Meet Our Residents

2026-2027 Surgery Intern Class

UC Davis Health Hospital at Sacramento, California

The General Surgical Residency Training Program at UC Davis provides residents with unparalleled clinical and operative experiences; robust didactic, simulation and conference curricula; a team approach to career development, mentorship and opportunities to apply for an optional year of research or career development time. For more than 50 years, we have been committed to training “thinking doctors” versus “cookbook doctors” and take great pride in the success of our graduates.

PGY-I Residents

CATEGORICAL RESIDENTS 

 Suwayda Ali M.D.  

  

Suwayda Ali, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of California, San Diego (UCSD)
Medical School: University of California, San Francisco (UCSF)
Interests: Pediatric Surgery
Hobbies: I enjoy reading, playing video games, practicing Pilates, and running.
Why UC Davis Health: One of the biggest reasons I chose UC Davis was the
diversity of the patient population. I really wanted to train somewhere that would
expose me to a wide variety of pathology while caring for patients from different
cultural, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds. I felt that experience would
help me become a more well-rounded surgeon and better prepare me to care for
underserved communities in the future.

 Marcus Bernard, M.D.

Marcus Bernard, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Gonzaga University 
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center  
Interests: Surgical Oncology, Endocrine Surgery, Colorectal Surgery, and Research
Hobbies: Hiking, golf, playing guitar, and reading memoirs 
Why UC Davis Health: I chose UC Davis for its collaborative and supportive resident
culture, the program leadership’s strong commitment to education, and its balanced
combination of excellent clinical and operative experience with robust research
opportunities. 

 TyAnthony Jones, M.D.

TyAnthony Jones, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Baylor University 
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center - San Antonio
Interests: Pediatric surgery, trauma surgery, academic medicine, public health
Hobbies: All things sports: Volleyball, Tennis, Baseball. All things nature: Hiking, taking
care of my indoor jungle, and floating the river. 
Why UC Davis Health: I chose UC Davis not only because of the excellence in training but
also because of the community. Additionally, UC Davis is a well-rounded and diverse
program. There's a seat for everyone at the table. 

 Sean Kim, M.D.

Sean Kim, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC San Diego
Medical School: Keck School of Medicine of USC
Interests: Trauma, Colorectal, Health Equity
Hobbies: Cooking, Surfing, Karaoke, Live Music
Why UC Davis Health: I love the community here at UC Davis. Everyone is so supportive and
always looking out for one another, and I'm so happy I get the opportunity to train here.  

Catherine Lin, M.D.

Catherine Lin, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Northeastern University
Medical School: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Interests: Plastic and reconstructive surgery, Endocrine surgery, MIS, Surgical education
Hobbies: Snowboarding, painting, playing guitar and zither, paddling, lifting, running, finding
 the best matcha boba in town
Why UC Davis Health: UC Davis stood out to me because of its strong clinical volume,
approachable faculty and inclusive culture. It’s a privilege to treat the patients here and learn
alongside a team dedicated to socially responsible surgery.

Audrey Neville, M.D.

Audry Neville, D.O.

Undergraduate School: Sonoma State University 
Medical School: Kansas City University School of Medicine and Bioscienses 
Interests: Trauma surgery and Colorectal surgery. Ionizing radiation research, high resolution
anoscopy research.
Hobbies: Soccer, snowboarding, running, hiking, pickleball, Tahoe & SF trips, breweries,
wineries... Literally anything outside/active 
Why UC Davis Health: Eclectic group of residents, great trauma experience, unparalleled
attendings dedicated to cultivating well-rounded surgeons.

Ryan Nakamura, M.D.

Ryan Nakamura, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Whittier College
Medical School: University of Hawaii - John A. Burns School of Medicine
Interests: Pediatric surgery, surgical education, trauma
Hobbies: Golf, softball, baseball, traveling, rodeos, brewing beer, watching University of
Hawaii sports
Why UC Davis Health: I come to work energized by the opportunity to train alongside
incredibly supportive faculty and a genuine, thoughtful, and diverse group of residents.
UC Davis provides an outstanding operative experience while also offering exceptional
opportunities to pursue my research interests and prepare for fellowship. The program
leadership sets a culture of excellence, mentorship, and collaboration that is evident
throughout every level of the residency.
Outside of the hospital, Sacramento has been a fantastic place to live. Whether it's catching a
River Cats game, playing a round of golf after call, or taking advantage of everything Northern
California has to offer, the city provides a great balance to residency. UC Davis is a place
where I feel challenged, supported, and excited to come to work every day.

Mehdi Rizk, M.D.

Mehdi Rizk, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Florida
Medical School: University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Interests: I hope to one day have a career that focuses on global surgery, specifically in the
form of helping rural hospital systems develop sustainable surgical practices to become self-
sufficient in managing surgical disease, both here and abroad. Fellowship interests at this
point are far and wide, but I have always enjoyed working with children and families, so
pediatric surgery is definitely up there!
Hobbies: Soccer, cooking, card games, playing the trumpet, niche one-season TV shows
Why UC Davis Health: UC Davis is a phenomenal training program that not only helps
residents match into their desired fellowship training programs, but also makes sure that at
the end of residency training, you are a safe and competent general surgeon who can go
practice anywhere in the world to make a difference. The various surgical departments,
especially trauma surgery, are robust and offer so much experience to prepare me for a
career in general surgery. Also, coming from the Florida sun, the idea of moving to
Sacramento and having access to both the bay and the mountains on my free days was
a no-brainer!

Nora Siegler, M.D.

Nora Siegler, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Santa Barbara
Medical School: University of Miami
Interests: Pediatric Surgery, injury and violence prevention, health disparities
Hobbies: Being outside! Hiking, yoga, paddleboarding, skiing, and spending time with the
people I love
Why UC Davis Health: UC Davis's exceptional surgical training, breadth of academic
opportunities, and welcoming, collaborative culture make it the perfect place to pursue my
interests in pediatric surgery. I look forward to caring for underserved and Spanish-speaking
populations, building on more than a decade of volunteer work in Western Guatemala and
my experiences serving diverse patients in Miami, while training in an incredibly inclusive and
supportive environment! 

PRELIMINARY RESIDENTS

 Mustafa Al-Qaraghli, M.D.

Mustafa Al-Qaraghli, M.D.

Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland - Medical University of Bahrain. 
Interests: Surgical Oncology, Minimally Invasive Surgery, and Global Surgery. 
Hobbies:  Traveling, paddleboarding, karting, barbecuing, making a mean latte, and
chasing outdoor adventures with my wife and daughter.
Why UC Davis Health:  UC Davis has been home to me long before residency. I volunteered
here and spent more than two years working as a research assistant, which gave me an early
look at the culture of the institution. What has always stood out to me is the commitment to
training exceptional surgeons, and I aim for nothing less. The residents are genuinely
supportive, the faculty are approachable and invested in teaching and mentorship, and there
are incredible research opportunities across a wide range of interests. Being able to train in
that environment, stay close to my family, and serve the Sacramento community that
welcomed me and became my home after immigrating to the U.S. makes UC Davis especially
meaningful to me.

Rebeka Dejenie, M.D.

          

Rebeka Dejenie, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of California, Riverside 
Medical School: University of California, Davis 
Interests: Global health, surgical outcomes 
Hobbies: Soccer, volleyball, pickleball, and spending time with my family and friends
Why UC Davis Health: Being here as a student, I saw the incredible care the department
of surgery pours into their patients, and I wanted to be a part of that. This institution offers all
of the opportunities you can think of while also treating each other with kindness and 
humility. 

Richard Fenner, M.D.

Richard Fenner, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Interests: Trauma Surgery, Burn Surgery, Special considerations for resuscitation in obstetric
burn and trauma patients
Hobbies: Biking, Kayaking, Lagree, Reading, and Re-cultivating a Massive Indoor Plant
Collection
Why UC Davis Health: UC Davis has shown itself to be an institution that values 
community and service on top of excellent clinical and surgical training, particular in trauma 
and burn surgery. Their commitment to these hallmarks lends itself to patient care not 
stopping behind the walls of the hospital but being present for patients even after they leave. 

Ashley Ikegami, M.D.

Ashley Ikegami, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Utah
Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine
Interests: Global health, trauma, pediatrics
Hobbies: Weightlifting, listening to music, dancing, hiking, hanging out in nature 
Why UC Davis Health: Here because of the wonderful culture and the strong academic 
nature of the program. It’s the best of both worlds! 

Makan Karimzadeh, M.D.

Makan Karimzadeh, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Shahid Behesti University of medical sciences School of Medicine
(SBMU)
Medical School: Shahid Behesti University of medical sciences School of Medicine (SBMU)
Interests: Trauma, acute care surgery, and surgical critical care; surgical oncology and cancer
immunology / NK and CAR T-cell research
Hobbies: Reading (history, anthropology, sci-fi, fantasy, and science), swimming, hiking and 
camping with my wife and our dog, Duke
Why UC Davis Health: I first came to UC Davis for surgical oncology research, and a year in
the lab convinced me this is where I want to become a surgeon. The trauma experience is 
unmatched, the attendings genuinely love to teach, and the research community already feels
like home. I would be lucky to spend the rest of my training here.

Danxun Li, M.D.

Danxun Li, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Berkeley
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Interests: CT, HPB, Vascular, ACS
Hobbies: Running, baking, coffee shops
Why UC Davis Health: As an undergraduate at Berkeley, UC Davis Medical Center Dept of 
Surgery hosted a shadowing opportunity that was one of my first exposures to medicine. I 
knew that going into intern year a little bit of familiarity would go a long way in being able to 
hit the ground running. 

Kaylen Meers, M.D.

Kaylen Meers, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Health
Professions
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
Interests: I am interested in doing global missions as well as helping underserved/rural
populations. 
Hobbies: I love to watch pretty much any sport but especially football and basketball. I am a
big Texas Tech fan, so I am always cheering on the Red Raiders in any sport. When I am off, I
love to hike, hang with friends, play pickleball, or make it out to Napa to try some wine.
Why UC Davis Health: UC Davis really sparked my interest because of how kind and 
friendly everyone was. I knew that I would be treated well while also getting great surgical 
experience during my prelim year. I am grateful I chose UC Davis for my prelim year, and I 
would choose it again.

Erik-Matthew Sario, M.D.

Erik-Matthew Sario, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Davis
Medical School: California Northstate University College of Medicine
Interests: Trauma surgery, quality improvement
Hobbies: Bouldering, training my shiba inu, spending time with family, board games
Why UC Davis Health: As a former Aggie and Sacramento native, I'm familiar with UCD's 
exceptional, community based training. It also allows me to stay close to family.

Aaron Shiinoki, M.D.

Aaron Shiinoki, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Loyola Marymount University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Interests: Orthopaedics, Trauma, health disparities
Hobbies: Soccer, running, growing native Hawaiian plants back home
Why UC Davis Health: The support I would receive was clear from my interview and knew
the volume and complexity would be an excellent place to the train. 


MILITARY PRELIMINARY RESIDENTS

 Brendan Carmody, M.D.

              

Brendan Carmody, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine-Omaha
Interests: A wide range of surgical specialties including but not limited to general surgery,
vascular surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery
Hobbies: Exploring new restaurants, hiking, camping, working out, cooking, and learning
guitar
Why UC Davis Health: A large, level 1 trauma center with academic prowess is what made
me interested. Couple that with its military partnership and the fact that my wife is from
Sacramento and you have a perfect place to train and call home.

Oliver Clawson, M.D.

Oliver Clawson, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Wright State University
Medical School: Boonshoft School of Medicine
Interests: Cardiac surgery
Hobbies: Golf, wood carving, cooking
Why UC Davis Health: Love the people here, the culture is incredible. 

Rebecca Corallo, D.O.

Rebecca Corallo, D.O.

Undergraduate School: Clemson University 
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Carolinas 
Interests: Trauma, global health, and health policy 
Hobbies: Running, hiking, cooking, and trying new restaurants 
Why UC Davis Health: UC Davis offers a welcoming and supportive environment, particularly
among its attendings and residents. I was also drawn to its high-volume trauma department
and the opportunity to develop a strong clinical and operative foundation. 

Jurian Edelenbos, D.O.

Jurian Edelenbos, D.O.

Undergraduate School: University of Florida
Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Military and global health
Hobbies: Fitness, sports, and spending time with my family. 
Why UC Davis Health: Fantastic training facility with world class attendings, a vast diversity of
surgical cases, and a high patient volume. 

Erik Jones, D.O.

Erik Jones, D.O.

Undergraduate School: Utah Valley University
Medical School: Noorda COM
Interests: My interests include general surgery, trauma, and acute care surgery. As an
Air Force resident I'm especially drawn to military trauma medicine and how my surgical
training can help me care for those serving our nation. I'm also passionate about surgical
education and enjoy teaching and mentoring students.
Hobbies: I enjoy hiking, boating, and attending hockey games. During the summer I enjoy 
hosting BBQ's and hanging out with friends. 
Why UC Davis Health: What I appreciate most about this institution is the balance between 
exposure to complex surgical cases and a strong emphasis on mastering the fundamentals of 
surgery. The surgeons here are truly invested in teaching residents how to become critical
thinkers and compassionate physicians. The combination of excellent surgical training and a
strong culture of education is what makes UC Davis such an impressive program.

Nicholas Knott, D.O.

Nicholas Knott, D.O.

Undergraduate School: Arizona State University
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at 
Arkansas State University
Interests: Mentorship, use of AI in medical education, management of postoperative pain and 
distress, cost-effective care.
Hobbies: Snowboarding, drumming, yoga, meditation, weightlifting, culinary arts, hiking, 
camping, backpacking, traveling, personal finance, frequent art shows, galleries, dance
recitals, concerts, fairs, and public markets.
Why UC Davis Health: UC Davis provides exceptional opportunities to learn, grow, and 
collaborate with physicians and medical professionals from diverse backgrounds. I am drawn
to the institution’s commitment to compassionate, patient-centered care while learning from 
thoughtful leaders and innovators across a wide range of surgical specialties. As a military 
physician, I value the opportunity to train in an environment that will prepare me to care for 
diverse patient populations in both military and civilian settings. I hope to carry the knowledge, 
experiences, and relationships I develop at UC Davis throughout my career and use them to 
become a more driven and understanding physician. (Also, having the opportunity to explore 
some of this country's most astonishing natural beauty nearby on my days off is truly a gift!) 

Andrew Mannisto, D.O.

Andrew Mannisto, D.O.

Undergraduate School: University of Nevada, Reno
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Colorectal surgery, MIS
Hobbies: Running and spending time with my family
Why UC Davis Health: I grew up in Yuba City, just a short drive from Sacramento. After high 
school I moved to Reno, where I completed college and lived for about 10 years prior to
leaving for medical school. To be back here, serving the communities that impacted so
much of my journey, while also being closer to my family, are blessings that I'll always be
grateful for. 

Emily Schwartz, D.O.

Emily Schwartz, D.O.

Undergraduate School: University of Minnesota
Medical School: Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Military medicine and global health
Hobbies: Ice hockey, pickleball, golf, reading
Why UC Davis Health: Access to broad, high-acuity surgical training in a busy tertiary referral
center while also serving a large and diverse patient population.

PGY-II Residents

 Shania Bennett, M.D.

Shania Bennett, M.D.

Undergraduate School: San Diego State University
Medical School: University of California, Davis
Interests: Trauma, Plastics, Vascular, Stem Cell Therapies, GeneticsQ
Hobbies: Hiking, Backpacking, SCUBA diving, Traveling, Snowboarding
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis Health is the hospital I dreamed of working for ever since I was a little girl who 
sat in the waiting room for many hours to hear how surgery went after family and friends
of mine had been medi-flighted to UCDH. I have always dreamed of when I would be
able to provide families and their loved ones life saving medical care, giving back like
those who had given to me.
 Christopher Clinker, M.D.

Christopher Clinker, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Utah 
Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine 
Interests: Research, Pediatrics, Trauma
Hobbies: I spend time outdoors gardening, running, climbing, and powerlifting, and I’ve
developed a love for skiing and snowboarding, including a memorable wilderness
medicine course in the French Alps. I also enjoy riding motorcycles, sewing, and tackling
woodworking and DIY projects around the house.
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis offers the strong clinical training and academic mentorship I’m seeking in
pediatric surgery. Its commitment to underserved communities aligns with my work on
Navajo reservations and my passion for equitable care. With my background in pediatric
trauma research, I’m excited to contribute to a program that values both surgical
excellence and meaningful service.
 Hannah Davis, D.O.

Hannah Davis, D.O.

Undergraduate School: Oklahoma State University 
Medical School: Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: CRS, MIS
Hobbies: Sewing, airbrushing book edges, playing piano, blasting Taylor Swift 
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis was the complete package: academic excellence, mentoring attendings, and
caring residents. I felt as though everyone on the team was invested in my success, and I
wanted to be a part of that!
 XiaoXiao Gao, M.D.

XiaoXiao Gao, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UCLA
Medical School: University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine
Interests: Surgical Education, Pediatrics, Healthcare Administration, Quality Improvement
Hobbies: Playing badminton, collecting watches, watching
movies, and tackling home improvement projects.
Why UC Davis Health: 
I was impressed by the phenomenal training and diverse clinical exposure at UC Davis.
The deciding factor, though, was the strong sense of community; I felt immediately at
home with the people during my second look. Being close to family and friends adds a
wonderful personal dimension to this outstanding professional opportunity.
Phoebe Lim, M.D.

Phoebe Lim, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Davis
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Interests: Research, Surgical Oncology
Hobbies: Music, knitting, taking care of my chinchilla!
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis really feels like home, especially after working here in my gap years and
spending my college years here. I also loved the community and it felt like the perfect
place to be supported throughout my training. 
Alexandru Nica, M.D.

Alexandru Nica, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Northwestern University 
Medical School: Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine 
Interests: Transplant, Research, ML Applications In Healthcare
Hobbies: Running, Powerlifting, Basketball, Chess 
Why UC Davis Health: 
I chose UC Davis for its ideal balance of high-volume trauma and strong exposure to the
subspecialties I plan to pursue. Even more important, I felt an instant connection with both
the residents and faculty.

Brandon Shin, M.D.

Brandon Shin, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Andrews University
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Interests: Research Interests: Social Vulnerability, Equitable
Cancer Outcomes, Epigenetics; Life Interests: Being a kinder and
more thoughtful person daily
Hobbies: Surfing, playing cello, and reading memoirs
Why UC Davis Health: 
Approachable residents and attendings, engagement with public policy, and investment
in thoughtful resident career guidance.

Samantha Wakerlin, M.D.

Samantha Wakerlin, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Colorado, Boulder / University College Cork
Medical School: University College Cork
Interests: Surgical oncology, breast cancer research, clinical trials
Hobbies: Hiking in the High Sierra, skiing all winter, painting/creating art, swimming in
most bodies of water, stargazing, being outdoors and active, board games, homemade
guacamole, anything to do with horses
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis fosters a program where paying it forward is the standard, not the exception. I
wanted to train at a program that celebrated collective success and community alongside
its robust clinical and academic excellence. I feel lucky to be mentored and trained by top
tier faculty and senior residents, while also learning how to become the best version of
myself in the process. Plus, talk about being in the heart of Northern California! UC Davis
simply has it all.
James Waters, M.D.

James Waters, M.D.

Undergraduate School: The College of New Jersey
Medical School: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University 
Interests: Surgical Oncology, Research, Health Policy
Hobbies: I love playing any sports, including surfing and
snowboarding. I also love to read and play acoustic guitar.
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis has everything. It gives extensive training in every surgical specialty and
provides ample opportunities in research and academics through the university. Plus, its
situated in a perfect location where I can explore everything Northern California has to
offer.

PGY-III Residents

Devra Asah, M.D.

Devra Asah, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Davis
Medical School: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine
Interests: Vascular, Underserved populations, Resident Education
Hobbies: Reading, Sleeping, Shopping, & Spending time with
family
Why UC Davis Health: 
Resident Support & Outstanding Faculty
La Niece Carpenter, M.D.

La Niece Carpenter, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine,
Philadelphia, PA
Interests: Trauma, Patient Advocacy, Student/Resident
Teaching
Hobbies: Drawing, reading, traveling, eating, outdoors
activities, sleeping
Why UC Davis Health: 
The people - learning environment and support network is
unmatched
Rachel Cowan, M.D.

Rachel Cowan, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Rutgers University
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Interests: Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
Hobbies: Dog lover, beach life, traveling to tropical destinations,
gardening, tennis, skiing and snowboarding, live music and
dancing, Mexican cuisine, spending quality time with loved ones.
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis stands out to me for its strong operative training,
supportive culture, and dedication to developing highly skilled,
confident, and well-rounded surgeons. The faculty are deeply
invested in teaching and mentorship, and the diverse patient
population provides the kind of broad clinical exposure that
prepares us to practice anywhere and care for all types of
patients. 
Sylvia Cruz, M.D.

Sylvia Cruz, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Pasadena City College / University of
California, Irvine
Medical School: University of California, Davis
Interests: Surgical oncology, cancer immunology, natural killer
cells
Hobbies: Lifting, crime shows, sudoku, boba
Why UC Davis Health: 
The friendly and supportive community within the department
of surgery and the great camaraderie between specialties.
Samuel Gentle, M.D.

Samuel Gentle, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of St. Thomas - Minnesota
Medical School: Uniformed Services University of the Health
Sciences
Interests: Trauma/Burns, critical care, research, global surgery
Hobbies: running, rock climbing, and camping. Volunteering
with Scouting America
Why UC Davis Health: 
Great military civilian partnership, good trauma/burn center, and
lots of research driven attendings.
Andrew Joseph, M.D.

Andrew Joseph, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Cornell College (Iowa)
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Interests: Transplant Surgery, Pediatric surgery, Education 
Hobbies: Anything outdoors, cooking, pretending I know how
to play the piano
Why UC Davis Health: 
I wanted to work at an institution where I would not only be
trained to become a great surgeon but also an amazing doctor.
The feeling and confidence you obtain when everyone you
work with loves what they do and are just as eager to teach
and encourage is priceless. 

Josef Mang, M.D.

Josef Mang, M.D.

Undergraduate School: George Mason University
Medical School: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS)
Interests: Surgical Oncology, Endocrine Surgery, Military
Medicine, Special Operations Surgery, Basic Science Research,
and Surgical Education
Hobbies: Reading Reformed Theology; Baseball (playing it,
watching it on TV, and attending live major league games);
Cinema - going to movie theaters and experiencing movies
when they first come out; Camping and Overlanding; Mashed
potato specialist  
Why UC Davis Health: 
The General Surgery residency program at UC Davis provides
the unique fusion of experiences of both an academic center
and community programs that is backed behind quality faculty
that will not only teach you to be a surgeon but will also push
you to be a better human being. 

Shivangi Parmar, M.D.

Shivangi Parmar, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Harvard College
Medical School: University of Miami
Interests: HPB, Critical Care, General Surgery
Hobbies: Exercise, reading, knitting, cats
Why UC Davis Health: 
Excellent trauma program, several research opportunities,
strong fellowship matches. 
Tamara Schroeder, M.D.

Tamara Schroeder, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Davis
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Interests: Health disparities, global surgery and surgical oncology
Hobbies: Vegetable gardening, cooking, hot yoga. Meeting,
and having a good laugh with people from all walks of life 
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis has been a home to me since undergrad. It was the
first place I ever saw myself as a surgeon, and every day, I see
it more and more. The whole institution is a big family, where
every trainee's growth, development and success is a priority.
UC Davis has a beautiful culture with really nice people that
work very well together and everyone works very hard to
ensure that patients receive the best care possible. 
Ryann Shor, M.D.

Ryann Shor, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Carleton College
Medical School: University of Washington
Interests: Burn Surgery
Hobbies: Too many! Being outside, spending time with my
family, reading, knitting, cooking, snuggling with my dogs
Why UC Davis Health: 
The people, supportive training environment, and Burn Center.

PGY-IV Residents

Amy Jones, M.D.

 

Amy Jones, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Oregon
Medical School: OHSU
Interests: Trauma Critical Care, Health Policy, Public Health Advocacy,
Education
Hobbies: Travel, reading, puzzles, spending time with my husband and
dog (Daisy, a corgi/lab mix)
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis provides well rounded and excellent surgical training in a
supportive environment. I chose UC Davis to be at a Level I Trauma
Center with high trauma volume, for the culture of the program and
hospital, the emphasis on Socially Responsible Surgery, and the support
of the program for my public health and policy interests/goals.  UC
Davis provides the support and flexibility to help you achieve your goals
while training you to become a technically skilled and safe surgeon.
Jeanine Justiniano, M.D.

Jeanine Justiniano, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Providence College, B.S
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Interests: Surgical Oncology, Cancer disparities, Global Health, Global Surgery Research
Hobbies: Paint by number, puzzles, playing instruments, watching Thai gls, traveling, hanging out with my
fiancee, doggo, and old kitty
Why UC Davis Health: 
Global surgery opportunities
Natalie Liu, M.D.

Natalie Liu, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UCLA
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Interests: Endocrine Surgery, Research
Hobbies: Pets, Aquariums, Games, Reading, Cooking 
Why UC Davis Health: 
Close to family.
Maxwell Presser, M.D.

Maxwell Presser, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: University of Miami
Interests: Trauma surgery, injury and violence prevention.
Hobbies: Hanging out with my golden retriever, Bruce.
Why UC Davis Health: 
Busy trauma division.
Angela Sardo, M.D.

Angela Sardo, M.D.

Undergraduate School: CSU Sacramento
Medical School: UC Davis
Interests: Social justice and community organizing.
Hobbies: Food, food, and food; any time spent in good company;
backpacking/hiking.
Why UC Davis Health: 
Close to home and my family and friends, healthy and genuinely
supportive residency culture, and because Daisy Manzo told me to.
Christopher Seffren, M.D.

 

Christopher Seffren, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Arizona
Medical School: Loyola University of Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine
Interests: Colorectal surgery specifically quality of life related care and
rectal cancer outcomes research
Hobbies: Golfing, skiing, working out, spending time with my wife and
two dogs (Bear & Florence), traveling throughout beautiful California
locations and international travel when schedule allows, zucchini bread
muffin making (my only baking skill)
Why UC Davis Health: 
Beautiful area of our country, so many resources nearby, very collegial
program with supportive attendings and family style co-residents,
diverse rotations throughout northern california gives our residency a
varied perspective of surgery in both community, private, hybrid and
academic settings.
Cyrus Sholevar, M.D.

 

Cyrus Sholevar, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Muhlenberg College
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University
Interests: Immunology research, surgical oncology
Hobbies: Jiu jitsu, parrots.
Why UC Davis Health: 
Research, fellowships.
Daniel Strayve, D.O.

 

Daniel Strayve, D.O.

Undergraduate School: University of Texas
Medical School: Touro University California
Interests: General Surgery, Surgical innovation
Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, soccer, guitar.
Why UC Davis Health: 
I choose UC Davis for the quality of training and a culture of excellence.
The leadership is very invested in resident education and training, and
the residents are very supportive of each other.

Chief Residents | Clinical PGY-V

Diego Anaya, M.D.

Diego Anaya, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Davis
Medical School: UC Davis SOM
Interests: General Surgery
Hobbies: Reading, boxing, playing with dog, boxing, "social hour"
with friends.
Why UC Davis Health: 
All my friends where going here, family was near by. Solid
program. 
Carlos Cuenca, M.D.

Carlos Cuenca, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Boston College
Medical School: Rutgers NJMS Newark
Interests: Artificial intelligence in Healthcare, Business of
Healthcare
Hobbies: Running a dog daycare business (@CuencaBrothers) for
health professionals, Salsa Dancing, Strumming a guitar, video
games.
Why UC Davis Health: 
Faculty Interview felt the most genuine and conversational.
Jesse Fenton, M.D.

 

Jesse Fenton, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Vanderbilt
Medical School: University of Florida
Interests: Peds, Endocrine, Education
Hobbies: Pickleball, working out, guitar, pickleball
Why UC Davis Health: 
Great academic training, good community experience, prepares
you for any surgical career.
Ana Isabel Jacinto, M.D.

 

Ana Isabel Jacinto, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Pacific Union College
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Interests: Eventually breast surgery. Like helping with surgical
education.
Hobbies: Eating, hanging out, going on walks.
Why UC Davis Health: 
Has both a community and academic feel to it. Nice area and we
have the ability to enjoy all of California. Co-residents are
amazing!
Sarah Maginnis, D.O.

 

Sarah Maginnis, D.O.

Undergraduate School: Smith College
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences
Interests: Rural general surgery
Hobbies: Reading (for fun), hiking, paddle boarding, eating food,
spending time with my family and daughter.
Why UC Davis Health: 
Because of their partnership with Travis AFB. Travis/UCD were my
top choice for location, community within the program, and
attending/resident dynamic. This is a very supportive program in
a beautiful location. 
Sarah Mahdavi, M.D.

 

Sarah Mahdavi, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Davis
Medical School: UC Davis
Interests: Medical education, trauma
Hobbies: Exercising, wine tasting, and hanging out with my cats
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis has a very strong trauma program, and I had already
built my community here over the last several years.
Sneh Swaminathan, M.D.

 

Sneha Swaminathan, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Southern California
Medical School: Rutgers RWJMS
Interests: Trauma, MIS
Hobbies: Outside of work, I enjoy exploring new restaurants,
traveling, and spending time with my dog. I also love a good
weekend trip—whether it’s to the mountains, the coast, or
somewhere with great food and wine.
Why UC Davis Health: 
I chose UC Davis for its collaborative culture, diverse patient
population, and strong operative experience. Sacramento’s
location offers easy access to the outdoors and a great food
scene, and most importantly, the co-residents here make it a truly
supportive and fun place to train.
Yasamin Taghikhan, D.O.

 

Yasamin Taghikhan, D.O.

Undergraduate School: UC Davis
Medical School: Touro University- California
Interests: My interests include clinical outcomes research,
education and mentorship.  I am considering fellowship training
and I look forward to continued growth in both clinical and
academic domains.
Hobbies: Hiking, painting, board games, biking, hosting fondue
nights
Why UC Davis Health: 
UC Davis stood out to me as a program where residents are
pushed to grow in a rigorous yet deeply supportive environment.
The culture is one of mutual respect, mentorship and teamwork;
qualities that foster both personal and professional growth.

Research Residents

Tiffany Cheng, M.D.

Tiffany Cheng, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UCLA
Medical School: University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Interests: Colorectal surgery
Hobbies: Traveling, gardening, reading, hiking, eating 
Why UC Davis Health: 
The people are amazing, kind and care about you as a human and a
budding surgeon. 
Katrina Hauck, D.O.

Katrina Hauck, D.O.

Undergraduate School: Temple university
Medical School: Burrell college of osteopathic medicine
Interests: General surgery, palliative medicine 
Hobbies: Everyone knows I like rock climbing, but I also enjoy
mountain biking and trail running. Anything that gets me outside
in the mountains.
Why UC Davis Health: 
The resident culture is very unique. UC Davis residents are
supportive of each other and a strong community.
Ryan Keyho, M.D.

Ryan Keyho, M.D.

Undergraduate School: University of Texas at Austin
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Interests: Transplant surgery, public and global health.
Hobbies: Running, swimming, biking, playing guitar. 
Why UC Davis Health: 
Diverse clinical training and experiences which I believe are key to
becoming well rounded surgeon and clinician. In addition, there are
numerous research opportunities and resources to take advantage of. 
Shelby Kunz, M.D.

 

Shelby Kunz, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Medical School: UC Irvine
Interests: Technology in Medicine/Surgery, Trauma and Critical
Care
Hobbies: Volleyball, hiking, and getting margaritas with my co
residents
Why UC Davis Health: 
The people and the opportunities!
Omolola Olaleye, M.D.

 

Omolola Olaleye, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Georgia State University
Medical School: University of Alabama at Birmingham
Interests: I’m still an undifferentiated stem cell! Exploring the
amazing options UCDavis has as I go through various rotations.
Hobbies: I like reading, finding new coffee shops (for matcha of
course), exploring museums, watching TV, and hanging out with
my co-residents!
Why UC Davis Health: 
I chose UCDavis because I believed it was a program with a
strong emphasis on developing general surgeons that could go
into the community or fellowship. The  program’s commitment to
resident success via diverse patient population and training sites
results in residents that are competent in managing complex
inpatient and surgical cases. 
Matthew Reyes, M.D.

 

Matthew Reyes, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Texas A&M University
Medical School: UT Health Long SOM
Interests: Engineering, resident education
Hobbies: Music, dancing, screen time on my phone, cooking,
pickleball, volleyball
Why UC Davis Health: 
The residents! 
Gabriella Sehres, M.D.

 

Gabriella Sehres, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Florida State University (Go Noles!)
Medical School: Florida State University COM (Noles x2)
Interests: Pediatric Surgery, Vascular, Trauma, Education
Hobbies: Drinking hazy IPAs with my pups & fiancé,
snowboarding, hiking/camping, volleyball, outdoor workouts
Why UC Davis Health: 
The people. The diversity. The opportunity to continue my training
in an academic center. Bonus points for ideal location for outdoor
hobbies! 
Sarah Singh, M.D.

Sarah Singh, M.D.

Undergraduate School: Boston University
Medical School: Boston University
Interests: My interests include in surgical education, robotics,
cardiothoracic surgery.
Hobbies: Pickleball, hanging out with family/friends/dogs, traveling.
Why UC Davis Health: 
Best combination of the three things I was looking for: excellent surgical
training with graduates who come out comfortable going straight into
practice without fellowships, strong academic research opportunities to
support matching into any fellowship I’d be interested in, and the best
culture of any general surgery training program you could find. Bonus
points for it being where I’m from.
Patrick Sur, M.D.

Patrick Sur, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UC Santa Barbara
Medical School: UC Riverside
Interests: Global Surgery, Abdominal Transplant
Hobbies: Hanging out with my family (and soon to be son!), playing
frisbee with my dog, binge watching TV, sleeping.
Why UC Davis Health: 
My wife (couple's matched), faculty with interest in Global Surgery,
culture among residents, relative cost of living, various different rotation
sites (UC Davis, Kaiser, Shriner's, etc.)

Eric Tran, M.D.

Eric Tran, M.D.

Undergraduate School: UCLA
Medical School: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
Interests: Surgical oncology, colorectal surgery, general surgery
Hobbies: Cooking, hiking, traveling
Why UC Davis Health: 
I chose UC Davis for the strong training and exposure to the
various major general surgery subspecialties, which are well
represented across the board. We also get the chance to rotate at
various sites across Sacramento, giving exposure to various
practice patterns outside of academic medicine. Finally, the
residency has a positive and supportive culture where people
look out for each other. Sacramento is a great place to live with
lots to eat and do just a short drive away.

Surgery Education & Simulation

Terrance Smith, D.O.

 

Terrance Smith, D.O.

Undergraduate School: Wittenberg University
Medical School: VCOM - Carolinas
Interests: General Surgery
Hobbies: Snowboarding, hiking, lifting, spoiling my dog
Why UC Davis Health: 
It is a great training program that is paired with the Air Force.