Meet Our Residents

Post Graduates Year 3

Paul Soriano, MD, Chief Resident

Paul Soriano Paul came to the Mid-Atlantic by way of Hawaii and before that the Philippines where he completed an MD-MBA degree. He is trilingual, fluent in English Tagalog and Pangasinense, an Austronesian language and one of the eight major languages of the Philippines. His clinical interests are public health, healthcare management and pain management. Dr Soriano joined St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency because of the diverse group of residents, faculty and patients in the community. Outside of medicine, he enjoys playing basketball, interval training and going on “food trips” with family and friends.

Monem Jeries, MD

Monem Jeries Monem is originally from Israel, received his medical education at the University of Szeged in Hungary and spent time in medical service to the people of Uganda. He has a diversity of language skill among them Arabic, Hebrew, English and Hungarian. He has particular clinical interest in POCUS, global health and sports medicine. Dr. Jeries came to St. Mary for its dedication to the culturally rich Philadelphia region and providing care to the underserved. He loves a good mountain hike, chess and his morning espresso.

Sulay Mercedes, MD

Sulay Mercedes Sulay moved to the tri-state area from the Dominican Republic where she received her medical degree at the Universidad Central del Este. She speaks Spanish and English fluently. The intersection of primary care and pain management is her clinical interest and she chose St. Mary for the commitment to resident professional and personal well-being. First and foremost, Dr. Mercedes is a devoted mom; her beloved daughter gives her strength every day to stay resilient.

Clarissa Merson, MD

Clarrisa Merson Clarissa hails from the Washington D.C. area and graduated from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center. She speaks both English and Tagalog and is particularly interested in women’s health and endocrinology. Dr. Merson is thrilled to be a part of such a dynamic Family Medicine training program close to home. She uses time with her husband, son and two fur-babies to recharge while listening to K-pop and searching for new Philly area restaurants.

Rafael Parraga-Silguero, MD

Rafael Parraga Rafael grew up in Spain and graduated from the Medical School of the University of Cadiz. He speaks both Spanish and English fluently and is working toward being conversational in Polish. Dr Parraga’s clinical interests are emergency care, hospital medicine, diagnostics and public health. He selected the program at St. Mary for its steadfast commitment to the underserved which aligns with his principles. He’s an avid reader with interests in philosophy and history and is a passionate gardener.

Jay Talluri, MD

Jay Talluri Jay moved the Philadelphia area in high school and attended Temple University before medical school at American University of Antigua. In addition to English, he speaks Telugu and Hindi. He has particular clinical interests in geriatrics and addiction medicine and matched here at St. Mary Family Medicine to further cement his ties to the greater Philadelphia community and make a difference. When he’s not taking care of patients, he is grateful for time to spend with family and exploring the rich natural settings in southeast Pennsylvania.

Victoria Ung, DO

Victoria Ung Victoria graduated from Villanova University before matriculating into Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her clinical interests include behavioral health and OMT. Dr Ung chose St. Mary for its close-knit group of residents and faculty and their focus on building community. When she is not practicing her medical Spanish, Victoria enjoys weightlifting and spending time with her husband and dog.

Patricia Young, DO

Patricia Young Patricia graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and hails from Princeton N.J. So, coming to St. Mary is a bit of a homecoming for her and she appreciates the excellent exposure to every facet of family medicine, the supportive educational environment, and the focus on underserved communities. Dr. Young has clinical interests in OMT and sports medicine. She loves hanging out with friends at the beach and crocheting sweaters for her newly adopted Cavalier puppy, Wesley who happens to be the unofficial residency mascot.

Post Graduates Year 2

Jie Cao, MD

Jie Cao Jie graduated from Henan University School of Medicine in China and completed a Master of Science degree in addiction research and clinical health at Wake Forest University. Aside from addiction medicine, he has clinical interests in lifestyle medicine and bridging research to clinical practice. Jie is fluent in Mandarin Chinese and was drawn to St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency because of the holistic approach to wellness amongst a diverse patient population. He is excited that the strong ambulatory training environment allows him to incorporate his behavioral science background into daily practice. Outside of medicine, Jie stays grounded by practicing mindfulness and volunteering in the community.

Mario Castro, MD

Mario Castro Mario came to the United States from Maracaibo, Venezuela, where he attended Zulia University School of Medicine. He has clinical interest in weight management and lifestyle medicine and speaks both Spanish and French. Mario chose the Family Medicine Program at St. Mary’s because he was captivated by the diversity of the resident group and their drive to care for the underserved. He maintains resilience through exercise, exploring new restaurants, and the expression of art in painting, drawing and sculpting.

Alexey Gokadze, MD

Alexey Gokadze Alexey is ethnically Georgian and grew up in Moscow where he graduated from the Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia. He speaks Russian and Georgian and his clinical interests revolve around helping patients “level up” through the integration of prevention, lifestyle modification and behavioral health concentration. Alexey decided upon St. Mary Family Medicine because it felt instantly down to earth, supportive, balanced and ultimately a place where both medicine and people mattered. He enjoys both video games and negotiations with his eight-year-old son, as well as, reflective writing, tracking his work-outs as a side-quest and heavy metal music.

Kristine Mercene, MD

Kristine Mercene Originally from the Philippines, Kristine was a registered nurse before matriculating into medical school at the University of Santo Tomas, one of the largest Catholic Universities in the world by enrollment. She speaks Tagalog and has clinical interests in obesity and sleep medicine. Kristine chose the Family Medicine Residency at St. Mary because the program aligns with her passion for equity, inclusion and lifelong service. For Kristine, resilience is not only about self-reflection, but about surrounding oneself with supportive mentors and colleagues who uplift each other like a family away from home.

Linet Mesesi, MD

Linet Mesesi A graduate of the Kenyatta University School of Health Science in Nairobi, Kenya where the motto is “Education is Strength,” Linet leans into that philosophy to maintain resilience. She has clinical interests in maternal-child healthcare and preventive medicine and speaks both Kiswahili and Kisii. Linet decided to join the Family Medicine Residency at St. Mary because she saw a place where she could grow both clinically and personally all the while serving a community with hope and healing: in short, it felt like home.

Raffiu Mohammed, DO

Raffiu Mohammed Raffiu graduated from Temple University and Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and can speak four of the more than 80 languages of Ghana– Twi, Hausa, Fante and Ga. What stood out to Raffiu about the Family Medicine Program at St. Mary was the culture of mentorship amongst residents and faculty which creates a welcoming and collaborative learning environment. Additionally, he appreciates the access to broad educational resources that being in the Philadelphia metro region affords. His particular clinical interest is lifestyle medicine and he maintains resilience through reflection. Raffiu views his non-traditional path to medicine as a powerful source of motivation and a reminder that obstacles are opportunities to put perseverance and adaptability into action.

Caio Sant’Anna Marinho, MD

Caio Sant’Anna Marinho Caio attended medical school at the Fundacao Technico Educacional Souza Marques in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He is fluent in Portuguese and speaks conversational Spanish. Caio has wide ranging clinical interests including sports medicine, womens’ health, dermatology and imaging, as well as LGBTQ+ health and preventive medicine. In summary, he is dedicated to patient education and empowerment. Caio selected St. Mary Family Medicine because of its welcoming inclusive environment and supportive faculty dedicated to teaching and mentorship. In the program, he has found an emphasis on patient centered family care and steadfast dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion. Outside of medicine, Caio enjoys staying connected to family, spending time with his dog “Franklin,” and a practice of mindfulness and physical activity.

Blerona Shaipi, MD

Blerona Shaipi Blerona is a graduate of the Medical University of Tirana, Albania. She speaks Albanian, Serbian and Spanish. Her clinical interests are hospital medicine, preventive care and chronic disease management. Within the Family Medicine Program at St. Mary, she has discovered a passion for building meaningful relationships through teamwork and a commitment to achieving long term wellness in the community it serves. Blerona enjoys travelling, hiking and spending time with family and friends.

Post Graduates Year 1

Davion Bartholomew, MD

Davion Bartholomew Davion graduated from The University of the West Indies in St. Augustine, Trinidad and has particular clinical interests in women’s health and palliative care. She chose St. Mary Family Medicine for residency training because the residents and faculty were incredibly genuine and warm; additionally, Davion was drawn to the beautiful healing gardens on the hospital campus: it instantly felt like “home.” To maintain resilience, she enjoys spending time with family, exploring Philly, or simply sleeping in late.

Ngozi Beremeh, MD

Ngozi Beremeh Following medical school at Madonna University College of Medicine in Nigeria, Ngozi moved to the Mid-Atlantic region to further her professional development and nurture her clinical interests in pain management and women’s health. The diversity within Family Medicine program at St. Mary first drew her in to the residency, but when she saw how supportive the faculty were in creating a resident centered learning experience and the Family Medicine Center’s commitment to serving the most vulnerable in the community she was sold! A budding chef in her spare time, Ngozi also loves nature walks with family. In addition to English, she speaks Ebo and Hausa.

Maryana Dendyak, MD

Maryana Dendyak Originally from Ukraine, Maryana attended Poznan University of Medicine Sciences in Poland for her medical education. Maryana is a polyglot, fluent in English, Ukrainian, Russian and Polish. Her clinical interests are wide reaching and include preventative care, lifestyle medicine and inpatient hospital care. Maryanna values a supportive learning environment and selected St. Mary Family Medicine for residency based upon the welcoming culture, emphasis on comprehensive Family Medicine and commitment to community service. She has three children who help her stay grounded, give her energy, and remind her to appreciate the simple joys in life.

Edwin Hernandez-Portillo, MD

Edwin Hernandez-Portillo Edwin came to St. Mary for the well-integrated educational environment focused on culturally sensitive holistic care following graduation from the University of El Salvador. His clinical interests include community medicine, sports medicine and continuity of care. Edwin is fluent in Spanish and has developing skill in Portuguese. When he is not taking care of patients, he enjoys playing soccer and tennis or traveling to historical places.

Peter Mensah, MD, MPH

Peter Mensah Peter attended the School of Medical Sciences at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He is fluent in Twi, a widely spoken language in Ghana especially in the southern half of the country. Peter has clinical interests in global health, hospital medicine and sports medicine. He was deeply drawn to the residency’s commitment to health equity which aligns perfectly with his own professional mission. Peter is an avid soccer fan and enjoys exercising to relieve stress and spending time with family.

Ted Montes, MD

Ted Montes A graduate of the University of Notre Dame d’Haiti Faculty of Medicine and Health Science in Port-au-Prince, Ted has strong clinical interests in Addiction Medicine and Geriatrics. He chose St. Mary for the diverse patient population, the supportive faculty and the camaraderie among residents which taken together was the absolute “right fit.” To stay grounded he enjoys staying active through basketball and cycling or spending time with family and friends, watching anime, playing video games and drawing.

Assal Nasir, DO

Assal Nasir Assal graduated from Drexel University in Philadelphia before entering medical school at the Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. She speaks Spanish and Arabic and decided on St. Mary Family Medicine Residency for her post graduate training because of the welcoming environment, diverse patient population, and dedication to the underserved. Her clinical interests center around community health and wellbeing. Assal is a tea afficionado and enjoys writing, gardening and listening to music to recharge.

Vanshani Patel, DO

Vanshani Patel Before medical school at Lake Eric College of Osteopathic Medicine, Vanshani was a student of science at Jefferson University. She speaks Gujarati and has specific clinic interests in preventative medicine, dermatology, and aesthetic practice. Vanshani selected residency at St. Mary because of the value the program places on continuity, collaboration, and treating every patient with dignity. She has a dog named “Boba” and stays resilient through art and travel.