2008-05-01T16:11:00.000-07:00

Program B

Miguel Casillas
Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana
Mexico
Prep. for CK/CS

Nidia Payan
Autonomous University of Sinaloa Mexico
Prep. for CK

Marcela Perez
University of Colima School of Medicine
Mexico
Prep. For CK

Luz Selene Lozano
Autonomous University of Baja California, Tijuana
Mexico
Prep. for CK/CS

Luciana Yacomotti
University of Buenos Aires
Argentina
Prep. for CK/CS

Observorship

Maria Cristina Acosta
Nueva Granada Military University
Colombia
Post-Observership

Maria Cristina graduated from the New Granada Military University in Bogotá, Columbia in 1997. She worked in Columbia as a primary care physician in a rural area where some of her favorite duties consisted of developing health promotion and prevention programs for farmers, indigenous populations, the homeless and victims of Columbia's guerrilla violence. Thereafter, she worked with the Department of Health of Bogotá, during which for two years she was part of the commission for certification and accreditation of health care organizations. In addition, she worked night and weekend shifts as attending physician in the emergency room at Mandalay Clinic in Bogotá. In 2001, she received a post graduate degree as a specialist in health care management after completing a thesis entitled "The cost of catastrophic illness in Columbia during the year of 2000". In 2002, she accepted a job offer in Miami where she worked for three years as an international patient coordinator; she facilitated and simplified the understanding between Hispanic patients and the complex health care system in the US. Maria Cristina is certified by the ECFMG. She has a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of California and will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency in 2009.

Victor Castilla
Greater National University of San Marcos
Peru
Post-Observership

Victor graduated from Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos (Peru) in 2004. He completed a medical internship at Daniel A. Carrion Teaching Hospital located in Callao where he worked with a low income population. He then completed a year of social service with Posta Medica Negritos ESSALUD where he was in charge of different health programs related to hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and osteoarthritis. Victor immigrated to the US, looking for better opportunities to learn and to practice medicine in a different culture. While in the US, he has been working as a biology, microbiology, genetics, and physiology tutor at Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga and has contributed significantly to the passing rate of the students of which the majority are pre-nursing students. It is the desire of Victor to work in a small community where he is able to get to build long-standing relationships with his patients. He performed his social service in a very poor rural town where he was able to not only care about his patients' physical health, but also understand the contributing social and psychological aspects. Victor is certified by the ECFMG and is in the process of receiving a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of California. He will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency.

Wendy Rosensweig
Autonomous University of Puebla
Mexico
Post-Observership

Wendy immigated to the US as a teenager, completed public high school and earned a collegiate degree in respiratory therapy. While working as a respiratory therapist in critical and neonatal intensive care, she decided to attend medical school in Mexica, her native country. After graduating ad honorem and cum laude from the Benemerita Universidad Autonoma de Puebla in 2003, she served as a community physician in San Buenaventura, an economically disadvantaged agricultural community in the heart of Mexico. Subsequently, she taught English to corporate leaders in Mexico City before returning to the United States in 2005. Since then, Wendy's goal has been to improve the quality of care for Latinos in the United States. Her work experience includes working as a respiratory therapist in Washington, DC and San Diego. In both instances, she attended to critically ill individuals while providing thorough assessments of their status to physicians. Wendy also worked in a fast-paced doctor's office where her duties consisted of gathering medical history, providing information on medical procedures, and educating patients. Many of these individuals were Spanish-speaking which required her to translate for the patients, their relatives, and those physicians not fluent in Spanish. Wendy is certified by the ECFMG and has a Postgraudate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of California and will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency.

Program Graduates 2007

Dr. Francisco Campabadal
Autonomous School of Medical Sciences of Central America
Costa Rica
UCLA Family Medicine Residency

Dr. Felizardo Gaxiola
University of Guadalajara
Mexico
UCLA Family Medicine Residency
Northridge Hospital

Program Graduates 2008

Carlos Ayon

University of Guadalajara

Mexico

Stanislaous Family Medicine Residency Program

Carlos graduated from the Universidad de Guadalajara (Mexico) in 2001 and practiced for one year in the emergency room of the Mexican Red Cross. In 2002, he immigrated along with his family to the US. He worked in construction, then as a medical worker, and most recently as an immunization coordinator in a community clinic in San Diego. Working in a community clinic serving the growing US Hispanic population is important to Carlos. He is concerned that many community clinic physicians do not speak Spanish and noted that poor communication could lead to erroneous diagnoses. He is interested in closing the gap on health disparities that exist in many parts of the US healthcare system. Carlos is certified by the ECFMG. He has a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of California and will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency.

Blanca Campos

Autonomous School of Medical Sciences of Central America

Costa Rica/Belize

UCLA Family Medicine Residency program

Blanca graduated cum laude from Universidad Autonoma de Centro America (Costa Rica) in 1997. She practiced medicine for a four year period in Costa Rica where she chose to work with the Costa Rican Social Security, an institution which provides medical services to an underserved population. Due to her outstanding performance, she became director of a community health center in a region known for its high delinquency rate and poverty level. She liaised with community leaders and volunteers to develop programs to improve the health condition of the population. In 2001, Blanca married a US resident, reason for which she immigrated to the US. Since 2002, due to visa restrictions, she has contributed to the medical research field offering voluntary services and has contributed greatly to the UCLA Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Charles R. Drew University of Medicine & Science. Currently, Blanca continues to work for Charles R. Drew University as a research assistant/community liaison educating women of underserved areas in Watts and Central Los Angeles about the important of breast health education. Blanca is certified by the ECFMG and has passed the USMLE Step 3 exam. She has a postgraduate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of California and will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency.

Gilberto Cota

Autonomous University of Baja California Mexicali

Mexico

Stanislaous Family Medicine Residency Program

A 2000 graduate from the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California (Mexico), Gilberto completed his internship and social service commitments in Mexicali. He worked with inmates in prisons in Baja California and made significant contributions to the health care of these inmates. By taking a population-based approach to health care, treatement and services, he implemented changes to decrease the spread of HIV and tuberculosis, increased access to medical care and improved the care of diabetic inmates through a group visit model. In 2004, he moved to the US with his family which includes four children. He has worked as a diabetes care coordinator and medical assistant while being enrolled in the Welcome Back Program San Diego. In line with his leadership skills, he formed an independent study group for peers interested in pursuing their MD degree. A member of the inaugural class of the UCLA IMG Program, Gilberto has been a co-faculty member teaching an 8-week Medical Spanish course offered to first and second year UCLA medical students. He provides solid contributions to the UCLA Dept. of Family Medicine through his participation on various special projects such as the development of our porgram's website and Health Professionals Shortage areas (HIPPA) related research for the department Chair. He is certified by the ECFMG and has attained a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of Caliofrnia. He will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency.

Mileidys Gomez-Gonzalez

Higher Institute of Medical Sciences of Havana

Cuba

UCLA Family Medicine Residency Program

Mileidys grew up in Cuba and graduated magna cum laude from Higher Intitute of Medical Science of Havanna in 2001. She completed a Family Medicine residency in Havanna City, Cuba in 2004. As a physician in Cuba, she was responsible for overseeing the care of over 600 patients representing some 150 families. In the mornings, she worked in a clinic and in the afternoon, she practiced medicine the "old fashioned way", making home visits to patients with acute and chronic conditions. She immigrated to the US after completing residency training. While in the US, she worked as a medical assistant in community clinics in Los Angeles and has served as a medical assistant instructor for DVS College in Los Angeles. Mileidys is in the process of attaining her ECFMG certification and has received a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of California. She will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency. Isabel Gonzalez University of Barcelona Spain Post-Observership Isabel graduated from Universidad de Barcelona Facultad de Medicina (Spain) in 1995. She completed residency training in 1999. The first and second year of training, she was in an outpatient hospital setting. The third year she was trained entirely at a primary care center where she had the opportunity to treat patients' acute complaints, address their chronic diseases (at the clinic and through home visits) and actively focus on preventive medicine. Isabel has a special interest in geriatrics. She worked for the Catalonian Family Medicine Association dedicated to the study and improvement of home care visits. She would like to continue to work in a community-based setting serving elderly patients, low income families and immigrants who cannot afford health care. In 2004, she married a US citizen and immigrated to the US. Isabel is certified by the ECFMG and has received a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of California. She will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency.

Alejandra Rodriguez

University of Chile School of Medicine

Chile

UCS Family Medicine

Alejandra, born and raised in Ventura County, California lived in the US almost 17 years prior to attending medical school in Chile. She graduated from Universidad de Chile in 2003. Upon her return to the US, she volunteered at different clinics in Oxnard where she shadowed health professionals and worked as a translator. In addition to being proficient in both Spanish and English, she is able to speak and understand basic French and Portuguese. Alejandra has an interest in Ventura County's fast growing Hispanic population and it is her desire to work as a physician in this community. She enjoys performing family visits, leading educational discussions, and participating in community related events which enhance her knowledge of the most current health related matters facing this population. Since April 2007, she has participated in a research project in Colorectal-Gold Surgery at LAC-USC Hospital and has submitted two related abstracts for the Southern California Chapter. Alejandra is certified by the ECFMG and has passed the USMLE Step 3 exam. She has a Postgraduate Training Authorization Letter from the Medical Board of California and will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency.

Susan Rojas

International University of Americas

Costa Rica

Family Medicine Residency Program

Susan graudated from the Universidad International de las Americas (Costa Rica) in 2004. She completed 12 months of medical internship, including a family medicine rotation in an underserved area of Costa Rica. She has been involved with the Red Cross in both Costa Rica and Nicaragua and continued her work in underserved communities after migrating to the US in 2004. She is an inaugural member of the UCLA IMG Program. Prior to her matriculation in the UCLA IMG Program, she was a member of an independent study group of physicians from the Welcome Back Program San Diego. Susan has served as a co-faculty intructor of an 8-week Medical Spanish course offered to first and second year UCLA medical students. Susan is in the process of being certified by the ECFMG. She will enter the National Residency Match Program for a US Family Medicine Residency.

Participants UCLA IMG Program