Current Residents
Class of 2029
Robert Brown, MD
Why Kaweah Health?
I wanted to work in an underserved area and receive a comprehensive scope of training in Family Medicine. I first started my healthcare journey as a medical scribe at Kaweah Health's ER department, and it showed me how rewarding it can be working as a Physician. Its a really special feeling to return and give back to where everything started for me.
Gurpreet Kaur Cheema, MD
Why Kaweah Health?
I chose Kaweah health because of how genuinely welcoming and supportive the program felt during my interview. The emphasis on resident wellbeing was clear and really stood out to me. I prefer to stay on the West Coast, and coming from a smaller city, I was drawn to the program's similar close-knit community and environment. Altogether, the strong clinical training and supportive culture make it an ideal fit for me.
Colton Coombs, MD
Why Kaweah Health?
I chose Kaweah Health for the diverse population, location, and staff.
Nazera Fazli, MD
Why Kaweah Health?
I chose Kaweah Health because its commitment to compassionate, community-focused care really resonated with me. I'm passionate about serving the underserved populations and excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients and families who need it the most.
Moyinoluwa Femi-Gege, MD
Why Kaweah Health?
I selected Kaweah Health’s program because of its strong commitment to serving the underserved community, which aligns closely with my values and the kind of physician I hope to become. I was also drawn to the program’s emphasis on resident well-being and mental health, as I believe a supportive training environment is essential for both personal growth and providing the best care to patients. In addition, I appreciate that the program is located in California, where the climate feels more familiar to me and is similar in some ways to tropical weather, which I find comforting as I prepare for this next stage of training. Overall, Kaweah Health stood out to me because it offers a combination of meaningful service, strong resident support, and an environment where I believe I would thrive.
Saad Hassan, DO
Why Kaweah Health?
I chose Kaweah Health because of the Central Valley mission, emphasis on wellness, and great culture among residents.
Maria Melgarejo, MD
Why Kaweah Health?
Kaweah Health’s mission and values strongly align with my own, especially its commitment to serving the Central Valley. During my interview, I also felt a strong sense of comfort and support—I felt that the program director was genuinely listening and invested in getting to know me. That experience stood out to me and reflected the kind of environment I’m looking for: one that is supportive, collaborative, and values its residents as individuals.
Class of 2028
Sydney Brown, MD
Medical School: UC Davis School of Medicine
Hometown: Tulare, CA
Why Kaweah Health?
I have grown up in the Central Valley and have so much respect for the people of this community. I have always wanted to give back to the community that helped get me to this position.
Gurpreet Kaur, MD
Medical School: Kirk Kerkorian School of Medicine
Hometown: Lovelock, NV
Why Kaweah Health?
Scope of practice, training specifics, patient demographics
Julio Lopez Guillen, MD
Medical School: St. George's University
Hometown: Woodlake , CA
Why Kaweah Health?
I chose Kaweah Health because of its strong commitment to serving the diverse and underserved communities of the Central Valley, a mission that is a part of who I am. Growing up in Woodlake, I witnessed the challenges that many families in the region face when accessing quality healthcare, from language barriers to limited medical resources due to lack of insurance or lack of providers. I want to give back to the community that I grew up in by providing compassionate, comprehensive care to those who need it most. Kaweah Health offers the perfect environment for me to develop as a well-rounded physician, with top-tier clinical training, a supportive faculty, and a focus on community-based medicine.
Jemimah Ganal Ostrea, D.O.
Medical School: Pacific Northwest University
Hometown: Visalia, CA
Kaweah Health?
I selected Kaweah Health's program because I was able to experience a nurturing and learning environment while rotating with the family medicine residents and attendings as a medical student. I also have worked in Kaweah Medical Center as an ICU nurse for six years and have enjoyed working for Kaweah.
Pooja Prasad, D.O.
Medical School: Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: San Ramon, CA
Why Kaweah Health?
I chose Kaweah as I was looking for a program that values hands-on training, strong community involvement, and serving a diverse patient population—especially in California’s Central Valley, where I have deep roots. Kaweah Health stands out because it offers all of that while fostering a supportive learning environment. I want to train somewhere that will challenge me to grow while also allowing me to connect with the community I hope to serve long-term.
Paola Rodriguez, MD
Medical School: UC Davis School of Medicine
Hometown: Woodlake, CA
Why Kaweah Health?
I grew up in Woodlake, just down the road from Visalia! My goal has always been to give back to my home community as a primary care physician, and Kaweah Health offers me the unique
opportunity to train in the very community I plan to serve. I’m excited to provide care for the people who have shaped me and to contribute to the health and well-being of the Central Valley.
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Kimberly Yew, D.O.
Medical School: Touro University California
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Why Kaweah Health?
On the day of my interview, I could sense that everyone genuinely enjoyed what they were doing and wanted to help the people in their community. The faculty and residents were kind, down-to-earth, and supportive, and I felt like this is an environment I could see myself doing well in.
Class of 2027
Anu Benny, MD
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Why Kaweah Health?
I chose Kaweah Health because I wanted to train in a program deeply committed to serving and uplifting the community it cares for. I sought a residency where I could refine my medical skills, build meaningful connections, and truly immerse myself in the community I serve. Kaweah Health offers the opportunity to grow as a physician while fostering a sense of belonging and purpose within the community.
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA
Hometown: Santa Ana, CA
Why Kaweah Health? I chose Kaweah Health Family Medicine because of the wonderful culture, amazing people, and to work in an underserved community,
Sofya Kats, DO
Medical School: California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Why Kaweah Health?
I chose Kaweah Health because I was looking for a tight-knit community program that placed importance on both the well-being and the well-rounded education of its residents. I was interested in serving a patient population that saw a diverse variety of pathologies in an environment that would allow family medicine residents especially to practice a wide scope of medicine.
Zachary Tupaz, MD
Medical School: California Northstate University College of Medicine
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Why Kaweah Health?
Aside from the amount of training and experience that the program provides, I thought Kaweah valued the well-being of its residents, which was one of the aspects I was looking for in a residency. Throughout my interactions with the residents, who would become my seniors, during the interview season, I felt that their thoughts about the program were genuine regarding the support they received from faculty and staff. Since I’ve been at Kaweah, I now know firsthand the kind of help and guidance that my seniors were talking about, and I feel incredibly validated in my decision to come here.
Dustin Koobatian, DO
Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown: Visalia, California
Why Kaweah Health?
I ranked Kaweah Health as my number one choice for residency because Visalia, CA is where I was born and raised and remains home to my mother and father and many of my childhood friends. Having grown up in Visalia, I have a deep appreciation for the incredible community the town fosters.
My decision to pursue residency at Kaweah Health was reinforced during my fourth-year sub-internship during medical school. I loved my experience working with the FM inpatient team because it allowed me to work in an environment with a diverse patient population characterized by patients of different cultures, ethnicities, and socioeconomic backgrounds. Moreover, my internship at Kaweah exposed me to patients with a wide array of pathologies that provided me with unparalleled learning.
Additionally, I greatly valued the camaraderie I experienced with the program’s faculty and residents. Early on, I recognized that the Family Medicine program at Kaweah would be a great fit for me because of its positive culture and conduciveness to collaborative learning.
Yin Zhou, MD
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown: Vancouver, British Columbia
Why Kaweah Health?
Diverse patient population, wide variety of pathologies, able to serve underserved community and involved in street medicine/community medicine. I like to stay on the west coast and in a city with a warm climate and affordable living expenses.
Hanisha Sran, MD
Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Hometown: Surrey, British Columbia
Why Kaweah Health?
I felt a connection with all of the people I interacted with during my interview. It was evident that the faculty and residents truly cared about the well-being of their peers, colleagues, and fellow faculty members. I immediately felt welcomed, comfortable and at ease during the whole process. Kaweah and the faculty care not only about your education but also your mental well-being throughout the process!