Celebrating the Anesthesiology Residency Class of 2026

Congratulations to the 27 members of the University of Michigan Medical School Anesthesiology Residency Class of 2026! 

More than 250 guests — including family members, friends and department colleagues — gathered at the Michigan Union on Saturday, June 20, to celebrate the class. 

“Today, we’re celebrating not just the completion of a residency, but a real transformation of each of you... You arrived here as talented individuals. You leave here as exceptional members and leaders of teams,” said Sachin Kheterpal, MD, MBA, the Robert B. Sweet Endowed Professor of Anesthesiology and Chair.  

“I want to thank you for your sacrifice, your growth, your teamwork and your devotion to our patients. You are forever part of Michigan; you are forever a part of this department. Go Blue.” 

The evening included the announcement of several individual awards and recognition of this year's chief residents: 

• Chief Resident 2025–2026 Chief Residents: Yujie Ding, MD, Timothy Lauzon, DO, Itzel Lopez-Hinojosa, MD, Allison Milen, MD 

• Kevin K. Tremper Resident of the Year Award: Yujie Ding, MD 

• Peter J. Cohen Resident Research Award: Zachary Murphy, MD, MS, MA 

• Academic Resident of the Year Award: Chittineni Chaitanya, MD, MBA 

• Anesthesia Care Team Award: Jonathon McBride, MD 

• Robert B. Sweet Clinical Instructor of the Year Award: James Szochik, MD 

Read on to see where our residents are heading next. (Pictured above from top left.): 

Rachel Belleville, DO   
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan 

Samuel Bowers, MD, PhD   
Neuroanesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan 

Chaitanya Chittineni, MD, MBA   
Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan 

Yujie Ding, MD   
Chronic Pain Fellowship 
University of California - San Diego 

Catherine Fabian, MD   
General Practice 
Northstar Anesthesiology Group – Taylor, Mich.   

Christopher Heleniak, MD   
Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan 

Merry Krueger, MD   
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan 

Ralph Lamonge, MD   
Regional Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan 

Timothy Lauzon, DO   
General Practice  
Kalamazoo Anesthesiology 

Itzel Lopez-Hinojosa, MD   
Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship 
Northwestern University 

Jonathon McBride, MD, MS   
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship  
Stanford University 

Allison Milen, MD   
Liver & High Risk Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan 

Zachary Murphy, MD, MS, MA   
Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan  

Naveed Noordin, MD   
Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Nebraska 

Lillian Nosow, MD   
General Practice 
Physician Anesthesia Services - Denver, Colo. 

Edward O'Connor, MD   
General Practice 
Anesthesia Associates of Morristown, NJ 

Alexandra Ogando Vélez, MD   
General Practice 
TriStar Centennial Medical Center - Nashville, Tenn. 

Rachel Patterson, MD   
General Practice 
Anesthesia Service Medical Group - San Diego, Calif. 

Ellianna Patton, MD   
Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan 

Michal Rajski, MD   
Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship 
Northwestern University 

Emily Sand, MD   
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan  

Allison Sheehan, MD   
General Practice 
Munson Medical Center - Traverse City, Mich. 

Sudharsan Srinivasan, MD, MS   
Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship 
University of Michigan  

Beshoy Tawfik, MD   
General Practice 
CommonSpirit Health – Denver, Colo. 

Nicole Villiger, MD, MS   
General Practice  
Community Health Network - Indianapolis, Ind. 

Jordan Wolf, MD   
General Practice 
Kootenai Health - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho 

Allen Zheng, MD   
General Practice  
Anesthesia Practice Consultants - Grand Rapids, Mich.