Current fellows
PGY-4
Sam Laiacona, MD
Hometown: Ballston Spa, New York
College: University Of Maryland – College Park. Go Terps!
Medical school: New York Medical College
Residency: Lankenau Medical Center
Interests within Heme-Onc: Solid Tumor
Personal interests/hobbies: : Exercising (Running, lifting, playing basketball), watching sports (Football, baseball, basketball), cooking, leisure reading, spending quality time with my fiancée and our Mini-Aussie Juno
Favorite thing about Philly/Philly suburbs: Diversity in activities in and around the city (IE good food, entertainment events, museums, hikes, etc). Great central location for quick trips to both NYC & Washington DC via train
Favorite restaurant: Suraya
Hannah Thomas, MD
Hometown: Bothell, WA
College: University of Washington
Medical school: Temple University
Residency: University of Maryland
Interests within Heme-Onc: Solid Tumor
Personal interests/hobbies: Reading, baking, and planning my next vacation!
Favorite thing about Philly/Philly suburbs: Wawa hoagies
Favorite restaurant: Little Nonna’s
PGY-5
Akshar Kalola, DO
Hometown: Deptford, NJ
College: The College of New Jersey
Medical school: Touro University COM
Residency: The George Washington University
Interests within Heme-Onc: Likely Solid Oncology
Personal interests/hobbies:
- Working out, sports (BJJ, basketball, Cycling, swimming)
- Trying new restaurants, cooking, EDM concerts
- Going down internet rabbit holes
Favorite thing about Philly/Philly suburbs:
- Center City SIPS
- Schuylkill River Trail
- Spruce Street Harbor Park
- Its walkability
Favorite restaurant: Tulip Pasta, Masala Kitchen, The Angelo Pizza
Sophia Rokkas, MD
Hometown: Athens, Greece
College: Boston University
Medical school: St. George's University of London
Residency: Lankenau
Interests within Heme-Onc: Breast and lung cancer
Personal interests/hobbies: Pilates
Favorite restaurant: Suraya
PGY-6
Alisha Maity, MD
Hometown: Bryn Mawr, PA
College: Columbia University
Medical school: Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University
Residency: Lankenau Medical Center
Interests within Heme-Onc: Solid Onc
Personal interests/hobbies:
- Squash, tennis, pickleball, ping-pong (any racquet sport)
- Film — fan of Christopher Nolan, Scorsese, Sofia Coppola, Tarantino, Bong Joon-Ho, Greta Gerwig
- Reading via audiobooks
Favorite thing about Philly:
- Walkability of the city, hanging out at the Schuylkill River Park, spending time with my sister and her dog
Favorite restaurant:
- Barbuzzo/Apricot Stone/Kalaya/Vernick
Talar Telvizian
Hometown: Rabieh, Lebanon
College: American University of Beirut
Medical school: American University of Beirut Medical School
Residency: Lankenau Medical Center
Interests within Heme-Onc: Solid tumors, still exploring!
Personal interests/hobbies:
- Hiking and visiting national parks
- Trying new restaurants around Philly
- Yoga/pilates, trying to find the best classes in town
Favorite thing about Philly/Philly suburbs: Moving here and finding out that stereotypes about Philadelphia are just that — stereotypes
Favorite restaurant in Philly: Apricot stone — they have authentic dishes that remind me of home