2026-2027 Fellows

Dr. Kelly Cheung-Warren was born and raised in Anaheim, California. She majored in biology at UC Irvine and became the first in her family to graduate college. She attended medical school at the Virginia Commonwealth University and joined the primary care underserved track. She completed internal medicine residency at UCLA’s Primary Care program and completed the Medical Education pathway. Dr. Cheung-Warren is pursuing an integrated two-year fellowship in geriatrics and palliative care to complement her practice in primary care and inpatient medicine. She hopes to serve in underserved settings in LA county as an ally in health equity and social justice. She is also a champion for age-friendly care and leveraging social media for mentorship and medical education.

Geri Palliative Fellow, Year 2

Alma Alejandra Cortez was born in Sylmar, California, and raised in Nayarit, Mexico. She earned her undergraduate degree at the University of California, Riverside, majoring in Biology with a minor in Social Studies. She completed medical school at the Autonomous University of Guadalajara in Jalisco, Mexico, and went on to complete her residency training in Family Medicine at Pomona Valley Community Hospital in Pomona, California. Alma’s interest in geriatrics stems from her desire to care for and advocate for vulnerable populations. She plans to pursue a fellowship in palliative medicine following the completion of her geriatrics fellowship.
 

Dr. Benjamin Hung grew up in the Bay Area, CA. He completed his undergraduate studies at UC Davis, before heading off to medical school at St. Louis University. The allure of the Pacific Ocean drew him back to the west coast, where he completed his Internal Medicine residency (primary care track) at University of Washington. His experiences as a hospice volunteer, and the UCSF MSTAR program (where he looked at non-pharmacologic treatment options for patients with dementia), inspired him to become a geriatrician. After fellowship, he aims to practice in academic geriatrics in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
 

David Medina was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised primarily in Mexico. He earned his medical degree from Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico and completed his Family Medicine residency at Southern Illinois University. He has participated in multiple research projects and contributed to publications in high-impact journals. His interest in geriatrics developed through his research on aging and senolytics, as well as through his close relationship with his grandparents. David plans to pursue a career in academic and hospital medicine with a focus on geriatrics, aiming to improve care for the growing older adult population.
 

Dr. Esther Chan was born and raised in Anaheim, California. She attended the University of Maryland, College Park for her undergraduate studies and completed her medical degree at the University of Maryland, Baltimore. After this, she went to Johns Hopkins Bayview for her Internal Medicine residency. Her interest in geriatrics stems from her close relationships with her grandparents and her desire to practice patient-centered medicine. Her professional interests include transitions of care and frailty. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, and listening to music.
 

Dr. Jacqueline Truong was born and raised in the San Gabriel Valley. She received her bachelor’s degrees in Public Health and Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley before pursuing a medical degree at Drexel University. She completed her residency in Family and Community Medicine at UCSF. She is looking forward to returning home to LA to learn from and to provide care to members of her community and to be with her family and grandparents, who are the root of her passion in geriatrics. Her professional interest includes hospital medicine, aging with dignity, point of care ultrasound, and outpatient minor procedures.
 

Dr John Rodgers grew up in Pasadena, California. He graduated from Stanford University in 2019 with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. He received an M.D. in 2023 from the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He completed residency in internal medicine at the USC/LAGMC program in 2026. John’s interest in older adults comes from his family upbringing, but he started to think seriously about a career in geriatrics after having positive experiences shadowing a geriatrician in undergrad. He enjoys both inpatient and outpatient settings and hopes to practice in a combination of both.
 

Dr. Mayra Duran was born and raised in Ecuador, where she earned her medical degree before moving to the United States to continue her medical training. She completed her Family Medicine residency at Charles R. Drew University in Los Angeles. During residency, she developed a strong interest in geriatric medicine through her work caring for older adults in safety-net clinics serving Latino and underserved communities. Her clinical interests include dementia care in underserved populations, improving care for Latino older adults, and advancing equitable, patient-centered care for aging communities.
 

Dr. Thi Doan was born in Ho Chi Minh City. She graduated from Pomona College with a degree in Neuroscience. She completed medical school at the University of Washington and internal medicine residency at UC Davis. She developed a personal interest in geriatrics through cultivating deep, meaningful relationships with her grandparents and supporting them as they age. Additionally, clinical rotations have shown her the medical complexity and vulnerability of older adults. She strives to provide compassionate, accessible care that honors their dignity. Throughout fellowship, she hopes to expand her interests in geriatrics through medical education, health equity, and community outreach.
 

Dr. Pathak was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and earned her medical degree from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by Internal Medicine residency at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, California. Her interest in hospice medicine began in medical school and evolved into a broader focus on geriatrics and medical ethics. She plans to dedicate her career to caring for older adults with serious illness, particularly during end-of-life transitions. Outside of medicine, she enjoys all things dog-related, crocheting, and tending to her garden.
 

Geri Palliative Fellow, Year 1

Mai earned her PhD at Cornell University. Subsequently, she joined the VA Boston Massachusetts Veterans Epidemiology Research and Information Center and was an Instructor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Associate Epidemiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Her research focuses on the Veteran population, specifically studying healthy aging as it relates to cardiometabolic outcomes in the VA Million Veteran Program. She completed her MD at Carle Illinois College of Medicine.