PGY 5
PGY 4
PGY 3
PGY 2
PGY 1
Research
Jordan Caffe, M.D.
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Medical School: Rush Medical College
Interests / Hobbies: Sailing, fishing, kayaking, baking, knitting
Favorite place in Maine: Acadia National Park
Medical interests: Intensive Care, Trauma, Medical Device Design, Robotic Surgery
Favorite weekend destination: Phillips Lake
Favorite Maine activity: Anything on/in the water
What did you do before medical school: Medical Assistant in Dermatology
Personal goals: Make macarons without hollow shells, restore an old sailboat and become a great surgeon
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Prototyping Shop Assistant at Northwestern
Why Maine Medical Center: Always a dream to practice medicine in Maine. Learning about MMC, I knew I wanted the blend of academics and community with great well-rounded training and the resident/faculty sense of family that is here.
Celebrity I most resemble: Tom Cruise (or so I’ve been told)
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a…marine biologist or run my own cafe
Favorite restaurant in Portland: The Holy Donut
Meredith Elman, M.D.
Hometown: Washington, D.C.
Undergraduate: New York University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: live performances, television, movies, snacks, perusing dog adoption websites
Favorite place in Maine: TBD, excited to find out!
Medical interests: surgical oncology, breast, HPB
Favorite weekend destination: Netflix / my couch
Favorite Maine activity: eating lobster
What did you do before medical school: worked as a research assistant at the NIH
Personal goals: hike the Inca trail, own more house plants
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: retail / camp counselor / retail
Why Maine Medical Center: I did an acting internship as a medical student, really enjoyed my time here, and felt MMC was a place I could be happy.
Celebrity I most resemble: Post Malone
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… yoga retreat organizer in Costa Rica
Lucero Parades, M.D.
Hometown: Boca Raton, Florida
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Music, dancing, movies, spending time with family and friends, cross-stitching, exploring new cities!
Favorite place in Maine: New to the state but definitely looking forward to all the beaches and lighthouses!
Medical interests: Medical education, trauma, health inequity and social justice, diversity in medicine
Why Maine Medical Center: The sense of acceptance and inclusion I felt here was unlike anywhere else. I felt extremely comfortable on my interview day and everyone seemed invested in my training and empowering me to become the surgeon I hope to be. Also, the delicious food and beautiful nature were definite perks!
Celebrity I most resemble: Troy Polamalu… the hair has a mind of its own
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a: Drummer in a rock band
Personal quote: “It always seems impossible, until it is done.” – Nelson Mandela
Brianna Philbrick, M.D.
Hometown: Brewer, Maine
Undergraduate: Boston University
Medical School: Tufts University - MMC Maine Track
Interests / Hobbies: wilderness backpacking, skiing, swimming, musical theatre, hanging out with my cat Uchie and my husband Conor
Favorite place in Maine: Midcoast area (Camden to Belfast)
Medical interests: global health, rural health, indigenous health, reproductive justice
Favorite weekend destination: Bangor, Maine - to see my family
Favorite Maine activity: Climbing Mt. Katahdin
What did you do before medical school: Moved to Vancouver, Canada and worked as a swim instructor
Personal goals: Be a helpful colleague, take good care of my patients, hike the 100 Mile Wilderness
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Summer Camp Counselor (best), Magician’s Assistant (worst)
Why Maine Medical Center: Desire to serve the people of Maine, dedication/camaraderie of the staff, and the opportunity to teach future Maine Track medical students!
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a veterinarian or a summer camp director.
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Tough call, it’s either schulte&herr or Figgy’s or Green Elephant
Kelsey Han, M.D.
Undergraduate: Harvard College
Medical School: Harvard Medical School
Medical interests: trauma surgery, surgical critical care
Why Maine Medical Center: Time moves in one direction – each day is precious and should bring a person one step closer to the life they envision. MMC’s commitment to helping residents achieve their personal and professional goals was the deciding factor for me.
Ben Caesar, M.D.
Hometown: Barrington, Rhode Island
Undergraduate: Siena College
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Interests / Hobbies: Skiing, Sailing, Hiking, Playing Cello and Trumpet, Frisbee, watching sports
Medical interests: Minimally Invasive Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Trauma/Critical Care, Medical Education
Favorite place in Maine: Anywhere in Acadia National Park
Favorite weekend destination: Rocky Pond in Canterbury, NH
Favorite Maine activity: Eating buffalo wings at Great Lost Bear
What did you do before medical school: Undergraduate studies at Siena and worked summers at New England Music Camp in Sidney, ME
Why Maine Medical Center: Excellent surgical training in the beautiful community of Portland surrounded by absolutely wonderful people. What more could you want?
Celebrity I most resemble: I’ve been told Jimmy Tatro and Adam DeVine, but I think Ryan Reynolds is the obvious choice
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be an… engineer, Hollywood actor, or competitive sailor
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Great Lost Bear (seriously, check it out)
Personal quote: “You can’t change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails.”
Lane Curran, M.D.
Hometown: Falmouth, Maine
Undergraduate: Bates College
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Interests / Hobbies: Skiing, rugby, soccer, cooking/baking, music, bad jokes, recycling
Medical interests: Pediatric surgery, trauma, medical education
Favorite place in Maine: Sugarloaf, Sebago Lake
Favorite weekend destination: Outside
Favorite Maine activity: Anything outdoors (bonus points if there is good local food/drink)
What did you do before medical school: Two years of clinical research at Mass General Hospital in Boston
Personal goals: Be an enthusiastic learner, a caring doctor, a supportive partner, and a reliable friend/teammate
Why Maine Medical Center: Kind people and supportive environment in beautiful Maine
Celebrity I most resemble: Personality: Tina Fey. Looks: Danny DeVito.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be an… environmental scientist, teacher
Favorite restaurant in Portland: All of them
Kelly McGuirl, DO
Hometown: Cushing, Maine
Undergraduate: University of Maine
Graduate School: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite place in Maine: Harbor Island, Muscongus Bay
Medical interests: Acute care surgery, surgical critical care, rural general surgery, quality improvement research
Favorite Maine activity: Sailing on Muscongus Bay
What did you do before medical school: Traveled the world, worked in public health research, produced tiny humans
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Best: first mate on a sailboat in the Virgin Islands
Why Maine Medical Center: I loved the strong sense of community and teamwork that I felt at Maine
Chinedu Okoli, MBBS
Hometown: Ezira, Orumba South, Anambra State, Nigeria
Medical School: University of Nigeria
Interests / Hobbies: Puzzles, Soccer enthusiast, Volunteering, Traveling
Favorite place in Maine: Fort Williams park but still discovering
Medical interests: Quality improvement projects, Rural surgery, Medical education
Favorite weekend destination: Cornwall, Devon
Favorite Maine activity: Sailing, Hopefully will add to the list
Craziest / Best: Primary care doctor in rural hospital
Why Maine Medical Center: initially a friend told me about MMC. Then I interacted with the residents and the faculties, I became smitten and I never looked back.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a professional soccer coach
Personal quote: To shine your brightest light is to be truly who you are and never accept other people’s definition of you
Spencer Scott, MD
Hometown: Cape Elizabeth, ME
Undergraduate: New York University, B.A., University of Southern Maine, B.S.
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Sailing, woodworking, carpentry, skiing, cooking, singing in the shower, making my friends laugh, making strangers laugh
Favorite place in Maine: Sitting on the seawall at Ma’s cottage on Two Lights
Medical interests: Trauma and critical care; medical education; informatics
Favorite Maine activity: Anchored and swimming off the boat at Vail Island on a cloudless day
What did you do before medical school: Broadcast journalism; CNN, Fuse TV, ABC’s Boston Trauma
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Craziest: Producer for Fuse TV’s music news broadcast “Fuse News,” Worst: Stuffing dead herring into bait bags for my brothers while we set our lobster traps, Best: Surgical resident!
Why Maine Medical Center: Maine Medical Center combines excellent clinical medicine, academic rigor, and a commitment to upholding humanity in medicine and surgery, all while serving the most incredible community in the greatest little city in the greatest state in the country!
Celebrity I most resemble: I’ve gotten “Blake Shelton” a few times… not sure how I feel about it.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a: Journalist, probably, carpenter, maybe, farmer, possibly…
Favorite restaurant in Portland: For a great dinner, David’s 388, for a drink and snack, Eventide, and for brunch… actually I’m going to keep that one a secret, I like that I don’t have to wait for a table – sorry!
Personal quote: "When people talk listen completely. Don't be thinking what you're going to say. Most people never listen.” -Ernest Hemingway
Laura Nicolais, MD
Hometown: Liverpool, NY
Undergraduate: Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY
Interests / Hobbies: Movies, spending time with friends and family, hiking, golfing, and travel!
Favorite place in Maine: Acadia National Park
Medical interests: Surgical Oncology
Favorite weekend destination: Anywhere my family may be gathering.
Favorite Maine activity: Eating seafood
Undergrad
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Barista at local coffee shop!
Why Maine Medical Center: The resident were the happiest and nicest I had ever seen. I knew I would receive great training in an amazing location!
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be an… environmental scientist.
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Yet to be determined. There are just too many good ones!
Jack Vernamonti, MD
Hometown: Winchester, MA
Undergraduate: Colby College
Medical School: Tufts School of Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Skiing, Golf, Cooking, Jiu-Jitsu
Favorite place in Maine: Just can’t choose between the beach, golf course and mountains
Medical interests: General Surgery, Acute Care Surgery, Critical Care and Medical Education
Favorite weekend destination: My Deck and Grill
Favorite Maine activity: Wearing flannel
What did you do before medical school: I worked at a research foundation that helped HIV positive men father children safely without transmitting the virus
Personal goals: Staying connected with my family and friends during residency
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Before residency? Ski instructor was the best, worst and craziest job
Why Maine Medical Center: I looked very broadly at community focused general surgery programs and this was the best. The program treated its residents better than any I saw and genuinely cared about training strong, independent general surgeons prepared for fellowship or practice. Plus the dedication to teaching and personalities of attendings and residents make it a welcoming and fun place to learn.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… cook
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Isa: never crowded and great price for the awesome food
Liam Trimble, DO
Hometown: West Barnstable, MA
Undergraduate: Villanova University
Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Baseball, football, running, chess, traveling, coastlines, music festivals, guitar, friends & family
Medical interests: Robotic Surgery, Colorectal, Thoracic, Burn
What did you do before medical school: More school!
Personal goals: Adopt multiple dogs, own a boat, never stop traveling, always grow as a person
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: In college I was that guy who calls alumni and asks for money
Why Maine Medical Center: MMC’s academic resources and supportive faculty set up residents for success while maintaining a strong community feel. Plus, Maine has a natural beauty that’s tough to beat. Big fan of cities on the water
Celebrity I most resemble: Apparently, Andrew Garfield
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be an: Actuary
Personal quote: I didn’t come this far to only come this far
Sean Francois, MD
Hometown: Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Undergraduate: The University of North Carolina at Greensboro
Medical School: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Interests / Hobbies: Volleyball (indoor, beach, grass), languages, video games (when I can), soccer, basketball, traveling, TV shows (Sci fi)
Medical interests: Global surgery, Trauma, CT, Plastics, Vascular
What did you do before medical school: I was a physics teaching assistant and MCAT Kaplan instructor
Why Maine Medical Center: Honestly, the reasons beyond my interest in Maine Medical Center were the intangibles. Gut feelings aside, I felt during my interview day that it was a program with a commitment to the community and a mission to serve. The faculty and the residents were down to earth. It seemed like the ideal learning environment for me.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be: a linguist
Personal quote: “When you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on”
Kara Button, DO
Hometown: East Syracuse, NY
Undergraduate: Brandeis University
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: hiking, alpine touring, backcountry skiing, golf, traveling to places where I can do these activities, spending time with my husband and our energetic German Shepherd.
Medical interests: surgical oncology, HPB surgery, palliative care, medical student education
Favorite weekend destination: White Mountains in NH
Favorite Maine activity: Staring at the ocean from different locations
What did you do before medical school: I spent one year working as an English teacher to French middle school students just outside of Paris, and one year working as an Emergency Department scribe.
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Craziest: Teaching middle school students abroad, Best: spending a year as teaching fellow for first and second year medical students, Worst: working in retail
Why Maine Medical Center: When I did a rotation at Maine Med I knew that it was the place I wanted to train. I was surrounded by kind and hard-working people who were eager to teach and who clearly cared about each other and their patients. I couldn’t ask for a better group of people to be working with and learning from. Getting to stay in Portland for residency is a huge plus!
Favorite restaurant in Portland: There are too many to choose from! Sichuan Kitchen, Pai Men Miyake, and Boda are my 3 go-to's
Personal quote: Learn from your mistakes and work on your weaknesses. There is no room in life for excuses.
Molly Caron, MD
Hometown: Holden, Maine
Undergraduate: University of Maine, Orono
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine - Maine Track
Interests / Hobbies: Traveling, collecting house plants, watching hockey, raising German Shepherd puppies
Favorite place in Maine: Wells Beach (or really anywhere on the Maine Coast)
Medical interests: surgical critical care, women in surgery, increasing access to care, rural medicine, medical education
Favorite Maine activity: going for a walk on the beach or finding a new hiking trial to try
What did you do before medical school: pharmacy technician, research assistant
Personal goals: become a caring and compassionate surgeon, continue to make time for family and friends, never lose sight of the elusive work/life balance.
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: retail pharmacy technician could have been the craziest, best, or worst given the day
Why Maine Medical Center: MMC combines top notch clinical medical education with an open and welcoming atmosphere, creating an optimal environment for learning and professional growth. As a 5th generation Mainer, I also get to stay close to family and friends, while at the same time giving back to the communities that helped me get to where I am today.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… veterinarian, or find a way to get paid to travel
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Green Elephant, El Corazon, Becky’s Diner
Personal quote: “Fight for the things that you care about, but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” – Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ariel Francois, DO
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Undergraduate: SUNY Binghamton
Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests / Hobbies: Travelling, napping, tabletop gaming, & hiking
Favorite place in Maine: TBD - Excited to discover!
Medical interests: general surgery, acute care surgery, vascular surgery, quality improvement research
What did you do before medical school: Cancer immunotherapeutic research
Personal goals: Climb a mountain & become a great surgeon
Why Maine Medical Center: I loved the sense of community and friendly folks are here. I really felt that I could get well-rounded and balanced training and math work with some great people. Plus, I missed the ocean!!
Celebrity I most resemble: Tika Sumpter (but with glasses)
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be: an engineer or a cheese maker
Peter Kyros, MD
Hometown: Falmouth, Maine
Undergraduate: University of Southern Maine
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine – Maine Track
Interests / Hobbies: Skiing, boating, cooking, tinkering around the house, being a dad to my new baby boy
Favorite place in Maine: Migis Lodge on Sebago Lake
Medical interests: Trauma Surgery, Surgical Critical Care, Medical Education
Favorite weekend destination: Anywhere with my family
Favorite Maine activity: Anything outside on the water
What did you do before medical school: Worked as a Scribe at Mid Coast Hospital
Personal goals: Becoming the best version of myself every day
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Best Job would be working at Biddeford Pool Yacht Club for a summer, driving boats all day was great
Why Maine Medical Center: I chose Maine Medical Center because of the amazing experiences I had as a Maine Track student. The learning environment is so supportive and the faculty really care about both delivering excellent care and education. Also being from Maine I feel it is a honor to help care for the community that helped me become a physician.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… Maybe a finish carpenter, something where I can work with my hands
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Street and Company
Personal quote: (100 words or less) “What good shall I do this day?” – Benjamin Franklin