The Family Medicine Residency welcomes six new physicians to the North Country each year.
About Our Residency Program
Before you meet our residents, take a look at our short video. It provides an overview of the Family Medicine Residency at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital — highlighting our training, curriculum, and community.
Meet the Class of 2026
Maria Czajkowski, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Maria was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. She completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Toronto and went on to pursue medicine at Poznan University of Medical Sciences. She is interested in emergency medicine, as well as geriatrics and full spectrum care. Born to Polish parents, she enjoys exploring Polish recipes, travelling, playing tennis, spending time outdoors with her husband Michal and visiting her family in Toronto.
Michal Klokner, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Michal was born Etobicoke, a suburb of Toronto, before moving with his parents to Poland where he spent much of his childhood on his grandparent’s farm. He returned to Canada to begin school and attended the University of Toronto for his undergraduate studies, majoring in human biology. He went on to pursue his dream of becoming a physician by returning to Poland to attend Poznan University of Medical Sciences. He is very passionate about sports medicine and rural medicine, as he hopes to one day open his own practice in a rural and underserved area and fulfill his dream of living away from the city.
He attributes all his success to the support system of his family and friends, as well as his wife Maria, who he is grateful to share his journey with. In his free time, Michal enjoys spending time outdoors playing sports and fishing, as well as avidly cheering on his favorite sports teams with unrelenting loyalty.
Jacob Moore, DO
Family Medicine Resident
Jacob was born and raised in Glendale, Arizona. He completed his undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona in physiology with a minor in biochemistry. He went on to complete a graduate program getting a master's in biomedical sciences at Midwestern University. He then matriculated into medical school at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. He aspires to become a well-rounded family medicine physician in a small-town setting with skills for both inpatient and outpatient medicine.
Other interests include playing basketball, powerlifting, cooking (especially guacamole) and spending time with his wife and two kids.
Esha Sanyal, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Born in Toronto, Ontario but raised in the US, Canada and the Middle East, Esha has loved traveling and seeing medicine in different countries. She completed her undergraduate degree in anatomy and cell biology with a minor in anthropology from McGill University in Montreal, QC, and medical school at the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten, Netherland Antilles.
She pursued her third year of medical school in Epsom General Hospital in the United Kingdom followed by fourth year in the US between New York and Chicago. Her passions in family medicine lie in preventative care, women's health and lifestyle medicine. In the year she took off between medical school and residency she mentored medical students and started a small (tiny) home baking business! In her time off she loves to bake cakes, cook and travel with her husband.
Nicholas Rzepski, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Nicholas Rzepski was born and raised in Chadds Ford, PA. He attended New York University where he received his bachelor’s degree in classics and French. He attended medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine. Medically, his interests are preventative medicine, reproductive and gender-affirming care and performing small procedures.
In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar, hiking, kayaking, cooking and learning languages.
Charlotte Spear, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Charlotte grew up in rural Colorado and Wyoming on a horse ranch where her passion for serving rural communities began. She completed her undergraduate degree in biology at Hamilton College in Clinton, NY, and later went on to pursue her master's in anatomy and medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, NE.
Charlotte underwent her clinical training at St. Joseph Hospital Medical Center in Phoenix, AZ, where she volunteered in free clinics in South Phoenix. She later went on to pursue training in general surgery and spent four years at West Virgina University, Ruby Memorial Hospital, an 800-bed Level I trauma center in Morgantown, WV. Refocusing on her passion to serve communities in rural and austere environments, Charlotte made a career transition and joined the family medicine residency at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital.
Her interests include wilderness and international medicine, mission work and wound care. In her spare time, she enjoys exploring the outdoors, gardening and painting.
Christina Yang, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Christina was born and raised in China. She came to the United States for PhD in organic chemistry at University of Vermont. After that, she moved to Montreal to attend medical school at McGill University. Her interest in family medicine includes full-spectrum primary care in rural regions, women’s health, dermatology, geriatrics and urgent care.
During her free time, she loves playing with her two young kids. She enjoys watching her children grow while pursuing her lifelong dream of becoming a physician.
Meet the Class of 2027
Melissa Anderson-Chavarria DO
Family Medicine Resident
Mel considers both Sussex County, New Jersey and Aguada, Puerto Rico to be their hometowns. She completed her AA in Creative Writing at Bard College at Simon’s Rock, her BA in Anthropology at Rutgers University-New Brunswick, and her MS in Biomedical Sciences/Immunology at Rutgers Medical School. Mel is a physician-anthropologist, a graduate of the physician-scientist DO-PhD program at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her doctoral dissertation in Medical Anthropology focused on how autism families in Puerto Rico navigate health care systems in situations of economic and natural disaster.
She completed two years of urology residency in Detroit, MI before electing to switch her specialty to Family Medicine to pursue her passion of providing full-scope holistic primary care to rural populations most in need. Her professional and research interests include medical humanism, health care systems, ethnography, rural healthcare, telehealth, and gender affirming health care. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking the state parks with her wife Lily and their two beagles Casey and Rufus, watching documentaries with her cats Carl and Alfalfa, and playing roller derby.
Ismat Huq, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Ismat was born and raised in the Middle East. After high school, she travelled to Canada and did her undergraduate degree in Biology and Minor in Biotechnology from McGill University in Quebec. After obtaining her bachelor’s degree, she joined a Respiratory Therapy and Anesthesia training program and worked as a Registered Respiratory therapist for a couple of months in Montreal before pursuing medicine at Saba University School of Medicine. She is deeply interested in preventative healthcare, providing full-spectrum care in a rural setting and sleep medicine. Her hobbies are hiking, playing board games, cooking plant-based meal recipes, traveling and spending time with family.
Anna Michalik, DO
Family Medicine Resident
Anna was born in Poland and moved to Long Island, New York at the age of 10. She earned a B.S. from Adelphi University where she studied biology and history, an M.A. in international education from New York University, and a PhD in world history from St. John’s University.
As a doctoral student, Anna focused on the topic of moral courage in times of war and crisis, traveled to various countries for research and taught undergraduate students. She then completed medical school at the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. It was during her third-year clinical rotations in Shreveport, Louisiana as well as in a resource limited, remote clinic in Costa Rica, that Anna realized how truly fulfilling, albeit challenging, the life of a family physician could be.
Among Anna’s many interests in family medicine are rural medicine, emergency medicine, wilderness medicine, international medicine, behavioral health and full-spectrum care. Outside of medicine, Anna enjoys cross country skiing, hiking and biking especially in the Adirondacks. She also loves traveling, reading and spending quality time with her family, friends and her family dogs, Tilli and Luna.
Jessica Sandoval, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Jessica (Jessie) hails from Tottenham, Ontario, where growing up, she was actively involved in gymnastics as an athlete, coach and judge. After attending York University for undergraduate studies in specialized honors biochemistry, she made the move to Poland for medical school at Poznan University of Medical Sciences.
Her medical interests include obstetrics, emergency medicine and working in a rural area offering full-spectrum health care. Jessie believes that it is an honor to build relationships with patients and support them in good and challenging times.
In her leisure time, Jessie is an avid skier, loves to swim at her cottage and ride horses. She also enjoys musical theater and traveling.
Thomas Shelton, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Thomas grew up in Ohio, and spent summer in New Hampshire, where he cultivated his love for the outdoors. He studied history at Depauw University before pursuing his medical education at The Ohio State University. Throughout his academic journey, he developed an interest in rural medicine, mental health and sports medicine. He has a passion for using integrative approaches to help patients live active lives.
Outside of medicine Thomas loves to read, run, ski and cook with his wife.
Chana Stern, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Chana was born and raised in Long Island, New York. She completed her undergraduate studies in Biology at Stern College for Women in Manhattan. She later went on to pursue her medical degree at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is passionate about preventative medicine, women’s health, full spectrum primary care and dermatology. In her free time, she enjoys the beach and outdoors, cooking and spending time with her family and friends.
Meet the Class of 2028
Cristina Prudencio Brunello, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Cristina was born just across the border in Montreal, Quebec, and was raised in Waterloo, Ontario. She completed her undergraduate degree in biomedical sciences at the University of Guelph before pursuing her medical education at St. George’s University.
Her clinical training has taken her across the United States, Canada and the island of Grenada, where she found deep meaning in connecting with patients and empowering them through education and advocacy. Drawn to family medicine for its continuity of care and emphasis on preventative wellness, Cristina is especially passionate about women’s health, preventative medicine and making health care accessible to all.
Outside of the hospital, Cristina can be found hiking, canoeing, playing the violin or practicing Kung Fu. She lives with her partner Reggie and their very spoiled rescue cat, Orzo.
Irzam Khan, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Irzam grew up in a suburb of Toronto, Canada. He obtained an undergraduate degree at the University of Toronto, double majoring in biochemistry and human biology. Following that, he pursued medical education at St. George’s University, participating in the Keith B. Taylor Global Scholars program. His clinical years of medical school were spent in New York City, which is where he further developed his interests in preventative medicine, chronic disease management and mental health.
Outside of medicine, his hobbies include reading and writing fantasy novels, basketball and chess. Irzam credits the sacrifices of his family and loved ones for putting him in the position he is today. He is very excited to train at Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital and grateful for the opportunity to serve the diverse needs of the community.
Lia Farrell, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Lia was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA. She completed her undergraduate degree in psychology with a minor in Italian. After graduating, she worked as an obstetric anesthesiology research coordinator and then traveled for a year, during which time she backpacked in Japan and Vietnam and volunteered in a refugee camp in Greece.
Following her travels she completed a pre-med post-bacc at Columbia University and worked as an in-person contact tracer during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in NYC. She then attended medical school at West Virginia University. Lia’s interests in medicine are wilderness medicine, preventative healthcare, full-spectrum rural medicine and global medicine.
Her hobbies include rock climbing, cooking, reading and hiking with her partner and their dog.
Muhammad Sidiqui, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Muhammad was born in Pakistan. He completed his undergraduate degree in Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Adelphi University. Upon completion of his degree, Muhammad worked as a registered nurse in cardiac ICU, medical ICU and emergency medicine where he learned the importance of communication, teamwork and professionalism. He then pursued his medical education at American University of Antigua.
Besides family medicine, he has a deep interest in emergency medicine. Outside of medicine, Muhammad enjoys reading, hiking and spending time with his family.
Normeen Siddiqui, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Normeen “Teeny” grew up in Lafayette, Indiana, where her early curiosity about the human mind and passion for helping others laid the foundation for her path in medicine. She pursued neuroscience, psychology and international studies with a concentration in global health at Indiana University before earning her MD from Ross University School of Medicine.
Throughout her journey, Normeen has remained committed to underserved communities — volunteering with dementia patients in Indiana and supporting Indigenous populations through the Salybia Mission Project in the Caribbean. She is particularly passionate about behavioral health, international medicine and advancing health equity. Normeen aspires to a career focused on addressing health disparities both locally and globally.
In her free time, she enjoys yoga, calisthenics and immersing herself in new cultures through travel.
Rishabh Taneja, MD
Family Medicine Resident
Born in Chandigarh, India, Rishabh earned his Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) from Adesh Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Punjab). A lifelong athlete, Rishabh was recognized as the Best All-Round Student in high school and received the Best Sportsperson award at university, where he also served as Sports Head, organizing intercollegiate sports events across medical schools.
After completing his internship, Rishabh went on to teach at Government Medical College. Alongside teaching, he remained deeply committed to community service — volunteering at free clinics in underserved villages and supporting patients in remote areas.
With a strong foundation in clinical medicine and a deep passion for service, Rishabh is committed to expanding access to care through continued volunteerism and outreach to communities where health care is limited.
Outside of medicine, he enjoys traveling, mountain trekking and spending quality time with friends.
