Residents

Navajo Nation from La Plata and Crownpoint, New Mexico.

Education:

Undergraduate at University of New Mexico, Graduate School at University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Medical Interests:

I chose PTHA for its alignment with my personal values in being part of a community of people who work together to fulfill the mission of culturally appropriate care for the betterment of our indigenous communities in a unique urban setting with various life experiences.

I am motivated to grow my interest and skills in obstetrics, addiction medicine and street medicine.

Hobbies:

I am fourth generation rancher whose middle name is Rope and when not enjoying vigorous outdoor activities you can catch me reading Native Indie novels.

I was born and raised mostly in Southern California but also grew up in the Philippines, here in Washington, and Northern California.

Education:

Undergraduate at University of California at Davis, where I majored in Biological Science. I also minored in English and Psychology.

Graduate School at University of Chicago for both my master’s degree and medical school

Medical Interests:

In medicine, I am passionate about decreasing disparities in healthcare.

In life, I equally enjoy spending time outdoors and at home. I love exploring new places and trying new things (mostly food). I also like golfing, biking, skiing, and hiking. But I pretty much spend my free time doing yoga, gardening, or watching TV with my pets.

Hobbies/Fun Facts about Me:

I had attended 10 different schools by the time I entered 11^th grade. I am terrified of heights, insects, and contact sports. I am extremely bad at cooking and giving directions. I never get tired of zoos or aquariums.

I am originally from Southern California

Education:

Undergraduate at University of California San Diego, Graduate School at Stritch School of Medicine (Loyola University of Chicago) 

Medical Interests:

I was excited for the opportunity to learn a more holistic approach to medicine as well as the opportunity to continue training alongside my spouse.  

My clinical interests currently include Sports Medicine and MOUD.

Hobbies/Fun Facts about Me:

Interests outside of medicine include basketball, soccer, Formula 1, and cooking

I have a dog and a cat that love to take up all the room on the couch.

Medical Resident

Where are you originally from?

Great Falls, Montana

Undergraduate College:

Montana State University, Bozeman

Where did you attend Medical School?

Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why did you choose PTHA?

I am passionate about serving Indigenous and underserved communities, with a focus on culturally respectful, patient-centered care. PTHA has allowed me to opportunity to learn and experience the importance of meeting patients where they are, understand the social and cultural factors affecting health, and integrate traditional knowledge into care. Family medicine allows me to build long-term relationships, provide full-spectrum care, and support patients in preventive health, chronic disease management, and wellness. I am so profoundly grateful to be at PTHA!

What are your interests?

My medical interests include addiction medicine, preventative health, traditional ways of healing, and women’s health. Outside of medicine I love exploring the great outdoors with my family and friends, as well as listening to audiobooks!

What are some fun facts about you?

In my past life I was a residential cleaner, and I still love deep cleaning and decluttering! I have some great cleaning tips, just ask!

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 Washington, Seattle

Where did you attend Medical School?

Idaho College of Osteopathic, Idaho

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 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.

I grew up in a military family so I was born in Texas, moved many times,and spent most of my childhood in Yorktown, Virginia.

Education:

Undergraduate at University of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine in Richmond, Virginia

Medical Interests:

I am especially interested in health innovation, multidisciplinary education, disease prevention, and implementing systemwide reforms to help mitigate health disparities for historically underserved and underrepresented patient populations.

Hobbies/Fun Facts about Me:

Before medical school I spent several years baking whole-grain breads and opened my own small business. I continue to enjoy cooking and baking in my spare time.

Why I choose PTHA:

I initially started residency training at the University of Washington as a vascular surgery resident, transitioning to family medicine residency after realizing that I wanted to expand my scope to take care of patients of all ages at all times of life. I fell in love with the greater Puget Sound Region during those initial years and was thrilled to get the opportunity to take care of patients at Puyallup Tribal Health Authority and provide comprehensive care in our local community.

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.

I’m from Yardley, Pennsylvania

Education:

The Pennsylvania State University where I majored in Biology and minored in Global Health. Medical School, Kansas City University

Medical Interests:

My interests in medicine include preventative medicine, public health, women’s health and obstetrics, the impact social determinants of health have on health disparities, and underserved/rural/global medicine.

Outside of medicine, I love to hike with my husband and dogs, try new sports like pickleball, and read fantasy novels.

Hobbies/Fun Facts about Me:

Outside of medicine, I love to hike with my husband and dogs, try new sports like pickleball, and read fantasy novels.  I also love to travel and have been to 48 out of 50 states.

I am thankful for PTHA, who welcomed me for my final year of residency after my residency program closed. PTHA has been so kind and supportive through the transition. I am excited by the opportunity to continue full-spectrum family medicine training with a holistic and culturally sensitive focus.