PGY1 Residents
Anu Benny, MD
Medical School
Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Why did you choose Family Medicine?
I chose to specialize in Family Medicine because I am committed to providing continuous, comprehensive care to my patients throughout their lives. I aim to be an engaged doctor who listens to patients' concerns and makes informed medical recommendations that enable them to lead their best lives. Additionally, I chose Family Medicine because I wanted to establish a strong connection with the community I serve.
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.
Hobbies
I find joy in the little things—like taking peaceful walks in nature, getting lost in a good book, and unwinding with my favorite games on my Nintendo Switch. These moments keep me grounded and recharged.
What is the most important advice you have for patients?
The best advice I can share is to take ownership of your health. Be open and honest with your doctor—share what you're experiencing, even if it feels minor or unrelated. Prioritize the basics: eat well, move your body regularly, and get enough sleep. Don't wait until something feels wrong—schedule those check-ups and preventive screenings. Most importantly, trust that your health is a journey, and we're here to support you every step of the way. Taking that first step to care for yourself is one of the most powerful things you can do.
Dustin Koobatian, DO
Medical School
Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown
Visalia, California
Why did you choose Family Medicine?
I chose to pursue Family Medicine because I have always been a person with diverse interests. Therefore, family medicine was a natural choice for me due to its versatility and the opportunity it offers to enhance my medical knowledge and skills across multiple disciplines.
I also chose family medicine because I want to be in a specialty that allows me to provide longitudinal care, enabling me to build lasting relationships with my patients and their families.
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.
Hobbies
Growing up in Visalia, I spent a lot of time enjoying Sequoia National Park, Lake Kaweah, and Yosemite. These experiences cultivated a love for outdoor activities, including hiking, skiing, camping, running, and spending time in our country’s national parks. I also enjoy bar trivia, reading sci-fi novels, LEGOs, all things STAR WARS, and indulging in new dining experiences.
What is the most important advice you have for patients?
My advice to any patient is not to be afraid to ask your doctor questions! Trust is a vital element of the patient-physician relationship and can only be established when the patient feels heard and valued by their doctor. Therefore, use your questions and discussions with your doctor to gauge how receptive your physician is to your needs and concerns. Additionally, seek a physician who isn’t afraid to admit when they don’t know the answer to a question.
Sofya Kats, DO
Medical School
California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hometown
San Francisco, California
Why did you choose Family Medicine?
I decided on family medicine as my specialty of choice because I enjoy a wide scope of practice, an emphasis on preventative medicine, a varied patient population, and developing longitudinal, long-term relationships with my patients. I am interested in primary prevention, psychiatry, outpatient gynecology, and many more fields which are within the scope of practice of family medicine physicians. I also appreciate the freedom that family medicine practice allows in allowing us to learn.
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.
Hobbies
I enjoy creative fiction writing, playing both video and tabletop games like Dungeons and Dragons, aerial acrobatics, aquarium keeping and aqua scaping, and cultivating a wide variety of plants including violets, orchids, and carnivorous plants.
What is the most important advice you have for patients?
The best time to address your health is before you get sick, so take your preventative care seriously. If you ever have concerns or confusions about your medical care plan, it is important to take the time to ask your doctor about them. Discussion is helpful for both you AND your physician.
Yin Zhou, MD
Medical School
Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown
Vancouver, British Columbia
Why did you choose Family Medicine?
I love the beauty of full spectrum practice in Family Medicine, able to see patients in all ages from newborn, to adults, obstetric patients and geriatric patients. I am also a strong believer in preventative medicine.
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 a city with warm climate and affordable living expenses.
Hobbies
Gym, running, yoga, shopping, traveling
What is the most important advice you have for patients?
Keep up with routine screening, vaccination and prevention is better than cure.
Zachary Tupaz, MD
Medical School
California Northstate University College of Medicine
Hometown
Los Angeles, California
Why did you choose Family Medicine?
The variety of people and problems that family medicine physicians have to address is something that makes this specialty stand out to me, and because of that, I feel that I can affect the lives of the most people possible though family medicine.
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.
Hobbies
My hobbies include spending time with my significant other and my family, watching the Dodgers, traveling, playing video games, visiting Costco, and watching WWE.
What is the most important advice you have for patients?
I want my patients to know that medicine is a two-way street. We will work together to come up with the best care plan specifically made for your needs, and I might be asking you to do things that you’ve never had to do before, such as taking medications daily, changing your diet, or finding time to exercise. But know that I will do my best to assist you in reaching the goals that we established together.
Hanisha Sran, MD
Medical School
American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Hometown
Surrey, British Columbia
Why did you choose Family Medicine?
For me, family medicine feels like a natural and perfect fit, the morals and core principles of comprehensive and holistic healthcare align with my perception of care. I value the importance of integrating and addressing both emotional and social factors to the physical ailments a patient may present with. I truly love everything about family medicine, from building long-lasting connections with my patients to the broad spectrum of presentations seen on any given day in clinic.
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!
Hobbies
I love dancing - Bhangra, listening to music, reading romance novels, playing with dogs, traveling, spending quality time with my loved ones, and cuddling my dog!
What is the most important advice you have for patients?
Ask questions - no question is silly! Questions lead to answers and answers may help you understand and take better control of your health.
