Current and Past Residents

Christopher Cappello, MD

Hometown:  Millersville, MD 
Medical School:  Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine 
Professional Interests:  Neurorehabilitation, adaptive sports, academic medicine.
Personal Interests:  Basketball, tennis, hiking, breweries, watching sports, and some new hobbies from the pandemic - disc golf and chess.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
This is a well-rounded program that will prepare me for any career path I choose to pursue. There are great opportunities to get involved with adaptive sports. I sensed a strong, positive culture amongst faculty and residents during the interview process. And of course, Charlotte was a very appealing destination!

Keshav Godha, MD

Hometown:  Fort Lauderdale, FL
Medical School:   Florida Atlantic University College of Medicine
Professional Interests:   Interventional spine, musculoskeletal medicine, regenerative medicine, integrative medicine, and orthotics and prosthetics.
Personal Interests:  Travelling and exploring other cultures (particularly through food!), cooking, yoga/meditation, weightlifting, basketball.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
I was initially drawn to the close-knit family environment at Carolinas Rehabilitation - from the residents to the staff, attendings, and administration - everyone strived to cultivate a warm, inclusive culture. On top of this, I felt that with other aspects of the program, such as the diverse faculty/patient population, innovative facilities (i.e., the newly developed rehabilitation building), and the flexibility of the program to help each resident attain their individual goals, I would be empowered to be the best physiatrist I could become. Also, in terms of the location, Charlotte balances the benefits of a city while being so close to nature!

Jessica Edenfield Kurtz, MD

Hometown:   Greenville, SC
Medical School:  University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Professional Interests:  Musculoskeletal medicine, Integrative medicine and Oncology Rehabilitation
Personal Interests:  Weather permitting, I love working in the yard and planting seasonal gardens! I also enjoy painting, playing volleybal, and going to the park with dog Yogi

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
On paper I chose Carolinas Rehab because of the expansive patient population they serve and the ample opportunities to spend time in each of the subspecialties during training. However, it was a no brainer that Carolinas Rehab was the perfect fit for me after my interview day felt more like conversations with friends rather than faculty. It is very clear how supportive the faculty are and how much they encourage residents to pursue their passions whether that be personally or professionally. Also grew up not far from Charlotte and thought it would be a great place to start my next chapter!

Jason Petusevsky, DO

Hometown:   Coral Springs, FL
Medical School:  Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional Interests:  Interventional spine, neuro prosthetics, regenerative medicine, health and wellness, nutrition, exercise physiology
Personal Interests:  Tennis, skiing, hiking, travelling, pickleball, exploring new restaurants, cooking, concerts, being outdoors.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
Carolinas Rehabilitation offers a strong and customizable curriculum, great opportunities for research and a diverse patient population that pulls from a wide catchment area. I love the resident and staff culture and I love Charlotte, it truly feels like a home away from home.

Cynthia Pham, MD

Hometown:   Manhattan Beach, CA
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Chronic pain management, Complementary/Integrative Medicine, Neuroplasticity, Sports Rehabilitation.
Personal Interests: food and wine, travel, cooking, surfing, snowboarding and my dog.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
Even though the pre-interview resident meeting was online, the moment we started chatting, I knew I had found my people. This program has a culture of equal parts support, belonging and success. I chose CR because I knew this was a place that would push me to my best personal and professional self. It was immediately evident that the care dedicated to teaching, mentoring, and fostering individual growth was an opportunity I couldn't pass up. 

Natalie Brush, MD

Hometown: Mount Dora, FL
Medical School: University of Central Florida School of Medicine 
Professional Interests: Inpatient rehabilitation, interventional pain, sports and MSK
Personal Interests: Lifting, cycling, rock climbing, travelling and trying new foods.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
I chose Carolinas Rehabilitation because I wanted to be somewhere that provides well rounded training, has a family like environment and is in a fun city. 

Natalie Cignetti, MD

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine 
Professional Interests: MSK/Sports medicine, SCI, interventional pain, neuromuscular 
Personal Interests: Volleyball, pickleball, spikeball, arts/crafts, my dog ~Peanut, JMU football, Pittsburgh sports, buying things I don't need at Target and HomeGoods, exploring all the great restaurants, bars, and activities that Charlotte has to offer!

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
It was an easy decision! I was lucky enough to rotate at Carolins Rehab as a 4th year medical student, and I was immediately drawn to the people. The CR faculty and residents have built a supportive learning environment and genuinely warm and accepting culture. The curriculum is both well-rounded, but flexible, allowing residents to pursue their unique career interests. Other perks include our brand new (and beautiful) rehab hospital and living in Charlotte - which has so much to offer! 

Thomas Powell, DO

Hometown: Princeton, West Virginia
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine  
Professional Interests: Interventional pain, sports medicine, graduate medical education, pediatric rehab
Personal Interests: Lifting, running, video games, traveling, cruises, West Virginia sports, skiing, spending times with my family and our cats.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
The interview with Carolinas rehab was the only program I truly felt at home. The residents and faculty provided a sense of camaraderie and wellness during my interview. I knew the importance of a positive working environment, as I was applying as a transitional year resident. The program is impressively progressive in terms of values, culture, and even facilities (who doesn’t want to work in a new and updated hospital?). CR also provides a robust education encompassing the entirety of PM&R to prepare me for bread-and-butter physiatry, or a possible fellowship. To top it all off, Charlotte is an incredibly diverse city with more activities, restaurants, breweries, parks, and sporting events than time in the day. I could not have been happier to match at CR!  

Emily Rothermel, MD

Hometown: Fleetwood, PA
Medical School: Temple University 
Professional Interests: Interventional spine, sports medicine, but keeping an open mind to new professional interests!  
Personal Interests:  Outside of work I enjoy tennis, hiking, board games (Trivial Pursuit, Risk) making charcuterie boards, international travel.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
When I met my future co-residents and faculty at CR, I immediately felt like I was joining my new family. This is a program where I knew I could explore all of my professional interests to the fullest extent, with a curriculum that would give me a solid foundation in all aspects of rehabilitation medicine, and all while surrounded by supportive residents and mentors. What more could you ask for! 

Zachary Shumaker, MD

Hometown: Fort Wayne, IN
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine 
Professional Interests: Interventional Spine Procedures, Cancer Rehabilitation, Adaptive Sports 
Personal Interests: Biking, Board Games, Drone flying, Camping, Hiking, Reading/Audiobooks

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
Carolinas Rehab left a strong impression on me right from the beginning. The comprehensive training, ample procedural opportunities, and promising prospects for fellowship and job placement immediately drew me to the program. However, what truly solidified my decision was the camaraderie between the residents and faculty, and the unwavering support extended to resident physicians. Furthermore, the added bonus of North Carolina being my wife's dream state to live in and the accessibility of weekend trips to the beach or the Smoky Mountains from Charlotte only served to enhance my enthusiasm for the program. I am immensely grateful and excited to begin my residency training at Carolinas Medical Center. 

Elizabeth "Jaymi" Bautista-Whitaker DO

Hometown: Gainesville, FL
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Georgia Campus
Professional Interests: General Rehab, Neuro Rehab, SCI, Spasticity Management, Interventional pain.
Personal Interests: Finding the best coffee spots, college softball (Go Terps) & football (Go Gators), any type of fitness class and spending time with my family. 

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
CR was the right fit from the start. The training and education are well-rounded and balanced with both inpatient and outpatient rotations. Opportunities are abundant to grow and learn in all areas of PM&R. During my interview, all the staff and residents were so welcoming and enthusiastic about CR. Charlotte is also a great place to raise a young family.

Nicolas Brandt, MD

Hometown: Waxhaw, NC
Medical School: University of South Carolina - Columbia
Professional Interests: Interventional pain, adaptive sports, TBI, regenerative medicine, inpatient rehabilitation
Personal Interests: Exercise, any/all sports, spending time with loved ones, playing music, going to concerts, watching movies

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
Carolina’s Rehab is the perfect fit for me. The faculty have created a well-rounded program to give residents a supportive atmosphere in which to learn and develop themselves professionally. I am looking forward to becoming a CR-trained physiatrist! As an NC native, I am excited to start practicing so close to home.

Daniel De Simon, MD, MBA

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Medical School: Texas Tech University, HSC
Professional Interests: Brain injury, regenerative medicine, TMS, Interventional / sports medicine
Personal Interests: Cooking, playing piano, and exploring the city and surrounding area with my wife and our dog. I also enjoy working on my car and various house projects in my free time.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
First and foremost, the breadth of robust training in the wide variety that PM&R encompasses is unmatched here at CR. I know that I will be trained as a well-rounded physiatrist ready to handle anything coming out of residency. The culture at this program, and Atrium Health as a whole, makes working here a joy. There is a family-oriented and close-knit vibe that runs through all departments, and my wife and I have had wonderful experiences making friends and connections with our Atrium family. Finally, the city of Charlotte is a fantastic place to live, with all the amenities of a fast-growing metropolitan area, beautiful weather, amazing geography, and plenty of cool cities close by to visit.

Alena Sidwell, MD

Hometown: Aurora, IL
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Professional Interests: Adaptive sports, brain injury, orthotics and prosthetics 
Personal Interests: Running, reading, hiking, trying new breweries/restaurants, spending time with my family, fiancé, and dog, hammocking, doing (almost) anything outdoors.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
I was fortunate to rotate here and take part in the research program as a medical student. Throughout both those experiences it was evident that CR has a supportive and positive learning environment that also challenges residents to be the best version of themselves. I felt immediately welcomed into the family (the people are so awesome!) and am thankful that a program with such a great culture also happens to be in such a fun city. Charlotte is a great place to live, learn and grow! 

Chidera Uzowihe, MD, MPH

Hometown: Washington, DC
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Sports medicine, pain, integrative medicine, alternative medicine 
Personal Interests:  Basketball, Dance, Art, Live music, Community service, Food

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
Carolinas Rehab has the numerous opportunities for community engagement. I could continue my passion of community service while still being fully exposed to all of the different subspecialties within our field. What solidified my decision was how welcomed I felt during the interview. I immediately felt like family when speaking to the residents and staff. And of course, I’m also super excited to move to Charlotte!

Leah Flanagan, MD 

Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Professional Interests: Soooo undecided, maybe staying General.  I do find SCI, amputee care, and peds super interesting. 
Personal Interests: Camping, reading, cycling, going to concerts, and I mother a lot of plants. 

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
Not to sound like a broken record, but the people of CR make this place the absolute best; such warmth and welcoming felt on interview day and every day after.  I appreciate the breadth of our training as someone who is not so sure if I would like to subspecialize.  Generous pluses come from our beautiful Rehab Hospital as well as getting to spend non-hospital time in such a cool city.  There is always something to do in Charlotte and you are guaranteed to frequently find my co-residents and I gallivanting around town.  

Adam Girmann, MD

Hometown: Dayton, Ohio
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine 
Professional Interests: Sports Medicine, Ultrasound, Regenerative Medicine, Adaptive Sports, Alternative Medicine
Personal Interests: Formula 1, lifting/running, travel, and finding the best new restaurants/ dessert spots.  Also love any time spent with family, our dog (Cowboy), and our three cats (Wifey, Eggy Toast, and Pepper) 

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
From my first moments rotating at CR as a medical student, the family atmosphere and culture of inclusion and support made my residency decision an easy one.  In a short time, my co-residents have become a second family who I look forward to interacting with both professionally and personally on a day-to-day basis. Being in a growing city with a great blend of culture and opportunity for exploration sure doesn't hurt. 

Ian James Kinney, MD

Hometown: Sudbury, MA
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Professional Interests: Stroke, Interventional Spine, although open to anything
Personal Interests: Anything sports-related, piano and guitar, video games

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
I had the privilege of rotating here as a student, and was drawn to both the breadth of experiences offered here and the people who make up those experiences. I loved living in Charlotte as a student and was thrilled to have the opportunity to continue my education here. 

Robert McBride, MD

Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional Interests: Interventional spine/pain, spinal cord injury, MSK/sports medicine, global health
Personal Interests: Watching sports (UNC basketball & football, Panthers, Hornets), spending time with family & friends, playing basketball/anything active

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
I met some of the CR residents while doing a physiatry rotation in Charlotte during my very first clinical rotation of 3rd year. From talking with them, I immediately knew Carolinas Rehab would be my #1 choice for residency. My 4-week rotation at CR as a 4th-year solidified it for me. I felt like I got broad exposure to the different subspecialties of PM&R in a short time. Also, everyone in the program was so kind and welcoming, it truly felt like home. Being close to family and friends in my hometown is just an extra bonus.

Alexis Smith, DO

Hometown: Margate, FL
Medical School: VCOM - Louisiana
Professional Interests: Inpatient rehabilitation, Musculoskeletal medicine, Stroke and cancer rehabilitation, EMG, and Interventional Ultrasound.
Personal Interests: I enjoy exploring new coffee shops and spending time outdoors (mainly at the beach). I love spending time with my family and my sweet dog Mowgli.  On the weekends you can find me at brunch and other food spots living my foodie dream with my other half, Daniel.

Why Carolinas Rehabilitation?
 chose CR because of the amazing residents and faculty. I was first introduced to this program as a second-year medical student at a conference, and from that moment I knew this was a program that I needed to keep on my radar. Most importantly, I made some genuine friends and truly felt at home during my fourth-year rotation as a med student. The exposure to various aspects of PM&R, including cancer rehabilitation, along with the vast number of academic resources and support available, gave me the impression that I would receive a great foundation for whatever path I choose to pursue after residency. CR's presence in community engagement and the city of Charlotte are just the cherries on top!

Alumni