Abigail Fletcher, MD | Program Director
I became program director in 2017 after being on faculty for 17 years. I could not be more excited to continue to develop innovative new curriculum for the residents and maintain Long Beach Memorial as a top residency program in Southern California. I attended medical school at UCLA (go Bruins), then did an OB/GYN internship at Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia. After discovering I disliked surgery (and cold weather) but loved obstetrics, sports medicine and primary care, I switched to family medicine and graduated from Long Beach Memorial in July 2000. I also completed a fellowship in faculty development at USC after graduation.
My professional interests include maternity care, women’s health, sports medicine and LGBTQ health. As part of the maternity curriculum, I supervise prenatal care and deliveries. I am a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Medical Association and American Medical Society of Sports Medicine.
Outside of work, I enjoy running, mountain biking, triathlons and watching sports, especially football. I also spend a lot of time with my husband and 2 young children.
Cynthia Herzog, MD | Associate Program Director
Some folks around here might call me a “lifer”. I say that because my first experience at LBMFM was as a medical student in the summer of 1989 when I rotated as a fourth-year medical student. I went on to train as a resident at Long Beach from 1990 to 1993 and in my third year, I assumed the role of administrative chief resident. After graduation, I joined the faculty and I have been having fun learning and developing skills as a teacher and family physician ever since. I am now the Associate Program Director, and I assume many teaching and administrative roles at the residency program. I work with our Office Manager and Program Director on the operational functions of the Family Medicine Center.
Clinically and academically, I have interests in women’s health and preventive medicine. Recently, I have enjoyed learning about information technology and its application to medicine and patient care. Outside the residency program, I have been involved as a physician leader. I was chair of the hospital’s Physicians’ Informatics Committee as we prepared for the implementation of an entirely new electronic health record. At the state level, I have been involved with the California Academy of Family Physicians, having served as a member of the Medical Student and Residency Affairs Committee and president of the CAFP-Foundation.
I am an alumna of Loma Linda University Medical School and I completed my undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of California, Irvine.
Brooke La Duca, MD | Associate Program Director
I am a graduate of University of Southern California School of Medicine and completed my residency training here at Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine. After graduating residency, I joined a small group practice, with several other LBM graduates in Los Alamitos, California. We provided ambulatory and inpatient care to both adult and pediatric patients. I was also very fortunate to be able to continue teaching students from USC, UCI and UCLA within the context of my busy practice. Although I enjoyed my private practice very much, when the opportunity to return to the program arose, I jumped at it without hesitation.
My professional interests include Global Health, Hospital and preventive medicine. I recently completed the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Institute in Tropical Medicine and Public Health Program. The knowledge and the connections that I garnered at Johns Hopkins allowed me to establish a Global Health area of concentration for the residency program. I have been traveling extensively and working hard to establish more connections globally to further enrich the Global Health AOC.
Outside of my professional life, I enjoy spending time with my family, traveling, participating in marathons and triathlons, cooking, skiing, boating, hiking and pretty much anything outdoors.
Jeffrey S. Luther, MD | Director Emeritus/Director of Health Policy
Having attended medical school at UC Irvine and completed my residency training at San Pedro Peninsula Hospital and Glendale Adventist Medical Center, I joined the full-time faculty here in 1993 after working in private practice in Oxnard and Torrance, California. Among my roles here I served as Program Director from 2010 to 2017 and Associate Program Director prior to that. Having handed over the Program Director reins I am now able to concentrate on areas of particular interest to me, including addressing health policy and advocacy in residency training. I also coordinate our weekly House Calls Service, which takes me and the residents out to some of the more colorful neighborhoods of Long Beach. I have particular clinical interest in immunizations and vaccine-preventable diseases, in asthma and allergy, and in electrocardiography.
Outside of the office I am actively involved with the California Academy of Family Physicians. I am a CAFP Past-President and serve as a Delegate to the AAFP’s Congress of Delegates. I also work on CME development and as a CME speaker for the CAFP. On the home front, I enjoy music, sports (particularly soccer), cooking and brewing beer. My wife, Nicole Reilley, is a United Methodist Minister, and we have one son, Jacob, who is a fourth-year medical student in New York.
Carrie Fields, DO | Director, Westside Neighborhood Clinic
I joined the full-time faculty in 1995 after three fun-filled years doing my residency at Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine. As with Cindy Herzog, my initial entry point was a fourth-year medical student clinical rotation, so perhaps that makes me a “lifer” as well….not such a bad deal! I consider myself most fortunate in that, as I was making my career plans as an R3, an opportunity arose to assume the Medical Directorship of the underserved clinic through which we rotated.
I have been teaching community based medicine at the Westside Neighborhood Clinic since graduation, and have recently completed a fellowship in Addressing the Health Needs of the Underserved. I also serve as a member of the Long Beach Diabetes Collaborative, a citywide, multidisciplinary organization that is looking at innovative ways to bring improved diabetes care to our diverse and challenging population. I have also been involved in designing a project to prevent obesity in Latino youth.
On a personal note, I am a mommy to 18-year old twins, as well as a being “Ariel’s Mom” to my wonderful 26-year-old, who was born during my second year of residency. My husband George, is a local family physician. We love traveling, staying involved in our community and watching videos and getting pizza delivery on Friday nights…our movie theater days currently being on hold!
Wendy Linderholm, PsyD | Director of Behavioral Medicine
I am a Clinical Health Psychologist with specific training in family practice and patient populations. I completed my undergraduate work at the University of Colorado, Boulder, and my Doctor of Psychology degree at the California School of Professional Psychology here in LA. The Doctor of Psychology degree, or PsyD (pronounced “sigh-dee”), is equivalent to a PhD in psychology with a greater emphasis on clinical work. In practice, that means I have had more years of direct clinic work, more clinical supervision, and a specific training focus on the application of research to patient populations.
I happily worked in the family medicine residency setting for four years at the Glendale Adventist Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program, before coming to Long Beach. I also have specific interest in oncology, HIV and AIDS, neurological disorders, and the relationship of lifestyle and stress to health.
I believe that family medicine is the gateway to all health care, and so represents a unique opportunity for assessment, education and appropriate referrals to create the best care for all. I believe that as a multidisciplinary team we can, in a creative and caring way, have an enormous impact on our community. My goals as Behavioral Medicine Director are three-fold:
- To provide education regarding assessment, diagnosis, treatment and referrals for the psycho-social issues of our community.
- To organize and continually improve our residents’ Behavioral Medicine education, including the opportunities of trainings, shadowing and direct clinical experience.
- To provide support and practical guidance in the professional and personal development of our residents.
Beyond my work, I love being outside and being active – anything from hiking and camping in the mountains, all the way to dancing Hawaiian Hula.
Rose Ruiz Swords, MD | Director of Maternity Care
I am fortunate to have found Memorial Family Medicine, a place I love to work and have plenty of opportunity to grow.
After obtaining my Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at UC Davis, I attended medical school at UC Irvine. While I had every intention of moving back to Northern California after medical school, Long Beach Memorial became my first choice for residency after spending a month here as a medical student. I was torn between my love for OB and primary care when deciding on a residency, but was able to find a great blend of both. The location of the residency program also allowed me to interact with a variety of patients, especially Spanish speaking patients which I am drawn to given my Mexican Heritage (which is at times difficult to guess given my married name of Swords).
Residency was so great that when the opportunity arose to join the faculty following graduation in 2010, I knew there would be no other position that would even compare.
As director of maternity care, I supervise prenatal care and deliveries. I also meet with residents twice a month to discuss continuity OB patients.
I enjoy women’s health, diabetes management and office procedures as well as working with residents and medical students. I am a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the California Academy of Family Physicians.
Outside of work, I love to spend time cooking and exploring new places with my husband and two wonderful children. I look forward to serving the community of Long Beach for many more years to come.
Lauren Barnes, MD | Director of Inpatient Medicine
I am so excited to be a part of the Memorial Family Medicine team! I was one of those crazy people that combined my BS/MD degree, completing my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences at UC Riverside and then going on to medical school at UCLA (go Bruins!). I got the travel bug in medical school and took a year to travel throughout Central America and Africa, exploring international medicine (one of my interests).
In medical school, I kept hearing all the hype about the Long Beach program, so I decided to come check it out as a 4th year student. Well, it quickly felt like home, and I can’t imagine having done my residency anywhere else. During residency, I realized how much I loved inpatient medicine and teaching. I was ecstatic when the perfect position was created for an Assistant Director of Inpatient Medicine in the summer of 2010.
I am now Director of Inpatient Medicine and work alongside Dr La Duca with our inpatient family medicine service, developing our curriculum and overseeing patient care. Some of my other interests are women’s health, office procedures and international medicine. I am currently looking forward to continue to grow with our program and community of Long Beach.
In my free time, I enjoy traveling whenever I can, baking (mostly things containing chocolate), dinner parties, spending time with my family and friends, and the occasional run.
Pamela Wade, MSN – FNP
I joined Memorial Family Medicine in January 2011 after working at Westside Neighborhood Clinic for 10 years. I am a Family Nurse Practitioner with a multitude of interests. I obtained my RN license in 1985 and worked as a NICU nurse and nursing supervisor for 15 years. I returned to school and obtained a Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 1994 and a Master of Science in Nursing in 1999 with a focus in family medicine.
I love community health and currently split my time between Memorial Family Medicine and Westside Neighborhood Clinic, an underserved community clinic that provides care for the uninsured. The clinic also serves as a wonderful clinical rotation for our residents during their 2nd and 3rd year of residency. I also have experience as an NP in pediatrics and women’s health.
Personally, I am a wife and proud parent of 3 wonderful children. My free time is spent with friends and family. I also enjoy watching and attending sporting events, especially college football and basketball.
Joshua Snodgrass, MD, CAQSM | Director – Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowship
Originally from Southern California. My road to medicine is different than most. I started life as a semi-professional skateboarder in the late 80’s and early 90’s. This transitioned into working on race teams and eventually taking an academic position with Ford Motor Company. I have since received an Associates in Applied Technology from RCC, a Bachelors in Molecular Neuroscience from UCSC, a Masters in Cyber Security from SNHU, and finally the obvious Medical Degree from Ross.
I am excited to join the Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine Residency team.
Elana Craemer, MD, MPH | Director of Women’s Health
I am extremely excited to join the MFM residency program after being faculty in academic medicine for four years. I completed medical school and residency in the Bronx, New York at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in Family and Social Medicine. While in medical school I completed a master’s degree in public health at the Harvard School of Public Health that focused on family and community health. My professional passions are family planning, LGBTQ health, underserved medicine, advocacy and community empowerment. I am a member of the American Family Physician, the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine, the National Abortion Federation, the Society for Family Planning and the World Professional Association for Transgender Health.
Beyond my work, I enjoy nature, being active, family time and traveling.
Odrin Castillo, DO, MPH | Director of Community Engagement & Diversity
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. I went to San Francisco State University for undergrad and graduated from Touro University with a dual DO/MPH degree. Having lived in the Bay Area my whole life I would have never entertained the thought that SoCal could possibly be better than the Bay… but after doing a rotation at a another community hospital in Long Beach I found a vibrant, diverse community filled with good food, incredible culture, and so much sunshine. I fell in love with the city, never wanted to leave, and was fortunate to have matched at my top-ranked residency program, Long Beach Memorial.
During my three years of residency I completed the Community Medicine track, which allowed me to explore my passion for delivering care to underserved populations. I also developed an LGBT curriculum that will be adapted to become the new LGBT Medicine area of concentration in the residency program. I feel so lucky to have the opportunity to stay at this program to teach students and residents, to explore and further my passions in medicine, and to continue to develop innovative curriculum.
Outside of medicine I love Bay Area sports (San Francisco Giants, Golden State Warriors, San Francisco 49ers), a cappella music, musicals, board games, crossword puzzles and Disneyland.
Current 2020-2021 Fellow
Alex Dydyk DO
Incoming Fellow
Applications taken only through ERAS system. Interviews will be virtual for the 2020 application cycle.
Previous fellows:
- 2019-2020: Alexander Hu, DO, CAQSM (pending)
- 2018-2019: Andrew Nobe, MD, CAQSM
- 2017-2018: David C. Shin, MD, CAQSM
- 2016-2017: Anthony Chu, DO, CAQSM
- 2015-2016: Joshua Snodgrass, MD, CAQSM
- 2014-2015: Jeffrey Lai, MD, CAQSM
Valerie Burstein, MD – The Ohio State University
From: Camarillo, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? For me, it was important to find a family medicine residency that prepares residents to work in any type of setting for any types of patients. I looked for an unopposed residency in a diverse community with strong inpatient and outpatient training. Long Beach Memorial provided just that, along with a mixed feel of community and academic medicine. On interview day, I was surprised to see how friendly and enthusiastic the residents were about their program. I could tell that their unique interests were supported and valued by the faculty.
Medical Interests: Combined inpatient/outpatient medicine, academic medicine, refugee/immigrant health. Still exploring the many facets of family medicine
Hobbies: Naturally competitive, I love sports, especially soccer and tennis. When I need to relax, I like to read, sip on coffee, and maybe do some yoga alongside my Chesapeake Bay Retriever
Fun Fact About Yourself: I like to travel and practice my Spanish. I have been lucky to spend months in Panama, Bolivia, and, most recently, Costa Rica.
Connor Farrell, DO – Western University
From: Pleasanton, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I had the opportunity to do a sub-I at Long Beach Memorial during by 4th year of medical school. During my month-long rotation there were a handful of things I came to love about the program. First, the people were incredible! From the faculty to ancillary staff to the residents, everyone was kind, helpful and open minded, encouraged critical thinking/learning, and fostered a positive learning environment. Secondly, it checked all of the boxes I wanted out of a program: sports medicine opportunities through both an associated fellowship and area of concentration, a multicultural/diverse patient population, countless opportunities to be involved in the community through outreach programs, and an ultrasound curriculum. Because of all of this, I know that my experience at Long Beach Memorial will allow me to grow into the physician I want to be.
Medical Interests: Sports Medicine, Functional Medicine, Ultrasound, Health Policy, Healthcare Management and Administration
Hobbies: In my spare time I enjoy CrossFit, watching and/or playing sports (go Niners, Warriors, Giants and Sharks!!), hiking, traveling and adventure photography (goes with the hiking and traveling). Sometimes I’ll also sit down and read a book too!
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have two awesome Australian Shepherds (Rufus and Remy) with whom I do all of the aforementioned activities.
Lutetia Li, MD – Case Western Reserve University
From: Shanghai, China
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? My interview at Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine gave me a warm and tingly feeling, the only time I felt this on the interview trail. After the interview I was extremely excited and also terrified that I wouldn’t be good enough, and those feelings sealed the deal! Everyone I met during interview day was beaming with energy and happiness. My interviewers expressed excitement about my application. The program presentation included everything I want from a family medicine residency, health policy, including LGBTQ care, women’s health, underserved medicine, global health, etc. I am especially impressed that the program already has a family planning curriculum, which was very important to me.
My partner’s preference was also a priority in deciding the program. Luckily, he also liked Long Beach the most among all the other places I interviewed so everything worked out!
Medical Interests: Immigrant/refugee health, preventive medicine, women’s health, family planning, gender-affirming care, geriatrics, palliative medicine, and so much more!
Hobbies: Currently I am working on making my apartment a comfortable place. I do little projects such as making curtains, cushion covers and decorations. I love learning new things and my newest goal is to learn surfing someday!
Fun Fact About Yourself: I dance Argentine Tango
Arissa Ma, MD – UC San Diego
From: Fremont, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I actually decided to apply to the Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine program after reading about the residents on this website! After my interview day and post-interview dinner, everything I had read and heard about the residents and faculty rang true. I felt so warmly welcomed by both faculty and residents, and I could tell that everyone was truly part of a family here. In addition, the program’s curriculum and mission fit with all my career interests and goals – serving a diverse community, emphasis on full-spectrum training, community engagement, and strong training in all aspects of women’s health and OB. I knew that I would be well-prepared to pursue any career path I desired within family medicine with my training at Long Beach Memorial.
Medical Interests: Women’s health, family planning, OB, pediatrics, preventive medicine, mentorship/teaching and outpatient procedures
Hobbies: Cooking, eating, Netflix, traveling, cross-stitching, listening to true-crime podcasts, board games and spending time with family and friends
Fun Fact About Yourself: I studied abroad in Hong Kong in college and loved traveling throughout Asia!
Jennifer Perdomo, MD – USC
From: Los Angeles, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I first learned about Long Beach Memorial when my colleague, Susie Sandoval, matched at this exact program. Later, the Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine program hosted an ultrasound workshop at USC and I had a great time learning from the residents and faculty who came that day. When I learned more about the program, including the diversity of training and opportunities that are available, it quickly became a top contender among other programs and ultimately won me over as number 1. After my interview day I was further reassured of these sentiments. Every person that I met was so genuine and down-to-earth and each had such varying interests within family medicine. Further, they were all so welcoming, and I could tell they were supportive and a family. As someone who has interest in women’s health, reproductive rights, and mentorship I knew that this was the perfect place as it offered me opportunities within my interests (if you can dream it, they’ve got it!). I especially love that it is a community program and that I have the opportunity to have such a diverse patient panel. I look forward to meeting patients from all walks of life who will aid me in becoming the best physician I can be with the support of the Long Beach Family Medicine training program.
Medical Interests: Women’s health, family planning, community medicine, mentorship and pipeline programs for underrepresented minorities in healthcare
Hobbies: Spending time with my partner of eleven years and family, trying new restaurants/food, eating my sister’s baked goods, yoga, and at home workouts
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have been fond of pandas since I was in third grade, when I wrote a report about them. I have a lot of random panda knick-knacks and even nicknamed my baby (due August, 2020) Panda puff.
Julie Schafer, DO – Western University
From: Mission Viejo, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? During my Sub-I at Long Beach Memorial I was struck by how incredibly kind, supportive and fun loving the entire faculty, staff and residents are. I knew from my first few days there that it was a good fit! The learning environment is collaborative and the patient population diverse and in need. Beyond that, the program cares about its patients and residents and strives to improve care in a meaningful way. I felt like everyone really supported each other and valued teamwork. Long Beach Memorial FM also has the opportunity for further training in women’s health/OB while still training well-rounded physicians. I also thought how the residents would work up their patients in the ER before admission to be a unique and invaluable experience for training. Overall, I am so happy to have chosen Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine for residency.
Medical Interests: OB/Maternity care and women’s health, community medicine and underserved care, inpatient medicine, and preventive medicine
Hobbies: Hiking and camping with my two dogs (Rufus and Remy), reading, baking, gardening and spending time with my family and friends
Fun Fact About Yourself: I taught a summer soccer camp with World Cup Champion Julie Foudy and I love to bake (and eat) pies!
Andy Shen, MD – UC Davis
From: El Monte, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I chose Long Beach Memorial because of the dedication to diverse, underserved communities, the well-rounded, full-spectrum program, and the kindness and support from the entire staff. With a variety of community outreach programs and initiatives to improve the Long Beach community it was clear that Long Beach Memorial would be a perfect fit for me where I can thrive and grow to be a family physician. During my interview everyone was so open and supportive that I felt connected to the residents and faculty, and I’m incredibly happy that I was matched at Long Beach Memorial.
Medical Interests: Family planning, women’s health, LGBTQ+ medicine, HIV medicine, transgender medicine, community medicine, underserved communities, palliative care, healthcare access, public health and many more!
Hobbies: Cooking, eating, badminton, reading fiction, anime/manga and volunteering
Fun Fact About Yourself: 12 years of perfect attendance in the El Monte City School District and El Monte Unified High School District
Frank Valdez, MD – UC Davis
From: Baldwin Park, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? When choosing a residency program I wanted to be somewhere in which the mission statement paralleled my own—caring for underserved communities similar to the one in which I grew up. What made LBM stand out among other programs was its strong training in my areas of interest such as mental health and LBGTQ+ medicine. Most importantly, I wanted to have a sense of family that I had during medical school at UC Davis. I immediately experienced that sense of family during my interview at LBM. Then, during my second look, I was welcomed back with tons of smiles and hugs. Despite not having a relationship with the residents, attendings and staff beforehand, I felt as if I was already a part of the LBM family and decided that this was the perfect place for me to thrive not only as a physician, but also as a human being.
Medical Interests: Underserved populations, family planning, LGBTQ+ medicine and mental health, among many others!
Hobbies: Hiking, jogging, Netflix (drama, horror, independent films, docuseries), exploring new restaurants and spending time with my family and friends—especially my little niece, “Weasel.”
Fun Fact About Yourself: I wanted to be a writer growing up. As a child I was fascinated by R.L. Stine’s “Goosebumps” anthology series and TV show. I was inspired to write a book entitled Beware of Killer Trees for my “Mystery Horrors” book series in elementary school.
Cecilia Huang, MD – University of Pittsburgh
From: Munster, IN
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I first heard about Long Beach Memorial at the National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Students as a 4th year medical student. I met some of the current residents and faculty, and everyone seemed so happy, kind, and enthusiastic. I left our conversation with a big smile on my face and the idea that those were the kind of people that I wanted to work alongside. I also love how broad in scope the practice and curriculum are here at LBM, and I knew that the training I received here would prepare me for any kind of family medicine career in the future!
Medical Interests: Women’s health, reproductive justice, intimate partner violence, underserved populations, preventive medicine and patient-provider relationships
Hobbies: Horseback riding, cooking, baking, eating and hanging out with my husband and dog.
Fun Fact About Yourself: I know kung fu.
Kenneth Job, MD – UC Davis
From: Fresno, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I chose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine because I was immediately drawn to the welcoming family environment among the residents. I first heard about this program through former classmates, and they each raved about the incredible bond between the faculty and residents. When I arrived for my interview I was able to experience that presence instantly. I was also drawn to the robust yet thorough training that is provided here. I have a strong interest in underserved community medicine and was drawn to the extremely diverse patient population that is treated here. I also have a passion for sports medicine and the sports medicine track aligned exactly with my future career goals. It was an easy choice to choose LBMFM and of course the amazing location and weather made it a no-brainer.
Medical Interests: Underserved community medicine, sports medicine, adolescent medicine, preventive medicine and mentorship
Hobbies: I am a huge sports fan and former athlete, so I enjoy playing and watching just about any athletic activity, binging TV, movies, anything that involves food, and I dabble with the piano from time to time
Fun Fact About Yourself: I am undefeated as basketball coach (4th grade elementary league in 2012 – Los Osos!)
Rochelle LaCaze, MD, MPH – Virginia Commonwealth University
From: Southern California
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? When looking for a residency program it was really important to me to find a program that trained well-rounded family physicians capable of working in any setting. Additionally, I have medical interests in both OB and community medicine, so I wanted a program that would provide me with a lot of exposure to OB and that integrated community medicine into the curriculum and provided opportunities to understand better and to address the health needs of the community. Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine offered all of that! In addition to receiving high quality training, I also wanted a program that made me feel comfortable and supported. Ultimately, I chose Long Beach Memorial because of how happy and amazingly kind the residents and faculty are. Everyone is so welcoming and supportive of one another. During my interview it became very clear to me that the residency was more than just a group of individuals working together, it’s a family, and having that sense of family was very important to me.
Medical Interests: OB, women’s health, community medicine, preventive medicine, underserved populations and pediatrics, I could continue on but I’ll stop for now.
Hobbies: In my spare time, I enjoy hanging out with the my husband and family. I also really enjoy reading a good book. My favorite genre is fantasy but I’ll read anything. If I have enough spare time then my absolute favorite thing to do is travel.
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have been fortunate enough to have traveled to 18 different countries and have flown well over 100k miles!
Ariana Martinez, MD – UC Davis
From: Oxnard, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I chose Long Beach Memorial because it had everything I was looking for in a residency program, including a diverse patient population, a commitment to community engagement and full spectrum training. I was also looking for a community-based program with strong outpatient and inpatient training, strong pediatric training and an ultrasound curriculum. The program has it all! I was blown away by the various opportunities available to explore my interests in community medicine, sports medicine and global health. In addition, I loved all the different opportunities available to residents to be involved with underserved communities and outreach/mentorship programs. Residents, faculty and staff all made me feel right at home on interview day and I was impressed by the genuinely supportive environment. I felt this program would give me the best training and allow me to flourish as a physician. I’m very excited to be training at Long Beach!
Medical Interests: Community medicine, preventive medicine, sports medicine, global health and adolescent medicine.
Hobbies: Strength training, running, hiking, playing basketball, spending time with my family, watching sports (live and TV) and binge-watching Netflix
Fun Fact About Yourself: I’m very clumsy. I’m terrified of rollercoasters. I own a harmonica and can play one song (Happy Birthday).
Eric Pai, MD – Loma Linda University
From: Oak Park, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? Among the many outstanding family medicine programs in California, Long Beach Memorial stood out to me as a place where I would receive rigorous, comprehensive training to care for the underserved within a warm, supportive environment. I was looking for strong pediatrics training, active engagement with the local community and commitment to the medically underserved. Long Beach Memorial offers all of this as a community hospital with qualities of an academic teaching hospital. I also sensed enthusiasm, compassion and humility among the residents, faculty, and staff in what they do as part of this community.
Medical Interests: Urban underserved medicine, pediatrics, mentorship/teaching, whole person care and spiritual care.
Hobbies: I enjoy exploring and experiencing new sights and sounds through traveling, hiking, reading, playing/listening to music, visiting museums, trying out restaurants/cafes/dessert shops, cooking and doing art projects.
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a fascination with owls, which is the mascot of my alma mater, Rice University. I have a growing collection of owl figurines from different parts of the world and I got to hold a live Indian eagle-owl on my arm while in Japan!
Christian Ramirez Haro, MD – Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
From: Jalisco, Mexico
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? The program meets my goals in life. Build strong and continued physician-patient relationships. True continuity of care. An outstanding inpatient medicine curriculum plus the warm of a FM Program.
Medical Interests: Evidence-based medicine and healthy aging of our seniors. After residency I’d like to study a fellowship in Geriatric Medicine
Hobbies: On a personal note, I enjoy traveling, watching Netflix and spending time with my loved ones.
Fun Fact About Yourself: When I was a child my mom used to take me to Latino dance classes. She always told me it was going to be useful later in my life… It wasn’t.
Nam Thai, MD – UC Irvine
From: San Gabriel Valley, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? As a medical student I had many opportunities to work with the community of Long Beach during clinical rotations, including at LBMMC. These collective experiences allowed me to appreciate the breadth of diversity that this community offers, which is also reflected in the patient population that we serve. Our residency program is truly ingrained within the fabric of this community through a number of outreach efforts that all speak to my interests. From pipeline programs to free clinics, LGBT health, homeless outreach and health education at local schools, we have it all! I love that our program offers unmatched academic training in a community setting with a socially conscious mission. Our faculty members all have diverse interests and there are various areas of concentrations for you to foster your own passions. Additionally, every resident that I had worked with as a medical student and met on interview day was super nice and welcoming. I am ecstatic to be a part of this family!
Medical Interests: Outpatient primary care, underserved and community medicine, LGBT health, public health, mentorship and pipeline programming, ultrasound and geriatrics
Hobbies: Exploring and reviewing new food places on Yelp, exercising, spinning, taking walks on the beach, singing karaoke, drawing, painting and hand lettering
Fun Fact About Yourself: I was born in Vietnam and spent the first eight years of my life there before immigrating to the US. One of my favorite ways to keep up my Vietnamese is through singing karaoke!
Fari Valji, MD – USC
From: San Juan Capistrano, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? When interviewing for residency, I knew I wanted to be in a supportive environment that would allow me to pursue my interests, but aside from that I had no idea how I was going to choose where I wanted to be. The advice “Go with your gut” didn’t take on any meaning until my interview day at Long Beach Memorial. Everyone I met during my day, from the program coordinator greeting us in the morning to my interviewers and the residents at noon conference were warm, inviting and inspiring. As I moved through the day, I learned about the training environment, the opportunities to work in and with the community, and the support system that was offered by the program, and there was no turning back for me! I believe that the diverse patient population that is served at the hospital and the thoughtfulness of the curriculum, including specialized tracks, the ultrasound curriculum and unique opportunities like the teen clinics, the clinic at The Center, and participating in outreach programs will allow me to become the best physician I can be. I am so excited to be able to join the Long Beach Memorial program and family!
Medical Interests: Women’s health and family planning, adolescent medicine, community medicine, health policy, teaching and medical education, mentorship and pipeline programs
Hobbies: Spending time with my friends and family, exploring new coffee shops (and eating pastries!), group fitness classes, yoga, hiking (that I define as casually walking outside to beautiful views), listening to podcasts, farmer’s markets, trying new recipes and board games.
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a twin sister!
Roshelle Chan, MD – UC Davis
From: San Francisco, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? When I first learned about Long Beach Memorial, it struck me as a very warm, unique and well-rounded place to train. During my interview and revisit, not only did meeting everyone at the program affirm my initial feelings, but I was also very impressed with the positive energy and kindness of the entire team. Whether staff, patients or visitors, everyone was welcomed and included as a part of their family. The work and learning environment is incredibly supportive and collaborative. Their mission and commitment to serve diverse, underserved communities were very apparent, and I was especially drawn to the many opportunities for community work with youth, women, and LGBTQ populations. This, along with the well-balanced and broad spectrum curriculum, convinced me that LBM would be a perfect fit. I’m thrilled to join this program and the Long Beach family!
Medical Interests: Underserved community medicine, preventive medicine, health education, women’s health, sexual health.
Hobbies: Traveling to scenic locations, trying all types of desserts, going to amusement parks, eating sour candy, decorating things, and spending quality time with friends and family.
Fun Fact About Yourself: I’ve never been bitten by a mosquito! (…or at least never had a reaction to a bite.)
I love activities involving heights, such as rollercoasters, high glass elevators and zip-lining.
Chelsey Ferrell, DO – AT Still University
From: Bakersfield, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I was looking for a strong family medicine program in California that offered a community environment, a friendly and supportive work environment, and the opportunity to pursue an emphasis in OB and maternity care. My whole interview experience really influenced me to make LBM my number one choice, as it was a very warm, inviting, friendly atmosphere. It also just felt like a great fit to be back in Southern California, close to my and my husband’s families, and to be by the beach, which has always been my wish. I got the impression that LBM really supports and allows their residents to take many different routes within family medicine and helps to develop those interests. The availability of multiple diverse specialized “tracks” was very appealing to me, especially one in OB/ maternity care.
Medical Interests: OB/maternity care, women’s health, pediatrics, procedures, and community and underserved medical care, to name just a few.
Hobbies: Spending time with my husband and our doggie daughter, Jaeda, visiting family, eating, trying new restaurants, Philadelphia Eagles football, NFL and sports games in general, frolicking on the beach, painting, reality TV shows, and shopping.
Fun Fact About Yourself: I am a newlywed as of April 2018! Somehow my husband predicted that we would get married in the year 2017, when we met in high school in 2011, despite the fact that we did not have any sort of romantic relationship back then. Though his prediction was off by a few months, he still reminds almost daily about how he predicted the future.
Melissa Huynh, MD – Virginia Commonwealth University
From: Oceanside, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? Where do I begin?! Long Beach Memorial’s curriculum, resident culture and learning environment were exactly what I was looking for and I did not have to compromise on anything. An active commitment to community engagement, an underserved/diverse patient population, and full-spectrum training were my “must-haves”, and the program has it all! In addition, the ultrasound curriculum and training in LGBTQ care are such unique aspects, and although I did not necessarily have those interests initially, I was beyond excited for these opportunities. In the end though, it was truly the residents, staff and faculty on the day of my interview who all made it seem like this place would be where I felt at home and comfortable with having not just the good days, but also any bad days.
Medical Interests: Community medicine, global health, preventive medicine, palliative medicine, teaching and adolescent medicine.
Hobbies: Anything that involves being outside, such as hiking, backpacking or even “glamping”. I also love planning trips abroad, and my current goal is to travel to a different continent every year of residency.
Fun Fact About Yourself: In my fourth year of medical school I got kicked out of the National Portrait Gallery for sneaking in to see the Obama portrait after hours.
Amy Komure, MD, MPH – USC
From: Stockton, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I first heard about Long Beach Memorial when one of the residents spoke at the CAFP FM Summit, and I remember being so impressed by their story. I felt like this program had the right balance of rigor, extra-curricular activities and community involvement with a diverse patient population, and faculty who were committed to continuing to improve the program. I felt right at home with everyone I met during my interview day and found myself looking forward to seeing them all again at the social. Two out of my three sisters also live in Long Beach, so I was happy to move closer to them.
Medical Interests: Full spectrum family medicine! Also public health, policy, health care access and delivery models, social determinants, women’s health and health education.
Hobbies: Musicals, San Francisco Giants, Villanova basketball, Netflix, eating and sometimes cooking, trying to improve my knitting skills, reading, and relaxing with my family
Fun Fact About Yourself: I realized I was accident prone after breaking my fourth bone. I know every line of Hamilton and saw the original Broadway cast in New York.
Justin Mauser, MD – Virginia Commonwealth University
From: Phoenix, AZ
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I learned about the LBM Family Medicine program when I met Dr. Herzog and a few of the residents at the annual Family Medicine Conference in Kansas City in my fourth year of medical school. Their overall enthusiasm for the program and Long Beach as a whole roped me in right away. It was pretty obvious from the start that this was my dream program as they characterized their broad-spectrum training, a wellness curriculum prioritizing resident health and wellness, and a strong sports medicine track with opportunities for outpatient procedural training, as well as a newly developed point of care ultrasound curriculum. I am fortunate to have joined a training site that feels like it was tailor-made to my interests with a social and inclusive group of residents and faculty that immediately made me feel a part of their family. It doesn’t hurt that I am now in the beautiful SoCal climate that is conducive to my many outdoor hobbies and much closer to my family in Phoenix compared to my alma mater in Richmond, Virginia.
Medical Interests: All over the place, but include sports medicine, point of care/musculoskeletal ultrasound, wilderness medicine, integrative health, and implementation of wellness and nutrition programs for the prevention of chronic disease at both community and institutional levels.
Hobbies: Cooking with herbs from my garden, watching cult classic movies, trail running, backcountry camping, live music, and bicycle touring. I’m hoping to learn to sail here in LB!
Fun Fact About Yourself: I wrestled from the time I was six years old and went on to win the 5A DII Arizona state championship in 2007 at 145 pounds. Side note: I was coached shortly by American wrestler and Olympian Rulon Gardner before he won the gold medal in Sydney in the 2000 Olympics.
Daniel Reichman, DO – Touro University
From: San Fernando Valley, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? During my fourth year sub-internship, I was lucky enough to see firsthand how Long Beach Memorial combines large academic center resources with the feeling of a much smaller community hospital – all with a strong emphasis on community involvement and underserved populations. The culture here, from the top down, simultaneously carries the weight of responsibility for your patients while also maintaining a lightness that can only come from a group of people who truly enjoy what they do. That culture creates an environment where everyone learns from each other with the common goals of self-improvement, systems improvement and compassionate, thoughtful patient care. Most of all, I’m excited about Long Beach Memorial because I know that this program will provide both the challenges and the support to help mold me into the best physician that I can possibly be. Having grown up in the San Fernando Valley, being close to my family during residency is icing on the cake!
Medical Interests: Sports medicine, community medicine, geriatrics, adolescent medicine, underserved populations, global health, preventive medicine, mental health, inpatient medicine, diabetes, and mentorship.
Hobbies: Camping, hiking, basketball, reading, listening to podcasts, amateur woodworking, and spending time with my grandma.
Fun Fact About Yourself: In college I worked at a Teen Center and lost at least two (but more commonly four to five) games of foosball every shift I worked.
Gregory Reynolds, MD, MPH – UC Davis
From: Concord and Colfax, CA
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I chose Long Beach Memorial because of the strong emphasis on community and service to the people of Long Beach, in combination with a curriculum that prepares well-rounded, competent family physicians. Not to mention the faculty and residents at this program were incredibly kind, open to questions and generally welcoming in all of my experiences and made this program feel instantly like home. Also, being close to the beach and in the sunshine never hurts.
Medical Interests: I am an unabashed generalist, but if forced to choose I would say that behavioral health and community medicine are my strongest interests, although I enjoy pediatrics, geriatrics, OB and sports as well.
Hobbies: My hobbies include running, hiking and generally spending time outdoors, along with keeping a peripheral eye on the vast majority of professional sports. I also enjoy movies, TV, music and general pop culture.
Fun Fact About Yourself: I have a strange love of New Zealand and its culture, especially its humor. Flight of the Conchords and Taika Waititi movies make me laugh a ridiculous amount.
Phoebe Smith, MD – Rosalind Franklin University
From: Tucson, AZ
Why did you choose Long Beach Memorial Family Medicine as your training site? I chose Long Beach for a multitude of reasons. I have always wanted to live in Southern California, so a lot of my residency search focused in this area. When I discovered this program in Long Beach, I was drawn in by the community hospital environment with strong academic ties. The patient population in the clinic and hospital is truly diverse and the program has long-standing roots in the surrounding community. I was especially drawn to the connection with the local LGBTQ center and the opportunity to work to create a more robust focus in this underserved area of medicine. In the end, of course, I felt welcomed and happy on my interview day talking to the friendly residents and faculty. Even after long shifts, the residents were having a good time with one another and seemed genuinely pleased to be where they were.
Medical Interests: Women’s health, LGBTQ+ health, maternity care, adolescent medicine, and procedures.
Hobbies: Reading (especially fantasy and sci-fi), dancing for fun and fitness, getting outdoors to the beach/mountains, traveling as much as possible, and hanging out with my two cats, Beans and Butternut
Fun Fact About Yourself: I used to have a pet tarantula when I was a kid.
Joshua Snodgrass, MD
Fellowship Director
Dr. Snodgrass started his journey as a mechanic for Ford Motor Company in the late 90’s. He worked in custom hot rod shops and on racing teams. After obtaining a B.S. in Neuroscience from the University of California Santa Cruz, he began working for the Orange County Water District as an Environmental Specialist. Dr. Snodgrass then returned to academia and medical school, and completed a residency in Family Medicine at Phoenix Baptist Hospital, followed by a fellowship in sports medicine at Long Beach Memorial.
Dr. Snodgrass has provided medical coverage for many professional skateboarding, surfing, snowboarding, and mountain biking events. His background in the action sports industry has driven him to return to the Long Beach Memorial Sports Medicine Fellowship and expand medical training for the action sports world.
Dr. Snodgrass is also an avid tech enthusiast with advanced training in Cyber Security. He enjoys learning about IoT devices and the security of implantable medical devices. He loves to discuss upcoming threats in the medical world in relation to the expanding landscape of connected implantable devices.
In his spare time, he surfs, rides motorcycles, snowboards, and enjoys watching MMA and hockey.
David Kruse, MD
Dr. Kruse holds two board certifications, sports medicine and family medicine, and practices as a Primary Care Sports Medicine specialist. Dr. Kruse’s clinical expertise includes non-operative orthopedics and sports medicine, general musculoskeletal care, sports concussion, general medical needs of the athlete, and musculoskeletal procedures including joint and tissue injections. Dr. Kruse also has special insight into the care of the injured gymnast or dancer.
Dr. Kruse grew up in Florida but followed his personal sports aspirations to the University of California, Berkeley, via a full athletic scholarship for gymnastics. While competing for Berkeley, he was a 3-time captain, 6-time All-American, UC Berkeley Male Student-Athlete of the Year, Pac 10 Medal Recipient, and won an NCAA Team Championship. He continued his gymnastics career after college, competing full-time internationally as a 4-time member of the USA Gymnastics Senior National Team.
After retiring from gymnastics, Dr. Kruse attended medical school at the University of California, San Diego and thereafter completed a residency in family medicine at Long Beach Memorial Medical Center. Following residency, Dr. Kruse completed fellowship training in sports medicine at the University of Notre Dame.
Before joining the Orthopaedic Specialty Institute, Dr. Kruse practiced for 4 years at the University of California Irvine as an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Family Medicine. He maintains a Volunteer Faculty position with UC Irvine in order to continue his active sports medicine teaching for medical students and residents. Dr. Kruse also serves as a resource for the community and provides many local lectures to various schools and community groups on a wide range of sports medicine topics. He also has multiple peer-reviewed journal and textbook publications on a wide range of sports medicine topics.
Dr. Kruse currently serves as USA Gymnastics Men’s National Team Physician. He is also a Team Physician for the University of California Irvine and Godinez Fundamental High School and assists with coverage for Crean Lutheran High School. In addition, Dr. Kruse provides sports concussion consultation and care for Servite High School, Santa Ana College, Santiago Canyon College, Corona Del Mar High School, and multiple other local sports programs.
Dr. Kruse is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Society for Sports Medicine (AMSSM) and the American College of Sports Medicine. He has chaired multiple committees with the AMSSM and is part of the Program Planning Committee for the AMSSM Annual Meeting.
Dr. Kruse’s outside interests include spending time with his wife Mindi and their two children, Alex and Lyla. He also enjoys yoga, surfing, playing guitar, and catching up on all sports by watching SportsCenter.
Kenneth Y. Huh, MD
Kenneth Huh, M.D., is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon at Miller Children's Hospital Long Beach with a focus in sports medicine, trauma, hip reconstruction and foot deformities.
He received his medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Dr. Huh completed his general orthopedic surgery internship and residency at the University of Southern California.
He later traveled to Auckland, New Zealand to complete his fellowship in pediatric orthopedic surgery at Starship Children's Hospital. During his time at Starship Children's Hospital, he presented on numerous orthopedic matters, including Congenital Scoliosis, Cerebral Palsy and Calcaneal Gait.
Dr. Huh also completed a second fellowship in sports medicine with the Sports Orthopedics and Rehab (SOAR) Medical Group after co-authoring various publications for the Journal of Pediatric Orthopedics.
His clinical interest is primarily in pediatric sports medicine and he is currently the head physician for two local high school sports teams.