Front Cover
“Poppies at Pine Flat,” by Rachel Wolinsky, MD, LT MC USNR, PGY5, UCSF Fresno General Surgery Residency Program
Back Cover
“From the Peak, the Journey Flows, Upper Yosemite Fall,” by Bashar Tanous, MD, PGY3, UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program
“Grace Amongst Giants, a Deer Wandering Through the Sequoias,” by Charizza Besmanos, MD, PGY3, UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program
“UCSF Fresno 50th Anniversary on Fresno Street”
Thursday, June 12, 2025, at 6 p.m.
Fresno City College
Old Administration Building Auditorium
Order of Ceremony
Welcoming Remarks
Jose M. Barral Sanchez, MD, PhD
Vice Dean, UCSF Fresno
Introduction of Keynote Speaker
Stacy Sawtelle Vohra, MD, FACEP
Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Designated Institutional Official, UCSF Fresno
Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, UCSF Commencement Address
Gregory L. Simpson, MD
Division Chief, Dermatology, UCSF Fresno
Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSF Awards
Resident and Fellow Awards
Leon S. Peters Foundation Resident and Fellow Awards
VA ICARE Award
Steven N. Parks, MD, Leadership Award
Borba House Staff Research Awards and Faculty Research Award
Outstanding Program Director Award
Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching
Presentation of Graduates
Dear UCSF Fresno Graduates,
Tonight, we celebrate you. We acknowledge your commitment to medicine, your specialty or sub-specialty, and your devotion to your patients. We applaud you and thank your family and friends for supporting you along the way.
This is a monumental milestone. It takes 11 to 15 years or more after high school to produce a practicing physician. Tonight marks the completion of a key stage in your life and the start of the next phase in your professional career — whether you are continuing your education, teaching the next generation, or entering practice.
Wherever your path takes you, we hope the experiences and insights you acquired here will help to guide your success.
Tonight, we are also celebrating our incredible past, vibrant present, and exciting future as part of our 50th anniversary year. UCSF Fresno is part of the foundation that makes you an outstanding clinician. You are forever a part of UCSF Fresno’s family.
Tonight, we are proud to call you colleagues. Congratulations, UCSF Fresno Class of 2025.
Sincerely,
Jose M. Barral Sanchez, MD, PhD Vice Dean
UCSF Fresno
Stacy Sawtelle Vohra, MD Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Designated Institutional Official
UCSF
Fresno
Gregory L. Simpson, MD
Division Chief, Dermatology, UCSF Fresno
Health Sciences Clinical Professor of Medicine, UCSF
Gregory L. Simpson, MD, is board certified in Dermatology. He earned his medical degree from the University of Tennessee, completed a preliminary Internal Medicine internship at Georgetown University, and he completed residency training in Dermatology at the Medical College of Georgia.
In addition to the Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in teaching last year, Dr. Simpson has won several other teaching awards including the UCSF Fresno best faculty award in 2014, Community Regional Medical Center Faculty of the Year Award in 2017, and sub-specialty Faculty of the Year Award in 2024.
Dr. Simpson has been the division chief of Dermatology in Fresno since 2012. His passion is teaching Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics residents as well as medical students both in the clinic and classroom. Dr. Simpson’s primary areas of interest are blistering disorders and complex medical dermatology.
Sponsored by Community Medical Centers
Presented by
Lucky Malhi
Chief Operating Officer, Community Regional Medical Center
Jeff Thomas, MD
Chief Medical Quality Officer, Community Regional Medical Center
Residents and Fellows vote for members of the house staff, faculty and non-physician staff who exemplify standards of teaching excellence deserving of special recognition.
Outstanding First Year Resident
Outstanding Resident or Fellow Teacher
Community Health System Teaching Excellence Award
Outstanding Non-Physician Teacher
Presented by
A Representative of the UCSF Fresno Resident Council
In December 2011, the Leon S. Peters Resident of the Year Award was established through funding from the Leon S. Peters Foundation in support of the first UCSF Fresno Resident Council. This year, the Resident Council has selected one resident and one fellow, nominated by their peers, who have demonstrated outstanding work in patient and family care, research project success, have volunteered in the community to provide medical assistance where needed, and are overall well-rounded physicians concerned about their patients, research, and community.
Presented by
Wessel Meyer, MD, FACP, MBChB
Associate Chief of Staff for Education,
VA Central California Health Care System
Clinical Professor, UCSF
This award recognizes the resident who exemplifies the abilities to communicate effectively, lead treatment teams that foster a culture of safety and uses data effectively when making decisions.
Presented by Pamela Kammen, MD
President, Fresno Madera Medical Society
Known for his vision, leadership, and guidance, during his 35 years of practice in Fresno, Dr. Parks made many outstanding contributions to the medical community, the profession, the Fresno Madera Medical Society and other professional organizations. His dedication and commitment to medicine continue through this leadership award, which was established by the medical society to recognize and encourage excellence in leadership development within organized medicine by residents and fellows and serves to stimulate similar efforts by other physicians in training. The individual recipient, selected by the FMMS Board of Governors, is recognized during the UCSF Fresno commencement ceremony and is presented with a plaque and a monetary award.
Presented by Eyad Almasri, MD
Assistant Dean for Research, UCSF Fresno
Professor of Medicine, UCSF
The Faculty Development and Scholarly Activity Committee reviews original research conducted by members of the faculty and house staff. Awards are given to recognize creative research judged to be the most significant and meritorious during the academic year.
Presented by Stacy Sawtelle Vohra, MD, FACEP
Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Designated Institutional Official, UCSF Fresno
Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine, UCSF
The Outstanding Program Director Award celebrates the pivotal role our program directors play in shaping the next generation of physician leaders. This award recognizes a UCSF Fresno program director who demonstrates exceptional leadership, commitment to the educational programs at UCSF Fresno, and championing of the well-being and professional growth of residents and fellows.
This award is a testament to the dedication and profound impact program directors have on the lives and careers of our residents and fellows, ensuring they are well-prepared to excel in their chosen fields.
Presented by
Jose M. Barral Sanchez, MD, PhD Vice Dean
UCSF Fresno
Each year, the UCSF School of Medicine awards the prestigious Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching to four members of the clinical faculty. These awards recognize outstanding teaching, motivational skills and communication abilities.
One of these prestigious awards is reserved for a member of the clinical faculty at UCSF Fresno.
The winner is recognized at the commencement ceremony at the UCSF School of Medicine and is presented with a certificate and a significant monetary award.
2025 Kaiser Award Nominees:
Claire Gibson, MD
Robert Julian, DDS, MD
Braden Lind, MD
Liana Milanes, MD
Jeffrey Nahn, MD
Hiral Patel, DO
Scott Reichelderfer, MD
Arang Samim, MD
Joe Sanford, MD
Gregory Simpson, MD
Emergency Medicine
Global Emergency Medicine Education Fellowship
Wilderness Medicine Fellowship
Emergency Medicine Medical Education Fellowship
Family and Community Medicine
Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
Internal Medicine (Categorical)
Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship
Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship
Hematology/Oncology Fellowship
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism Fellowship
Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Pulmonary Critical Care Fellowship
Sleep Medicine Fellowship
Obstetrics/Gynecology
Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)
Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction Fellowship
Orthopaedic Surgery
Orthopaedic Trauma Surgery Fellowship
Pediatrics
Psychiatry
Surgery
Acute Care Surgery Fellowship
Community Medical Centers General Dentistry
Rawnie Ruegner, MD, Program Director
Delvin J. Akins, II, MD
Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Dr. Akins will join the UCSF Fresno Department of Emergency Medicine as faculty.
Robyn Coelho, MD
UCSF School of Medicine
Dr. Coelho will join the UCSF Fresno Department of Emergency Medicine as faculty.
Cassandra DeWitt, MD
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Dr. DeWitt will join the UCSF Fresno Department of Emergency Medicine as faculty.
Julie Heger, MD
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine
Dr. Heger will practice Emergency Medicine in San Francisco, California.
Marcus Ernest Olivares-Perez, MD
UCSF School of Medicine
Dr. Olivares-Perez will join the UCSF Fresno Department of Emergency Medicine as faculty.
Natalie Peters, MD
Emory University School of Medicine
Dr. Peters will begin an Epidemic Intelligence Service Fellowship with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Caitlin Marie Roake, MD
Stanford University School of Medicine
Dr. Roake will begin a Resuscitation Research Fellowship at the University of Utah.
Katherine Rodman, MD
Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Dr. Rodman will practice Emergency Medicine in Portland, Oregon.
Liliana Samano, MD
UC Davis School of Medicine
Dr. Samano will practice Emergency Medicine at Clovis Community Medical Center in Clovis, California.
Lavinia Turian, MD
Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Dr. Turian will practice Emergency Medicine at Providence Regional Medicial Center in Everett, Washington.
Courtenay Pettigrew, MD, Program Director
Joanna Watterson, MD
New York University School of Medicine
Dr. Watterson will take a community job in Denver, Colorado.
Susanne Spano, MD, Co-Program Director
Michelle Storkan, MD, Co-Program Director
Sarah Cathryn Davis, DO
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California
Dr. Davis will join the UCSF Fresno Department of Family and Community Medicine as faculty.
Jessie Werner, MD, Program Director
Rachel Louise Miller, MD
Baylor College of Medicine
Dr. Miller will be an attending and Emergency Medicine Clerkship Director at St. Joesph’s Medical Center in Stockton, California.
Fred Wu, PA-C, Program Director
Graham Taylor, PA-C Point Loma Nazarene University
Mr. Taylor will practice Emergency Medicine in Southern California.
Jasmine Yuen, PA-C Western University of Health Sciences
Ms. Yuen will practice Emergency Medicine in Southern California.
Sireesha Reddy, MD, Program Director
Jose Antonio Garcia, DO
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Garcia will go into private practice in Gustine, California.
Nadia Gill, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Gill will practice inpatient and outpatient medicine.
Inayatdeep Kaur, DO
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Henderson
Dr. Kaur will practice at United Health Centers.
Jaskaran Singh Mann, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Mann will practice Family Medicine in Fresno, California.
Christine Ng, DO
Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Ng will practice at Palo Alto Medical Group Family Medicine in Fremont, California.
Edgar Ordaz, DO
College of Ostepathic Medicine of The Pacific, Pomona
Dr. Ordaz will practice outpatient Family Medicine.
Lakshmidevi Ranga Pabbisetty, DO
Touro University California College Of Osteopathic Medicine, Vallejo
Dr. Pabbisetty has accepted a position with Kaiser Permanente in Milpitas, California.
Sukhmit Pandher, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Pandher will practice full spectrum Family Medicine in Vancouver, Canada.
Mary Leanne Ramos Colburn, DO
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Henderson
Dr. Ramos will practice Outpatient Medicine with United Health Centers.
Ned Orlando Ta, DO College of Osteopathic Medicine of The Pacific at Pomona
Dr. Ta will practice Outpatient Medicine in Fresno, California.
Anthony Nam-Thien Ton, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Ton has accepted a position with Advantage Care Physicians in New York, New York.
Mai Que Ngoc Vo, DO
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown
Dr. Vo will join a private practice in the Bay Area in California.
Alireza Soleimani Fard, MD, Program Director
Leah R. Carter, MD
Trinity School of Medicine
Dr. Carter will practice Palliative Medicine in Los Angeles, California.
Jason Doornenbal, MD
Saba University School of Medicine
Dr. Doornenbal will practice Palliative Medicine in the Central Valley in California.
Jane Hwei Lee, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Lee will practice Palliative Medicine in Florida.
Laura April Reynolds, MD
UC Davis School of Medicine
Dr. Reynolds will practice Palliative Medicine in Northern California.
Steve Tringali, DO, Program Director
Souad Hamade, DO
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, California
Dr. Hamade will begin a Critical Care Medicine Fellowship in Phoenix, Arizona.
Teale Kitson, MD
California Northstate University College of Medicine
Dr. Kitson has accepted a Primary Care position in Sacramento, California.
Daniel Park, DO
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, California
Dr. Park will begin a Hematology & Oncology Fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Ernesto Rodriguez, MD
Centro de Estudios Universitarios Xochicalco, Escuela de Medicina Tijuana
Dr. Rodriguez will begin a Gastroenterology Fellowship at Southwest Healthcare Medical Education Consortium in Temecula, California.
Steve Tringali, DO, Program Director
Khaled Mohammed Abdullah, MD
Alfaisal University College of Medicine
Dr. Abdulllah will begin a Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston, Texas.
Tabark Altai, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Altai will begin an Advanced Imaging NonInvasive Cardiology Fellowship at UCSF Fresno.
Charizza Grace Besmanos, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Dr. Besmanos will practice Internal Medicine in California.
Sujay Dayal, DO College of Osteopathic Medicine of The Pacific, Pomona
Dr. Dayal will begin a Sleep Medicine Fellowship at NYU Langone-Long Island in Mineola, New York.
Sandhya Dhital, MD
Ross University School of Medicine
Dr. Dhital has accepted a Hospitalist position at Robert Packer Hospital in Sayre, Pennsylvania.
Bilal Ahmed Fazal Mehmood, MD
Jinnah Medical & Dental College
Dr. Fazal Mehmood has accepted a Chief Residency position at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Tacoma, Washington.
Emily Hua Fourt, DO
Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Fourt has accepted a Chief Resident position in the UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency program.
Nam Huynh, MD
Saba University School of Medicine
Dr. Huynh will practice Internal Medicine in California.
Humzah Ayub Iqbal, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Iqbal will begin a Gastroenterology Fellowship at UCSF Fresno.
Priayesha Kaur, MD
Kasturba Medical College Manipal
Dr. Kaur will begin a Cardiology Fellowship at the East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Eiman Kazi, DO
College of Osteopathic Medicine of The Pacific, Pomona
Dr. Kazi will begin a Palliative Care Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio.
Dashmeet Singh Maharaj, MD
Western Michigan University Homer Stryker School of Medicine
Dr. Maharaj will begin a Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Kaiser Permanente in Los Angeles, California.
Jason Leibrandt Moore, DO
Des Moines University College Of Osteopathic Medicine & Surgery
Dr. Moore will practice Internal Medicine in California.
Douglas O’Connell, DO
Touro University College Of Osteopathic Medicine, Vallejo
Dr. O’Connell will begin a Pulmonary & Critical Care Medicine Fellowship at Boston University in Boston, Massachusetts.
Yagnika R. Patel, DO
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, New York
Dr. Patel has accepted a Hospitalist position in California.
Nidaa Rasheed, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Rasheed has accepted a Chief Resident position in the UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency program.
Martin Gerardo Robles Magana, MD
Tecnologico de Monterrey Escuela de Medicina
Dr. Robles Magana has accepted a Primary Care position in California.
Jimmy Saleh, DO
A.T. Still University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Saleh will begin a Cardiovascular Fellowship at UCSF Fresno.
Srikar Sama, MD
Gandhi Medical College and Hospital, Secunderabad
Dr. Sama will begin a Rheumatology Fellowship at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Bashar Tanous, MD
Tanta University Faculty of Medicine
Dr. Tanous has accepted a Primary Care position in Fresno, California.
Ashleigh Wong, DO
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Henderson
Dr. Wong has accepted a Chief Resident position in the UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency program.
John Tyler Woodley, DO
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia
Dr. Woodley has accepted a Chief Resident position in the UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency program.
Ankit Rathod, MD, Program Director
Jennifer Lee, DO
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Dr. Lee will begin an Adult Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at UCSF Fresno.
John Ambrose, MD, Interim Program Director
Asseel Al-Bayati, MD
University of Baghdad College of Medicine
Dr. Al-Bayati will practice in San Diego, California.
Philip Anthony Kingsford, MD
UCSF School of Medicine
Dr. Kingsford will join General Cardiology practice at Kaiser Permanente in Fresno, California.
Ashwini Parag Sadhale, MD
B.J. Medical College, Pune
Dr. Sadhale will begin an Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Mouatou Mouanoutoua, MD, Program Director
Baljit Singh Dhesi, MD
UC Davis School of Medicine
Dr. Dhesi will join an Interventional Cardiology practice in Stockton, California.
Helen Wong, MD, Program Director
Anand Venkat Rajan, MD
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Dr. Rajan will begin an Advanced Gastroenterology Fellowship at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.
Saranya Sasidharan, MD
Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Dr. Sasidharan plans to practice Gastroenterology.
Marina Roytman, MD, Program Director
Sindhu Chadalawada, MD
Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, India
Dr. Chadalawada will begin a Transplant Hepatology Fellowship at UCSF School of Medicine in San Francisco, California.
Haifaa Abdulhaq, MD, Program Director
Jankikeerthika Muthukaruppan
Dharmarpandi, MD
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine, Amarillo
Dr. Dharmarpandi will practice in Florida.
Jaspreet Kaur, MD
Ross University School Of Medicine
Dr. Kaur will join the UCSF Fresno Hematology and Oncology Division as faculty.
Shreela Mishra, MD, Program Director
Mandeep Kaur Gill, DO
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Gill will join the UCSF Fresno Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism Division as faculty.
Geetha Sivasubramanian, MD, Program Director
Sang Jo Hwang, DO
Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Middletown, NY
Dr. Hwang will join a private practice in Long Beach, California.
Elise Hyser, DO
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Carolinas Campus
Dr. Hyser will join Metro Infectious Disease Consultants in Chicago, Illinois.
Kathryn Bilello, MD, Program Director
Justine Ko, MD
USC Keck School of Medicine
Dr. Ko will begin an Interventional Pulmonology Fellowship at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.
Eric Reid, DO
Pacific NW University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Reid will begin a Sleep Medicine Fellowship at UCSF Fresno.
Lourdes DelRosso, MD, Program Director
Harshil Modi, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Modi will join a private practice in the Bay Area in California.
Moon Park, MD
Ross University School of Medicine
Dr. Park will join the UCSF Fresno Sleep Medicine Division as faculty.
Shelley McCormack, MD, Program Director
Ashley Ann Cirillo, DO
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Dr. Cirillo will be joining West Coast OB-GYN in San Diego, California.
Nelli Ghazaryan, DO
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Ghazaryan will join Olive View-UCLA Medical Center, Academic OB-GYN as faculty in Sylmar, California.
Elaine J. Taylor, MD
University of Utah School of Medicine
Dr. Taylor will practice as an OB-GYN Generalist at Skagit Regional Hospital in Mount Vernon, Washington.
Priya Vasudeva, DO
Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Vasudeva will join an OB-GYN private practice in Fresno, California.
Brian Woo, DDS, MD, Program Director
Scott Granger, DDS
Creighton University School Of Dentistry
Dr. Granger will go into private practice in Honolulu, Hawaii.
T. Justin Griffiths, DDS
UCLA School Of Dentistry
Dr. Griffiths will start an oral surgery practice in Fresno, California.
Lala Grigori, DMD
Western University Of Health Sciences College Of Dental Medicine
Dr. Grigori will go into private practice in Fresno, California.
Sonia Suri, DDS
Touro College of Dental Medicine
Dr. Suri will go into private practice in Northern Virginia.
Brian Woo, DDS, MD, Program Director
Ahmed Zaidi, DMD
Temple University School of Dentistry
Dr. Zaidi will go into private practice in Texas.
MD, Program
Gurbir Athwal, MD
California Northstate University College of Medicine
Dr. Athwal will begin a Sports Fellowship at San Diego Arthroscopy and Sports Medicine Program in San Diego, California.
Eric Ernest Curtis, MD
Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Dr. Curtis will begin a Trauma Fellowship at The Core Institute in Phoenix, Arizona.
Zohal Soderlund, MD
Albany Medical College
Dr. Soderlund will begin a Trauma Fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Ogaga Ojameruaye, MD
University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix
Dr. Ojameruaye will begin a Trauma Fellowship at UC San Diego in San Diego, California.
Armen Martirosian,
MD, Program Director
Emilio Robles, DO
Touro University of Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Robles will join the UCSF Fresno Department of Orthopaedic Surgery as faculty.
Ravali Santoshi Ambati, MD
N.R.I. Medical College, Guntur
Dr. Ambati will join Metropolitan Pediatrics as a General Pediatrician in Portland, Oregon.
Christopher Bader, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Bader will begin a Pediatric Gastroenterology Fellowship at UCLA in Los Angeles, California.
Hiba Ahmad Nabil El-Rahi, MD
LAU Gilbert and Rose-Marie Chagoury School of Medicine
Dr. El-Rahi will begin a Pediatric HematologyOncology Fellowship at Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.
Endya Joy Hamilton, MD
American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Dr. Hamilton will work as a private practice pediatrician at Community Health PartnersHalifax Pediatrics in Clovis, California.
Manpreet Kaur, MD
Medical University of the Americas
Dr. Kaur has accepted a Chief Resident position in the UCSF Fresno Department of Pediatrics.
Zareh Torabyan, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Torabyan will begin a Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at the Phoenix Children’s Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona.
Elson Yung, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine
Dr. Yung has accepted a Chief Resident position in the UCSF Fresno Department of Pediatrics.
Craig Campbell, MD, Program Director
Stephanie Sagun De Vera, DO
Western University of Health Sciences
Dr. De Vera will practice Psychiatry in Northern California.
Jonathan Hovannes Gevorkian, MD
New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine
Dr. Gevorkian will practice Psychiatry in Southern California.
Amanda Honeychurch, MD
New York Medical College
Dr. Honeychurch will practice Outpatient Psychiatry in the Bay Area in California.
Rashi Ojha, MD
UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Dr. Ojha will be an Outpatient Psychiatrist at Palo Alto Medical Foundation/Sutter Health in the Bay Area in California.
Cecilia Maya Rangel-Garcia, MD, MPH
UC San Diego School of Medicine
Dr. Rangel-Garcia will begin a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at UC Davis in Davis, California.
Gabriel Menjares Ting, MD
UC San Diego School of Medicine
Dr. Ting has accepted a position at the Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health in Fresno, California.
Amy Kwok, MD, MPH, FACS, Program Director
Meelod Daneshvar, MD Oakland University William Beaumont School Of Medicine
Dr. Daneshvar will begin an HPB Surgery Fellowship at Baptist Health Miami Cancer Institute in Miami, Florida.
Christopher E. Louie, MD, MPH Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Dr. Louie will begin a Transplant Surgery Fellowship at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Rachel A. Wolinsky, MD
Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Dr. Wolinsky will join the Expeditionary Resuscitative Surgical System with the United States Navy at Cook County Trauma & Burn Department in Chicago, Illinois.
Nancy Parks, MD, FACS, Program Director
Neesha Patel, MD
University of Louisville School of Medicine
Dr. Patel will practice Trauma Surgery.
Oskar Peikar, DDS, Program Director
Brian Lee, DDS
University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine
Dr. Lee will go into private pratice.
Tam Le, DDS
University of the Pacific Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry
Dr. Le will go into private pratice.
Selina Huang, DDS
UCSF School of Dentistry
Dr. Huang will go into private pratice.
Madeleine Gonzalez, DDS
Loma Linda University
Dr. Gonzalez will go into private pratice.
Teague Rutherford, DMD
A.T. Still University Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health
Dr. Rutherford will go into private pratice.
Merti Kumar, DDS
NYU College of Dentistry
Dr. Kumar will go into private pratice.
Damian Alvarado, DDS
Universidad Iberoamericana -UNIBE
Dr. Alvarado will begin an OMFS Residency program.
Ashley de la Vega, DDS
Universidad Iberoamericana -UNIBE
Dr. de la Vega will go into private pratice.
Loren Alving, MD, Program Director
Adam Alyafaie, MD
Dr. Alyafaie will begin an Emergency Medicine Residency at UCLA Medical Center.
Dariush Bazyani, MD
Dr. Bazyani will begin an Anesthesiology Residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.
Seerut Bhullar, MD
Dr. Bhullar will begin an Internal Medicine Residency at UCLA Medical Center.
Noor Chahal, MD
Dr. Chahal will begin an Ophthalmology Residency at Boston University Medical Center.
Andrew Contreras, MD
Dr. Contreras will begin a Psychiatry Residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center.
John Cruz, MD
Dr. Cruz will begin an Emergency Medicine Residency at Mass General Brigham.
Pardeep Dhillon, MD
Dr. Dhillon will begin an Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Allegheny Health Network Medical Education Consortium.
Francisco Gomez Alvarado, MD
Dr. Gomez Alvarado will begin an Orthopedic Surgery Residency at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, California.
Alli Gomez-Ojeda, MD
Dr. Gomez-Ojeda will begin an Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency at UC Davis.
Bagieng Keophimphone, MD
Dr. Keophimphone will begin an Anesthesiology Residency at UCLA Medical Center.
Amritpal Singh, MD
Dr. Singh will begin an Emergency Medicine Residency at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California.
Vipul Jain, MD, MS
Vipul Jain, MD, MS, was appointed Chief of Medicine at UCSF Fresno and Vice Chair of the UCSF Department of Medicine in September 2023. This appointment came after having served a year as Interim Chief and as Executive Vice Chief since 2018.
During his distinguished tenure at UCSF Fresno, Dr. Jain provided leadership for multiple programs, including the Chronic Lung Disease Clinic and the Pulmonary Division. He was widely recognized as a committed patient advocate and a superb clinician. He actively contributed to clinical research and played an integral role in the education and mentorship of medical students, residents, and fellows. As a senior leader within Inspire Health Medical Group, he worked diligently to support the financial sustainability and overall well-being of the faculty group.
A proud alumnus of the UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program, he completed his Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship at UC San Diego before returning to UCSF Fresno to join the faculty.
We extend our heartfelt condolences to Dr. Jain’s family, including his wife, Ratnali Jain, MBBS, MS, who is a member of the UCSF Fresno family in the Clinical Research Center, and their two sons. Our hearts are with them, as well as with his many close colleagues and friends.
Congratulations to the Class of 2025!
Maintain your connection with UCSF by joining the UCSF Fresno alumni network. By joining, you can take advantage of the programs offered by UCSF Fresno and UCSF Alumni Associations.
These include:
• The UCSF Connect networking community
• The Focus on UCSF Fresno e-newsletter
• Continuing Medical and Dental Education opportunities
• Benefits including library services, alumni events, and insurance, hotel, and travel discounts, among others
• An @alumni.ucsf.edu email address
To participate, learn more, or update your contact information, scan the QR code or visit the UCSF Fresno Alumni Resources webpage at fresno.ucsf.edu/alumni
To receive a UCSF Fresno Alumni pin contact fresno-alumni@ucsf.edu
