The Division of Nephrology is proud to announce the results of the 2019-2020 National Resident Matching Program. Below are our five new nephrology fellows, who will be joining the division on July 1, 2019. A record holder Javelin thrower, an avid runner, an evolutionary biology buff, a traveler, and a self-proclaimed “nerd” – the new nephrology fellows will bring not only an enthusiasm for nephrology to our division, but also a lot of personality! We look forward to getting to know each of them this coming summer.
Gonzalo Matzumura, MD
Gonzalo Matzumura, MD, received his medical degree in 2014 from the Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia Facultad de Medicina Alberto Hurtado in Lima, Peru. He subsequently became Assistant to the Dean of Medical Education at the university, and worked as a Hospitalist at Clinica San Felipe, a private hospital in Lima. Gonzalo is currently a resident at McGovern Medical School at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston, TX. His interest in research has resulted in two peer-reviewed published articles, an article published in an on-line journal, and six poster presentations. Volunteer activities include working at the Houston Food Bank and being part of the UTHealth in Medical Jeopardy Team competing in local and regional meetings. Back in Peru, he served as a volunteer physician at Hogar de la Madre, a shelter in Lima for vulnerable teenage mothers and their children. He also volunteered as a Little League baseball coach in an inner city neighborhood of Lima; the program’s objective was to keep young children interested in sports and out of criminal gangs.
Gonzalo was a three-time Youth National Champion in Javelin throw.
As for hobbies and interests, Gonzalo enjoys baseball, tennis, coaching Little League baseball, running, playing the violin and guitar, movie editing and cooking. He also practiced the Javelin throw; he was the Peruvian Youth National Record Holder in Javelin throw (2006), and a three-time Youth National Champion in Javelin throw (2004-2006). As a future nephrology fellow here at Washington University, Gonzalo says, “I want to learn from the best educators, and in doing so, raise awareness to all regarding kidney disease. I want to learn the art of providing genuine compassionate care, while mastering the complex pathophysiology of nephrology.” Follow Gonzalo on Twitter @GMatzumura.
Maggie Meier, MD
Maggie Meier, MD, received an undergraduate degree in Exercise Science from St. Louis University, MO, in 2012 and obtained her medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica in 2016. She is currently a Chief resident at St. Luke’s Hospital in St. Louis. Maggie has been involved in multiple research projects. She participated in a Quality Initiative project that investigated achievement of HbA1c goals and implemented a customized intervention strategy to improve glycemic control in diabetic patients in a resident-run outpatient clinic in St. Louis. Currently, she has completed a review of all acute kidney injuries associated with elective percutaneous coronary intervention, and is in the process of implementing a renal protective protocol in their Cardiac Cath lab. Maggie has a published peer-reviewed article in Emergency Medicine and has had six poster presentations. As a volunteer, she is currently on St. Luke’s Hospital Quality Control Committee, provides medical counseling at St. Luke’s Hospital Day of Dance program, and as an Alumni Ambassador, provides mentorship to prospective, incoming and current students at Ross University. In medical school, as a Mission Trip Volunteer, Maggie provided healthcare to the indigenous Kalingo Tribe, set up a free clinic for members of the community and participated in semester 5k run fundraisers. Maggie is an avid runner, enjoys traveling, and spending time with family and friends. As a nephrology fellow here at Washington University, Maggie says, “I want to work closely with my patients and make a positive impact on their lives, and in the process become a better physician myself.”
Blessing Osondu, MD
Blessing Osondu, MD, received her medical degree from Lugansk State Medical University in Ukraine in 2013. She is currently a resident at Atlanticare Regional Medical Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey. At the end of her second year of residency, Blessing received the Academic Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding academic performance. She volunteers at the Simulation Lab in Atlantic City, which provides a hands-on environment through the use of a sim man to help residents learn to handle a variety of scenarios they will encounter during their practice. Blessing is also a volunteer on several committees: the Continuing Medical Education Committee, the Morbidity and Mortality Committee, and the Patient Safety Committee. She is involved with feeding the homeless through the Atlanticare mission health community engagement, and mentors grade 3-4 and high school students at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic School in Atlantic City. She was the event organizer for Save a Child’s Heart in Lugansk, Ukraine.
Blessing enjoying the view on one of her runs.
Blessing is first author on two posters presented at Residents Research Day in Atlantic City in 2018, and as first author gave five oral presentations in 2017-2018. Off-time activities include teaching, tennis, exercising, traveling, hiking, writing, cooking, knitting, painting, dancing, and enjoying nature on her outdoor runs. About her upcoming move to Washington University, Blessing says, “In my journey through life, I have moved from Nigeria, the place of my birth, through Thailand, South Korea, Ukraine, and now the United States. In all these places I have obtained knowledge and gained experiences that have made me who I am today. I now look forward to the next phase of my life – becoming a Nephrologist.” Follow Blessing on Twitter @blessingtim8965.
Sana Javeed Shaikh, MD
Sana Javeed Shaikh, MD, obtained her medical degree from B.J. Medical College in Pune, India in 2014 and is currently a Chief Resident at SSM St. Mary’s Hospital in St. Louis. In 2018, Sana was a visiting resident at the Division of Nephrology here at Washington University, where she completed a four-week rotation through our inpatient General Nephrology service and inpatient Renal Transplant service. Sana has one published article, another manuscript has been submitted and accepted, two have been submitted and are under review, and another is pending submission. Sana’s volunteer experience includes work with the Rotaract Club of the Caduceus in Mumbai, India, which reaches out to underprivileged populations and helps them take charge of their own health. She was also involved with Pragati in Pune, India. Pragati is a rural development project in which she helped with family planning and contraception awareness camps, polio vaccination programs for children and blood donation drives. She speaks English, Hindi, Marathi, French and Urdu. Sana enjoys traveling, photography, swimming, kayaking, hiking and reading fictional novels. She likes to write/blog, is an amateur mountain biker and snowboarder, and is a self-proclaimed “nerd.” On returning to our division as a nephrology fellow, Sana says, “I look forward to working with and learning from a devoted faculty and a diversity of fellows. I aspire to see a sundry of medical conditions and to bear patient responsibility both independently and as part of a team. I am certain that pursuing a Nephrology fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine will make all of this achievable.” You can follow Sana on Instagram @sanajs and Twitter @always_oncall.