Class of 2028
Luis Balarin
Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine
Medical Interests: My medical interests are rooted in full-spectrum family medicine — from caring for newborns to supporting the elderly. As someone with a large, multigenerational family, I deeply value continuity of care and the relationships that form over time. I am particularly drawn to working in a small community where I can truly get to know my patients and their families, become a trusted part of their lives, and provide comprehensive care across all stages of life. Being that go-to doctor in town — the one who’s there for everything from well-child checks to managing chronic conditions — is exactly the kind of physician I aspire to be.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Outside of medicine, I enjoy a variety of hobbies that keep me balanced and fulfilled. I’m a licensed pilot and love the freedom and perspective that flying brings. I also have a background in software development and still enjoy writing code in my spare time. Music is another passion of mine — I find joy and relaxation in playing the guitar. Most importantly, I cherish traveling with my wife and kids, exploring new places together and creating lifelong memories as a family.
Why Grand Forks/Altru: I chose Grand Forks, ND and the Altru Family Medicine Residency Program because it offers the best and safest environment to raise my family. From the moment of my interview, the warmth and genuine support I felt from both the residents and faculty made me feel immediately at home. Their sense of community, mentorship, and dedication to patient care deeply resonated with me. Another significant factor in my decision was that my son was accepted at the University of North Dakota, which made the opportunity to live, learn, and grow together in one place even more meaningful. Grand Forks is not just where I will train as a physician — it’s where my family and I will thrive.
Irebami Kolapo-Raheem
Medical School: All Saints University School of Medicine
Medical Interests: Full-spectrum family medicine and Sports Medicine
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Watching movies, Barcelona football club and the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA. Playing a game of Scrabble.
Why Grand Forks/Altru: For me, it was the people. During my interview, I genuinely felt at home; the faculty and residents were warm, supportive, and welcoming. That sense of community stood out. Beyond that, the curriculum’s strong emphasis on procedural training aligned perfectly with my goals. I wanted a program that would not only provide excellent clinical experience but also give me hands-on opportunities to develop a wide range of procedural skills. Altru checked every box and felt like the ideal program for me.
Mark MacGregor
Medical School: University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts
Medical Interests: Broad spectrum of care in Family Medicine throughout the lifespan. The opportunity to provide care through promotion, prevention and interventions in the hospital and various community settings.
Personal interests/hobbies: I enjoy playing hockey, baseball and golf. Fishing is one of my favorite outdoor activities. In addition to leading an active lifestyle, I enjoy watching college football and professional sports, especially hockey, baseball, and football. I also enjoy travelling and good food, whether home cooked or a local favorite restaurant.
Why Grand Forks/Altru: During my interview at Altru I met some of the amazing residents, faculty and staff. Besides the warm welcome and hospitality, they provided a glimpse of the comprehensive training and supportive environment provided for the family medicine residents to become excellent practitioners. The program provides opportunities to develop skills and knowledge within the hospital and community settings, in addition to exploring areas of personal professional interest. Grand Forks felt like home to me from the start. People are friendly and welcoming with many local activities both urban and rural.
Samantha Mazurek
Medical School: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine
Medical Interests: Full spectrum rural family medicine, obstetrics, lifestyle medicine, point-of-care ultrasound.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: I love spending time outdoors with my husband - whether it be at a golf course, on the Greenway, or hiking at a State Park. I also enjoy gardening, cooking/baking, running, and caring for my multiple freshwater aquariums.
Why Grand Forks/Altru: Altru FMR was my clear first choice. They truly provide comprehensive training that prepares physicians for rural practice. I was especially impressed by their obstetrics and POCUS curriculum. On my interview day, the residents and faculty were all welcoming and genuine, and I immediately felt at home here. I am also thrilled that my perfect residency program is in Grand Forks, which allows me to live much closer to my family in Minnesota.
Nnenna Osagwu
Medical School: All Saints University, School of Medicine, Dominica
Medical Interests: Full spectrum family medicine including office procedures, hospital medicine and emergency medicine.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Spending quality time with family and friends, travelling, cooking and hoping to add fishing soon.
Why Grand Forks/Altru: I’ve always envisioned doing my residency in a small town where everything is within reach—a peaceful place to raise a family, with a strong sense of community. As someone who is very family-oriented, Grand Forks checked all the boxes for me. It’s a welcoming town, and the kindness of its people truly stood out.
My first experience with Altru Family Medicine Residency was during my in-person interview, and from that moment, I knew it was the right fit. The warmth of the staff, the supportive faculty, and the open-door policy immediately made me feel at home. The unopposed nature of the program was another decider, as it offers a broad scope of training and allows me to develop a wide range of skills—preparing me to pursue any path in the future. I’m confident that I made the right choice with Grand Forks and Altru FMR, and I’m excited for the journey ahead.
Naren Ravi
Medical School: Tbilisi State Medical University, Tbilisi, Georgia
Medical Interests: Full-spectrum Family Medicine, procedures, and Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS).
Personal Interests/Hobbies: I’m a die-hard soccer fan—Chelsea’s my team, and I’m glued to the screen for their matches (or try my best to). I’m always on the hunt for new music to vibe to, and there’s nothing like a good walk to clear my head. I’m totally into anime, movies, and TV shows, especially thrillers. Cooking’s my creative outlet—I get a rush from playing with bold flavors.
Why Grand Forks/Altru: I first connected with the Altru FMR program at the Midwest Conference, where their emphasis on a supportive environment stood out. During my interview, I experienced this warmth firsthand, feeling genuinely welcomed by both faculty and residents, which made me feel right at home. As an unopposed program, Altru offers the opportunity to develop my skills under the esteemed faculty, preparing me for my future as an excellent family medicine physician. The kind, tight-knit Grand Forks community is the perfect place for me to grow and thrive.
Daniel Salehi
Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine
Medical Interests: Quality improvement, gut microbiome, nutrition, preventative medicine, hospital medicine, emergency medicine, rural medicine, leadership.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Music production, teaching/tutoring, video games, artificial intelligence.
Why Grand Forks/Altru: When I interviewed in person at Altru, I immediately felt a genuine sense of community and support that stood out from every other program I visited. It was clear that the residents truly enjoyed being part of the program and spoke highly of the faculty and leadership. I was especially impressed by the positive, down-to-earth attitude of the program’s leadership team—something I believe sets the tone for the entire residency experience. From my past experiences, I’ve learned that strong, supportive leadership is key to a healthy learning environment. Grand Forks also reminded me of my hometown, which made it feel instantly familiar and welcoming. I really enjoy the small-town atmosphere, the local restaurants, and the close-knit feel of the community.
Lennart Stoltz
Medical School: Jagiellonian University Medical College
Medical Interests: I have a strong interest in full-spectrum family medicine, with a particular focus on geriatrics, chronic disease management, and office-based procedures.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy learning foreign languages, watching sports, trying new foods, and taking long walks.
Why Grand Forks/Altru: During my interview, I was truly impressed by how welcoming everyone here is, including the faculty, residents, and administrative staff. It was clear that people genuinely love being part of this program, and I knew I would find the strong sense of community that forms the foundation for a supportive and collaborative learning environment. I was also encouraged by the program’s commitment to personalized training and the opportunity to gain meaningful, hands-on experience with procedures. Since moving here, I’ve found the people of Grand Forks to be incredibly warm and friendly, which has only strengthened my commitment to serve and stay connected with this community.
