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: Taylor Caton
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Hometown: Phoenixville, PA
Career Interests: Pulmonary/Critical Care
In my free time: I enjoy spending time with my family and friends and reading.
Favorite thing about Temple: I love the camaraderie! Everyone is willing to help each other both inside and outside of the hospital.
Favorite thing about Philly: Besides the food, I love the different museums in the city. I always learn something new when I go.
Fun Fact: I used to work at a vet clinic and farm. Someday, I want to have backyard chickens.
Name: Laya Manoj
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine
Hometown: Marlboro, NJ
Career Interests: Cardiology and Critical Care
In my free time: I like playing tennis with my friends and cooking, accumulating hobbies and books I haven't read yet
Favorite thing about Temple: We are gritty, very connected to our patients and their community
Favorite thing about Philly: EAGLES FOOTBALL
Fun Fact: Me and Mike the Situation share a hometown
Name: Peter Rakita
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Career Interests: Hematology Oncology, Quality Improvement
In my free time: I love to cook, and I'm always up for watching or playing sports—especially rec volleyball and softball with my temple family. I've also enjoyed hiking all over the world.
Favorite thing about Temple: The camaraderie. This program has a genuine sense of togetherness, and we have a great time with each other both inside and outside the hospital, which builds a truly strong community.
Favorite thing about Philly: The food scene
Fun Fact: In high school, I launched a weather balloon into the atmosphere.
Name: Jess Reyer
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Hometown: Downingtown, PA
Career Interests: Hematology and oncology, with an interest in palliative care
In my free time: I enjoy running with friends (kinda slowly) and attempting to run the Broad Street Run each year. I also love playing with my cats, Hickory and Oak, reading and traveling around to the national parks.
Favorite thing about Temple: The people! Everyone at Temple is approachable and always willing help. From talking over a sick patient to being another set of hands for a difficult ultrasound IV, I have always felt so supported. We know when to work hard and how to have fun too! I am so lucky that I have made my best friends here.
Favorite thing about Philly: The food and coffee scene! Shoutout to the Elixir next to my house for fueling my coffee and pastry addiction on my days off and to Mawn for being the best meal I have had in the city
Fun Fact: My last name is a palindrome!
Name: Makayla Testa
Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Milford, NH
Career Interests: Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine, Medical Education
In my free time: I enjoy spending time with my niece and nephew in NH, playing tennis, and HeyDay volleyball!
Favorite thing about Temple: There is never any shortage of people willing to help you when you need it! Co-residents are always there for each other no matter what!
Favorite thing about Philly: How walkable it is! You can truly get almost anywhere by foot or hopping on a bus!
Fun Fact: I have a little cat named Nani - and she is turning 17 years old this year!