Meet our chief medical residents! Our chief residents serve as key leaders for our program and work together as a team to serve the mission of Temple's residency, hospital, and community. They are selected at the end of their PGY-2 year for excellence as clinicians, educators, and leaders. The chief year is an additional PGY-4 year completed at the end of their residency and an opportunity for our chiefs to give back to our program. Their responsibilities include clinical service through outpatient precepting and as a hospitalist attending on the inpatient floors, educators via curriculum development, administrators, mentors, and advocates for the residency program.
Name: Shaan Desai
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Hometown: Steubenville, OH
Career Interests: Gastroenterology, Quality Improvement / Patient Safety
In my free time: I enjoy spending time with my family and going camping/overlanding with my father
Favorite thing about Temple: Everyone always rolls up their sleeves and work together to advance the health and well-being of our patient population! Favorite thing about Philly: The food scene. Fun Fact: I helped build a soccer complex in my hometown
Name: Gabby Gillow
Medical School: Northwestern
Hometown: New York, NY
Career Interests: Academic GI, Medical Education, Public Health
In my free time: I love spending time with friends exploring the incredible food scene that Philly has to offer (especially in South Philly where I live). I regularly try new restaurants and bars with my (former) co-residents. I also love to Peloton, go on long walks on the Schuylkill River Trail (I'm not a runner), and read on my couch.
Favorite thing about Temple: The people! Everyone at Temple is genuinely down to earth and approachable, while at the same time being super smart, driven, and supportive. There is a real sense of community and balance here, and we work hard but always make time to have fun. I moved to Philly knowing exactly 1 person, and I made some lifelong friends in residency and truly feel at home here now.
Favorite thing about Philly: How accessible the city is. As someone who grew up in New York City, I hate driving and have always been a fan of public transit. The SEPTA runs (almost) 24 hours a day and can get you basically anywhere within the city limits very quickly. Because the city is so compact it's also very walkable and Ubers are also quick and cheap. Fun Fact: I've been to 13 National Parks (and counting!)
Name: Brianna Graham
Medical School: Florida Atlantic University
Hometown: Pompano Beach, FL
Career Interests: hematology-oncology, health equity, quality improvement
In my free time: I love spending time doing house projects (my house is >100 years old so there are many), cooking, and being outside with my husband and pets! I also love rooting for the Florida Gators!
Favorite thing about Temple: The mentorship! So many of our faculty and attendings actually went to Temple for residency - meaning they have truly been in your shoes. I think this not only shows that people stay at Temple by choice, but it creates a unique learning environment. They remember what it was like to be in your exact position and offer great assistance with whatever you want your career path to be. More than that, I have found mentors not just in work but also in how to be a human and a doctor!
Favorite thing about Philly: There's always something to do from festivals, farmers markets, happy hour, concerts! I was also new to seasons (from Florida) and Philly in spring when it starts to warm up and the flowers are all over the city is my favorite thing!
Fun fact: I was a large animal vet tech before medical school - so my patients have included horses, goats, cows, camels, sheep + more!
Name: Jillian Hall
Medical School: Cooper
Hometown: Toms River, NJ
Career Interests: Cardiology (heart failure and critical care cardiology), medical education, health equity
In my free time: I love making homemade pasta, hiking, peloton, reading, watching movies, going to art museums, houseplants
Favorite thing about Temple: The supervised autonomy, particularly with residents running the RRT/Code teams. Also the amazing mentorship!
Favorite thing about Philly: The food scene! Favorite restaurant is Suraya Fun Fact: I worked on the Seaside Heights boardwalk when “The Jersey Shore” cast was filming
Name: Kyle Santerian
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Hometown: Lansdale, PA
Career Interests: Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship
In my free time: I enjoy spending time with my 4-year-old corgi named Cali. I love spending time outdoors, especially while fishing, hiking and kayaking.
Favorite thing about Temple: Our culture. The residents in our program know how to get things done and learn to see problems as an opportunity to find solutions. They are incredibly resourceful, intelligent, talented and kind. I'm amazed every day at the things our trainees do, both big and small, to care for their patients.
Favorite thing about Philly: The food scene! We have incredible restaurants that are always changing. Ask us about our favorites!
Fun Fact: I'm a triplet! I have two brothers and no we're not identical.