Current Residents

Eva Berlin, MD

I grew up in Concord, Massachusetts, where my childhood was underscored by a fascination with foreign cultures and languages. This propelled me to live in Chile my junior year of high school. I continued to pursue opportunities to study abroad during college, and spent semesters in India and France. I completed my undergraduate degree at Brandeis University, with a major in International and Global Studies with a minor in French and Francophone studies. I later attended medical school at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where I dedicated a year to research in lung, breast and palliative radiation. I completed my internship in the Department of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before joining the Department of Radiation Oncology. My current research is in breast and gynecologic malignancies and the acute and late toxicities of cancer treatment to those disease sites, with a focus on proton radiotherapy. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring Philly’s historic neighborhoods and parks with my husband and two sons.

Sana Dastgheyb, MD, PhD

I grew up in Virginia where I went to college to study Biomedical Engineering at the University of Virginia before completing my MD and PhD at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. Before joining the Penn Radiation Oncology Department, I completed my Medical Internship at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. My medical and research interests are in palliative radiation therapy, photodynamic therapy, and non-oncologic applications of radiation therapy. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking, spending time with my family, and participating in local Philadelphia quizzo nights.

William Su, MD

I grew up in Cary, North Carolina and then moved up north to attend Columbia University as a Science Research Fellow and for my undergraduate degree in biochemistry. I stayed in New York for medical school and attended the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. I completed my internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. My academic interests have included investigating head and neck cancers and better characterizing recurrences. During my free time, I enjoy spinning, running, skiing, and exploring new places in Philly with my dog.  

Jacob Trotter, MD

Chief Education Officer

I was born in Portland, Oregon and raised in beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada. I completed my undergraduate studies in Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT following which I worked for a year performing thermodynamic research. I then took my family to Durham, North Carolina where I attended Duke University School of Medicine where I performed clinical research in stereotactic body radiation therapy for lung cancer and image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery for brain arteriovenous malformations. Prior to joining Penn's Department of Radiation Oncology, I completed an intern year in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. My current research interest includes oncology-related imaging in particular nuclear and molecular imaging and their use in radiation oncology treatment planning. With this interest I was accepted to the Penn Radiation Oncology Career Development Imaging Sciences Track. I also am passionate about education and have worked to develop a  leadership, wellness, and profession development curriculum for our residents. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my amazing wife, dancing around my kitchen with my two energetic daughters and son as well as playing guitar, tennis, darts, ping-pong, softball, bowling and reading leadership and personal development books.

Nikhil Yegya-Raman, MD

Chief Resident

I grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ, and received my undergraduate degree in chemistry from Princeton University. Subsequently, I attended medical school at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson, where I spent a dedicated year performing clinical research in lung and gastrointestinal cancers. Prior to joining the Department of Radiation Oncology, I completed an internship in the Department of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, I enjoy running, racket sports, cycling, and watching the Sixers/Eagles.

David Arsanious, MD

I grew up in Toledo, OH, and received my undergraduate degree from The Ohio State University where I majored in Molecular Genetics. After graduating, I moved to Burlington, VT to attend medical school at the Robert Larner, M.D. College of Medicine at the University of Vermont. Following medical school, I completed two years of Neurosurgery residency before deciding to change my specialty and enter the Radiation Oncology residency program at Penn. During my time in Neurosurgery, my research focused on Gamma Knife Radiosurgery for arteriovenous malformations, neurofibromatosis type 2-associated meningiomas, and glioblastoma. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, photography, and discovering new foods.

Monica Chelius, MD

I grew up in the greater Philadelphia area and received my undergraduate degree from Duke University, where I majored in Evolutionary Biology, minored in music, and was a die hard Duke Basketball fan. After graduation I worked as a research associate in MSKCC’s radiation oncology department on the lymphoma service. Working with this team spurred my interest in radiation oncology, where I worked on a range of projects including toxicity and outcomes analyses of very low dose radiation in indolent lymphomas, Langerhan's Cell Histiocytosis, and NK/T-cell lymphoma.

I then moved to Hanover N.H. and received my M.D. from Dartmouth. Prior to joining the Department of Radiation Oncology, I completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy hiking with my husband and our husky (Rio), skiing, trying out new recipes and inviting any family and friends over who are willing to try them. 

Michelle Iocolano, MD

Chief Resident

I grew up in Queens, New York, and received my undergraduate degree in Psychology from the State University of New York at Geneseo. I then completed a Masters's degree in Psychology at the New School for Social Research. Following graduate school, I joined the Department of Psychology and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), where I investigated methods by which various media and technology can be utilized to improve quality of life during and after cancer treatment. I then enrolled in the Stony Brook School of Medicine during which time I completed a research fellowship at MSKCC studying outcomes of postoperative radiation treatment on patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer. Prior to joining Penn’s Radiation Oncology Department, I completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. I have an interest in clinical trial development, locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer and novel applications of virtual reality to improve the patient experience. Outside of work, I enjoy trying new restaurants and spending time with my husband and our greyhounds, Norman and Charlie.

Cecilia Jiang, MD

I grew up in Edison, NJ, and later attended the University of Chicago, where I studied Biological Sciences. Afterward, I spent a year working as a hospitalist scribe at home before venturing south to Emory University School of Medicine. During that time, I was involved in clinical research projects on radiation treatment outcomes in prostate cancer, metastatic melanoma, and pancreatic cancer. Before joining Penn's Radiation Oncology Department, I completed my internship year at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, I enjoy picnicking at the park, trying croissants from local bakeries, and visiting used bookstores. 

Emily MacDuffie, MD

I was born in Ambler, Pennsylvania but grew up in beautiful Cape Elizabeth, Maine. I returned to Pennsylvania to attend Swarthmore College where I majored in Biology. Prior to attending medical school at Brown University, I lived in Botswana studying cervical cancer in patients with HIV as well as worked in a lab focusing on growth signaling in ovarian cancer. I continued these interests through medical school, dedicating a year as a Howard Hughes Medical Institute fellow to explore the impact of aneuploidy on oncogenesis. I completed my internship in the Department of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before joining the Department of Radiation Oncology. My academic interests include global oncology, virally-associated cancers, and palliative radiation. Outside of work, I enjoy running in the Wissahickon with my dog Bea, baking treats for friends and colleagues, and exploring Philly’s fantastic food scene with my husband. 

Zayne Belal, MD

I grew up in Baytown, TX and later attended the University of Southern California where I played Water Polo and finished a Degree in Social Sciences & Economics.  I returned to Texas and completed another degree in Physics (emphasis in Health Physics) at Texas Southern University (TSU). During my time at TSU, I completed a summer internship at PENN in the Radiation Physics Department where we studied Proton beam characteristics using acoustic measurements. Following Graduation, I worked as a research assistant at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Radiation Physics Department where we investigated radiation induced lymphopenia. I then completed medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center in Lubbock, TX. Before Joining Penn’s Radiation Oncology Department, I completed my internship year at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of work, I enjoy grilling with friends and family, Movies/TV, and exploring Philadelphia’s wonderful food scene. 

Cole Friedes, MD

I grew up in Jacksonville, FL and received my undergraduate degree from Florida State University, where I studied biochemistry. I then pursued my medical degree at the University of Central Florida, in sunny Orlando. During medical school I spent a dedicated year of research with the Thoracic Department of Radiation Oncology at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. During that time I focused on the role of local ablative therapies in the treatment of oligoprogressive and oligometastatic lung cancers and mitigating patient reported financial toxicity. Prior to joining the Department of Radiation Oncology, I completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. My research interests include prospective clinical trials, thoracic malignancies, and treatment of low-volume metastatic disease. When not at work you can find me playing chess, exploring the fantastic Philly restaurant scene, learning about wine, cooking, playing disc golf, and relaxing with my wife. 

Casey Hollawell, MD

I'm originally from Orefield, PA, a small town about an hour and a half north of Philadelphia. I stayed fairly local for college at Lehigh University where I studied biology and minored in business. I moved to Philadelphia after graduating college for a post-bac program at Temple University School of Medicine, where I then stayed for the following four years for Medical School. During that time, I began research in radiation oncology, primarily focusing on hypofractionation in the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas. I was able to work with my mentor in clinic as well and fell in love with the specialty. Prior to joining the Department of Radiation Oncology, I completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. Outside of the hospital, I love trying new restaurants within Philadelphia's abundant food scene, traveling (mostly to try new food!), and trying new exercise classes.

Abigail Pepin, MD

I grew up in Colorado and completed my undergraduate training at George Washington University, where I majored in Chemistry and Environmental Studies. During undergrad, I worked in a medicinal chemistry lab to develop novel agents to combat tuberculosis and malaria. After graduation, I enrolled in the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. While living in Washington, D.C., I worked with the Georgetown University Department of Radiation Medicine on a number of projects investigating toxicity and quality of life in men undergoing radiation therapy for treatment of their prostate cancer. Prior to starting Radiation Oncology training, I completed my intern year in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. My academic interests include patient-reported outcomes and quality of life metrics, palliative radiation, and hereditary cancers. In my free time, I enjoy travelling, skiing, spending time with my cat, cooking, and binging Netflix shows.

Jonathan Baron, MD

I was born and raised in Hidalgo, Mexico and moved to Green Bay, Wisconsin for high school. I received my undergraduate degree from Princeton University, where I studied molecular biology. I then pursued my medical degree at the University of Pennsylvania. During my time in medical school, I became involved in radiation oncology research with the lymphoma research team. I was involved in projects that explored the role of bridging radiation before CAR-T cell therapy and the role of low dose radiotherapy for orbital lymphomas. Prior to joining the Department of Radiation Oncology, I completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. When not at work you can find me playing and watching soccer, listening to reggaetón, exploring the Philly food scene, and watching movies/ TV shows with my wife.  

Melanie Berger, MD

I grew up between Baltimore and Washington D.C. in Clarksville, Maryland. I then moved to Williamsburg, Virginia and studied Chemistry at the College of William & Mary. After college, I returned to Maryland and spent a year working as an emergency medicine scribe before beginning medical school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM). While at UMSOM, I found the field of radiation oncology and conducted clinical research projects on gynecologic brachytherapy and esophageal cancer outcomes. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy attending local trivia nights, starting (and usually finishing) new knitting and crochet projects, playing intramural softball, and running along the Schuylkill.

Ian Messing, MD

I grew up in Miami, FL and followed a nontraditional path to medicine. I received my undergraduate and Master's degrees in finance and accounting from the University of Miami. My first career was in Public Accounting, focused on international taxation and merger and acquisition tax planning. After a change of heart I decided to pursue a career in medicine. I enrolled in a Post-Baccalaureate program at the University of Miami, followed by a medical degree at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, DC. I completed my internship in the Department of Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before joining the Department of Radiation Oncology. My academic interests include health economics, palliative radiation, and patient-reported quality of life metrics and outcomes. During my free time I enjoy running, golfing, exploring new restaurants, rooting for the University of Miami Hurricanes, and playing with my two cats, Fennel and Chai.

Matthew Riina, MD

I grew up in Trumbull, CT and received my undergraduate degree from Northeastern University where I majored in Behavioral Neuroscience and had the opportunity to conduct drug discovery and development research with Moderna Therapeutics and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. I remained with my lab at DFCI for a year after graduation, focusing on developing cytometry-based assays to characterize the effects of novel cancer immunotherapeutics. I then went on to obtain my medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine. Prior to joining the Department of Radiation Oncology, I completed an internship in Internal Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. When not at work you can find me spending time with family, grilling, golfing, or embarking on an overly ambitious DIY project.