Congratulations to Christine Ann Nelson, MD, who was named interim Chief of the UCSF Fresno Department of Pediatrics. Dr. Nelson's appointment was effective July 1, 2024. Thank you to John Moua, MD, for effectively serving as Chief since May 2020 through June 30, 2024.
Congratulations to Christopher Downer, MD, who was named Chief of the UCSF Fresno Department of OB-GYN. Most recently, Dr. Downer served as Program Director for the UCSF Fresno OB-Gyn Residency Program since 2016. His appointment as Chief was effective July 1, 2024. Thank you to Amy (Meg) Autry, MD, for serving as interim Chief of OB-GYN since April 1, 2022. Congratulations on your retirement, Dr. Autry.
Numerous awards were presented at the UCSF Fresno Commencement on June 13. Congratulations to the graduates and award winners.
Kudos to Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching recipient Gregory Simpson, MD, Professor, UCSF Fresno Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology.
For the full list of 2024 Commencement Award winners, please see below.
Kudos to Leigh Ann O’Banion, MD, RPVI, FACS, FSVS, faculty in the UCSF Fresno Department of Surgery, for being named among America’s Best Vascular Surgeons in 2024 by Newsweek Magazine.
Congratulations to UCSF Fresno Pre-Medical Surgical Internship (PSI) Program graduate Gabriela Lopez Ruano, who was admitted to the UC San Diego School of Medicine PRIME Health Equity. As part of the five-year program, she will earn a medical degree and a master's. “Thank you all for your support along my journey! I am happy to pay forward the mentorship I have received to current and past PSI members (or any premeds you might know that need help),” Gabriela wrote in an email to Kamell Eckroth Bernard, MD, and Milena Ocon, with the UCSF Fresno Department of Surgery and Intentional Recruitment Coalition.
Kudos to Kenny Banh, MD, assistant dean for Undergraduate Medical Education and director of UCSF Fresno Mobile HeaL. Dr. Banh was recognized by The Fresno Center during Asian American Pacific Islander Month in May for his ongoing work with the community and students. UCSF Fresno’s Brandy Ramos Nikaido also was recognized.
Congratulations to William Dominic, MD, on his retirement. Dr. Dominic is a faculty member in the UCSF Fresno Department of Surgery and longtime director of the Leon S. Peters Burn Center at Community Regional Medical Center
Kudos to Sydney Rusconi with the Office of Health Career Pathways for earning a STAR Achievement Award in recognition of her exemplary contributions and demonstrated commitment to the Chancellor’s goals and UCSF’s PRIDE values.
Congratulations to Robyn Aguiar, MSLS, medical library professional with the UCSF Fresno Hildebrand Medical Library, on her retirement.
Kudos to Angela Allison, with the Office of Health Career Pathways, on earning a master’s in Education with an option in Curriculum and Instruction from Fresno State and for earning an Outstanding Project for “Doctors Academy Summer Experience: Program Evaluation.”
Kudos to the faculty who recently joined the Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) team:
- Tim Nguyen, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of OB-GYN/Oncology, new ASPIRE Director
- Scott Reichelderfer, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Emergency Medicine, new Co-Director of Simulation joining current Co-Director Amy Kwok, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Surgery/Trauma
New Ambulatory Clerkship Champions:
- Claire Gibson, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Pediatrics
- Varsha Babu, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Medicine/Endocrinology
- Tania Zavalza Jimenez, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Family and Community Medicine
- Monique Atwal, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Psychiatry
Two new Coaches joined the current coaches Lily Hitchner, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Emergency Medicine and Leigh Ann O'Banion, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Surgery/Vascular
- Antonio Toribio, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Medicine/Hospitalist
- Hovig Artinian, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Pediatrics/Pulmonology
Welcome and congrats to Jessie Werner, MD, UCSF Fresno Department of Emergency Medicine, as our new Assistant Director of Career Advising for Fresno
Thank you to all faculty who previously contributed to this work in UME including Kamell-Eckroth Bernard, MD; Jessica Fujimoto, MD; Richard Kiel, MD; and Motasem Refaat, MD.
Congratulations to the 2024 UCSF Fresno Commencement Award Winners (complete list):
Henry J. Kaiser Award for Excellence in Teaching: Gregory Simpson, MD, Professor, UCSF Fresno Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology
House Staff Awards presented by Community Medical Centers:
Outstanding First-Year Resident: Katherine Jones, DO, UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program
Outstanding Resident or Fellow Teacher: Rameen Atefi, DO, UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program
Community Health System Teaching Excellence Award: Gregory Simpson, MD, Professor, UCSF Fresno Department of Medicine, Division of Dermatology,
Outstanding Non-Physician Teacher: Kaitlyn Loi, PharmD, BCPS, Community Regional Medical Center
Community Health System Research Excellence Award Brian Chinnock, MD, Professor, UCSF Fresno Department of Emergency Medicine
VA ICARE Award: Roman Roque, DO, MPH, UCSF Fresno Psychiatry Residency Program
Leon S. Peters Resident of the Year: Rameen Atefi, DO, UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program
Leon S. Peters Fellow of the Year: Aseel Al-Bayati, MD, UCSF Fresno Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship
Family HealthCare Network (FHCN) Excellence in Primary Care Award: Justin Kamkar, DO, UCSF Fresno Family and Community Medicine Residency Program
FHCN Excellence in Primary Care Award: Keerat Singh, DO, UCSF Fresno Family and Community Medicine Residency Program
Steven N. Parks Leadership (Fresno Madera Medical Society): Jessica McFarland, MD, UCSF Fresno Infectious Diseases Fellowship
Borba Faculty Research Award: Mohammed Fayed, MD, Associate Professor, UCSF Fresno Department of Medicine, Pulmonology
Borba Research Award: Khalid Abdullah, MD, UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program
Borba Research Award: Bashar Tanous, MD, UCSF Fresno Internal Medicine Residency Program
