Pediatrics Los Angeles Medical Center - Residents
Chief Resident
Sarah Hall, MD
Sarah Hall, MD
Hometown
Fort Bragg, CA
Undergraduate School
Pacific Union College
Medical School
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
general pediatrics or adolescent medicine
How I Thrive
friends, family, therapy, and cats
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Inuyasha
Favorite recess activity: handball
PGY-1
Hannah Bang, DO
Hannah Bang, DO
Hometown
Tualatin, Oregon
Undergraduate School
University of Oregon
Medical School
Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Clinical Interests
General Pediatrics, Adolescent Medicine
How I Thrive
Coffee and crosswords, hiking and camping, reading on the beach, and cooking with my husband
About Me: Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Power Puff Girls
Reid Burch, MD
Reid Burch, MD
Hometown
San Francisco, CA
Undergraduate School
University of Denver
Medical School
Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
Cardiology, PICU
How I Thrive
Spending time with friends and family, golfing in the summer, skiing in the winter
About Me: Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Rocket Power
Caroline Cao, MD
Caroline Cao, MD
Hometown
Huntington Beach, CA
Undergraduate School
University of California, Irvine
Medical School
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Clinical Interests
General Pediatrics or Community Medicine
How I Thrive
I destress by meal prepping, talking to friends/family after long days, treating myself to iced coffee, and spending time with my Frenchie Mabel.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Scooby Doo
Ameera Farooqi, MD
Ameera Farooqi, MD
Hometown
Fairfax, VA
Undergraduate School
University of Virginia
Medical School
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Clinical Interests
General Peds, Developmental Peds, Nursery
How I Thrive
I enjoy watching horror movies, traveling, trying new cuisines, and spending time with friends and family!
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: SpongeBob SquarePants
Brandon Ng, MD
Brandon Ng, MD
Hometown
Walnut, California
Undergraduate School
Rennselaer Polytechnic Institute
Medical School
Albany Medical College
Clinical Interests
Figuring it out!
How I Thrive
Reviewing local restaurants, soaking in a hot tub, board games, taste-testing or double-fisting boba from two different shops.
About Me: Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Code Lyoko
Dalina Phung, MD
Dalina Phung, MD
Hometown
Amersfoort, the Netherlands
Undergraduate School
University of Washington, Seattle
Medical School
University of Washington School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
General Peds, Immigrant/Refugee Health
How I Thrive
Traveling, hiking, tennis, golf, snowboarding, spending time with family/friends ... and good food (:
About Me: Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Pokemon
Evan Veneziano, DO
Evan Veneziano, DO
Hometown
Exton, PA
Undergraduate School
Penn State
Medical School
Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interests
Emergency Medicine, Sports Medicine
How I Thrive
Caffeine and the pursuit to be the best doctor I can be for my patients
About me: I love to hike, play video games, cook, and just generally have a good time!
Favorite childhood cartoon: Spongebob Squarepants
Joshua Yoo, MD
Joshua Yoo, MD
Hometown
Irvine, CA
Undergraduate School
Northwestern University
Medical School
Northwestern University The Feinberg School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
General Pediatrics
How I Thrive
Eating, drinking coffee, sleeping, watching movies
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Digimon Adventure
PGY-2
Connaught Blood, MD
Connaught Blood, MD
Hometown
Fairbanks, Alaska
Undergraduate School
University of Notre Dame
Medical School
The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Clinical Interests
Hospital Medicine
How I Thrive
I love hiking, camping, hanging out with my cat, and playing guitar.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Arthur
Favorite Recess Activity: Kickball
Vanessa Chu, MD
Vanessa Chu, MD
Hometown
Pleasanton, CA
Undergraduate School
Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School
Wayne State University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
General Peds, Emergency Med, Global Health
How I Thrive
I enjoy being active outdoors, friends & family, yoga, pottery, and puppies!
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Arthur
Favorite Recess Activity: Four Square
Jocelyn Ha, MD
Jocelyn Ha, MD
Hometown
Fremont, CA
Undergraduate School
University of California, Irvine
Medical School
University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Clinical Interests
General Pediatrics, Medical Education
How I Thrive
I thrive by spending time with family, catching up with old friends, meeting new friends, trying different restaurants/happy hour, and hanging out with my puppy Benji.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: The Fairly OddParents
Favorite Recess Activity: Does snack time count?
Cesar Hernandez, MD
Cesar Hernandez, MD
Hometown
Paterson, New Jersey
Undergraduate School
Harvard University
Medical School
University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Clinical Interests
Sports Medicine, NICU, Cardiology, General Peds
How I Thrive
I like playing with my dog Kai, catching up on sports, and hanging out with friends.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Rocket Power and Rugrats
Favorite Recess Activity: Soccer
Nivedita Kar, MD
Nivedita Kar, MD
Hometown
Irvine, California
Undergraduate School
University of California Los Angeles
Medical School
California Northstate University College of Medicine
Clinical Interests
Global health, Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, Cardiology, and Mental Health
How I Thrive
I love spending time with my partner, family, and friends. I enjoy eating ice cream, drinking coffee, and traveling. I practice yoga and meditation.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Rocket Power and The Proud Family
Favorite Recess Activity: Double Dutch and Hula-hoop
Jameel Kassam, MD, MPH
Jameel Kassam, MD, MPH
Hometown
Irvine, CA
Undergraduate School
UCLA
Medical School
University of Connecticut
Clinical Interests
Pediatric/Neonatal Critical Care, Community Medicine
How I Thrive
I enjoy lifting weights, walking my dog Lucky, ping-pong, spending time family and friends, tennis, and reading.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Doug
Favorite Recess Activity: Four Square
Emily Koos, MD
Emily Koos, MD
Hometown
Anaheim, CA
Undergraduate School
University of California Los Angeles
Medical School
University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
Primary Care and Child Development
How I Thrive
I thrive with sleep, silliness, friendship, and a positive atmosphere. I also love spending time with my family and my two dogs, hiking, studying at coffee shops, and exploring LA. I love working with children and I am excited about my future in pediatrics.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: The Fairly OddParents
Favorite Recess Activity: Four Square
Bobby Vanmali, MD
Bobby Vanmali, MD
Hometown
Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate School
University of California Los Angeles
Medical School
George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Clinical Interests
NICU and Nursery
How I Thrive
I thrive with meditation and yoga. I also love to garden, cook, bake, play with dogs, and travel.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Pengu
Favorite Recess Activity: Tetherball and Kickball
PGY-3
Eleanor Kim, MD
Eleanor Kim, MD
Hometown
Lakewood, CA
Undergraduate School
University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School
Albany Medical College
Clinical Interests
General pediatrics, community medicine
How I Thrive
: Spending time with my loved ones and furry friends. Eating a lot of mint chocolate chip ice cream.
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Spongebob Squarepants Favorite Recess Activity: running around like a lunatic.
Hye-Yin Kim, MD
Hye-Yin Kim, MD
Hometown
Pleasanton, CA
Undergraduate School
University of California, Berkeley
Medical School
University of California, Davis, School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
Inpatient medicine, global health, medical education
How I Thrive
Spending time with family and friends, traveling, exploring new places/restaurants
Favorite childhood cartoon: Fairly Oddparents Favorite recess activity: Tetherball
Heather Kraft, MD
Heather Kraft, MD
Hometown
Gainesville, Florida
Undergraduate School
Wake Forest University
Medical School
University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Clinical Interests
Outpatient pediatrics
How I Thrive
Volleyball, exploring good food with great people, travel
Favorite childhood cartoon: Scooby-Doo! Favorite recess activity: all the team sports
Chiara Michienzie, MD
Chiara Michienzie, MD
Hometown
Pelham, New York
Undergraduate School
Boston College
Medical School
Rutgers, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Clinical Interests
General Pediatrics, Reproductive Health, LGBTQ+ Health, Breastfeeding
How I Thrive
Roadtrips, camping, and playing with my dogs
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Arthur Favorite Recess Activity: Tetherball
Taryn Jurgensen, MD
Taryn Jurgensen, MD
Hometown
Monrovia, CA
Undergraduate School
New York University
Medical School
Tulane University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
General Peds, Developmental-Behavioral Peds, Newborn Nursery
How I Thrive
Figure skating, tennis, golf, wakeboarding, skiing...basically most sports! Reading and playing piano when I prefer to relax. Also spending quality time with my family and friends (preferably overseas on vacation!).
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Sailor Moon; Favorite Recess Activity: Hopscotch and Jump Rope
Sarah Lentz, MD
Sarah Lentz, MD
Hometown
Savannah, GA
Undergraduate School
University of Georgia
Medical School
Mercer University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
Nursery & Outpatient Peds
How I Thrive
Spending time with family/friends/fur babies, exploring new places, going to Rosie's Dog Beach
Favorite Childhood Cartoon: Powerpuff girls Favorite recess activity: Badminton
Jonathan Sawada, MD
Jonathan Sawada, MD
Hometown
Irvine, CA
Undergraduate School
Point Loma Nazarene University
Medical School
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
General pediatrics
How I Thrive
Doing something active, cooking something new, hanging out with friends and family
Favorite childhood cartoon: Avatar: The Last Airbender Favorite recess activity: basketball
Arya Shariat, MD
Arya Shariat, MD
Hometown
Los Angeles
Undergraduate School
University of California Los Angeles
Medical School
Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Clinical Interests
Cardiology
How I Thrive
Gym, concerts, reading
Favorite childhood cartoon: Hey Arnold; Favorite recess activity: Handball
Holly Weil, MD
Holly Weil, MD
Hometown
Los Angeles
Undergraduate School
Boston University
Medical School
University of Colorado School of Medicine
Clinical Interests
General Practice
How I Thrive
Beach, family, and food
Favorite childhood cartoon: Rugrats; Favorite recess activity: Handball
Where are our recent graduates now?
After successful completion of the required 36 months of training in pediatrics, graduates over the past 30 years have either remained with the Southern California Permanente Medical Group (40 percent), entered subspecialty training (22 percent overall; 35 percent in the last five years), or embarked on a wide variety of other professional endeavors (e.g. hospital pediatrics, academics, medical administration, and working with the underserved population).
Of our most recent graduates, 2 are in fellowship (Community Medicine at KP Fontana, Peds Hem/Onc at UCSF Children’s Hospital, Oakland, CA) four are in general pediatrics.