Our Fellows

Dr. Marcela Araujo de Oliveira Santana hails from Ponte Alta, Brazil. She earned her MD at Universidade Federal de Uberlandia before completing her residency through the WashU Medicine Graduate Medical Education Consortium in 2026. Dr. Araujo de Oliveira Santana’s clinical interests include tropical and neglected infectious diseases, ID-critical care and mycosis. She plans to pursue a career in ID medical education.

One of Dr. Araujo de Oliveira Santana’s favorite places in St. Louis is Forest Park, where she loves to go for runs and picnic with friends.

Why did you choose WashU Medicine for your ID fellowship?
“Since my first week of residency, the WashU ID Department has been exceptionally supportive of my goals and career plans. I’ve had outstanding experiences with the attendings, fellows, and other providers during my ID rotations, and the department truly feels like home. I’m excited to stay here for fellowship!”

Dr. Cunningham was born and raised in Scottsdale, AZ. He earned his PhD at the University of Missouri. He then completed his medical education at Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine and his residency at the Mayo Clinic Arizona before returning to Missouri for his ID fellowship at WashU Medicine. His areas of interest are transplant ID, medical education and invasive fungal infections. He is also an avid rock climber.

Why did you choose WashU for your ID fellowship?
“I chose WashU for the excellent training it offers across the full spectrum of infectious diseases, from bread-and-butter cases to unusual infections in severely immunocompromised patients. No matter what you want to pursue within ID, you will receive excellent support from program leadership.”

Dr. Fernandez returns home to Missouri for her ID Fellowship. She grew up in the small southwest town of Verona, MO lived there until she moved to Columbia University in New York City to earn her BA. Dr. Fernandez completed her MPH at Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health and medical school at the University of Missouri in Columbia, before completing her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, California in 2026.

Dr. Fernandez is interested in the intersection of public health and infectious diseases, including the prevention and treatment efforts of tuberculosis, tropical diseases and chronic hepatitis.

Why did you choose WashU for your ID fellowship?

“Returning to the Midwest was a priority. During interview day, WashU ID stood out as a top program with a wide reach within the Midwest region. This reach allows for exposure to diverse clinical cases, all while providing ample opportunities to work within the public health sphere.”

Dr. Hahn was born and raised in Oklahoma City. She completed her medical education at the University of Vermont Larner School of Medicine and her residency at the Cleveland Clinic before joining the WashU Medicine ID Fellowship Training Program in 2025. Her areas of interest are antibiotic stewardship and vector-borne illnesses. When not at the hospital, she loves to go running in Forest Park.

Dr. Hartlage was born and raised in Cincinnati. He completed his undergraduate and medical education at Ohio State University in Columbus before moving to St. Louis for residency training. at the Washington University Barnes-Jewish Hospital.  Outside of the hospital you will often find Alex walking his dog in Tower Grove Park, attending a STL CITY game, or working on a home improvement project.

Why did you choose WashU for your ID fellowship?
“I chose WashU for the breadth of clinical exposure, exceptional research environment, and intelligent yet humble faculty. The program also places a strong emphasis on trainee wellness and personalized career planning which stood out to me amongst other programs. St. Louis is a wonderful place to learn and train too!”