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 (Go Bears!!)

Medical School:  Western University of Health Sciences

Areas of Interest:  Sports Medicine, POCUS, Medical Education, Health Technologies, Advocacy

I grew up on my family’s peach, prune, and walnut farm in a small, rural community just outside of Sacramento, CA.  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, where I studied Integrative Biology and rooted for my beloved Cal Bears along the sidelines as a Sports Medicine Intern.  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 community-based, single residency program that is fiercely commited to the underserved. There are also plenty of opportunities to become 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 medical student.

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

Fun fact:  My co-residents call me a musical almanac (aka “alma-Nick”) because I can correctly identify the year that any Top-40’s song from the mid-90’s to 2010’s was released.

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. I am also currently training for the Ironman 2020!

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.

Lucía Tomé, MD

College:  UC Berkeley (Go Bears!!)

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 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 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 listening to audiobooks, playing with my spoiled cat, or enjoying the company of my soon-to-be husband. 

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 22 countries, 15 of which were during medical school!

Pedro Alvarez, MD

College: UC Santa Barbara

Medical School:  UC Irvine

Other degrees: MPH from UC Berkeley (Go Bears!!)

Areas of Interest: Immigrant and Underserved Health

As a child, my family and I followed the migrant farm workers seasonal harvest throughout the fields of California in our food truck to provide meals. It was through these experiences that I developed my sense of connectedness with my community and came to understand that that my own successes were tied those of the people around me. In choosing medicine as a path, it was a combination of my love for science and an opportunity to give back to my community.

I chose Stanford-O’Connor for the co-interns, residents, and faculty.  So far, I've had a great experience during night float and have been able to practice adult medicine, pediatrics, and even participate in deliveries, sometimes all in one night. As somebody that enjoys Family Medicine because of its breath, this has been a great experience. 

My hobbies outside of medicine include dancing, movies, and video games. 

Fun Fact: I don't know how to drive stick shift, however, my wife is teaching me.

Yael Braunschweig, MD

College:  Harvard University

Medical School:  University of Michigan

Other degrees: PhD from UC Berkeley; MPH from University of Michigan

Areas of Interest:  Women's and Children's health, Reproductive Justice, Global Health, Public Health

I studied music and history in college and then went on to do a PhD in musicology. My research in music drew on gender studies and my work in this area helped fuel a passion for women's health. I became a birth doula and soon realized that I wanted a career where I could provide medical care to women and children. Family medicine, with its broad lens and unique ability to address family and community health needs, has been a perfect fit. 

I grew up in San Jose and am thrilled to be able to work with and give back to this community. I was also drawn to the supportive, family-like environment at O'Connor.

Fun Fact: I'm a great hula hooper. 

Emmeline Ha, MD

College:  The George Washington University

Medical School:  The George Washington University

Areas of Interest:  Community Medicine, Immigrant Health, Geriatrics, Medical Education 

My parents are refugees from Vietnam, and I grew up working at our family restaurant in northern Virginia. A strong appreciation for my roots led me to value family-based care. During medical school, I was involved in Asian American health advocacy, chronic hepatitis disparities research, and promoting the specialty of family medicine. While I never imagined myself moving to California, I fell in love with Stanford-OCH. 

I was drawn to OCH's amazing faculty and residents, diverse patient population and commitment to the underserved. I also love the opportunity for rigorous, unopposed, community-based training while being affiliated with a strong academic center. Even though this is my first time living away from home, I have been lucky to have my great OCH family supporting me! 

Fun Fact: I was born at our very own O'Connor Hospital.

William Hui, MD

College:  UC San Diego

Medical School:  Drexel University College of Medicine

Areas of Interest:  Immigrant Health, Sports Medicine, Pediatrics, Procedural Medicine, Global Health 

I spent most of my life in the Bay Area living in Millbrae, CA and moved to sunny Socal studying Human Biology, wooed by the beach and sun. My interest in free clinics and FQHCs taught me the amount of health disparities that exist and I wanted to help towards increasing health access in my own community.  I sought out to become a leader at the student-run Chinatown clinic and became empowered and motivated to work with the underserved populations serving Philadelphia's Chinatown. I always knew I wanted to do primary care, but I was specifically drawn to family medicine due to its unique flexibility to find your own niche of interests, ability to serve as a fierce advocate for your patient, and the long-term bonds you have with one another and the family unit.
 
I am ecstatic to join the OCH family after doing a sub-internship at O'Connor Hospital because obviously, west coast > east coast. It is the best of both worlds, top-notch academic teaching atmosphere, yet clearly housed in an unopposed full-spectrum community residency program at OCH. I was blown away by the level of teaching from its residents and attendings, loved the exposure of outpatient procedures and sports medicine, the commitment of the program towards the underserved, and most importantly of all -- the happy, passionate, and incredibly smart co-residents. It is no wonder that this program is known as the "happy residency." Lastly, I am thrilled to be back where my family lives in the Bay Area, whom I can eat dim sum with!

Fun Fact: I've ran marathons in (mostly) every place I've settled in (SF, LA, Philly, DC) hoping to qualify for Boston someday. I eat dim sum every Saturday lunchtime with my family (unbreakable tradition, unless of course, hospital duties!) I want a cat. Aspiring American Ninja Warrior.

Haley Miller, MD

College:  Davidson College

Medical School:  University of North Carolina School of Medicine

Areas of Interest:  Women’s Health including Obstetrics, Vulnerable Populations, Addiction Medicine, Medical Education

I was born in Philadelphia, but my family moved back to NC when I was 4. I grew up enjoying the woods, mountains, beaches, and BBQ, and stayed for both undergrad and medical school. In med school I had the privilege of working with a variety of patients from all over the state, cementing my belief that all patients deserve excellent care regardless of their background. I fell in love with family medicine because it invites providers to see and care for patients as whole people in the context of a larger community, and also because it allows providers to support patients through major transitions in their lives. Family medicine also offers a lot of opportunity for teaching, both with patients and other students.

A passion for women’s health and obstetrics combined with couples’ matching led to a far-flung application cycle. After a long couples-match interview season, O’Connor stood out to me as an exceptionally supportive, tight-knit, and education-focused community. The residents and faculty are clearly passionate about providing high-quality care for their vulnerable patient population, and I feel lucky to work with and learn from my patients here. There is also a ton of women’s health and especially obstetrics throughout all three years! Finally, I was drawn by the OSLER program as I hope to incorporate teaching into my future career.

Outside of medicine, I love running, swimming, crossword puzzles, hiking, camping, and exploring the amazing hiking and beaches around the area with my husband and two dogs. I’m still confused by the lack of rain here, but I’m so excited to explore and learn in my new home for the next few years!

Fun Fact: One of my ears is folded over, and in high school my track teammates decided that it was lucky, and used to kiss it before every race. So weird!

Nav Rai, MD

College:  UCLA

Medical School:  Albany Medical College 

Areas of Interest: Sports Medicine

Born and raised in San Jose. Sports. Big family. College. Failed athlete. Public health. Grad school. Research. Personal trainer. Med school.

Fun Fact: I enjoy exploring the outdoors, playing and watching sports, fitness, traveling, dogs, laughing, and watching movies

Lauren Scovel, MD

College: University of South Carolina

Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina

Areas of Interest: Integrative Medicine, Palliative Care, Adolescent Health

I was born and raised in South Carolina in a large family of nine. I decided to head to the west coast after med school, where I completed three years of general surgery residency in Seattle, WA. During this time I realized that my passion was not in the operating room, but rather in the clinic where I got to build relationships with patients and focus on patient education. After leaving residency, I began performing in-home health risk assessments where I gained a new perspective on providing care for the whole patient with a focus on prevention. I soon realized that family medicine was the perfect fit.

I am very excited to be here for my family medicine training. I love the diversity among residents and within our patient population. All of the faculty and my co-residents are extremely supportive, and I love the exposure to full-spectrum family medicine while caring for the underserved.

My interests outside of medicine include traveling, hiking, board games, yoga, reading, soccer, and finding good food/coffee.

Fun Fact: I am obsessed with soccer (both playing and watching). I have had the opportunity to watch professional matches in 6 countries, but the highlight was attending the last men’s World Cup in Russia.

Kristen Zwicky, MD

College:  University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 

Medical School:  University of Illinois at Chicago 

Areas of Interest:  Medical Education, Underserved Populations, Preventative Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Innovative Care Models

 I was born and raised in central Illinois and have done all my training there up until this point. In college I studied Speech and Hearing Science but found myself more drawn to medicine, so instead of changing majors I graduated a year early to gain real world experience in the hospital and make sure it was a good fit for me. That year I did an AmeriCorps service year with the Chicago Health Corps and specifically worked for the American Cancer Society as a patient liaison at John H. Stroger Jr., Hospital of Cook County. My day-to-day involved connecting patients with cancer to food, housing, and transportation resources while they were undergoing radiation therapy or chemotherapy. This experience introduced me to the ideas of social determinants of health, the biopsychosocial model of care, and the importance of community resources. 

The following year I started medical school at the University of Illinois in Chicago where I quickly found my passion for family medicine and the opportunities it provides to help patients make positive change in their life by getting to know them as people. I spent a lot of my time in medical school teaching our intro to clinical medicine course for first years and the family medicine shelf exam reviews for third years, and hope to stay involved in academic medicine in my career. 

O’Connor offers a lot in the way of my professional interests in that our clinic is an FQHC and there are built-in tracks for both medical education and integrative medicine. The faculty are very approachable and clearly invested in the residents’ success, and my co-residents are some of the most supportive, interesting people I’ve ever met. 

Fun Fact: Other than a brief weekend at a conference in Anaheim, I had never been to California before my interview at O’Connor.

Ghausia Ata, DO

College: University of Texas at Dallas

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Other Degrees: Biomedical Masters from University of Texas Health Science Center

Areas of Interest: Procedural Medicine, Dermatology, Technology and Medicine, Preventative Medicine and Global Medicine

I was born in rural Pakistan and moved to the U.S. at the age of 2. I grew up in Dallas, Texas where my passion for science and desire to help the underserved led me to pursue medicine. Through my clinical rotations and a medical mission trip to Honduras, I became very interested in preventative care. I then immersed myself in a year of research at Stanford where I helped pilot a digital health study for peripheral artery disease. These experiences helped me find my place in family medicine and my love for California!

 After my sub-internship at Stanford-O’Connor, I knew this was the place for me. The residents, attendings, and staff are all incredibly approachable and supportive. There is a very unique and palpable culture to go out of your way to help each other.  My favorite part is that the faculty are receptive to resident feedback and always striving to improve. They are the nicest cohort of people you will ever meet and it truly does feel like family here!

 Fun Fact: I’ve traveled to 21 different countries! In my free time I love hiking, working out, trying new restaurants/cuisines, and Netflix binging.

Brittany Drutman, DO

College: UCLA

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences

Areas of Interest: Underserved populations, Global Health, Women’s Health, Mental Health, Pediatrics, Procedural Medicine

I was born and raised in Southern California (Corona, CA) with two sisters in a huge family of Filipino Americans. I completed my undergraduate degree at UCLA (Go Bruins!) in Psychobiology, confirming my interests in the intersections between mental health and human biology. During college, I volunteered in a summer camp program mentoring underprivileged youth and a student-run non-profit that organized international medical mission trips. It was during these experiences that I discovered my true passion for medicine and serving underserved communities. During medical school, I continued to foster my passion for primary care while volunteering in free clinics and soon realized that Family Medicine was the specialty in which my heart felt most fulfilled.

I am thrilled to join the resident and faculty family at Stanford-O’Connor! Their mission is everything I could ask for in a residency program: to train us to provide high quality, full spectrum care to underserved populations within a tight-knit, supportive environment.

Fun Fact: I am a heliophile and I love traveling, yoga, hiking, and going on foodie adventures.

Amal Hassan, MD

College: Brown University

Medical School: Mayo Clinic School of Medicine

I was born in Abu Dhabi--land of the burning sands--but grew up in Minnesota--aka (beloved) land of the frozen tundra. While I look forward to the more temperate climes the Bay has to offer, I'm even more thrilled to be joining the O'Connor family and serving this community!

My route to medicine was a bit more circuitous, having majored in Community Health and Anthropology. One of my most formative experiences was a particular medical anthropology course, during which I realized that practicing medicine would allow me to provide individualized care within communities such as my own Somali community of origin--where disparate expression of illness and health outcomes was not uncommon--and have the potential to create broader systemic change. At O'Connor, I believe that being trained in the full scope of family medicine and working with a traditionally underserved population will allow me to learn how to most meaningfully contribute to the care of patients regardless of their stage or status in life. Outside of my interests in medicine, I enjoy engaging in anything related to music. Singing (former a cappella nerd), listening to most every genre, playing instruments--everything!

Fun fact: I seem to gravitate towards mini instruments: I played piccolo when I was younger and after a (brief) foray into the world of guitar, I moved on to the ukulele. Also, if I were to pick a career in an alternate universe, I'd want to be a back-up singer and make sweet, sweet harmonies.

Maanvi Mittal, DO

College: UC Berkeley 

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences 

Areas of interest: Preventative Medicine, Underserved Populations, Integrative Medicine, Maternal Child Health, Medical Anthropology

I was born in our very own San Jose, CA, and raised in the Bay Area. At UC Berkeley, I studied Anthropology and became interested in the interplay between culture and medicine. I also became very involved in free clinics at homeless shelters and discovered my passion for ensuring preventative care outreach to everyone. During medical school, I realized that all my interests culminate perfectly in primary care! I could not be happier to return home and train at an FQHC with a program so dedicated to the underserved. 

Fun fact: I am a big fan of board games and word games!

Jennifer Ramos, MD

College: UCLA (Go Bruins!)

Medical School: UC Davis ACE-PC

Areas of Interest: Underserved Populations, Preventative Health, Women’s Health, Procedural Medicine, Medical Education &Mentorship

I was born and raised in Southern California, a proud daughter of Mexican immigrants.  College was challenging for me as a first-generation student, but working as a tutor and volunteering with underserved populations ignited my passion for medicine and community health. I completed a post-baccalaureate program at UC Riverside and continued to explore my interests in medicine as a Diabetes Health Educator. I always knew that I wanted to be a family doctor, so I joined the 3rd cohort of the Accelerated Competency-based Education in Primary Care program in medical school, allowing me to finish 1 year sooner. O’Connor embodies everything that I ever wished for in my practice as a family doctor. This program allows us to do full-spectrum community medicine, serve an incredibly diverse and often underserved population, learn from dedicated faculty and staff, and mentor rotating medical students. I am very happy to be joining the O’Connor family and look forward to growing with my amazing co-residents.

Fun Fact: I love spending time with animals! We have 3 dogs of our own, but you can often find me and my fiancé volunteering at shelters and sanctuaries, caring for farm animals, or playing with the wild donkeys in our home town of Moreno Valley. 

Yoon Sung, MD

College: Johns Hopkins University

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Other Degrees: MHS in Clinical Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health

Areas of Interest: Culinary Medicine and Nutrition, Global/Public Health, Mental Health, LGBTQ+ Health, Addiction, Adolescent Health

I was born in Seoul, South Korea and moved to the U.S in 4th grade. Since then I've lived on the (cold & snowy) East Coast for most of my life. After majoring in Public Health and volunteering in free clinics and FQHC's in inner-city Baltimore and Philadelphia, I saw the powerful impact that strong longitudinal and preventive care has on a patient's health and well-being, and soon realized that family medicine was my passion and calling.

After I did my sub-I at Stanford-OCH, I was sold. This is truly a remarkable place where not just the residents but the attendings, MA's, and clinic and hospital staff are part of one big family (I was actually initially weirded out by how nice everyone was). The attendings are fiercely passionate and skilled in their areas of expertise, and I knew that I would receive thorough, full-spectrum training, equipped to practice anywhere in the world. I also wanted to find a place that could help me to take my culinary background (see below) and integrate it directly to my training to help my patients, and truly felt that Dr. Yu and the faculty here would help me achieve that. Hence, I am beyond ecstatic to train at the residency program of my dreams!

Fun fact: I used to work as a cook before med school and still have a 10-year goal of opening a restaurant (thinking "doctored up" healthy Korean fusion + farm-to-table!).

Aaron Suzuka, MD

College: Vassar College

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

Areas of Interest: Sports Medicine, POCUS, Procedures, Underserved / Homeless Medicine, Academic Medicine, Preventative Medicine

I hail from Mililani, HI, and majored in Neuroscience and Behavior at Vassar College. I translocated to the frigid cold of Madison, WI, where I worked at Epic as a software tester and project manager on the Ambulatory application with a focus on note-related functionality. I went to University of Hawaii for medical school where I spent most of my time working with the homeless at our student-run, mobile clinic. I picked Family Medicine because I believe that it is the specialty that transforms with the needs of the community and prioritizes patients, wellness, and preventative medicine in order to elevate the health of a population. I was drawn to Stanford-O'Connor because of the supportive faculty and residents with diverse interests and commitment to the underserved.

 Fun Fact: I enjoy running, trying new foods, singing karaoke, discovering new shows on Netflix, and watching videos of baby pandas or corgis. 

Abby Wang, MD

College: Johns Hopkins University

Medical School: UCSF

Areas of Interest: Health Equity, LGBTQ Health, Geriatrics, Immigrant Populations

I was born and raised in San Jose, California. Though I took a little detour via Johns Hopkins University for undergraduate school, I ultimately returned to the Bay Area for medical school at UCSF with the goal of giving back to the community that shaped me. I chose to pursue a career in Family Medicine because I knew I would have to build a broad base of medical expertise to field all the questions my family and their friends will inevitably have. All joking aside, my areas of interest include promoting health equity, LGBTQ health, geriatrics, and working with immigrant populations, just to name a few. 

In those rare days when I am not at the hospital/clinic, I like to go for hikes so I feel less guilty about eating delicious foods. My sister and I run a joint Instagram account (@noshameadventures) to document our food journey. 

Fun fact: When I moved out of state for college, my father adopted two dogs and named them after my sister and me. He would call me and complain that “Abby pooped on the carpet again!”