Residents
Post Graduate Year 3
Annalise Bricca, MD
Hometown: Portland, OregonUndergraduate School: St. Lawrence University
Major: French and Fine Arts
Medical School: University of Zagreb - Croatia
Interesting or fun fact: I speak French and Croatian. I lived and taught English for a year in France and spent six years in Croatia for medical school.
Ryan Chetram, MD
Hometown: Houston, TexasUndergraduate School: Spartan Health Sciences University
Major: Premedical Science
Medical School: Caribbean Medical University School of Medicine - Curacao
Interesting or fun fact: All my toes are webbed on one foot.
Rikki Gilmore, MD
Hometown: Lake Charles, LouisianaUndergraduate School: Baylor University
Major: Biology
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport
Interesting or funny fact: I don't have any fun facts. But if I could live anywhere, it would be in Mürren Switzerland.
Shreyas Peddigari, MD
Hometown: San Antonio, TexasUndergraduate School: University of Texas at San Antonio
Major: Biology
Medical School: All Saints School of Medicine
Interesting or fun fact: I've lived in Belize, St. Maarten, the UK, and India, and one of my hobbies is flying airplanes.
Joseph Stringfellow, DO
Hometown: Crowley, LouisianaUndergraduate School: Louisiana State University at Baton Rouge
Major: Biological Sciences
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine at Monroe
Anurag Reddy Vootla, MD
Hometown: Tirupati, IndiaUndergraduate School:
Major:
Medical School: Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences
Interesting or fun fact: I am an Indian doctor with a MPH degree, who is also an ambidextrous all-arounder in cricket, a receptive multilingual, and wouldn't shy away from being referred to as a True Indian Spice Enthusiast.
Post Graduate Year 2
Tallen Cavenah, MD
Hometown: Sulphur, LouisianaUndergraduate School: McNeese State University
Major: Biology & Chemistry
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine - Sint Maarten
Interesting or fun fact: I was a commercial fisherman for about 10 years before medicine. I'm a great foosball goalie and play multiple instruments. I have 4 or 5 kids and a full-package wife who got me through medical school. I had the opportunity to study in the Caribbean and the United Kingdom for three years, making awesome memories with my family.
Why did you want to do family medicine: I believe family medicine is the best and most versatile specialty -- useful to any person, of any age, anywhere in the world. It offers the unique opportunity to touch lives in ways that few other specialties can.
Fatima Eraj, MD
Hometown: Houston, TexasUndergraduate School: Houston Baptist University
Major: Biology
Medical School: Saint James School of Medicine - Anguilla
Interesting or fun fact: I have unusually crooked pinkies (aka bilateral clinodactyly) and can make a heart shape by holding them together -- it's my weird little party trick and a surprisingly effective icebreaker.
Why I chose Family Medicine: I picked family medicine because I love the continuity, the emphasis on patient education, and the chance to get to know people over time. Plus, family medicine gives you the flexibility to do a bit of everything - clinic, procedures, hospital work, community outreach - to name a few. No two days are the same, and I think it's awesome that you can shape your practice to fit your interests and your community needs.
Zachary Lazaridis, DO
Hometown: Lake Charles, LouisianaUndergraduate School: University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Major: Biomedical Science
Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interesting or fun fact: A fun fact about myself is that I am a lifelong soccer player, fan, and coach.
Why I chose Family Medicine: I chose to pursue family medicine because I'm deeply committed to caring for individuals and families within my own community. I'm especially passionate about preventative care and being a trusted first point of contact for patients. To me, being a family physician is both a responsibility and a privilege, allowing me to make daily meaningful differences in people's lives.
Tanner Marceaux, DO
Hometown: Lake Charles, LouisianaUndergraduate School: McNeese State University
Major: Biology
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Louisiana Campus
Interesting or fun fact: I judge restaurants based on how good their sweet tea is.
Why I chose Family Medicine: I was drawn to family medicine because I enjoy the challenge of managing a wide range of medical conditions. I also value building long-term relationships with patients, and family medicine gives me the chance to care for people throughout their lives.
Stacy Mitchell, DO
Hometown: DeRidder, LouisianaUndergraduate School: Lamar University
Major: Biology
Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interesting or fun fact: I've visited more countries than U.S. states (20 countries and counting!)
Why I chose Family Medicine: I enjoy taking care of patients across the lifespan: from delivering babies to geriatrics and everything in between. I'm from a rural area and hope to practice in a similar setting in the future, so it's important to me to be able to handle anything that comes in the door. I'm also a mother of four, so taking care of families is what I'm good at!
Ashton Says, DO
Hometown: Lake Charles, LouisianaUndergraduate School: Louisiana State University
Major: Biology
Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interesting or fun fact: My wife and I have been to Dollywood and the Smoky Mountains.
Why I chose Family Medicine: I chose family medicine because I enjoy taking care of people throughout their entire life. I also care deeply about being able to provide for patents in rural areas. I believe that the training provided to family medicine physicians is perfect for covering a lot of needs of these areas.
Christian Sweezy, DO
Hometown: Lake Charles, LouisianaUndergraduate School: McNeese State University
Major: Biology
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Louisiana Campus
Interesting or fun fact: I ran my first marathon before starting residency.
Why I chose Family Medicine: I find the broad scope of family medicine interesting. The ability to have continuity with patients and their families is appealing as well.
Post Graduate Year 2
David Aghado, MD
Hometown: Richmond, TX
Undergraduate School: The University of Texas at Austin
Major: Neuroscience & Biochemistry
Medical School: The University of Texas Medical Branch John Sealy School of Medicine
Interesting or fun fact: I enjoy writing, recording, producing and performing music. I also enjoy
football, basketball and tennis.
Why did you choose LSU Family Medicine: I chose LSU Family Medicine because of the emphasis on community medicine
and continuity of care from inpatient admission to outpatient clinic.
I also love that we are not shy to share our faith with each other and
with patients. Also, LSU Family Medicine is only a 2-hour drive away from home.
Hannah Canter, DO
Hometown: Holmwood, LA
Undergraduate School: McNeese State University
Major: Biology, Pre-Med, minor in chemistry
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interesting or fun fact: I once went viral for singing 'Happy Birthday' to Drew Brees at a New Orleans
Saints football game, and I spent my 21st and 22nd birthdays on medical
mission trips in Kenya! Outside of medicine, I enjoy crafting, traveling,
and trying new foods. I am a huge sports fan, especially when it comes
to softball and football. It is also a joy to end each day coming home
to my sweet gray tabby cat! The first baby I assisted in delivering as
a physician was my first nephew!
Why did you choose LSU Family Medicine: My connection to LSUFM-LCMH began long before residency. In undergrad,
I worked alongside LSUFM residents as an ED scribe and shadowed in the
FM Clinic through a McNeese course. Not only did I see how LSUFM residents
cared for patients, but these residents became my biggest supporters as
I prepared for medical school. When I returned for a medical school rotation,
I immediately felt that same family atmosphere. As a Lake Charles native,
I am fortunate to have both an exceptional residency program and a strong
support system close to home.
Gabriel LeBeouf, MD
Hometown: Kaplan, LA
Undergraduate School: University of Louisiana at Lafayette
Major: Biology
Medical School: Louisiana State University School of Medicine at Shreveport
Interesting or fun fact: I’ve played in the Superdome twice, but I’ve never attended
a Saints game.
Why did you choose LSU Family Medicine: South Louisiana is home, and I truly believe there's no other place like
it. I wanted to return to the community that shaped me and build lasting
relationships with my patients, caring for them throughout every stage
of their lives. I was also drawn to the strong sense of camaraderie among
the residents and faculty, which reflected the collaborative environment
I wanted to be a part of.
Javier Retamales, MD
Hometown: Santiago, Chile
Undergraduate School: University of Chile
Major: Exact Sciences
Medical School: University of Chile
Interesting or fun fact: People call me “Dr. Tamales,” which I find hilarious because
tamales are not really part of Chilean cuisine, and they are actually
delicious! I enjoy cooking from scratch and preparing my own ingredients.
I am especially interested in fermented foods and have made my own Camembert
and Roquefort-style cheeses. I also enjoy tabletop role-playing games
and spending time with family and friends.
Why did you choose LSU Family Medicine: I chose this program because its unopposed structure and strong continuity
of care align perfectly with my interests in cancer survivorship and palliative
medicine. I value accompanying patients through every stage of their journey
while building meaningful, lasting relationships and developing the breadth
of clinical and cultural skills needed to care for them.
Elise Thibodeaux, MD
Hometown: Moss Bluff, LA
Undergraduate School: McNeese State University
Major: Biological Sciences, minor in chemistry
Graduate School: Mississippi College, Master of Science in Medical Sciences
Medical School: Louisiana State University Health Sciences - Shreveport
Interesting or fun fact: I am a third-generation Westlake Rotary Club member and look forward to
help giving back to the community! I am a hobby hopper; I enjoy punch
needle embroidery and currently cross stitch. I am a Dr. Pepper fanatic
and a nap queen.
Why did you choose LSU Family Medicine: I grew up coming to LSU Family Medicine clinic as a patient. It has always
had an exceptional reputation in the community of producing competent
physicians. Doesn't hurt that its my hometown!
Sufian Zahid, MD
Hometown: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Medical School: Sargodha Medical College
Interesting or fun fact: I've demolished and rebuilt a house. I enjoy working on cars and carpentry.
Why did you choose LSU Family Medicine: I was drawn to family medicine because of its broad scope and the opportunity
to treat a wide variety of medical conditions. I enjoy forming lasting
relationships with patients while helping them achieve better health through
education and preventive care.
For more information about the Lake Charles Memorial/LSUHSC Family Medicine Residency, or answers to any other questions, don't hesitate to call 337.494.2023 or email at LSU_LCResidency@lcmh.com.
