Family Medicine Residency Program

Christopher D’Arrigo, MD

Undergraduate School: California State University, Monterey Bay
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson
Clinical Interests: Preventative medicine, procedures, integrative medicine
About Me: Hello! I was born and raised in Monterey, California on the central coast. Although I originally was going to pursue agricultural business for my career, my path took a turn when I developed a deep interest in science. During my undergraduate studies, I majored in molecular biology, and also expanded my passion for medicine as I engaged in physician-shadowing and volunteer opportunities. After working as a medical scribe in San Diego, I was sure medicine was the ideal career for me, so I moved to Tucson and began medical school at the University of Arizona. During my time there I became involved in the student-run clinics, providing free medical care to uninsured patients. Throughout my clinical years, I furthered my interest in family medicine, and was especially drawn to the versatile scope of practice while maintaining a focus on longitudinal care over time. I look forward to providing comprehensive healthcare and building long term relationships with my patients in the future. In my free time I enjoy surfing, hiking, and spending time with my wife and family.
Why Kaiser? I chose KPWH for its supportive atmosphere and unopposed, high-quality training. On interview day, I made connections with residents and faculty, and really believed I would be valued and feel like part of the team here.
Other: Fun fact: I enjoy all types of water sports, including scuba diving, and obtained my advanced certification when I was seventeen.

Angela Deng, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, Irvine
Medical School: State University of New York Upstate Medical University
Clinical Interests: Integrative medicine, mental health, women's health
About Me: Hi! I was born and raised in Southern California and am excited to be back home to take care of the communities I grew up in. I completed my undergraduate studies in biology at UC Irvine. While in college, I enjoyed getting involved with the local community in activities such as teaching underserved students and volunteering with hospice. As a result, I decided to pursue a field which combined science and service, which led me to the East coast to study medicine (and experience a real winter). In medical school, I grew to appreciate the importance of primary care when I volunteered at local free clinics and homeless shelters. I naturally found my place in family medicine with passionate, inspirational mentors who showed me the joy in developing long-term relationships with patients from all walks of life. In my free time, I enjoy reading, drawing, gaming, and cooking.
Why Kaiser? I was won over by how exceptionally welcoming, happy, and helpful the residents, faculty, and staff are. During my interview, I could feel that KPWH fosters a supportive culture that values wellness as well as education, which was the kind of environment I wanted to work and learn in.
Other: Fun fact: I self-taught myself Japanese.

Sara Larsen, MD

Undergraduate School: Lawrence University
Medical School: University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: women's health, obstetrics, medication-assisted treatment
About Me: Hello and welcome! I was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota and then attended Lawrence University in Appleton, WI for undergrad where I studied Flute Performance and Biochemistry. I dabbled in many things throughout undergrad: swing dancing, pickleball, tutoring in several subjects and working with the admissions office. I took a year after undergrad to work in the hospitality industry and as a nanny for a 1 year old. Throughout all of this, a future in medicine was always in the back of my mind and I gained exposure to healthcare through volunteering at the hospital, shadowing pediatricians and spending 5 weeks at a public hospital in La Plata, Argentina. After my gap year, I landed back in South Dakota for medical school. I participated in my school's Frontier and Rural Medicine program in Parkston, SD (town of 1500!) where I fell in love with the field of family medicine. Getting to practice a little bit of everything through family medicine fits myself as a "dabbler", and I love the sense of connection family medicine allows both with individual patients and the community as a whole. I am excited to be moving to Southern California with my partner and our 3 cats. Outside of medicine, I enjoy reading, making music, spending time outdoors, playing board games and baking.
Why Kaiser? I am thrilled to become part of the KPWH family medicine residency program. Logistically, it fit the bill for what I was looking for: unopposed, focused on wellness and located somewhere warm. More importantly though, my virtual interview with residents and faculty helped me see what a supportive environment the KPWH FM residency has and what great mentorship I will receive as I learn and grow throughout residency.
Other: Fun fact: My partner and I decided to take up carpentry as a new hobby together and our first project was building a board game table from scratch!

Christina Nguyen, DO

Undergraduate School: Temple University
Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interests: Health policy, procedures, behavioral health
About Me: Hi there! My name is Christina (Chrissy for my family and friends) and I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona as the eldest daughter of six kids. For my undergrad I moved to the city of Philadelphia majoring in Neuroscience at Temple University. While there I was a resident assistant for three years and was able to embrace my love for mentoring that I had inherently gravitated towards from my role as an older sister. I enjoyed the longitudinal aspect of the position and the ability to work with my residents as they grew through the year. For medical school I decided that the East Coast wasn’t for me and I began my move back West to attend Rocky Vista University in Utah. At RVU I was part of the Academic Medicine and Leadership track which fostered my interest in advocacy and health policy analysis. During my third-year clerkships I recognized that my interests of mentoring, advocacy, and longitudinal care were exemplified by the field of family medicine. Coupled with my professional interests in procedures and behavioral health, it was an easy decision from here! Outside of medicine you can find me trying to brew the perfect cup of coffee, spending time with friends and family (including my dog Althea), or binging horror movies in my PJs.
Why Kaiser? I was lucky enough to do a sub-internship here during my 4th year to experience firsthand the supportive learning environment cultivated by the KPWH residents, faculty, and staff. From the very first day they made me feel like a part of the team, providing encouragement and offering advice when I needed it. I also chose the program based on its strong outpatient curriculum and specialty clinics in dermatology and sports medicine.
Other: Fun fact: Having grown up in Arizona I’m not super freaked out by scorpions. On the other hand, I am deathly afraid of worms and caterpillars (even butterflies because they used to be caterpillars)!

Olayemi Osibowale, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, Irvine
Medical School: University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Woman’s health, behavioral health, underserved population health
About Me: I was born in Inglewood and raised in Chino Hills, California. I am the daughter of Nigerian immigrants and the first in my family to become a physician. From a young age, my parents instilled the importance of hard work and compassion which fostered my passion for community service and underserved medicine. As an undergraduate at UC Irvine, I studied biology and psychology with the goal of practicing medicine that considers the physical, emotional, and social factors of patient care. It was during my time volunteering at free clinics that I truly recognized the importance of preventive medicine, primary care, and continuity of care. I ultimately chose family medicine because of the diversity of patients and pathology, longitudinal care, flexibility, and the whole person focus that it offers. Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking, candle-making, roller skating, exploring new restaurants, and being in nature.
Why Kaiser? I chose Kaiser Woodland Hills for its close-knit community, positive culture, and strong well-rounded training. I am incredibly grateful, humbled, and excited to be starting my residency in family medicine at Kaiser Woodland Hills!
Other: Fun fact: I solo traveled across Europe during my break between undergraduate and medical school.

Joseph Yasmeh, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Point-of-care ultrasound, addiction medicine, medical education
About Me: I’m a Los Angeles native born to a Jewish-Iranian family. Growing up, I was the kind of kid who had fun playing chess during recess or looking at bugs under a microscope. Not much has changed.
Why Kaiser? I’ve been a patient at Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills and even volunteered here for 5 years, writing biographies for patients. So coming back home to this hospital and community was an easy choice for me.
Other: Fun fact: I wrote a children’s book for boys with a genetic disease (Duchenne muscular dystrophy). Over 10,000 copies have been published around the world, and it’s been translated in 5 languages!

Stephano Abusleme, DO

Undergraduate School: University of California, Irvine
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Clinical Interests: Sports medicine, underserved population health, health technology
About Me: I was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. My first exposure to medicine was at an early age because my mother worked at my aunt’s OB/GYN clinic in Panorama City. I attended UC Irvine and majored in the Biological Sciences. Throughout my undergraduate career, I was part of a research team at UCI, volunteered at various hospitals, coached youth basketball, and even lead high school retreats. I was fortunate enough to stay in California for medical school and attended Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pomona, California. I decided to pursue family medicine for multiple reasons, but one of the main ones was that it would give me the ability to treat entire families of all ages. I believe a family medicine physician can have a huge impact on a community and I would love to be able to give back to the community that helped raise me. Most of my hobbies revolve around the sports world. I love playing basketball, snowboarding, and golfing. When I have free time, you will always catch me checking the score for the Lakers, Dodgers, Titans, and multiple other sports teams.
Why Kaiser? I chose KPWH’s Family Medicine Residency program because of the family-type of atmosphere shared by faculty, residents, and the support staff. I had the opportunity to spend a month here as a medical student and knew that this is exactly where I wanted to spend my three years of residency.
Other: I am a huge Kobe Bryant fan and actually wrote the word "Kobe" on wet cement that was in front of my house.

Olivia Anderson, DO

Undergraduate School: California Polytechnic State University San Luis Obispo
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Clinical Interests: LGBTQ Health, Behavioral Health
About Me: Growing up in Southern California, I always hoped that I would have the opportunity to serve this wonderful community in my future career. With science always at the center of my pursuits, I studied Microbiology and Molecular Biology at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, then worked in biotech research in San Diego for a few years before I was drawn to the excitement of medicine. After spending four years away in Oregon for medical school, it is a privilege to join KP Woodland Hills and come back home. The passion I discovered during school for expanding discussion of LGBTQ health in medical education will be carried forward with my special interest in primary care for the LGBTQ population. My partner, also a member of COMP-NW DO Class of 2021, will be joining me in the LA Area as a pathology resident at USC. I love spending time with my family including our two dogs, playing games, going to movies, and traveling, especially to pride festivals around the world.
Why Kaiser? Kaiser Permanente is a leader so many areas of medicine as a healthcare organization, consistently producing well rounded and passionate providers that I seek to emulate as a physician. Its commitment to LGBTQ health is a standout in the field, making it an ideal destination for me to learn the necessary skills in my goal of serving this patient population in the future. On a personal note, KP has served my family for years and ensured our health and wellness in our hardest times, and it's an honor to join this community to provide the same for others as well.
Other: I love houseplants! My plant family included over 70 members before the move to Southern California to start residency, and I will soon be scoping out local nurseries and plant shops to rebuild my urban jungle.

Fanny Chan, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, Riverside
Medical School: State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Women's Health, Obstetrics, Geriatrics
About Me: Hi there! I was born and raised in West Covina, California. During my undergraduate at University of California, Riverside, I majored in Biology with minor in Neuroscience. My exposure to medicine really started while I was working in a primary care clinic as a medical assistant. I was impressed with the impact that effective preventative care can have on a person’s long-term health and decided to pursue medicine. I was briefly transplanted to the other coast where I completed my medical education at State University of New York Downstate Medical Center. I knew early on that I had wanted to pursue primary care and gravitated towards Family Medicine as I discovered how versatile the specialty can be. I am super excited to be back to practice medicine in sunny Southern California! When I’m not working, my hobbies include: binging Korean dramas, reading mystery/thriller novels, playing badminton periodically, watching Li Zi Qi youtube videos while eating dinner, and spending time with family and friends.
Why Kaiser? On my interview day, I was immediately smitten by how warm and friendly the faculty and residents were. Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills can provide a strong unopposed, well-rounded training while advocating for a good work life balance. I am thrilled to be training here and be a part of the KPWH family!
Other: I have never once passed the middle school/high school mile run. If there were to be a zombie apocalypse, I'd probably be the first to go.

Krystle Irvine, MD

Undergraduate School: University of Southern California
Medical School: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Clinical Interests: Geriatrics, hospice and palliative medicine, mental health
About Me: I was born and raised in the High Desert of southern California. After volunteering at nursing homes during high school, I decided to major in Human Development and Aging at USC. I had always been interested in medicine due to my many visits to the pediatrician for asthma and allergies as a child, and I knew early on in college that I wanted to have a career where I could develop long-term relationships with patients and help improve their quality of life across their lifespan. After graduating from college, I remained in LA for medical school at USC where my excitement for treating patients of all ages only grew. In my free time, I enjoy baking, sewing, and reading.
Why Kaiser? I chose KPWH FM Residency Program because of the robust, unopposed training and the general sense I felt on my interview day about how supportive and close-knit the program was.
Other: I love baking and am always looking for new recipes to make gluten-free versions of!

Cecillia Lee, MD

Undergraduate School: Cornell University
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Clinical Interests: Geriatrics, underserved population health, community medicine
About Me: Hello! My name is Cecillia, and I was born and raised in Connecticut. I completed my undergraduate studies at Cornell University, where I majored in Human Development and minored in Gerontology and Nutritional Sciences. During college, I volunteered at a federally qualified health center where I had the opportunity to teach nutrition classes at public schools, and in doing so I developed a passion for community health and preventative medicine. I then moved to Philadelphia to start at Cooper Medical School of Rowan University. During medical school, I was active in our student-run free clinic, which provides primary care to uninsured patients. Throughout my clinical experiences, I realized that I want to provide comprehensive, longitudinal care to people of all ages and genders, and so I fell in love with Family Medicine. I look forward to having in-depth discussions with my patients to better understand the multi-faceted frameworks of their lives. While I am not local to Southern California, I am so excited to explore the Los Angeles area and beyond! When I am not spending time with my family and friends, I love trying new cuisines, baking, yoga, watching reality television, and going to art museums.
Why Kaiser? I chose Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills for its warm and supportive culture. I loved seeing that the residents, faculty, and staff were a family! The program stood out to me for the unopposed training with an emphasis on community, mentorship, and resident wellness. I am thrilled to be a part of the Kaiser Permanente family.
Other: I have traveled to 5 of the 7 continents and hope to add Australia to the list some day.

Emilee Trujillo, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, San Diego
Medical School: University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Procedures, Underserved Population Health, Adolescent Medicine, Addiction Medicine
About Me: Hi! I'm from El Centro located in the Imperial Valley, CA-- a Hispanic community that neighbors the southwest U.S.-Mexico border. I am a proud daughter of a Mexican immigrant and a New Mexico native. I was the first in my family to attend college where I majored in cognitive science and studied American Sign Language at UC San Diego. My first job in the medical field was working at a behavioral health clinic which encouraged my career in medicine. While in medical school, I delved into many meaningful leadership and teaching activities. I led the Medical Spanish Interest Group at UCLA, an organization designed to teach medical students medical Spanish in order to provide culturally-competent care to our Latino community. I also discovered my love for working with adolescent youth through volunteering with Project H.E.A.L, a student-led organization designed to educate minority youth on health topics and encourage careers in healthcare. Family medicine is the perfect field for me as I am someone who is deeply community-oriented, values longitudinal patient relationships and appreciates aspects of every field of medicine!
Why Kaiser? I had the opportunity to rotate here as a medical student and immediately fell in love with the program and the people. The residents made me feel like I was a lifelong friend, and not just a student. The faculty are incredible physicians and phenomenal teachers yet remain humble, empathetic, and kind. I love that KPWH Family Medicine offers a comprehensive training in a culture that highly values teaching, personal well-being, and patient-centered care.
Other: I love learning about interior design, decorating my apartment is my current hobby. Organizing anything is therapeutic for me!

Sean Chen, MD

Undergraduate School: University of Iowa
Medical School: University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Preventative medicine, procedures, integrative medicine, mental health
About Me: I was born in China and moved to Iowa City at the age of six. My friends thought I would never leave, but I had always dreamed of living in a big city. With the move, I am also excited to branch out and practice medicine in a whole new setting. During my undergraduate at The University of Iowa, I majored in biochemistry with minors in Japanese and Economics. I was drawn to medicine early on because I wanted to be able to apply scientific knowledge directly to help others. In medical school, I volunteered at our student run free mental health clinic and pursed a research project analyzing the neuroanatomical correlates of personality traits using structural MRI imaging. I was drawn to family medicine during my clerkships where I saw how rewarding the longitudinal relationships between physicians and their patients could be and the impact of preventative medicine on patients’ health. In my spare time, I enjoy tennis, photography, hiking, board games, traveling, food, and gaming.
Why Kaiser? I chose Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills for residency because of all the warm and friendly faculty and residents that I met at Kaiser. Additionally, Kaiser provides strong unopposed training in family medicine while offering a good work life balance.
Other: I am a huge tech nerd!

Brian Dickey, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Clinical Interests: sports medicine, wilderness medicine, preventative medicine, and population health
About Me: I was born and raised in San Francisco, California. My exposure to medicine began with my parents - my dad worked as a family medicine physician and my mom worked as a clinical social worker. I attended college at UCLA, where I majored in Human Biology and Society. During this time, I volunteered as a youth mentor and as a clinical assistant at a community-based primary care clinic. After graduating, I worked as an emergency medical technician and as a research assistant with the Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program. I attended medical school at Keck School of Medicine of USC, where I served as a co-chair of the USC Student-Run Clinic and assisted with a quality improvement pilot project involving the integration of pharmacists into clinical teams. I decided to pursue residency in family medicine because I was interested in broad-based training tailored towards an outpatient setting and developing long-term relationships with patients in which I can address their whole health needs. During my free time, I enjoy running, biking, playing sports with friends, hiking, backpacking, cooking, and taking photos.
Why Kaiser? I chose KPWH FM for the well-rounded clinical training, friendly residents and faculty, and location in Los Angeles.
Other: I have visited 27 United States national parks (and hope to be able to visit them all!

Jasmine Jafari, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)
Medical School: UC Riverside School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: health policy, underserved population health
About Me: I have always been driven by my desire to use the tools that I have to help where I can, and enjoyed most of my young adulthood volunteering throughout LA. My path to medicine began serendipitously, while volunteering in the CareExtenders program at UCLA. In was there that I first experienced the joys of combining science and psychology to provide care, but also witnessed some the challenges entwined in our healthcare system. The experience gave direction and purpose to my studies and inspired my subsequent path towards becoming a primary care physician devoted to fighting health inequities. Since then, I’ve been incredibly lucky to pursue this path, getting involved in insurance advocacy, safety-net clinics, and local governance while still making time for some rock climbing along the way.
Why Kaiser? I chose Kaiser Woodland Hills because of the incredible culture of the program. While so many family medicine programs share the warm, friendly attitude that constitutes primary care physicians, throughout my interview cycle I kept thinking back to KPWH and how easily I could see myself establishing roots here. They say selecting a residency is about ‘finding your people,’ and the feeling was mutual after meeting the team here!
Other: I’m an avid baker—when I’m not at the hospital you can usually find me whipping up treats.

Sunha (Adrianne) Lee-Rodriguez, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, Berkeley
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Clinical Interests: Geriatrics, Women’s Health, Nutrition and Culinary Medicine
About Me: Hello! Dr. Adrianne here. I am originally from Seoul, South Korea, but spent most of my life in the SF Bay Area. I studied Economics and Art History as an undergraduate at UC Berkeley, and spent my life before medicine working in the art world until I found my calling to become a physician. At Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, I cultivated my passions in optimizing the quality of life for elderly patients, providing women’s health education, and guiding patients to make healthy dietary changes that are sensitive to their current lifestyle, cultural background, and socioeconomic status. I knew early on that I wanted to be a Family Physician because I enjoy working with a diversity of patients from all walks of life, and I believe that my role is to help my patients achieve and maintain physical and emotional health for the long run. My hobbies include cooking, hiking, and hanging out with my very sweet and cuddly dachshunds. More recently, I have been putting together a home garden, and I hope to be able to cook with the herbs and produce from my backyard!
Why Kaiser? I chose KPWH’s Family Medicine Residency Program because of its strong and well-rounded training experience within a team of incredibly welcoming and supportive people.
Other: In college, I backpacked through central and southern Mexico for 3 weeks on a $300 budget. The trip involved sleeping in hammocks and some long bus rides, but remains one of the most fun & memorable trips I have ever taken.

Odalmy Molina-Rivera, MD

Undergraduate School: Brown University
Medical School: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
How I Thrive: underserved population health, global health, women’s health
About Me: Originally from Hialeah, Florida I was born to a family of Cuban immigrants and I was a first generation college student! Early in life, I gravitated toward medicine because of the inequities in healthcare access that I saw firsthand within my family. This led me to pursue both a bachelor’s degree and medical degree through Brown University’s Program in Liberal Medical Education. Through time spent in a variety of clinics in Providence, I gravitated towards Family Medicine because of the specialty’s focus on addressing social determinants of health that occurs within different communities. In my spare time, I love crafting, going on hikes with my husband, traveling and gardening.
Why Kaiser? I personally believe that institutions like Kaiser Permanente is one of the solutions to mending our broken healthcare system nationally by centralizing healthcare. I chose KPWH FM residency program because I felt that the close knit community I saw within residents, faculty and staff was one that would allow me to thrive and grow as a physician-in-training. I appreciated seeing how different residents within the program had a variety of passions within family medicine and how KPWH provided the support and mentorship needed to carry out those passions in its program.
Other: I constantly mix up idioms creating new, fun nonsensical idioms.

Sonia Rutten, MD

Undergraduate School: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: adolescent care, integrative health, preventative medicine
About Me: I grew up in Southern California, and after briefly exploring the opposite side of the country for medical school, I am excited to come back home to continue my training. My childhood was inundated by the world of medicine – both my parents were physicians in China before coming to America and learning Eastern medicine. Through my days helping out at their clinic, I was exposed to the impact that effective preventative care can have on a person’s long-term health. Ultimately, I was enthralled by the unique opportunity that physicians have in building long lasting relationships with their patients and their families.
Why Kaiser? I chose Kaiser Permanente Woodland Hills because of the robust clinical training and emphasis on evidence-based medicine. Mostly importantly, I was drawn to the close-knit environment among not only the residents but the faculty as well. During my interview day, it was evident that the entire program genuinely sought out the well-being of their residents. I felt that KPWH would be the perfect fit to help me become the best physician for my patients.
Other: I love listening to true crime podcasts and working out through barre classes!