Education
COM: Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM)
Residency Program: PIH Health Downey Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program, Downey, CA
Where do you currently practice and what is the setting and population you serve?
I currently work at back at my alma mater, TUCOM! I am chair of the Clinical Sciences and Community Health Department at the school, where I serve the students. For my clinic day, I work at Community Medical Centers in Stockton (an FHQC), the St. Joseph's Family Medicine Residency Clinic, where I precept family medicine residents and serve an underserved population.
Why did you choose family medicine?
While applying for medical school, although not completely sure yet, I thought that I might want to be an osteopathic family physician. As a physician, I’ve wanted to be there not just for the individual patient, but for the entire family unit. I’ve seen how important it is to care for patients as whole people—within the context of their families, their communities, and their environments. Family medicine gives me the chance to do just that, and in a way that feels very true to osteopathic principles.
In my first and second years of medical school, I joined ACOFP. Attending ACOFP conferences and meeting many osteopathic family physicians from ACOFP helped solidify that this was what I wanted to do. Then came rotations. I loved the variety of patients I was able to care for, the connections I built, the challenge of the clinical decision-making, and the hands-on procedures that kept each day dynamic and engaging. I found myself excited by each one, and kept going back to my mentor, Dr. Alesia Wagner, saying, “I want to do that!” Then came the question: what specialty would allow me to incorporate all the parts I loved from every rotation? Family medicine, of course! And that became the anchor!
What is a typical day like in your life as a new physician-in-practice?
Every day is different and I feel like I get to do a little bit of everything. That's probably why I love it so much! I not only get to care for patients, but also teach students and residents, learn from colleagues, and collaborate on ways to continually evolve how we teach and practice medicine in a changing healthcare environment. Through this work, I’ve also been able to contribute to the community, stay engaged with organizations like ACOFP, and advocate for physicians, residents, students, and most importantly, our patients.
What committee or leadership role do you hold and what role/s have you held in the past?
I've been a student, resident, and physician delegate over the years ACOFP-CA at Congress of Delegates. Secretary of the National Student Exec Board of SAACOFP, President of the National Student Exec Board of SAACOFP, Student Representative for ACOFP Medical Outreach Committee, Chair of the ACOFP Resident Council, Chair and Vice Chair of the ACOFP New Physicians Committee, New Physicians Liaison to the ACOFP CME Conference Advisory Committee and ACOFP Annual Convention Workgroup. I also help out at ACOFP-CA during conferences at student/resident events.
Volunteering gave me the opportunity to contribute meaningfully at every stage—as a student, resident, and now as a physician. Through volunteering, I’ve also gained mentors and friends (including friends from different states, and we make a point to meet up at every ACOFP event). I’m so thankful for the many physician mentors who have supported and guided me--and others—through our medical journeys, and who continue to do so even now. I’ve seen firsthand how powerful it is when individual physicians come together to support each other and the osteopathic family medicine profession. It’s something we really need, especially as we adapt to an evolving healthcare environment and work to care for our patients in the best way possible.
I hope to keep giving back—by mentoring students and residents, and supporting my fellow physicians—just as others have done for me.
What is your one word of advice to residents?
Be open, keep learning, accept help, and offer help.
If you could meet one famous dead person, who would it be?
Not someone famous, but my grandfather on my dad’s side. I’m grateful to have grown up with three of my grandparents, and one of them is still with us today. But I never had the chance to meet my paternal grandfather, and I would’ve loved to. I think it would’ve been really meaningful to hear his story and get to know him.
On a less serious note, and actually more aligned to the question: J.R.R. Tolkien. I love his work, especially the Lord of the Rings series; his imagination and depth of world-building is incredible. I would love to hear from him more about the world he created.
