Resident Physician Profiles

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences

Hello! I'm Nader, I was born and raised in Saudi Arabia and moved to California in 2009. I graduated from UC San Diego with a degree in Neuroscience and Physiology, and afterwards attended osteopathic medical school at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona.I knew early on that Marian Regional Medical Center would be a perfect place for me to complete my residency training because of how welcoming and genuinely caring the people here are. I believe strongly in the healing power of kindness, gratitude, and awe; and deeply cherish my contemplative practices and osteopathic training. I chose to go into Family Medicine because it encompasses my love for building long-term relationships, partnering with patients in improving wellness through lifestyle and prevention of illness, and performing osteopathic hands-on treatment. Outside of the clinic/hospital, I enjoy nourishing practices like mindfulness meditation, yoga, and time in nature; as well as board games with friends, video games, and sailing. I sincerely wish you peace, joy, and wellness on your journey!

Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hello, everyone! My name is Henry. I'm originally from Los Angeles, CA and I'm excited to move and work in the central coast (SoCal to SLOCal!). My goal as a family physician is to optimize my patient's overall wellbeing by addressing the mental and physical health of my patients. Other professional interests of mine are the musculoskeletal system and sports medicine. My hope is that patients will feel comfortable asking questions about their health and become motivated to get well and/or stay well. In my spare time I enjoy playing basketball and weight training, cooking, and hiking. Thank you for welcoming me to the family at Marian Regional Medical Center and the community that we serve!

Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hello there! My name is Lien. Originally from Los Angeles (specifically the San Gabriel Valley, famed for its delicious Asian food), I attended Mount Holyoke College in western Massachusetts for undergrad and Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Iowa for medical school. I am excited to start this next chapter of my life on the beautiful Central Coast with my incredibly welcoming and supportive residency family. My interests within Family Medicine are Community Medicine and Integrative Medicine. I want to be a true resource for my patients and help them live their best lives. I am a mother to both a two-legged and four-legged baby. I love spending time outdoors, hiking, horseback riding, kickboxing, reading, and watercolor painting. 

Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hi there! I am Harsh Ilapakurthi and I appreciate you reading my bio. I was born in India and moved to the US when I was too young to remember. My home base is Rancho Cucamonga, CA, but I left to attend undergrad and medical school in Illinois and Indiana, respectively. After graduating from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine, I knew I wanted to come back to California for residency. Marian Regional Medical Center was the perfect choice and I am beyond grateful to be able to call this place home. I chose Family Medicine because of its emphasis on continuity, preventative care and patient advocacy. Outside of medicine, I love exploring new places, trying new food joints, playing chess, and video games, over-analyzing movies and watching basketball. 

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hello there! My name is Caroline and I was born and raised in the Bay Area. I went to UC Berkeley for undergrad and medical school at LECOM in Pennsylvania. I am thrilled to be back on the west coast and especially the beautiful Central Coast. I was drawn to this amazing program for its tight knit residency class and warm, encouraging faculty. I am grateful for the opportunity to join this team and excited to start my career in family medicine here. I am particularly interested in women’s health and underserved medicine. Some of my hobbies include cooking, exploring new cities, singing karaoke, rock climbing and spending time with friends/family and my dog.

Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine-Middletown

Hi, my name is Brian! I was born in Boynton Beach, FL, spent my formative years in Chicago, IL and grew up in Carlsbad, CA where my family relocated. I studied Business Economics at UC Irvine before attending medical school at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Middletown, NY. I am excited to return to sunny California and call the Central Coast my new home. During my undergrad, I did mixed martial arts which taught me discipline and how to take care of my body and health. This was one of the big reasons why I chose Family Medicine. It is a privilege to provide holistic care and create lifetime relationships with patients from birth to death. In my free time, I like to watch carpentry and restoration videos, enjoy all outdoor activities, and spend quality time with my family and friends. I look forward to a new and exciting adventure here in the Central Coast with my Marian family! 

Medical School: A.T. Still University

Hi! I'm Helen, and I grew up in San Gabriel, CA with my parents, sister, maternal grandparents, and 11 parakeets. I got my undergraduate degree in Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Studies and completed my masters degree in Global Medicine at USC, before continuing on my medical journey at A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. I am so thankful to have matched at Marian Regional Family Medicine's residency program because I immediately felt at home and welcomed by all the residents and faculty here. Before medical school, I taught piano with my sister to a combined 60+ students and volunteered in the local nursing home that my grandpa stayed in his last months of life, and from those experiences I developed a love for creating meaningful connections with families and people of all ages, from young kids to seniors who have lived unique walks of life. Family medicine was a natural choice for me as I hope to continue building life-long relationships with people. In my spare time, I enjoy walking, movie nights, game nights, watching live theater productions, singing in choir, and spending quality time with family and friends!

Medical School: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hello! My name is Shirley, and I grew up in Arcadia, California. I studied Physiological Sciences at UCLA and obtained my medical degree at Midwestern University – Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. During my time in undergrad, I found the human body fascinating and was amazed at the interconnectedness among the body, mind, and the environment. This led my journey to an osteopathic medical school, and I was grateful to have been chosen as one of the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Scholar/Fellow at Midwestern, where I was able to enhance osteopathic skills through clinical practice, teaching fellow students, and research. I am drawn to family medicine because you get to be the patient’s first defense while maintaining the human component at the core. My current interests in family medicine are OMM, dermatology, and integrative medicine. During my free time, I love to go outdoors for an endorphin-surged run overlooking the ocean, explore new trails, and cuddle with my animals!

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU)

Hi everyone! My name is Alexis and I was born and raised in Orange County, California. I attended UC Irvine for undergrad and WesternU in Pomona for medical school, and am incredibly excited to now explore the beautiful central coast! I chose a career in family medicine because of the unique opportunity to stand by my patients' sides through every stage of life and the ability to create a lasting bond. I like to say that family medicine is not only about treating every member of a family, but also about becoming part of a family with our patients, and that is exactly the type of experience that Marian Family Medicine offers me. My career interests include mental health, preventative medicine, and overall holistic care for my patients. In my free time, you can find me at the beach, dancing my heart out, exploring new places, or baking for my wonderful Marian family!

Medical School: Michigan State University

Hi, my name is Alex and I grew up near Detroit, MI with my family and my retired racing greyhound, Coach. I received my undergraduate degree in Human Biology from Michigan State and my Osteopathic medical degree also from MSU. I am enthused to become part of the Marian Family Medicine family and look forward to making connections with the Santa Maria community. Family Medicine is a perfect fit for me because it provides the opportunity to care for people of all ages and to build lifetime relationships with families from all walks of life. I look forward to exploring the fields of Integrative Medicine, Osteopathic Manipulation therapy, and Preventative Medicine to develop ways to support the long term health care of my patients. In my spare time, I like to play and watch basketball, go to the beach, and enjoy all the great outdoor activities which Central California has to offer.

Medical School: Chicago Medical School

Hello! My name is Nicole, but most people call me Nikki. I was born just outside of Chicago, Illinois before my family found their way to sunny San Diego, California where I grew up. I received my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry from UCLA, my masters degree in Medical Sciences from Boston University, and my medical degree from Chicago Medical School. After a few too many snowy winters, I'm so excited to finally call the beautiful Central Coast home! What I love about family medicine is that it gives me the chance to create long lasting relationships with my patients as we navigate their health journey together. In my free time, I can be found spending time with my family, exploring new parts of town, and testing my skills on DIY projects around the house.

Medical School: University of Nevada, Reno

Hello! I studied biology at Oregon State University-Cascades before attending University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. I chose family medicine because of the variety and the unique long-lasting connections with patients of all ages. In my down time I love being out in nature backpacking, rock-climbing, paragliding, hiking, surfing, yoga, painting, playing piano, baking, eating and spending time with my adorable pup. I'm excited to be here and look forward to partnering in your healthcare!

Medical School: Chicago Medical School

Hello, I'm Katrina. I studied Biology and Literature at UC San Diego and completed my master's and medical degrees at Chicago Medical School. I chose Family Medicine because I am passionate about preventative medicine, health education, and providing evidence-based care. My career interests include geriatric and academic medicine. My hobbies revolve around dance, books, travel, graphic design, and my 2 cats.

Medical School: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Greetings! My name is Jennifer, but most people call me Jen. I grew up in Southern California, went to medical school in Colorado, and am so happy to now call the Central Coast my home. There were many things that drew me to the Family Medicine residency program here at Marian Regional Medical Center but among the most important are: the supportive learning environment, diverse patient population, unique pathology, and family-like atmosphere. We challenge and push each other to grow and learn new things every day. Outside of work I love outdoor activities such as hiking, camping, and going to the beach.

Medical School: University of Florida

Hi! I'm Reagan--a transplant to the Central Coast after growing up and attending undergrad and med school in Florida. My passions are for integrative medicine, lifestyle and preventive medicine, providing holistic care for my family medicine patients, and promoting wellness for health care professionals. Along that path, I've also been a yoga teacher and done lifestyle coach trainings and am the first MD resident at Marian to join the Osteopathic Manipulation Track. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, exercising, yoga, water sports, cooking, and music. 

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth

Hello everyone, my name is Andrea Omonte! I was born in La Paz, Bolivia but grew up just outside of Washington DC in Falls Church, VA. I studied in Southern California for undergrad at Pomona College and attended Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine. My interests within family medicine include community/global medicine, maternal-child well-being, improving access to care for underserved populations and mentorship. In my time off, I enjoy spending as much time as possible in the outdoors and you can find me exploring hiking trails with my dog, swimming, going to the beach, and traveling to different places.

Medical School: Pacific Northwest University

My name is Thomas Rehder and I was born and raised right here in the Central Coast - my hometown being Nipomo and having attended St. Joseph High School in Santa Maria. I went to University of California, Merced for undergraduate education and attended Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, WA for medical school. My interests include Sports Medicine, diagnostic and procedural ultrasound, and LGBTQ+ health. In my free time, I enjoy playing video games, kayaking, and camping.

Medical School: Touro University

Greetings! My name is Anthony, and I attended medical school at Touro University in Vallejo, California. Although I grew up in the Bay Area, I also spent some time living in the mid-west and in southern California. I am very excited to now call the beautiful Central Coast my home. I am passionate about pediatrics, geriatrics, and preventative medicine. One of my favorite quotes is from a Navy Seal named David Goggins who once said, “It’s not about what you do. It’s about the conditions that you do it in.”

Medical School: Western University of the Health Sciences (WesternU)

Good day everyone - I am a California native originally from the SoCal area, but now happily living in SLOcal! I pursued an undergrad education in Neuroscience at UCLA and followed my path to becoming a physician at WesternU. During my time in medical school, I applied and was chosen to complete a Pre-Doctoral Teaching Fellowship in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM). The additional year allowed me to take a deep dive into osteopathic care and teach the hands-on medicine I plan to offer my patients. My passion for family medicine stems from the truly holistic nature of the field, the physician's ability to stand side-by-side with a patient through the years, and ultimately develop a relationship that will last a lifetime!