Dr. Chahla’s Research Team 2026 – 2027
Tommy Vega
Research Fellow
He enjoys hiking, mountain biking, and cooking up meals for friends and family with a cold beer in hand. An added fun fact is that he has paddled across the Panama Canal three times in a wooden boat known as a cayuco.
Ruby Rader
Research Fellow
Ruby Rader is a medical student at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, currently completing a yearlong orthopaedic research fellowship with Drs. Jorge Chahla and Nikhil Verma at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush. She graduated from the University of Florida before completing a two-year postbaccalaureate research fellowship at the NIH. During medical school, she developed a strong interest in orthopaedic surgery through clinical experiences and research. Her current research interests include sports medicine and clinical outcomes. In her free time, Ruby enjoys running, traveling, exploring new restaurants and spending time with family and friends.
Jonathan Spaan
Research Fellow
Jonathan Spaan is a clinical research fellow for Dr. Jorge Chahla at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush within the sports medicine division. He is currently a medical student at Rush Medical College. Jonathan graduated from Hobart College, where he was a member of the Division I men’s lacrosse team. Prior to medical school, he conducted research in pediatric inflammatory bowel disease at Boston Children’s Hospital and adult reconstruction and arthroplasty at the Hospital for Special Surgery. Following his first year of medical school, he was selected for the HSS Summer Research Fellowship Program, where he further developed his interest in orthopaedic surgery and clinical research. In his free time, Jonathan enjoys skiing, coaching lacrosse, playing intramural sports, and exploring Chicago and its restaurant scene.