Our Residents
Chief Residents
3rd Year Chief Residents
Elora Friar, MD
Tampa General Hospital Chief Resident
Hi everyone! I’m Elora, and I am so excited to serve as the TGH Chief (and potentially meet you during recruitment season)! I grew up in Lakeland, FL, and went to Florida State University for undergrad and medical school (go Noles!!), with a gap year as a medical assistant at Moffitt Cancer Center in between. It was surreal to trade MA for MD on my Moffitt badge! USF has given me close friends I couldn’t imagine tackling this journey without. At work, I love a good social lap or assessing people’s Spotify Daylist playlists. I decompress by spending time with my fiancé and lab/pit mix, baking, going to breweries and concerts, traveling, paddleboarding, and reading for book club. I also serve as a council member on the American College of Physicians Council of Resident and Fellow Members and Professional Development and Fulfillment Committee. I am applying for Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine fellowship this cycle and hope to incorporate my passions for medical education, advocacy, and quality improvement into my career.
Kevin Chow, MD
Moffitt Chief Resident
Hey! I’m Kevin Chow. I grew up in the Chicago suburbs and did my undergrad and med school at University of Illinois at Chicago and lived in the Little Italy neighborhood. I had a cousin graduate from USF internal medicine who highly encouraged me to consider the program and the rest is history! The program has a great balance of youth, heritage, and wellness; many of our graduates have continued their careers here as attendings at one of our three clinical sites. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy playing tennis, pickleball and golf, hanging out with my cat Momo, and cooking and eating my way through Tampa! After residency, I plan to pursue a fellowship in Rheumatology. It’s an honor to serve as chief resident this year, and I’m looking forward to it!
Luis Ortiz, MD
VA Continuity Clinic Chief Resident
Hello, my name is Luis! I grew up in the beautiful countryside of Puerto Rico before moving to South Florida as a child. I went to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton for undergrad, where I got degrees in Biological Sciences and Chemistry, and took a couple of years off to work full-time at a laboratory. After, I went to medical school at Florida International University in Miami. I instantly fell in love with the USF IM program during my application cycle and words can’t describe how honored I feel to represent the role of Chief Resident! I’m passionate about teaching and mentoring, serving the community through volunteering, and my career goal is to pursue a fellowship in Cardiology. I’m a very active person and I love to play all sorts of sports, but my absolute favorite is gymnastics and martial arts. During my time off, you’ll find me in the nearest park enjoying the amazing Tampa weather, blasting some music, and practicing some moves!
Francisco Pascual, MD
VA Subspecialty Chief Resident
Hi there, my name is Francisco! I was born and raised in New Port Richey, FL. I'm proud to have called the University of South Florida my home throughout my undergraduate, medical school, and now residency. The best part of this journey has been the incredible friendships and camaraderie I've built with my co-residents. Those connections have made a lasting impact on me, and I'm excited to continue promoting growth, collaboration, and support within our program as a chief resident. Outside work, I love traveling and discovering new restaurants with my fiancée, Jamie. I’m also a big fan of playing golf and enjoy watching almost any sport. Looking ahead, I'm pursuing a fellowship in gastroenterology with plans to build a career as an academic gastroenterologist, focusing on swallowing disorders.
Stephanie McMillan, MD
Healthpark/Morsani Chief Resident
Hi! I’m Stephanie, and I was born and raised in Boca Raton, FL. I went to the University of Florida for undergrad (go Gators!) and the University of South Florida for medical school. I loved the program’s culture and Tampa so much that I decided to stay for residency. I couples matched with my fiancé (he’s an EM resident). We love exploring new restaurants and bars in Tampa, as well as the surrounding areas like St. Pete, Safety Harbor, and Dunedin. I am excited to be pursuing a fellowship in Allergy & Immunology. I am passionate about resident wellness and education and look forward to continuing to create more initiatives for the program. Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking, ballet, pilates, long walks on Bayshore, and reading for book club. I am honored to served as chief resident for Morsani/Healthpark clinics!
Andres Cordoba, DO
Simulation Chief Resident
Hi everyone! My name is Andres. I was born in Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to Miami, Florida, when I was nine years old. I attended the University of Central Florida for undergrad and went on to complete medical school at NSU-KPCOM in Clearwater. I’ve come to really love USF and Tampa for its vibrant community, beautiful weather, and endless outdoor activities. I’m passionate about resident education and wellness, and I’m really excited to serve as Simulation Chief this year. After residency, I plan to pursue a fellowship in Gastroenterology. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, and exploring new coffee shops and restaurants.
4th Year Chief Residents
Heather Gosnell, DO
VA Outpatient Chief Resident Quality & Safety
Hi! I’m Heather, and I’m honored and excited to be the Outpatient Chief Resident in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety. I grew up in a suburb of Cleveland, OH before attending the University of Kentucky for undergrad (Go Cats!). I ended up moving to Florida for medical school at LECOM Bradenton. I fell in love with USF’s culture and sense of community among residents, and enjoyed my time in residency here. Academically, I’m passionate about QI, academic medicine and the rewarding nature of seeing my colleagues grow in their professional lives through teaching, mentorship, and curriculum development. In my personal life, I’m a social butterfly and I love hanging out with my co-residents turned closest friends. I also enjoy attending live music performances, singing along to Taylor Swift, curling up with a good book, socializing at book club, traveling, and attending PR events as a Yelp Elite member.
Richard “Ricky” Pearce, MD
VA Inpatient Chief Resident Quality & Safety
Hi y’all, I’m Ricky Pearce. I’m originally from Milton, Georgia, and went to the University of Georgia for undergrad—Go Dawgs! I completed medical school at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah. My wife and I couples matched in Tampa, and we've really enjoyed building our life here. From paddleboarding and beach days to exploring local coffee shops, the Tampa Bay area has been a great place to live and train. I’m excited and honored to serve as the Chief Resident in Quality and Safety for the upcoming academic year. I have a strong interest in medical education and quality improvement, and I’m passionate about creating a positive learning environment and improving care for both patients and providers. After residency, I plan to pursue a fellowship in gastroenterology. I’m grateful for the mentorship and opportunities I’ve had during residency and look forward to what’s ahead.
Mathew Karivelil, MD
VA Inpatient Chief Resident Quality & Safety
Hello, everyone! My name is Mathew (Mat) Karivelil, Chief Resident for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at the James A. Haley VA Hospital. I’m originally from Atlanta but have loved calling Tampa home these past few years—the mix of city life, beach weekends, and year-round sunshine has made it easy to settle in. Outside of the hospital, you’ll usually find me exploring local coffee shops and restaurants, discovering different trails and parks, lifting at the gym, or catching up on photography. I believe wellness and creativity outside of medicine are essential, and I try to bring that same energy into my clinical work and leadership roles. As Chief Resident for QI, I’m focused on helping our program turn good ideas into lasting systems that improve care. I’m especially passionate about preventive cardiology and how we can use lifestyle interventions to make a difference, both at the bedside and on a larger scale. Looking ahead, I plan to pursue a fellowship in cardiology.
Adriana Guevara, DO
VA Inpatient Academic & Research Chief
Hi! I’m Adriana. I was born and raised in Caracas, Venezuela, and I moved to the U.S. a little over 10 years ago. I first arrived in Orlando, Florida, where I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Central Florida. After that, I moved to Georgia to attend the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. My favorite thing to do is spend time with my dog, Lady, but I also enjoy traveling, swimming, watching Formula 1 races, gardening, and spending time with friends and family. I have a strong interest in cardiology and am excited to pursue a future career as a cardiologist. I'm honored and thrilled to serve as the Academic and Research Chief Resident at the VA, and I look forward to supporting and contributing in any way I can.