Julie Brichard, MD

College:  Université de Lorraine Faculté de Médicine

Medical School:  Université de Lorraine Faculté de Médicine

I was born in Bar-le-Duc, a small city in eastern France, and I went to medical school not far from there. One of my aspirations when I started medical school was to work in humanitarian medicine, and after completing my training in Family Medicine, I worked on malnutrition programs for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in several countries in Africa. I really enjoyed my work with MSF, and I could have lived and worked for several years between Africa and France. But while visiting San Francisco, I met my amazing husband. I fell in love with him, as well as California, and decided to move to this new continent.

For a couple of years I explored the West Coast, learned the art of motherhood with a little boy, and pursued research work on arboviruses at Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute and Stanford. I’m really excited to be practicing medicine again, and I could not have dreamt about a better place than O’Connor: full-spectrum family medicine, fantastic faculty and supportive residents, and dedication to underserved communities.

Fun Fact: I love family movie nights, camping weekends, playing piano, and initiating my sons (now 2 of them!) to music and dancing.

Angela Chiang, MD

College:  University of Maryland, College Park

Medical School:  University of Maryland

Areas of Interest:  Women’s Health, Behavioral Science, Preventative Medicine

My parents are Taiwanese, but I was born and raised in Maryland. In undergrad, I studied Psychology and spent a lot of time working in child development and public policy before deciding to become pre-med. I took a year off before starting medical school and worked in pain management research. In medical school, I didn't decide on Family Medicine until the end of 3rd year, when I realized I wanted to be able to see all ages and treat all ailments. Go FM!

In O’Connor’s family medicine program, I have found “my people” – ardent learners whose passion for underserved populations, full-spectrum family medicine, and medical education drives their daily practice. It is a privilege to be training among other like-minded physicians who are dedicated to promoting the health and well-being of our patients through evidence-based medicine and continuous quality improvement.

In what little free time I have as a resident, I enjoy being active through vinyasa yoga, hiking, and whatever crazy sport my husband pushes me try. For down time, I enjoy reading, baking sweet treats, people-watching, and wasting time on the internet looking at dogs.

Fun Fact:  I lived in Maryland for my entire life until I moved here for intern orientation!

Neha Narula, MD

College:  University of Michigan

Medical School:  Wayne State University

Areas of Interest:  Procedural Medicine, Sports Medicine, Preventative Medicine, Women's Health, Integrative Medicine

I was born in New Delhi, India, shortly after which I moved to the wonderful city of Ann Arbor (Michigan), where I spent the majority of my life! I had the great opportunity of attending the University of Michigan (GO BLUE!), where I studied Neuroscience and Asian Studies. I traveled a mere 30 miles to attend medical school in Detroit at Wayne State University. During my time at Wayne, I was torn between my love of primary care and passion for procedures, and therefore initially pursued a career in General Surgery. I had a great time learning surgery during my intern year, however, continuously strived for holistic care and continuity. I finally found my way back to primary care, and I couldn’t be happier!

When it came time to apply for residency, I knew I had to step out of the midwest, and explore the “West coast, best coast” rumors. I came to O’Connor in early December, and fell in love with the warm and welcoming faculty, staff, and residents. I loved that the curriculum provided wholesome training in a community setting, and also provided its residents with opportunities to care for the underserved, teach at Stanford, do research, and explore ways to bring innovation to primary care. Wherever my path takes me in the future, I know that the training and skills set I obtain here will be more than sufficient!

Fun Fact: Outside of the hospital, I can be found in child’s pose at a yoga studio, hiking at some state park, attempting a new recipe in my kitchen, taking golf swings at the local range, or perhaps you can watch me whip and nay nay on the dance floor.

Mark Owolabi, MD

College:  East Carolina University

Medical School:  Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

Areas of Interest:  Underserved Minority Health, Nutrition, Adolescent Medicine

I grew up in the shadow of the Appalachian Mountains of Western North Carolina. I was raised by immigrant parents who taught me the value of hard work and radical generosity. I became set on medicine as an undergrad at East Carolina University, where I witnessed the immense need for primary care doctors through time spent volunteering in rural communities in Eastern North Carolina.

I stayed at ECU for medical school where I held leadership roles in free clinics, studied cultural humility through voyages to Central America, and engaged at-risk youth through music & soccer camps. I fell in love with Family Medicine early on in my clinical rotations as I saw how family docs addressed the physical, emotional, and social needs of patients, in order to improve quality of life and prevent disease. I was attracted to O’Connor due to the full spectrum, rigorous academic atmosphere, diverse patient population, and fierce dedication to the undeserved.

Fun Fact: In the wild, I can be found riding my two-wheeled steed or composing a ditty.

Jeffrey Peng, MD

College:  UCLA

Medical School:  Medical College of Wisconsin

Areas of Interest:  Sports Medicine 

I was born and raised in Cupertino, CA, went to undergrad at UCLA, worked in a research lab for two years at UCSF (where I met my beautiful wife!), went to medical school in Wisconsin, and now I’m FINALLY back home in the South Bay. I chose O’Connor because it is an unopposed program that provides residents with a well-rounded curriculum with plenty of opportunities to be involved in everything Family Medicine has to offer. All of the faculty are extremely supportive and are genuinely happy to be teaching and supporting residents. The residents at O’Connor are also some of the most friendly and down to earth people that I met on the interview trail.

In my spare time, I love to hang out with family and friends, play basketball at the gym and park, and cheer for my favorite teams – Warriors (!), Niners, SF Giants, and UCLA.

Fun Fact: I'm a huge Golden State Warriors Fan!  Even when we didn't have 4 of the top 10-15 players in the NBA!

Nhat Pham, MD

College:  UC San Diego

Medical School:  UC San Diego

Other Degrees:  MPH from UC San Diego

Areas of Interest:  Preventative Medicine, Global Health, Public Health, Underserved Populations

My road to O’Connor had a few twists and turns. I have not always wanted to be a doctor. In fact, I thought seriously about becoming a computer programmer in college. However, after spending a lot of time in the computer lab, I realized I missed talking to people. Thus, I started down a different path that was (in my opinion) more challenging yet very rewarding. I had the chance to work with homeless veterans, help run a safety-net medical clinic, and organize preventive service fairs in my local community. These experiences have given me a deep appreciation for preventive medicine and prompted me to pursue my Master of Public Health. I hope that one day I will find an opportunity to apply what I learned to help my patients.

Coming to O’Connor for residency is special for me. San Jose was the first place I lived when I immigrated to the U.S. from Vietnam, and I’m very glad to be back after 10 years in San Diego. Best of all, the program has everything I was looking for: a focus on underserved medicine, knowledgeable and supportive faculty, and a great tradition of mentorship among residents.

Fun Fact: I love to work on small electronic projects, go running or hiking, play soccer, and read books. I am also a big fan of outdoor activities and will definitely try to squeeze in as many camping trips as possible during residency.

Anthony Wang, MD

College:  Cornell University

Medical School:  Keck School of Medicine of USC

Areas of Interest: Preventative Medicine, Sports Medicine, Adolescent Health, Underserved Populations

I was born and raised in Santa Clara County. I did my undergraduate studies in biology at Cornell University, and after 4 years in the cold, returned to San Jose for a gap year as a City Year AmeriCorps member teaching youth. Next I went to USC for medical school (Fight On!), where I met my beautiful wife, Lilliana. We managed to squeeze in a wedding halfway through my intern year! 

During MS4, I did a sub-internship at O’Connor and knew it was the best place for me. Full-spectrum family medicine in an unopposed program, the perfect location in the Bay Area, the supportiveness of the faculty, the strength and passion of the residents, the diversity of the patient population, and the sense of family and community all drew me to O’Connor.

Fun Fact: I enjoy breakdancing, watching comedies, traveling, playing piano, learning languages, and hanging out with my beautiful family and Siberian Husky "Winter."

Lawrence Zieske, MD

College:  Stanford University

Medical School:  Washington University in St. Louis

Areas of Interest:  Sports Medicine, Underserved Populations, Obstetrics, Procedural Medicine

I grew up in Union City and stayed close to home for college (Stanford), where my major was Psychology. After graduating from college, I worked in mental health with children and adolescents in group homes and foster care.  Fast forward 8 years (post bac plus med school plus research year), and I am back in the Bay Area!  Family Medicine was an easy choice for me because of the commitment to underserved populations inherent to this specialty. 

I love being at O'Connor because it is an unopposed program, meaning we are the only residents based at the hospital.  Our faculty and consultants are excited to teach us and involve us in all treatment areas. The hospital also feeds us very well!

Fun Fact: I delivered 39 babies during my intern year!

Nisha Jadhaw, MD

College:  UC San Diego

Medical School:  St. George's University

Areas of Interest:  Medical Education, Preventative Medicine, Women's and Children's Health

I was born and raised in the South Bay and could not be more honored and excited to come back and serve my community.

O'Connor Hospital holds a very special place in my heart. When I was in undergrad and deciding what I wanted to do as a career, I shadowed some of the attendings at O'Connor. I was immediately drawn to the atmosphere and culture of the hospital and clinics. At first, I did not think I had what it took to become a doctor, but after years of shadowing, I fell in love with Family Medicine and knew I had to become a Family Physician. I went off to Grenada for medical school where I met the greatest friends I could have ever asked for, learned to live in a third world country, relaxed on the most beautiful beaches, and of course, studied my brains out. I feel that I've come full circle now as a resident in this program and cannot wait to continue my education here.

My interests outside of medicine include hiking, going to the beach, traveling, hanging out with my family and friends, listening to music, and binge watching Netflix shows.  

Fun Fact: My favorite quote is, "It is our choices...that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - JK Rowling.

Sonja Halterman, MD

College:  Smith College

Medical School:  UC San Diego

Other Degrees: MPH at Loma Linda University; JD at UC Davis

I am thrilled to be joining the O’Connor Family Medicine Residency and to be returning to the Bay Area after many years of roaming various parts of the country. I grew up in Half Moon Bay just north of San Jose. After high school, I decided I needed to experience the east coast. So, I attended Smith College in western Massachusetts where I studied biology and environmental science. I returned to Southern California to get a MPH from Loma Linda University, where I focused on health promotion and education. Wanderlust kicked back in and I headed to Chicago to do a year of AmeriCorps as a health educator the Austin neighborhood of Chicago. Although I was working in a clinic and drawn to medicine, working in Chicago also showed me the vast social problems that contribute to health disparities, and I decided to pursue a law degree to see if I might be able to help address underlying social determinants of health through law and policy. While in law school at UC Davis, I was focused on health and public health law, and was fortunate to be able to intern with the California Department of Public Health. Law school was fascinating and intellectually stimulating, but I was not completely satisfied – I wanted to be able to directly impact patients’ health. So, I graduated from law school, took the California Bar Exam, and immediately started medical school at UC San Diego.

I was drawn to Family Medicine because it allows me to help patients of all ages and backgrounds, while also working in communities to improve social determinants of health. I was particularly drawn to the Stanford-O’Connor program for its rigor and focus on resident education, while also being an unopposed program with caring, supportive faculty. The fact that I can work in a community close to where I grew up makes this a very special place for me!

Fun fact: I ended up being hospitalized for malaria over a year after returning from a volunteer trip to Ghana – proof that taking the full course of malarial prophylaxis is important!

Eric Matsumoto, MD

College:  Azusa Pacific University

Medical School:  Loma Linda University

Areas of Interest:  Underserved Populations, Spiritual Care, Adolescent Medicine

I grew up in the town of Morgan Hill, CA (or "Mo' Hill" as the locals say it), so coming back to the Bay Area to train and serve my home community is a huge blessing. My first exposure to medicine was volunteering as a translator for a nearby RotaCare clinic when I was in high school. In undergrad, I enjoyed leading service teams to Mexico and partnering with a local volunteer-run hospice, which further confirmed my desire to pursue medicine for underserved populations.  In medical school, I fell in love with family medicine because of the ways it lined up with my passions for broad-spectrum training, whole person care, and at-risk populations.

My favorite aspects of the San Jose-O'Connor program are the amazing faculty, friendly residents, diverse and underserved patient population, and free food at the cafeteria!

My interests outside of medicine include piano, photography, tennis, running, and board games.

Fun Fact: I didn't buy a pair of jeans until I started medical school. I rocked khakis with no regrets.

Milt McColl, MD

College:  Stanford University

Medical School:  Stanford University School of Medicine

I was raised in a “football / medicine family” in Southern California. My father was an orthopedic surgeon who played for the Chicago Bears for 8 years during medical school and residency. Throughout medical school I was also fortunate enough to play professional football as a starting linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers and earned two Super Bowl rings. After retiring from football, I chose to put my medical residency on hold and spent the next twenty plus years developing medical devices. During my career in business I never lost my passion for medicine and treating patients. I volunteered at a local primary care free clinic treating underserved, low income patients, many of whom were immigrants. Since my wife and I have now finished raising our four boys, I decided to “go back” and complete my residency. Eventually, I hope to work in a Federally Qualified Health Center or a non-profit clinic. Since I have experience volunteering as an international health care provider, I hope to spend a portion of my time in that capacity also.

O’Connor has been an incredible place for me to “re-enter” clinical medicine. It has an extremely positive environment and focuses not just on caring for patients but also on teaching. I feel very fortunate to be able to return to my passion and be a part of such a great place to learn medicine.

Fun Fact: About two years ago I started flying single engine planes and eventually earned my private pilot license. In my free time I enjoy flying, playing golf, hiking, biking, and most of all, watching my youngest son playing college baseball for Harvard (Go Crimson!)

Nelly Song, MD

College: University of Texas at Austin

Medical School: The University of Texas Medical School at Houston

Areas of Interest: Underserved Populations, Preventative Medicine, Dermatology, Medical Education

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas to parents who had immigrated to the U.S. during the Salvadoran Civil War. While growing up, I traveled to El Salvador with my family on an annual basis. It was there where I learned just how limited access to care could be. As a result of this experience, I set my mind to medicine. I went to the University of Texas at Austin to study Biomedical Engineering and then to the University of Texas Medical School at Houston. I also volunteered at several free clinics, organized preventative health events, and mentored children and adolescents. Fast forward to now, I’m very happy to be at Stanford-O’Connor. The training provides full-spectrum family medicine and is unopposed; the faculty, residents, and staff are very supportive; and the program is dedicated to the underserved.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my husband, family, and dogs; learning and cooking different cuisines; baking; eating delicious food; running; yoga; hiking; and camping.

Fun fact:  I run 6 miles with my two adopted rescue dogs. Woof! Woof! Run!

Anh Tan, MD MPH

College:  Stanford University

Medical School:  Chicago Medical School

Other Degrees:  MPH from Johns Hopkins University

Areas of Interest:  Underserved Populations, Global Health, Public Health, Preventative Medicine

I was born and raised in Olympia, Washington, the daughter of Vietnamese refugees who instilled in me the importance of family, community, and education. At Stanford, I discovered the wonderful world of public health, and went on to work at several nonprofits to combat hepatitis B and other infectious diseases. After getting a public health masters from Johns Hopkins, I decided I wanted to be a clinician after all. I went to medical school to become a primary care physician and fell in love with Family Medicine.

O’Connor’s Family Medicine program is the residency of my dreams: a community-based, university-affiliated, unopposed program where the training is rigorous and the people are happy and down-to-earth. I love the amazing faculty and residents, nurturing environment, and exceptional quality of teaching. San Jose also happens to be one of my favorite cities —a diverse and vibrant community where I can serve people from all walks of life.

Fun Fact: I started a hip hop performance troupe in college called dv8.

Stephen Vogel, MD

College:  Davidson College

Medical School:  Wake Forest School of Medicine

Areas of Interest:  Preventative Medicine, Health & Wellness, Sports Medicine

I'm a native of Sacramento who was lured back to California after a long stint in the South. I've always valued maintaining a wide range of interests, following a path that led me through an undergrad degree in music, a General Surgery intern year, and ultimately a happy realization that Family Medicine is where I belong!

Reasons I love the program: the camaraderie, the diversity of resident and faculty backgrounds and interests, and the ardent enthusiasm for teaching obvious each day among everyone.

My interests outside of medicine include all things cycling, keyboard instruments, road trips, and cooking as stress relief.

Fun Fact: I was in a humanities class with Steph Curry.

Lydia Wong, MD

College:  UC Berkeley

Medical School:  Ohio State University College of Medicine

I was born in Hong Kong and moved to the Bay Area when I was 5. I found my passion for medicine during college while volunteering with various non-profit health organizations in local communities. While I loved gorging on Jenis ice cream and defrosting my car at unsavory hours during my time in the Midwest, my heart was always in California and I am delighted to be back here for my residency training!

I did a sub-I at OCH as a fourth year medical student and was completely sold by the high quality of teaching from both attendings and residents, the supportive nature of the residency family, and the intrinsically happy culture of the program. OCH is the perfect place for me and I couldn't be happier to have matched here.

My interests outside of medicine include planning future travels, going on food adventures, taking scenic hikes on sunny days, and enjoying that perfect cup of coffee.

Fun Fact: I am on a lifelong mission to find the best ice cream in the world.

Allison Xie, MD

College:  Wellesley College

Medical School:  Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth

My family moved from China to Hawaii about a decade ago, and while my parents remained on the sunny island, I ventured to the East coast for college and medical school. As a history major, I was particularly drawn to the development of humanism. In medical school, I gravitated toward family medicine because it is a specialty that best manifests the humanistic aspect of medicine. After four years in beautiful but freezing New Hampshire, I am very glad to be back in warm weather again.

I chose O'Connor because of the rigorous curriculum, diverse patient population, supportive faculty and residents, and the wonderful sense of community. I feel so fortunate to be part of this family and look forward to learning from everyone in the next few years!

Fun Fact: I enjoy cooking, board games, ballroom dancing, and flipping through old historical manuscripts for funny quotes (malleus maleficarum has some great ones).

Matilde Fredrikson, DO

College:  University of Texas at Austin

Medical School:  University of North Texas Health Science Center / Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Areas of Interest:  Vulnerable Populations, Mental Health, Addiction Medicine, Health Literacy

I was born and raised in Houston, Texas. As the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I quickly learned the hardships and oppression many immigrants face in this country. Witnessing the lack of access to health care and mental health resources in my community motivated me to pursue a career in community medicine. During college, I fostered my passion for service and led several service projects which included teaching English and Citizenship classes, mentoring children of incarcerated parents, and providing free health screenings in the community. During medical school, I joined the Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), where I helped organize two annual regional conferences; these conferences helped address the health disparities that still exist in the Latino community and ways we can work toward health equality for all patients regardless of background, socioeconomic status, and ethnicity.

I chose Stanford-O’Connor because it has many of the qualities I was looking for in a program: an underserved patient population, a strong behavioral science curriculum, supportive faculty with diverse areas of interest, and friendly residents. I am excited to start this journey and continue my commitment for health and social equality. In my spare time, I enjoy Salsa dancing, Bikram yoga, and going on walks with my husband Kurt!

Fun Fact: I have a 16-year-old cat named Smidge!

Nick Hatamiya, DO

College:  UC Berkeley

Medical School:  Western University of Health Sciences

Areas of Interest:  Sports Medicine, Medical Education, Health Technologies, Underserved Populations

I grew up in Live Oak, CA, on my family’s peach, prune, and walnut farm. My hometown is classified as being “medically underserved” and my motivation to pursue family medicine stems from my rural upbringing. I attended college at UC Berkeley (GO BEARS!) where I studied Integrative Biology. Afterwards, I spent several years doing sports medicine/biomechanics research at UCSF, volunteering in Honduras, and working for a digital-health startup company before heading off to medical school.

I chose Stanford-O’Connor because it is a full spectrum, community-based program with a strong commitment to the underserved. There are also plenty of opportunities to be involved with sports medicine and medical education (OSLER).  More importantly, I absolutely loved the supportive nature of the faculty and the diversity of resident backgrounds while doing my sub-I as a 4th year.

Fun fact:  In my free time, you can find me snapping photos while adventuring outdoors, checking out the latest “foodie” spot, or binge-watching Netflix shows. I'm also planning on running a marathon on every continent (yes, they even have one on Antarctica!).

Yusuke Kobayashi, MD

College:  Linfield College

Medical School:  University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine

Areas of Interest:  Underserved/ Homeless Populations, Global Health, Procedural Medicine, Sports Medicine

I was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to Honolulu, Hawaii, when I was six years old. I ventured to the Oregon for college, where I majored in exercise science with a premedical focus. Although I loved my time in Oregon, I escaped the "cold" and returned to the beautiful islands for medical school. Throughout my medical education, I worked at a student-run homeless shelter clinic, where I found my passion for family medicine and the underserved population.

I chose Stanford-O'Connor because of their rigorous unopposed curriculum, diversity of resident interests, educational innovation (OSLER program), and most importantly, their fierce dedication to the underserved populations.

My interests outside of medicine include spending time with my wife, surfing, surf/water photography, and swimming.

Fun Fact: During my second year of medical school, I swam in a relay with my friends across the Molokai channel between the islands of Molokai and Oahu, spanning 26 miles!

Meg Tabaka, MD MPH
 

College:  Wellesley College

Medical School:  Stanford University School of Medicine

Other Degrees: MPH from the University of Minnesota

Areas of Interest:  Underserved populations, Procedural medicine, Addiction medicine

I hail from the great state of Minnesota where I grew up among beautiful lakes and pine trees. I went on to attend Wellesley College for four glorious years where I majored in Neuroscience and spent my free time competing on the rowing team. After much soul searching and gazing into the eyes of many, many Drosophila, I ultimately realized that I wanted to work more closely with people. I thus began my journey in the healthcare field, first completing my MPH in epidemiology followed by attending medical school.  While in graduate school I had the opportunity to work in free clinics in both Minneapolis and the Bay Area and it was here that I first found my passion for primary care. During medical school I was drawn to Family Medicine because it allowed me to take care of patients from all stages and walks of life.   

I rotated at O'Connor during medical school and was continually impressed by the dedicated faculty, staff, and residents. I was drawn in by the high quality of teaching, supportive learning environment, and focus on holistic patient care. My ideal residency program was one that was both rigorous and focused on underserved population medicine - I found exactly that at O'Connor.  

Outside of medicine, I spend my free time eating my wife's excellent cooking, taking videos of my daughter, and explaining to my yellow labrador why he is no longer an only child.    

Fun fact:  I spent my summers growing up in the turtle racing capital of the world.

Lucia Tomé, MD

College:  UC Berkeley

Medical School:  Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania

Areas of Interest:  Women’s Health, Underserved Populations

As a child I moved from Argentina to Canada and finally to Santa Fe, New Mexico, the Land of Enchantment, which I consider my home town. I attended college at UC Berkeley, where I double majored in Psychology and Political Science. I was immediately attracted to the clinician-patient relationship in Psychology and fascinated by human physiology. Volunteering in underserved communities during college introduced me to the barriers that underserved communities face when accessing a multitude of services, including medical care. I contemplated a PhD in Psychology, but soon realized that I wanted to work in a clinical context in which I could integrate physiology, psychology, and the lessons I had learned during these experiences. So, I went back to school, completed the prerequisite courses, applied to medical school, fell in love with Family Medicine, and haven’t looked back.  

O’Connor offers the opportunity to train in an unopposed residency with a long-standing dedication to serving the underserved populations of San Jose. The faculty and residents create a supportive and stimulating educational environment that not only prepares residents to be effective and caring Family Physicians but also nurtures residents’ individual interests and passions.

Fun fact: I played the trombone for 9 years, from 4th grade through senior year of high school.

Norma Villalon, MD

College:  UC Davis

Medical School:  Stanford University School of Medicine

Areas of Interest:  Underserved Communities, Women’s Health, Chronic Disease Management, Patient Education, Mentoring 

I grew up in a rural town in Guanajuato, Mexico, and moved to the U.S. at the age of 18. I am the oldest of 4 in my family and the first generation to go to college. I did not speak English when I moved to this country, so I attended community college for 4 years in order to learn it. I then transferred to UC Davis where I completed my undergraduate education. I did community health and prevention research for two years before attending medical school. While in medical school, I took 2 years off to pursue a very fulfilling project studying the effect of diabetes self-management education in patients at a student-run free clinic. Throughout medical school I was also involved with the Stanford Health Career Opportunity Program for premed students from underrepresented backgrounds, where I served as an instructor and mentor. Giving back is very important to me, so I continue to mentor students who have limited resources, as I did as a premed student.

I did a couple of rotations at O’Connor and knew this was the place for me. O’Connor works with underserved populations, including a high proportion of Spanish speakers, the faculty and staff are extremely supportive and excellent teachers, and the opportunities for community outreach are plenty starting from year one. In addition, the residents are happy and support each other like a family. I am extremely excited to begin my training here and to be part of a group of like-minded physicians and staff who strive to provide the best care to each patient, while also working to improve the community.

Fun fact:  I have recently started gardening in my front yard - built raised garden beds at home and currently am growing several varieties of tomatoes, squash, peppers, herbs, strawberries, and watermelon! I’m so excited to see them grow. I check my tomatoes every morning when I leave the house and when I get back home!

Daniel Weisel, MD

College:  University of Southern California

Medical School:  Washington University in St. Louis

Areas of Interest:  Preventive Medicine, Underserved Populations, Procedural Medicine

I was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, as a die-hard Cardinals fan. I completed my undergrad Evolutionary Biology degree at USC (Fight on!) before boomeranging back to St. Louis for medical school. During my time at WashU, I was involved in running free clinics and health screenings for the local community, and I travelled to Guatemala to study the relationship between fast food advertising and rising obesity rates. I was drawn to family medicine because of its emphasis on preventative care and its broad scope of expertise. Now I am finally back on the West-coast-Best-coast to complete my training at OCH!

I was drawn to O'Connor because of their outstanding commitment to the underserved populations of San Jose. The residents are a tight-knit group and the faculty is clearly invested in teaching and the education of their residents.

Beyond CPR and memorizing generic drug names, my interests include playing baseball and tennis, reading fantasy novels, and hiking through national parks.

Fun Fact: I spent two weeks living with, caring for, and feeding lion cubs in Johannesburg!

Marisa Yanez, MD
 

College: Stanford University

Medical School:  David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA/Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science

Areas of Interest:  Sports Medicine, Procedural Medicine, Underserved Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Global Health, Medical Education

I was born and raised in sunny Southern California (Orange County to be exact) and am the youngest of four siblings. Soccer is my passion, but I enjoy anything that gets my heart rate up, including yoga, weightlifting, hiking, and swimming, just to name a few. A torn ACL is what first brought me to medicine, but my attraction to full spectrum medicine and my work with underserved populations is what happily brought me to Family Medicine. In my spare time, I can be found reading a fiction mystery novel (or more likely listening to the audio book while driving), watching the latest and greatest on Netflix (Orange is the New Black in Spanish is a favorite), or googling hypoallergenic cat breeds to fulfill my dream of adopting one despite my very allergic boyfriend.

Coming to Stanford-O’Connor was an easy choice for me. They truly are a family here; from my co-resident class, to my big sibs, to the extremely supportive staff and faculty, I am surrounded by respect, love, and encouragement at all times. And with the opportunity to explore any and every passion, I do not have to limit my areas of interest and am confident that I will graduate a very capable and well-rounded physician. Plus, it is a welcome joy to be back by my alma mater (go trees!).

Fun fact:  I have traveled to 4 continents and 19 countries, 15 of which were during medical school!