Friends, family and colleagues recently gathered to celebrate the Johns Hopkins Medicine Department of Radiology’s graduating residency classes of 2026. The new graduates of the Diagnostic Radiology, Interventional Radiology and Nuclear Medicine programs were honored during a ceremony at The Johns Hopkins Hospital on June 16. 

Jenny Hoang, interim chair of the Department of Radiology, began the festivities.

In her welcoming remarks, she congratulated the graduates, noting, “You have completed one of the most challenging residency programs in one of the best medical systems in the world.” 

She continued by urging the residents to remain true to their values, including excellence, compassion, integrity and sense of purpose, as they embark on the next chapter of their careers.

She also encouraged them to take time to enjoy their journey. 

“Your life and career are not so much a ladder but a trail,” she said. “You have worked hard, so you certainly deserve to enjoy the trail.”

Erin Gomez, director of the Diagnostic Radiology and Molecular Imaging residency programs, also offered remarks to the residents she has worked closely alongside for the past four years.

“You can tell a lot about how someone was raised by observing their behavior when the going gets tough, she began, adding, “You can tell how a radiologist was raised by the same factors.” 

She went on to note that the class of 2026 began their residency in 2022, the same year she started as program director. 

“This group of residents and I grew up together,” she said. She offered personalized remarks to each of the graduates, detailing what lessons they had taught her along the way, from quiet strength to bringing joy to everything you do. 

Looking out affectionately at the group, she offered her congratulations, concluding, “Thank you for raising me and helping me grow. You will always have a home here with me at Hopkins.” 

Following her remarks, Gomez awarded certificates to the following graduates:  

Diagnostic Radiology Residency Graduates  

• Norman Atagu, M.D., is going on to a fellowship in advanced abdominal imaging at Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology. 
• Jeffrey Elsner, M.D., is going on to private practice. 
• Ezana Lulseged, M.D., is going on to a neuroradiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins. 
• Sarah Oberhelman, M.D., is going on to a fellowship in body MRI at Johns Hopkins. 
• Matthew Onimus, M.D., is going on to a fellowship in nuclear medicine at Johns Hopkins. 
• Kendrah Osei, M.D., is going on to a fellowship in breast imaging at Northwestern University. 
• Max Wrobbel, M.D., is going on to a fellowship in neuroradiology at Johns Hopkins. 
• Andrew Voter, M.D., Ph.D., is going on to a fellowship in nuclear medicine at the University of Wisconsin. 

Molecular Imaging Residency Graduate  

• Reza Shaghaghi, M.D., Ph.D., is going on to become faculty in nuclear medicine at Johns Hopkins.

Brian Holly, director of the Interventional Radiology Residency Program, was also on hand to honor the graduates of the that program.

In his remarks to the group, Holly thanked the residents for their hard work, noting, “I love working here, and the residents are the number one reason why.” 

He also encouraged them to continue striving for excellence, saying, “You guys have an awesome foundation, but don’t let it stop here.” 

Following his comments, Holly distributed certificates to the following graduates: 

Interventional Radiology Residency Graduates  

• Kunaal Bafna, M.D., is going on to private/academic practice at Mercy/St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital. 
• Ritam Chowdhury, M.D., is going on to a fellowship in nuclear medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. 
• Caleb Heiberger, M.D., is going to academic practice at Sanford Medical Center. 
• Capt. Tej Mehta, M.D., is going on to military/academic practice at Brooke Army Medical Center/San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium. 
• Frank Yuan, M.D., is going on to academic practice at University of California/Irvine Medical Center. 

Chief residents for the 2025–26 year were Andrew Voter (diagnostic), Sarah Oberhelman (diagnostic), Carolina Lugo-Fagundo (interventional), Tony Kim (interventional) and Reza Shaghaghi (molecular).   

Rising chief residents for the 2026–2027 year are Julia Fisher (diagnostic), Judy Fustok (diagnostic), Sasicha Manupatpong (interventional), Jacob Schick (interventional) and Matthew Ominus (molecular imaging). 

During the ceremony, the graduating residents also honored the following faculty mentors:  

• Javad Azadi, M.D., was recognized by Norman Atagu, M.D. and Kendrah Osei, M.D. 
• Mike A. Kraut, M.D., Ph.D., was recognized by Jeffrey Elser, M.D. 
• Atif Zaheer, M.D., was recognized by Ezana Lulseged, M.D. 
• Claire Brookmeyer, M.D., was recognized by Sarah Oberhelman, M.D., and Andrew Voter, M.D., Ph.D. 
• Ali Cahid Civelek, M.D., was recognized by Matthew Onimus, M.D. 
• Homeira Zahiri, M.D., was recognized by Max Wrobbel, M.D. 
• Seyed Ali Mosallaie, M.D., was recognized by Reza Shaghaghi, M.D., Ph.D. 

Other honors presented during the ceremony include the following awards:  

• Diagnostic Resident Educator of the Year: Matthew Onimus, M.D.  
• Diagnostic Fellow Educator of the Year: Andrew Simmerman, M.D.  
• Diagnostic Faculty Educator of the Year: Claire Brookmeyer, M.D. (receiving the award for a third consecutive year) 
• 2025 Radiology Resident Research Award: Andrew Voter, M.D., Ph.D.