deliver compassionate patient care and build resiliency in her future patients. Her personal interests include travelling and dance.