VA-UCLA Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Program
2013-2014 Fellowship Class
Biosketch
Jose Aliling, MD- was born and raised in Manila, Philippines. He graduated from the University of the Philippines with a bachelor's degree in Community Nutrition and received an MD degree from University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in the Philippines. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport, CT. He also completed a sleep medicine fellowship at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, OH. He is looking forward to a career in academic/clinical medicine primarily focused on caring for the elderly.
Erin Atkinson, MD- was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She graduated from Stanford University in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry and a minor in both German Studies and Biology. She received her M.D. from the University of Southern California in 2009 and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at UCLA. She just finished a year as Chief Resident at UCLA where she enjoyed teaching residents and medical students. Erin’s interest in Geriatrics started in residency with her continuity panel. She hopes to continue working in the field of education.
Mon Mon Aung, MD- was born and raised in Myanmar. She graduated from Institute of Medicine (1), Yangon in 2000. Before she migrated to the United States, she worked as a Staff Physician in the Northern Part of Myanmar. She completed her Family Medicine Residency at Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York where she was a chief resident for 2012 - 2013. She has been involved in several research projects during her residency and earned awards for the best research projects in Family Medicine. Her interest in the complex health problems and enjoying the company of elderly have both contributed to her interest in geriatric medicine. She is looking forward to further geriatric training to improve the quality of life of growing elderly population. She plans to pursue a career in academic medicine.
Preetivi Ellis, MD- was born in Port Louis, Mauritius an African Island neighboring in Madagascar and Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Her education, training and experience span four continents. She received her medical education from Kasturba Medical College in Manipal, India and graduated in 2007 after completing her intership with the Military Hospital in Percy, France. Upon graduation she joined the Emergency Department at Hospital of Paris, Beaujon under University of Paris VII, leaving the program a year and half later. She moved to the United Kingdom in 2009, working briefly in Nottingham at the Queen Medical Center, University Hospital before relocating to the United States in 2010. Dr. Preetivi Ellis joins UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine as a Geriatric fellow after completing her Internal Medicine residency at Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. She loves to travel, cook, host dinner for friends, stitching, biking, and swimming. She lives with wonderful husband Sam and are expecting their first child this year.
Thi Thi Htway, MD- was born and raised in Myanmar (Burma). She graduated from University of Medicine 1 Yangon in 2005 with MBBS degree. She then moved to the United States and completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Coney Island Hospital New York. Her interest in Geriatrics stemmed from the doctor-patient relationship with the vulnerable elderly persons. She was touched and inspired to pursue Geriatric medicine when she realized being attached by many of her elderly patients who felt sad when they learned she is about to complete her residency and leave the program.
Jihyun Im, MD- was born and raised in South Korea. She graduated from Kyounpook National University College of Medicine in 2008. She started Internal Medicine residency in 2010 at Chicago Medical School in Rosalind Franklin University and will graduate in 2013. My interest in geriatrics started after volunteer work at a nursing home during medical school. She found more interest in home base primary care and geriatric education. She would like to pursue her career as a geriatric clinician and educator.
Jatinder Kaur, MD- was born in India and raised in New York. She graduated from St. John’s University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology and received her MD Degree from Ross University, Dominica in 2008. She is currently doing residency training at St. Luke’s Warren Hospital in Family Medicine. She loves taking care of elderly patients and enjoys their interesting stories. Her goal is to have better care for growing elderly population.
Andrew McGettigan, MD- was born and raised in Toronto, Canada. He graduated with a business degree in 2003, but ultimately felt medicine would be a better fit. He did his pre-medicine work at University of Toronto, got his MD at St. George's University, and then completed his internal medicine residency at East Carolina University in North Carolina. Andrew became interested in Geriatrics after his uncle was placed in a nursing home years ago. His close relationship with his grandmother, and experiences during residency were also key contributing factors. He is aiming for a career in Geriatrics that focuses on nursing home care.
Kalpana Nagarkar, MD- was born and raised in India. After her post graduation in Internal Medicine she worked for a few years at the premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi. There she became interested in Geriatric Medicine and published a number of papers and presented at national and international conferences. She is also a recipient of the prestigious World Health Organization in Geriatrics. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Captial Health Regional Medical Center in New Jersey. During her residency she a had a number of her abstracts accepted for presentation at national conferences. She is looking forward to the fellowship in Geriatrics and to develop a career focused in elderly care.
Valerie Zamudio, MD- was born and raised in Southern California. She graduated from UCLA in 1999 with a BA in the Study of Religion and from Cal State Los Angeles in 2005 with a BS in Microbiology. She left home for Puerto Rico where she earned a MD degree at the Universidad Central del Caribe and returned to Los Angeles, California to complete residency training in Internal Medicine at White Memorial Medical Center. Valerie's family history is rich with service to home and community. This spirit of service forms the foundation upon which her interest in Geriatrics is firmly rooted.