Mel Lizaso, MD

PGY5

Hometown: New York, NY
Medical School: University of Central Florida

What I like most about Cincinnati: Great people and great food, with an amazing view of the bridges, hills and skyline from either side of the river. I like roller coaster parks, and Ohio is home to two of the major ones (Kings Island and Cedar Point) with many more within driving distance. Cincinnati is just south enough to avoid most of the major snowstorms, so you can experience all four seasons without shoveling snow all winter or preparing for hurricanes in the summer.

What I like this residency program: The Midwest has no shortage of incredibly friendly people, and the same applies to the residency programs here. It is an excellent learning environment and the residency emphasizes a good quality of life both at work and outside of work. Cincinnati Children’s is one of the largest centers for pediatric cancer care, and as a result there are many pediatric patients that are in need of our help with proton therapy provided at the Children’s Liberty Campus.

What I like to do in my free time: Theme parks, roller coasters, skydiving, Broadway musicals, video games, virtual reality

Kevin Lui, MD

PGY5

Hometown: Fresh Meadows, NY
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University

What I like most about Cincinnati: Cincinnati is a nice, accessible, and affordable city. There are plenty of things to do and see here!

Why I like this residency program: Everyone is friendly and willing to teach. The didactics are excellent. There is also a diverse amount of cases including pediatrics, brachytherapy, and proton therapy.

What I like to do in my free time: I enjoy homebrewing, computer programming, getting out into nature, and playing the bassoon.

Samuel Keltner, MD

PGY4

Hometown: Dayton, OH
Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

What I like most about Cincinnati: The people and well-balanced nature of Cincinnati has kept me here since starting undergraduate in 2009. I have been able to make good friends in undergrad, working as an engineer, during medical school, and now in residency which I value as an important part of my lifestyle. There are always new restaurants opening and events to go to with a lower cost of living than larger cities. 

Why I like this residency program: Enjoying my work environment and coworkers are paramount for me to enjoy myself day to day. My co residents and faculty members are always open to teaching, new opportunities, and getting to know one another which has been affirmed since my interest in joining the program during medical school.  

What I like to do in my free time: I like to spend time with friends and family, explore new restaurants, breweries, and recreational sports in the community as well as spending time at home watching movies, playing video games, or cooking. 

Jonathan Sackett, MD

PGY4

Hometown: Dayton, OH; I grew up in Boulder, Colorado but my family moved to Dayton when I started college. Despite being on the move ever since starting college, Dayton and Cincinnati have become my hometown thanks to a friendly culture.

Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine

What I like most about Cincinnati: Cincinnati is rich with culture and people are friendly. There is good food, good music, and plenty to do. All of this while not breaking the bank. Additionally, compared to other midwestern cities, the weather is relatively temperate with more clear skies, less wind, and temperatures comfortable enough for watersports April to late October. 

Why I like this residency program: Everyone in this department is kind. There are no bad apples. Yet all of the attendings are deeply invested in resident education. We see a high diversity of cases (brachytherapy, SRS, proton treatment, pediatrics) all of sufficient volume to become highly competent.

What I like to do in my free time: 

I like to play outside. I waterski (slalom), rock climb, mountain bike, and run. Red River Gorge which offers some of the worlds best sport climbing is close enough for a short day trip.

Taylor MacDonald, DO

PGY3

Hometown: Columbus, OH
Medical School: University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

What I like most about Cincinnati: I went to UC for engineering and fell in love with Cincinnati then. It gives bigger opportunities with a small town feel. There is always something going on around town. We have the Bengals, the Reds, FC Cincy, multiple concert venues, the restaurants and brewery scene is amazing and there are so many festivals and events always happening. Always nice to be close to friends and family too!

Why I like this residency program: I was very impressed with how friendly everyone in the department was during my rotation and there are a lot of female faculty. Everyone was outstanding teachers and very encouraging. Excited to be able to work with CCHMC and the Proton Center as well.

What I like to do in my free time: Spending time with my family and friends, Bengals tailgates and games, checking out new restaurants and breweries. I also enjoy live music events, going to festivals and events around Cincinnati, and more recently working on project around my house that I'm renovating.

Alyssa Farley, MD

PGY2

Hometown: Fort Thomas, KY (NKY/Cincy)

Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine 

What I like most about Cincinnati: I grew up in Cincy and I love being back in this vibrant city. I love all the incredible sports teams, especially FC Cincinnati. I also enjoy the vast number of beautiful views, boutique coffee shops and tasty food spots. 

What I like about this residency program: I am honored to train with all the truly remarkable attendings. The attendings are all superb, accomplished and devoted to helping trainees. In addition, I love working at such an incredible institution and with coworkers that make working here absolutely wonderful. 

What I like to do in my free time: Check out different rooftop views around the city, experience new restaurants and dine at restaurants with a view. I love playing pickleball, going to FC Cincy games, spending time with family and friends and walking my dog. 

Sarah Feldkamp, MD

PGY2

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky.

What I like most about Cincinnati: Since moving here for medical school, Cincinnati has come to feel like home to me. There is always something to do – whether it be live music, a festival downtown, or cheering on one our professional sports team. There are also plenty of restaurants, bars, and breweries to try out. All of this is packed into a midsized, Midwestern city with plenty of charm and personality.  

Why I like this residency program: There are many reasons I like this program! There is ample access to cases, spanning disease sites and treatment modalities. This access is combined with approachable faculty members, who are invested in resident education. Perhaps most importantly, I love that the department is a supportive and fun place to work.

What I like to do in my free time: I enjoy traveling, reading, trying out new recipes, brewery-hopping, and cheering on the Bengals.