Meet the Residents:

Our community is buzzing with excitement as we introduce you to the diverse group of individuals who call this place their home. From future anesthesiologist to future radiologist, each resident brings a unique perspective and an unwavering passion to serve the community. So, come on in and get to know our residents – the heart and soul of St Joe’s.

Aleesha Somani, DO

  • Medical School: Kansas City

    Advanced Match: Radiology at Baylor

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I chose St. Joes for the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population, to have increased exposure to emergency medicine as well as procedural training, and because of the welcoming and supportive environment I found during my interview experience!

    Hobbies

    I love running, golfing, tennis, hiking, painting and hanging out with my friends.

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    A loaded bagel sandwich and an iced coffee!

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Settlers of Catan- it's a fun game that can make or break any friendship!

Rudy Mandalapu, MD

  • Medical School: University of Rochester

    Advanced Match: Radiology at Harbor UCLA

    Professional Interests: Radiology, Musculoskeletal Medicine, Machine Learning

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    St. Joe's provides a flexible schedule that will allow me to explore a lot of my ancillary interests in medicine for a comprehensive experience. It is also located close to my family and friends, and having the opportunity to spend more time with them is invaluable. The supportive culture and camaraderie as well as an appreciation for work-life balance in the program were also important factors.

    Hobbies

    Basketball, Football, Tennis, Movies, and Video Games

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Sunny side up egg

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Monopoly: It's a tactical game that involves a lot of negotiating and bargaining and can make for fun interactions.

Besher Assi, MD

  • Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical School

    Advanced Match: Radiology at Lahey Clinic

    Professional Interests: Radiology, Med-Ed, Mentorship, Diversity and Inclusion

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I chose St. Joes because of my interest in helping the underserved community in the Stockton area.

    Hobbies: Basketball, Soccer, and weightlifting

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Chocolate chip waffles

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Monopoly because its an all time classic

Garrett Camps, MD

  • Medical School: Washington University at St. Louis

    Advanced Match: Radiology at UCLA

    Professional Interests: Value Based Care, Health Equity, Machine Learning

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I wanted to be able to serve a Hispanic patient population and be a part of a close knit group of residents. I also am glad to be close to the things I love to do for fun such as skiing and hiking.

    Hobbies

    Landscape photography, budget traveling, running, and backpacking

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    A hot chicken biscuit

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    PARKS: Mostly because the artwork of the different national parks is gorgeous, and it is an easy to learn alternative to more popular games

Jeremy Hardy, MD

  • Medical School: Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine University of Utah

    Advanced Match: Radiology at University of New Mexico

    Professional Interests: All things radiology, Artificial Intelligence, Intersections of leadership and medicine.

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    A friend of mine was a TY resident here and sold me on this place. It has the perfect balance of supportive program leadership, education, and emphasis on lifestyle and wellness that I was looking for. 

    Hobbies

    Fishing, snowboarding, amateur golfer, and hiking

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Breakfast Sando!

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Wingspan. I love birds! This game, along with being a blast, has little fun facts about birds on every card.

Komal Dani, MD

  • Medical School: Keck

    Advanced Match: Anesthesia at Stanford

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I really enjoyed my conversations with all the faculty on interview day, and I get to be close to my family in Sacramento!

    Hobbies

    Collecting candles, cooking, hiking, board games, trying new restaurants, interior design

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Chilaquiles!

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Favorite is monopoly deal - I found the concept of Monopoly interesting as a child but the game itself to to be very tedious as a child given the set up, clean up, and time it took to play, Monopoly Deal maintains the concepts of Monopoly but is fast, light, strategic, and fun card game!

Najiba Afzal, MD

  • Medical School: UC Davis

    Advanced Match: Dermatology at Boston University

    ProfessionalInterests: Addressing healthcare inequalities. I am very passionate about health care for refugees and bringing attention to the many medical needs of this vulnerable population. 

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I grew up in the San Joaquin County so, St. Joes is home for me. I am attracted to this hospital because it serves the underserved community I was raised in, which is something I feel honored to be a part of.  

    Hobbies

    Die hard Swifty

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    I LOVE breakfast. It is my favorite meal of the day -- favorite breakfast food is "Shakshuka"

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    I'm not a big board game person, but the most recent one I played was CATAN

    Other

    I have 5 sisters + me is 6! A girl can never have too many sisters

Luke Berger, MD

  • Medical School: Loma Linda University

    Advanced Match: Mayo-Radiology

    Professional Interests: Radiology, POCUS, Med-Ed, Mentorship

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I chose St. Joes because of the awesome people I met on interview day, the fantastic endorsements of the program from last year's TYs, the diversity in electives and rotations, and the proximity to some amazing outdoor activities that I love.

    Hobbies

    Running, golfing, hiking, and rock climbing

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Breakfast burrito

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    I'm a simple board game player... I love Catan. Mainly because most people know how to play it, so it becomes a fun way to socialize while having a low-key strategy game.

Michelle Chen, MD

  • Medical School: Keck

    Advanced Match: Radiology at USC

    Professional Hobbies: Radiology, Women's Health, Health Equity

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I was looking for an intern year that would allow me to practice my procedural skills, as well as that which would offer me elective time! St. Joe's offers both. I also really enjoyed speaking with the faculty and the prior TY class, and I thought the culture was top-notch!

    Hobbies

    Portrait Photography, traditional dance, & Spectating e-sports tournaments online

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Fan tuan and savory soy milk! Look it up, it's delicious :)

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Ticket to Ride! Allows me to indulge in dreams of improved public transit infrastructure.

Landon Bone, DO

  • Medical School: Arizona College

    Advanced Match: Cleveland Clinic-Radiology

    Professional Interests: Neuroimaging, POCUS, medical student mentorship

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    The biggest reason I chose to come to St. Joes was because last year's TY class was the happiest one I came across on the interview trail, and I could tell I enjoyed the program culture. Also, I value the schedule flexibility and diversity in elective options. As an avid hiker, its proximity to Yosemite and Tahoe are also great perks.

    Hobbies

    Running, snowboarding, PC games, and hiking

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Huevos rancheros with rice and beans

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Lords of Waterdeep - very nerdy strategy board game where you enlist adventurers to complete Dungeons & Dragons-themed quests in order to score the most points. I like it because it's a little different every time you play, and it's very satisfying to use your resources strategically to complete all your quests. 

Novel Boparai, MD

  • Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont

    Advanced Match: Anesthesia at Brown University

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I really enjoyed the conversations I had with Dr. Olds and the previous TY class. That coupled with the opportunity to be close to home and at a program where I get to work with a diverse patient population made St. Joes a no-brainer.

    Hobbies

    Hiking, tennis, eagle scout, and playing basketball

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Cinnamon Toast Crunch

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Sorry! Because it brings out my competitive side.

Rae Zhang, MD

  • Medical School:University of Hawaii

    Advanced Match: Interventional Radiology at University of Washington

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I chose St. Joe's for its diverse range of electives and the nurturing learning atmosphere. My connection with PD during the interview, stemming from our shared military background, solidified my decision. Additionally, the program's proximity to Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley, and the Bay Area offers exciting weekend trip possibilities.

    Hobbies

    Baking, hiking, and reading

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Breakfast taco

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    I don't really play board games.. sorry

Rajesh Supra, MD

  • Medical School: Georgetown University

    Advanced Match: Anesthesia at UCSF

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I have a lot of family and friends in the area, so naturally St. Joes felt like home.

    Hobbies

    Weight training, basketball, hiking, and biking

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Pancakes

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Monopoly because I like investing and finance.

Ryan Ko, MD

  • Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont

    Advanced Match: Radiation Oncology at University of Texas Anderson Cancer Center

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    Nearby family in East Bay, brother-in-law is an Anesthesia resident here(!), diverse training with good quality of life

    Hobbies

    The great outdoors, mediocre golfing, skiing, and snowboarding, traveling for adventure not leisure, carrying Novel and Rudy in videogames

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Avocado toast, over-easy eggs with Maggi

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Settlers of Catan, Dominion - ruins friendships

Sherwin Fazelpour, MD

  • Medical School: Boston University

    Advanced Match: Dermatology at University of Colorado

    Professional Interests: Dermatology, machine learning, health equity

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    Love the work-life balance, having diverse rotations and ample elective time

    Welcoming colleagues and culture, great educational opportunities, and an underserved patient population.

    Accessible to beautiful nature (Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, Big Sur) + the Bay Area, but still relatively affordable.

    Hobbies

    Photography, tennis, pickleball, and hiking

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Acai bowl

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    Resistance: Avalon is my favorite board game. I love social deduction games and have had many memorable moments playing this one. Countless twists, unexpected endings, and relatively quick gameplay make this my favorite.

Sina Hosseinian, MD

  • Medical School: UCI

    Advanced Match: Radiology at University of Washington

    Professional interest: Interventional radiology, cross-sectional radiology, entrepreneurship in medicine

    Favorite board game: My favorite board game is Risk, It's full of strategy and deception, and I think it'll help me with my eventual goal of world domination.

    Favorite breakfast item: Smoothies!

    Why did you choose to come to St. Joes: I chose St. Joes because I was looking to take charge of my education through a flexible schedule. While one year may seem like a long time, I wanted to choose a program where I can get exposed to many different aspects of medicine, while still maintaining my independence to choose what field I wanted more exposure to. I also really got along with Dr. Olds during my interview and felt like the whole program 

    Thank you!


    Hobbies: Painting, pickleball, cardio, and video games

  • Why did you choose to come to St. Joes?

    I chose St. Joes because I was looking to take charge of my education through a flexible schedule. While one year may seem like a long time, I wanted to choose a program where I can get exposed to many different aspects of medicine, while still maintaining my independence to choose what field I wanted more exposure to. I also really got along with Dr. Olds during my interview and felt like the whole program 

    Hobbies: Napping, board games, reading, pickleball, napping, painting, tax evasion

    What is your favorite breakfast item?

    Smoothies!

    What is your favorite board game, and why?

    My favorite board game is Risk, It's full of strategy and deception, and I think it'll help me with my eventual goal of world domination.