Our Fellows

Mitchell McKinnon MD

Bio: I grew up in Oregon and after high-school have moved all over the country. After college I joined the Army and I was spread between the southern states and Washington. Medical school took me to St. Maarten in the Caribbean and completed clinical years in Miami, Florida, the Northeast and England. Most recently I spent the last years completing a medical residency in Kansas City, Kansas. I am lucky that my wife and twin daughters have followed me all this way! Now we live in a comfortable apartment in the heart of Syracuse so I can walk to work. In my free time the family and I explore the city and surrounding parks, visit a restaurant or play a round of golf at one of the many local courses.

Hometown: Lake Oswego, OR
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean, St. Maarten
Pediatric Residency: University of Kansas
Hobbies: Piano, golf
Interests: Simulation, ultrasound

Phil Mackewicz MD

Bio: Growing up in New Jersey, I always liked having the balance of access to city life and ability to do things outdoors. Syracuse luckily offers the same thing which is part of the reason why sticking around for fellowship was a no-brainer. I love having the choice to go out downtown at a restaurant or being able to drive 30 minutes or less to a local ski mountain or hiking trail. While at work, I enjoy guiding residents through the pediatric ER and the wide array of patients that Upstate sees. Outside of work I typically spend time with my partner as we plan our next international vacation or spend time with a group of friends for a game night.

Hometown: Long Valley, NJ
Medical School: St. George's University
Pediatric Residency: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Hobbies: Skiing, baking, hiking, fitness classes, Netflix binges, going out to eat at new restaurants, boating, traveling
Interests: Risk Stratification of Head Injuries in pediatric patients, early recognition and treatment of acute asthma exacerbation in the ER, global medicine and international medical trips

Adrienne Cheng MD

Bio: I grew up in Canada and quickly left in favor of jumping around between countries; I’ve landed in the US, England, and Grenada in my quest for education and adventure. Syracuse is a great place to live and to learn: it offers a fantastic mix of city-centered activities and nature-bound ones, both of which are reflected in the huge variety in patient presentations in the ED. My days off are spent finding and trying new activities, playing games (board or video!), and looking for animals to pet.

Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Medical School: St. George’s University, Grenada
Pediatric Residency: Staten Island University Hospital
Hobbies: Baking, snowboarding, trampoline, horseback riding, video games, general tomfoolery
Interests: Procedural pain management, global medicine

Kathryn Keenan

Bio: I am from upstate New York and love the area with all its breweries, apple orchards and hiking. There are lots of wonderful outdoor spaces to explore around Syracuse. The city and the surround suburbs are very affordable, and it’s a great place to raise my son. I was able to meet the PEM faculty here during my medical school training and was thrilled to be able to come back and learn from them.

Hometown: Albany, NY
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Pediatric Residency: University at Buffalo
Hobbies: Rock climbing, running, skiing and board games
Interests: Medical education, Ultrasound

Ahkil 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

Dane Nickel MD

Bio: I am from a small hamlet in rural southwestern Ontario. I moved to the closest city to attend The University of Western Ontario where I received my BMSc with a Specialization in Microbiology and Immunology. After, I caught a flight south to the island of Dominica for Medical school. I was able to travel and explore during medical school before arriving in Upstate NY for residency. I quickly felt at home surrounded by friendly people and great access to hiking and outdoor adventures. I stayed on as a 4th year Chief Resident before coming to Syracuse for fellowship. I am excited to explore the central NY area and get to know the local community.

Hometown: Port Albert, ON, Canada
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Pediatric Residency: Albany Medical Center
Hobbies: Hiking, Skiing, traveling, exploring new places, game nights and hanging out with friends and family
Interests: LGBTQ+ youth health, global medicine, POC Ultrasound, sedation, disaster medicine, wilderness medicine

Alumni

2021

Timothy Bright MD

2020

Kayla Dueland-Kuhn MD

2019

2018

MD