Harbor-UCLA
Harbor-UCLA
Harbor-UCLA Housestaff

Housestaff & Administration

Housestaff
Administration
Teaching Awards

Current Housestaff

Chief Residents 2023-2024

Adam Beasley, MDUniversity of Queensland, School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Hobbies: Soccer, traveling and going to Disneyland.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Ami Mehta, DOArizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Diamond Bar, CA
Hobbies: Spending time outdoors, doing jigsaw puzzles, watching Jeopardy, playing soccer, and watching sports — especially the Lakers and UCLA Bruins!
Language(s) Spoken: English, Spanish & Gujarati

PGY-3 Class of 2024

Eyal BenDavid, MDSackler School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Cupertino, CA
Hobbies: Dancing, martial arts, hiking, puzzles and reading.
Language(s) Spoken: English, Hebrew & ASL
Clayton Crawford, MD University of Sydney School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Singapore
Hobbies: Cooking, surfing, hiking, concerts, and trying new things!
Language(s) Spoken: English & Spanish
Catherine Harmon, MDUniversity of Queensland School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Hobbies: Hiking, camping, climbing, walking my dog, trying new restaurants and taking care of my house plant collection.
Language(s) Spoken: English
George Hyde, MDMichigan State College of Human Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/Él
Hometown: Flint, MI
Hobbies: Watching Dodgers/Lakers, cooking, hiking, gym and jokester.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Spanish
Mathew Kraus, MDSt. George’s University School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Hobbies: Electric skateboards, beach time and playing video games.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Spanish
Adriana Mellor, MDUSC Keck School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Palos Verdes, CA
Hobbies: Baking, beach and reading.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Spanish
Megan Messinger, DOWestern University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Hobbies: Reading, baking and playing the ukulele.
Language(s) Spoken: English, Spanish & ASL
Nicole Nabatkhorian, MDSackler School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: ,MD
Hobbies: Love trying new restaurants, cooking, beach, playing board and card games.
Language(s) Spoken: English & some Hebrew
Sahar Raheel, MDSt. George’s University School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Woodland Hills, CA
Hobbies: Baking, hiking, listening to music and watching Netflix.
Language(s) Spoken: English, Spanish & Farsi
Jennifer Tu, DOTouro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Hobbies: Trying new restaurants and cooking.
Language(s) Spoken: English, Cantonese & Mandarin

PGY-2 Class of 2025

Ryan Jay (RJ) Abrigo, MD University of Queensland School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Hobbies: Traveling, powerlifting, trying new foods and playing with my three nephews.
Language(s) Spoken: English & basic Tagalog
Therese Blanch, MD Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Hobbies: Movies, yoga, traveling, relaxing on the beach and spending time with family and friends!
Language(s) Spoken: English
Manvitha Katta, MD, MPH Baylor College of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Houston, TX
Hobbies: Yoga, traveling, baking, reading and spending time with my family and friends.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Telugu
Jared Kirsch, MD Tulane University School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Hobbies: Soccer, reading, hiking, chess and relaxing at the beach.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Shani Litwin, MD Sackler School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Berkeley, CA
Hobbies: Hiking and going to the beach, listening to audiobooks and podcasts, exploring new cafes and restaurants.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Hebrew
Raymond Martinez, DO Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Bakersfield, CA
Hobbies: Gym, hiking and watching good tv shows/movies.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Michael Procassini, DO Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Hillsboro, OR
Hobbies: Cooking, sewing, drawing, acting, and watching nature documentaries!
Language(s) Spoken: English
Lydia Ramirez, DO, MBA University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Hobbies: Exploring the local cuisine with my husband, playing with our pup Nala, watching comedies – movies/series and cooking with my husband.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Spanish
Ruchi Singh, DO Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Cypress, CA
Hobbies: Dancing, hiking and playing with my dog.
Language(s) Spoken: English, Hindi, Gujarati & fair Spanish
John (Hank) Thayer, MD University of Washington School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, exercising, hiking (flat) trails, and rooting for Seattle sports teams.
Language(s) Spoken: English

PGY-1 Class of 2026

William (Liam) Beatty, MD Tulane University School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Woodland Hills, CA
Hobbies: Reading, interior design and plants.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Yun Cheong (Jane) Chang, MD Morsani College of Medicine at the University of South Florida
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Tracy, CA
Hobbies: My dog!
Language(s) Spoken: English & Korean
Peggy Cheng, DO
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Hobbies: Hiking, pickleball, traveling and food adventures.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Cantonese
Juleh Eide, MD University of Washington School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Seattle, WA
Hobbies: Painting, visiting museums/aquariums/zoos/parks, meeting people’s pets and children, hiking (for the views) and trying new foods.
Language(s) Spoken: English & conversational Mandarin
Cynthia Evangelista, DO Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Signal Hill, CA
Hobbies: Traveling, reading, yoga, playing tennis, hiking, beach, spending time with my family and friends.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Spanish
Mykal Quinlan, MD Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Austin, TX
Hobbies: Disc Golf
Language(s) Spoken: English & limited Spanish
Joumana Samaha, MD Tufts University School of Medicine
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Hometown: Newton, MA
Hobbies: Reading, climbing, biking and going to outdoor markets (vintage, antique, queer artists).
Language(s) Spoken: English, French & limited Arabic
Samantha Tope, MD Sackler School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Minneapolis, MN & Seattle, WA
Hobbies: Playing violin, knitting socks, reading magical realist, historical, and food-related books, cooking Mediterranean cuisines and running to explore.
Language(s) Spoken: English, Spanish, Hebrew & basic French
Jasmine Vatani, MD University of Virginia School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Corona, CA
Hobbies: Thrifting, house plants, spending time with friends, collecting mems and dad jokes, nature walks and anime/comic/gaming conventions.
Language(s) Spoken: English & limited Spanish
Julia Villanueva, MD St. George’s University School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, hiking, yoga, tennis, and traveling.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Spanish

Administration

Sylvia Yeh, MD Professor of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLADirector, Pediatric Residency Program  Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA
Hobbies: Hiking, quilting, musicals, music and reading.
Monica Sifuentes, MD, FAAP Professor of Pediatrics David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Vice Chair, Dept. of Pediatrics Associate Director, Pediatric Residency Program Director, Adolescent Medicine Director, Pediatric Clerkship Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: East Los Angeles, CA
Hobbies: Work, gardening and reading.
Christan Francis, MPA, BAResidency Program Coordinator Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Carson, CA
Hobbies: Spending time with family, Traveling, reading and working on creative projects.
Johanna RaygozaAdministrative AssistantHarbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: East Los Angeles, CA
Hobbies: Shopping and watching documentaries.

Class of 2023 Alumni

Where they are now:

    • Adam Beasley, MD – Chief Resident 2023-2034
    • Ami Mehta, DO – Chief Resident 2023-2024
    • Angelica Juarez, MD – Torrance Memorial IPA Pediatrics
    • Christiana Santiago, MD – Neonatology fellowship at UCLA
    • James Thomason, MD – Kaiser Permanente Hawaii
    • Ryan Usui, MD – General Pediatrics
    • John Paul (JP) Yap, MD – Hospitalist/Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA
    • Keiko Yoshioka, DO – Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship, Harbor-UCLA
    • Joseph Gancayco, MD – General Pediatrics
    • Jeffrey Ramirez, MD – General Pediatrics

Class of 2022 Alumni

Where they are now:

    • Darvin Bunhor, MD – TBD
    • Bora Buyutkimin, MD – Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
    • Chien-Rong Chen, DO – Hospitalist fellowship at CHLA
    • Nicole Chu, MD – Kaiser South Bay outpatient
    • Krystle Frazier, MD – Heme/Onc fellowship at Children’s Oakland
    • Bobby Hateley, MD – Bakersfield Memorial Hospital
    • Rachel Kim, MD – Gardner Health outpatient
    • Grace Pyo, DO – Torrance Memorial IPA Pediatrics
    • Ellene Sandoval, MD – Alta Med Pediatrics, Los Angeles
    • Shelly Tseng, MD – Madronna Pediatrics, Torrance

Teaching Awards

Congratulations, Dr. Chie Kurihara – Winner of the Faculty Teaching Award!

Every year at the annual Pediatric Resident Graduation and Awards Dinner, the pediatric residents present teaching awards to the housestaff, faculty, fellows, and nursing staff to show their appreciation. See below for recent recipients.

2023 Winners:

    • Faculty Teaching Award: Chie Kurihara, MD
    • Jim Seidel Fellow Teaching Award: Dagem Mammo, MD
    • George Emmanoulides Resident Teaching Award: James Thomason, DO
    • Joseph W. St. Geme Resident Excellence in Research Award: Christiana Santiago, MD & Eyal BenDavid, MD
    • Joanne Brasel Resident Award for Excellence in Humanism: Ami Mehta, DO & Megan Messinger, DO
    • Joanne Brasel Resident Award for Excellence in Advocacy: Adam Beasley, MD
    • Recognition of Excellence in Nursing: Janeth Munoz (MFI), SookHee Chang (NICU)
    • Recognition of Excellence in Service: Nellie Salquen, Catalina Diaz & Jane Hernandez, Chiyah Lawrence

2022 Winners:

    • Faculty Teaching Award: Chie Kurihara, MD & Sarah Gustafson, MD
    • Jim Seidel Fellow Teaching Award: Rammy Assaf, MD & Ryan Palapaz, MD
    • George Emmanoulides Resident Teaching Award: Chien-Rong Chen, MD
    • Joseph W. St. Geme Resident Excellence in Research Award: Rachel Kim, MD & Ellene Sandoval, MD
    • Joanne Brasel Resident Award for Excellence in Humanism: Adam Beasley, MD & Keiko Yoshioka, DO
    • Joanne Brasel Resident Award for Excellence in Advocacy: Grace Pyo, DO & Shelly Tseng, MD
    • Recognition of Excellence in Nursing: Elea (PICU) & Shyla (NICU)
    • Recognition of Excellence in Service: Jane Hernandez (SW), Debbie Gumina (SW), Liliane Kim (OT), Maria De Paz (EVS), Olivia Torres (EVS), Elea Taylor (PICU) & Shyla Mathew (NICU)

Resident Teaching Awards

  • 2005-2006 Josh Davidson, MD
  • 2006-2007 Liberty Lowe, MD; Ehrnad Marzo, MD
  • 2007-2008 Ilanit Cohen Brook, MD
  • 2008-2009 Jason Lee, MD & Kartik Pillutla, MD
  • 2009-2010 Moin Vera, MD
  • 2010-2011 Susy Yusung, MD
  • 2011-2012 Shom Dasgupta, MD; Tawny Saleh, MD
  • 2012-2013 Shom Dasgupta, MD; Tawny Saleh, MD
  • 2014-2015 Manjiree Karandikar, MD
  • 2016-2017 Diana Chen, MD
  • 2017-2018 Melinda Palma, MD
  • 2018-2019 Tiffany Wiguna, MD
  • 2019-2020 Thomas Pham, DO
  • 2020-2021 Chien-Rong Chen, DO; Hyo-Jung Choi, MD

Faculty Teaching Awards

  • 2005-2006 Lynne Smith, MD, Division of Neonatology
  • 2006-2007 Tom Kallay, MD, Division of Pediatric Critical Care
  • 2007-2008 Paul Fu, Jr., MD, Division of General Pediatrics
  • 2008-2009 Tom Kallay, MD, Division of Pediatric Critical Care
  • 2009-2010 Carol Berkowitz, MD, Division of General Pediatrics
  • 2010-2011 Ken Zangwill, MD, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • 2011-2012 Lynne Smith, MD, Division of Neonatology
  • 2012-2013 Soina K. Dargan, MD, Division of Neonatology
  • 2014-2015 Michael Bolaris, MD, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • 2016-2017 Michael Bolaris, MD, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • 2017-2018 Michael Bolaris, MD, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • 2018-2019 Sarah Gustafson, MD, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
  • 2019-2020 Niloufar Tehrani, MD, Division of General Pediatric; Sarah Gustafson, MD, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine
  • 2020-2021 Nilou Tehrani, MD, Division of General Pediatric; Sarah Gustafson, MD, Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine

Fellow Teaching Awards

  • 2006-2007 Sonho Lee, MD, Pediatric Critical Care
  • 2007-2008 Laura Cerny, MD, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine; Lavonne Sheng, MD, Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine
  • 2008-2009 Samer Yousfi, MD, Pediatric Critical Care
  • 2009-2010 Vini Vijayan, MD, Pediatric Infectious Diseases; Erika Mendoza, MD, Pediatric Critical Care
  • 2010-2011 Caroline Kuo, MD, Pediatric Hospital Medicine
  • 2011-2012 Andrea O’Boyle, MD, Pediatric Critical Care
  • 2012-2013 Mike Bolaris, MD, Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • 2014-2015 Diana Bruno, MD; Daniel Murphy, DO
  • 2016-2017 Dr. Shom DasGupta MD, Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • 2017-2018 Dr. Stella Hwang; Dr. Shom Dasgupta
  • 2018-2019 Diana Chen, MD
  • 2019-2020 Shomir Deshpande, MD
  • 2020-2021 Marc Dadios, MD; Monika Martin, MD

Nurse Appreciation Awards

  • 2007-2008 Joyce DeGuzman
  • 2008-2009 Gina Vuotto, PNP, Pediatric Endocrinology
  • 2010-2011 Gina Vuotto, PNP, Endocrine Clinic & Continuity Care Clinic, Isis Tello, LVN, 6E Ward
  • 2011-2012 Janet Landholm, NICU
  • 2012-2013 Isis Tello, Pediatric Ward; Joyce De Guzman, NICU
  • 2014-2015 Elea Pitcher, Pediatric Ward
  • 2016-2017 Daryn Sakamoto
  • 2018-2019 Mika Christy, RN
  • 2019-2020 Isis Tello, RN
  • 2020-2021 Samantha Bolero, RN
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