Savita Dandapani, M.D., Ph.D.
Chief Resident
PGY-4
Dr. Dandapani is a PGY-4 radiation oncology resident at USC. She grew up in Colorado Springs, Colorado and earned her undergraduate degree at MIT. She remained in Massachusetts for medical school, completing her M.D./Ph.D. at Harvard University. Savita spent her internship year at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in Northern California before moving to Los Angeles for her residency at USC. In the field of radiation oncology, Savita is interested in understanding the molecular pathogenesis of cancer. Currently she is working on research projects involving brain tumors, specifically Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM).
Suzanne Sachsman, M.D.
PGY-4 Resident
Dr. Sachsman graduated from Brown University with a bachelor of science in chemical engineering. She received her M.D. from the Keck School of Medicine of USC in 2008. During medical school, she devoted one year to basic science research investigating molecular mechanisms of tumor escape as targets for cancer immunotherapy. She graduated with several honors including Dean’s Recognition, the Ray and Fern Wilson Scholarship award and the Christine Page Oncology Scholarship award. She completed her internship in Internal Medicine at the University of Hawaii. Her outside interests include travel and water sports.
Brenda Aika Shoo, M.D.
PGY-4 Resident
Dr. Shoo earned her bachelor of science degree in psychobiology cum laude from the University of Southern California. After receiving her M.D. from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, she went on to study ethnic differences in epidermal function and melanocyte biology, completing a Melanoma Clinical Research Fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco. Her research interests include vaccine therapies for recurrent pediatric tumors.
Aika grew up in Southern California. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, cooking, spinning and spending time with her husband, family and friends.
Ryan Abel, M.D.
PGY-3 Resident
Dr. Abel is a native of Southern California. He began his undergraduate studies at the University of California in San Diego, delaying his graduation to fulfill a two year mission. He returned to UC San Diego with a fluency in two languages, Portuguese and Spanish. He went on to complete his undergraduate education at Brigham Young University in Hawaii, graduating summa cum laude with a degree in biochemistry and mathematics. He subsequently took a one year position as a research associate, working on the development of cell signal transduction assays for drug discovery. In 2004 he started his first year at Loma Linda University Medical School, focusing on brain MRI imaging in pediatric heart transplant patients and cytokine profiles of irradiated cell cultures as research interests. He completed his PGY-1 internship in medicine at Loma Linda University Medical Center before coming to the University of Southern California for his residency in radiation oncology. He is the father of three young children and loves to spend his free time with them. His hobbies include any type of racquet sport, computers, piano, and he plays a solid game of chess.
Ying Zhang, M.D.
PGY-3 Resident
Dr. Zhang received his M.D. from Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago, IL, where his research interests included the improvement of the diagnosis and staging of GI cancers, and the post-operative application of brachytherapy meshes in early stage lung cancers. He earned his undergraduate degree in biomechanical engineering from Stanford University, where he applied mechanical engineering models to study the activity of bone cells. Ying grew up in Southern Indiana, where his parents still reside. In his free time, he enjoys running, photography, and cooking, and is an avid tennis, basketball, and automotive enthusiast.
Omar Ragab, M.D.
PGY-2
Resident
Dr. Ragab is a Southern California native and attended the University of Southern California for both his undergraduate and medical education. He completed his transitional year internship at Georgetown University Medical Center before returning to USC Keck School of Medicine and USC + Los Angeles County Medical Center for his residency in radiation oncology. Outside of the hospital, he takes advantage of Southern California weather by enjoying outdoors activities, such as surfing, basketball, and biking.
__________________________________________________________