First Years
During your First year, your training starts with a one-month long Orientation process designed to help your class develop a strong bond, gather a strong foundation as a group, and get some ED shifts under your belt before launching into the rest of the year. With multiple off service rotations and opportunities for learning, first year is nothing short of exciting.
Gabby Carroll, MD (she/her)
Hometown? Mashpee, MA
Undergrad & Major? UMass Amherst, Biology
Med School? UMass Med
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Yoga, baking, pottery, hiking, travel
Favorite movie/tv show? Inside out
Favorite place to travel? Places that I haven’t been before!
Favorite food? Berries
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Something where I get to live on a boat. I really like boats.
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Dory from Finding Nemo
Favorite ice cream toppings? Oreos
Random fact? I consider grocery shopping a hobby. Come to me with any couponing needs
Favorite Western MA activity? Picnic dinners at Tanglewood
Favorite thing about Baystate? The vibes are great
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Ketamine
Julianne Fazio, MD (she/her)
Hometown? East Longmeadow, MA
Undergrad & Major? University of Central Florida, Biomedical Science
Med School? Drexel University College of Medicine
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Find new restaurants to try, golf (or pretend to), tik tok, NYT word games
Favorite movie/tv show? Coyote Ugly
Favorite place to travel? Martha's Vineyard
Favorite food? Sushi
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Work at my family’s pizza restaurant
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Buttercup from The Powerpuff Girls
Favorite ice cream toppings? Chocolate sprinkles and gummy bears
Random fact? My favorite season is fall
Favorite Western MA activity? Thunderbirds & MGM
Favorite thing about Baystate? How supportive and kind everyone is
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Ketamine
Erin Fortner, DO, JD (she/her)
Hometown? Greeneville, TN
Undergrad Major? Psychology and Communication
Med School? AT Still University KCOM
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Road or gravel cycling
Favorite movie/tv show? ER
Favorite place to travel? Anywhere I can cycle or day hike
Favorite food? Italian cuisine
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Be a business owner
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Wonder Woman
Favorite ice cream toppings? Fresh strawberries and waffle cone
Random fact? One of my dogs is a former miiltary bomb detection working K-9
Favorite Western MA activity? Cycling
Favorite thing about Baystate? The people
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? First aid supplies
Patrick Fugler, DO, PharmD (he/him)
Hometown? Granby, MA
Undergrad & Major? Pharmacy at Western New England University
Med School? Liberty University
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Spending time outside with my wife and three children
Favorite movie/tv show? Good Will Hunting
Favorite place to travel? Rocky Neck State Park
Favorite food? King crab legs
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? USAF Pilot
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Captain America
Favorite ice cream toppings? Hot fudge
Random fact? I was an aircraft mechanic during college
Favorite Western MA activity? Fishing
Favorite thing about Baystate? Your education is the priority
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Antibiotics
Dawn Goodfriend, DO (she/her)
Hometown? Austin, Texas
Undergrad & Major? UNC Chapel Hill and BS in Biology, Minor in Chemistry and Neuroscience
Med School? NSU KPCOM
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Sleeping, finding new restaurants, traveling, hiking!
Favorite movie/tv show? Parks and Rec
Favorite place to travel? Switzerland
Favorite food? Pasta!
Favorite ice cream toppings? Crushed oreos
Random fact? The same gene that gives Dalmatians their spots can also cause blindness
Favorite Western MA activity? Camping
Favorite thing about Baystate? The people
John Joyce (JJ), DO (he/him)
Hometown? Ashland, MA
Undergrad & Major? Temple University, Kinesiology
Med School? LECOM Elmira
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Rock climbing (Indoor and outside)
Favorite movie/tv show? Lord of the Rings / Adventure Time
Favorite place to travel? I need to travel more.. I would love to go to Japan
Favorite food? Tonkotsu Ramen
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Something that would allow me to work remotely from a van so I could "work" and travel the country
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Zuko from Avatar the Last Airbender
Favorite ice cream toppings? Toffee
Random fact? Visited over 8 national parks and drove ~10k miles on a 3 week cross country road trip with my two best friends in med school
Favorite Western MA activity? Outdoor sport climbing at Farley ledges (only a half hour away from me!!)
Favorite thing about Baystate? The positive & supportive culture all the way from the admin down to my co-residents
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? A fidget toy from the Pedi ED
Matt Kirpas, DO (he/him)
Hometown? Newburyport, MA
Undergrad Major? Chemistry
Med School? University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Reading/hanging with the fam
Favorite movie/tv show? ATLA
Favorite place to travel? The mountains or a beach
Favorite food? Lobstah
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Something with my hands/fabrication
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Aang (obvs)
Favorite ice cream toppings? Chocolate syrup
Random fact? I can blacksmith
Favorite Western MA activity? Farmer's markets
Favorite thing about Baystate? Palpable sense of community and learning
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? A team of nurses
Emily Ladda, DO (she/her)
Hometown? Farmington, CT
Undergrad & Major? Clark University, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Med School? VCOM Carolinas
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Hiking, Fishing, Skiing, Rowing, Reading romance/fantasy, Baking, Crafting, Snuggling my golden retriever Moose!
Favorite movie/tv show? Braveheart or The Heat (Very different vibes)
Favorite place to travel? To the kitchen for a snack. I love to visit any new place but especially enjoyed Utah and Maine
Favorite food? Italian!!! Also cupcakes
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Own a bakery surrounded by trees
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Layla from Sky High
Favorite ice cream toppings? Rainbow sprinkles, homemade whipped cream, cherries- lots of them
Random fact? I've gone sky diving but had never been on a roller coaster until I went with my intern class after disaster day at six flags
Favorite Western MA activity? Leaf peeping
Favorite thing about Baystate? The candy safe. Just kidding.. I honestly love my co-interns and everyone has been extremely supportive- people go above and beyond. I also appreciate the emphasis placed on work-life balance/wellness (it's not just a buzz word at this program- leadership genuinely cares). It's how I knew Baystate was the place for me :)
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? The airway cart= Supplies + transportation
Taylor LaRese, MD (she/they)
Hometown? Southington, CT
Undergrad & Major? Trinity College, Biology
Med School? UConn School of Medicine
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Playing sports, going to the beach, hiking, reading
Favorite movie/tv show? Bob's Burgers
Favorite place to travel? Martha's Vineyard
Favorite food? Seafood
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Military Service and Teach
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Mr. Incredible
Favorite ice cream toppings? Homemade whip cream and rainbow sprinkles
Random fact? My one rep deadlift max is 275lb.
Favorite Western MA activity? Hiking and enjoying good food.
Favorite thing about Baystate? It feels like home! Kind and wicked smart people.
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? A bag of surgical tools (scalpels, hemostats, forceps, etc.)
Lauren McGuinness, DO (she/her)
Hometown? Los Angeles, CA
Undergrad & Major? Cornell, Policy Analysis and Management
Med School? UNE College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Hike and chill at a brewery
Favorite movie/tv show? Gilmore Girls
Favorite place to travel? Home to hang with family
Favorite food? Thai and anything spicy
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Food critic
Favorite ice cream toppings? Rainbow sprinkles and cookie dough
Random fact? I sneeze when I eat dark chocolate
Favorite Western MA activity? Exploring local farms and vineyards
Favorite thing about Baystate? Supportive community and awesome people
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Peanut butter and crackers
Nikki Moraco, MD (she/her)
Hometown? Upstate NY
Undergrad & Major? Bates College, Biochemistry
Med School? Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Spend time with my family
Favorite movie/tv show? Labyrinth
Favorite place to travel? Anywhere new: new cities, new parks, new small towns etc.
Favorite food? Tomatoes in any form.
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Palliative Medicine
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? One with invisibility powers for the zombie apocalypse.
Favorite ice cream toppings? Toffee
Random fact? My paternal grandfather was born in the 1800s.
Favorite Western MA activity? Hiking in all seasons.
Favorite thing about Baystate? The people. This community is really incredible.
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Antibiotics
Seamus Rafferty, MD (he/him)
Hometown? Watertown, CT
Undergrad & Major? University of Connecticut / Physiology and Neurobiology and Psychology
Med School? University of Connecticut
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Happy hour with friends
Favorite movie/tv show? In Bruges
Favorite place to travel? Switzerland
Favorite food? Surf and Turf
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Civil Engineering
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Randy (South Park)
Favorite ice cream toppings? Gummy worms
Random fact? Legally changed my name in the 6th grade
Favorite Western MA activity? Snowboarding
Favorite thing about Baystate? The good vibes
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Fentanyl
Miti Shah, DO (she/her)
Hometown? Lakeland, FL
Undergrad & Major? Nova Southeastern University, Biology
Med School? Nova Southeastern University
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Hang out with friends and reading a good book
Favorite movie/tv show? Movie: Pride and Prejudice, Show: Scrubs
Favorite place to travel? Iceland
Favorite food? Indian
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Book editor
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Katara from Avatar
Random fact? I've hiked the largest European glacier!
Favorite Western MA activity? Hiking
Favorite thing about Baystate? The people and the snack refrigerator
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Defibrillator - to shock the zombies!
Patrick Walsh, DO (he/him)
Hometown? Shrewsbury, MA
Undergrad & Major? UMass Amherst, Microbiology
Med School? Des Moines University
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Eat olives, drink wine and beer, watch sports, golf, hike
Favorite movie/tv show? The Godfather Part I
Favorite place to travel? Lake Como (as pictured)
Favorite food? Pizza
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Run an olive grove and vineyard
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Gotta be spiderman
Favorite ice cream toppings? Hot fudge, whipped cream, M&Ms
Random fact? As a kid, me, my brother, and my dad were pictured in a Men's Health magazine dating ad for single dads (my dad is not a single dad)
Favorite Western MA activity? Exploring the old historic towns
Favorite thing about Baystate? Patient acuity, program culture & focus on wellness
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Blanket warmer filled with blankets. Maybe all the zombies need is a little love.
Stephen Weigant, MD (he/him)
Hometown? Pawhuska, OK
Undergrad & Major? University of Oklahoma, Aerospace Engineering
Med School? Oregon Health and Science University
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Family movie night
Favorite movie/tv show? Napoleon Dynamite
Favorite place to travel? Japan
Favorite food? Mexican
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Engineer
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Michelangelo (TMNT)
Favorite ice cream toppings? Oreo
Random fact? I have my pilot's license
Favorite Western MA activity? Skiing (Alpine and Nordic)
Favorite thing about Baystate? It's a high acuity, high volume hospital serving a very diverse patient population
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Turkey sandwich and Diet Shasta Ginger Ale
Jake Whitney, MD (he/him)
Hometown? Natick, MA
Undergrad & Major? Providence College, Biology
Med School? Georgetown University School of Medicine
Favorite thing to do in your free time? Stuff my face and watch Bar Rescue
Favorite movie/tv show? Parks and Rec
Favorite place to travel? Charleston, SC
Favorite food? Chicken parm
If you weren't an EM physician, what would you do? Animator for Disney
What super hero or cartoon character would you be? Aang from Avatar
Favorite ice cream toppings? Mini reese’s cups
Random fact? I am a test tube baby… through IVF
Favorite Western MA activity? Exploring new breweries!
Favorite thing about Baystate? You feel so supported by our residency and ED who are incredible. Also the training is unmatched given our location in Western Mass and mix of community and academic opportunities.
What one thing would you take from the ED in a zombie apocalypse? Ancef
Travel Time
We love to explore the world and even throughout the pandemic we continued to play all over the world.
Let us support you in growing your family and furthering your education and training!