Residents

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I grew up just outside Corvallis, Oregon in the Willamette Valley.

Undergraduate College:

Originally, I studied international relations and communications at Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon then later went back to school for pre-med courses at Oregon State University.

Where did you attend Medical School?

Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine Northwest.

Why did you choose PTHA?

Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I wanted nothing more than to train and stay in the area. I chose PTHA because it felt like a great fit and everyone, I interacted with there was kind and supportive. I sought broad community-based training and appreciate working with a diverse patient population including Native community members, unhoused patients, and humans from all walks of life. I am excited for the opportunity to receive training in Native healing, traditions, and culturally sensitive healthcare. Additionally, I appreciate the ability to train in a small close-knit residency program that fosters supportive and strong faculty-resident relationships while also getting to work and train with residents from other programs in the Tacoma area.

What are your interests?

I am passionate about addiction medicine and consider mental health a very important part of family medicine. I believe healthcare is a right and that access to healthcare needs to be improved, especially for those who need it most. I enjoy working with patients towards lifestyle changes that will enhance their well-being.

What are some fun facts about you?

I enjoy the outdoors be it hiking, camping, gardening, or other outdoor sports. I am an avid reader and love to cook and experiment with world cuisines in the kitchen. Fun facts: I lived in Korea for almost nine years, have participated in many long karaoke sessions, have three children, and used to play darts pretty seriously.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

Kent, Washington

Undergraduate College:

University of California, Santa Cruz.

Where did you attend Medical School?

University of Washington, Seattle

Why did you choose PTHA?

I chose PTHA because of the supportive environment from the faculty and staff I felt during my interview day. I was also interested in learning about traditional medicine and treating patients holistically. Lastly, I wanted to return home to Washington and learn how to treat the diverse population of this area.

What are your interests?

My medical interests include preventive medicine, chronic disease management, and sports medicine. Outside of medicine, I enjoy golfing, skiing, watching the Seahawks, playing the video game League of Legends, and watching anime.

What are some fun facts about you?

I can ski and snowboard but prefer skiing. I can also use chopsticks with my right and left hands.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I am originally from a small town outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico, called Tesuque. I then spent the majority of my teenage years growing up in Eldorado, NM, and my family eventually moved to Albuquerque, NM.

Undergraduate College:

I attended Mills College in Oakland, California, which was an all-women’s college that was committed to advancing the education and commitment to women interested in STEM fields. I majored in Biology with an emphasis in Molecular Cell Biology.

Where did you attend Medical school?

University of California San Francisco School of Medicine.

Why did you choose PTHA?

I have always wanted to serve a community similar to my background, and to learn more about our indigenous communities given my own Native American ancestry and reconnecting with part of my ancestry.

What are your interests?

I have a strong interest in Women’s health and holistic medical care. I also have an interest in public health. My personal interests revolve around exploring nature and I am an avid fisherwoman, which makes me delighted to be in an area that has so much nature and wildlife.

What are some fun facts about you?

In a past life, I was a competitive Irish dancer (which at that time was the only Irish dance studio in NM) and I also played baseball.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I moved around quite frequently! I was born in Nashville, TN but bounced around in NY, China, PA, MS, and LA. I have lived in the Bronx and New Orleans the longest.

Undergraduate College:

BA in Environmental Studies, Tulane University

Where did you attend Medical School? 

Tulane University School of Medicine

Why did you choose PTHA?

I was very fortunate to rotate at Norton Sound Health Corporation in Nome, AK and Northern Navajo Medical Center in Shiprock, NM during medical school. I developed an immense appreciation for the holistic approach of tribal health along with the cultural humility used to address health disparities. PTHA, an unopposed FM program, provides full spectrum training and opportunities to serve and learn from our indigenous community.

What are your interests?

In medicine, I am interested in women’s health/obstetrics, integrative medicine, community health especially with a focus on environmental health, and global/rural medicine.

Outside of medicine, I love camping/hiking, traveling, crocheting amigurumi, watching cat TV with Nash (my cat), and cooking kbbq with friends. I love exploring new places and am always down to trying something new! 

What are some fun facts about you?

I have an identical twin, my best friend, who is unfortunately far away on the east coast. I have double-jointed thumbs. I lived with my aunts in China for almost 2 years when I was around three and completely forgot English.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I consider Pinedale, a small town of ~500 people in Arizona, to be my hometown. A good portion of my Petersen side still live in the White Mtns and my Hopi side is from the village Mishognovi.

Undergraduate College:

University of Arizona

Where did you attend Medical School?

University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago

Why did you choose PTHA?

After expressing an interest in Family Medicine to a mentor they highly encouraged me to look into PTHA. I’m really glad I did as I then had the opportunity to shadow for a day. I loved the vibe, faculty, and patients I met. One of which expressed hoping to see me there as a resident. I loved being surrounded by Native providers and patients, and knew that I needed that to flourish as a newly minted physician. It was easy to see that PTHA was where I wanted and needed to be.

What are your interests?

Medical wise my interests mostly lay in Indigenous healthcare, health disparities, primary care, public health, and health justice. I’m interested in moving medicine and healthcare towards a more equitable form based on the concepts of mutual aid, collective healthcare, horizontal organizing, and traditional healing. Outside of medicine my eclectic interests include playing the guitar, singing shapenote music, diy, going down Wikipedia/youtube rabbit holes, learning tradition, and sharing good food with good people.

What are some fun facts about you?

I have TWO CATS that make up most of my partner’s and my personality nowadays. They are the sweetest, though also mischievous and crazy, little guys!

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I was raised in the small town of Ephrata, Washington. It’s located in central Washington, east of the Cascades.

Undergraduate College:

Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. I attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK for my Master’s in Native American Studies.

Where did you attend Medical School?

Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine

Why did you choose PTHA?

PTHA’s emphasis on community and Indigenous health makes me proud to be a part of this program. I am passionate about tribal health and broad-spectrum family medicine. I feel that PTHA fosters a very supportive atmosphere between residents and faculty, as well as between the different residency programs in the area with shared didactic sessions. Being in the Tacoma area also allows easy access to the outdoors and I’ll be close to friends and family

What are your interests?

Professionally, I am passionate about harm reduction and medication for opioid use disorder, reproductive medicine, and gender-affirming care. Personally, I am interested in transportation equity – making it safer to walk, bike, and roll around cities; birdwatching; cooking and baking; and reading. I also like to rock climb – both indoor gym climbing and outdoors.

What are some fun facts about you?

I summitted Loowit (Mt. St. Helens) and Koma Kulshan (Mt. Baker) on skis. I have broken my wrists three separate times (left wrist twice and right wrist once) – hopefully never again! I’m learning Japanese and Choctaw. I swam competitively for 13 years and my best stroke was the butterfly.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I am from Anchorage, Alaska. My family is from the Native Village of Chevak, Alaska, and I am an enrolled member of the Qissunamiut Tribe.

Undergraduate College:

University of Alaska Anchorage

Where did you attend Medical School?

University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND.

Why did you choose PTHA?

As a girl, my grandma told me our native people need native doctors who understand our culture and interconnectedness to heal the root cause of our illnesses. I chose PTHA because the mission “health and wellness in a culturally appropriate manner” is my mission and purpose in medicine.

What are your interests?

My interests in medicine are vast, while my special interests are in women’s health, including obstetrics, as well as addiction medicine and obesity medicine. Ultimately, I chose family medicine because I enjoy truly connecting with people to find mutual understanding of their whole-person health and wellbeing in all areas of medicine! Outside of medicine, I am a through and through Alaskan girl, I love fishing, hiking, and camping. When not outdoors with my doggo, I like to play video games on my Nintendo switch, and watch movies with my husband.

What are some fun facts about you?

My favorite color is purple. I have broken 5 bones in my life and all of them happened because I’m helplessly clumsy. Usually, in a setting where I’m asked to give a fun fact, my fun fact is that I’m from Alaska.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

Kenmore, WA

Undergraduate College:

University of Washington

Where did you attend Medical School?

Pacific Northwest University

Why did you choose PTHA?

Being a smaller program, PTHA has a close-knit family feel that I was searching for. I love the Tacoma area and am very thankful to be able to stay near my family and friends during residency. I want to become a rural full-spectrum family medicine doctor so I am excited for the diverse learning settings PTHA provides.

What are your interests?

I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy cooking (especially soup or pasta), playing card games, reading mystery novels, exploring the outdoors, catching up on my favorite crime shows or cheesy sit-coms, doing simple arts and crafts, and trying new foods and drinks.

What are some fun facts about you?

I am the oldest of 4 siblings. I was a synchronized swimmer for many years and competed nationally. I am the proud aunt of 2 nieces and 1 nephew. I have been to 22 of the 63 national parks and hope to visit all of them one day.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

San Diego, California

Undergraduate College:

University of California, Santa Barbara

Where did you attend Medical School?

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose PTHA?

During my interview day I felt like I genuinely clicked with the community and am so excited I found my people at PTHA.

What are your interests?

My interests in medicine include nutrition and lifestyle medicine, full spectrum family medicine including OB, breastfeeding medicine and working with underserved communities.

What are some fun facts about you?

When I’m not at work, I love spending time with my husband, 1.5 year old daughter, and my 3 rescues (2 dogs, 1 cat). I love trail running, rock climbing, mountain biking, making sourdough bread and drinking kombucha.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, but my family is now all based in Northern California.

Undergraduate College:

Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA

Where did you attend Medical School?

Western University of the Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, CA

Why did you choose PTHA?

Upon a strong recommendation from a classmate, I rotated at PTHA to experience firsthand “the best kept secret in family medicine.” I couldn’t dispute his claim, and fortunately went on to interview and match here. The largest draw for me to PTHA was the spirit factor. It is becoming easier to find places where the mind-body connection is acknowledged and leveraged, but to find a place that aligned with my spirit was special. PTHA is family and community-oriented, and values diversity and growth. I am excited to return to the Pacific Northwest to learn from and serve the Indigenous communities here.

What are your interests?

My favorite area within osteopathic family medicine is perinatal care–caring for the whole family before, during, and after a birth. I’m also interested in working with elder and LGBTQ populations, and coaching patients through big changes in their lives. I spent an extra year in medical school teaching osteopathic manipulative medicine, and incorporate this modality frequently. 
Outside of medicine, I seek creative outlets and ways to connect with people and the natural world. These might include singing, dancing, writing, cooking, travel, hiking, studying mysticism and attending farmers markets and communal rituals.

What are some fun facts about you?

Prior to residency I went on a month-long solo backpacking trip around Europe. Prior to medical school, I went on a month-long solo road trip across the western half of the US. Following college, I spent three months living in Hanoi, Vietnam–where I studied for the MCAT and took online physics (and had my own rental scooter to get around). I played rugby (fullback) in college until I had too many concussions. I’ve been stung seven times by scorpions (and am still not scared of them).

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I was born in Southern California but have called Washington state my home for almost 20 years. My family originates from the Punjab region of North India.

Undergraduate College:

I’ve attended Bellevue College and University of Washington before life took me in a few different directions. I completed my bachelor’s degree at the same time as my Doctor of Medicine.

Where did you attend Medical School?

American University of Antigua College of Medicine, in the West Indies

Why did you choose PTHA?

PTHA chose me and I am beyond grateful to be welcomed into this family.

What are your interests?

Volunteering at the local animal shelter, refurbishing furniture, and thrifting.

What are some fun facts about you?

My brother and I have the same letters in our first name – the difference is where the A is. I’ve been lucky to work two of my dream jobs: 911 dispatcher and being a doctor. I would have been raised in Kenya if life hadn’t brought my parents back to the US.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

I was born in Cebu City, Philippines, and moved to Indiana at age 6.

Undergraduate College:

Indiana University Bloomington

Where did you attend Medical School?

Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose PTHA?

I got the chance to rotate with PTHA in my fourth year of medical school and I loved my experience working with the staff, residents, and attendings. As a student, I felt seen, valued, and considered as a member of the team and I knew I wanted to be part of that. I am also passionate about working with underserved communities, and I wanted to be in a residency which provided the resources and the support to pursue this endeavor. Lastly, I chose PTHA because it is a full-spectrum unopposed program, and I believe I will be trained well and to my fullest potential here.

What are your interests?

Professionally, my interests include lifestyle and preventative medicine, women’s health, and behavioral health including addiction medicine and managing chronic pain with alternatives to pharmacological treatment. Outside of medicine, my interests include reading (historical romance for fiction, natural history for nonfiction), crafting, crocheting, hiking, taking fun exercise classes, climbing, trying out new restaurants and coffee shops, thrifting, finding new music, watching YouTube videos on tiny homes and interior design, and spending time with friends and family.

What are some fun facts about you?

My favorite color is pink, my favorite fruit to eat is mangos (honorable mentions: coconuts, watermelons, cotton candy grapes), I can still speak my native dialect, I have a huge sweet tooth, and I once swam with whale sharks.