Resident Physician Profiles

Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Medical School: A.T. Still University of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona 

Hey there! My name is Cassidy, and I am so happy to return home to train as a Family Doctor for our community. I was raised here, attending both Righetti High School and Allan Hancock College. Starting as a teenager, I worked for the City of Santa Maria in the Parks and Recs Department. My studies took me all over the state and country. I finished my undergraduate education at Cal Poly SLO, earned a master’s degree in public policy from UC Riverside, and spent the first year of medical school in Arizona before finishing the other three in Oregon. I believe that my role as a physician is to work with patients on an individual and community level to nourish health in order to enable the flourishing of human life. My medical interests include community medicine, lifestyle medicine, underserved medicine, palliative care, and of course, primary care. Outside of medicine, I enjoy weight lifting, hiking, reading, cooking and eating. I look forward to working with patients from wherever they are on their health journey.

Medical School: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine CA

Hi! I was born in Ohio and moved to California in 2005. I attended UC Davis for college and then Touro University in Vallejo for medical school. While I have spent the last 18 years in the SF Bay Area/Sacramento, I am truly excited to call the Central Coast my new (and hopefully forever) home. I absolutely love family medicine and I can’t wait to partner with my patients at Marian. I have special interests in pediatrics, women’s health, and diabetes management. I am a mother to two young boys as well as a very fluffy cat. In my free time I enjoy spending time with my family, hiking and cooking! I am excited to be here and can’t wait to meet you!

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences

Hi! My name is Janu! I grew up in Bakersfield (Central Valley) then moved to SoCal for college and medical school. I’m so excited to live on the central coast and explore this beautiful part of California! The residents in this program helped me find my passion for Family Medicine and I’m so grateful to be joining the Marian family. I look forward to growing in my osteopathic skills and integrative medicine knowledge during my time here. In my free time, I love spending time with family and my dog, walking on the beach, getting a good workout (my current obsession is OrangeTheory), and baking vegan goodies! 

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine 

Hello! My name is Michael. I was born in San Diego, CA, but I grew up in Davis, CA. I attended Pennsylvania State University, where I studied Neuroscience. Later, I pursued my medical education at NSU KPCOM in Florida. While I have a keen interest in Diabetes, Psychiatric Disorders, and Dermatology, I ultimately chose Family Medicine as my specialty because it allows me to address various aspects of healthcare that I am passionate about. During my journey, I discovered that Marian's Family Medicine Program was the perfect fit for my training. The compassionate and supportive environment here made it clear that this was where I wanted to develop my skills. I am enthusiastic about absorbing as much knowledge as possible during my time here, as it will enable me to provide the best care for my patients in the future. In my leisure time, I find joy in playing with my cat, exploring my culinary skills through cooking, capturing moments through photography, hitting the slopes for snowboarding, and spending quality time with my loved ones, including my family and friends.

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!