Current Trainees
Incoming Trainees
Lilian Fung, MD
Undergraduate: University of California Los Angeles
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine
Residency: Los Angeles General + University of Southern California Internal Medicine
Track: Clinical Scholar Track
Hometown: Garden Grove, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
General ID, antimicrobial stewardship
General Interests:
Staying active/working out with friends on my new ClassPass subscription, reading on my Kindle, true crime podcasts, watching videos of cute dogs, trying out new brunch/dinner spots on my days off
Why UCLA?
UCLA was my alma mater (as it was for my two other sisters) and I knew that I would want to return eventually to complete my medical training. My initial interest in medicine started with the community here and I knew that it would be the perfect place to pursue my academic/clinical interests in infectious diseases. Also, you can't beat the weather and food scene!
Sasha Herbst de Cortina, MD
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical School: University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
Residency: University of California Los Angeles
Track: Academic Research Track
Hometown: Westlake Village, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
STIs, global health, implementation science
General Interests:
Traveling, yoga, hiking, trying out new recipes, enjoying our beautiful beaches, and spending time with my cats
Why UCLA?
My whole residency I have been grateful to work in a place with kind, warm colleagues who truly care about helping our patients. I am excited to be part of the research track to grow as a physician-scientist in global health research.
Mario Jaramillo, MD
Undergraduate: College of the Holy Cross
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Residency: University of Arizona - Tucson
Track: Clinical Scholar Track
Hometown: Palm Springs, CA and North Attleboro, MA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Medical education, antimicrobial stewardship
General Interests:
Watching and playing soccer, videogames, hanging out with my wife and my dog, exploring music and food scenes
Why UCLA?
I've lived in a lot of smaller cities in my life and both my wife and I were ready to explore a larger city and programs that have a lot of diverse opportunities to help us grow in our careers and in life! The plethora of food and music is something we are most excited about and of course all the amazing people we will meet along the way.
Rashini Jayaratne, MD
Undergraduate: University of California San Diego
Medical School: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine
Residency: Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center
Track: Clinical Scholar Track
Hometown: Walnut, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Antimicrobial stewardship, medical education
General Interests:
Reading, yoga, walks with friends, board games
Why UCLA?
I chose UCLA for the diverse clinical settings, diverse patient population and supportive faculty members. I am also excited to be close to family and continue to explore all the amazing restaurants LA has to offer.
John Michael Sanchez, MD, PhD
Undergraduate: University of Utah
Medical School: Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah
Residency: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Track: Academic Research Track
Hometown: Torrance, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Host-microbe interactions, immunocompromised infectious diseases
General Interests:
Biking, baking, videography, traveling, spending time with my wife and dog
Why UCLA?
The support for physician scientists in infectious diseases is top-notch and benefits from the large community of physician scientists across medical specialties at UCLA. Clinical infectious disease training at UCLA is excellent, in large part due to the five hospitals that we serve that reflect the diversity of Los Angeles. Most importantly, my wife is also a physician scientist fellow in dermatology at UCLA and we cannot have chosen a better place to continue our physician scientist training!
Lucy Tran, MD
Undergraduate: University of California San Diego
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Residency: Arrowhead Regional Medical Center
Track: Clinical Scholar Track
Hometown: Monterey Park, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology, Antimicrobial Stewardship, Public Health and Social Determinants of Infectious Diseases
General Interests:
Exploring new restaurants and cuisines, traveling, hiking, gardening and hanging out with my dog
Why UCLA?
UCLA multi-campus hospital program provides exposure to different patient populations offering the most diverse training one can hope for. Also, I love the passion and enthusiasm exhibited by the faculty and fellows in providing the best patient care. I am excited to grow into a leading ID specialist with the support of the UCLA family and serve my own Southern California community.
Gregory Whitehill, MD
Undergraduate: Haverford College
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Residency: University of Pennsylvania
Track: Academic Research Track
Hometown: Wellesley, MA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
HIV, immunocompromised populations, immunity and immunotherapies
General Interests:
Cooking, hiking, spending time with my family and daughter
Why UCLA?
I chose UCLA for the tremendous research support available through the STAR program and diverse clinical training opportunities with multiple hospitals. My interviews gave a great impression of the program culture; the faculty and fellows I met all stood out as warm and approachable but also passionate and fulfilled. And of course coming from the northeast - the weather!
Current Trainees
Academic Research Track Fellows
Aleksandr Gorin, MD, PhD
Undergraduate: UC San Diego
Medical School: UCLA
Residency: UCLA Medical Center
Hometown: Born in Kharkiv, Ukraine. Raised in San Diego, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Immunity to viral pathogens, vaccine design
General Interests:
Most days I can be found snuggling my dog! Otherwise I enjoy eating my way around Los Angeles, hiking, and traveling to as many national parks and foreign countries as I can
Why UCLA?
So many reasons! First was the clinical diversity of a major academic center, a community hospital, a county hospital and a VA. Second were the research environment and opportunities to connect between clinical and basic researchers across the street on the undergraduate campus. And finally lifestyle - it’s hard to leave Southern California! The weather, beaches, food are all really hard to beat.
Katherine Li, MD
Undergraduate: Princeton
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine
Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital
Hometown: Plainsboro, NJ
Academic/Clinical Interests:
STI/HIV prevention, global health
General Interests:
Reading sci-fi/fantasy, traveling, yoga, tea, classical music
Why UCLA?
From a training perspective, the department is clearly expanding epi and global health research and investing in research trainees. I had great conversations with my interviewers, and I really felt like I would be welcomed and supported. Moreover, I love the diversity and energy of the city and I'm looking forward to working with the patients across the five hospitals. I have never lived on the west coast before and I am super excited for this new adventure!
Clinical Scholar Track Fellows
Austin Fan, MD
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Residency: Loyola University Medical Center
Hometown: Culver City, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Antimicrobial stewardship, immunocompromised and transplant ID, HIV advocacy, sexually transmitted infections, public health
General Interests:
Traveling, hiking, exploring LA's different neighborhoods and their cuisines
Why UCLA?
I chose UCLA for the unparalleled diversity of ID we get to experience across five different clinical settings and patient populations. I was also drawn to UCLA's supportive mentorship and the incredible research and antimicrobial stewardship opportunities with an amazing faculty. Finally, as a West LA native, I am excited to return home to complete my training closer to family and friends!
Nicole Fossas Braegger, MD
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Medical School: Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine
Residency: Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Hometown: San Juan, PR
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Medical education, hospital epidemiology, antimicrobial stewardship
General Interests:
Traveling, playing indoor/outdoor soccer, sailing
Why UCLA?
I was drawn to UCLA’s ID program due to the incredible patient diversity seen across the five training hospitals. With Los Angeles’ unmatched cultural diversity, it seemed like a place where I would get a very broad and comprehensive training in ID. Additionally, during my interview day, the attendings and fellows fostered a collegial, nurturing, and genuinely friendly environment, and I knew it would be a good fit for me. The perfect year-long weather and the city’s food and entertainment scenes are just extra perks!
Anna Hardesty, MD
Undergraduate: U Utah
Medical School: U Washington SOM
Residency: Brown
Hometown: Boise, ID
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Immunocompromised and transplant ID, medical education
General Interests:
Skiing, hiking, traveling, cooking, reading
Why UCLA?
I was drawn to UCLA for several reasons. First, the breadth of clinical experiences, patient populations and healthcare settings will help me to get the most comprehensive training possible. Second, the exposure to world class transplant ID will help prepare me for my specific clinical interests. And finally, the gorgeous location in an incredibly diverse city will make my time outside of training fun and fulfilling.
Sowmya Kalava, MBBS
Medical School: Mamata Medical College
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Elmhurst)
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Infectious disease-critical care, antibiotic stewardship, global health
General Interests:
Baking, spending time with friends and family, cooking new recipes, spending time at the beach
Why UCLA?
There are so many things that drew me to UCLA! I really liked the breadth of experiences that would come with being able to work in a full range of medical centers and the diversity of patients and pathology. In addition to that, on interview day, I remember how warm and genuinely happy everyone was.The beautiful city and year round perfect weather was just the icing on the cake! I am so excited about all of the opportunities and looking forward to the good times to come!
Hera Maryam, MD
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical School: Washington U in St. Louis School of Medicine
Residency: Inova Fairfax Internal Medicine
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Health policy
General Interests:
Reading, creative writing
Why UCLA?
Great variety, opportunity to pursue health policy!
Neil Modi, DO
Undergraduate: UConn
Medical School: NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Hometown: Norwalk, CT
Academic/Clinical Interests:
STIs/PrEP/HIV treatment, hepatitis/HCV co-infection, antimicrobial stewardship, emerging pathogens, LGBTQ+ health
General Interests:
Traveling, cooking, photography, trying new restaurants/cuisines, watching movies, sending memes
Why UCLA?
Having trained at Cedars-Sinai, I had amazing interactions with the UCLA fellows and attendings as a resident. I was able to witness UCLA's collegiality, warm teaching environment, and the breadth of diverse pathologies and patient populations firsthand. Being a multicampus program, UCLA's ID fellowship stood out to me for the opportunities for mentorship, exposure to multiple training environments and, finally, for its location. I am so excited to continue my journey at UCLA and spend a few more years on the west coast!
Chelsea Morinishi, MD, MPH
Undergraduate: UC Riverside
Medical School: UC Riverside
Residency: California Pacific Medical Center
Hometown: South San Francisco, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Antimicrobial stewardship, ID Critical Care, social determinants of infectious diseases
General Interests:
Sampling different cuisines, teas, and sweets; sustainable fashion, textile design, and A24 films
Why UCLA?
UCLA encompasses so much of what I was looking for in a fellowship program: many QI opportunities in antimicrobial stewardship, strong transplant ID exposure, and a diverse patient population. When I was a sub-intern on the Medicine wards at Olive View, I worked with an ID fellow and attending who were inclusive and encouraged my early interests in ID. As an incoming ID fellow, I am eager to return to UCLA and share the same spirit of mentorship with other trainees.
Jessica Roth, MD
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Residency: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
Hometown: Northbrook, IL
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Immunocompromised and transplant ID, sexually transmitted infections, antimicrobial stewardship
General Interests:
Hiking, cooking, yoga, spending time with my dog, traveling
Why UCLA?
I am looking forward to my training at UCLA due to the wide range of clinical experiences offered at multiple training locations across the diverse city of Los Angeles. I also value the collegial culture of the program and its supportive faculty.
Meher Singha, MBBS
Medical School: Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore
Residency: University of Connecticut
Hometown: Born in Seoul, South Korea, Raised in New Delhi, India
Academic/Clinical Interests:
HIV, medical education, public health and global health
General Interests:
Music, reading and travelling every opportunity I can!
Why UCLA?
I chose UCLA, for the diverse patient population, the access to a wide variety of patients from all walks of life, and the ability to work for and learn from the inner city population. Having trained in a program with diverse patient populations, I wanted a similar experience, and UCLA with its five hospitals and LA's cultural diversity was the perfect fit. And finally, living in Southern California with the best weather, food and beaches made the decision even easier!
Moises Vargas Mena, MD, MPH
Medical School: Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo (INTEC) Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud
Residency: Griffin Hospital
Hometown: Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Global Health, Public Health, Healthcare delivery in resource constrained settings
General Interests:
Fútbol (come on you Spurs!), tennis, hiking, cooking, travel, dogs (please ask me about Jax!)
Why UCLA?
I chose UCLA as it is an outstanding academic entity with diverse patient population, pathology and practice settings, thanks to its Multicampus nature. The opportunities for mentorship in my specific area of interest are unparalleled! Finally, it happens to be located in a fantastic city with fantastic weather!
Michelle Yousefzadeh, DO, MPH
Undergraduate: U Southern California
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center, Florida
Hometown: Los Angeles, California
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Antimicrobial stewardship, Hospital Epidemiology, Public Health
General Interests:
Skiing, Trying new restaurants, Farmers' markets, Cooking
Why UCLA?
The Infectious Disease faculty at UCLA are leaders in their field. I am excited to learn from them as we engage patients from all socioeconomic backgrounds through the multicampus fellowship program.
Rolando Zamora Gonzalez, MD
Medical School: Universidad de Costa Rica Facultad de Medicina
Residency: University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
Hometown: San Jose, Costa Rica
Academic/Clinical Interests:
HIV/AIDS and associated opportunistic infections, General ID, Global health/underserved populations, academic internal medicine, Clinical problem solving, Critical Care
General Interests:
Playing/watching soccer, running, biking
Why UCLA?
Being a top academic institution in a city like Los Angeles, with such a diverse patient population, makes UCLA an ideal setting to train in infectious diseases. Plus, you get to do it while living in a coastal city with amazing weather. Such a combination was just perfect for me when looking for a fellowship program.
Combined ID/Preventive Medicine Trainee
Cassandra Lautredou, MD
Undergraduate: UCLA
Medical School: University of Arkansas
Residency: Duke University
Track: Clinical Scholar Track
Hometown: Fort Smith, Arkansas
Academic/Clinical Interests:
Public Health
General Interests:
Reading, travel, language learning (working on French and Spanish right now), indoor cycling, roller skating, and dancing
Why UCLA?
I went to UCLA for undergrad, and I wanted to be back in sunny Los Angeles at an outstanding program for Infectious Disease fellowship. UCLA fit the bill! The UCLA ID fellowship offers a plethora of clinical and research experiences in a bustling metropolis. The multi-campus program provides a breadth of exposure to different clinical scenarios and patient populations. Fellowship interviews were via Zoom this year, which made the “vibe” of a program difficult to grasp at times. However, after talking with the current fellows, staff, and Dr. Graber I knew that I would be right at home!
STAR Fellow and Clinical Instructor
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley, Molecular and Cell Biology
Medical School: UCLA
Residency: Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine Primary Care and Social Internal Medicine
Track: Academic Research Track
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Academic/Clinical Interests:
HIV in Women, Global Health, Emerging Epidemics
General Interests:
Photography, film, spending time with my family
Why UCLA?
I chose UCLA for the STAR program: one year of intense clinical training at a world-renowned academic institution, followed by protected research time with support from leaders in the field. As a graduate of UCLA medical school, I can attest to the outstanding mentorship offered by the ID department, and unique opportunities in cutting edge HIV research.