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Residents at Harbor-UCLA

Where They Studied, What They Like, and More

Class of 2025

Aslam Akhtar

Aslam Akhtar, MD, PhD

  • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Irvine
  • Graduate Schools: University of California, Irvine & Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
  • Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
  • Favorite LA spot: Biking the Strand
  • Hobbies: Construction, gardening, rooting for the Raiders
  • Next Adventure: Living (and hunting) in woods of the Pacific Northwest for a week
Elizabeth Avakoff

Elizabeth Avakoff, DO, MPH

  • Hometown: Foster City, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
  • Graduate School: Boston University School of Public Health
  • Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Crescent Bay Point Park
  • Hobbies: Exploring the outdoors, hitting the gym, trying a new food spot or brewery, cooking, traveling
  • Next Adventure: Grand Canyon
John Bosco

John Bosco, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: Yorktown Heights, New York
  • Undergraduate: Boston University
  • Graduate School: Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health
  • Medical School: New York Medical College
  • Favorite LA spot: Beach Path
  • Hobbies: Playing music, rock climbing, scuba diving, surfing, tennis, rollerblading
  • Next Adventure: Cenotes-Tulum, Mexico
Matthew Casarico

Matthew Casarico, MD

  • Hometown: St. Augustine, Florida
  • Undergraduate: Florida State University
  • Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Manhattan Beach Pier
  • Hobbies: Surfing, guitar/music production, hiking, chilling with my dog
  • Next Adventure: Huntington Gardens
Melody Fang, MD

Melody Fang, MD

  • Hometown: Fremont, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Irvine
  • Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science
  • Favorite LA spot: Disneyland (yes I know, technically Anaheim)
  • Hobbies: Playing basketball, watching sports (mainly football and basketball), sunbathing at the beach, hiking
  • Next Adventure: Yosemite or Zion
Natalie Hernandez, MD, MPH

Natalie Hernandez, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: Tucson, Arizona; San Francisco, California; Washington DC
  • Undergraduate: Stanford University
  • Graduate School: Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
  • Medical School: University of California, San Francisco
  • Favorite LA spot: Redondo Beach at sunset
  • Hobbies: Dancing, soccer, petting dogs (wish I had one!), arts and crafts (lately cross-stitching)
  • Next Adventure: Would love to travel somewhere tropical with delicious food
Lyolya Hovhannisyan, MD, MSc

Lyolya Hovhannisyan, MD, MSc

  • Hometown: Yerevan, Armenia/Glendale, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Graduate School: University of California, San Francisco
  • Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Sunset at the beach
  • Hobbies: Rollerblading, etymology, hiking/camping, hammocking, music & arts
  • Next Adventure: Hop to Banff/Patagonia/Mount Ararat
Dan Im, MD

Dan Im, MD

  • Hometown: South Korea/Gardena, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Ohshima, all the restaurants in Koreatown, Palos Verdes
  • Hobbies: Netflix, exploring restaurants and leaving Yelp reviews, road trips, photography
  • Next Adventure: Food trip to Japan or Mexico!
Aaron Katrikh, MD

Aaron Katrikh, MD

  • Hometown: West Hollywood, California
  • Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
  • Medical School: Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center
  • Favorite LA spot: The beach with my co-residents
  • Hobbies: Music production and DJing, Hiking, Travel, Swimming
  • Next Adventure: Any National Park

Kenneth Lee, MD

  • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
  • Undergraduate: Northwestern University
  • Medical School: Northwestern University, The Feinberg School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: TNT Aloha Café
  • Hobbies: Running, snowboarding, basketball (UCLA, Lakers), golf (I am terrible and despite my best efforts, am not improving), photography, hanging out with my family and our dog Andie
  • Next Adventure: The motherland (Korea!)
Nicholas Macaluso, MD

Nicholas Macaluso, MD

  • Hometown: Merrick, New York
  • Undergraduate: Tufts University
  • Medical School: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
  • Favorite LA spot: I’m happiest when going for a long run on the Ballona Creek Bike Path!
  • Hobbies: I’m a runner, I’m always checking out different beaches, and I love trying new (vegetarian) foods! Also enjoy goin to the movies and chilling out at home, usually watching Survivor
  • Next Adventure: Hope to make it back to Italy to explore Florence!
Bradley McIntyre, MD

Bradley McIntyre, MD

  • Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio
  • Undergraduate: Ohio State University
  • Medical School: Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center
  • Favorite LA spot: Dave’s Hot Chicken- any location
  • Hobbies: Biking, visiting national parks, musicals, fancy restaurants/dive bars
  • Next Adventure: Hiking/camping Mt. Rainier National Park
Niresh Perera, MD

Niresh Perera, MD

  • Hometown: Northridge, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Riverside
  • Medical School: University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Reseda Point & Mulholland Drive Views
  • Hobbies: Beach, Hiking, Volleyball, Smash Bros., Pokémon, Breweries, Friendship
  • Next Adventure: Would love to travel to Hawaii or Japan
Karen Tate, MD

Karen Tate, MD

  • Hometown: Torrance, California
  • Undergraduate: California Lutheran University
  • Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Any beach!
  • Hobbies: Running, spending time outside, going on adventures with my son and husband.
  • Next Adventure: Disneyland!
Joyce Wahba, MD

Joyce Wahba, MD

  • Hometown: Cupertino, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
  • Medical School: University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Hermosa Beach Volleyball Courts
  • Hobbies: Volleyball, hiking, low budget traveling, trying new foods, basically anything that involves friendship
  • Next Adventure: Southeast Asia is next on the bucket list!
Joshua Wasmund, MD

Joshua Wasmund, MD

  • Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
  • Undergraduate: University of Memphis
  • Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Option 1
  • Hobbies: Hiking, Dog stuff, Dungeon’s and Dragons (and any table-top nerdy game with friends), running, climbing
  • Next Adventure: Backpacking full Smoky Mountain portion of the AT

Class of 2026

Lisa Bell, MD

Lisa Bell, MD

  • Hometown: Torrance, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Davis
  • Medical School: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Portuguese Bend Reserve for hiking!
  • Hobbies: Hiking, Biking, Camping, Working out, pretty much anything with exercise + nature is good with me 🙂
  • Next Adventure: Trekking in Patagonia! but also probably some other hiking trips with my co-residents before then 🙂
  • EM Interests: Global Health, Quality Improvement
Tiffany Fan, MD

Tiffany Fan, MD

  • Hometown: Pasadena, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of Southern California
  • Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Favorite LA spot: PV Cliffs overlooking the Portuguese Bend at sunset
  • Hobbies: Exploring LA’s music scene (especially house/techno), acrylic pour painting, collecting vinyl records, picnics at the beach, lounging & overcaffeinating at coffee shops
  • EM Interests: Social EM, med ed, advocacy, ultrasound
  • Next Adventure: Hoping to meet my extended family in Sao Paulo, Brazil!
Cesar S. Fortuna, MD

Cesar S. Fortuna, MD

  • Hometown: San Bernardino, CA
  • Undergraduate: California State University, San Bernardino
  • Medical School: University of California, Riverside
  • Favorite LA spot: Chilling out on Venice beach
  • Hobbies: Going to breweries, hanging with friends, rewatching the Office and HIMYM
  • EM Interests: Ultrasound, Social EM, Critical care
  • Next Adventure: Going to New Orleans for a bachelor party!
Fernando S. Gonzalez, MD

Fernando S. Gonzalez, MD

  • Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: Albert Einstein COM
  • Favorite LA spot: El Rey Theater or Redondo Beach
  • Hobbies: all things sports (basketball, spikeball, tennis, ping pong, snowboarding mostly), music (Spotify rabbit holes, mixing, shows), bothering my cat
  • EM Interests: Ultrasound
  • Next Adventure: Wherever the music is good
Haydar Ibrahim, MD

Haydar Ibrahim, MD

  • Hometown: Erbil, Iraq
  • Undergraduate: University of Colorado, Denver
  • Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Dayglow for the best coffee!
  • Hobbies: Photography, cooking, travel, soccer, basketball, watching anime
  • EM Interests: Social EM, global health
  • Next Adventure: Going to South Korea and Japan!
Bhavya Kumar, MD

J. Hunter Jackson, MD

  • Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Undergraduate: Claremont McKenna College
  • Medical School: University of California, San Francisco
  • Favorite LA spot: Culver Steps
  • Hobbies: Running, reading, tennis, golf, wishing I had a dog, trying new restaurants, and traveling any chance I get
  • EM Interests: Administration, quality improvement, and social EM
  • Next Adventure: Japan? New Zealand? Burning Man?!
Bhavya Kumar, MD

Bhavya Kumar, MD

  • Hometown: Renton, WA
  • Undergraduate: University of Washington
  • Medical School: University of Washington SOM
  • Favorite LA spot: Redondo Beach at sunset with a scoop of Handel’s ice cream
  • Hobbies: Dancing, cooking, exploring new music and foods
  • EM Interests: Social EM, Critical Care
  • Next Adventure: Learning to find happiness in life’s little joys
Stephen Macaspac, MD

Stephen Macaspac, MD

  • Hometown: Kapolei, Hawaii
  • Undergraduate: University of Hawaii at Manoa
  • Medical School:University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Ali’i Fish Company
  • Hobbies: Piano, travel, reading, beach volleyball with my co-residents, trying new food, spending time with friends and family
  • EM Interests: MedEd, Critical care, Social EM
  • Next Adventure: Japan in cherry blossom season!
Maddie Mori, MD

Maddie Mori, MD

  • Hometown: Gilroy, CA
  • Undergraduate: Gordon College
  • Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona
  • Favorite LA spot: Mount Baldy
  • Hobbies: Ocean activities including kayaking, surfing, swimming; backpacking, hiking, rock climbing, gardening, reading and listening to music!
  • EM Interests: Wilderness Medicine
  • Next Adventure: Salmon fishing on the Columbia River!
Mai Riquier, MD

Mai Riquier, MD

  • Hometown: Longmeadow, MA
  • Undergraduate:University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • Favorite LA spot: The beach!
  • Hobbies: music (I play violin!), eating good food, traveling, discovering new adventures with friends
  • EM Interests: Medical education, EMS
  • Next Adventure: Visiting the national parks that the west coast has to offer!
Jolene Nguyen-Cuu, MD

Jolene Nguyen-Cuu, MD

  • Hometown: Villa Park, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: University of California, Riverside
  • Favorite LA spot: Staples Center
  • Hobbies: Snowboarding, traveling, event planning, yoga, board games, escape rooms
  • EM Interests: Social EM, Med Ed, Event Medicine
  • Next Adventure: Banff
Kylie Prentice, MD

Kylie Prentice, MD

  • Hometown: Redondo Beach, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: University of California, Irvine
  • Favorite LA spot: El burrito jr. on PCH
  • Hobbies: Surfing, dogs, breweries, cookie dough, LA sports teams, hiking, reading, cheese
  • EM Interests: Social EM, ultrasound, sports med
  • Next Adventure: Hawaii
Aislinn McMillan, MD

Aislinn McMillan, MD

  • Hometown: Washington DC
  • Undergraduate: Northwestern University
  • Medical School: University of California, San Diego
  • Favorite LA spot: The beach!
  • Hobbies: Hiking and backpacking, paddle boarding, live music, traveling
  • EM Interests: International EM, Ultrasound, Wilderness
  • Next Adventure: Backpacking in Banff
Vivek Shah, MD

Vivek Shah, MD

  • Hometown: Chino, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of Southern California
  • Medical School:David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
  • Favorite LA spot: Malibu Lagoon
  • Hobbies: Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Weightlifting, Cooking, looking for that next great Taco spot, and getting lost in bookstores
  • EM Interests: Critical care, palliative care, and medical education
  • Next Adventure: Banff!
Lily Stokoe, MD

Lily Stokoe, MD

  • Hometown: Harrison, NY
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: SUNY Downstate
  • Favorite LA spot: The beach for runs and volleyball (always with lots and lots of sunscreen!!)
  • Hobbies: Volleyball, bar trivia, finding new drink/food spots, running, reading, and going to the movies
  • EM Interests: Med Ed and SIM
  • Next Adventure:Heading to England to visit family and catch a Newcastle United game!
Corey Young, MD

Corey Young, MD

  • Hometown: South Pasadena, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego
  • Medical School: California University of Science and Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Modan Artisanal Ramen
  • Hobbies: Rock climbing, Rubik’s cubes, volleyball, video games
  • EM Interests: Ultrasound, ultrasound, ultrasound, medical education
  • Next Adventure: Go lead climbing outdoors!

Class of 2027

Arjan Abar, MD, MBA

Arjan Abar, MD, MBA

  • Hometown:  Chicago, Illinois
  • Undergraduate: University of Michigan
  • Medical School: Harvard Medical School
  • Favorite LA spot: Marugame Udon in Sawtelle
  • Hobbies: Finding LA’s best breakfast burrito, Super Smash Bros, Basketball, English Premier League, Bonsai, Cooking with my family/friends
  • EM Interests: Global Health, Operations Management
  • Next Adventure: Japan!

Brooke Clemmensen, MD

  • Hometown: Reno, Nevada
  • Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
  • Medical School: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: I am new to LA and am excited to pick up all beach-related activities!
  • Hobbies: All things outdoors, arts & crafts, reading, gardening, learning Spanish
  • EM Interests: Social EM, Informatics
  • Next Adventure: Backcountry skiing in the Eastern Sierra
Veronica Gonzalez, MD

Veronica Gonzalez, MD

  • Hometown: Gardena, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: Charles Drew University/UCLA
  • Favorite LA spot: Bar Flores, Paradise Bowl, Walking at Hermosa Beach Pier
  • Hobbies: Going to happy hour with friends, crocheting accessories and stuffed animals, going to concerts, hanging out with my family
  • EM Interests: Ultrasound, Social EM, MedEd
  • Next Adventure: Going on a Europe trip with my sisters!
Aileen Guillen, MD

Aileen Guillen, MD

  • Hometown: Cerritos, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Santa Barbara
  • Medical School: University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Any of the beaches at sunset!
  • Hobbies: Hiking, Snowboarding, Scuba diving, Skating, Traveling, Coffee, and Tacos
  • EM Interests: Social EM, Ultrasound, Global Health
  • Next Adventure: Italy in the fall
Erika Hollywood, DO

Erika Hollywood, DO

  • Hometown: Vista, California
  • Undergraduate: Oregon State University
  • Medical School: A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona
  • Favorite LA spot: Hollywood Hills of course 😉
  • Hobbies: Surfing, Yoga, Soccer, Rollerblading, Playing outside, Going to live music, Puzzles, Traveling
  • EM Interests: Sports Medicine, Pain Management, Critical Care, Social EM
  • Next Adventure: Sayulita, Mexico
Cynthia Luo, MD

Cynthia Luo, MD

  • Hometown: Cos Cob, Connecticut
  • Undergraduate: Harvard University
  • Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Favorite LA spot: Griffith Park, Koreatown for naengmyeon
  • Hobbies: Cooking/baking for friends and family, Hiking and being in nature, Thrifting, Singing, Used bookstores
  • EM Interests: Women’s Health, International EM, Palliative Care, Education
  • Next Adventure: West Coast national parks! (Sequoia, Yosemite, Mount Rainier)

Meg Maeda, MD

  • Hometown: Torrance, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego
  • Medical School: University of California, Davis School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Rocketship Park at sunset
  • Hobbies: Traveling, Hiking, Skydiving, Aquascaping my betta fish tank
  • EM Interests: Social EM, EMS, Ultrasound
  • Next Adventure: Kyushu and Shikoku, Japan!
Brendan McIntyre, MD, MBA

Brendan McIntyre, MD, MBA

  • Hometown: Syracuse, New York
  • Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
  • Graduate School: University of California, San Diego Rady School of Management
  • Medical School: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Malibu
  • Hobbies: CrossFit, Running, Skiing, Surfing, National parks, House music, Dancing, Dog owner
  • EM Interests: Health equity, Medical education, Medical technology, Administration
  • Next Adventure: CDMX
Holly Mulinder, MD, MPH

Holly Mulinder, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: London, England
  • Undergraduate: Southern Methodist University
  • Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center
  • Favorite LA spot: Our rooftop – especially at sunset
  • Hobbies: Yoga – personal practice & teaching, Pilates, Reading, Traveling, Music, Chasing sunsets, House plants, Spending time with nature
  • EM Interests: Social EM, Global Health
  • Next Adventure: Off to Bali for yoga and surfing
Devika Nadkarni, MD

Devika Nadkarni, MD

  • Hometown: Bangalore, India
  • Undergraduate: Boston University
  • Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
  • Favorite LA spot: Any and all piers along the beach! Also bloom and plume coffee by Echo Park
  • Hobbies: Yoga, Lifting, Cooking, Reading
  • EM Interests: Social EM, Street Medicine, Global Health, Women’s Health
  • Next Adventure: Italy!
Gilbert Nalula, MD

Gilbert Nalula, MD

  • Hometown: Ifugao, Philippines & Elk Grove, CA
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
  • Medical School: University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Howlin’ Rays then Kansha Creamery for dessert
  • Hobbies: Fitness, Travel, Finding local food spots wherever I go
  • EM Interests: Global Health, Social EM, Ultrasound
  • Next Adventure: Cebu & Palawan in the Philippines!
Heather Ngai, MS, MD

Heather Ngai, MS, MD

  • Hometown: Burlingame, California
  • Undergraduate: Tufts University
  • Graduate School: Touro University California
  • Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Paseo Miramar Trail, Found Oyster for a splurge meal
  • Hobbies: Hiking, Pilates, Discovering new restaurants, Traveling
  • EM Interests: Social EM, Ultrasound
  • Next Adventure: Morocco!
Priya Rajan, MD

Priya Rajan, MD

  • Hometown: Thousand Oaks, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot:Palos Verdes beach cliffs at sunset!
  • Hobbies: Making and drinking copious amounts of coffee, Reading, Sleeping, Wordle-ing, Swimming, Hiking, Peloton-ing, Yoga-ing, Watching sunrises/sets around the world
  • EM Interests: Medical Education, Social EM, EMS
  • Next Adventure: Budapest, Prague, & Vienna!
Sahar Rammaha, DO

Sahar Rammaha, DO

  • Hometown: Detroit, Michigan
  • Undergraduate: Oakland University
  • Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Malibu beach and any of the little hiking trails! Coffee shops (check out chitchat coffee)
  • Hobbies: Hiking, Gym, Biking, Doing my nails, Hanging with friends, Watching trash reality TV (i.e, Selling Sunset, 90 Day Fiancé, Love Island, etc.)
  • EM Interests: Social EM, EMS, Disaster Medicine
  • Next Adventure: My sister’s wedding in October!
Sofia Salahpour, MD, MPH

Sofia Salahpour, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: Dominical, Costa Rica & Sacramento, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
  • Graduate School: Keck School of Medicine of USC
  • Medical School: California University of Science and Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: The beach!
  • Hobbies: Soccer, Beach, Music, Travel, Tacos
  • EM Interests: Social EM, Global Health, Health Policy & Advocacy
  • Next Adventure: Cliff jumping in Cyprus & Turkey
Kelsey Thompson, MD

Kelsey Thompson, MD

  • Hometown: Denver, Colorado
  • Undergraduate: Willamette University
  • Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
  • Favorite LA spot: Anywhere with tacos and a view
  • Hobbies: Reading, Hiking, Skiing, Climbing, Classical music, Board games
  • EM Interests: Critical Care, Global Health (Systems Development/Response – probably planning on MPH sometime), Social EM (asylum, migration)
  • Next Adventure: Learning to surf

Class of 2028

Kendra Arriaga-Castellanos, MD

Kendra Arriaga-Castellanos, MD

  • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Favorite LA spot: Black Market Flea in South LA, Stormburger in Inglewood, Crossroads thrift in Culver City, any and all beaches
  • Hobbies: Gym girly, yoga, pilates, futbol, hiking, thrifting, exploring coffee shops, singing when I don’t know the lyrics
  • EM Interests: Global Health, Social EM
  • Next Adventure: 2026 World Cup
Josh Chronis, MD

Josh Chronis, MD

  • Hometown: Lancaster, California
  • Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
  • Medical School: Wayne State School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: I’m always finding new spots but currently it’s Abalone Cove in Palos Verdes
  • Hobbies: Skateboarding, surfing, snorkeling, hiking, snowboarding or whatever else gets me outside
  • EM Interests: Wilderness med
  • Next Adventure: Currently planning a Southeast Asia trip!
Aya Ghoneum, MD, MPH

Aya Ghoneum, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: Los Angeles, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Koreatown
  • Hobbies: Thrifting, surfing (but actually wiping out), swimming, trying new coffee shops, traveling, movies and of course eating
  • EM Interests: Disaster Medicine and Social EM!
  • Next Adventure: Japan to visit family 🙂
Diana Guijarro Gaete, MD

Diana Guijarro Gaete, MD

  • Hometown: Quito, Ecuador & Downey, California
  • Undergraduate: San Diego State University
  • Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Art District
  • Hobbies: Dancing (especially Latin music), huge soccer fan of Real Madrid and Ecuador national team , yoga, hiking, beach, gym, traveling, happy hour, exploring new restaurants, reality TV
  • EM Interests: Diversity in medicine, social EM, ultrasound, global health, pediatrics
  • Next Adventure: Skydiving
Sarah Haider, MD

Sarah Haider, MD

  • Hometown: St Louis, Missouri
  • Undergraduate: St. Louis University
  • Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Ranchos Palos Verdes Trails
  • Hobbies: Attempting to surf, snowboarding, trail-running, camping, backpacking, chaotic traveling, watching horror films, thrifting, cooking without a recipe
  • EM Interests: Social EM, EMS/Disaster Medicine, Narrative Medicine
  • Next Adventure: Backpacking in South America
Marlekah Hudspeth, MD

Marlekah Hudspeth, MD

  • Hometown: Gardena, California
  • Undergraduate: Tuskegee University
  • Medical School: University of California, Riverside
  • Favorite LA spot: Monty’s Good Burger
  • Hobbies: Skating, reading, running, reality TV
  • EM Interests: Pediatric EM
  • Next Adventure: Puerto Rico for the new year!
Chetiwe Kapila, MD

Chetiwe Kapila, MD

  • Hometown: Yuba City, California
  • Undergraduate: Pacific Union College
  • Medical School: Loma Linda School of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: Love being so close to all the beaches here!
  • Hobbies: Concerts, audiobooks, trying new foods, traveling
  • EM Interests: Global Health, Social EM
  • Next Adventure: Peru!
Lauren Lopez, MD

Lauren Lopez, MD

  • Hometown: Chino Hills, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Riverside
  • Medical School: University of California, Riverside
  • Favorite LA spot: Griffith Observatory
  • Hobbies: Traveling, thrifting, running, roller blading, adopting as many plants as my apartment allows, finding the best matcha latte in Southern California
  • EM Interests: Pediatrics and Ultrasound
  • Next Adventure: Tijuana for some food and fun!
Breeanna Messner, MD

Breeanna Messner, MD

  • Hometown: Coupeville, Washington
  • Undergraduate: San Diego State University
  • Medical School: Washington State University Elson S Floyd College of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: The beach! and the Marvin Braude trail
  • Hobbies: Spending time outside, running, hiking, yoga, sharing my hobbies with friends and having them share their hobbies with me!
  • EM Interests: Social EM, prehospital medicine, wilderness medicine
  • Next Adventure: Portugal is next on the list!
Vivek N. Shah, MD

Vivek N. Shah, MD

  • Hometown: East Rockaway, New York
  • Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
  • Medical School: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
  • Favorite LA spot: Laguna Beach
  • Hobbies: Photography, Weightlifting, Cooking, Music
  • EM Interests: Geriatrics, Social EM, Addiction Medicine
  • Next Adventure: A trip to Mexico City!
Melissa Sheber, MD, MS

Melissa Sheber, MD, MS

  • Hometown: Norwalk, Iowa
  • Undergraduate: Iowa State University
  • Graduate School: Iowa State University
  • Medical School: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
  • Favorite LA spot: I am new to LA but have been loving all the beach time so far!
  • Hobbies: Exploring new food places with my wife, spending time with our pets, Crossfit, rock climbing, hiking, biking, camping, making bagels
  • EM Interests: MedEd, Social EM, Critical Care
  • Next Adventure: Exploring all the hikes and places to camp nearby!
Karla Tlatelpa, MD, MPH

Karla Tlatelpa, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: Mexico City, Mexico & Fremont, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
  • Graduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Favorite LA spot: Any hike with an ocean view
  • Hobbies: Dancing with friends, happy hours, drinking iced coffee while window shopping, forcing my husband to leave the house, cuddling my dog
  • EM Interests: Social EM
  • Next Adventure: Día de Los Muertos in Oaxaca
Colin Wang, MD

Colin Wang, MD

  • Hometown: Millbrae, California
  • Undergraduate: University of California, Davis
  • Medical School: University of California, Los Angeles
  • Favorite LA spot: Any one of the beautiful concert and sports venues in LA
  • Hobbies: Adding new restaurants on my Beli account, concerts/festivals, NBA basketball (Warriors and UCLA), and a good game night.
  • EM Interests: Harm reduction, medical education, and sports medicine
  • Next Adventure: Australia and Southeast Asia
Justine Wang, MD

Justine Wang, MD

  • Hometown: Macungie, Pennsylvania
  • Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh
  • Medical School: University of Pennsylvania
  • Favorite LA spot: Palos Verdes Coastline Trail to look for dolphins
  • Hobbies: Sunset walks by ocean, hiking, stargazing, tennis, watching college basketball, finding the best boba spots
  • EM Interests: Ultrasound, medical education
  • Next Adventure: Solo travel to Japan
Danni Yang, MD, MPH

Danni Yang, MD, MPH

  • Hometown: Beijing, China
  • Undergraduate: University of Texas at Dallas
  • Graduate School: UT Houston School of Public Health
  • Medical School: UT Houston – McGovern Medical School
  • Favorite LA spot: Still new to LA but I love Palos Verdes so far and can’t wait to explore more!
  • Hobbies: Travel, beach volleyball, reading, hiking, pickleball, and exploring new places with friends!
  • EM Interests: Medical education, Admin, Women’s health
  • Next Adventure: Traveling – hopefully internationally!
Luke Yeager, MD

Luke Yeager, MD

  • Hometown: Colorado Springs, Colorado
  • Undergraduate: University of Colorado Boulder
  • Medical School: Rush Medical College
  • Favorite LA spot: Anywhere where the waves are good, followed by a breakfast burrito at Phannys
  • Hobbies: I’ve been embracing LA surf culture down here, otherwise enjoy most outdoor activities including scuba diving, flyfishing, skiing, mountaineering, and running. I also love walking Redondo Beach with my wife and dog, board games, video games, or finding new food spots with friends. Oh, and rooting on the Packers.
  • EM Interests: Out of hospital medicine, whether that is EMS or Wilderness Medicine I am unsure
  • Next Adventure: Mt Rainier or ski descent of some Ecuadorian volcanoes