2024-25 Primary Care APP Fellows

Ilana Abramowitz, D.N.P., P.M.H.N.P.–B.C.

Ilana Abramowitz is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from the University of Maryland. She has extensive experience as a registered nurse in various psychiatric settings, including, acute inpatient care, mood disorders, and substance use disorders.

Abramowitz has worked in medically underserved areas and is dedicated to providing high-quality, equitable care to all members of the community. She has also served as an adjunct faculty member at the University of Maryland and Johns Hopkins University, where she taught undergraduate nursing students. Abramowitz’s clinical interests include inpatient stabilization and treatment of chronic mental illness. Abramowitz’s clinical assignment is with the UC Davis Health Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in Sacramento, CA.

Melina Bobadilla, M.S.N., F.N.P.-B.C.

Melina Bobadilla is a family nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from Samuel Merritt University. As a registered nurse, Bobadilla cared for hospice and palliative patients in the Sacramento region, providing compassionate end-of-life care while respecting their beliefs and treating them with dignity. Through her work, she witnessed firsthand the effects of uncontrolled chronic conditions, as many navigated the complications of congestive heart failure, chronic kidney disease, and other metabolic disorders. She has set out to focus on primary prevention as a family nurse practitioner.

Bobadilla’s clinical interests include cardiovascular disease, endocrinology, family medicine, and healthcare disparities that affect minority populations. Bobadilla’s primary goal is to bridge the information gap to empower patients to take control of their health by improving health literacy. Bobadilla is committed to providing culturally competent care by catering to social, cultural, and linguistic needs to establish meaningful relationships that ensure self-efficacy. Bobadilla’s primary care assignment is with One Community Health in Sacramento, CA.

Leonardo Catalan, M.S.N., C.P.N.P.-P.C.

Leonardo “Lenny” Catalan is a pediatric primary care nurse practitioner with a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California, Los Angeles. Catalan’s nursing experience is entirely in pediatrics, working in various settings such as acute respiratory care, medical, and surgical units, the PICU, and PICU transport. During his time as a nurse, Catalan observed that many children who required hospitalization were suffering from preventable conditions.

During nurse practitioner school, Catalan had an opportunity to work with underserved children and found great fulfillment in helping parents guide their children toward reaching their full potential. Catalan’s combined experiences culminated in a desire to strengthen vulnerable communities through health education, focusing on building healthy habits early in life to promote health and prevent hospitalization. Along with pediatric primary care, Catalan’s clinical interests include allergy and immunology, as well as genetics. Catalan’s research interests focus on the early integration of mental health care and addressing systemic barriers to health. Catalan’s primary care assignment is with Sacramento County Health Center in Sacramento, CA.

Kristen Chin, D.N.P., A.G.P.C.N.P.-B.C.

Kristen Chin is an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner, who graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior at the University of California at Davis. As a registered nurse, Dr. Chin worked for UHA Health Insurance in Honolulu, HI, where she gained valuable experience in utilization management, care management, and the development and execution of quality improvement projects to advance health outcomes for medically and socially complex individuals.

Dr. Chin’s clinical interests include chronic disease management, behavioral health management, geriatric care, wound care, and quality care for individuals experiencing homelessness. Dr. Chin’s primary care clinical assignments are with the UC Davis Health Internal Medicine Department and UC Davis Betty Irene Moore Nurse Led Mobile Clinic in Sacramento, CA

Chelsie Gho, M.S.N., F.N.P.-B.C.

Chelsie Gho is a family nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from Samuel Merritt University. For eight years, Gho cared for critically ill patients in an adult intensive care unit. Gho's experiences as a nurse include working with a diverse patient population many of whom were being admitted with preventable complications from chronic conditions. She was inspired to enroll in graduate school and become a family nurse practitioner. Gho also worked as a research nurse at Stanford University’s Clinical Translational Research Unit, where she implemented study protocols for clinical trials.

Gho’s goal as a nurse practitioner is to promote patient health and well-being by focusing on education and empowering patients to take control of their care. Gho’s clinical interests include diabetes management, reproductive health, and culturally sensitive care. Gho’s research interests include closing health disparities, innovations in diabetes treatments, and improving reproductive health treatments. Gho’s primary care clinical assignment is at Sutter Health in Lakeport, CA.

Mahreen Jaffri, D.N.P., A.G.P.C.N.P.-B.C.

Mahreen Jaffri is an adult gerontology nurse practitioner who graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University at Buffalo, The State University of New York. She is board-certified in primary care and has six years of experience working at a comprehensive cancer center. Jaffri previously worked as an inpatient nurse on a medical-oncology unit and conducted clinical research on surgical and medical management outcomes of malignant bowel obstructions.

Jaffri's healthcare experience also includes volunteering at the COVID-19 testing drive- throughs, administering vaccines with the health department, and teaching clinical skills at an undergraduate nursing lab. Jaffri’s clinical interests include preventative health screenings, reducing health inequities defined by social determinants of health, and lifestyle interventions for chronic care management. Jaffri's primary care assignment is at Alexander Valley Healthcare in Cloverdale, CA.

Harshpreet Khroud, M.S.N., P.M.H.N.P.-B.C.

Harshpreet “Hersh” Kaur Khroud, is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner with a profound dedication to advancing mental health care. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, India, and an MSN-PHMNP from Walden University. Khroud brings over eight years of rich experience across critical care, trauma, medical-surgical, and mental health care settings.

Khroud’s practice focuses on enhancing mental health services for diverse populations by addressing language barriers and reducing health disparities. Khroud is passionate about the forefront of psychiatric interventions and medications. She is an advocate for innovative therapies such as neurofeedback and ketamine, aiming to transform psychiatric treatment. Khroud‘s primary care placement is at Alexander Valley Healthcare in Cloverdale, CA.

Roni-Jo Panganiban Naval, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Roni-Jo Naval is a family nurse practitioner who holds a Master of Nursing Practice degree from Roseman University of Health Sciences in Las Vegas, Nevada. She earned dual Bachelor of Science degrees—one in Nursing from Roseman University of Health Sciences in Utah and another in Biomedical Sciences from California State University, Sacramento. Naval has a background as a trauma nurse in emergency medicine and has provided care across all age groups, from infants to adults, including vulnerable populations facing challenges such as homelessness, low socioeconomic status, and psychiatric crises.

Naval was inspired by her international medical mission experiences in Guatemala, the Dominican Republic, Panama, the Philippines, and Costa Rica. She is committed to addressing the healthcare needs of underserved communities. Naval’s primary care clinic placement is at Sacramento County Health Center and UC Davis Betty Irene Moore Nurse Led Mobile Clinic in Sacramento, CA .

Brittany Palladino, D.N.P., P.M.H.N.P.-B.C.

Brittany Palladino is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner who earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Florida Atlantic University. She began her nursing career in South Florida, caring for pre-and post-operative medical and surgical patients in an orthopedic unit. During her experience, Palladino recognized that mental health significantly impacts most patients, even those hospitalized for medical conditions. This insight motivated Palladino to pursue a career in psychiatric care, where she aims to address barriers to quality behavioral health care.

Palladino’s clinical interests include holistic care, LGBTQ mental health, and the destigmatizing of mental illness. She is committed to addressing the intersectional issues that impede patients' mental health goals. Palladino’s clinical assignment is with the UC Davis Health Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in Sacramento, CA.

Nathalie Peña, D.N.P., F.N.P.-B.C.

Nathalie Peña is a family nurse practitioner who earned her Doctor of Nursing Practice from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in Honolulu, Hawaii. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology from the University of California, San Diego. She began her nursing career by receiving her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Hawaii through their Graduate Entry Program.

Peña has worked as a registered nurse in skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Throughout her time as a student and RN, Peña has had experiences working in rural settings, underserved communities, and with the veteran population. These experiences solidified her passion for working with underserved communities and addressing the social determinants of health, all while delivering culturally informed care. Dr. Peña’s clinical interests include integrative health, addressing healthcare disparities related to the social determinants of health, and sexual and reproductive health. Peña’s primary care clinical assignment is at Alexander Valley Healthcare in Cloverdale, CA.

Emilee Person, M.S.N., F.N.P.-B.C.

Emilee Person is a family nurse practitioner with a Master of Science in Nursing from the University of California, Long Beach, where she also earned her Bachelor of Nursing. She has a background in emergency nursing and a passion for community healthcare, focusing on preventive medicine and patient education. Her nursing journey began with volunteer work at Clinicals Madre Teresa in Guatemala, where she witnessed the positive impact of holistic healthcare practices.

While working in an emergency department near the USA/Mexico border, Person encountered patients from diverse backgrounds who often lacked access to primary care. This experience motivated her to address healthcare disparities, by becoming a family nurse practitioner. Person’s research interests include women’s health and identifying strategies to reduce health disparities. Her primary care assignment is at Alexander Valley Healthcare in Cloverdale, CA.

Manpreet Kaur Sandhu, M.S.N., F.N.P-C.

Manpreet Sandhu is a family nurse practitioner who graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing from Samuel Merritt University, Oakland, California. Sandhu has spent 12 years working as a primary care clinician (Case Manager) with Sutter Care at Home, an experience that inspired her to pursue a career as a nurse practitioner. During her tenure, she was part of the task force team for home health during the COVID-19 pandemic and helped initiate the heart failure program for Sutter Home Health in collaboration with the American Heart Association.

Before moving to the United States, Sandhu earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from India where she worked as a community health nurse and clinical instructor, educating the next generation of nurses. Her clinical interests include internal medicine, disease prevention and health promotion, endocrinology, wound management, infectious disease, and wound care with an emphasis on holistic and patient-centered care. Sandhu’s primary care placement is at Sacramento County Health Center in Sacramento, CA.

Skylar Taba, D.N.P., F.N.P.-B.C.

Skylar Taba is a family nurse practitioner who earned a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the University of Hawai’i, where she also earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Taba has extensive experience working as a registered nurse in skilled nursing facilities, often caring for individuals from underserved and vulnerable populations. She also has experience working at COVID-19 vaccination clinics during the pandemic where she encountered unhoused individuals who had limited access to primary care and grappled with mental health disorders.

Taba highly values patient-centered care, with goals to educate and empower patients to better manage their health and navigate through the healthcare system with confidence. Her clinical interests include mental health, women's health, preventive medicine, and neurology. Her research interests include the impact of trauma, substance abuse, and socioeconomic factors on mental health and housing instability, barriers to accessing healthcare, and utilizing technology to deliver healthcare services. Taba’s primary care clinical assignment is with Sacramento County Health Center and UC Davis Betty Irene Moore Nurse Led Mobile Clinic in Sacramento, CA.

Katherine Tjhin-Keophiphat, M.S.W., M.S.N., A.G.P.C.N.P.-C.

Katherine “Kathy” Tjhin-Keophiphat is an adult gerontology primary care nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from University of California, San Francisco, School of Nursing. She has experience as an on-site RN at single-room occupancy apartments in San Francisco, where she provided clinical support for previously unhoused individuals. Additionally, she worked at adult day health centers, caring for adults with dementia and various cognitive and physical challenges.

Before attending nursing school, Tjhin-Keophiphat obtained a master’s degree in Social Welfare at UCLA and worked in various settings, including foster care, community mental health, residential care, and public health. Tjhin-Keophiphat clinical interests include chronic care management for older adults, increasing access to medical care for underserved and minority populations, and community health. Her research interests encompass addressing gaps in healthcare access, palliative care, caregiver support, and major neurocognitive disorders. Her primary care placement is at the UC Davis Health Healthy Aging Clinic in Sacramento, CA.

Ashley Church, P.A.-C.

Ashley Church is a physician assistant who graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno. With a strong passion for preventive care, Church focuses on proactive health management to help her patients achieve and maintain wellness. Her approach is rooted in the biopsychosocial model, integrating biological, psychological, and social factors into each treatment plan to ensure comprehensive, individualized care.

Church has emphasized the importance of the therapeutic patient-provider relationship throughout her career, prioritizing trust and open communication to foster a supportive environment. She views her role as a collaborative partner, empowering patients to play an active role in their health journey. Church’s clinical interests include chronic disease prevention, mental health support, and promoting lifestyle medicine. She currently works in primary and urgent care at Western Sierra Medical Clinic in Grass Valley, California.

Andrea Ginsberg, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Andrea Ginsberg is a family nurse practitioner who graduated with her Master of Science in Nursing from Simmons University. She began her nursing career in Georgia in 2013, working as a medical-surgical nurse for eight years before advancing her education to become an advanced practice provider. Initially practicing as an FNP in primary care, Ginsberg later transitioned to infectious disease. Her clinical interests include HIV care, sexual health, chronic disease management, and patient education. Ginsberg works as an FNP at West County Health Center in Occidental, California.

Tricia Cerone, MS.N., F.N.P.-B.C.

Tricia Cerone is a family nurse practitioner who earned her Master of Science in Nursing from San Jose State University. With eight years as an RN at Stanford University’s Student Health Services, Cerone has led nurse-led appointments, performed triage, provided phone consultations, and participated in vaccination clinics. Additionally, she worked at the National Clinicians Consultation Center, offering advice on HIV exposures and PREP protocols for prevention. Her previous role in occupational health at Stanford Medicine included assisting employees with bloodborne pathogen exposures, sparking her interest in infection control. She currently works as an FNP at West County Health Center in Guerneville, CA.

Julie Madarang Kurosawa, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Julie Madarang Kurosawa is a family nurse practitioner who earned her Master of Science in Nursing from United States University. Her diverse experience as a registered nurse includes working across various clinical settings, from inpatient and outpatient care to quality management, behavioral health case management, and utilization management. Kurosawa’s journey with the VA began as a volunteer, later advancing to roles on the Medical-Surgical Unit and within the Utilization Management Department, ultimately leading her to her current position as a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Resident.

Kurosawa is deeply committed to supporting underserved communities and veterans, inspired by a dedication to giving back to the community and serving those who have served the country. Kurosawa's practice is focused on meeting the holistic needs and addressing the unique health challenges of her patients, particularly in chronic disease management, mental health, and geriatric care. Madarang Kurosawa works as an FNP at the VA Northern California Health Care System in Mather, CA.

Roxanne Leitner-Keiser, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Roxanne Leitner-Keiser is a family nurse practitioner who completed her Post-Master’s FNP degree at San Francisco State University. With over eight years of experience as an RN, Leitner-Keiser has worked in skilled nursing facilities, and acute care settings, and has held supervisory roles. Her career includes four years of active duty in the U.S. Air Force, where she was deployed twice. Initially, she supported FEMA’s COVID missions, staffing civilian hospitals, and later served as an Infectious Disease nurse overseas, transporting COVID patients across the Middle East and Africa on C-17 aircraft. Her work with Afghan refugees in Germany in 2021 deeply influenced her path, inspiring her to become an FNP and serve those impacted by displacement and conflict.

As a first-generation Filipino American and veteran, Leitner-Keiser is passionate about caring for fellow veterans and understands the specific health needs associated with military service. Leitner-Keiser works as an FNP at the VA Northern California Health Care System in Mather, CA.

Jodie Moraes, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Jodie Moraes is a family nurse practitioner who earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Maryville University. With a robust background as a travel nurse, Moraes has worked across cardiovascular, neurosurgery, spine, stroke, medical, and COVID-19 units and clinics in 10 different states. She was among the first responders during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining a breadth of experience and adaptability that she now brings to her advanced practice role.

New to Northern California, Moraes is eager to establish evidence-based, individualized care for veterans, with a focus on affirmative and holistic practices. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Oak Point University in Chicago. Jodie’s professional passions include mentorship, women’s health advocacy, and enhancing educational opportunities in healthcare. Moraes works as an FNP at the VA Northern California Health Care System in Mather, CA.