Alex Falsey, MD, is from Noank, Connecticut, and completed her residency at Inova Children’s Hospital in Fairfax, Virginia. Her fellowship focus includes health services research and clinical operations, particularly clinical documentation integrity, payment systems and utilization management. She is pursuing a Master of Public Health with a focus on Health Management. She was drawn to Boston Children’s Hospital because Pediatric Hospital Medicine spans many domains, and the hospital offers extensive resources and mentorship as she continues to refine her academic and professional interests. She values the knowledgeable, welcoming, and collaborative faculty and appreciates the opportunity to explore a wide range of interests. As a native New Englander, she loves experiencing the four seasons in Boston and appreciates how easy it is to travel between Boston and Providence, where she lives with her husband and Golden Retriever, Henry. 

Rachel Korus, MD, is from West Hartford, Connecticut, and completed her residency through the Boston Combined Residency Program. Her fellowship focus is Medical Education, and she is pursuing a Master of Medical Sciences in Medical Education. Her research interests include resident wellness, trainee grief management, and the integration of medical humanities into medical education. She chose Boston Children’s Hospital for its welcoming department, strong mentorship opportunities, and flexibility in both clinical and research training, as well as the many resources available throughout the system. Outside of work, she enjoys Boston’s mix of big city amenities such as food, sports, and arts while still maintaining a charming New England feel. She also enjoys being close to beaches and within easy driving distance of excellent hiking and skiing in the Northeast. 

Mollie Wasserman, MD, is from St. Louis, Missouri, and completed her residency through the Boston Combined Residency Program. Her fellowship focuses on clinical research, patient safety, and trainee education, and she is pursuing a Master of Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her research interests include trainee patient safety initiatives, clinical research aimed at improving microbiologic diagnostics, and procedural learning in pediatrics. She chose Boston Children’s Hospital for its supportive environment and the opportunity to grow both clinically and professionally with mentorship across many areas. She especially values the innovative and empathetic leadership, as well as the individualized guidance fellows receive as they plan their next steps. In Boston, she enjoys the city’s walkable neighborhoods, proximity to the ocean and mountains, and easy access to other cities throughout the region. 

Julie Barzilay, MD, MPhil, is originally from New York City and has also spent many years living in California. She completed her residency through the Boston Combined Residency Program and focuses on Medical Education. Her research interests include communication with families in the hospital, quality improvement, and medical humanities. She chose Boston Children’s Hospital because of the incredible opportunities it offers in clinical care, research, innovation, and education. Having trained here during residency, she continues to be inspired by colleagues who are deeply committed to advocacy, health equity, and improving the lives of children and families. She especially enjoys Boston in the fall, as well as exploring the city’s walkable neighborhoods and parks such as the Emerald Necklace, and appreciates being close to beaches, mountains, and other East Coast cities. 

Melissa Rubin, MD, is from Westchester, New York, and completed her residency at New York-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital at Columbia University. Her fellowship focus is Advocacy and Health Equity, and she is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Health and Social Behavior at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her research interests include examining health equity through an advocacy lens, both in medical education and in patient facing community work. She chose Boston Children’s Hospital because of the wide range of resources and mentorship available, which allows her to learn different perspectives and approaches across clinical care, education, and research. She also values the welcoming environment, where colleagues are eager to connect fellows with mentors and collaborators. She enjoys Boston’s balance of a town-like feel with the energy of a larger city, along with its close access to outdoor activities. 

Mercy Toma, MD, grew up in Jos, Nigeria, and Edison, New Jersey, and completed her residency at Nemours Children’s Hospital in Delaware. Her fellowship focuses on immigrant health and global health, and she is pursuing a Master of Public Health in Clinical Effectiveness at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Her research interests center on improving care for families who speak a language other than English. She chose Boston Children’s Hospital because of the diversity of resources available while she continued to refine her fellowship focus and research interests. Although she considers herself a homebody, she enjoys Boston’s many parks and walking paths and appreciates the opportunities the city offers for quiet time outdoors. 

Grace Quinn, MD, grew up in Wayland, Massachusetts, and completed her residency at Children’s National Hospital. Her fellowship focus is Medical Education, with research interests that include curriculum development, care for children with developmental disabilities, behavioral health, and quality improvement. She was drawn to Boston Children’s Hospital because of the wide range of opportunities for research and education, the collaborative and welcoming departmental culture, and the strong mentorship available to fellows. She also values the program’s clinical structure, which allows fellows to develop their own practice while being supported by approachable and thoughtful faculty. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the many outdoor spaces in and around Boston, from nearby parks and ponds to fall apple picking, beaches, and trips to the White Mountains.

Lulu Xu, MD, MS, is from Belmont, Massachusetts, and completed her residency at Mass General Brigham for Children. Her fellowship focuses on research and quality improvement, developing as a teacher, and using research to promote health equity and advocacy. During fellowship she plans to pursue a Master of Public Health. Her research interests include improving transitions of care at discharge and strengthening communication with patients who speak a language other than English. She enjoys Boston’s walkable neighborhoods, coffee shops, and the fall season, and recently returned to the Brookline and Coolidge Corner area, where she enjoys living. 

Stephanie Abuso, DO, is originally from Glendale, New York, and completed her residency at NYU Langone Long Island Hospital. Prior to fellowship, she worked as a PHM/CCS attending at Boston Children’s Hospital for two years. Her fellowship focus is Simulation and Medical Education, and she is pursuing a Master of Public Health. Her research interests include quality improvement, patient safety, and medical simulation. She chose Boston Children’s Hospital because of the strong community she built with colleagues and friends, as well as the many opportunities for education and collaboration that will support her goal of continuing to serve the communities where she hopes to practice. Outside of work, she enjoys Boston’s parks, especially walking along the Emerald Necklace, visiting the Boston Public Library in Copley Square, attending live music and concerts, and experiencing Boston in the fall.