Daniel Baghdasarian, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA because this program creates a unique opportunity to train in an urban community setting that is not only academically focused but also socially conscious in its approach to patient care. The dedication of the staff and trainees to women’s health in Southern CA was immediately obvious to me, and something I wanted to learn from and contribute to, particularly as a native Californian. The high acuity of care, diverse patient population, compassionate faculty, and strong focus on resident education made me fall in love with the program. “

Joshua Bellisario, D.O.

“I immediately felt a connection to Harbor during my interview. The residents and faculty were so sincere and welcoming, and I felt there was a true sense of family here. I also valued Harbor’s commitment to providing quality care for all. My medical school education was centered around federally qualified health centers, which work to serve the underserved, and I really appreciated training in such a mission-driven environment. I’m very excited to continue that work at Harbor, providing health care and other resources to the people who need it most.”

Lauren Bernal, M.D.

“Why I chose Harbor-UCLA: I was looking for a program that provides care to a diverse and underserved patient population alongside a team of providers that are equally as passionate about serving and underserved population. Additionally, the residents and attendings at Harbor-UCLA genuinely seemed so supportive of one another in their training and life outside of the hospital.”

Margaret English, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA because of the patients, supportive residency community, and the unique opportunities for learning that working in a County system provides. Harbor has countless opportunities for advocacy at both individual and system-wide levels and excellent exposure to complicated cases in a complicated healthcare system. It is privilege to be here, and every day my patients, co-residents, faculty, and the hospital staff remind me why we’re here.”

Kyle Kim, M.D.

“I was drawn to Harbor for residency training foremost for the diversity in patients that we have the privilege to serve. I grew up in a mixed Latinx home and I really saw a lot of folks that reminded me of my own family. I was looking for a program with a large underserved population that puts patients first, collaborates with the surrounding community, and always keeps larger structural inequity in mind. For me, Harbor really spoke to these goals and I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be a part of this family for the next several years.”

May Nguyen, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA because of the program’s mission to provide excellent care to the underserved women of LA county. The faculty and residents are incredibly supportive, compassionate, and hard-working, inspiring me every day to become the best OB/GYN I can be. I feel privileged every day to serve this community and to be back in sunny SoCal!”

Alicia Lunardhi, D.O.

“I was lucky enough to work with some residents and faculty in research throughout medical school as well as rotate here as a sub-I. I witnessed every team members’ dedication to serving our unique and underserved population and the confidence of the residents’ in tackling challenging social and clinical cases in a complex county system. We are also surrounded by fun, enthusiastic faculty that are committed to teaching and supporting our well-being. I felt immediately welcomed as part of the family and can’t wait to continue growing with the program and community! “

Lauren Marcell, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA because of the program’s deep-rooted commitment to underserved communities, opportunity to learn from faculty and co-residents who are emphatically passionate about reproductive justice and advocacy, while training within a county-level healthcare system. I was also drawn to the strong sense of community amongst the residents and the program’s supportive, warm culture. “

Patrick Marta, M.D.

“I chose Harbor because of the genuine care residents & attendings demonstrated for one another; everyone was so welcoming and unapologetically themselves. I was also strongly drawn to the program’s commitment to serving historically & systemically disenfranchised communities.”

Lena Sherif, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA to serve patients of diverse backgrounds. Healthcare is a human right, not a privilege and here at Harbor we have the privilege of taking care of those who are medically disenfranchised. I also chose it for the people, during the interview it was easy to see the genuine bond amongst everyone and I can personally attest it really is one big family here.”

Melissa Toland, M.D.

“It was important for me to go to a residency program that understands the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion that supports and empowers people from various backgrounds. In addition, the program has a commitment to addressing and eliminating structural racism, implicit biases, and other barriers that prevent residents from reaching their full potential. My personal interests include advocacy for marginalized communities, particularly addressing health care inequities that exist for Black women in this field. Harbor-UCLA was an easy decision because this program and residents share the same values. Not only will I receive excellent training, more importantly I will continue to learn how to be a patient advocate for the most vulnerable populations.”

Sahar Zargar, D.O.

“During my Sub-I at Harbor, I quickly realized that patient advocacy is a cornerstone of the program’s values, extending far beyond the hospital and into the community. The unwavering commitment to advocating for the most vulnerable patients at Harbor was truly inspiring. It reaffirmed my belief that holistic patient care goes beyond just medical treatment, and this program’s emphasis on that approach deeply resonated with me. I’m excited and grateful to train at a program that’s driven by camaraderie, support, and a shared commitment to excellence among residents and faculty!”

Wendy Cervantes De Leon, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA because of its commitment to providing care to all patients as a county hospital. I had the privilege to experience how special Harbor is to the community during my rotations as a medical student and feel honored to continue my training here. In my OBGYN sub-internship rotations, I felt the supportive environment created by residents and faculty alike and how my interest in health equity in women’s health aligned well with the program’s mission, making it the perfect fit.”

Xochitl Green, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA because of the program’s values and dedication to helping underserved communities. While doing my sub-I here, I was able to see how committed every team member was to serving our amazing patient population. I love the strong sense of community and how supportive everyone is of one another. I’m so grateful to train at a program that will not only provide me with an excellent education, but also the opportunity to continue advocating for vulnerable patient populations.”

Denise Ornelas, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA because I wanted to join a family of OB/Gyns empowered and committed to providing care to the vulnerable and underserved communities of South Los Angeles. Having served the community as a pre-medical student, I felt a sense of calling to come back and serve the patients who gave me a sense of purpose as a first-generation, Latina in medicine. Not only did I feel very comfortable and welcomed by the faculty during my interview, but I was also drawn to their social responsibility of addressing the social and structural injustices affecting their patients within a safety-net, county hospital. I am also proud to join a space where diversity is valued and where the physician workforce mirrors the diversity in the community. I am honored to return to Harbor-UCLA as a physician and advocate for equitable women’s healthcare in a community that has played such a meaningful role in my trajectory.”

Erika Polanco, M.D.

“After completing my sub-internship at Harbor-UCLA I immediately knew this was the best fit for me. The residents are a welcoming family, excited to teach and learn, and a group of physicians I desired to call co-workers. Their diligent care of complex patients left a lasting impression of what I desired for my training. Receiving the opportunity to work for the diverse patient population at Harbor-UCLA deeply resonated with me. As a Latinx physician, it feels like a privilege to serve a community reminiscent of my own family. I’m excited and grateful to train within a program that fosters a nurturing environment for both learning and personal development!”

Lillya Roldan, M.D.

“I chose Harbor-UCLA primarily because of the patient population we get to serve. As a first gen from East LA, the reason I decided to pursue medicine in the first place was to care for the underserved members of my community. After completing a sub-I at Harbor, I knew that, not only would this be where I could feel fulfilled by my daily patient encounters, but where I could also feel supported by amazingly passionate co-residents. I was made to feel like part of the team from day 1 and learned so much in the few short weeks I was here, that I knew I would be excellently trained by the end of my residency. In the end, I felt this program was the perfect mix of an academic and community program, had the right amount of resident camaraderie, placed real emphasis on patient advocacy, and most importantly brought me back to the community I’ve been wanting to serve my whole life. I am extremely grateful to get to train at Harbor-UCLA.”

Daniela Sharp, D.O.

“As a URM myself I am beyond excited to be able to serve and advocate for my own community at Harbor-UCLA! One of the many things drawing me into this program its the passion that its residents and attendings have to advocate for ALL WOMEN and I wanted to be part of an environment that allows me to do it, while receiving excellent training that will allow me to give the best care to all my patients.”