PGY3 – Class of 2024

of Medicine of USC

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hello everyone! My name is Andrea and I am a Los Angeles area native. I grew up in the San Fernando Valley (where I still live). I love the valley and I am so delighted that we obtain part of our training at OVMC and Mid-Valley which are both in the Valley and very close to where I grew up.

I went to undergrad at UC Berkeley (Go Bears!) where I majored in American Studies and met some of my closest friends. Then I worked in the non-profit field for several years while completing my pre-med requirements at CSUN. Working in the non-profit field combined with my upbringing as a first-generation Mexican-American cemented my desire to serve underserved populations. I attended medical school and grad school at the Keck School of Medicine of USC (Go Trojans!), where I met more amazing friends, and came over to the other side of town to UCLA for residency. I love my intern class and I am grateful to be part of the group.
Many things drew me to UCLA but mainly, the amazing residents and faculty, the supportive culture, diverse practice settings with ample opportunities to serve the underserved. I chose family medicine because of the broad spectrum of training, focus on preventive medicine, opportunities to build long-term relationships with patients and the diverse ways we can shape our careers as family physicians.

In my free time, I really enjoy spending time with my family, especially my son Joey. I enjoy cooking, reading books, listening to music and podcasts, dancing, practicing yoga and overall relaxing.

Interests: community medicine, underserved medicine, medicine for minority populations, ultrasound training, women’s health, street medicine, teaching, mentoring URMs, being a good human.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hi there! My name is Orly, and I am originally from Israel (and Chicago) - long story short my family moved back to Israel when I was 11 and then I came back to California when I was 21 to start college. I went to UC Berkeley for undergrad where I majored in Psychology and then took 2 years off to work as a lab manager and as an after-school teacher for 5^th graders before applying to medical school.

I went to UCLA for both medical school and my MPH in Health Policy and Management. During medical school I continued to pursue my love for teaching and really enjoyed serving a diverse  patient population as a medical student. I knew that I wanted to find a residency program that would continue to offer me a diversity of patients and healthcare systems, the opportunity to teach and the ability to advocate for communities throughout my training (and beyond). As you probably guessed - the UCLA Family Medicine Residency hit all those points for me. I love that we rotate at so many different sites and interact and treat patients from so many different backgrounds throughout our training.

Outside of medicine I spend most of my time running after my two small children but also love baking and spending time outdoors and doing yoga whenever I can.

Interests: Women’s Health, Family Planning and Reproductive Health, Health Policy & Advocacy, Underserved Communities, Teaching/Academic Medicine

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hey there! My name is Alexandra, but you can call me Alexa. I was born in Kentucky, but raised in Mexicali, Mexico!

I had the privilege to attend UABC for medical school. During my 4^th year, I studied abroad in Spain to learn a different healthcare system. Afterwards I completed a very intense internship in a hospital, where I ended up loving all my rotations and the relationships I built with my patients. Finished a social service year focused on preventive care in underserved rural communities in Mexico. Initiated a mobile vaccination campaign for children in neglected neighborhoods. Also conducted a research project in prevention of nosocomial infections in my community hospital and presented it at national forums.  All these experiences in my formative years, inspired me to study Family Medicine. I believe primary care is where we can make a lifelong impact in a patient’s health, with lifestyle, preventive changes and awareness of social determinants of health.

My mentor during social service year told me about UCLA IMG Program, where I applied (clearly dreaming big) and got accepted! Years after studying and passing all the examinations, rotating in healthcare facilities throughout LA County, volunteering in health fairs and covid mass vaccination events, I knew I wanted to stay in this community.

I am thrilled and grateful to be part of UCLA now! This program hit the spot for me, the mix of community/academic, the diverse population, friendly staff and endless opportunities to learn and teach!

Outside of medicine, I enjoy reading books, staying active, traveling, exploring new cities, cultures and trying new cuisine flavors! Squeezing some quality time with my loved ones (my partner, doggie Cocoa, friends and family) LA has so much to offer, I can travel to multiple countries in one county! (just a commute away ha!)

Interests: Lifestyle medicine, Underserved medicine, Preventive medicine, Community medicine, Hospital medicine.

Pronouns: she/her

Hi all! I’m Haia (hi-ah) Chakoukani~ (Arabic first name, surname origin remains an inherited mystery). I was born and raised in the sauna they call Riverside, California! I studied Ecology and Evolutionary Biology as well as Chicanx Studies at UCLA. Unable to separate from the sun and ocean, I stayed for med school, and now for Family Medicine residency at UCLA! Dare I say I’m a UCLA MAMBAcita with that threepeat! (RIP Kobe).

At UCLA, I was fascinated with pathophysiology, and volunteered with a mobile clinic in Maclovio Rojas, Mexico. I then followed my curiosity to a remote Bedouin community in the West Bank, Palestine/Israel, where the social determinants of health again dictated health outcomes. I fell in love with global health and was driven to understand systems of injustice that perpetuate poor health. Before med school, I taught for a year, and then worked as a business analyst for a Medi-Cal insurance company.

I chose Family Medicine because who better can advocate for underserved communities than a Family Medicine PCP serving on the frontline? Family Medicine is dynamic, flexible, offers continuity, and is where I feel most happy. I can pursue my curiosities of individual organ systems while practicing the art of human connection to heal holistically. At UCLA, I can work in both a community and underserved setting while maintaining the rigor of an academic institution. This residency caters to my interests in underserved care as well as academic medicine, and here, I foresee myself growing as an advocate and teacher!

Outside of medicine, I love being on the move! As often as possible, I go to the beach for a v cinematic ‘golden hour’ skating sesh into the sunset. Traveling keeps me grounded. Growing up, I spent many summers with my parents’ families in the West Bank, Palestine. This was a formative experience and opened my eyes to life, culture, and political conflict. During med school, I accidentally took several “last vacation of med school”— oops! I visited Mexico City, Havana, Buenos Aires, and, during my year off in med school, I lived in Santiago, Chile for several months.

I also love cooking, hosting, writing, reading, learning (languages, history, science, philosophy, the evolution of our species—anything thought provoking!), mentorship, and connecting with others. And when the sun sets, it’s time to dance!

Interests: Underserved Medicine, Academic Medicine, Health Policy, Advocacy, Global health, Women’s health, Integrative medicine

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hey all! My name is Christal and I’m from Minneapolis, MN. I went to the University of Minnesota for undergrad where I studied Biology and Public Health, and took three years off before starting medical school at CMU College of Medicine. In my time off, I worked many different jobs including as a photojournalist, tutor/mentor, medical scribe, researcher, wedding dress consultant, waitress, at a music venue, and spent a year teaching English in Kupang, Indonesia as a Fulbright Scholar. My experiences in my gap years and in medical school solidified my decision to pursue a career in family medicine focused on underserved care, teaching/mentorship, and global health. I chose family medicine for SO many reasons, but especially because I love developing long-term relationships with my patients, the opportunities in scope of practice, and I love the culture within family medicine! I’m incredibly grateful and excited to be in a residency that shares the same values and has countless opportunities for me to get the best training in areas I’m passionate about.

Outside of medicine, I spend most of my free time with my husky, Kiba! I love anything outdoors, rollerblading on the boardwalk with my co-interns, volleyball, hiking, board game nights, live music, and I’m always on the hunt for the best ramen, tacos, and doughnuts in LA!

Interests: Community Medicine, Street Medicine, Global Health, Health Policy & Advocacy, Health Equity, Academic Medicine and Mentorship

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hello friends! My name is Kathy (Katy by my brothers and Katalina when my mom is mad). I was born and raised in Riverside, CA. My loving parents and six older brothers were born in Colombia. My parents stressed the importance of education, hard work, faith, and generosity from a young age. They are my inspiration and the reason I’m so passionate about community service and underserved medicine. My love of medicine blossomed throughout my father’s various hospitalizations. It was a difficult journey to medicine as a first-gen student, so I strive to help other first-gen students reach their dreams and am very proud to serve my community.

I went to undergrad at CBU where I majored in Biology and minored in Spanish for Healthcare Professionals. I then went to medical school at UC Riverside where I met my significant other, Irvin. We met during our orientation, became study buddies, best friends, couples matched into UCLA (FM for me, radiology for him), and then he put a ring on it! In my spare time, I like to be with my loved ones, go out dancing (especially salsa), explore nature, and do paint/wine nights. Since I look to eat, I like to explore new restaurants, cook, bake, and exercise to balance it out.

I love adventure and traveling. I frequently go to Colombia to visit my amazing family and explore the beautiful country. I have volunteered in the slums of Bangladesh, in the Andes Mountains of Peru, and Amazon Rainforest in Ecuador. I have gone to Tijuana, Mexico with Healing Hearts Across Borders and various locations in SoCal (Inland Coalition for Immigrant Justice and UCR’s Coachella Valley Free Clinic). I chose family medicine because I want to know everything and help everyone. In the future, I want to practice full-spectrum FM with underserved communities while also doing global health. I hope to change the world for the better and my motto is “If I can’t change the world, I can at least change someone’s world”.

Interests: Global Health, Underserved Medicine, Mentorship/Pipelines, Teaching, Social Justice & Advocacy, Humanism in Medicine.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hi everyone! My name is Blanca. I was born and raised in Lima, the capital of Peru. For medical school, I went to Cayetano Heredia Peruvian University. There, I had the opportunity to learn more about medicine for the underserved and how culturally competent care influences people’s health outcomes. During that time, I also volunteered in different communities all around my country, from the Peruvian Andes to the Amazonas Rainforest. Throughout my life, I have had the privilege of working in different medical settings, from private corporations, rural clinics to research, which in the end, has helped me make the decision to dedicate my life to serve underserved communities and pursue a career in Family Medicine. After moving to this country, I applied to the UCLA IMG Program and got accepted. This program allowed me to learn more about the health care disparities in California and made me realize that I wanted to live and work here to serve its people.

The Family Medicine Program at UCLA is great. You have the chance to work in academic and community settings, with people from different backgrounds and from all over the world. Most importantly, UCLA gives you the opportunity to serve underserved communities and to advocate for them. UCLA also teaches you how to address health disparities as a physician. I am humbled and grateful for the opportunity to work here with such an incredible group of people. The most astonishing thing that I realized during residency is what a great job they do during recruitment. Even though we are from different backgrounds, all my co-interns and residents share the same passions and values that I do. They also are supportive, hardworking, and know how to have fun!

Outside of Medicine, I like to play sports outdoors, go to the gym, bake pastries/cakes and read. Living in LA will definitely influence your hobbies, too! I now love going to the beach, watching the amazing sunsets that Santa Monica offers, and exploring the culinary scene around the city. If you have any questions about the program, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Interests: Underserved Medicine, Global Health, Public Health, Technology in Healthcare, Immigrant Health.

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hi friends! My name is Marissa and I am a proud third generation Angeleña. My husband Tony and I have a huge extended family all over Los Angeles, and we are so grateful to be back home! I went to UC Berkeley where I majored in Public Health, and had the opportunity to live in Ghana and study maternal and reproductive health. After college I worked at the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and helped conduct research on maternal health disparities and inequities in LA County. I had the privilege to conduct interviews with women who experienced abortions, stillbirths, and infant losses, and I discovered my passion for narrative and qualitative research. Wanting to build on this experience, I completed a Master of Science in Public Health at Johns Hopkins. I spent time living in Tanzania and participating in community based participatory research to evaluate a national maternal and child community health worker program. After graduate school I moved back to Santa Monica and worked for three wonderful years as a researcher at the RAND Corporation, learning more about healthcare policy and delivery.

After these adventures, I somehow convinced my husband to leave LA once more and move to San Francisco for medical school! Throughout medical school, I felt called to Family and Community Medicine as a discipline uniquely born out of a history of social change and advocacy, and centered in relationships, which for me, are at the very core of medicine—the root where all healing begins. When I interviewed at UCLA, I felt this shared vision, even through Zoom. I am thrilled to have been welcomed into the UCLA Family Medicine community. One day, I would love to do a fellowship in Palliative Medicine and provide both bilingual Spanish primary and palliative care within LA.

My most favorite combination of things is outdoor live music, good food, and good people, so naturally the Hollywood Bowl is my happy place.

Interests: Palliative Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, Urban Underserved Medicine, Street Medicine, Addiction Medicine, all things community

Pronouns: he/him/his

Hey yall! My name is Jerome, and I grew up on a farm in rural western Kentucky. I went to the University of Louisville for college (Go Cards!), where I studied Spanish and liberal arts while completing the pre-requisites for medical school. After returning from a study abroad and backpacking stint around South America during my sophomore year, I began to volunteer as a medical interpreter at a local free clinic. This was the experience that let me visualize a path for advancing social justice as a doctor and solidified my interest in Family Medicine.

After college, I took a gap year to live in Madrid, Spain, and frolic around Europe before returning to Louisville for medical school. I loved patient care even as a pre-clinical student, but it soon became clear that healthcare at the individual level was not going to solve the systemic issues that contribute to poor health outcomes and health disparities. I got actively involved in the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Medical Association, where I’ve learned how to write policy and leverage our physician voices to advocate for big-picture change. I look forward to stepping up my advocacy efforts in the future.

There are so many things I love about UCLA Family Medicine that make the program a great fit for me: among them, the privilege of caring for wonderful patients from underserved communities across LA, the opportunity to practice in academic and community settings while teaching medical students, and the joy of spending time with my amazing co-residents. Outside of medicine, I like to hike, run, play sports, go on coffee dates, and dance (poorly but confidently). I’ve also shamelessly picked up the SoCal pastimes of going to the beach, roller blading, and sand volleyball, which have contributed to my wellness as much as to my base tan. I doubt there’s a better city out there for me! If you're an applicant, please feel free to reach out to me anytime with questions about the program, living in LA, etc. I know you’ll love it here as much as we all do!

Interests: LGBTQ+ Health, gender-affirming care, addiction medicine, primary care for people living with HIV, immigrant health, global health

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hi there! My name is Meron. I was born in Ethiopia—the land of 13 months of sunshine (long story short, we have our own calendar where every month is 30 days except for the last one where it’s either 5 or 6 days). At the age of 12, I moved to Arlington, VA with my immediate family. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Richmond where I studied Biology and Health care studies. More importantly, I was introduced to the world of global health and public health. I also participated in extracurricular activities that further fueled why I wanted to pursue medicine—to care for the underserved within the community. It opened my eyes to the cracks within our healthcare system where the people who need care the most, lack access. I went to the undeniably beautiful (yet cold) state of Michigan for Medical School. I ultimately chose family medicine because it would equip me with the broad skill sets necessary to provide personalized care for people of all ages and backgrounds. Moreover, family medicine would allow me to blend my interests in global health, behavioral health, and addiction medicine.

Applying to residency during the pandemic had its own challenges—one of them being assessing for fit on a virtual platform. I was so relieved when the UCLA residents made me feel at home during the social. This sentiment continued all throughout the interview day. Now that I’m here, surrounded by my amazing co-interns, I can’t help but feel immensely grateful and excited to be a part of the UCLA family.

On my down time, you can find me exploring the diverse food scene in LA/cooking, going to the beach, strolling down Costco isles, traveling (pre-pandemic) or simply watching TV.

Interests: Underserved Medicine, Global Health, Behavioral Health, Addiction Medicine and Mentorship

Pronouns: she/her/hers

HI EVERYONE! I’m Alexandria but everyone calls me Alex. I’m originally from Irvine in Orange County and have spent all my life here in sunny southern California! I went to undergrad at California State University, Fullerton where I played basketball and was a health science major. I later went to medical school at Charles R Drew University and fell in love with Los Angeles.

I have always been interested in caring for underserved populations and knew that was something I would continue as a medical student. During my 4 years of medical school I was very involved in the UCLA Student Run Homeless Clinic and spent most of my free time caring for people experiencing homelessness. These clinics were the highlight of my medical school journey! I was able to meet some amazing patients who taught me lots about medicine and our healthcare system. These clinics showed me the importance of preventative medicine, primary care, continuity of care, and building longitudinal relationships with patients. I was able to find all those things and more during my Family Medicine rotation and knew I had found the right specialty for me!

My favorite things about the UCLA FM program are the diversity in patient population, the two different continuity clinic settings and the wide variety of patient cases. I believe the training I will receive in this program will prepare me to confidently serve in an urban underserved area after residency.

Outside of medicine I enjoy hanging out with family and friends, traveling, going to the beach, trying new restaurants, hiking and camping!

Interests: Street Medicine, Women’s Health, Global Health, Preventative Medicine, Community Medicine, Academic Medicine, Mentorship

Pronouns: she/her/hers

Hi! I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona until I headed to Tucson, AZ for undergrad at U of Arizona (go Wildcats!). Between undergrad and medical school, I really wanted to become fluent in Spanish and was fortunate enough to live and work in public health research in Cuernavaca, México. Although sad to leave the wonderful friends I made and my favorite foods, I was ecstatic to begin medical school in Washington, D.C. I remember flying in from Arizona and was so amazed by all of the lush greenery (I never got over it!). I had my first snow day ever, got into biking all year round to really take in the seasons, and discovered my passion for advocacy work. I might miss the seasons, but I am definitely excited to be so close to the beach with perfect biking weather every day now! Since moving to LA, every day I ask myself the same question when opening my front door, “how is it a perfect day yet again!?”

I am incredibly grateful, humbled, and excited to be starting my residency in Family Medicine at UCLA. I am passionate about providing quality and accessible medicine to historically excluded/neglected communities to reduce health inequities. I am also extremely interested in women’s health, reproductive justice, and procedures. I love the breadth of Family Medicine and the opportunities to work in partnership with the communities we serve to advocate for everyone’s opportunity to be well. Being able to explore these interests during residency, feel supported by my program, become colleagues and friends with such an incredible group of interns, while having amazing weather for biking, is why I wanted to train at UCLA.

In my free time, I enjoy being outside! I love riding my bike (or new roller blades) along the beach, playing ultimate frisbee (or really any sport outdoors), hanging out with friends, and playing board games. I also enjoy trying new foods and wine and am excited to check out the food scene in such a big city like LA.

Interests: human rights, community medicine, women’s health, POCUS