Archive for category: People Profiles

Marc El Khoury, MD, (PGY 2; Internal Medicine) describes medicine as the lifelong pursuit of both scientific excellence and human connection.

Dr. El Khoury’s inspiration to pursue medicine—and, especially, cardiology—began with his grandfather, who, despite experiencing multiple heart attacks, lived to be 100 years old. Thanks to the power of modern cardiovascular medicine, Dr. El Khoury says, he was still tending to his garden, still full of life, when he passed. Seeing how evidence-based interventions could preserve not just life but quality of life sparked Dr. El Khoury’s passion for the science behind clinical care.

“At the same time, what left a lasting imprint,” he says, “was how my grandfather’s physicians cared for him in his final days—with compassion, clarity, and humanity. Their presence ensured his passing was peaceful and dignified, surrounded by loved ones. That experience taught me that medicine isn’t only about advancing knowledge; it’s also about building trust and showing up for patients and their families in moments that matter most.”

Dr. El Khoury, who is originally from Byblos, Lebanon, and lived in the United Kingdom for 10 years before moving to the U.S., says MedStar Health’s motto of “One Team” is something he sees his colleagues at MedStar Washington Hospital Center live out every day.

“The culture of continuous improvement and constructive feedback has also been key to helping me thrive both as a physician and as part of a team—everyone is encouraged to grow and collaborate in a non-judgmental way,” he says.

Likewise, Dr. El Khoury encourages incoming interns, residents, and fellows to not be shy in asking for advice and collaborating with their new colleagues. This has made his own learning experience even more rewarding over the last two years. “The sense of connection with my team, and the trust we build in one another, makes the journey not only educational, but personally fulfilling as well.”

When he’s not immersed in medicine, Dr. El Khoury finds fulfillment in activities like cooking, running, weightlifting, painting, and traveling to new places. He also appreciates opportunities to socialize with his co-residents outside of work—whether it be an educational outing, cooking in each other’s homes, or playing pickleball or squash—taking part in activities that help him to create a healthy work-life balance and navigate the challenges of residency.

Edwin Mayah, DrPH, (GME Administrator I for the Neurology Department at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital) has built his career in healthcare around a deep passion for advocacy, mentorship, and systemic change. Edwin began his career at a nonprofit organization overseeing healthcare programs for uninsured individuals and contributed to establishing health centers that standardized mental health screenings for minority Americans on Medicaid – a community that is recognized as one of the most vulnerable and underserved in the United States.

At MedStar Health, Edwin manages fellowships, residencies, and clerkships in Clinical Neurophysiology, Epilepsy, Headache Medicine, Multiple Sclerosis-Neuroimmunology, and Movement Disorders. Although his job responsibilities have shifted over the years, his core mission has stayed the same: advocating for equitable healthcare policies, fostering mentorship, and ensuring underrepresented voices are heard.

He is the primary point of contact for residents, fellows, faculty, and institutional leadership, managing day-to-day operations including scheduling, recruitment, evaluations, and onboarding processes. He ensures compliance with the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and institutional guidelines; manages documentation for site visits, audits, and annual program reviews; coordinates key committees; maintains trainee records; and tracks duty hours and milestones. These responsibilities, though extensive, barely scratch the surface of his role.

Serving others comes naturally to Edwin – his personality is ideally suited for guiding young physicians through a rigorous yet rewarding program.

“What I enjoy most about my work in graduate medical education is supporting the learners (residents, fellows, and medical students) in navigating their medical education and seeing them grow into skilled, quality clinicians, which has been extremely rewarding,” he says.

While Edwin’s job provides immense purpose and meaning, he is candid about the realities of working in medical education. It requires resilience, dedication, and more than a standard level of commitment to succeed. He openly acknowledges the long hours, the struggle to achieve work-life balance, and the continuous learning required. Medical education, he stresses, is not merely academic, it is a full-time responsibility involving considerable sacrifice.

“People often see the prestige of being a doctor but don’t always recognize the grueling journey, sacrifices, and personal toll that come with medical training.”

Outside of work, Edwin deeply values spending quality time with loved ones and engaging in activities that recharge him. Among his favorite activities is attending his son’s football practices and games, finding great joy in watching him grow, learn, and demonstrate commitment to his team. Edwin is also the creator and host of “The Conversation: Outspoken & Opinionated,” a syndicated podcast known for keeping discussions real, raw, and unapologetically honest. Listeners can catch the podcast exclusively on the ALIVE Podcast Network, YouTube TV, Facebook TV, Apple Podcasts, and other popular podcast platforms.

For Flavia Tejada Frisancho, MD, (PGY 2; Internal Medicine), leaving her home country of Peru to pursue her dreams may not have been easy. But every challenge has made her stronger, she says, and she hopes to inspire others—especially women and minorities in medicine—to chase their goals fearlessly.

Medicine has always been a part of Dr. Tejada Frisancho’s life and her family’s story. Her grandfather, a surgeon, met her grandmother, a scrub nurse, right in the operating room. And Dr. Tejada Frisancho was born during her parents own medical residencies—her mom’s in ophthalmology and her dad’s in oncology/head and neck surgery. (“Honestly, I have no idea how they managed—shoutout to all the parents going through residency!” she adds.)

Seeing firsthand the impact her parents had on their patients, Dr. Tejada Frisancho knew she wanted to dedicate her life to something just as meaningful. She says the cherry on top was getting to apply science—her favorite subject—to real life in the most impactful way.

“I always thought I would follow in my family’s footsteps and pursue a surgical specialty. After all, surgery is practically in my DNA,” she says. “But during medical school, everything changed when I rotated through internal medicine, especially critical care and cardiology.”

Dr. Tejada Frisancho loved the critical thinking required in internal medicine and, sometimes, the opportunity to play detective. She also liked the chance to build long-term relationships with her patients and advocate for them throughout their journey.

Dr. Tejada Frisancho says the unwavering support from her program, mentors, and colleagues has helped her succeed at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She appreciates that MedStar Health encourages growth and innovation, whether through hands-on learning, participating in committees, or engaging with diverse patient populations, and she’s eager to pursue opportunities to be more involved this year.

“I believe that leadership and advocacy are essential in medicine, and I Iook forward to finding ways to contribute beyond clinical care,” she says.

Along with her residency program’s book club, Dr. Tejada Frisancho is currently reading “The Picture of Dorian Gray” by Oscar Wilde. “It explores vanity and the consequences of unchecked ambition—something that can even resonate in medicine at times!” she says. When she’s away from the hospital, Dr. Tejada Frisancho also enjoys painting and loves to explore art galleries and discover local artists.

Abigail Solorio, MD, (PGY 2; Family Medicine) encourages her fellow residents to embrace the learning process and to remember that the experiences that may feel like setbacks are often the ones that propel you forward.

She also stresses the importance of keeping patients at the center of everything you do.

“A lot of the learning comes not only from our attendings but our patients as well. It’s not just about the medical knowledge, but rather about understanding your patients’ stories—connecting with them and helping them navigate a healthcare system that can sometimes feel impersonal and disconnected.”

Growing up in a Spanish-speaking household in Phoenix, Arizona, Dr. Solorio observed the language and cultural barriers that many people face when seeking medical care. She also came to understand the challenges faced by vulnerable populations, particularly those without access to quality medical care.

“These valuable insights fueled my desire to become a physician—someone who could be a voice for people like my family, my neighbors, and my community,” she explains.

Dr. Solorio enjoys building relationships with her patients, navigating their challenges together, and empowering them to take control of their health. As a bilingual family medicine physician, she’s thankful for her ability to communicate with patients in their native language, which she says fosters a level of trust and understanding that can be the difference between a successful treatment plan and a missed diagnosis.

In her role as education chief for the MedStar Health—Georgetown/Washington Hospital Center Residency Program in Family Medicine, Dr. Solorio organizes weekly didactic sessions for residents and medical students. She also works closely with faculty to promote wellness and create a learning environment where residents feel comfortable sharing challenges and successes.

“Prioritizing mental health and well-being is something we must be intentional about,” she says. “Making space for rest, reflection, and open conversations about well-being allows us to stay connected to the passion that brought us into medicine.”

Dr. Solorio uses her time off to recharge and experience the world outside of work. Sometimes this means relaxing on a beach somewhere or traveling to a new city or country. Other times, it’s discovering a new workout studio in D.C., taking a Pilates or boxing class, or enjoying the peace and quiet of a museum like the National Portrait Gallery.

For Hannah Gaynier, MD, (PGY 2; Pediatrics) it was a passion for public health that led her to medicine. Fewer barriers and greater access to care, especially for the pediatric population, are on her wish list for the future. “Healthcare within all school systems is a dream of mine,” she says.

She also craved a career where she could develop personal relationships, like those physicians are able to establish with their patients. Now in her second year of residency at MedStar Georgetown, Dr. Gaynier appreciates the perspective that her patients provide.

“Even in the more difficult times, pediatric patients always seem to find ways—like a silly drawing they’re proud to show off—to remind providers of the all the joy that exists.”

Away from the hospital, Dr. Gaynier finds perspective by being outside, and she says nature is an important balance to the clinical setting.

“A walk in Rock Creek Park is all my mind needs sometimes to remember that a whole life exists outside of residency,” she says.

She likes to remind her colleagues to maintain perspective, too. Dr. Gaynier encourages her fellow residents at MedStar Health that no one expects them to be an expert on everything. “Give yourself permission to admit to yourself (and sometimes even to your patients) that you are uncertain. And use that uncertainty as a motivator to learn more,” she says.

Dr. Gaynier’s interest in learning doesn’t just apply to her day job. She also loves to bake and enjoys testing out new recipes from her favorite baking blogs on her (very lucky and, likely, very willing!) colleagues at least once a month. “Fortunately, my residency program has agreed to be my guinea pigs!”