UCI-CHOC Pediatrics Residency Roster 

PGY-1: Class of 2026

Alana Barclay, DO

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr Kiran C Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Philadelphia, PA 
Why UCI: I was immediately touched by the residents' warmth and positivity, even with a demanding schedule. The attendings/administration appeared to prioritize resident learning through didactics, and had an impressive amount of patience. My biggest goal in residency is to gain confidence through doing, and the sheer patient volume and diversity at CHOC felt like the best environment to do so. Having the beach 20 minutes away also helped - best way to spend a day off!
Hobbies: Beach days with a library book, surfing, breweries, roaming Trader Joe's 
Fun Facts: My sister is graduating high school this year and my brother is graduating kindergarten - they keep things fun.

Samantha Bilton, MD

Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Hometown: Boca Raton, FL
Why UCI: I chose UC Irvine because of the volume, diversity, and acuity of patients that we see at CHOC, UC Irvine, and Miller Children's. It's incredible to train in so many different hospital environments and across two different counties. The faculty are also phenomenal and truly invested in my learning and success. This program has an unbelievably supportive environment for residency training! Also Southern California is obviously an amazing place to live.
Hobbies: Reading, Peloton, my English bulldog Hugo, traveling, and whale watching
Fun Facts: My sister is an internal medicine resident at Massachusetts General Hospital! 

Michael Caster, MD

Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Priya Chelliah, MD

Medical School: The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Lauren D'Annibale, DO

Medical School: AT Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Why UCI: Very supportive work environment, high volume center with ample learning opportunities, diverse patient population, great location in Southern California
Hobbies: Going to the beach, snowboarding, traveling, watching movies, spending time with family and friends
Fun Facts: I have a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and I skipped kindergarten.

Luis Delgado, MD

Medical School: University of California, Riverside School of Medicine

Shaina Eftekharian, DO

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Steven Han, MD

Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science

Houda Khalil, MD

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine - Southeast Michigan
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Why UCI: CHOC is an excellent stand-alone children's hospital that provides so many resources for not just patients, but for residents as well! The patient population is diverse in medical complexity and the volume is great for those who learn best by seeing patients.
Hobbies: Fashion, art, music, poetry, cooking, traveling
Fun Facts: I have no ties to Southern California and residency is my first time living away from Michigan.

Albert Kim, MD

Medical School: California Northstate University College of Medicine
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea
Why UCI: I wanted to work in a Children’s hospital where I could gain a lot of experience, and CHOC is just that. The location is also excellent!
Hobbies: Going to the beach, playing tennis and golf, and traveling of course
Fun Facts: Got married in 3 different continents, dislocated my shoulder 30+ times

Tiffany Lao, MD

Medical School: Robert Larner, MD, College of Medicine at the University of Vermont
Hometown: Glastonbury, CT
Why UCI: Wanting to work at a large, busy children’s hospital with great people 
Hobbies: Singing, piano, music, dance, cooking
Fun Facts: I performed at Carnegie Hall when I was in high school!

Charissa Lau, MD

Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine

Alvina Le, MD

Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine

Christine Le, MD

Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Hometown: Westminster, CA
Why UCI: I wanted to stay close to friends and family, plus SoCal is unbeatable for good weather and good food. :)
Hobbies: Knitting, baking, collecting pretty stationery, finding new coffee shops / cafes
Fun Facts: Japanese was my foreign language in high school and I’m working on getting N1 level on the JLPT (very slowly…).

Kyoyi Lee, DO

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Hometown: Seoul, South Korea and Bellevue, WA
Why UCI: When I did my Sub-I at CHOC as a medical student, everyone was so sweet. I know that people in pediatrics tend to be nicer, but attending physicians and staffs in CHOC stood out to me because they wanted to make sure that I was really learning and growing, not just completing a rotation. Another reason why I chose CHOC is that I love being in a stand-alone children's hospital with all the pediatric specialists in one place, so I get to see different potential pathways for me after residency. I also wanted a big residency class where I get to meet many new friends who have different perspectives and similar interests. In addition, CHOC has a beautiful sky bridge and walls painted with Disney characters, which lift me up on my ward days. Cute Choco bear logo is a bonus!
Hobbies: Puzzles, legos, miniature, piano, swimming, cat cafés, Maplestory, watching Marvel/Disney/Studio Ghibli/Kdrama
Fun Facts: I have a giant Spotify playlist that has over 4,500 songs total now. It's still growing. And yes, I still listen to this playlist every day.

Shiree Lee, DO

Medical School: AT Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Hometown: Cerritos, CA
Why UCI: Cliche as it sounds, location and people. I grew up 20 minutes from CHOC and so it was ideal to come back home, and during interview day, I truly loved the atmosphere that was created with different staff, attendings, and residents (yes even on Zoom!) I also know I’m someone who learns best by doing, and my goal entering residency was to graduate with as little imposter syndrome as possible so there was no question as to which program to rank first for me :D
Hobbies: Reading, swimming, karaoke, and consuming an inordinate amount of digital media including making musical playlists, rewatching movies, tv shows, and perusing social media
Fun Facts: I was a competitive synchronized swimmer for 13 years. I cannot for the life of me parallel park.

Natalie Li, MD

Medical School: California Northstate University College of Medicine

Christine Manuel, DO

Medical School: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine - California

Brenna Moore, MD

Medical School: George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Jennifer Morgan, MD

Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Sean Naficy, MD

Medical School: California University of Science and Medicine - School of Medicine

Kelvin Naito, MD

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

Helena Olivieri, MD

Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine

Xing Yen Quek, DO

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Katherine Wilcox, MD

Medical School: Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah
Hometown: Wrightwood, CA
Why UCI: High volume program, wonderful people on interview day, supportive atmosphere
Hobbies: Anything outside: Hiking, swimming, running, pickleball, exploring national parks
Fun Facts: When I went to Disneyland as a child I used to dress up as Cinderella or Snow White.

Combined Peds-Child Neurology

Aysha Arshad, DO

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific

Quynh Kieu, MD

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine - Midland
Hometown: Detroit, MI
Why UCI: People at CHOC are incredibly welcoming and supportive.
Hobbies: Reading, traveling, exploring the food landscapes in California
Fun Facts: I’m a huge Sherlock Holmes fan, proud owner of the series in both Vietnamese and English.

PGY-2: Class of 2025

Yvonne Adigwu, MD

Medical School: USC
Hometown: Fontana, CA
Why UCI: I wanted to train at a children’s hospital where I would serve a diverse patient population with complex medical issues. I also wanted to stay close to home so I could spend more time with family and friends.
Hobbies: Food adventures, national parks, water sports
Fun Facts: I flew a two-seater plane (with an instructor)

Mohammed Aftab, MD

Hometown: Anaheim, CA
Why UCI: I grew up in Orange County and wanted to continue serving this community that I have called home for so long.
Hobbies: Basketball, anime, board games
Fun Facts: I can do the wave with my eyebrows and I won a writing competition in Kindergarten!

Kamal Chikalard, MD

Medical School: Eastern Virginia

Nicole Dudaney, MD

Hometown: Newark, CA
Medical School: St. George's University
Why UCI: The children's hospital here is absolutely remarkable in all ways - from the faculty, to the facilities, to the fellowship matches. It is evident right from interview day how warm and knowledgeable the faculty are. As I'm going through my rotations, I can see how passionately they love to teach too, and that type of energy is exactly what I was hoping for in a residency program. I also loved the diverse population here & the diverse clinical sites we get to train at. The fellowship matches are also excellent, which was definitely a high priority for me, as that is something I am highly considering. Lastly, it's back in my home state, close to my family & friends, and also right next to Disney. :)
Hobbies: Trying new restaurants, going to the beach, traveling
Fun Facts: Despite living in SoCal now, I'm a huge Golden State Warriors fan!

Sophia Falmagne, MD

Hometown: Irvine, CA
Medical School: Chicago Medical School

Kenneth Grant, MD

Hometown: Irvine, CA
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Why UCI: I am from Irvine and essentially grew up at CHOC! CHOC is an incredible stand-alone children's hospital that provides exposure to all fields of pediatric medicine and is extremely active in the community. The program at UCI does a fantastic job providing residents with resources to develop as physicians and advance their careers. Some of the best beaches in the world are our next-door neighbors!
Hobbies: Soccer, surfing, snowboarding/skiing, hiking, running, my dogs
Fun Facts: Diehard Buffalo Bills Fan in Southern California ("Let's Go Buffalo")

Morcel Hamidy, MD

Hometown: San Deigo, CA
Medical School: UC Riverside
Why UCI: To be surrounded by great teachers and friends while we learn how to be the best pediatricians we can be. To be close to my favorite place, the beach, and close to my family.
Hobbies: I love anything in nature! Hiking, swimming, snorkeling. I also enjoy spoken word and photography.
Fun Facts: Morcel is pronounced "Mursal" in Farsi, but I'll respond to anything!

Mandy Hammel, MD, MBA

Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
Medical School: UC Irvine
Why UCI: As a SoCal native, I wanted the opportunity to train and give back to the community that helped shape me into the person I am today. I value the diversity in our community and especially want to serve the Vietnamese population of Orange County. As a medical student at UCI, I looked up to the residents and attending physicians who had such passion for teaching and demonstrated such compassionate patient care, and I look forward to working further with an outstanding group of providers.
Hobbies: Cooking/baking, Disneyland, tennis, board games, and foodie adventures
Fun Facts: I played the piano since the age of five and received the Gold Scout Gold and Silver Awards.

Laura Henkle, MD

Hometown: 
Medical School: University of Minnesota

Evelyn Herrera, DO

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Medical School: Western University
Why UCI: I chose UCI-CHOC because the program offers a wide range of learning opportunities by allowing us to train at free-standing children's hospitals (CHOC and Miller Children's) and academic medical centers (UCI Health). We serve a diverse patient population, which has always been important to me. It's also an ideal place to train with so much to do in sunny California (Disneyland, beaches, so many delicious restaurants) and a perfect place to raise my family.
Hobbies: Running, baking, DIY projects, finding new brunch spots
Fun Facts: Before starting medical school, I worked for non-profit organizations to help care for children who had been abused, neglected and abandoned. This is where my passion for advocacy and mentorship began.

Madison Huffman, MD

Hometown: San Clemente, CA
Medical School: USC
Why UCI: I grew up in Orange County and wanted to be close to my family and hometown! It was also important to me to have the opportunity to train at multiple different hospitals and to get a good mix of bread and butter pediatrics and complex patients. Also, everyone I met on interview day was so warm and friendly!
Hobbies: Going to the beach, running, trying new restaurants, reading, and finding new shows to watch!
Fun Facts: I am on the hunt to find the best cinnamon roll in Orange County (so far, RJ's in Dana Point is at the top of my list)!

Grace Kim, MD

Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Medical School: University of South Florida

Peggy Kuo, DO

Hometown: Walnut, CA
Medical School: Western University
Why UCI: It was important for me to be at a stand-alone children's hospital with high volume, so I would be well-trained in providing care to a large number of children ranging from bread & butter pediatric cases to those that are medically complex. Also, UCI/CHOC serves a large catchment area, which provides the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population. Lastly, I really connected with the residents here when I was on my away rotation, and we bonded over food and hiking!
Hobbies: Trying new food/restaurants (foodie), cooking, snowboarding, dancing, brunch, traveling
Fun Facts: I bathed with elephants in Thailand! And my English name was given to me by my kindergarten teacher.

Sabrina Leong, MD

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Medical School: State University of New York Upstate
Why UCI: It’s a fantastic program with wonderful people I can learn from and grow with, who support me on my journey. It’s also a strong academic center with solid ties to the diverse community, with many opportunities to explore, and I can’t wait to keep adventuring onward with everyone!
Hobbies: Spending time with my puppy and cat, eating food with family and friends, tennis, swimming, travel, watching movies/tv, reading/listening to books
Fun Facts: I have a 6-month-old golden retriever puppy named Suki and a 2-year-old tabby cat named Kiko! I was born at 1lb 13 oz at 29 weeks and stayed in the NICU for two months!

Jenny Marino, MD

Hometown: Mountain View, CA
Medical School: USC
Why UCI: I was excited to train at two freestanding children’s hospitals and serve a diverse patient population. Also, I got great vibes from the residents, faculty, and staff on my interview day!
Hobbies: Hanging out with my dog, rock climbing, scuba diving, hiking, watching tv
Fun Facts: I can speak Russian!

Marian Martin, MD

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Medical School: California University of Science and Medicine
Why UCI: I wanted to train at an academic center with lots of resources and lots of kiddos to learn from. Some of the stand-out points of UCI are the multiple training sites, the huge variety of patients we see, and my incredible faculty and co-residents. And we have lots of special Disney guests that come visit CHOC, which makes each day all the more magical!
Hobbies: Singing, camping, hiking, baking, game/trivia nights
Fun Facts: Singing is my primary passion outside of medicine. I've been singing classical music in choirs and as a soloist since Kindergarten.

Mithya Morton, MD

Hometown: Cupertino, CA
Medical School: Oakland University
Why UCI: I wanted to train for residency closer to home after being away for medical school, and I was drawn to the idea of working at two free-standing children's hospitals. I liked the idea of learning at both academic and community-based settings to be exposed to ample opportunities and gain awareness of different ways to practice medicine. Super big bonus that we get to do it all with amazing mentors and being 10 minutes from the beach!
Hobbies: Cooking, drawing, painting, and watching a little too much reality TV
Fun Facts: I used to be a preschool teacher before going into medicine, and it's what drew me into pediatrics!

Thaomy Nguyen, MD

Hometown: Winnetka, CA
Medical School: Hofstra/Northwell University
Why UCI: Amazing and fun people, a diverse patient population, and it is close to family!
Hobbies: Watching musicals and plays, making Mickey ears, visiting museums, pin collecting
Fun Facts: Themed/novelty 5Ks are the only time I will voluntarily run. I love trying new dessert places.

Teddie Ordog, MD

Hometown: Santa Clarita, CA
Medical School: University of Iowa
Why UCI: Smart, talented, and caring staff with many opportunities to learn and exposure to every specialty. And it’s close to Disneyland!
Hobbies: Beach, Sewing, Hiking, Swimming, Guitar, Baking
Fun Facts: I lived in Florence, Italy, for a year in college (and Malibu for the other three years)

Haley Palaganas, MD

Hometown: Las Vegas, NV
Medical School: University of Nevada
Why UCI: I chose UCI because I loved the program on interview day! After speaking with some of the residents, I felt confident it was the best choice for me and my partner. Coming here allows me to work at two awesome children’s hospitals while living in one of the most beautiful places in the US.
Hobbies: Watching movies (LOTR are my favorite), trying new restaurants, playing guitar, and spoiling my pets
Fun Facts: I competed in Rubik’s Cube solving competitions in high school

Lauren Saputo, DO

Hometown: 
Medical School: Western University

Susie Shin, MD

Hometown: 
Medical School: University of Illinois

Annie Stenftenagel, MD

Hometown: Jasper, IN
Medical School: Indiana University
Why UCI: I wanted a large volume, stand-alone, children's hospital in sunny Southern California!
Hobbies: Gardening, making art, playing with/training my dog, being outside, audiobooks
Fun Facts: My last name has a jingle to help people spell it! My first trip to Disneyland was for the Intern Year Retreat! I love animals, especially doggos. I have two cats and one dog.

Irena Tang, MD

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Medical School: California University of Science and Medicine
Why UCI: Born and raised in SoCal, I wanted to stay close to home and family. UC Irvine also provides a large children's hospital, diverse patient population, and supportive co-residents.
Hobbies: Working out, going to the beach, exploring new restaurants/breweries, watching football (go Chargers!), baking
Fun Facts: Down to attend any sporting event, spend too much time on Spotify, oh and I can also recite the alphabet backward.

Taylor Thiesen, DO

Hometown: Providence, RI
Medical School: Western University
Why UCI: I fell in love with UCI and CHOC during my sub-I. The whole community was so welcoming and cheerful. I could tell that the residents truly felt like they were each other's family away from home. I also knew that I wanted to experience training at a freestanding children’s hospital and being in Orange County was just a plus :)
Hobbies: Hiking, working out, hanging with my pups
Fun Facts: I’ve had a puppy during each year of residency thus far 😂

Cody Trepte, DO

Hometown: Downey, CA
Medical School: Western University
Why UCI: It is close to home and the excellent training across multiple sites. Also, what is not to love about all the Disney and Marvel pictures throughout the hospital?
Hobbies: Video games and sports like golf, bowling, and basketball. I also like to watch movies and binge tv shows.
Fun Facts: As a child, I traveled throughout the USA and even to Europe for bowling tournaments. At the height of my bowling career, I was in five different leagues and had a 190 average.

Alvin Yang, DO

Hometown: Diamond Bar, CA
Medical School: Western University
Why UCI: I did a SubI on inpatient wards and enjoyed my experience there. I was able to learn so much, had amazing faculty and sub-specialists that were always ready and willing to teach and felt this was where I could learn and train to be a great pediatrician.
Hobbies: Playing basketball, Lakers fan, cooking

PGY-3: Class of 2024

Laura Borden, MD

Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Medical School: Florida Atlantic University
Why UCI: In addition to the amazing training environment, I immediately felt comfortable on interview day! The residents seemed genuinely happy and excited about going to work.
Hobbies: Exploring/hiking with my dog & husband, waterskiing, cooking & baking, finding new restaurants
Fun Facts: I waterskied in college at the University of Michigan - Go Blue!

Celia Cheung, MD

Hometown: Concord, CA
Medical School: UC Irvine
Why UCI: I was a med student here at UCI-CHOC, and spent lots of time getting to know the CHOC residents and attendings. The residents seemed happy even though they were busy, and the attendings are all wonderful at teaching and creating a good learning environment. As a resident now, I feel very well supported by my class and the cohorts above.
Hobbies: Playing the violin, watercolor pencil, journaling, making chocolates, pyrography (art of wood burning)
Fun Facts: I lived abroad in London for 10 months before medical school - did research in microfluidics, did some sightseeing, played in two orchestras and performed in Royal Albert Hall.

Stephanie S. Chou, MD

Hometown: Newton, MA & Taipei, Taiwan
Medical School: California Northstate University
Why UCI: I am drawn to UC Irvine because of the camaraderie among residents, the support and dedication of attending physicians, and the creativity of the group which I experienced during my virtual interview with games of trivia & charades. Furthermore, I believe the experience gained from serving the diverse patient populations across the three different hospital sites for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program will equip me with the necessary knowledge required to become a compassionate pediatrician. I am very grateful and look forward to being part of the UC Irvine family!
Hobbies: Exploring new coffee shops, visiting art museums, playing board games, hiking, painting/drawing, baking
Fun Facts: I once ended up on the front page of boston.com because of an accidental run-in with Shaquille O'Neal due to our shared love for a local burger joint.

Drew Crawford, MD

Hometown: Denver, CO
Medical School: University of Utah
Why UCI: I could sense that this program had an inclusive, collaborative culture created by the incredibly friendly residents and faculty that I met on interview day. The beautiful SoCal weather and the well renowned Children’s Hospital of Orange County sealed the deal for me.
Hobbies: Snowboarding, mountain biking, rock climbing, playing chess and reading Russian literature
Fun Facts: I studied Russian in college and speak it fluently.

Michele Galatovich, MD, MPH

Medical School: University of Miami

Karuna Gausper, MD

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City

Laurel Gordon, MD

Hometown: Philadelphia, PA
Medical School: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine
Why UCI: I really loved knowing I would have the opportunity to work at two different free-standing children's hospitals during my time in residency. I was also impressed by how the residents seemed to know each other so well and still have a lot of fun together even in a bigger program! As someone also interested in fellowship, I knew I would have so many opportunities here to work with different types of subspecialists and really figure out what I want to do. Overall, I just loved it all!
Hobbies: Baking, running, playing with my cat, Disney trivia
Fun Facts: I can't wink--but I'm still trying to learn!

Elana Helfand, DO

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Medical School: Touro University, Nevada
Why UCI: I was blown away by the opportunities and resources that came with working at 2 children’s hospitals and a large academic center. It’s hard not to fall in love with CHOC when you see the Disney theme too!
Hobbies: Snowboarding, theater, and being a foodie
Fun Facts: I was on TV as a kid.

Ashley Hugh, MD

Hometown: Cerritos, CA
Medical School: Rush University
Why UCI: Being born and raised in the OC area and going to UC Irvine for undergrad (zot zot!), I really wanted to return and serve the community that initially sparked my interest in service and medicine.
Hobbies: Fostering kittens, learning new recipes to cook (especially Filipino food), dancing, traveling, concerts (pre-pandemic)
Fun Facts: I’ve been to 22 countries (and counting). I fostered 22 cats during the pandemic!

Ashlyn Jimenez, MD

Hometown: Fort White, FL
Medical School: Washington State University
Why UCI: It gave me the warm tingles when interviewing. I felt seen and that my diverse background mattered. I felt like I was more than just a number and they cared more about me and my journey than about my stats.
Hobbies: Disney trips with the family, bicycle rides along the beach, re-reading the Harry Potter series.
Fun Facts: I have two kiddos! My daughter was born during PGY2 and it has been such a rewarding experience. Having children has definitely made me a better pediatrician.

Katherine Killmond, MD

Hometown: Atherton, CA & Woodland Hills, CA
Medical School: UC Irvine
Why UCI: I had a great experience during all of my peds rotations as a student here, and everyone I met in the program was so supportive and positive!
Hobbies: Cooking, baking, hiking, and running
Fun Facts: Before starting residency, I completed the Rim to Rim hike at the Grand Canyon!

Nikhil Kumar, MD

Hometown: Palo Alto, CA
Medical School: UC San Diego
Why UCI: UC Irvine's commitment to patient care and resident wellness drew me to this institution. I love the institution's dedication to addressing health disparities and the resultant diversity in medical education that we receive. An added bonus is that this institution is in beautiful California!
Hobbies: When I am not in the hospital, I like to be active, cook, and travel. I play football, soccer, baseball, and golf regularly. I also love to experience new cultures with my friends and family.
Fun Facts: I have an adorable Welsh Terrier named Scruffy!

Theresa Kunnel, MD

Hometown: Glenview, IL
Medical School: Chicago Medical School
Why UCI: I chose UC Irvine not only for its location in sunny SoCal, but also because of the people I interacted with throughout my interview day. There was a genuine sentiment of camaraderie among residents and attending physicians, and the program leadership was both warm and welcoming!
Hobbies: Avid dancer, lover of good TV shows (preferably murder mysteries), and hiking enthusiast!
Fun Facts: Growing up, I wanted to be a dolphin trainer. This was definitely a short-lived passion, considering I've never been a very strong swimmer sigh.

Anne Liang, MD

Medical School: UCLA

Kiran Mazloom, DO

Hometown: Sunnyvale, CA
Medical School: Western University
Why UCI: I chose UC Irvine because of everyone’s shared passion and pure joy for teaching and learning. The incredibly supportive environment and opportunities to develop my career in pediatrics made choosing UCI an easy decision.
Hobbies: Exploring the outdoors, baking yummy treats, and traveling abroad!
Fun Facts: I have done martial arts for 22 years, including karate, judo, boxing, and Brazilian jiu-jitsu!

Renee Moreno

Hometown: La Quinta, CA
Medical School: UC Riverside
Why UCI: Friendly faculty and staff, extremely helpful residents, and a beautiful children's hospital
Hobbies: Playing sports, hiking, boba lover, watching Marvel, and learning to play the ukulele
Fun Facts: I couples' matched into Peds with my husband and now co-resident :)

Tyler Moreno, MD

Hometown: Corona, CA
Medical School: UC Riverside
Why UCI: Location, location, location! I grew up in SoCal and have stayed close to family and the community I want to serve as a physician.
Hobbies: Beach. Beer. Baseball. Babies.
Fun Facts: I've been an uncle since the day I was born (in the OC!!). I met the love of my life in medical school!

Lynn Padlipsky, MD

Medical School: Sackler School of Medicine, New York State American Branch

Audrey Park, DO

Medical School: Western University

Arianna Peters, MD

Hometown: Bend, OR
Medical School: Oregon Health & Science University
Why UCI: I wanted to go to a program in an area with more diversity, good weather, and an excellent variety of subspecialty and general pediatrics care.
Hobbies: Gardening, playing with my two (very cute) dogs, going to the beach
Fun Facts: I also play the flute!

Catherine Su, MD

Hometown: Bay Area, CA
Medical School: UC San Diego
Why UCI: I chose UC Irvine for the location and the people. Everyone who I met during the interview process was very friendly. I've also frequently visited the city and love the environment and all the great food and boba! I've also been told CHOC is one of the most beautiful children's hospitals!
Hobbies: In my free time, I love traveling and exploring new places both in and outside of my own city! I also love binging TV shows on Netflix.
Fun Facts: I am a huge foodie, so I started a food blog and have been Yelp Elite for 6+ years.

Daniel Taitano, MD

Hometown: Guam
Medical School: Wright State University
Why UCI: Warm family feel & quality training!
Hobbies: Playing soccer, grilling, and going to the beach
Fun Facts: Attended Tomorrowland in Belgium

Jennifer Tang, MD

Medical School: Georgetown University

Kaajal Visnagra, MD

Hometown: Cerritos, CA
Medical School: UC Irvine
UCI: As a SoCal native, I wanted to work at a children’s hospital and give back to same community I grew up in.
Hobbies: Brewing kombucha, gardening, farm-to-table foods, making yogurt, being active outdoors
Fun Facts: I’m a first degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do!

Michelle Yang, MD

Hometown: Norco, CA
Medical School: UC Riverside
Why UCI: I was given the opportunity to do a rotation at UCI/CHOC during my fourth year of medical school and saw how amazing the physicians and staff are. I chose UCI/CHOC to continue learning from their examples and better serve my community as a pediatrician.
Hobbies: Baking, audiobooks/reading, drawing, hiking, and archery
Fun Facts: Joshua Tree National Park is my favorite hiking spot which I have been going to since before I could walk.