Clerkship Directors

				Anju Sawni, MD, Community Clerkship Director - Core Competency Associate Professor - Pediatrics & Human Development and Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Program Director - Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency, Hurley Medical Center (810)262-9773 \| asawni1@hurleymc.com Dr. Sawni specialty is Adolescent Medicine. She is certified in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics. She received her medical degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine School and did her internship and residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and a fellowship at North Shore University Hospital.
				John Hebert, III, MD, Community Clerkship Director - Obstetrics & Gynecology Associate Professor - Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Bio, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Chair - Obstetrics & Gynecology and Program Director-Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency, Hurley Medical Center (810) 262-6426 \| johnhebert@hurleymc.com Dr. Hebert received his MD degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He then completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan. He has completed research on the effects of drugs to reduce postoperative pain in laparscopic surgery.
				Kavitha Kesari, MD, Community Clerkship Co-Director - Advanced Medicine Assistant Professor - Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Assistant Program Director - Internal Medicine, McLaren-Flint (810) 342-3063 \| kavitha.kesari@mclaren.org Dr. Kesari graduated from Andhra University, Rangaraya Medical College of India in 1993. She went on to complete her Internal Medicine residency in Flint, Michigan at McLaren-Flint (then known as McLaren Regional Medical Center) from July 1996 through June 1999 serving as Chief Resident during her third year.
				Kristoffer Wong, DO - Community Clerkship Director - Junior Surgery Assistant Professor - Surgery, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (810) 262-9474 \| kwong1@hurleymc.com Dr. Wong received his DO degree from Des Moines University and completed his general surgery residency at St. John Macomb-Oakland. He then proceeded to do a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Detroit Medical Center, followed by the completion of a Trauma Surgery Fellowship at Hurley Medical Center. He is currently the Director of Hurley’s Hernia Center of Excellence as well as Hurley’s Burn Unit Director. His interests are in robotic surgery, hernia surgery, acute care surgery and medical education.
				Robert Molnar, MD, Community Clerkship Director - Senior Surgery Assistant Professor - Surgery, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (810) 342-2289 \| rmolnar@att.net Dr. Molnar graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1991. He did an internship at Michigan State University, East Lansing, in 1991, where he also completed his residency 1992 through 1997.
				Gautham Gadiraju, MD, Community Clerkship Co-Director - Internal Medicine Assistant Professor - Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (810) 342-2064 \| gautham.gadirajui@mclaren.org Dr. Gadiraju earned his medical degree from J.S.S. Medical College, Mysore, Karnataka, India. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at McLaren-Flint. After working as a Hospitalist in Danville, VA for two years, he returned to McLaren as a teaching faculty. In his spare time he enjoys playing volleyball, soccer and cricket in addition to International Travel.
				Dr. Ilsa Ittner, DO, Community Clerkship Director - Family Medicine Assistant Professor - Family Medicine, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine Faculty - Family Medicine Residency Program, Genesys Regional Medical Center (906) 869-4429 \| ilsa.ittner@ascension.org Dr. Ilsa Ittner is a full time faculty for the Genesys Family Medicine Residency program working in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. Dr. Ittner completed her residency training at St. John Providence Hospital in Southfield, MI. She graduated medical school from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has a bachelor of science in nutrition from Michigan State University as well. She has served leadership positions both on the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Dr. Ittner's dedication to Osteopathic Medicine was recognized when she was awarded the Michigan Osteopathic Association resident of the year award as well as chief resident within her residency program. Dr. Ittner's interests in medicine include Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, preventive medicine, nutrition and hospital medicine.
				Mahesh Sharman, MD, Community Clerkship Director - Pediatrics Associate Professor - Pediatrics & Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Director - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hurley Medical Center (810) 262-4803 \| msharman1@hurleymc.com Dr. Sharman is a critical care physician. He completed his residency in pediatrics from Hurley Medical Center, Michigan State University and fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine from Children’s Hospital of Michigan at Wayne State University. His special interests are hospital medicine and quality assurance. His research interests include end of life care and evidence based medicine.
				Thair Dawood, MD, Community Clerkship Co-Director - Advanced Medicine Assistant Professor - Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (810) 262-9508 \| tdawood1@hurleymc.com Dr. Thair Dawood attended medical school at College of Medicine University of Baghdad, Iraq He did his residency at Hurley Medical Center. Immediately after graduation he was appointed as a faculty member in the internal medicine department at Hurley Medical Center He enjoys having fun time with his wife and kids, watching movies, interior home design & gardening
				D Kay Taylor, PhD, Community Clerkship Director - Research Adjunct Assistant Professor - Medical Education Research & Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Director - Research, Hurley Medical Center (810) 262-9963 \| ktaylor1@hurleymc.com After completing a BS in psychology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Dr. Kay Taylor received her PhD in psychology from Michigan State University in East Lansing. She coordinates Critical Analysis and Analytical Medicine for third year students and serves as a reviewer for Academic Medicine and Psychology, Health and Medicine. Her main areas of research interest include primary prevention practices, the recruitment of high-risk persons into community screening programs, substance abuse, child maltreatment, and graduate medical education.
				Basim Towfiq, MD, Community Clerkship Co-Director - Internal Medicine Associate Professor - Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Director - Ambulatory Medicine and Primary Care Education, Hurley Medical Center (810) 262-7195 \| btowfiq1@hurleymc.com Dr. Towfiq received his MD degree from Mosul Medical College, Mosul, Iraq and main training in U.K. He then completed an internal medicine residency at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan.
				Erin O'Connor, PhD, LP Community Clerkship Director - Psychiatry Assistant Professor - Family Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Associate Director of Behavioral Medicine Education McLaren Family Medicine Residency (810) 342-5620 \| erin.o'connor@mclaren.org Erin O’Connor, PhD, LP, is the Associate Director of Behavioral Medicine Education in the McLaren-Flint Family Medicine Residency. Dr. O’Connor earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from University of Detroit Mercy in 2010. She completed her pre-doctoral internship through Wayne State University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences. Following graduation, Dr. O’Connor completed a two year post-doctoral fellowship through the Consortium for Advanced Psychology Training at McLaren-Flint. During fellowship, Dr. O’Connor received training in Health Psychology as well as Medical Education, and was actively involved in teaching Michigan State University College of Medicine students and McLaren Family Medicine Residents. Currently, Dr. O’Connor is responsible for teaching Health Psychology fellows, practicum students, Family Medicine Residents, and MSU medical students, focusing on behavioral and psychological components of health and treatment. Her clinical work includes consultation-liaison on inpatient medical floors, participation in multidisciplinary team group visits, psychotherapy, and psychological evaluations. Dr. O’Connor’s research interests include geriatric populations and integrating behavioral medicine teaching and interventions into medical education.

				Anju Sawni, MD, Community Clerkship Director - Core Competency Associate Professor - Pediatrics & Human Development and Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Program Director - Combined Internal Medicine/Pediatrics Residency, Hurley Medical Center (810)262-9773 \| asawni1@hurleymc.com Dr. Sawni specialty is Adolescent Medicine. She is certified in Adolescent Medicine and Pediatrics. She received her medical degree from American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine School and did her internship and residency at Children’s Hospital of Michigan and a fellowship at North Shore University Hospital.
				John Hebert, III, MD, Community Clerkship Director - Obstetrics & Gynecology Associate Professor - Obstetrics Gynecology & Reproductive Bio, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Chair - Obstetrics & Gynecology and Program Director-Obstetrics & Gynecology Residency, Hurley Medical Center (810) 262-6426 \| johnhebert@hurleymc.com Dr. Hebert received his MD degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. He then completed his Obstetrics and Gynecology residency at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan. He has completed research on the effects of drugs to reduce postoperative pain in laparscopic surgery.
				Kavitha Kesari, MD, Community Clerkship Co-Director - Advanced Medicine Assistant Professor - Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Assistant Program Director - Internal Medicine, McLaren-Flint (810) 342-3063 \| kavitha.kesari@mclaren.org Dr. Kesari graduated from Andhra University, Rangaraya Medical College of India in 1993. She went on to complete her Internal Medicine residency in Flint, Michigan at McLaren-Flint (then known as McLaren Regional Medical Center) from July 1996 through June 1999 serving as Chief Resident during her third year.
				Kristoffer Wong, DO - Community Clerkship Director - Junior Surgery Assistant Professor - Surgery, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (810) 262-9474 \| kwong1@hurleymc.com Dr. Wong received his DO degree from Des Moines University and completed his general surgery residency at St. John Macomb-Oakland. He then proceeded to do a Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Detroit Medical Center, followed by the completion of a Trauma Surgery Fellowship at Hurley Medical Center. He is currently the Director of Hurley’s Hernia Center of Excellence as well as Hurley’s Burn Unit Director. His interests are in robotic surgery, hernia surgery, acute care surgery and medical education.
				Robert Molnar, MD, Community Clerkship Director - Senior Surgery Assistant Professor - Surgery, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (810) 342-2289 \| rmolnar@att.net Dr. Molnar graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1991. He did an internship at Michigan State University, East Lansing, in 1991, where he also completed his residency 1992 through 1997.
				Gautham Gadiraju, MD, Community Clerkship Co-Director - Internal Medicine Assistant Professor - Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (810) 342-2064 \| gautham.gadirajui@mclaren.org Dr. Gadiraju earned his medical degree from J.S.S. Medical College, Mysore, Karnataka, India. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at McLaren-Flint. After working as a Hospitalist in Danville, VA for two years, he returned to McLaren as a teaching faculty. In his spare time he enjoys playing volleyball, soccer and cricket in addition to International Travel.
				Dr. Ilsa Ittner, DO, Community Clerkship Director - Family Medicine Assistant Professor - Family Medicine, Michigan State University, College of Human Medicine Faculty - Family Medicine Residency Program, Genesys Regional Medical Center (906) 869-4429 \| ilsa.ittner@ascension.org Dr. Ilsa Ittner is a full time faculty for the Genesys Family Medicine Residency program working in both the outpatient and inpatient settings. Dr. Ittner completed her residency training at St. John Providence Hospital in Southfield, MI. She graduated medical school from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and has a bachelor of science in nutrition from Michigan State University as well. She has served leadership positions both on the Michigan Association of Osteopathic Family Physicians and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians. Dr. Ittner's dedication to Osteopathic Medicine was recognized when she was awarded the Michigan Osteopathic Association resident of the year award as well as chief resident within her residency program. Dr. Ittner's interests in medicine include Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, preventive medicine, nutrition and hospital medicine.
				Mahesh Sharman, MD, Community Clerkship Director - Pediatrics Associate Professor - Pediatrics & Human Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Director - Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hurley Medical Center (810) 262-4803 \| msharman1@hurleymc.com Dr. Sharman is a critical care physician. He completed his residency in pediatrics from Hurley Medical Center, Michigan State University and fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine from Children’s Hospital of Michigan at Wayne State University. His special interests are hospital medicine and quality assurance. His research interests include end of life care and evidence based medicine.
				Thair Dawood, MD, Community Clerkship Co-Director - Advanced Medicine Assistant Professor - Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine (810) 262-9508 \| tdawood1@hurleymc.com Dr. Thair Dawood attended medical school at College of Medicine University of Baghdad, Iraq He did his residency at Hurley Medical Center. Immediately after graduation he was appointed as a faculty member in the internal medicine department at Hurley Medical Center He enjoys having fun time with his wife and kids, watching movies, interior home design & gardening
				D Kay Taylor, PhD, Community Clerkship Director - Research Adjunct Assistant Professor - Medical Education Research & Development, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Director - Research, Hurley Medical Center (810) 262-9963 \| ktaylor1@hurleymc.com After completing a BS in psychology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Dr. Kay Taylor received her PhD in psychology from Michigan State University in East Lansing. She coordinates Critical Analysis and Analytical Medicine for third year students and serves as a reviewer for Academic Medicine and Psychology, Health and Medicine. Her main areas of research interest include primary prevention practices, the recruitment of high-risk persons into community screening programs, substance abuse, child maltreatment, and graduate medical education.
				Basim Towfiq, MD, Community Clerkship Co-Director - Internal Medicine Associate Professor - Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Director - Ambulatory Medicine and Primary Care Education, Hurley Medical Center (810) 262-7195 \| btowfiq1@hurleymc.com Dr. Towfiq received his MD degree from Mosul Medical College, Mosul, Iraq and main training in U.K. He then completed an internal medicine residency at Hurley Medical Center in Flint, Michigan.
				Erin O'Connor, PhD, LP Community Clerkship Director - Psychiatry Assistant Professor - Family Medicine, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Associate Director of Behavioral Medicine Education McLaren Family Medicine Residency (810) 342-5620 \| erin.o'connor@mclaren.org Erin O’Connor, PhD, LP, is the Associate Director of Behavioral Medicine Education in the McLaren-Flint Family Medicine Residency. Dr. O’Connor earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology from University of Detroit Mercy in 2010. She completed her pre-doctoral internship through Wayne State University Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences. Following graduation, Dr. O’Connor completed a two year post-doctoral fellowship through the Consortium for Advanced Psychology Training at McLaren-Flint. During fellowship, Dr. O’Connor received training in Health Psychology as well as Medical Education, and was actively involved in teaching Michigan State University College of Medicine students and McLaren Family Medicine Residents. Currently, Dr. O’Connor is responsible for teaching Health Psychology fellows, practicum students, Family Medicine Residents, and MSU medical students, focusing on behavioral and psychological components of health and treatment. Her clinical work includes consultation-liaison on inpatient medical floors, participation in multidisciplinary team group visits, psychotherapy, and psychological evaluations. Dr. O’Connor’s research interests include geriatric populations and integrating behavioral medicine teaching and interventions into medical education.