Chief Residents 2021-2022
Green Firm Chief
Deep Sangani, MD
Hometown: Loris, SC
Undergraduate and Major: Wofford College, Biology and Chemistry
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Career Goals: Cardiology
Why I Love Tulane IM: The people involved from the residents, coordinators, and faculty make Tulane IM an amazing place to train and grow as a clinician and educator
Favorite Part of New Orleans: Festivals bring life to this city year round. Whether it be any of the food festivals, Mardi gras, or Jazz Fest, these festival scenes bring people together in an unimaginable way.
Hobbies: Weightlifting, reading, and checking out live music in town
Blue Firm Chief
Leigh Deshotels, MD
Hometown: Lafayette, LA
Undergraduate and Major: LSU Baton Rouge, Animal Science
Medical School: LSU Health Shreveport
Career Goals: Hematology/oncology and geriatric oncology
Why I Love Tulane IM: The culture of our program is the reason I chose to come here! When I was interviewing here, I felt like I was joining a family. I wanted to be a part of an institution that supported me, both professionally and personally. Now after being here for more than three years, that couldn't be more true. The culture of Tulane really mirrors the culture New Orleans itself. No matter where you're from, we will take you in as our own.
Favorite Part of New Orleans: Food, festivals and the Saints!
Red Firm Chief
Rachel Shepard, MD
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Undergraduate and Major: University of Pennsylvania, Art History
Medical School: Tulane School of Medicine
Career Goals: Hospitalist
Why I Love Tulane IM: The people. I have made relationships in the past three years that reaffirm why I went into medicine. From my patients in my continuity clinic, to my co-residents, to all of the attendings I worked with, Being a part of the family at Tulane has not only given me an opportunity to discover what type of physician I want to be, but it has given me the tools to get there. As a former Tulane medical student, I picked this program because the residents who trained before me spoke so highly of their experience. Our faculty are very supportive.
Favorite thing about New Orleans: The people!! The food! Jazz Fest!
Hobbies: cooking, travel, the Saints, reality TV
Orange Firm Chief
Michael Conner, MD
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Medical School: LSU New Orleans
Career Goals: Gastroenterology and Hepatology
Why I Love Tulane IM: I chose Tulane IM for the camaraderie amongst the residents and staff as well as the comprehensive training across all specialties of internal medicine and the focus on resident autonomy.
Favorite Part of New Orleans: the city’s culture and the people that make it so unique, Saints games, endless festivals, delicious seafood, Audubon park and zoo
Hobbies: spending time with my family, running, biking, golf, UGA and Saints football
Yellow Firm Chief
Aimee Sutherland, MD
Hometown: California, MD
Undergraduate and Major: Virginia Tech; Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Career Goals: Allergy and Immunology, Academic Medicine
Favorite Part of Tulane: The camaraderie between residents! The program is very close-knit, and everyone is so supportive of each other. New Orleans and Tulane have become my home away from home!
Favorite Part of New Orleans: Hands down eating at all of the restaurants -- the food here is amazing and there are always new places to go try!
Hobbies: Baking, Cooking, Running, Barre, Watching Bravo TV
UMC Ambulatory Chief
Will Dickinson, MD
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Undergraduate and Major: LSU Baton Rouge, Microbiology
Medical School: Tulane School of Medicine
Career Goals: Primary Care Physician for the underserved
Why I Love Tulane IM: The sense of purpose. Residency is hard. It is the hardest thing many of us have had to do thus far. The reason I love Tulane IM and is what you do matters here. There is a sense of fulfillment that makes resident life just a little bit easier. New Orleans is truly a wonderful place to live, but the patients here are the sickest of the sick. At Tulane, it is part of our culture to care for those forgotten by a system that is inherently flawed. This program gives its residents the opportunity and the platform to become advocates for our city's most vulnerable populations. This mentality is shared amongst all of us, from the interns to attendings and it is that ideal energizes me every single day.
Favorite Part of New Orleans: The community. Within the week I first moved here, I knew most every neighbor on my block. Each of them found a way to come by and introduce themselves. This city finds a way of welcoming you in the best of ways. It won’t take long for you to forget you were from anywhere else.
VA Ambulatory Chief
Wren Fondren, MD
Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergraduate and Major: University of Texas at Austin, Plan II
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Career Goals: Primary Care, LGBTQ+ Medicine
Why I Love Tulane IM: The people here 1000% make it for me. Our residents truly embody the three biggest rules that make up our culture: show up, be honest, play as a team. I’ve seen our residents go above and beyond to look out for each other again and again through the Covid-19 pandemic and Hurricane Ida. Residency is hard, but when you’ve got a passionate, empathic, and caring team around you, it makes it fun, too. I came to New Orleans not knowing anybody, and now have a massive family.
Favorite Part of New Orleans: There’s so much I love about this city, but Mardi Gras season has to take the cake! The way the community comes together is beautiful, but on top of that you have the music, the parades, the throws, the costumes, the floats… and most importantly, the king cake culture. Everyone brings in king cakes from their favorite bakery for their team or firm or neighbors to share. My favorite is Dong Phuong’s!
Hobbies: trying out new restaurants, making costumes (so many parades and events year round!), D&D
VA Quality and Patient Safety Chief
Tameka Smith, MD
Hometown: Smithton, Tasmania, Australia and The Dalles, Oregon
Undergraduate and Major: University of Puget Sound, Biology
Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University
Career Goals: academic pulmonary and critical care
Favorite Part of Tulane IM: The people, the patients, the community, and the strong clinical training. You notice the family feel of the residency during your interview experience and that continued for me throughout residency. The community that we work in is largely underserved. We can have a big impact in patient lives. The community of New Orleans is like no other. My neighbors look out for each other, people are friendly, and you definitely feel that during Mardi Gras, it’s a community celebration. Additionally I saw great examples of strong clinician educators that trained at Tulane. Now that I have completed my residency I feel confident that I gained valuable skills that I’ll use in my career.
Favorite part of New Orleans: the food, the festivals, the people
