St. Louis Family Medicine Residents
Class of 2028
Mona Dagher, M.D.
Hometown: Lebanon
Undergraduate school: American University of Beruit
Medical school: University of Balamand Faculty of Medicine and Medical Sciences
Mona Dagher (she/her) is completing a geriatric medicine fellowship at Saint Louis University. After an explosion in Beruit claimed the lives of 300 people and left 300,000 homeless, Dagher co-founded Hand-in-Hand, which provides essential aid to those directly or indirectly affected by the tragic event. She enjoys guitar, piano, cooking and tennis. She is also proficient in French and Arabic.
Matthew J. Dreyer, M.D.
Hometown: Godrey, Illinois, and Tulsa, Oklahoma
Undergraduate school: Lindenwood University
Graduate school: University of Mount Saint Vincent
Medical school: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Matthew Dreyer (he/him) holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and Chemistry, and a Master of Business Administration in Healthcare Management. Outside of medicine, Dreyer enjoys spending time with his wife and dog, playing and watching sports, and playing online card games. He has a strong interest in sports medicine.
Natasha M. Ignatowski, M.D.
Home state: Wisconsin
Undergraduate school: University of Madison-Wisconsin
Medical school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Natasha Ignatowski (she/her) was a co-leader of Wellness Inspired Student Enrichment and volunteered with MEDiC, a student-run program which offers free health care to underserved populations. She also worked as a behavioral therapist technician for the Wisconsin Early Autism Project. Ignatowski enjoys photography, team sports and travel.
Dani P. Kander, D.O.
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate school: University of Chicago, Saint Louis University
Medical school: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine
Dani Kander (they/them) holds a degree in biological sciences and studied nutrition at Saint Louis University. They served two years with AmeriCorps HealthCorps at Grace Hill Health Centers (now Affinia Healthcare). They also worked at Affinia as a registered dietitian and manager of WIC and nutrition services before heading to medical school. In their free time, Kander enjoys being with their family and two dogs, visiting museums and spending time in nature.
Duyen K. Pham, D.O.
Hometown: Worcester, Massachusetts
Undergraduate school: University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Graduate school: University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth
Medical school: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Duyen Pham (she/her) holds a Master of Science in Chemistry. She has worked as a medical assistant, phlebotomist, medical interpreter, pharmacy technician, direct caregiver and research assistant. Prior to entering medical school, she volunteered as a food server at St. John's Food for the Poor Program, a playspace activity leader at Horizon for Homeless Children, and an emergency room greeter at local hospitals. She has 26 research publications in covalent-metal organic networks, psilocybin derivatives and biomarkers in neurodegenerative diseases. Outside of medicine, Pham enjoys snowboarding, powerlifting and swimming. She was born in Vietnam and is fluent in Vietnamese.
Kobe A. Young, M.D.
Hometown: Lubbock, Texas
Undergraduate school: Texas Tech University
Medical school: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Kobe Young (he/him) has a strong interest in geriatric medicine. He worked as a graduate researcher in the Cognition, Aging, Sleep and Health Lab at the University of Missouri, and as the pharmacy chair for MedZou, a student-run, free clinic that provides care to local community members without access to health care. Young enjoys disc golf, floral design and horticulture, and hiking and trail running.
Class of 2027
Thomas Cassimatis, M.D.
Hometown: St. Peters, Missouri
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri-Columbia
Medical school: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Thomas Cassimatis holds a degree in biological sciences and completed post-baccalaureate clinical research with the National Institutes for Health studying the effects of drugs, diets and diseases on metabolism. During medical school, Cassimatis served on the executive board of Healthy LifeStars, working to teach healthful eating and exercise habits to groups of elementary aged children. Cassimatis is a lifelong swimmer and triathlete, and he loves the outdoors. He has summited 10 of Colorado’s 14,000-foot peaks.
Galen Hoft, D.O.
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri-Columbia
Graduate school: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical school: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Galen Hoft holds a Bachelor of Science in Secondary Language Arts Education, a pre-medicine post-baccalaureate degree and a Master of Public Health. Hoft served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Burkina Faso from 2014 to 2016. He has a strong interest in serving traditionally marginalized communities and in addiction medicine and harm reduction strategies.
Farhan Hussain, M.D.
Home state: California
Undergraduate school: University of California at San Diego
Medical school: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Farhan Hussain holds undergraduate degrees in physiology and neuroscience, and was the commissioner of school spirit. He has been deeply involved in clinical research at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He rotated at the Family Care Health Center, where he exhibited a particular interest in improving health literacy. Outside of medicine, Hussain enjoys volleyball, pickleball, basketball, tennis and skateboarding. He is also a competitively ranked video gamer.
Joseph Mooney, M.D.
Home state: Missouri
Undergraduate school: Loyola University Chicago
Medical school: University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine
Joseph Mooney has lived in many communities throughout Missouri. He holds undergraduate degrees in Spanish language and literature. He worked for five years as a bilingual educator for kindergarten and first grade students at Saint Louis Language Immersion School before completing his pre-medical studies at Interamerican University of Puerto Rico. He spent the 2023-24 academic year in a pathology residency at the University of Nebraska, where he realized he was meant for family medicine all along. Outside of medicine, Mooney has an interest in urban farming and a love of music and singing.
Belainesh ‘Bella’ Nigeda, D.O.
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Undergraduate school: Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Graduate school: Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Medical school: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bella Nigeda holds a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a Master of Public Health. In medical school she was involved with the Student National Medical Association and was vice-president of the Student Government Association. Nigeda is the principal investigator on a mixed methods research study exploring the experiences of Black birthing patients who used a doula during the COVID-19 pandemic. She has an ongoing interest in addressing inequities in maternal and infant health.
Maura Walsh, M.D.
Hometown: Arlington, Illinois
Undergraduate school: University of Notre Dame
Medical school: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Maura Walsh holds a Bachelor of Arts in Neuroscience and Behavior, and a minor in both poverty studies and Latino studies. She is a Gold Humanism Society Member and a member of the Community and Global Health Honors Program. Walsh completed extensive volunteerism with the Quinn Community Center in Maywood, Illinois, during medical school. She also did impactful work reflecting on vocation, wellness, emotional intelligence and mindfulness with her peers and colleagues. She has experience working in an FQHC with a migrant farmworker population and speaks Spanish.
Class of 2026
Robert Besancenez, M.D.
Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri
Undergraduate school: Missouri Baptist University
Medical school: Ross University School of Medicine
Robert Besancenez holds a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry. His hobbies include short-track speed skating, exercise and physical fitness, automotive electronics, piano and guitar, and international travel.
Ishak Hossain, M.D.
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Undergraduate school: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical school: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine.
Ishak Hossain holds a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology: Global Health and a minor in biology. Outside of medicine, Hossain enjoys playing soccer, refereeing and playing competitive chess.
Lexi Kremer-Callahan, M.D.
Hometown: Mattoon, Illinois
Undergraduate school: Illinois Wesleyan University
Medical school: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Lexi Kremer-Callahan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Biology. Outside of medicine, her interests include trivia, cooking, crocheting, running, gardening, sewing, hiking, ATV-riding, attending concerts and fantasy sports.
Gretchen Landgraf, D.O.
Hometown: Kansas City, Missouri
Undergraduate school: Saint Louis University
Medical school: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Gretchen Landgraf grew up in Kansas City, Missouri and St. Louis, Missouri. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition/Dietetics and a post-baccalaureate pre-medical certificate from Washington University in St. Louis. Landgraf enjoys yoga, tennis, water skiing, playing board games, going to concerts with friends and volunteering in the Kansas City community.
Ashna Mahadev, M.D.
Hometown: O'Fallon, Missouri
Undergraduate school: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Graduate school: Washington University in St. Louis
University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine
Ashna holds a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts and a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation. Outside of medicine, she enjoys scuba diving, training therapy dogs, and travel focused on culture, history and local architecture. She’s working towards her private pilot’s license.
Tyeler Rayburn, M.D.
Hometown: Brantley, Alabama
Undergraduate school: Troy University
Medical school: University of South Alabama College of Medicine
Tyeler Rayburn holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology. His hobbies include reading, weightlifting, paddleboarding, cycling, swimming, and traveling.