Meet the Fellows

Spoorthi Davala, MD

Medical School: Boston University
Residency Program: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

Mentor: Erik Jensen, MD, MSCE
Research: Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic neonatal lung disease that affects many preterm infants, resulting in long-term respiratory, neurodevelopmental, and growth complications, as well as increased healthcare utilization and costs. Despite advancements in neonatal care, there are limited evidence-based therapies to treat this disease. Dornase alfa is a therapeutic often used in infants with BPD despite a lack of evidence on its safety and efficacy. My research aims to characterize the clinical effects of dornase alfa in infants with BPD through both clinical and translational studies, enhancing our understanding of its potential risks and benefits.

Prior Experience: I was born and raised in the South Bay Area and ventured out to Boston University for both undergrad and medical school. I was fortunate enough to come back to the west coast for my pediatrics residency at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. During residency, I found myself drawn to pulmonary medicine because of the wide range of acuity and pathophysiology it encompasses. Additionally, I am passionate about caring and advocating for children with complex respiratory illnesses in both the acute and non-acute care settings. 

Outside of work I love oil painting, gardening, baking, being outdoors, hiking and spending time with family and friends!

Daniel Nachreiner, MD

Medical School: University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan SOM
Residency Program: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

Research: Tracheotomy is a surgical procedure performed in children to establish a secure airway for a variety of indications, including ventilator dependence, congenital or acquired airway obstruction, neurological conditions, and medical management for other issues. Regardless of the primary cause of chronic ventilation, children with tracheostomies are medically complex with significant morbidity and mortality. Comprehensive research is urgently needed to define the heterogeneous landscape of the non-medical needs for children with tracheostomy to develop actionable solutions to reduce length of stay (LOS0 disparities and ensure equitable cost-effective and high-quality care. To address the knowledge gap, my research is a population-based retrospective cohort study that will utilize existing data to investigate pediatric patients with a tracheostomy and their respiratory outcomes as well as factors leading to their LOS including the patient’s social and clinical factors.

Prior Experience: My passion for pulmonology started when I was doing research at Boston Children’s Hospital and making a de-escalation pathway off of continuous albuterol for patients presenting with asthma exacerbations. My favorite part of pulmonology is that it provides continuity of care, complex physiology and a mix of procedures and clinical care. My favorite part of my pulmonology training so far is applying complex physiology to clinical care.

My hobbies include running, playing tennis, hiking, and enjoying the beautiful weather.

Amrita Sunkad, MBBS

Medical School: Raichur Institute of Medical Sciences – India
Residency Program: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center

Born in a small coastal town of South India, I finished my medical education back home. The advancement in evidence-based medicine brought me to the east coast of the United States for my residency. I grew interested in Pulmonology for the wide pathology ranging from foreign body and asthma to the respiratory care in patients with chronic disease. The most fascinating aspect of pulmonology is how the remarkable development of the lungs throughout the first ten years of life affects the respiratory health.

In my free time, I enjoy painting, hiking and spending time with my family and friends.

• • Kathleen Mackin, MD
    

  Medical School: University of Southern California
  Residency Program: Stanford University

I was born and raised in Cleveland Ohio and went to Tufts for undergrad. I moved to the West Coast for medical school at the University of Southern California and then completed pediatrics residency at Stanford. My interest in pulmonology started in residency, where I loved rotating on the Yellow team,  learning about respiratory physiology, and getting to know our amazing patients and families. I’m so excited to be staying at Stanford for pulmonology fellowship!  In my free time I enjoy exploring national parks, yoga, hiking, and baking.

• • Olga Kuptsevich, MD
    

  
  Born and raised in Belarus, where stepping outside in winter doubles as a resilience exercise, I moved to the United States to pursue advanced clinical training. During my training, I developed a strong interest in pulmonology, particularly in procedural and interventional aspects of the field. I’m drawn to the combination of hands-on technical skill and meaningful clinical impact, as well as the opportunity to directly improve patient outcomes through minimally invasive techniques. 
  
  Outside of medicine, I enjoy hiking, snowboarding, and exploring nearby charming towns and hidden gems with my husband and our dog Nala. I’m also interested in wellness and biohacking, focusing on simple, evidence-based ways to improve energy, health, and overall well-being without overcomplicating things.

• • Anthony Milki, MD
    

  
  I grew up in Palo Alto - just a few minute bike ride away from Stanford campus - and was at Stanford as an undergraduate before returning for fellowship in 2026. In between, I spent 7 years on the east coast in Washington, DC and New York for my medical training.