Rheumatology Training Fellowship Program
Join the next generation of leaders and pathfinders.
Current Fellows
2023 Fellows
Christopher Tidwell, M.D.
Dr. Tidwell completed medical school at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine in 2020 and then his residency training at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in 2023. He has presented his research at venues such as the American Association of Immunologists, American College of Physicians, and Southern Society for Clinical Investigation. He has been published in Journal of Immunology, Journal of Virology, and Nature’s Scientific Reports. His research interests include translational, highly targeted therapy to eliminate auto-reactive, pathogenic B and T cells in autoimmune conditions. His hobbies include blacksmithing, woodworking, history, and entertaining his cat Renly and dog Derby.
Benjamin Turturice, M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Turturice earned both a doctorate in microbiology and immunology and his medical degree from the University of Illinois Chicago in 2021. His doctoral thesis and associated publications focused on host-microbiome interactions in relation to immune-mediated pulmonary disease. Dr. Turturice completed his Internal Medicine residency training at Stanford University in 2023. He plans to focus his research on clinical and immunologic phenotyping of rheumatic conditions with the aim of personalizing treatment to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. Outside of medicine, Dr. Turturice enjoys exploring the great outdoors, playing ice hockey and humor in all things.
2022 Fellows
Sandra Amara Ogbonnaya-Whittlesey, M.D.
Dr. Ogbonnaya-Whittlesey received her medical degree from the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in 2011. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at LAC-USC in 2015 and is a current fellow at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia while continuing adult training with NIAMS. Dr. Ogbonnaya-Whittlesey volunteered as a medical student in India and South Africa. She has several oral and poster presentations to her credit. In addition to working as a primary care physician, she taught medical students at UCLA for three years. Her interests and hobbies include family time and traveling.
Dale Kobrin, M.D.
Dr. Kobrin completed his medical training at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania in 2019 and completed residency with the Allegheny Health Network Medical Education Consortium in Pittsburgh, PA. His research experience led to publications in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Kobrin is also the principal author of a book chapter on Castleman disease, a rare immunologic condition with abnormalities that overlap with rheumatologic conditions. His interests and hobbies include film history and automotive repair and restoration.
Ecem Sevim, M.D.
Dr. Sevim completed her residency at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx, NY. She received her medical degree from Istanbul University in 2012 and spent two years as a research fellow at the Hospital for Surgery in New York researching rheumatology. She has several publications in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Sevim has given 14 poster presentations and five final oral presentations at venues such as the American College of Rheumatology and the International Congress of Internal Medicine. Her hobbies and interests include abstract art, jazz, snowboarding, and traveling.