Residents PGY-2 Bios

“Do not withhold good from those to whom it is well due, when it is in your power to act” – Proverbs 3:27.

Hello! I am Rian son of Brian, and no that is not a joke. My family and I are from Murrieta, California where I grew up enjoying swimming, water polo, and of course going to the beach. During high school, I was fortunate enough to have met the love of my life, Shelby, who is now my wife of three years. For college I attended California Baptist University (CBU) where I graduated with a B.S. in Biology. I was originally accepted to CBU as a mechanical engineer, but God quickly took me down another path. With the encouragement of my college professors and many nights in prayer, I decided to pursue medicine. I took a year off after graduation and worked as a medical scribe in the local emergency rooms in Temecula and Wildomar areas. Shortly after, I was accepted to Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Lake Erie, Pennsylvania. Moving 2,000 miles away from my family was rough, but God knew that the small and freezing town of Erie was exactly where I needed to be. During my clinical rotations, my passion for family medicine become apparent. On my OB/GYN rotation, I spoke with the attending about how she decided her specialty. She replied, “You will know where you are meant to be when you find your people”. Find your people. This is what I carried with me throughout my clinical rotations and when the time came for residency applications it was clear that family medicine was my people. Family medicine is a wide breadth of practice that focuses on whole-person care. I believe there is more to a patient’s care than just treatment of the disease. Dr. Osler said it best, “The good physician treats the disease; the great physician treats the patient who has the disease”. I am ecstatic to continue my medical journey at Loma Linda – a program that emphasizes these ideals of whole-person care as well as upholding the mission and teachings of Jesus Christ. With regards to my personal interests, I enjoy spending free time with my wife. We both enjoy weight lifting and evening walks.

I was born and raised in Claremont, CA and then moved to Honolulu, HI. I left the sunshine and beaches and traveled cross-country to attend college at Johns Hopkins University, graduating with a B.S. in Molecular and Cellular Biology. I stayed on the East Coast to attend medical school at Liberty University.

My heart for local underserved communities stems from my church upbringing amidst Korean immigrants, as well as my continuous participation in homeless outreach and free clinics. I further realized during medical school that Family Medicine would best allow me to be an agent of healing to the community both inside and outside the hospital. My goal in medicine is to take an active role in improving local community health through pursuing my passions for full spectrum care, pediatrics, women’s health, and education. I am humbled to be training at Loma Linda where I can care and learn from diverse patient populations and collaborate and pray with like-minded mentors and peers.

Outside of medicine, I am a huge foodie and love conversing over good brunch and coffee as well as hiking, traveling, volunteering, being active in my church, and I love everything Disney.

"For I know the plans that I have for you, declares the Lord, places for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." Jeremiah 29:11

I was born the oldest of 3 sisters to Peruvian immigrants. At a young age, I was introduced to medicine, and saw God’s work through the hands of physicians as they cared for my family through the difficult medical issues, though I didn’t quite understand all of the intricacies at that time. These events sparked an interest in me to also serve patients and families alike. I later obtained my BS in Human Biology at the University of California, San Diego, and in the process confirmed my desires to become a physician. During my gap year I continued to live in San Diego, where I worked in Biotech and volunteered at a local hospital there. I also met my now husband through mutual church friends. I then attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. During my time in VA, I married, and had my first child. I learned about the versatility of a Family Medicine Physician, the beauty of longitudinal care and relationship with patients during my medical school rotations, which encouraged me to pursue it even further in residency. I am excited to continue my training at Loma Linda, and continuing the path God has guided me in thus far to care and serve my community with Christ-like love. My clinical interests include preventative medicine, women’s health and full-spectrum practice. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, serving in my local church, cooking/baking, watching movies/plays/musicals, traveling and exploring new places and cultures. 

I was born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. I then ventured to the other side of the country, where I received my bachelors degrees in Biology and Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University. I returned home for medical school, and I graduated from Touro University Nevada’s dual degree program with my DO/MPH. Throughout medical school, I developed interests in social justice, preventative medicine, and providing care to underserved populations. I chose to go into family medicine because it allows me to form long lasting partnerships with my patients, care for patients of all age groups and complexities, and effectively advocate for my patients. I am incredibly excited to move to Southern California and attend Loma Linda for residency, where I hope to learn from exceptional family medicine leaders while further developing my clinical interests. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, traveling, and watching Bollywood movies. 

Born and raised in Southern California, I am the eldest of three siblings. I first became interested in medicine when I went on a mission trip to Honduras. There, I experienced the power of healing that comes from both medicine and the teachings of Jesus Christ. My time at UC Riverside to pursue a future career in medicine made me realize I wanted to provide care to the general population and the underserved in my community. I believe everything I experienced since that mission trip and answering the call of God led me to Loma Linda University for medical school. At LLU, I fell in love with the commitment of Family Medicine physicians who could care for patients and their family in the same visit and see one grow from womb to tomb. Witnessing how the patients and physicians treat each other as family made me want to become a Family Medicine physician. LLUHEC embodies the mission and principles I was searching for, and I am so excited to be a part of the family. In my free time I enjoy drinking boba with my friends, playing games with my sisters, and binge-watching movies.

Proverbs 3:5-6.

I was born in Mexico and came to the United States when I was 10 years old. My family and I established  roots in the Coachella Valley, one of the most medically and socioeconomically disadvantaged regions in the country. Like many immigrant children, I grew up without health insurance or the ability to speak English. When going to medical appointments, I never saw physicians with my same background or upbringing. This fueled my goal to go into medicine. I want to be a physician to all, but with a focus on medically underserved populations, such as those without health insurance, or those facing immigration issues. I want to serve my patients with tactful, dignified care that takes into consideration their own culture and language. I learned about the value of morals, ethics, and hard work from my parents. My father and mother have a 2nd and 6th grade education, respectively. It was their teachings that allowed me to be the first in my family to go to community college at College of the Desert, transfer to UC Riverside to get a Bachelor of Science in Biology, do a Postbac Program, and ultimately graduate from the UC Riverside School of Medicine.

I grew up in a small town in central Washington. My dad worked as a PA in urology and my mom worked as a nurse at the local hospital.  It has always been a dream of mine to be a physician. During college, I spent a year in Spain learning the Spanish language, traveling Europe, and developing a more inclusive worldview. After graduating from Walla Walla University with a degree in Spanish, I came to Loma Linda to learn the art of medicine. During my time in medical school, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma and underwent extensive and life-saving treatment at LLUMC. This experience showed me the type of physician I want to be, one who is not only knowledgeable, determined, and wise, but also caring, kind, and empathetic. Family medicine is a natural fit for me as someone who is passionate about whole-person care and building patient relationships. In my free time, you’ll find me playing guitar, studying horology (the study of watches and timekeeping), flying airplanes, and going for walks with my wife and toy poodle, who we call Mr. Poods.

I was born and raised in the cozy city of Huntsville, Alabama. I remained in my hometown to receive my bachelor’s degree in Biomedical Sciences at Oakwood University. After finishing college, I worked at a local childcare center, teaching a class of two-year-olds for a year before continuing on to medical school at Loma Linda University. Family medicine quickly captured my interest due to its diverse patient population and the ability to form a long-term relationship with my patients. I chose Loma Linda because of its mission to serve the community wholeheartedly while valuing its own doctors as real people. I look forward to learning how to best serve under resourced communities here and abroad. When I have free time, I enjoy painting, hanging out with friends, doing DIY projects, and traveling as much as possible.

I am Asian American born and raised in Southern California by my parents who are refugees from the Vietnam War. I am the second of three children. My older sister, who is an ICU RN, taught me the importance of patience, generosity, and the benefit of the doubt, and my younger brother, who was born with Down’s Syndrome and a congenital heart defect, taught me the availability of happiness and that every individual is intrinsically valuable. At a young age I was taught the significance of sacrifice and perseverance, which were pivotal in my resilience through many adversities. I believe God has allowed me to witness and experience trials to instill a gravity and empathy toward others. I’ve been blessed to have received my B.S. and post baccalaureate at the University of California Riverside, and my D.O. at Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. During my studies I had the privilege to serve my church community, underserved populations, and developing countries. I’ve gained a true appreciation for curiosity, nature, diversity, and relationships. I pray that I can learn as much from my patients as they learn from me, and to serve this community wholeheartedly.

I graduated Summa Cum Laude from California State University Fullerton where I earned my Bachelor of Science in Cell and Developmental Biology. I furthered my studies at Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine where I became actively involved in the Family Medicine Interest Group. Through volunteering at community events in addition to my time on clinical rotations, these experiences have collectively formed my passion of improving the quality of life for my patients. As a California native, I have come to appreciate its beauty as it offers many opportunities to travel to some of my favorite places, which include the beaches and mountains. I have a sense of adventure and enjoy many outdoors activities such as hiking, camping, boating, and skiing. Coming from a large family, I am thankful to finally be back home near friends and family. Furthermore, I am also very blessed to continue my training at Loma Linda University, a faith-based institution that emphasizes wholistic values that align with my mission as an osteopathic physician.

I was born in Jamaica and grew up in a rural town called Mandeville. I attended Windsor School of Medicine in St. Kitts and was a general medical practitioner in Jamaica, until I got married in 2018 and moved to the US. When I arrived in Loma Linda, I was fortunate to have gotten the opportunity to work in the Center of Health Disparities. I worked on Thyroid Cancer research under the guidance of Dr. Salma Khan. This experience was invaluable and gave me an insight into what Loma Linda stands for. Loma Linda University Family Medicine has all the characteristics that come to mind when I think of my ideal residency program. It is  one with integrity, transparency, and structure and I am excited and blessed to be a part of  an institution like this. Outside of Medicine I enjoy basketball, track and field and spending time with friends and family. I look forward to starting my journey at Loma Linda and upon completion of my training I know I will be a more rounded individual who will deliver quality healthcare services in line with the beliefs and aspirations of this amazing institution.