.png)
MEET THE #PedsMatch2025 TEAM
The #PedsMatch2025 team is comprised of a group of dedicated future pediatricians from around the world. Learn more about them below.
Co-Directors
Co-Director
Stephanie Maeda
Medical School- WesternU COMP-NW
What makes you excited about peds?
I am excited by the opportunity to work with kids to adolescents from all walks of life as a pediatrician. Within the wide variety within the field of pediatrics, I am not sure if I want to subspecialize but I am particularly excited by the advocacy opportunities. In the future, I hope to work with adolescents and youth from minority and underserved populations.
Hobbies- Baking, Hiking, Swimming, Traveling, Spending time with my family and friends
Co-Director
Caroline Maltese
Medical school- Penn State College of Medicine
What makes you excited about peds?
I am excited about the opportunity to work together with the patient and family to provide wholistic, patient centered care that emphasizes the importance of physical, emotional, and mental wellbeing!
Hobbies- Indoor cycling, musical theater, and cooking
Equity Team
Assistant Director of Equity- IMG
Deephthi Jayakumar
Medical School- American University of Antigua College of Medicine
What makes you excited about peds?
Pediatrics excites me as it gives me the opportunity to impact children’s development and health from a young age, creating a strong foundation that’ll positively impact their future. I also love interacting with kids and their families to educate and support them in their recovery.
Hobbies- Reading fictional books, Baking, Table tennis, Cricket
Assistant Director of LGBTQ+ Equity
Ariel Vargas
Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador)
What makes you excited about peds?
How kids bounce back after being really sick
Hobbies- Running, Scuba diving, Painting
Assistant Director of DO Equity
Fariya fatima
Medical School - UNT Health Science Center - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine (UNTHSC-TCOM)
What makes you excited about peds?
Joy, resilience, and endless stickers!!! 🤩 Pediatrics offers us a unique opportunity to care and advocate for patients and families during their happiest to most vulnerable moments.
Hobbies- Rollerblading, photography, crochet, reading 🛼
Public Relations Team
Residents Liaison Director
Associate Director
Kennedy Fuglseth
Residency Program - University of Wisconsin - Madison
Medical School - Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
What makes you excited about peds?
Finding joy in coming into work daily even when exhausted is the most exciting part about pediatrics for me. The children never fail to make me happy, even on the toughest of days.
Hobbies - Crochet, gaming, reading, biking
Associate Director
Puneet Anand
Residency Program - Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai/NYCH+H Elmhurst
Medical School - Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College, Pune, India
What makes you excited about peds?
What excites me about pediatrics is the opportunity to work with children, particularly those from vulnerable groups such as those with autism or victims of child abuse. I am passionate about understanding and addressing the social determinants of health, recognizing how these factors profoundly influence the lives and well-being of children.
Hobbies - Passionate about classical music and dance, culinary adventurer, Harry Potter enthusiast, and a dog walker.
Associate Director of Public Relations
Alanis Rosado
Medical School- USF Morsani College of Medicine
What makes you excited about peds?
Advocacy, teaching and preventative health! My love for kids and belief in their ability to shape the future fuels my drive to ensuring that every kid has the care to thrive emotionally and physically.
Hobbies- Exercising, reading, shopping and trying new restaurants
Assistant Director of Social Media
Gwendolyn George
Medical School - Eastern Virginia Medical School
What makes you excited about peds?
Kids are the bravest, strongest, most optimistic patients ever! And honestly, I enjoy a good conversation about Paw Patrol over talking weather or traffic any day!
Hobbies- Sewing, baking, music
Assistant Director of Design
Oscar Sanchez
Medical School - Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí
What makes you excited about peds?
Children have their whole lives ahead of them, each one of them is a world of infinite possibilities, that gives me more satisfaction and commitment.
Hobbies- Play the trumpet, botanic, see series and movies, spend time with my family and friends, history
Assistant Director of Social Media
Kirtana George
Medical School- Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
What makes you excited about peds?
Advocating for children's health and providing compassionate care to help each child thrive and enjoy a happy, healthy life!
Hobbies- Traveling, rating new restaurants, taking care of houseplants
Assistant Director of Web Design
Kushal Kriplani
Medical School- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and SJ Hospital
What makes you excited about peds?
The kids and The outcomes!! Pediatrics is the front seat of Medicine where despair meets joy!! Experiences during medical school and personal incidences have shaped my love for pediatric care to what it is today
Hobbies- Soccer, Poetry, Pop culture!!
Research Team
Associate Director of Webinars
Sheena Bedi
Medical School- DY Patil Medical College , India
What makes you excited about peds?
The rewarding opportunity to leave a positive impact on young lives, the joy of seeing children grow and develop into beautiful young adults and the close relationships I will get to build with patients and their families!
Hobbies- Dancing, Yoga , Listening to music , Baking
Assistant Director of Webinars
Lavanya
Pediatrics allows me to participate in child advocacy every day. I am looking forward to making lasting connections with children and their families. And not to forget the adorable and unpredictable interactions with kids that make your day better!
Hobbies- Reading,Cooking, Video Essay Geek
Assistant Director of Webinars
Erin Kneeskern
Medical School - University of Colorado School of Medicine
What makes you excited about peds?
I love building strong relationships with kids and their families and am inspired by the resiliency of children!
Hobbies - I love to ski, camp, dance, cook and climb!
Assistant Director of Webinars
Anna Geiger
Medical School - Des Moines University
What makes you excited about peds?
I am super excited about going into pediatrics because of how fun kids can be to work with, their resilience, their strength, and their outlook on the world. I am looking forward to having the opportunity to work to increase access to mental health care in whatever field of pediatrics I decide to go into.
Hobbies - Circus arts: aerial silks, handstands, unicycling and juggling!
Assistant Director of Webinars
Fiona Whitaker
Medical School-East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine
What makes you excited about peds?
The opportunity to impact kid's lives in a way that can have a real impact on their future.
Hobbies- Traveling, Spending time with friends, Trying new restaurants
Assistant Director of Webinars
Victoria Morrill
Medical School - Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin
What makes you excited about peds?
I am applying to pediatrics this Match Season! What draws me to pediatrics is the resilience that kids have. No matter what is going on, kids are ready to fight with everything they have. I also really like the longitudinal aspect of pediatrics. My goal as a future pediatrician is to build strong relationships with my patients from the moment they are born until well into their adult years.
Hobbies - Some of my hobbies outside of medicine include biking, wake surfing, and spending time with family and friends.
Assistant Director of Webinars
Ria Peralta
Medical School - Nova Southeastern University
What makes you excited about peds?
Advocating for the best care for each kiddo so they can lead happy, healthy, successful lives!
Hobbies - Powerlifting, paddle boarding