PGY-0, Class of 2027

  • Saloni Butala, DO | Western
  • Clare DaSilva, MD | UC Irvine
  • Michael Glidewell, MD, MPH | Tulane
  • Caroline Kelmis, MD | University of South Florida
  • Emily Korba, MD, MPH | UT Southwestern
  • Annie Odelson, MD | USC
  • Ryan Shiesha, DO | Touro University California
  • Samantha Singal, MD | Vanderbilt

PGY-1, Class of 2026

  • Charlecia Aikins, MD | Medical College of Georgia
  • Alexander Alvarez, MD, PhD | Arizona – Tucson
  • Madison Ford, MD | Michigan State University – College of Human Medicine
  • Meghan Kennedy, MD | USC
  • Dania Maldonado, MD, MPH | UC Irvine
  • Nabeth Midley, DO | Michigan State University – College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Timothy Wiher, MD, MBA | UC Irvine
  • Serah Yim, MD | UC Irvine

PGY-2, Class of 2025

  • Dristi Angdembey, MD, MPH | USC (incoming chief resident)
  • Kendall Frisoli, MD | Loyola University Chicago
  • Cassidy Koo, MD | UC Riverside
  • Sherry Reddix, MD, MA, MPH | Tufts
  • Christina Sanchez-Grew, MD | Vermont
  • Patrick Shibley, MD | UCSF
  • Wendy Silva, MD | USC
  • Eduardo Torres, MD | USC (incoming chief resident)

PGY-3, Class of 2024

  • Shelby Armstrong-Kager, DO | University of North Texas
  • Rebecca Dehnel, MD | UCSD
  • Jodie Guller, MD, MPH | USC (outgoing chief resident)
  • Jovanny Lucero, MD | Tufts
  • Samantha Mohammad, MD, MPH | UCLA
  • Haley Oosterhouse, MD | USC
  • Jessica Sokol, MD, MPH | Wright State (outgoing chief resident)
  • Ashley Williams, MD | University of Washington

Charlecia Aikins, MD – Medical College of Georgia
From: Augusta, GA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? There were several factors that led me to choose Long Beach Memorial as my new home! First and foremost, the Southern California weather is truly unmatched, and I find the vibrant and diverse community of Long Beach to be warm and inviting. The positive energy and inclusive atmosphere of the city resonated with me, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of a community where my family and I could feel safe and included. Furthermore, I have a passion for LGBTQ Health and Reproductive Health. I believe that Long Beach Memorial will provide me with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those a part of the LGBTQ community and contribute to advancing reproductive healthcare. Also, Long Beach Memorial’s commitment to anti-racism, and their recognition of the need for more Black and Brown faculty and residents demonstrates their understanding of the importance of diversity and representation in healthcare which played a crucial role in my decision to choose this program. I am eager to join the Long Beach Memorial community, contribute to its mission, and make a positive impact on the health and well-being of the diverse population we will serve together.

Medical Interests: LGBTQ Health, Reproductive Health (Family Planning and Abortion Care), Community Medicine, Advocacy for underserved minorities.

Hobbies: I enjoy outdoor activities (Kayaking, Nature Walks, Rock Climbing, Lounging on the Beach), crocheting (Blankets, Scarfs, Dresses), jewelry making (Bracelets, Anklets), and spending quality time with my family.

Fun Fact About Yourself: My favorite movie is “Happy Feet”.

Alex Alvarez, MD, PhD – University of Arizona, Tucson
From: Albuquerque, NM

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  The people – the residents and the attendings at Long Beach Memorial – drew me in immediately. At the Zoom interview, the social, and an informal second look event, I felt that these people would be my family. I was captivated by the overwhelming sense of support and camaraderie among residents, where everyone prioritized not only their own health and well-being but also that of their peers. I also appreciate the program’s continued efforts toward equity and justice and its recognition of systemic issues of racism that take systemic solutions to address within healthcare.
Additionally, I am excited about the breadth of experience the program will give for every part of my career as a Family Medicine practitioner. I love the opportunity to pursue many of my interests in the tracks and related curriculum in the program. The POCUS, LGBTQIA+, and Community Medicine portions of the curriculum aligned well with my interests and made me excited to pursue these interests further as a resident.

Medical Interests: Working toward social justice and health equity, especially in underserved populations. LGBTQIA+ medicine, including but not limited to gender-affirming care. Full spectrum family medicine. Rural medicine. Community-centered and preventative medicine. POCUS in primary care. Medical education and research.

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  Running, Puerto Rican cooking, eating good food, drinking good coffee, dancing to reggaeton, working on my partner’s film sets, drag shows, cycling, soccer.

Fun Facts About Yourself:   I got a PhD in Biomedical Engineering studying novel ultrasound technologies. I once acted in a film where I turned into a snail. I’m a desert rat who lived in Albuquerque & Tucson for all 30 years of my life before Long Beach.

Madison Ford, MD – Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
From: Bloomfield Hills, MI

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I chose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine for so many reasons! The number one reason? The people! I was lucky enough to do an away rotation here and meet the amazing residents, faculty and staff that make MFM such a unique place to train. A supportive team environment was one of the number one things I was looking for in a residency program and I sure found that here! From outpatient clinic visits to inpatient rounding in was clear that I would be able to learn how to become a compassionate physician who would strive to make an impact in their community. Being able to serve and advocate for a diverse and underserved community was also a big reason why I chose Long Beach. I also loved the opportunities to get involved in community medicine, learn from behavioral health professionals and hands on learning in sports medicine! 

Medical Interests: Sports medicine, community medicine, refugee/immigrant health, preventative medicine, behavioral health, health advocacy, lifestyle medicine, mentoring and teaching within medical education!

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies: Playing soccer or any other sport, trying to cook new recipes, going to concerts, spending time with family and friends.

Fun Facts About Yourself: In 5th grade I taught myself how to ride a unicycle, the same year I won a pudding eating contest. I haven’t peaked since. I also played soccer in college.  

Meghan Kennedy, MD – USC
From: Palos Verdes, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?   I chose Long Beach Memorial for my residency for so many reasons! The robust curriculum will give me the opportunity to explore all of my areas of interest (and there are many!), and I’m excited about the possibility of participating in a reproductive health area of concentration. But what sealed the deal for me was how warm, inviting, and enthusiastic the faculty and residents were during the interview process. I really felt the “family” vibes and knew I would feel at home here! And the fact that I can live by the beach and stay so close to my family in the South Bay was icing on the cake.

Medical Interests: Reproductive health and family planning, addiction medicine, lifestyle medicine, pediatrics

Hobbies: Hot yoga, reading (everything from thrillers to romance!), exploring new restaurants, scuba diving, snowboarding (and recently skiing), anything involving the beach, but mostly spending time with my friends and family and playing with my puppy! 

Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a 6-month-old miniature bernedoodle pup, Chloe, who also can’t wait to make new friends in residency! 

Dania Maldonado, MD, MPH – UC Irvine
From: Whittier, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  I chose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine because it provides an environment where I can learn and grow as a physician while also allowing me to focus on my passion for women’s health, community medicine, and global health. With various tracks, I can gain expertise and improve my skills in areas of interest through clinical and academic opportunities while working with a diverse patient population. Above all, learning about the faculty and staff’s dedication to creating a supportive learning environment and helping residents become well-rounded physicians drew me the most. They truly understand the complexity of medical training and are dedicated to giving us the best opportunity to succeed. With this combination of specialized education and dedicated faculty, I am confident I can achieve my goals and pursue my passions in community engagement, women’s health, health advocacy, and mentorship. 

Medical Interests: Community medicine, women’s health, family planning, chronic disease management, global health, preventive medicine, procedures, mentorship, health education, and teaching

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  I love cooking and experimenting with new recipes, hiking, paddle boarding, Zumba, walks on the beach, and spending time with family. 

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I recently dived into the world of gardening, and I’m really enjoying learning how to care for my collection of succulents!

Nabeth Midley, DO – Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
From: Walnut, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? 

While researching the many wonderful family medicine residency programs across the country, Long Beach Memorial stood out to me as a program committed to training future leaders to care for underserved populations. That’s why I was thrilled to be welcomed as an inaugural recipient of their URM Scholarship and thoroughly enjoyed auditioning as a 4th-year medical student! From my first day in the hospital to my last day on the outpatient service, I was greeted warmly by all the staff I encountered and marveled at how well residents and faculty worked together to advocate for patients and each other.

I believe that all my experiences have prepared me for this career and was overjoyed to learn that I had matched at my #1 choice. As a SoCal native, I was also eager to return home and experience sunshine again; Long Beach definitely fits the bill and I’m looking forward to embarking on this journey alongside such a down-to-earth, supportive, and smart group of people!

Medical Interests: Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Geriatrics, Addiction Medicine, Street Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, Global Health, Mental Health, Integrative Medicine, Pediatrics (sometimes), Patient Education, Peer Education, and Mentorship.

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  Streaming it all, reading, hanging with family and friends, amateur mixology, exploring good food, travel, live music, cooking, daydreaming about getting a dog, and window shopping.

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I used to play the alto saxophone and was 2nd chair in the All-State and All-Southern California Honor Band and Orchestra Groups in middle school but can barely read music now.  I was almost on the WTTV Chicago TV show “Check, Please!” where people who have eaten at different types of restaurants in the city are interviewed like food critics. When I was little, I collected puppets and even created my own for a book report presentation.

Timothy Wiher, MD, MBA – UC Irvine
From: Irvine, CA; Santa Rosa, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  I felt like Family Medicine was really valued and appreciated here at LBM. I think LBM is the perfect place to get a well-rounded and rigorous training from amazing faculty. There’s also so many different kinds of people in Long Beach all living in one city and making it work, so I liked the diversity.

Medical Interests: Broad-spectrum family medicine, direct primary care, mental health, integrative medicine, sports medicine, health IT and electronic medical records

Hobbies:  Soccer, volleyball, surfing, reading/listening to podcasts about macroeconomics, and philosophy

Fun Facts About Yourself:  I played trumpet in the marching band at Irvine High School. I have dual US-Swiss citizenship. I listen to electronic music. I cut my own hair to save money.

Serah Yim, MD – UC Irvine
From: Hacienda Heights, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? Long Beach Memorial first caught my attention during MS3 rotations when I met an awesome and admirable LBMFM resident whose values looked similar to mine and who had nothing but good things to say about the program. I was struck by how genuinely happy and well she seemed during the infamous intern year. Interview day gave me the impression that I would feel supported and right at home here. On paper, the program had everything I wanted: RHEDI certification, a reputation for well-rounded training, respect from physicians I look up to, and tracks to further my training in women’s health and health policy. 

Medical Interests: Full spectrum care (inpatient and outpatient medicine, in-office procedures, etc.), advocacy and care for underserved populations including those in challenging geographic locations, family planning, holistic care 

Other languages spoken: Korean

Hobbies:  Hiking, snowboarding, cooking empty-the-fridge meals, doing anything with my dogs, listening to audiobooks, photosynthesizing in the California sun (with SPF!), doing my nails, traveling “like a local,” workouts focused on functional movement patterns

Fun Fact About Yourself: I participated in a power lifting competition once. Got first place in my weight class despite failing half my lifts! (Ask me how!) 

Dristi Angdembey, MD – USC
From: Kathmandu, Nepal and Cypress, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?   I was fortunate enough to have my MS3 OB/Gyn and Pediatrics at Long Beach where I met family medicine residents who were so enthusiastic about family medicine and the program. They had nothing but great things to say. Then during my fourth year interview season, I went to the in-person social and loved getting to know the residents and more about the program. On interview day, the faculty and the residents made me feel right at home. I just got the feeling that Long Beach was the right place for me. 

Medical Interests: Family planning, reproductive justice, pediatrics, global health

Other languages spoken: Hindi, Nepali

Hobbies:  Hiking, yoga, dancing, reading, cooking, traveling, spending time with my husband, family and friends

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I’m a dog lover recently turned to cat mom!

Kendall Frisoli, MD – Loyola University Chicago
From: Thousand Oaks, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?   A family invested in the diverse eclectic community we serve, with a strong foundation in lifelong learning and academics, Long Beach Memorial stands for everything I am passionate about and more. Having the LGBTQ and Community Medicine tracks, in addition to global health opportunities, I mean, could it be too good to be true? LBM will therefore allow me to be me, growing into the physician I want to be. The opportunities are vast and at our fingertips. However, ultimate, my reason for LBM is “The Vibe”. At the social, I actually felt at home, comfortable, able to be my whole self. I made a friend and colleague for life (hey hey Shelby), and just knew. Then I did a quick visit in person with my dad, and totally jived with the vibe of Long Beach. Being in a colorful neighborhood, where I can meet and connect with my fellow LGBTQ community both inside and outside of the clinic, was vital to me. I fell in love with the sun, the sounds of the waves, and all the rainbows. I knew I could have fun, smile/laugh, and be all of me, while practicing medicine at Long Beach Memorial. Cheers to a beautifully colorful journey ahead.

Medical Interests: Holistic medicine (being open to my patients’ interests and preferred mode of healing, allopathic/osteopathic, homeopathic/naturopathic, western/eastern), music therapy (using music in my practice as a tool for mental health treatment), community medicine, global medicine, LGBTQ medicine, teaching/mentoring

Hobbies:  Musician: singer/songwriter, playing guitar, music production, performing, stoked to discover all the open mics in Long Beach (check me out on Spotify: KENDALL). Outdoor adventures: jogging, hiking/trekking (usually getting lost to find the ultimate waterfall or view), kayaking, gardening, just standing outside and soaking in the sun, yes, the sun is definitely a hobby. Sports/games: volleyball, frisbee, table tennis, corn hole, spike ball, double solitaire, really any game/challenge. Traveling abroad: usually solo travel but currently working on traveling with companions (might prevent future motor bike accidents and tattoos). Working out and cooking without a recipe in the kitchen. Laughing, giggling, and laughing at my own jokes.

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I have a birthmark in my left eye (not sure if that is medically accurate, but there is definitely something going on in my left eye). I’m getting a tattoo inspired by each place I travel…abroad, sorry mom.

Cassidy Koo, MD – UC Riverside
From: Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  I chose Long Beach Memorial FM because of the awesome residents and faculty I met on interview day and at the social, the reputation of the program for providing well-rounded training, and the environment of encouraging residents to explore their special interests! I was excited about the tracks in Community Health, Family Planning, and Global Health. I felt that this residency program would help me become the type of family physician I have dreamed of being, within a supportive community and having fun in the process!

Medical Interests: Inpatient and outpatient medicine, pediatrics/adolescent care, family planning, community medicine and underserved populations

Hobbies:  Traveling the world, spending time with my dog, hiking, enjoying the outdoors, trying new foods and restaurants, singing and playing the guitar, playing ping pong, lifting weights at the gym, and binge-watching new TV shows!

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I have a 6-month-old pup named Dalmi who I adore! I have seen my favorite TV show Friends about 7 times now (usually have it playing in the background while folding laundry or doing things around the house). During the summer between MS1 and MS2 my partner and I backpacked for one month through five different countries in Southeast Asia!

Sherry Reddix, MD, MA, MPH – Tufts
From: Madison, MS

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  One of the reasons that I chose Long Beach for my training was because of the unparalleled curriculum: ample tracks, RHEDI certification, and opportunities to develop and expand my own myriad of interests. I was also drawn to the racially and ethnically diverse patient population and the opportunity to care for patients from gender minorities and underserved populations. In addition, the palpable warmth, hospitality, and authenticity during all of my interactions with faculty and residents were influential in my decision. Finally, it was imperative to me that I trained at a program that would allow me to be unapologetically Black; I wanted to train at a program that not only tolerated my identity as a Black woman, but celebrated it. I believe Long Beach does just that!

Other languages spoken: French

Medical Interests: Reproductive and sexual health for Black women and other women of color, family planning & abortion care, social justice & health equity, addiction medicine & harm reduction, advocacy for underserved populations, trauma-informed care, community health, behavioral health

Hobbies:  Experimenting with fashion, makeup artistry, hair styles, and nail designs; planning events and parties, staging table decor, and designing home interiors; traveling through Europe and South America in spite of my terrible sense of direction; teaching myself how to play my ukulele; shopping despite my crippling student loan debt #materialgworl

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I love naming inanimate objects; everything that is special to me has a name. I memorized 150 digits of pi in 9th grade. I’m from Mississippi, but I don’t have an accent (sorry to disappoint).

Christina Sanchez-Grew, MD – University of Vermont
From: Malone, NY

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  I was looking for a program that truly provides broad-spectrum training, specifically in obstetrics and pediatrics, in a diverse city with a large Spanish speaking population, alongside supportive people who share a commitment to caring for our underserved community members. Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine Residency program really stood out to me because it has all of this and more. Every person I met on interview day was warm, welcoming, kind and enthusiastic, and it was apparent to me that we all shared similar values. As someone interested in procedures, having autonomy, and being heavily involved in patient care, I appreciate that this program is unopposed. I also really like the unique aspect of our program in which residents see all clinic patients in the ED; this emphasizes continuity of care and allows us to gain competence in taking care of our patients in any setting. I appreciate the flexibility within the program to allow us to tailor our training to our specific interests through the various areas of concentration and generous elective time. Last but not least, you can’t beat living in Southern California and being so close to the beach!

Medical Interests: Women’s health including obstetrics, pediatrics including adolescent medicine, community medicine, global health, mental health & addiction

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  Yoga, longboarding, skiing/snowboarding, hiking, traveling, dancing, kicking it with friends, catching the sunset, eating delicious food!

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I travel any chance I get and have been to 28 countries so far!

Patrick Shibley, MD – UCSF
From: Long Beach, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine felt like home to me for many reasons. Even over Zoom, I could tell that there was a unique family feeling here. The curriculum is incredibly well rounded with many areas of concentration and tons of elective time to pursue my individual interests. The patient population reflects the diversity of Long Beach, my hometown. Falling in love with the program at the interview day and social made choosing to come home to the community that shaped me that much more compelling. Now that I’m here, I am so excited to continue learning what it means to be a Family Physician while caring for a city I love!

Medical Interests: Palliative care, sports medicine, reproductive justice, community medicine, behavioral health, family planning, in-office procedures (everything really!)

Hobbies:  Spending time with my family and friends, listening to audiobooks (sci-fi, fantasy, and Stephen King especially), video games, playing volleyball and basketball, playing guitar, keeping up with the Lakers and Dodgers, and watching TV!

Fun Fact About Yourself:   I was actually born at Long Beach Memorial. I’ve also been a contestant on “The Price is Right.”

Wendy Silva, MD – USC
From: Los Angeles, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  I chose Long Beach Memorial for a variety of reasons. Prior to my interview, Long Beach Memorial was already a strong contender because of its dedication to caring for a diverse, underserved population similar to the community where I grew up. I also wanted a residency program where I could have full spectrum training in a supportive and encouraging environment. On my interview day, I was blown away by how kind and inviting everyone was, and I could tell that the faculty and residents had great relationships with each other. I walked away from my interview day with that ‘gut feeling’ knowing this was exactly where I was supposed to be and I am so excited to be here!

Medical Interests: Women’s health, family planning, preventative medicine, community medicine, working with underserved communities, mentorship and teaching, and so much more!

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  Spending time with my family and friends, board games (I can get pretty competitive), traveling, eating lots of yummy foods, and Netflix binge-watching while working on a puzzle

Fun Fact About Yourself:  Even though I hate scary movies, I love to read a murder mystery or thriller novel, especially at night! I also love any and everything related to Disney and my goal is to visit every Disneyland around the world!

Eduardo Torres, MD – USC
From: Long Beach, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  I was born and raised in Long Beach and have always called it my home. The opportunity to return and continue to learn from and serve the community that raised me is a dream come true for me. I have personal experience with family members being treated at LBM and they often comment on the wonderful care they receive during some of their most vulnerable moments. I not only chose LBM because it would mean returning home but also because of their strong commitment to serving diverse and underserved populations which closely mirrors my career goals. Furthermore, during my interview, I could instantly feel the tight knit community and supportive energy between the faculty and residents at LBM. I felt that the program would prepare me well to help whoever walks into my clinic doors in the future with their focus on comprehensive care. I was also attracted to the opportunities to participate in community medicine and mentorship programs. I am so excited for my journey with the Long Beach Memorial family!

Medical Interests: Community medicine, underserved care, working with pediatric populations, adolescent medicine, outpatient procedures, mentoring underrepresented minorities, and increasing diversity in healthcare

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  I enjoy reading comic books and horror and fantasy novels, keeping up with everything nerdy (Marvel, DC, Star Wars, D&D, etc.), running and weightlifting.

Fun Fact About Yourself:  You will often find me reading a novel, comic book and listening to an audiobook concurrently. I have a comic book collection that I started almost a decade ago that’s always growing. I’m somewhat of an amateur impressionist and can do a pretty convincing Goofy or Smeagol from Lord of the Rings among others.

Shelby Armstrong-Kager, DO – University of North Texas
From: Amarillo, TX

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  When it came down to choosing a residency program, one of my biggest priorities was to be in a culture that created a family-like feel and fostered a positive learning environment.  Despite interviews being held over Zoom, I was blown away by how well the residents interacted with each other and how many genuinely positive things they had to say about the faculty and program.  They not only emphasized the great, rigorous training but also how supported they felt every step of the way.  You pair that with a progressive curriculum in an underserved community that offers areas of concentration in things that are important to me like LGBTQ medicine, community medicine, street medicine and sports medicine (to name a few, lol) and my decision to choose Long Beach was a no brainer.  I could not be more thrilled to spend the next 3 years here!

Medical Interests: Integrative Medicine, preventive medicine, LGBTQ medicine, community medicine, street medicine & sports medicine

Hobbies:  I love spending time with my wife, traveling and trying ALLLL the food, working out, and just about any outdoor activity.  Our newest adventure is rock climbing!

Fun Fact About Yourself:  My ultimate bucket list item would be to look down on Earth from space!

Rebecca Dehnel, MD – UC San Diego
From: San Diego, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? Even before my interview, Long Beach Memorial had already checked all of the boxes I was looking for in a residency program: focus on underserved communities, a well-balanced curriculum, opportunities for family planning training, and a warm and welcoming learning environment (not to mention proximity to the BEACH!).  Even in a virtual format, all of these characteristics came to life during my interview.  Through meeting the residents and hearing how highly they spoke of their program, faculty and experiences, the family feel of the Long Beach Memorial FM Program really came through.  I am so excited to be joining the LBM family!

Medical Interests: Family planning, gender-affirming health care, global health, refugee/immigrant health, community medicine, mentorship and teaching

Hobbies: Camping with our doberman (Adobe-Wan Kenobi), free diving, yoga/spinning, video-gaming, plant-obsessing & tennis-fanning

Fun Fact About Yourself: I grew up with four dogs, three horses, two goats, one brother and a llama, but no partridges or pear trees. 

Jodie Guller, MD, MPH – USC
From: St. Louis, MO

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  Long Beach stood out to me from the very beginning.  I had such a fantastic time on interview day and felt excited by everything I learned the program had to offer.  I also saw myself reflected when I talked to the residents, which made me feel right at home.  I even had “that feeling” people talk about, which I wasn’t expecting at all with our fully virtual interviews.  I found myself comparing every subsequent program to this one for the curriculum, faculty and residents I wanted in a program.  Throughout interview season it became clearer that this program uniquely offered the full-spectrum and community-based training I sought, with the ability to incorporate my many family medicine and public health interests into one residency experience. 

Medical Interests:  Pediatrics, adolescent medicine, women’s health, community medicine, health policy, public health & health equity

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  Spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, cooking, traveling, picnicking & hiking 

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I saw the Cardinals clinch the World Series in 2006 at Busch Stadium (the peak of my St. Louis fandom)! 

Jovanny Lucero, MD – Tufts
From: Lynwood, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  I chose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine for a variety of reasons, not the least of which are their commitment to underserved and marginalized populations, expansive areas of concentration (AOCs), and general warmth of the admin and current residents.  I was raised up the street in Lynwood, CA, and am very familiar with the types of populations they work with, including the Latinx population, which I am passionate about serving.  The program is also greatly involved with community outreach, including various pipeline programs, something I feel strongly about because it’s important for kids/teens to know that their hopes and dreams don’t only have to be only that.  Last, but not least, what’s not to love about perfect weather, great restaurants and close proximity to the beach?!

Medical Interests:  Underserved populations, academic medicine, preventive medicine, sports medicine and more!

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  Cooking, hiking, reading (mostly fiction, lots of magical realism), playing basketball and tennis, board games (anyone up for some Settlers of Catan?), trying new restaurants & live music

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I won “Deepest Dimples” in my senior year of high school, I can solve the Rubik’s Cube, and I collect records old and new. 

Samantha Mohammad, MD, MPH – UCLA
From: La Puente, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  Social medicine has always been a passion of mine, and as a family medicine provider I knew I wanted to train in a program that would allow me to learn skills to increase access for marginalized communities.  From this it was important for me to train in an extremely diverse city and in a program that provided access to a wide range of opportunities such as serving at the Long Beach LGBT Center and family planning training that included abortion care.  I also wanted to enter a residency that had tracks focused on community medicine and health policy to advance my knowledge of how to advocate across multiple levels.  It also helped that, on my interview day, I remember seeing the residents hugging and playfully joking with each other in a way that felt genuine and very much like a family, which is exactly what I was looking for in my program.

Medical Interests:  Health equity & social justice; women’s health & reproductive justice; adolescent medicine; gender-affirming care; community & preventive medicine; serving underserved populations; public health and increasing healthcare access for all; medical mentorship & education

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  I’m obsessed with the outdoors and love hiking, backpacking, and rock climbing.  In my lazy spare time I can binge watch TV shows like no other while crocheting amigurumi.

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I am half Mexican, half Palestinian, and the youngest of 12 siblings.  I am absolutely obsessed with dogs and a proud dog mom to my giant, 85-lb black lab/shepherd mix, Kona.

Haley Oosterhouse, MD – USC
From: San Jose, CA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  I chose Long Beach Memorial because of the kind and passionate people I spoke with on my interview day, the wide variety of opportunities in my areas of interest and beyond, and the reputation of the program for having well-trained residents who are very happy.   Also, the idea of living by the beach didn’t hurt!

Medical Interests:  Sports medicine, women’s health, inpatient medicine, HIV medicine & community medicine

Other languages spoken: Spanish

Hobbies:  Exercise and sports, cooking and eating out, traveling, spending time with my dog, friends and family 

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I was a swimmer for twelve years including college, and I was born on Friday the 13th (spooky!). 

Jessica Sokol, MD, MPH – Wright State
From: San Antonio, TX

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site?  It was important for me to find a family medicine residency that would make me into the type of doctor I wanted to become.  I found this at Long Beach Memorial because of their focus on underserved communities, healthcare policy, and LGBTQ+ medicine.  I also loved the idea of working in a community hospital that focused on the unique needs of the community it serves.  Despite all interviews and socials being virtual last year, I still felt so welcomed and accepted by all the faculty and residents and knew I had found my program and my people. 

Medical Interests:  LGBTQ+ medicine, HIV medicine, healthcare policy, community medicine, underserved communities & public health!

Hobbies:  Netflix binging, hiking, swimming, non-fiction books, cooking & spending time with my sister!

Fun Fact About Yourself:  When I was in middle school my mother, my sister and I taught cooking on our local morning show!

Ashley Williams, MD – University of Washington
From: Seattle, WA

Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I discovered the Long Beach Memorial program via the (virtual!) National Conference.  They were a really positive, engaged, and organized group, and I came away from the conference really impressed and interested!  I learned more about the program via the website and my interview day, and I was struck by what a robust training experience the program offered.  It was important to me to choose a program that would both provide me with a strong foundation for my life as an attending and allow me further to refine and explore my personal passions (including health policy, behavioral health, youth health and family planning).  My Long Beach interview day and resident social were among the most warm, relaxed, and fun I encountered on the interview trail!  The fact that I could still get a sense of the “we’re a family” vibe of the program over Zoom made me feel like it would be a genuinely supportive place to train.  I couldn’t be happier to be a member of the Long Beach Memorial team!

Medical Interests:  Adolescent medicine, health policy, behavioral health, family planning, gynecology, preventive medicine and practical wellness for all!  

Hobbies:  Movies, books (reading them and pretending I’m a writer!), music (choral, Korean pop, reggaetón, the phantom of the opera soundtrack, salsa classics, hip hop, Hans Zimmer’s dramatic movie scores, Disney soundtracks), dance, cultural celebrations and festivals, Myers-Briggs, travel & time with loved ones!

Fun Fact About Yourself:  I’m a Spider-Man fan, and I got to meet Stan Lee at Emerald City Comic Con one year! Despite my love for the character, I despise actual spiders!