Current Fellows & Graduates

Complex Family Planning Fellows

  • Jewel Brown, M.D.

    Second Year Complex Family Planning Fellow (Residency: University of Southern Florida)

    Dr. Brown received an undergraduate degree in biology from the University of South Florida (USF). She continued her medical education at USF and completed a scholarly concentration in global health. In medical school, she was a member of several women’s health organizations, but it was through her involvement with Medical Student’s for Choice that she discovered a passion for reproductive justice. She remained in Tampa at USF to complete an Obstetrics and Gynecology residency. Throughout residency she was involved with ACOG; as the Junior Fellow Legislative chair, she traveled to Washington D.C several times to advocate for various maternal health bills. She was also a member of the Florida Perinatal Quality Collaborative and helped develop and implement a statewide immediate postpartum LARC initiative. Her resident research and quality improvement projects received recognition as the top projects in her residency program. She also received the SASGOG Excellence as an Academic Specialists and the Ryan Program Excellence in Family Planning awards. After graduation, she joined the UC Davis faculty for one year as an academic generalist prior to starting the Complex Family Planning fellowship. After completing fellowship, she plans to return to her home state of Florida where she hopes to expand abortion access and resident education in family planning.

  • Sheeva Yazdani-Sabouni, D.O., M.P.H., M.S.

    Second Year Complex Family Planning Fellow (Residency: Jackson Memorial Hospital, University of Miami)

    Dr. Yazdani received her undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Florida State University. She then went on to receive a master's degree in pharmacology from Tulane University. She returned home to Florida and attended Nova Southeastern University, where she received D.O. and M.P.H. degrees. During medical school, her involvement with Medical Students for Choice was instrumental in her early advocacy for reproductive rights. She then completed her residency program in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami. During her residency, she received the "Somos Felices" award, given to the person that best exemplifies a positive attitude and team-building spirit. She also received the Ryan Program Excellence in Family Planning award. Dr. Yazdani is thrilled to join the UC Davis family for a fellowship in Complex Family Planning.

  • Holly Rankin, M.D.

    First Year Complex Family Planning Fellow (Residency: Johns Hopkins University)

    Dr. Rankin received her undergraduate degree in anthropology, graduating summa cum laude, from the University of California, Los Angeles. She completed her medical education at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia where she was induced into the Gold Humanism and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Societies. Dr. Rankin completed her residency training in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. She received the Ryan Program Excellence in Family Planning Award at the end of residency training. Dr. Rankin is excited to be a Complex Family Planning fellow at UC Davis where she is closer to family on the West Coast after being east for so many years. She hopes that she will be able to provide abortion and contraceptive specialty care to underserved, rural communities after completing fellowship.

  • Natalie DiCenzo, M.D.

    Incoming Complex Family Planning Fellow (Residency: Rutgers University)

    Dr. DiCenzo has dedicated her early career to social and reproductive justice. She received her undergraduate degree at Vassar College and completed medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine, where she was very engaged in advocacy surrounding reproductive health and anti-racism. During OB/GYN residency at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson in New Jersey, she created an abortion doula program, spearheaded implementation of manual vacuum aspirations in the emergency department, developed a curriculum for resident and medical student education and values clarification surrounding abortion, and was involved in community outreach and ACOG legislative advocacy. These accomplishments were recognized with the Ryan Program Resident Award for Excellence in Family Planning. Her research interests include contraceptive coercion, later abortion care, and the intersection of history, language, and the law. In general, she can be found trying to either challenge the status quo, cuddle with her cats, or spend as much time outdoors as possible. She is absolutely over-the-moon excited to be coming to UC Davis for her Complex Family Planning Fellowship!

  • Sarah Kirshner, M.D.

    Incoming Complex Family Planning Fellow (Residency: Jefferson - Abington Hospital)

    Dr. Kirshner received her undergraduate degree in human biology from Stanford University, with an additional focus on science communication. Before returning to the East Coast for medical school, she worked at a federally-qualified health center in East Palo Alto, CA, which inspired a lasting interest in working with underserved communities. She earned her M.D. degree from Cooper Medical School of Rowan University in New Jersey, where her involvement with Medical Students For Choice developed into a passion for reproductive justice and advocacy. She completed her Ob/Gyn residency at Jefferson - Abington Hospital outside of Philadelphia, where she served as the Advocacy and Community Outreach Chief Resident. Outside the hospital, she can be found trying new yoga poses, indulging her sweet tooth, and honing her crossword puzzle skills. She is thrilled to be returning to California as a first year Complex Family Planning fellow at UC Davis in 2024!

Recent Graduates

  • 2022 – Courtney Baker, M.D., M.P.H
    Assistant Professor, University of Texas Southwestern, Parkland Medical Center
  • 2021 – Namrata Mastey, M.D.
    Associate Medical Director at Planned Parenthood Mar Monte.
  • 2020 – Suji Uhm, M.D., M.P.H.
    Assistant Professor, Division of Gynecologic Specialties, University of Pittsburgh. 
  • 2019 – Melissa Matulich, M.D., M.A.S.
    Assistant Professor, Division of Family Planning, University of California, Davis.
  • 2018 – Natasha Schimmoeller, M.D., M.P.H., M.A.
    Assistant Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Cedars Sinai Medical Center.
  • 2017 – Jennifer Hsia, M.D., M.P.H.
    Family Planning Director at Palo Alto Medical Foundation. 
  • 2016 - Melissa Chen, M.D., M.P.H.
    Associate Professor, Division of Family Planning, University of California, Davis.