Fellows
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Benjamin Starobin, M.D.
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Favorite place in Maine: Willard Beach, South Portland
Interests / Hobbies: History, hiking, ice skating, snowshoeing
Medical interests: Echocardiography, electrophysiology
Why Maine Medical Center: Supportive environment in which to train, high volume and acuity of patients, close to the ocean as well as the mountains.
If I wasn't a doctor, I would be a... Carpenter
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Taco Trio
Laura Onderko, M.D.
Hometown: Glastonbury, CT
Undergraduate: Bowdoin College
Medical School: Drexel Temple University School of Medicine
Favorite place in Maine: Wolfe’s Neck State Park, Reid State Park, hiking in the White Mountains, exploring all the nearby places to hike and spend time outdoors
Interests / Hobbies: Running, hiking, spending time with my daughter and husband
Medical interests: General cardiology, cardio-oncology, medical education
Why Maine Medical Center: I did an away rotation in my fourth year of medical school with Pediatric Genetics at MMC and loved it. Everyone was so friendly and I learned so much. There is a great sense of community here and everyone is always happy to help out in any way they can. I think MMC has the perfect balance between being an academic and community hospital. It was an easy decision to want to stay for cardiology fellowship after I finished my MedPeds residency. Living in Portland is a great bonus too!
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Green Elephant
Jared Tobolski, M.D.
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Undergraduate: West Chester University
Medical School: Drexel Temple University School of Medicine
Favorite place in Maine: Acadia National Park
Favorite Maine activity: Anything involving lobsters
Interests / Hobbies: Football, Kayaking, Skiing, Homebrewing
Medical interests: Clinical cardiology
What did you do before medical school? Communications technician, Air National Guard
Why Maine Medical Center: We fell in love with the city while my wife was completing Dental School at UNE
Celebrity I most resemble: Luke Wilson/Tom Cruise hybrid?
If I wasn't a doctor, I would be a... Professional brewer
Personal quote: “It’s hard to beat a person who never gives up”
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Scales
Jacob (Jake) Ortiz
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Undergraduate: Seattle University
Medical School: UCLA
Interests / Hobbies: Running, Tennis, Boxing, Snowboarding
Favorite place in Maine: Black Cove Running Trail, Deering Park, Oxbow Brewing
Medical interests: Critical Care Cardiology, Structural Imaging
Favorite weekend destination: Beach
Favorite Maine activity: Running Black Cove
What did you do before medical school: EMT
Personal goals: ICU Director
Craziest / Best / Worst Job: Security Guard
Why Maine Medical Center: Top Notch CICU with multidisciplinary collaboration
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… Snow Plowman
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Taco Escobar
“Smooth waters don’t make skillful sailors”
Johnathan Nichols
Undergrad: University of Massachusetts- Amherst
Medical School: University of New England COM
Medical interests: Arrhythmias, Sports Cardiology
Why Maine Medical Center: For the great people and culture of collaboration and learning. And for Portland
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Pai Men Miyake
Aaron Shaikh
Undergrad: New School University Eugene Lang College
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Philip LaCombe
Undergraduate: Syracuse University
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Medical interests: Cardiology
Why Maine Medical Center: It’s a high volume cardiac center with a reputation for excellent care. It’s an added bonus that the area is nice to live.
If I wasn’t a doctor, I would be a… soccer player
Andrew Geissler
Hometown: Underhill, Vermont
Undergraduate: University of Vermont
Medical School: University of New England
Interests / Hobbies: Skiing, Golfing and Ice Hockey
Medical interests: Coronary Artery Disease, Prevention, Non-Invasive Imaging, Cardiometabolic Diseases
Why Maine Medical Center: Fantastic teaching hospital that provides high-quality care to the people of Northern New England. Also, you can’t beat living and working in Portland.
Favorite restaurant in Portland: Scales