Current Residents
University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
Selam! My name is Enat Arega, and I am a PGY-1. As a fellow nomad, I have had the privilege of calling multiple places “home,” including Ethiopia, Oregon, New Hampshire, Washington, and now Los Angeles, where I completed medical school at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA. Prior to that, I attended Dartmouth College for my undergraduate and graduate studies in Quantitative Epidemiology. I am thrilled to continue my training at UCLA’s Internal Medicine Program, and it is such an honor to be surrounded by faculty/residents who lead with compassion and humility, strive for clinical excellence, and are leaders in medical education and research. These were the folks who inspired me to choose internal medicine during my medical school years, and I feel so lucky to continue to train under their mentorship and leadership. Over the next 3 years, I look forward to growing as a physician with my co-residents and hope to help recreate the supportive environment that I had as a medical student. My professional interests include cardio-oncology, medical education, community engagement, and clinical research. In my free time, you can catch me coffee shop hopping/exercising/watching soccer highlights/visiting the endless ethnic neighborhoods in LA/or overanalyzing an artwork at a museum with friends and phenomenal co-residents.
ANDREW RONEY | PGY-1 Categorical
University of California Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine
Hi! My name is Andrew. I grew up in central Illinois in small rural community. I then moved to Boston to pursue my undergraduate studies at Harvard University. After school I spent two years in New York City. Having lived in the Midwest and the East Coast I had hoped to trial the West Coast and was fortunate enough to gain acceptance to UCLA for medical school. For residency, I was looking for a strong academic program, a diverse patient population to care for, and talented faculty to learn from. Additionally, I wanted to be a part of a culture of residents and faculty that are supportive and truly love medicine. UCLA is full of residents and attending physicians who are passionate about learning, and being nerds about medicine, but are also relaxed, easy going and supportive. For me, the rigorous but intrinsically motivated culture of learning is why I feel so fortunate to have matched at UCLA. I am confident that I will receive world class training and enjoy the ride along the way. In LA, my wife and I love taking our two dogs on hikes around Laurel Canyon. I look forward to meeting you and showing you a few of my favorite hiking spots.
IVIE (QUEEN) EGIEBOR | PGY-1 Prev-Med
University of California Riverside School of Medicine
Hello! I'm a first-generation Nigerian American, born and raised in the Inland Empire. My academic journey includes earning a Doctorate in Public Health with a focus on health policy and leadership from Loma Linda University, and completing my medical education at the University of California, Riverside. My passions lie at the intersection of medicine and public health, resulting in my interest in the combined Internal Medicine and Preventive Medicine program at UCLA. As a physician, I aim to leverage my expertise in public health to deliver preventive and holistic care, improve health equity, and build healthy communities at the state and national level. I chose UCLA for its diverse training opportunities, access to exceptional mentors, and its environment of excellence where I can grow both personally and professionally. I'm particularly interested in collaborating with the UCLA Health Sickle Cell Disease Program to address healthcare disparities that disproportionately impact patients with Sickle Cell Disease. As an Internist, I aspire to leverage my research expertise to advance the understanding and management of health conditions that disproportionately affect marginalized communities, such as Sickle Cell Disease. Outside of medicine, I find joy in singing with my church choir, cherishing moments with loved ones, and exploring new restaurants. Feel free to ask me any questions!
QICONG SHENG | PGY-1 Categorical - Couples Match
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Hi! My name is Qicong and I was born and raised in Hangzhou, a city in southeastern China. I came to the US when I was 16, finished high school in Virginia, and went to Northwestern University in Illinois for undergrad. I then moved to Baltimore for medical school at Johns Hopkins, where I met Emma. Having lived in many parts of the US, I have always wanted to try out the West Coast. During our couples match process, Emma and I were looking for a program with robust training and a supportive culture in a city where we would thrive. After our interviews, UCLA became the obvious choice. Serving diverse patient populations across UCLA’s different training sites, I know this program will prepare me well to become a clinically competent internal medicine physician. I plan to pursue a fellowship in cardiology, and the ample scholarly opportunities and strong mentorship here give me confidence in my preparation for the fellowship. It doesn’t hurt that within our work environment here, everyone is so happy, perhaps because the beach is just a 15-minute drive away after a day at work. In our spare time, Emma and I have been enjoying the beautiful nature in and near LA, and the city’s amazing food options. As first-timers in LA, Emma and I feel this was the right move. One of our favorite memories during the residency interview trail was hearing Dr. Skinner’s own couples match story to LA and having never left since - perhaps we will do the same!
EMMA ZENG | PGY-1 Categorical - Couples Match
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Hey everyone! I grew up In New Jersey before spending 10 years in Baltimore attending Johns Hopkins for both my undergrad and medical school (where I eventually met my partner, Qicong!). Both Qicong and I love traveling and exploring new places, and we were curious to see what life on the west coast might be like. During our interview season, it became clear that UCLA could be that place where we find our new community. As a couple in the match, it was important we found a program that was well-rounded and excelled in multiple areas of clinical and academic medicine to further both of our individual career goals. Above all, with UCLA’s wonderfully supportive and encouraging culture, along with its location in a fun and vibrant city, it has truly exceeded our expectations for the perfect balance of quality of work and of life. In the hospital, you’ll see me practicing my teaching skills and trying as many electives as possible to figure out what I want to be when I grow up. Outside the hospital, you can find me enjoying LA’s incredible EDM scene, eating my way through Sawtelle, and spending time in the city’s breathtaking nature. Qicong and I are looking forward to exploring all that LA has to offer during our aligned +1 weekends and vacations!
ERROL PHILIP | PGY-2 Categorical
University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine
I was born and raised in Australia and completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne. In college, I actually came to UCLA as an exchange student and met my wife, an LA native, eventually moving to the US for graduate school. I originally trained as a Clinical Psychologist, completing my PhD at the University of Notre Dame and Yale, committed to the field of Cancer Prevention and Control. After fellowship training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, I decided to reset the clock and return to medical school to pursue training in Hematology/Oncology. Over the years, my wife and I have lived in the Midwest, New York and then San Francisco for medical school, and now are very happy to have returned to LA for my residency training. UCLA has been wonderful, with incredibly supportive faculty and fellow residents, and a real sense of community and collegiality among all those working here. So many of the UCLA faculty are leaders in their respective fields and remain committed to helping junior investigators, and thus it is a privilege to be able to train here and learn from them. On a more personal note, my wife and I and our two small children are enjoying exploring a new area of LA, from the renowned beaches to the many restaurants, and of course making the most of the year-round sunshine.
COURTNIE BROWN | PGY-2 Categorical
UCLA/Drew Medical Education Program
Hi! I'm an LA native and went to Johns Hopkins University for my undergraduate studies. I loved my time in Baltimore, but my goal has always been to serve in and for my community. With that said, I was so excited to be back home for medical school. I attended the UCLA/Charles R. Drew Medical Education Program and loved it so much that I aimed to stay in my hometown for residency as well. As a medical student, I worked with the UCLA Internal Medicine residents often and everyone always made me feel like an integral part of the team. During interview season, it was obvious how important community building was within the program and that was exactly what I was looking for in a residency program. As a UCLA trainee, I’m provided with what feels like unlimited professional, academic, and life mentors that are always open to helping me accomplish my goals and answering any questions I may have. I am a first generation college graduate and the first doctor in my family, therefore mentorship has been a huge aspect of my journey to becoming a doctor. After residency, I plan to pursue a fellowship in Hematology/Oncology and am most interested in Breast Cancer. When I’m not taking care of patients, I can be found at my local hot yoga studio, trying a new restaurant with my partner, getting together with my co-interns, friends, and family, or re-watching my favorite shows.
LAURA SANTANGELO | PGY-3 Primary Care - Couples Match
University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine
My name is Laura and I’m originally from St. Louis, Missouri. I bounced around to Emory in Atlanta for college, followed by University of Chicago for medical school. While at Pritzker, I met my partner, Jay. Both being from the Midwest, we weren’t sure exactly where we would end up for residency, although I think we both secretly hoped for somewhere with easier winters. After interviewing at UCLA, the decision to move to California was an easy one. I was interested in the primary care program and the strength of the training was immediately clear. Every part of our training is intentional and focuses on advocacy, equity, and learning how to provide exceptional care to diverse patient populations. The variety in clinical sites we rotate through was also important to me. For Jay, an EKG nerd, it provided him with ample opportunities to explore a future career in Cardiology and medical education. But the point that cemented our love of UCLA was the culture and how supportive the program was of both academic and personal pursuits. Since being here, I truly feel that I’ve found a family away from home and it’s impossible to imagine being anywhere else. I have loved living in LA and exploring California. After work, I often find myself reading by the pool, going on wellness walks/hikes, and trying new restaurants with our amazing co-residents.
JAY SHAH | PGY-3 Catagorical - Couples Match
University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine
Hello! My name is Jay and I was born and raised in Kansas City (Go Chiefs!) and attended the University of Kansas for undergrad. I started my medical journey at The University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine where I met my partner, Laura. I had always dreamed of moving to California but the timing had never worked out. It was a no-brainer after Laura and I fell in love with UCLA during our interview trail, as well as our visit to LA. The stars had finally aligned for us to move to California. UCLA and LA both had so much to offer both of us. As a cardiology nerd, UCLA offered me stellar internal medicine training with great mentorship, research and opportunities within cardiology to prepare me for fellowship. For Laura, they offered a robust primary care track program which aligned well with her career interests. Another reason I have loved my time here at UCLA so far is because of the culture - the camaraderie, the support, the kinship is truly palpable not just with our coresidents but also our faculty and administrators. As midwestern transplants, I don’t think it gets much better than LA. As someone who loves biking, it doesn’t get much better than biking down the beach path a couple times a week ALL YEAR long. Laura and I also love our post-work walks on the beach at least once a week even if one of us is on a tougher rotation. A great way to escape and relax after a long workday. And don’t get us started on the food scene. We’ve enjoyed the best ramen in Sawtelle, tapas and sangria in Santa Monica, and some of the best Persian food (and ice cream) in Westwood. The move from the Midwest to UCLA (and LA) has truly been one of the best!
VI NGUYEN | PGY-3 Primary Care
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Hello! I grew up in Chino, California and moved between Northern California and Central Oregon for my first post-undergrad love of botany prior to making a career switch to medicine. In medical school at University of Pittsburgh, some of my most memorable experiences were the longitudinal relationships and community we were privileged to be a part of at the Birmingham Free Clinic (shoutout!). I suspected then that I’d be interested in primary care and so was thrilled to join the UCLA IM primary care track and return to Southern California. I can say after two years of being here that while I expected to learn excellent medicine and ambulatory care, I did not imagine how strong of a community our primary care track would be. From my colleagues and friends who inspire me on the job and journey with me to places like Joshua Tree, to our leadership continuously looking out and growing a wealth of experiences for us, I've had so much support in my development as a primary care physician and patient advocate. As a primary care doctor, I hope to develop my niche from within my interests of preventative care, health inequity, LGBTQ+ care, sports medicine and addiction. Outside of work I like staying active by rock climbing or running, hanging out with my friends in the near perpetual good weather (I rarely check the forecast) or reading on my Kindle.
JESTER GALIZA | PGY-3 Medicine-Pediatrics
University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine
Aloha and mabuhay! My name is Jester Galiza. I was born and raised in ‘Ewa Beach, Hawai’i, which is on the island of ‘Oahu, but my family emigrated from the Philippines. I went to public school in ‘Ewa Beach from K-12, got my undergraduate degree from Dartmouth, decided it was too cold in the Northeast, so I came back to Hawai‘i and received my Master of Education while I was in the Teach For America - Hawai‘i program. I worked in the realm of education (both teaching high school math and coaching new teachers), DEI, and non-profit for a number of years, but I eventually found my way back to medicine by the grace of God when I was accepted into a Post-Baccalaureate program for underserved pre-med students, which was a bridge to my acceptance to the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawai‘i. There, I leveraged my passions for education and DEI to bring legislative advocacy, social justice, and community engagement to the forefront of my medical school education. As a Med-Peds applicant, UCLA was an attractive program because of its strong commitment to DEI; diversity of its residents, leadership, and faculty; strong categorical medicine and pediatrics training; opportunities to serve across the spectrum of socioeconomic status, populations, and healthcare settings; its palpable culture of both academia and primary care; and most importantly, the overall laid back but hardworking vibes of the people in the program. Living in LA thus far has been an amazing experience. LA offers the best of both worlds – you can certainly experience the city life if you choose, but you can also easily escape it. The diversity of LA, the countless things to do, its weather, and its food scene are the biggest pros for me. If I had to re-do the Match process, I would no doubt choose UCLA again.
KELLY CHEUNG | PGY-3 Primary Care
Virginia Commonwealth University
I grew up in Anaheim, California in a trilingual, multigenerational immigrant household. My family was originally from Guang Dong but were born and raised in Vietnam. I became the first in my family to go to college (UC Irvine) and the first physician/healthcare professional in my family! After being away from my family for four years in Richmond Virginia for medical school I was happy to be back in SoCal for residency! I feel so lucky to part of the Primary Care program. It has honestly felt like a dream. I wanted to be somewhere with people who cared about what I cared about: health equity, social justice, primary care, caring for older adults. As part of the Olive View/Santa Monica track, I also spend a lot of time at a county hospital caring for the immigrant population, which mattered to me because my family are immigrants. If I could choose one word (ok maybe a few!) to describe the culture and people here: wholesome, warm, & fuzzy! I am applying to geriatrics and palliative care medicine for fellowship and envision becoming a clinician educator, dividing my time between inpatient and outpatient medicine! Outside the hospital, if it’s a Friday night you can find me curled up by the fire with a sci-fi or fantasy romance book or at a concert. If it’s sunny (which is usually is) I’ll be at the beach with my lab Lany or at Disneyland! On football Sundays, I’ll be cheering on the Chargers with my fiancé!
