Julia Addams, MD
she/her

College:  University of Colorado at Boulder
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Areas of Interest:  Trauma-informed Care, Reproductive Justice, Healthcare response to sex trafficking, Advocacy for survivors of intimate partner violence, LGBTQ+ Medicine, Patient Education and Empowerment, Addiction Medicine

Most aspiring doctors are (and should be) “planners.” I was no exception: I started out with my life’s itinerary neatly catalogued in an excel spreadsheet, divided in tabs by year, organized chronologically. But, like most people with big plans, nothing happened exactly the way I’d been expecting. For me, this was quite lucky.

Without exception, deviations in “the plan” have been humbling, peeling up whatever had been protecting me (multiple layers of privilege, in my case) and interrogating my soft spots (of which I have many) Almost always, this has been made possible due to someone else’s patience and generosity: the preschool teacher in Colombia who helped my dad and I make it through the hospital when we were down and completely lost, a stranger in a Chinese bank who helped me navigate that system, the mentor who knew when something was wrong well before I did, because she’d been there, too. All of these lessons have been difficult, and some have been bitter—but they were lessons, not tragedies, because someone spotted me, stopped, and helped me when I most needed it. This is all to say I’m a person up to my eyeballs in karmic debt—not just a lucky person, but a someone who will forever be trying to “pay it forward.” For this reason, I’m interested in the gaps of the system—or, more accurately, finding creative ways to bridge them.

Medicine has big gaps, large enough for whole people to fall through them. While in medical school in Wisconsin, I was selected to take part in the Training in Urban Medicine and Public Health (TRIUMPH) Program. There, I worked for two and a half years with a team of doctors, social workers, community workers, and survivors themselves in the Health Care Collaborative Against Sex Trafficking (HCAST). We asked two questions: 1) how can you tell if a patient is being trafficked? And 2) what do we do about it, when that is happening? Take a look at our work, and you’ll find flow charts and protocols and slide decks and educational videos that begin to answer those questions. I’m very proud of what we did: we made a plan where none existed before, and often plans do help. But—as we all know—sometimes things get messy, and real life might not stay put within an algorithm. And when that happens, what matters are the people who made the plan to begin with, and whether they care enough to come patch it up, meet the patient where they’re at, recognize the person for who they are, not just for what they have endured, and work with them to find a way to make things work. HCAST was like that.

People like that do exist in medicine—I’m thrilled to have found some more of them here at Stanford-O’Connor.

Fun Fact:  I’m the opposite of athletic (shoutout to everybody who always got picked last in gym class, I see you, I am you) but I get my exercise in (and skip the traffic and the gas prices) by commuting by bike as much as I can!

Nadia Anderson, DO
she/her

College: Campbell University

Medical School:  Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine

Areas of Interest: Integrative Medicine, Women’s Health, Trauma Informed Care, Global Health, Health Equity & Social Justice, Medical Anthropology

Raised within a multicultural family of immigrants in Miami, Florida, I discovered my interest in medicine and passion for serving vulnerable communities early on. I’ve had the privilege of serving communities in Jamaica, India, and Ghana through my involvement in medical outreach trips over the past 15 years. The healthcare disparities I witnessed in resource-limited environments motivated me to pursue a Master of Public Health degree (MPH) in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention. After earning my MPH, I joined a global health fellowship with International Health Initiatives, Inc., where I worked collaboratively to develop and implement health promotion programs aimed at community capacity building in Ghana and Nepal. From 2020-2023, I served on the Board of Directors of the Student National Medical Association, where I led committees in planning two national conferences, reinitiating member involvement in international medical outreach trips, and leading a global health fellowship —all with the intent of supporting clinically excellent and culturally competent future physicians. My greatest passions lie at the intersection of community health strategic planning and educating medically underserved communities on holistic health practices. My partnership with the Girls LEAD Academy in Miami, FL, allowed me to develop and implement a 10-week wellness curriculum for economically disadvantaged youth girls. Outside of medicine, I enjoy practicing and sharing my love for yoga as a registered yoga and meditation teacher and learning about other cultures through travel.

I chose Stanford-O’Connor because I felt confident I would receive the training and support needed to develop into the full-spectrum physician-healer and health equity advocate I aim to be. 

Fun Fact: During a student ambassador program, I was lucky enough stay in on an Aboriginal lodging site and snorkel in the Great Barrier Reef while in Australia.

Ha Eun “Christina” Cho, MD
she/her

College: Emory University

Medical School: Medical College of Georgia

Areas of Interest:  Immigrant/Refugee Health, Street Medicine, Public Health/Advocacy, Sports Medicine

I was born in South Korea, and immigrated to the United States when I was four. My family moved several times throughout my childhood, but we ultimately settled in Georgia. 

In high school, I attended a summer academy which empowered youth to engage in public discourse and confront issues of social justice in the context of inner-city Atlanta. Entering college, I was determined to find a vocational platform that would allow me to continue this work. Majoring in Biology and Sociology, with a concentration in Community Building and Social Change, I saw how many of my interests intersected within medicine. Following graduation, I trained in Mississippi and served as a Teach for America corps member at a Title I high school in South Carolina. As a science teacher, I gained unique insight into the impact of poverty on education and health. 

Becoming a family medicine physician for me is a way to return to the places and thoughts I’ve inhabited— to follow through with my commitment to social justice and contribute with an expertise that I believe adds value and dignity to my service to others. I believe that primary care providers, through their intimate access to patients’ lives, are ideally positioned to advocate for their community and mobilize others to do the same. 

Fun Fact: My husband and I got engaged before Match Day, married after graduation, and flew/drove out a few days later for Intern Orientation (woo-wee it’s been a whirlwind of a year)!

Quynh Duong, DO
she/her

College:

Medical School: Michigan State Univ College of Osteopathic Medicine

Areas of interest:

I grew up in the South of Vietnam and lived in Japan for a few years before coming to the US in my early 20s. While my upbringing in Vietnam exposed me to the socioeconomic determinants of health at an early age, being an immigrant opened my eyes to the silent struggles that many people face to keep a roof over their heads and put food on their tables. When I first arrived in the US, my goal was to pursue research in cardiac diseases to give meaning to the passing of my father to a heart attack. The scientific endeavor of developing a computational model of cardiac mitochondria that can capture the interplay of oxidative stress, calcium handling and cellular metabolism made me appreciate the integrative approach in solving biological problems. This realization naturally motivated me to become a family medicine physician. As the first point of contact for my patients, I will not only be able to coach my patients through their health journeys but also help them navigate the healthcare system.

Fun Fact: When I am not in the hospital or clinic, I can be found hiking or camping with my family. I also love to knit (and make my own clothes) and would love to get into regenerative agriculture one day. 

 Tony García, MD
he/him/él

College: The University of Texas at Austin

Medical School: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Areas of Interest: Gender-affirming Care, LGBTQ+ Health, Language Barriers in Health Care, Racial and Ethnic Disparities

My parents immigrated to the United States from Mexico at a young age and settled down in Houston, Texas, where I was born and raised. Growing up, I didn’t see many doctors who spoke Spanish or looked like me, so I hesitated about pursuing a medical career. During a shadowing experience in college, a Latino pediatrician talked with me about the health disparities experienced by people with limited English proficiency and the deficit of URM physicians in medicine. In light of my own upbringing, his call to action motivated me to volunteer as an interpreter at a charitable clinic. It was here that I first came to appreciate the positive impact that family doctors can have in their community.

Throughout medical school, the most rewarding experiences for me were those in the community, such as serving as a manager for a student-run clinic, volunteering as a medical interpreter, and working with local trans leaders to hold an event in observance of Transgender Day of Remembrance. I was also proud to be able to collaborate on projects exploring transgender youths’ experiences with health care, the need for transgender health content in medical education, and anti-transgender stigma within the medical field.

I chose Stanford-O’Connor because the residents and faculty see the value in cultivating a diverse medical landscape with more multilingual, multicultural, and multifaceted physicians. It’s a great privilege to learn from our patients alongside such vibrant and kindhearted people!

Fun Fact:  I have spent the last 10 years perfecting my recipe for blueberry cheesecake—it’s my claim to fame!

Kavia Khosla, MD
she/her

College: Brown University

Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Chronic Pain Management, Sexual Wellness and Pleasure, Neurodivergence, Nutritional Medicine, Health at Every Size, Social Entrepreneurship, Medical Service Dog Training

I’m from Chicago, and can confirm even locals love deep dish (well at least this local)! I grew up mixed between the suburbs, with a lot of Indian community and in the city, where I went to school for the most part and made most of my friends. The “two divided worlds” experience was very real for me, and got me thinking about the structures of cities/spaces and how that affects our health, community, and interpersonal relationships. I studied Urban Studies and Public Health at Brown University, including participating in a Social Ventures fellowship which still informs the way I approach advocacy.

I actually started my residency in OBGyn and then decided to switch into Family Medicine because I am obsessed with being people’s primary doctor! I also believe strongly in joy in the workplace, which is very aligned with Family Medicine and has been my experience here at Stanford O’Connor.

Fun Fact: I was a leash baby.

Crystal Lin, MD
she/her

College: University of California, Los Angeles 

Medical School: Stanford University

Areas of Interest: Public Health, Epidemiology, Community and Global Health, Medical Education 

I’ve lived almost my entire life in warm and sunny California, arguably the best place on Earth. I grew up in Torrance and went to UCLA for undergrad, where I majored in molecular biology and minored in public health. Much of my extracurricular time in undergrad was spent on community and public health projects, such as running a free student-led clinic, teaching health education to cute kiddos, or organizing community health fairs. I loved my public health projects so much that after graduation I decided to move to England to pursue a Masters in Global Health. Since I wanted to work at the intersection of medicine and public health, family medicine was always the specialty for me! I love being able to care for those at all ages and stages of life, at the level of the individual, family, and community.  

I went to Stanford for medical school and couldn’t be happier to stay in the area for residency. I did my sub-I here and was instantly drawn to the incredibly kind and brilliant residents and faculty. Seems I’ll be in California for life! 

Outside of medicine, I like living a slower, cozier life. I like taking naps, caring for my plants, baking, drinking tea, crocheting and petting animals.  

Fun fact: I took a two month patisserie course at Leith’s School of Food and Wine.

Anish Pal, MD
he/him

College: University of California San Diego

Medical School: Florida International School

Areas of Interest: Integrative Medicine and Holistic Care

Hi everyone, I'm Anish! I was born and raised in the East bay and completed my undergraduate at UCSD where I studied Biochemistry and business. I found my way to medicine through 14+ odd jobs spanning from construction and uber driving, to data analysis and clinical research. While my path was non-linear, my passion for forming interpersonal connections and building community remained steadfast. These values led me to medicine and Family Medicine became a natural fit.

I'm excited to train at Stanford O'Connor because the location allows an opportunity to serve and learn from a diverse patient population, the training is full spectrum, and the people here are amazing!

Fun fact: My hobbies outside of medicine include biking, hiking, solo travelling, trying not to fall off of a surfboard, and board games.

Yuan Zhang, MD
she/her

College: Stanford University

Medical School:  Stanford University School of Medicine 

Areas of Interest: Preventative Medicine, POCUS, Procedures, Women's Health, Medical Education

Born and raised in Beijing, China, I came to the US to attend college 10 years ago. During my undergraduate years at Stanford, I majored in biology and minored in medical anthropology, and enjoyed reading ethnography and Foucault as much as making beating cardiomyocytes in a dish. When not in class or lab, I devoted most of my free time volunteering at a student-run free clinic and served in my favorite role as a Mandarin interpreter for several years. 

In medical school, I entered each clerkship with an open mind and was thrilled to find family medicine, a specialty that until recently had been non-existent in the healthcare system I grew up in. The emphasis on disease screening and prevention in family medicine resonates with me, and the broad scope of practice inspires and humbles me. More importantly, family medicine allows me and urges me to build meaningful and long-lasting relationships with patients and their families, which I have found to be the most rewarding aspect of clinical medicine. 

After calling the Bay Area home my entire adult life and thoroughly enjoying my Sub-I at O'Connor, I am thrilled to stay for residency training. On my days off, you can find me braving 3-foot baby waves on a beginner surfboard in Santa Cruz. 

Fun fact:  I sailed with 37 shipmates from Tahiti to Hawaii over 35 days aboard a 134-foot brigantine in college. I will probably be searching for another fun fact to replace this one in the years to come.

Bianca Bustamente, DO
she/her

College: San Francisco State University

Medical School:  University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Areas of Interest: Integrative Medicine, Underserved Populations, Preventative Care

My low-income minority upbringing in the San Fernando Valley rooted my passion for working with underserved and Latino communities. I began to foster this interest in working with underserved populations during my undergraduate kinesiology studies at San Francisco State University through volunteer work both locally at Clinic by the Bay and abroad through the MEDLIFE organization where I participated in providing care to underserved populations in Peru. I taught weekly free exercise classes for our local community and provided nutrition education to my university colleagues. My undergraduate experiences and background in kinesiology allowed me to focus on exercise science and nutrition and taught me the importance of preventative care. 

In medical school, I became the president of UNECOM’s Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA) Chapter and was able to lead events and lectures that educated our future physicians about providing culturally competent care to Latino communities. My experience as a first generation college graduate highlighted the importance of mentorship on the path to higher education. I am grateful for the opportunity to become a mentor to underrepresented students like myself across the U.S. in partnership with LMSA National Organization. Additionally, I had the honor of being selected as an AHEC Care for the Underserved Pathway Scholar and obtained invaluable experience working with local underserved Lobstermen communities in Maine, and educated local elementary and high school students about preventative care and leading a healthy lifestyle. As a member of Sigma Sigma Phi National Osteopathic Medicine Honors Fraternity, I connected and volunteered locally making a positive impact within our surrounding community during the COVID pandemic. I was nominated by my peers for my volunteer work and dedication to the underserved community and was honored to be inducted into the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband and puppy and family, being outdoors enjoying the California weather, going to the beach, trying new restaurants, planning adventures to new places, and practicing yoga.

Fun Fact: I spent my younger years chasing the snow from Southern California to Oregon, and even spent a season as a snowboard instructor.

Puneet Gill, DO
she/her

College:  Duquesne University

Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

Areas of Interest:  FM-OB, Full Spectrum Primary Care, Health Equity, Immigrant & Underserved Communities 

As the daughter of Punjabi immigrants, I witnessed firsthand how barriers to quality care can impact the health of successive generations. Raised in Buffalo, NY (Go Bills!), I pursued my undergraduate education in Pittsburgh before moving to New York City for medical school. Throughout my medical education, I committed to helping uninsured immigrant families gain equal access to community resources and overcome language barriers. I contributed to our Asylum Clinic, where I provided medical evaluations for those seeking asylum in the United States. I also served as President of Physicians for Human Rights, advocating for the rights and welfare of marginalized populations across the globe, amplifying the voices of those unable to be heard. My passion for women's health emerged from conducting research and advocating for reproductive rights in New York City.  

I chose O’Connor because of its robust curriculum as an unopposed program, passion for health equity, and devotion to community service. 

Fun Fact: I love to dance! I’ve spent the last 9 years as a competitive Bhangra dancer, competing at various competitions across the nation, as well as on tour with Diljit Dosanjh!  

Monique Holod, MD
she/her

College: University of Minnesota

Medical School:  Rush Medical College

Areas of Interest: Maternal Health Disparities, Reproductive Justice, Women’s Health, Global Health, Advocacy 

I’m originally from Minnesota and was raised in an area with large immigrant and refugee populations. This sparked a personal interest in global health and healthcare disparities, prompting me to study Physiology and Global Studies in college. I spent time at a local refugee health clinic and then worked for two years at an inner-city hospital through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through these experiences I bore witness to the structural barriers to healthcare faced by those in my own community, ultimately leading me to pursue a career in medicine. 

My interest in maternal health disparities grew from a research project in medical school investigating racial inequities in rates of cesarean sections. From there I served on the Birth Equity committee at my home institution and helped coordinate Black Maternal Health Week. Working closely with my program’s administration and faculty, I revised our preclerkship curriculum to include material on reproductive justice and maternal health disparities. I later organized an event for students featuring a panel of patients who had experienced reproductive inequities first-hand, courageously sharing their stories to increase awareness of a medical system plagued with injustice. 

These experiences demonstrated to me how I could use my medical training to be an advocate for my patients. To me, advocacy is about using one’s agency to create positive change in ways that are rooted in awareness and empathy. I firmly believe that advocacy is at the core of what it means to be a Family Medicine physician; it means a life-long commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality healthcare through the lens of equity and compassion. I chose Stanford-O’Connor for residency because I knew that the program would facilitate my growth as a physician who practices in accordance with these values. 

Fun fact: In medical school I was team captain of our class’s beach volleyball team - the Beta Blockers!

Ritwik “Ritz” Keshav, MD/MPH/MS
he/him/él

College:  Cornell University

Medical School:  University of Arizona, College of Medicine - Phoenix

Areas of Interest: Aerospace Medicine, Refugee Health, Psychoplastogens, Integrative Medicine, Rural Health, Healthcare in Low-Resource Settings, Medical Device Development

I was born in India and grew up in various cities across Canada and Simi Valley, CA.  I took the scenic route to medicine, filled with many side-quests including teaching, hitchhiking across New Zealand, starting a band, and working in the biotech industry.  I didn't know what I wanted to be when I grew up until my best friend had a devastating accident.  Being part of his healing journey revealed to me how medicine involves curiosity and ingenuity along with a full spectrum of emotion – how it intersected art and science, and embodied the human experience.  After witnessing this, I knew I could see myself doing nothing else.

I was drawn to family medicine because it emphasizes prevention and holistic care while keeping in mind the specifics of diseases and their treatments.  It seemed like the focal point of all medicine and enabled me to nurture a diverse set of interests.  During medical school, I deepened my interest in aerospace medicine by beginning working for MedAire and helping establish the Aerospace Medicine Interest Group.  For my MPH internship, I worked closely with an FQHC to develop a staff and patient educational curriculum for refugee healthcare.  I also spent two months on the Gila River Indian Community reservation, observing how healthcare is delivered in a rural, low-resource setting with substantial health disparities.

I chose Stanford-O’Connor because I was inspired by the kindness, community, and vision I experienced during my interview.  Speaking with different members of its ecosystem, I felt safe to be myself and knew it would be the perfect place to grow as a budding physician.

My hobbies include ceramics, music, hiking, camping, hanging out with my dog Goose, yoga, cooking, and gardening.

Fun Fact: I operate a home ceramics studio and teach hand building, wheel throwing, and kiln firing.

Eva Leung, MD
she/her

College:  UC San Diego

Medical School:  Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

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

I was born and raised in San Francisco, California. My role as a translator for my immigrant parents made me realize how difficult it is to navigate the healthcare system. From my parents' experiences and meeting patients in different clinical settings, I realized the importance of PCPs and their role in bridging the health literacy gap. As a family physician, I will be my patients' go-to person for their medical needs. I am excited to join the O'Connor family and start caring for our diverse patient population.

Fun Fact: I'm a secret adrenaline junkie! Skydiving after a medical school exam? Check! I wouldn't do it again but highly recommend it!

Jonathan Lu, MD
he/him

College:  Princeton University

Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Full-spectrum Family Medicine, Reproductive Health, Abortion Care, LGBTQ+ Care, Point-of-care Ultrasound, Health Equity, Clinical Informatics

I grew up in Fremont, California, which is a predominantly Asian tech suburb of the San Francisco Bay Area. I am one of the 50% of medical students who come from the top income quintile, a long-standing inequity in medicine which needs to change. In college, I got very involved in student climate organizing in New Jersey and began to see how environmental justice interacts with health inequities and structural racism. Through that, I met a med student who told me that Family Medicine was all about addressing people’s health both inside and outside the clinic. 

In med school, I found that some of my most empathetic and structurally competent mentors happened to all be family doctors. I also volunteered as a vaccines coordinator with the Pacific Free Clinic, co-led a health careers outreach program to East Palo Alto Academy high school students, supported a community-centered Telehealth deployment at Roots Community Health Center, and helped to integrate climate change into our medical school curriculum. I was pleasantly surprised to see that this community and advocacy work was recognized and valued by my FM mentors and at Family Medicine conferences. On clerkships I really liked most of my rotations, but especially the holistic and culturally humble care I saw from my family medicine preceptors, who were ready for any patient to walk in the door.

I chose O’Connor for its unopposed, full-spectrum clinical training including Inpatient Medicine, OB, and abortion care, as well as for the privilege of caring for an underserved patient population. 

Fun Fact: I wanted to be a comic book artist as a kid. Some day….

Shahkira “Aliah” Mehkri, MD
she/her

College: Portland State University

Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University

Areas of Interest: Immigrant & Refugee Health, Reproductive Health, POCUS

I was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, and at the age of 4, my family moved to Portland, Oregon, escaping the cold! As the eldest daughter of immigrant parents, my upbringing was shaped by diverse cultural influences. My mother’s family, of mixed Pakistani and Thai heritage, sought refuge in the United States from the Laotian war in the 1980s. Meanwhile, my father’s family migrated to Canada from India in the 1970s. My family’s rich history exposed me to various healthcare beliefs and practices, fostering an appreciation for different perspectives and the importance of culturally sensitive care. Like many immigrant families, we faced challenges accessing health insurance, which made accessibility to healthcare a significant concern. These experiences ignited my interest in medicine and serving underserved communities.

I stumbled into family medicine when I was assigned to this specialty as a medical scribe. I was struck by the dedication these providers had when it came to caring for their patients comprehensively, while also considering barriers to their healthcare. As I journeyed through medical school, I involved myself in community-based health initiatives, such as participating in the annual Health Care Equity Fair in downtown Portland to provide free healthcare services to the community. I also helped organize intercultural educational events such as institution-wide Ramadan Iftar dinners to bridge communities and promote cultural understanding. Throughout my endeavors, I consistently saw how involved family medicine providers were in community building. I came to realize that I did not want to miss out on taking part in caring for any aspect of my patients’ health, be it their mind, body, or social conditions. This realization solidified my decision that family medicine was the right path for me. I feel so fortunate to be part of the Stanford-O’Connor program, where I can become the full-spectrum family medicine physician I aspire to be!

Fun fact: When I traveled to Japan with my friends, we took a ninja training course. After completing it, we proudly stood alongside a 3- and 4-year-old who also finished the course that same day. As a reward, we were served curry and rice shaped as ninja stars!

Pooja Polamarasetti, MD
she/her

College: University of Michigan

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Preventive Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Nutritional/Obesity Medicine, Reproductive Health & Justice, Adolescent Medicine, Medical Education

I grew up in a suburb of Detroit, MI, and chose to stay close to home during undergrad and med school. As the first doctor in my family, I've leaned heavily on both informal guidance and structured mentorship to successfully navigate my medical training journey. These experiences have shaped my interests in mentorship and teaching–whether for other students or for members of the wider community. This passion brought me to family medicine. I thoroughly enjoy outpatient medicine as a vehicle for education and mentoring my patients through making health decisions inside and outside of the clinic. Looking back, my initial encounters with family medicine were while improving medical literacy in my own family and community.

During my time in college, I studied gender and health and got involved in work surrounding reproductive justice and broadening access to abortion services. In medical school, I helped organize free health fairs and workshops, volunteered with domestic violence survivors, and completed an externship in family planning with the Medical Students for Choice. Aside from reproductive health, I also have special interests in behavioral/addiction medicine, obesity medicine, and policy and population health. I look forward to having the ability to care for my patients through the different stages of their lives when they may require any of the above services and more. I am excited to get the full-spectrum training that Stanford O’Connor is known for. Most of all, I’m grateful to be able to learn the art of medicine from the incredible patients right here in San Jose.

Fun Fact: I make it a point to take public transportation in every city I visit. I haven’t been to Europe yet, so that’s definitely on the bucket list!

Cecilia Zhou, MD she/her

College: Haverford College

Medical School: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Women's Health & Reproductive Justice, Preventative Medicine, FGLI & URiM advocacy

I was born in China and immigrated with my mom to San Francisco when I was six years old. In 5th grade, I was introduced to programs for first-generation, low-income (FGLI) students, which gave me the resources to attend independent middle school, high school, and eventually college in the Philadelphia area. Through these experiences, I recognized the educational disparities in our communities and realized the positive impact that I want to make on educational equality in addition to pursuing medicine. In medical school, I had opportunities to be an advocate for and mentor underrepresented in medicine (URiM) students by co-hosting the “Med Legs” podcast and mentoring in the Penn Access Summer Scholars (PASS) Program. 

I chose Family Medicine to become a physician who can administer care to all. I want the breadth of knowledge to care for patients through different stages of life and develop meaningful relationships with them. Stanford-O'Connor is my dream residency program! This program has strong training in full-spectrum FM with robust women’s health and obstetrics. The faculty are committed to teaching, and the program is truly invested in residents' well-being. It is so special to train at a community safety-net hospital that has support from a large academic center. I'm excited to be back in the Bay Area caring for this patient population and learning the needs of this community.

Outside of medicine, I like playing badminton, running, watching K-dramas, thrifting, and trying local foods.

Fun Fact: I immigrated from China to the US on my birthday! Because of the time difference, my birthday lasted for two days, and I got double presents.

Neha Balachandran, MD
she/her

College: University of Alabama at Birmingham

Medical School:  Medical College of Georgia

Areas of Interest: OB/Women’s Health, Street Medicine, LGBTQIA+, Public Health/Advocacy

I am a proud child of Indian immigrants, born and raised around Atlanta, Georgia. And while I will always be a Southern girl at heart, I felt it was time to broaden my horizons – and what better place to do that than the beautiful West coast?

Community engagement has always been central to who I am, from teaching English after school to volunteering at food banks. This continued in college, as I got involved in more medical related experiences. My time at the Birmingham Crisis Center and Community of Hope free clinic were where I discovered my love for public health, and my first job at the Jefferson County Department of Health helped me realize the profound impact physicians could have outside the hospital.

I had found my calling for serving underserved populations, and when there wasn’t a clear avenue to pursue this interest in medical school, I helped create one, by founding the first street medicine clinic at our regional campus in Savannah, Georgia. I wanted more students to get exposure to opportunities like this, so I spent time as a student consultant for the school, working to integrate more public health into the curriculum and collaborate with FQHCs to be our clinical sites.

All of these experiences led me to family medicine, a field that blends advocacy, community, and true full-spectrum care. I am so excited to train at Stanford O’Connor, where I will be surrounded by people who share my passions and can help shape me into the physician I aspire to become. I could go on for hours about why this is the best specialty, but I just love that I get the chance to be someone’s medical “sherpa,” helping patients navigate the healthcare landscape and advocate on their behalf.

On my days off, you can find me reading, crocheting, attempting to bake sourdough, or going to a yoga or pilates class.

Fun Fact: I have been an extra in movies/TV shows and most notably, a Delta flight ad! I’ve gotten to meet lots of actors on set, including Clint Eastwood, Lana Condor, and Cole Sprouse.

Tiffany Chen, MD
she/her

College:  University of Michigan

Medical School: Washington University in St. Louis

Areas of Interest:   Immigrant & Refugee Health, FMOB, Pediatrics, Women’s Health & Reproductive Justice, Medical Education

I was born and raised in Michigan and am the daughter of Taiwanese immigrants. Growing up, being an “unofficial” interpreter for my parents and witnessing the immigrant healthcare experience became a driving force for me to pursue medicine and health equity.

In college, I studied Spanish and Neuroscience. A lot of my experiences centered on education, including being a 3rd grade Spanish teacher! During my gap years, I worked as a medical assistant at a Federally Qualified Health Center. It was here that my love for FM really bloomed as I witnessed the unique, longitudinal relationships and impact that FM docs can have for underserved communities. 

In med school, my experiences continued to center on education and advocacy, including mentoring URiM students, being a medical interpreter at health screenings, and my favorite…helping to charter our school’s chapter of “Knitted Knockers” (crocheted/knit breast prosthesis). My path to FM was honestly challenging given that there wasn’t an FM department at my school. Pursuing this field is a love letter to my family and my community, and a commitment to take care of and advocate for patients across all walks of life. Stanford-O’Connor stood out to me immediately when I met Dr. Yu at the AAFP national conference. The dedication to teaching, resident well-being, and to underserved communities was really apparent, blending a strong academic program with full-spectrum training. In the faculty and residents, I saw myself represented in ways I have never been before, and I feel so lucky to be a part of this community. I am so excited to take care of the diverse communities of South Bay! 

Outside of the hospital, you can catch me at the tennis & pickleball courts, crocheting my next project, watercoloring, or hosting a game night. 

Fun Fact: I worked as a florist at a flower truck during M4 year! My retirement dream is to open a combination floral, stationary, crochet/knitting, & boba cafe.

Thu Dam, MD
she/her

College: Brown University

Medical School:  University of California, San Francisco 

Areas of Interest: Immigrant/Refugee Health, Global Health, Community Medicine, Pain Medicine, Wilderness Medicine, Palliative Care, Social Determinants of Health, Behavioral Health, Procedures

My family left Vietnam as refugees after the Vietnam War and found their new home right here in San Jose, California, where I was born and raised. I grew up surrounded by rich Vietnamese culture (San Jose has the largest Vietnamese diaspora population outside of Vietnam!) and the most phenomenal food. However, growing up in a low-income immigrant community also meant bearing witness to my family's limited access to care and poor health outcomes in a system that wasn’t built for them. 

I discovered the vocabulary to better understand health disparities when I moved to the East Coast and attended Brown University. It was during those chilly winters in Rhode Island when I learned about the social determinants of health and how multifaceted “health” really is. I joined a student group called Connect for Health, which showed me the joys of directly advocating for patients and its impact on their families. I had the chance to visit Vietnam for the first time through a study abroad program, and I was so enamored by the country’s vibrant energy and warm community that I spent a gap year in Ho Chi Minh City working in the public health space on tuberculosis screening and treatment. I returned to California and moved to San Francisco for medical school at UCSF (when I was promptly reminded that California truly does have the best weather!). 

I knew I had found the right people in family medicine when I realized that health justice is built into our practice. As a crier and someone who really feels Big Feelings, I finally felt safe in a community that values holding space for the profound emotions involved in caring for others through all the stages of their lives. Coming to Stanford - O’Connor means coming home, and I can’t think of anything more meaningful than to learn from and serve my own community alongside those who know that the humanity of our patients always comes first. 

Outside of medicine, I like playing small versions of sports (e.g. pickleball, spikeball), feeling in awe by nature, and nurturing life in all forms by taking care of animals and doting on house plants.  

Fun fact: I have nearly no sense of smell and almost failed a chem test in college where we had to use our sense of smell to identify chemical compounds. Luckily, I had a lab partner with a keen nose!

Ryan Ferdowsian, MD
he/him

College:  Pitzer College

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Disability Medicine, Community Health Initiatives, Emergency Medicine, POCUS,
Medical Education

I grew up in Palo Alto, California, alongside my brother. In our single-parent household, I witnessed
firsthand the challenges my mother faced as she navigated life in the U.S. with limited support. Her
experience navigating the healthcare system as an immigrant sparked my drive to reduce barriers
to care for patients like her.

In college, I developed longitudinal relationships with underserved elementary and middle school
students by tutoring them in math and trumpet performance. I also served as Co-President of the Claremont Colleges Emergency Medical Services Club, where I supported fellow students in obtaining their EMT licenses. That experience led me to co-found the campus’ Emergency Medical Services program, which connected student EMTs with on-campus emergencies to improve response times and community safety.

In medical school, I was able to combine my passion for serving vulnerable populations and community initiatives by co-founding Stritch’s Special Olympics chapter. Together, we provided over 300 pre-participation sports physicals for athletes experiencing disabilities and played inclusive basketball and pickleball games at in-house sporting events.

Outside of medicine, you can find me on the soccer pitch, the pickleball court, or with my friends playing music!

I chose Stanford-O’Connor because of the warmth and camaraderie I felt from residents, faculty, and staff during my interview and second look days. Just as meaningfully, this program brings me back to the community that raised me—allowing me to give back as a physician and serve the very people who inspired me then and continue to inspire me today.

Fun Fact: I road-tripped home from Chicago—with a good friend—and listened to “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)” 500 times!

Maria Ji, DO
she/her

College:  University of California, Berkeley

Medical School:  Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Areas of Interest: Preventative Medicine, Integrative Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), Mentorship, Health Education

Growing up in the Bay Area as a daughter of Chinese immigrants, I was raised with a rich blend of traditions and languages that developed my empathy and respect for cultural diversity. These early influences inspired my commitment to serve diverse communities, leading me to pursue medicine.

While studying psychology at UC Berkeley, I was dedicated to enhancing community well-being by promoting health education, disease prevention, and psychosocial health. I continued this work as a medical student at Des Moines University, where I served disadvantaged populations with a focus on preventive care and community health. These experiences have deepened my understanding of the social determinants of health and the importance of cultural humility.

Family medicine holds a special place in my heart for its versatility and the opportunity to build lifelong relationships with patients across all age groups. While completing my sub-internship as a 4th-year medical student at Stanford-O’Connor, I was amazed by the comprehensive training opportunities, including dynamic inpatient service, diverse outpatient clinics, in-depth POCUS experiences, and a variety of procedures. I believe that the unique learner-centered curriculum, talented faculty, and abundant clinical resources will provide me with the most robust full-spectrum training. Ultimately, I strive to create healthier, more inclusive communities and transform the lives I serve, one patient at a time. 

Fun Fact: I enjoy tackling DIY projects. It's rewarding to solve problems hands-on and fix things myself. 

Luan Nguyen, DO
he/him

College:  Univ of California, Davis

Medical School: Touro Univ College of Osteopathic Medicine

Areas of Interest: Sports Medicine, Preventative Medicine, Medical Educatoin, Immigrant Health

I grew up in the beautiful coastal city of Nha Trang, Vietnam, and immigrated to the United
States in 2010. My family initially settled in Stockton, California, before moving to Modesto for
my parents’ work. Like many immigrant families, we faced the challenges of navigating a complex and new healthcare system where language barriers and limited access made even basic care feel out of reach. These early experiences, combined with later work and volunteer efforts with similarly underserved communities, deepened my awareness of healthcare disparities and inspired my path toward medicine.

Family medicine drew me in for its focus on strong, long-term patient relationships, preventive
care, and community-centered advocacy. After spending the past 15 years in Northern California, I’m thrilled to begin my residency training at Stanford-O’Connor, where I can continue serving the diverse populations that shaped my journey while receiving full-spectrum training.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy working out, watching sports, making (and drinking) coffee, and catching up with friends and family over boba.

Fun Fact: I was born left-handed but had to switch to my right hand in school when I was still living in Vietnam. So, now I’m ambidextrous (I can even use chopsticks with both hands)

Robert Shi, MD
he/him

College: Stanford University

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Social Determinants of Health, Health Equity, Medical Education

I was born in San Francisco, CA and spent most of my childhood growing up in the Bay Area.

As a Sociology major in college, I had opportunities to think about how an individual's social, economic, political, and built environment all contribute to their health and well-being. I completed a master's degree in Community Health and Prevention Research during which I learned more about the power of prevention in medicine and performed qualitative research centered around well-being among unhoused folks. I then found passion in medical education working full-time as researcher with the Goodman Surgical Education Center at Stanford in in situ simulation research.

In medical school, I was drawn to primary care because of its emphasis on considering a patient holistically. I was most energized when I was talking with patients--really getting to know them and understanding them fully. Outside of clinical medicine, I also found joy in volunteer opportunities in my medical school's Chinatown neighborhood via mentoring and tutoring local public school students, demonstrating healthy cooking options at an afterschool program, and participating in organized street-cleaning efforts.

I chose Stanford O'Connor in large part because of the warm and generous patient population as well as the talented, kind, and supportive residents and faculty!

Fun fact: My partner and I love making pour-over and espresso-based coffees at home. We like to try different single-origin coffee beans from around the world - maybe we'll open a coffee shop one day!

Laura Slattery, MD
she/her

College: United States Military Academy, West Point, NY. Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, CA.

Medical School: University of California Davis School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Trauma-informed Care, Safety net medicine, LGBTQ+ Medicine, Addiction Medicine

Growing up in LA as the fifth of six children, raised mostly by a single mom, money was an issue - as it is for so many of us. I wanted to be a doctor but couldn’t afford the first step - college. I got a scholarship to go to the United States Military Academy to play basketball and went with hopes of paying for both college and medical school through service in the Army. When I discovered that the service commitment was longer than I anticipated or wanted, I graduated and served 3+ years in the Medical Service Corps before making other plans for my life.

Deeply rooted in my religious tradition, social justice has always been a guiding value for me. For the next 25+ years, I participated in, and sometimes lead, nonprofits and groups that stood with immigrants, the LGBTQ+ community, and people experiencing homelessness. I advocated for and taught nonviolent methods and solutions to challenges we face personally, nationally, and internationally.

The rekindling of my desire to practice medicine came quite suddenly at this stage in my life. Over the past seven years of retaking prerequisites and attending medical school, that desire has stood the test of time. Every day, I am thrilled that I have the opportunity to continue to provide care for people in need (albeit in a different way), to satisfy my intellectual curiosity, to practice compassion, to engage in ethical decision-making, and to sometimes lead.

I am excited to join Stanford’s full-spectrum Family Medicine residency team where I can work alongside colleagues as dedicated to their craft as they are to their communities.

Fun Fact: I have jumped out of airplanes and repelled out of helicopters - but I still can’t seem to Escape Rooms without significant clues and support!!

Bryan Vuong, MD he/him

College: University of California, Berkeley

Medical School: UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine

Areas of Interest: Underserved Populations, Public Health, Health Policy & Advocacy, Immigrant Health, Preventive Medicine, Integrative Medicine

Growing up as a first-generation Vietnamese American in the East Bay with significant financial, social, language, and health challenges drives my commitment to caring for patients, especially those from vulnerable communities with compassion and cultural sensitivity. 

Attending medical school in Los Angeles gave me important experience working with patients from various cultures and speaking different languages and furthered my passion for advocacy. During this time, I worked alongside the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA) to care for AAPI communities and address anti-Asian hate during the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

To complement my medical education, I completed a Master of Public Health with a concentration in Health Policy & Management and equipped myself with the skills to better understand, quantify, and address health disparities. I worked closely with UCLA’s Preventive Medicine department to bring health education outside the four walls of the clinics and hospitals and out into the community by starting a program called Healthy Neighbors/Vecinos Saludable. 

Ultimately, I was drawn to Family Medicine because of its breadth, the ability to work with all members of the family unit, and its unique position working at the intersection between prevention and intervention. I chose to work at O’Connor because of the supportive community of faculty and residents, the program’s dedication to equity and healing, and the diversity of San Jose. I am excited to grow with the O’Connor family over the next three years and serve the residents of San Jose!

Outside of medicine, I enjoy going on food adventures with my wife, playing dungeons and dragons, putting together botanical LEGO sets, and listening to video game music!

Fun Fact: I am actively working on improving my Spanish and Vietnamese. I have a 181 day streak on Duolingo!