Class of 2016
Irving Ayala Rodriguez
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Irving Ayala-Rodriguez grew up in a small rural town where the only health care providers were general physicians. Their ability to solve most heath care issues inspired him to pursue a career in medicine. From his first semester, he was exposed to Family Medicine, which helped him understand the breadth and depth of the specialty. In 2014, he graduated in the top 5 percent of his class from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara. Realizing the goal of primary care is often not achieved due to socioeconomic and cultural expectations, he moved to the U.S. seeking a Family Medicine residency position. Dr. Ayala was accepted as a UCLA international physician scholar. Now, as an alumnus of the program, he will join UCLA International Medical Graduate Program alumni Drs. Meza, Michele and Perez at the UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program. He has committed himself to being open-minded, unbiased, and to utilize his knowledge and skills to treat all patients. He is an advocate of Family Medicine, the medically underserved, and believes health care is a right for all. Professional Interest: evidence-based medicine Personal Interest: baking, guitar, piano and searching for Los Angeles's best pizza.
Yolanda Flores-Cueva
Universidad de Guadalajara, Mexico
UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Yolanda Flores-Cueva was born and raised in Tecolotlan, a small town in the Mexican state of Jalisco. She received her medical degree from Universidad de Guadalajara. As a graduate of a public medical school in Mexico, Dr. Flores-Cueva was required to complete one-year of social service where Family Medicine was the primary focus. During her social service year, she created a health care curriculum and taught preventive health care to the community. She was also a volunteer doctor with a mobile health care unit, which provided medical services to rural areas. Dr. Flores-Cueva cares deeply about creating access to health care for those who need it most. She is determined to make an impact as a family physician by providing comprehensive, high quality medical care. With this goal in mind, she joined the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program in September 2013. Now as an alumna, she looks forward to completing her residency at the UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program. She will join UCLA IMG alumni Drs. Meza, Michele and Perez. Professional Interests: Preventive Medicine Personal Interests: family-centered activities, reading, sewing, swimming and traveling.
Kelvis Gonzalez Gallardo
The Higher Institute of Medical Sciences in Villa Clara
Hanford Family Medicine Residency
A Cuban native, Dr. Gonzalez Gallardo graduated from The Higher Institute of Medical Sciences in Villa Clara, Cuba. After graduation, he completed his social service in a rural Cuban town and was later selected for an official government mission to provide medical care for the underserved in Venezuela. In 2012, Dr. Gonzalez Gallardo was granted political asylum and moved to the United States. Once in the U.S., he worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant in Albuquerque, New Mexico. In 2014, he was accepted to the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program. He will now join UCLA IMG alumna Dr. Michelle Ventura at the Hanford Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Gonzalez is eager to help meet the profound need for physicians in rural areas such the California 's Central Valley. Professional Interests: Geriatrics, Rural and Preventive Medicine. Personal Interests: Computers, playing sports, reading, and spending time with family and friends.
Daniel Handayan
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
San Joaquin General Hospital Family Medicine Residency
Dr. Daniel Handayan was born and raised in San Marino, California. He was a recipient of the Los Angeles Police Memorial Foundation's Merit-Based Scholarship and earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biochemistry from the University of California, Riverside. While in Riverside, he participated in research and volunteered with various community outreach programs. In 2013, he graduated from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine and was later accepted to the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program. As an alumnus of the program, he now looks forward to joining the San Joaquin General Hospital, Family Medicine Residency Program. Professional Interests: Community and Preventive Medicine Personal Interests: Outdoor activities and volunteering at health fairs.
Jose Javier Hernandez Duran
Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca
Hanford Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Javier Hernandez was born and raised in Oaxaca, Mexico. He attended medical school at the Universidad Autonoma Benito Juarez de Oaxaca. After graduating, he worked in a rural community on the pacific coast of southern Mexico where he developed expertise in acute communicable disease prevention. Once immigrating to the U.S., he worked with an interdisciplinary rehabilitation program for injured workers with chronic pain where he became proficient in coordinating medical services from multiple specialties including Addiction Medicine. Later, he worked at Children's Hospital Oakland assisting asthmatic children from immigrant families to achieve better control of their symptoms. In 2015, Dr. Hernandez was accepted to the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program. He looks forward to addressing the social determinants of health along with the biopsychosocial wellbeing of his patients. Javier will start his training at the Hanford Family Medicine Residency Program where he is eager to utilize his cultural and bilingual background to help decrease health care inequalities in underserved communities. He will join UCLA IMG alumna Dr. Michelle Ventura. Professional Interests: Community, Emergency and Hospital Medicine; Pain management and the impact of the Social Determinants of Health on Population Health Personal Interests: Indigenous cultures, international cuisine outdoor recreation, salsa dancing and stand-up comedy.
Yoel Olazabal-Pupo
Instituto Superior de Ciencias Medicas de Camaguey
Clinica Sierra Vista Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency-Bakersfield
Dr. Yoel Olazabal Pupo was born and raised in Camaguey Cuba. He graduated from The Higher Institute of Medical Sciences in Camaguey receiving the "Titulo de Oro," Cuba's highest academic award. After three years of social service in the community as general physician, he completed a three-year Family Medicine residency. Afterwards, he was selected to participate in a collaborative health program where he provided medical care to underserved Venezuelan communities as a Family Medicine specialist. While there, he also taught basic sciences to medical students who were enrolled in a special program aimed at increasing the number of Venezuelan physicians who would work in areas of extreme poverty. Yoel immigrated to the U.S. seeking professional growth and a safe place to raise a family. In 2014, he was accepted to the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program and now as an alumnus of the program, he will begin three-year training program at the Clinica Sierra Vista Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program in Bakersfield. After completing residency, he plans on working in a community clinic where he can improve the health outcomes in underserved areas. Professional Interests: Community Health and improving health care outcomes. Personal Interests: photography, playing tennis and volleyball.
Jorge Palomino
Cayetano Heredia University, Peru
Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Jorge Palomino was born and raised in the highlands of Peru. He obtained his medical degree from Peru's top medical school, Cayetano Heredia University. After graduation, he provided medical care to the indigenous people of the Amazon. Dr. Palomino also worked as a generalist in different urban and rural areas of Peru. After these enriching experiences as a general physician, in 2013, he left his native country in order to reunite with his family and pursue U.S. medical licensure. In 2015, Dr. Palomino was selected as a UCLA international medical scholar. After successfully completing the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program, he will join seven UCLA IMG alumni at the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program in Bakersfield, CA. With Bakersfield's large Latino population, his bilingual English and native Spanish-speaking skills will enhance the care he provides to his patients and the community. Professional Interests: Geriatric Medicine and pursuing a Master in Public Health Personal Interests: Spending time with family, traveling, cycling and research.
Yudier Pelaez Torres
The Higher Institute of Medical Sciences Carlos J. Finlay Camaguey, Cuba
Glendale Adventist Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Pelaez was born and raised in Cuba. He attended medical school at The Higher Institute of Medical Science "Carlos J. Finlay" in Camaguey, Cuba. Dr. Pelaez comes from a catholic family who participated in community work such as teaching children, visiting sick people, bringing food and clothes for people in need. So for him, the community aspect of Family Medicine was a perfect professional match. After practicing as a family physician in Cuba for more than a year, Dr. Pelaez was sent to Venezuela on an international mission where he had the opportunity to take care of an underserved community. After completing his mission, Dr. Pelaez immigrated to the United States as a refugee with the ultimate goal of practicing medicine. During the next two years, he worked as a medical assistant, where he gained exposure to the American Health System. In 2014, he joined the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program where he completed the full curriculum, including clinical rotations at UCLA. Dr. Pelaez is extremely excited to start his residency training at the Glendale Adventist Family Medicine Residency Program where he will join alumna Drs. Alanna Chig and Saifei Wu. Professional Interests: Community Medicine, Geriatrics and Epidemiology Personal Interests: cooking, dancing, baseball, bodybuilding and tennis.
Daniela Zurita
University of La Salle
University of California Riverside Family Medicine Residency Program
Dr. Daniela Zurita was born in St. Paul, Minnesota, but grew up in Mexico City. Driven by her desire to help people improve their most valued possession, health, she studied medicine at the University of La Salle. After graduation, she pursued a Master of International Healthcare Management, Economics and Policy at the prestigious Bocconi University in Milan, Italy. During her studies, she learned the central role primary care plays in health systems. She completed her studies by participating in two internships at non-profit organizations in Boston, Massachusetts. Later, Dr. Zurita joined the UCLA International Medical Graduate Program and is now eager to begin her medical residency training at the UC Riverside Family Medicine Residency Program where she will join alumni Drs. Pimentel and Uribe. She looks forward to caring for her future patients with the compassion and kindness that they deserve. Professional Interests: Humanitarian medical missions Personal Interests: Dancing from Polynesian to Salsa.