Housestaff & Administration
Current Housestaff
Chief Residents 2025-2026
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
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
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
PGY-3 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
PGY-2 Class of 2027
Sheliza Aman, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Hobbies: Traveling, beaching, brunching.
Language(s) Spoken: English, Urdu, and Hindi
Alexandra Ha, DO
Western University of Health Sciences
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Hobbies: Being active, reading, cooking/baking, trying new coffee/boba places.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Cantonese
Arthur Hidalgo, MD
Tulane University School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Hobbies: Surfing, Cornhole, Chilling on the beach, walking my dog anywhere and everywhere, Watching soccer and football.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Nancy Nguyen, DO
ATSU School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Cerritos, CA
Hobbies: Badminton, Surfing, Cooking, Baking, Hiking.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Vietnamese
Kristina Phan, DO
ATSU School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Anaheim, CA
Hobbies: Home décor and DIY projects.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Vietnamese
Toni San Miguel, MD
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Hobbies: True crime docs, boba, and concerts!
Language(s) Spoken: English & Tagalog
Priyanka Thakur, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Fremont, CA
Hobbies: Happy hour and watching sunsets.
Language(s) Spoken: English & Hindi
Vanessa Torres, MD
Ross University School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown:
Hobbies:
Language(s) Spoken: English
Sophia Trinh, MD
University of Queensland
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Boston, MA
Hobbies: Skateboarding, cleaning, listening to podcasts, travel.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Ami Yuen, MD
University of Queensland Medical School
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown:
Hobbies:
Language(s) Spoken: English
PGY-1 Class of 2028
Jeremy Ahearn, MD
CA Northstate University College of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown:
Hobbies:
Language(s) Spoken: English
Sogol Bhenam, MD
St. George’s University, School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Hobbies: Watch or play basketball (Go Lakers!), spend time with my dog Maloos or any dog, go to concerts, and travel.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Alexa Buitenhuys, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Orono, ME
Hobbies: Go to the beach, explore new coffee shops, and enjoy hikes or walks.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Emily Ginn, MD
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Davis, CA
Hobbies: Paddleboarding, baking, and doing Pilates or cycling.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Joyce Hsiou, MD
Sackler School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Hobbies: Watch TV or movies, play board games, or spend time at the beach.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Curtis Mar, DO
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Granite Bay, CA
Hobbies: Surfing, golfing, and skating with my pups.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Jacqueline Ochoa, MD
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: McAllen, TX
Hobbies: Going to the beach, traveling, and watching movies/
Language(s) Spoken: English
Rayshma Sharoff, MD,
University of Queensland School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Hobbies: Travel, play tennis, and draw.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Mason Silva, MD
Ross University School of Medicine
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Escalon, CA
Hobbies: Go to the beach, play pickleball, and work out.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Celine Wanwatanakool, DO
University of Washington School of Medicine
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Walnut, CA
Hobbies: Reading, exercising, and collecting Chiikawas.
Language(s) Spoken: English
Administration
Sarah Gustafson, MD
Associate Clinical Professor
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Director, Pediatric Residency Program
Director, Neonatal Resuscitation and Simulation
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Co-Director, Pediatric Diversity Committee
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Fresno, CA
Hobbies: Baking, hiking, and running.
Sylvia Yeh, MD
Professor of Pediatrics
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Associate Director, Pediatric Residency Program
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Ranchos Palos Verdes, CA
Hobbies: Hiking, quilting, musicals, music and reading.
Maggie Kozman, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Associate Director, Pediatric Residency Program
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: Corona, CA
Hobbies: Traveling, music (listening, concert-going, playing instruments/singing), and hanging at the beach.
Alisha Ranadive, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Associate Director, Pediatric Residency Program
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: New Delhi, India
Hobbies: Reading, going to the beach, and trying out new restaurants.
Christan Francis, MPA, BA
Residency 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 Raygoza
Administrative Assistant
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: She/Her/Hers
Hometown: East Los Angeles, CA
Hobbies: Shopping and watching documentaries.
Gerardo Gonzalez
Administrative Assistant
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Hometown: Wilmington, CA
Hobbies: Spending time with family and watching soccer.
Class of 2025 Alumni
Where they are now:
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- Ryan Jay (RJ) Abrigo, MD – Neonatology Fellowship at U Illinois Chicago
- Therese Blanch, MD – Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellowship at UC San Diego
- Manvitha Katta, MD, MPH – General Pediatrics
- Jared Kirsch, MD – General Pediatrics – ROADS Community Clinic, Compton
- Shani Litwin, MD – Locum Tenens Pediatrics, Los Angeles
- Raymond Martinez, DO – Pediatric Hospitalist – Cedars Sinai Medical Center
- Michael Procrassini, DO – General Pediatrics – Enloe Health, Chico
- Lydia Ramirez, DO, MBA – General Pediatrics in Texas
- Ruchi Singh, DO – General Pediatrics – Providence Mission CHOC, Mission Viejo
- John (Hank) Thayer, MD – Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship at UC Davis
Class of 2024 Alumni
Where they are now:
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- Eyal BenDavid, MD – Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at UCLA
- Clayton Crawford, MD – Transport Medicine at CHLA
- Catherine Harmon, MD – General Pediatrics
- George Hyde, MD – Chief Resident 2024-2025
- Mathew Kraus, MD – Urgent Care, CHOC
- Adriana Mellor, MD – General Pediatrics, Harbor-UCLA
- Megan Messinger, DO – General Pediatrics
- Nicole Nabatkhorian, MD – Hospitalist, Harbor-UCLA
- Sahar Raheel, MD – Chief Resident 2024-2025
- Jennifer Tu, DO – General Pediatrics, Northern California Kaiser
Class of 2023 Alumni
Where they are now:
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- Adam Beasley, MD – Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship, CHLA
- Ami Mehta, DO – Rancho Los Amigos and Harbor-UCLA Outpatient Pediatrics
- Angelica Juarez, MD – Torrance Memorial IPA Pediatrics (General Pediatrics, Hospital Medicine)
- Christiana Santiago, MD – Neonatology Fellowship at UCLA
- James Thomason, MD – Kaiser Permanente, Kailua Kona, Hawaii (General Pediatrics)
- Ryan Usui, MD – California Kids Pediatrics, West LA (General Pediatrics)
- John Paul (JP) Yap, MD – Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship, UC Davis
- Keiko Yoshioka, DO – Pediatric Infectious Diseases Fellowship, Harbor-UCLA
- Joseph Gancayco, MD – Harbor Community Health Centers (General Pediatrics)
- Jeffrey Ramirez, MD – Harbor Community Health Centers (General Pediatrics)
Class of 2022 Alumni
Where they are now:
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- Darvin Bunhor, MD – Private Practice (General Pediatrics)
- Bora Buyutkimin, MD – Bakersfield Memorial Hospital (Pediatric Hospital Medicine)
- Chien-Rong Chen, DO – PHM fellowship at CHLA ’24, now Harbor-UCLA Pediatric Hospital Medicine
- Nicole Chu, MD – Kaiser South Bay Outpatient (General Pediatrics)
- Krystle Frazier, MD – Heme/Onc Fellowship at Children’s Oakland
- Bobby Hateley, MD – Bakersfield Memorial Hospital (Pediatric Hospital Medicine)
- Rachel Kim, MD – Gardner Health Outpatient, San Jose (General Pediatrics)
- Grace Pyo, DO – Torrance Memorial IPA Pediatrics(General Pediatrics)
- Ellene Sandoval, MD – Alta Med Pediatrics, Los Angeles (General Pediatrics)
- Shelly Tseng, MD – Providence Pediatrics, Torrance (General Pediatrics)
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.
2024 Winners:
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- Faculty Teaching Award: Chie Kurihara, MD, Tiffany Pedigo, MD
- Jim Seidel Fellow Teaching Award: Lynn Mercer, MD
- George Emmanoulides Resident Teaching Award: George Hyde, MD, Nicole Nabathkhorian, MD, John “Hank” Thayer, MD
- Joseph W. St. Geme Resident Excellence in Research Award: Nicole Nabathkhorian, MD
- Joanne Brasel Resident Award for Excellence in Humanism: Adriana Mellor, MD
- Joanne Brasel Resident Award for Excellence in Advocacy: Megan Messinger, DO
- Recognition of Excellence in Nursing: SookHee Chang (NICU)
- Recognition of Excellence in Service:
- Social Workers: Catalina Diaz & Jane Hernandez
- Respiratory Therapy: Andrew Colon, Devin Griffen, Robbie Trujillo
2023 Winners:
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- 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:
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- 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