“The culture of MLKCH is dedicated to providing compassionate and respectful access to the basic right of healthcare and you can feel that drive across all aspects of our hospital and clinics to make each patient’s experience one that they will walk away from feeling like that have gained some level of control and agency over their own health.”
Why were you drawn to working at MLKCH or what makes you want to stay long term at MLKCH?
I feel privileged to work with a community where I feel like I can make a difference in individuals’ lives on a daily basis. The culture of MLKCH is dedicated to providing compassionate and respectful access to the basic right of healthcare and you can feel that drive across all aspects of our hospital and clinics to make each patient’s experience one that they will walk away from feeling like that have gained some level of control and agency over their own health. It is easy to be overwhelmed and become a passive observer in our healthcare system by feeling helpless to solve some of the deep-seated systemic issues that have left many of our communities behind across the country. At MLKCH, I feel like I can tackle that one patient at a time from the ground up and try to make every patient encounter I am a part of one step in the right direction.
What are some essential values you would like to pass on to the residents joining MLKCH?
Diligence, attention to detail, and responsibility to contribute to solutions whenever you see a problem. I also try to practice and demonstrate respect and finding common understanding with any patient, regardless of how different our valves or experiences might be.
What type of physicians would you hope our residents would become?
I hope that an MLKCH resident learns to be creative and flexible in delivering at or above the standard of care. Our residents will have the tools and experiences to be leaders in community medicine and lead by example in demonstrating how to provide comprehensive and compassionate care at the community level even in the face of limited resources.
What differentiates MLK from other residency programs?
As a small program with access to a large and varied population, MLK residents will get access to a wide breadth of medical training with a high level of access to teaching faculty and attendings because of the unrivaled attending to resident ratio. At MLK, you can expect a personalized and adaptable experience that will provide you with the necessary training to succeed while also giving you access to mentors and experiences that can help you find your own passions and career paths in medicine.
Why did you want to be a core faculty member?
I am eager to help build our delivery of subspecialty cardiac care in this community with a high level of need, and one of most effective ways to do that is to train our future internal medicine physicians how to recognize, understand, and treat common cardiovascular diseases. I look forward to continuing to develop our teaching curriculum to give all residents a solid foundation in cardiology regardless of their career path or specialization.
How will our residency program benefit the community of South Los Angeles?
Many community physicians are transplants to the community they practice in and may not understand the patient population and their unique set of needs. By integrating the training of residents into the delivery of care in this diverse and vibrant community, we will be able to create physicians who are ready to identify and take on existing challenges in the ongoing delivery of healthcare across South Los Angeles or any other underserved community. The contributions these physicians in training will have for decades to come as they practice in the community and teach future doctors on their own will resonate for decades to come and continue to help improve the access to and delivery of compassionate medical care in South Los Angeles.
What do you do outside of practicing medicine to stay healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally?
I spend most of my time with my wife and two young children enjoying the activities and excitement that Southern California has to offer! When I need exercise outside of trying to keep up with my kids, you’ll find me on the volleyball court.
Where do you draw your inner strength from to give your best to our patients?
I am motivated to set an example for my children and show them how to have compassion and care for the community they are a part of and develop a connection with the individual people around them. I also selfishly thrive on the gratitude I feel when a patient or their family thanks me for being a part of their care and am constantly seeking to find a way I can be a positive part of every patient’s experience!
Where did you grow up?
I was born and raised just up the coast in Santa Barbara, CA.