Third Year Fellows
Akhil Vaid, MD
Bio: I am from Long Island, New York, but have spent big chunks of time all over the New York state. My wife and I recently bought our first house in the Syracuse area. We’re looking forward to exploring the city and are so thrilled at the warm welcome we have received. My free time is primarily spent planning road trips and sneaking in quick five minute chess games between errands. I also love grilling and big cooking projects that I only sometimes finish.
Hometown: Old Westbury, NY
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Pediatric Residency: Stony Brook Children’s hospital
Hobbies: Cooking, chess, board games, and NBA basketball
Interests: Toxicology, ultrasound
Samantha Ribeiro, MD
Bio: I was born in NYC, raised in FL, and went to college in upstate NY. Thanks to my medical education I have spent time in the Caribbean, NYC, and Buffalo over the past years. I fell in love with upstate NY during my college years and was eager to return to the area for fellowship. Overall, I loved all the people that interviewed me and truly felt that I would get a great education at this program. Outside of the hospital, I love going to see live music, running, and exploring new places to eat or drink.
Hometown: Salt Point, NY
Medical School: St. George’s University
Pediatric Residency: University at Buffalo
Hobbies: Attending concerts, running, cooking, rock climbing, playing with puppies, general tomfoolery
Interests: Medical Education
Second Year Fellows
Ooha Kambhampati, DO
Bio: I grew up close to Utica, NY. I always loved this area and knew I wanted to come back, especially for the Utica Coffee. I went to SUNY Geneseo where I met my husband. After several years in Long Island and NYC, we decided to move back to this amazing area to be closer to family. We’ve loved this area so far exploring all the new restaurants, hiking trails and wineries!
Hometown: New Hartford, NY
Medical School: NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pediatric Residency: NYU Winthrop
Hobbies: Running, Tennis, Knitting, Playing with my new puppy
Interests: Simulation, Steroid Use in Asthma
First Year Fellows
Lexi Sirota Holtman, DO
Bio: I am from Long Island, NY. I didn’t travel very far for medical school. This is where I met my husband who also completed his residency at SUNY Upstate in Emergency Medicine. Fortunately, he brought me to this beautiful area where I got to complete my residency in pediatrics and now gratefully doing my fellowship with the most amazing group of physicians. Not only are the people great but the surrounding area is amazing and you get to go on hikes, drink at local breweries and swim in the waters of all the finger lakes.
Hometown: East Rockaway, NY
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - Middletown
Pediatric Residency: SUNY Upstate
Hobbies: Exercising (currently Orange Theory), kickball, pickleball, walking my dog, eating (especially sushi), traveling and going down to Long Island to see my family
Interests: Ultrasound, procedures, sedation
Mark Paquette, DO
Bio: I grew up in Taunton, Massachusetts but moved to Albany in my senior year of highschool. I got my Bachelor's in Microbiology at Albany College of Pharmacy in Health Sciences and then moved to Lynchburg, Virginia for my Master's in Biomedical Sciences and Medical School at Liberty University. I'm very excited to join the team here at Upstate because I've always loved teaching and working with learners! I worked as a tutor in undergrad, and spent a year in medical school between pre-clinical and clinical years as a teaching fellow. Getting to sub-specialize in pediatrics is amazing and I'm so excited to help kids and parents feel better and act as the first face of the hosptial for their visit!
Hometown: Guilderland, New York
Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Mediicne
Emergency Medicine Residency: Albany Medical College
Hobbies: Working out (Currently at Metabolic in Camillus, was previously at that gym back in Albany!), Hiking, Volleyball (need to find a league out here!).
Stephen Lucas, MD
Bio: I’m a lifelong resident of Upstate New York and have always felt a strong connection to this region. I completed both medical school and emergency medicine residency at Upstate Medical University. Outside of work, I enjoy listening to vinyl records, hiking, and camping in the beautiful local parks and trails.
Hometown: Palmyra, NY
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Emergency Medicine Residency: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Hobbies: Listening to vinyl, Hiking, Camping
Interests: Medical Education