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Program Leadership
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Kira Molas-Torreblanca, DO, FAAP Dr. Kira Molas-Torreblanca is Program Director for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. She is a pediatric hospitalist and was the Director of the CHLA Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship from 2017 to 2022. She has presented numerous workshops at national conferences on topics such as feedback and autonomy. Her interests include graduate medical education research and curriculum development. She is currently in the inaugural cohort of the Academic Pediatric Associations's (APA) Advancing Pediatric Leaders Program and recently completed the 7th cohort of a 3-year APA Educator Scholars Program. She continues to remain involved nationally, currently serving a 2-year term on the executive committee for the National Council of Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship Program Directors and was also recently elected to serve on the AAP Section of Hospital Medicine's Executive Committee. |
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Daniel Kang, MD, FAAP Dr. Daniel Kang is an associate program director for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. Dr. Kang completed his undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and initially pursued a career in education as a middle school science teacher, while participating in a Master of Education program - a program he is in the process of completing. He then attended the University of Maryland for medical school and completed his pediatric residency training at UC Irvine. He served as chief resident, before starting his career as a pediatric hospitalist. In his free time, he enjoys pretending to be a foodie and trying out new restaurants...and having two children in tow means he gets to explore the kid's menu as well! |
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Jim Korb, MD Dr. Korb is an associate program director for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. At CHOC, he is the Director for Academic Affairs, with responsibility over visiting medical students, residents and fellows, as well as the development of fellowships at CHOC. He is also the Director for CHOC’s Continuing Medical Education (CME) Program. His medical school training and residency was at UCLA, and he was an assistant program director for the Pediatric Residency Program at UCLA for 11 years. From 2001-2013, he was the program director of the Pediatric Residency Program at CHOC. Among his many interests are medical education, dermatology and children’s books. Outside of work, he and his wife have a lifetime goal to see every National Park in the US (they are up to about 30). He is an avid cook, and along with Dr. Wong, has been cooking for resident retreats for many, many years. |
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Jennifer Lusk, MD, FAAP Dr. Jennifer Lusk is an associate program director for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. Dr. Lusk received her medical degree from Georgetown University. After finishing residency training at CHOC, she served as chief resident. She now works as a pediatric hospitalist at CHOC, and remains heavily invested in residency training and education, receiving multiple faculty teaching awards. She is the chair of the Clinical Competency Committee, providing guidance on resident performance. She also holds multiple positions in hospital administration and serves as program director for the UCI Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship Program at CHOC. |
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David Michalik, DO Dr. Michalik is an associate program director for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program and specializes in pediatric infectious diseases at Miller Children’s Hospital Long Beach where he has been since 2007. He received his medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences, completed a pediatric residency at Cleveland Clinic Children's Hospital, and a fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at Children’s Hospital of New York at Columbia University Medical Center. Additionally, he is actively engaged in research projects involving HIV, Kawasaki disease, and infections of ancient civilizations. His free time is spent surfing or peak-bagging, and spending too much time training his new dog Scully. |
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Candice Taylor Lucas, MD, MPH, FAAP Dr. Candice Taylor Lucas is an associate program director for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. She is also a co-director for the UCI School of Medicine's mission-based program entitled Leadership Education to Advance Diversity - African, Black, and Caribbean (LEAD-ABC), a Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor, and general pediatrician with the UCI School of Medicine and UCI Pediatric Exercise and Genomics Research Center. She is from Southern California and completed undergraduate training at UCLA, graduate training in the UCLA School of Public Health, and medical school at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. She returned to UCLA for pediatric residency and served as a chief resident, and subsequently went to NYU/Bellevue Hospital Center to complete an academic general pediatric fellowship with a focus in primary care research and clinical investigation. Her public health and research interests address physical activity promotion, early childhood obesity prevention, and health inequities. As Associate Program Director her areas of focus include primary-care and community-engaged training opportunities, advocacy, diversity, inclusion, and health equity. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing with her sons, dancing, basketball, and writing poetry. |
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Hillary Zieve, MD, FAAP Dr. Hillary Zieve is an associate program director for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program and practices general pediatrics at CHOC Clinica Para Niños and CHOC Boys and Girls Club Clinic in Santa Ana, CA. Dr. Zieve received her Medical Degree from UC Irvine School of Medicine. She completed residency and served as a Chief Resident at the UC Irvine/CHOC pediatric residency program. She currently sits on the board of the AAP Orange County chapter as a Member At Large and Co-Chairs the Young Physician Committee. She is also the chapter’s representative for Early Career Physicians. Dr. Zieve is the co-founder and faculty mentor of Team KiPOW OC, an academic-community partnership which mentors students in Title 1 schools about nutrition and physical activity. Dr. Zieve is passionate about primary care, preventative medicine, and more specifically pediatric obesity management, nutrition, and healthy weight loss. She lives in Irvine, CA with her husband, 2 children and dog. |
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Marielle Beamesderfer, MD Dr. Marielle Mae Beamesderfer is a Chief Resident for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. Dr. Beamesderfer completed her undergraduate studies at Walla Walla University where she studied Biology. She then attended the Loma Linda University School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency training at UC Irvine-CHOC. She continued on as a Chief Resident because she enjoys working with resident and medical students. In her free time, she enjoys traveling to new places, trying new food, and outdoor activities such as hiking and backpacking. |
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Natalia Calderon, MD, MPH Dr. Natalia Maria Calderon is a Chief Resident for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. Dr. Calderon completed her undergraduate studies at University of Southern California where she studied Neuroscience and English Literature. She attended the University of California San Diego School of Medicine and earned her medical degree. Between her third and fourth years of medical school, she completed a Master of Public Health degree at University of California Berkeley. She completed her pediatric residency training at UC Irvine-CHOC. She chose to continue as a Chief Resident secondary to her interest in education, professional development, and team collaboration in supporting and shaping the next generation of physicians. In her free time, Natalia enjoys cooking, traveling, and long walks with her husband and golden retriever Louie. |
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Nicole Kelly, MD Dr. Nicole Kelly is a Chief Resident for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. Dr. Kelly completed her undergraduate and medical education at Drexel University. She completed her residency at UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. She continued on as a Chief Resident to serve as a teacher and mentor to the residents. Afterwards, she plans to pursue a career as a general pediatrician. She is passionate about primary care, preventative medicine, nutrition, lactation, and community engagement. Although originally from the East Coast, she is enjoying living in Southern California and spends her free time walking on the beach, hiking, paddleboarding, and exploring new destinations. |
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Veronica Melendez Veronica Melendez is the residency coordinator for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. She received her bachelor's of science degree in healthcare administration from Cal State Long Beach. Mrs. Melendez was a pediatric residency coordinator at Miller Children's Hospital in Long Beach before becoming a residency coordinator for both the UC Irvine and UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric residency programs in 2010. She likes to read, dance, play sports, and spend time with her family. |
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Maria Espitia Maria Espitia is a residency coordinator assistant for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency Program. She joined the program in 2014, bringing with her a variety of corporate and office management skills. Previously, she served as human resource assistant and accounting assistant at USA National Title Co. She enjoys shopping for great deals and spending time with her family. |
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Sabrina Harris Sabrina Harris joined the program as a temporary administrative assistant in February 2020 and was hired full-time in January 2021. She has an extensive background working in administration, office management and accounting, supporting large non-profit organizations and small business environments. She is a team player and approaches all aspects of her position and any job with a positive, hardworking mindset. She enjoys going to church, roller-skating and spending time with her family. |
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Regina Fuentes Regina Fuentes is the residency coordinator for the UCI-CHOC Pediatric Residency at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. She joined the GME team at Long Beach Memorial/Miller Children’s Hospital in April 2021. She has over 5 years of experience working in healthcare facilities in both Los Angeles and Orange county while pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration. Most recently, she served as a surgery coordinator at an orthopedic practice in Huntington Beach. She is a proud first-generation immigrant from El Salvador who was raised in Southern California. Outside of work, she loves serving others in her community, spending time at the beach or on a trail, and attending LA sports events. |
