MEET THE CLASS OF 2027!
Nate Bohm-Levine, MD – Medical School: UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hello hello! My name is Nate, I’m originally from LA and grew up in a few different neighborhoods including Cheviot Hills and Mid-City. I was both a science nerd and a jazz piano nerd in high school, so I decided to go to Oberlin College where I majored in neuroscience and also spent some time in the music conservatory there. After graduating, I worked in a cancer lab where I realized that basic science research is really not for me—so I completely switched gears and found an opportunity to do community mental health research in Chiapas, Mexico as part of Partners in Health. There, I met a bunch of inspiring family physicians that set me off on the journey of applying to med school and getting to know the amazing world of family medicine!
After my year in Chiapas, I spent a year working as a housing navigator and case manager for a homeless services nonprofit in LA, driving from one end of the county to the other and really getting to know the vast and amazing diversity of this city. I went to med school at the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program, where I got to continue my work with people experiencing homelessness both in free clinics and as part of my Master’s degree research at the Berkeley School of Public Health. And during my clinical years, I continued to be drawn to family medicine: I loved the ability to see patients of all ages and stages of life, and I was drawn to the emphasis on not only the biomedical but also the social, community, and political aspects of health.
I am thrilled to be back in my hometown of LA, where I can serve a hugely diverse population through working in both the UCLA and LA County health systems. I am also excited to be at blended academic-community program that gives me the opportunities to explore all of my interests in FM. Outside of medicine, I love doing anything outdoors: backpacking, rock climbing, swimming, biking, you name it! I still love playing piano and going to see all the incredible live music that LA has to offer. I also enjoy trying new food in LA, which in my very humble opinion has the best and most diverse food scene in the world 🙂
Interests in FM: health policy, homelessness and health, LGBTQ+ health, immigrant health, mental health in primary care
Lynn Chen, MD – Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hi everyone! Thanks for visiting the UCLA FM Residency page, I feel incredibly fortunate to be here. I’m originally from Tampa, Florida, and earned my undergraduate degree in nutritional sciences, with a minor in music performance (violin), from the University of Florida in Gainesville. For medical school, I ventured out of Florida and moved to St. Louis, Missouri where I attended Saint Louis University School of Medicine.
There, my experiences in research, working at a free clinic, and becoming involved in a grassroots nonprofit organization deepened my passion for community engagement, ultimately leading me to family medicine. This specialty allows me to work with individuals at every stage of life while addressing health within the broader context of society.
UCLA’s program was a perfect fit for my goals of becoming a competent, culturally aware, and confident provider. With its combination of community and academic training, I knew the diverse patient populations and broad range of medical experiences would help shape me into an exceptional family medicine physician. Additionally, while talking with current residents, I was shown that UCLA would provide a supportive and wellness-focused environment for my training years- which has lived up to its promise!
Outside of medicine, you can find me enjoying time at my sunny apartment cuddling with my kittens, knitting, or cooking. On the weekends, I enjoy letting the hours fly by at the pottery studio practicing wheel throwing or spending quality time with my partner.
Interests in FM: pediatric and adolescent health, addiction medicine, behavioral health
Sessen Dudek, MD – Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC)
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hey all, my name is Sessen! I was born and raised in the beautiful city of Vancouver, B.C., Canada. I moved to Memphis, TN for college at The University of Memphis where I played collegiate soccer and double majored in Biology and Chemistry. After college, I worked at a non-profit community clinic for two years where I ran four volunteer specialty clinics and did research. I stayed in Memphis for medical school at UTHSC where I continued my involvement in helping the underserved via our student-run free clinic, global health interest group, and an organization called CIAO which provides funding to medical students to aid in local and global work for the underserved.
As the daughter of a refugee, I have always felt a pull towards serving immigrant/refugees. I knew I wanted to pursue medicine after working in the Dominican with an organization that provides pro bono pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. Participating in medical care in a cross-cultural setting, in addition to mybackground, ignited a desire to pursue medicine with the goal of incorporating global health into my practice. Family Medicine provided the flexibility to pursue my many interests, in addition to longitudinal patient care. I love the diversity of patients, the flexibility in practice, and the emphasis on underserved care.
I am stoked to have ended up at UCLA FM! This program provides a diversity in training facilities and populations which enables us to work anywhere after graduation. I was drawn towards the academic and community blend which allows the opportunities of a large program without losing the small community feel. This program serves the community well and provides opportunities in all my areas of interest – which is a lot! I have been blown away by the kindness, support, and fun I have had in the first couple months of residency.
Outside of medicine, you can find me at the gym, hiking/backpacking/camping, or cuddled up with a good book. My husband and I are currently on the hunt for the best coffee shops (there are many). I also enjoy running and playing soccer!
Interests in FM: sports medicine, hospital medicine, POCUS, global health, immigrant/refugee health
Jeffery Ezennia, MD – Medical School: University of California, Riverside School of Medicine
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hi everyone! My name is Jeffery. I was born, and partially raised, in Nigeria. When I was 10, my family moved to Eastvale, California where I spent the rest of my childhood. I went to UC Berkeley for undergrad, where I majored in Integrative Biology and minored in Global Poverty and Practices. Afterwards, I went to UCSF where I received a master’s degree in Global Health Sciences. I then worked as a Research Coordinator at Stanford University for two years, focusing primarily on interventions to increase access to safe drinking water in low-income communities. I was more than excited to return to Southern California where I attended medical school at UC Riverside School of medicine.
I chose family medicine because it offers a broad scope of practice and the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients. Family medicine also offers the unique opportunity to be the first point of contact for most individuals seeking medical care, allowing you to assist them in navigating the complexities of the healthcare system. I specifically chose UCLA because of the blend of community and academic medicine and the opportunity to serve a diverse patient population.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy going to the gym, hiking, baking, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. When I have a good stretch of free time, you might find me working on new recipes or on the couch catching up on TV shows.
Interests in FM: community medicine, sports medicine, health policy, global health, refugee health
Isabelle Franklin, MD – Medical School: Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hello!! My name is Izzy. I grew up in Arlington, VA, just a few minutes outside of Washington, DC. I went to the University of Virginia for undergrad (go Hoos!), where I studied Biology and Spanish. While in college I also began developing an interest in public health and primary care through work as an intern at a free clinic. After one gap year scribing in an Emergency Department, I made the cross-country move to LA for medical school, joining the inaugural class of the Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine.
While at Kaiser my interest in community medicine continued to grow through participation in Street Medicine and Global Health rotations. As a student in the school’s first class I also had the unique opportunity to help design and collaborate on curriculum, fostering an interest in academic medicine. With my other passions including women’s reproductive health and gender affirming care, the broad scope and social justice-oriented nature of Family Medicine made it the clear specialty choice for me.
After 4 years on the West Coast I wasn’t ready to leave, and am thrilled to be staying in LA to continue serving this vibrant and diverse population as a resident at UCLA. With its array of training sites and ample opportunities to work with an urban underserved population, this program stood out to me as the perfect blend between academic and community medicine. The clear sense of community within the program itself was also a huge draw! I look forward to continuing to grow as a physician and advocate alongside this amazing group of faculty, staff, and residents.
Outside of medicine you can find me staying active outdoors—I love to hike, climb, bike, and camp, and as a newly west-side LA resident I’m currently attempting to become more of a beach girl and pick up surfing (still to limited success). I also play soccer whenever I have the chance and have recently started line dancing!
Interests in FM: reproductive health, gender affirming care, HIV care, street medicine, community medicine
Kevin Griffee, MD – Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hi everyone! My name is Kevin, and I grew up in Ojai, CA. I went to Dartmouth for college, where I majored in neuroscience, minored in biology and Chinese, and received a certificate in global health. I took a gap year before med school and did a mix of waitering, backpacking, neuroscience research, and organic farming.
I subsequently moved to NYC, where I received my MD and MPH at Mount Sinai. During medical school, I was involved in HIV-related public health research; held leadership positions within Student Council, the Stonewall Alliance, and the Wilderness Medicine Interest Group; and volunteered as an Access to Care case manager at Mount Sinai’s free health clinic.
I chose family medicine for the breadth of training available, longitudinal relationships possible with patients, and the opportunity to offer preventive health services in the primary care setting. I’m super excited to be here at UCLA, where the close-knit community of family med residents, faculty, and staff truly feels like a family!
When I’m not in the hospital or clinic, you can find me hiking LA’s trails, checking out live music, surfing the nearest break, enjoying yummy eats, or running/biking down the coast. I look forward to exploring all that LA has to offer during residency and feel so grateful to be providing healthcare in this beautiful, diverse city.
Interests in FM: public health, research, HIV primary care, wilderness medicine, LGBTQIA+ health
Katherine Iannuzzelli, MD – Medical School: Rush Medical College
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hi everyone! My name is Katherine Iannuzzelli. I am originally from Bethesda Maryland, right outside of Washington DC. I stayed close by for college and graduated from Georgetown University with a degree in International Health. I was a volunteer EMT during college which sparked my interest in medicine. After college, I took 2 gap years and did research at the Johns Hopkins Multidisciplinary Movement Disorder Clinic. I worked with an amazing team that treated patients as whole human beings rather than their disease. I completed medical school at Rush Medical College in Chicago. Throughout my time in Chicago, I volunteered at a Community Health Clinic that cared for underinsured and uninsured individuals which solidified my passion for primary care, especially in under-resourced communities. I was able to work with Family Medicine physicians and was constantly inspired by their passion, knowledge, and advocacy!
I chose UCLA because of the people! I was inspired by the residents’ obvious passion for caring for patients holistically while maintaining a full life outside of medicine. Additionally, the program was a perfect balance of community/academic medicine and works in a diverse range of settings. I knew I would be well-prepared for whatever career I chose at the end of residency!
Outside of medicine, I love doing anything outside: hiking, swimming, running, and recently tried surfing a few times. I would also consider myself a semi-professional thrift shopper, amateur seamstress, live music enthusiast, and yogi!
Interests in FM: integrative medicine, underserved medicine, addiction medicine, academic medicine
Heather Kovar, MD – Medical School: University of Washington
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hello everyone! Welcome to UCLA! I’m Heather Kovar, and I was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. I loved growing up in the Pacific Northwest but was also excited to explore Southern California to attend the University of San Diego, where I studied behavioral neuroscience. After graduating I took some time to bounce around doing different things, like working in public health policy, living in Central America, working as a scribe, and volunteering in addiction recovery services.
I went to medical school at the University of Washington, where I continued to be drawn towards primary care generally, and family medicine in particular. I love family medicine for its diversity of practice, as well as its impact on communities and individuals throughout their entire lifespan. Being able to create long-lasting relationships with patients where we collaborate long term on their health is very meaningful to me.
I chose UCLA for its hybrid academic and community structured program. I have a variety of interests in medicine and am not completely sure what I want my future practice to look like. I wanted to keep the doors open to explore a variety of areas and options, and I also knew that training at different sites would help prepare me for whatever future setting I find myself in. Furthermore, I could tell this program was a place I would receive great training, but also where I could have fun with some incredible people along the way.
Outside of work I enjoy playing soccer, roller blading on the beach, getting into new craft projects, cooking with friends, live music, and beach days. I’m into most things in the outdoors (hiking, biking, camping, skiing, rafting, etc.) and try to prioritize traveling with my free time. I have been loving LA so far and cannot wait to keep exploring!
Interests in FM: refugee and immigrant health, integrative medicine, addiction medicine, procedures, community medicine, reproductive justice/health
Emily Foecke Munden, MD – Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hi everyone! I’m Emily, originally from Minneapolis, MN. I spent some time working in Phnom Penh, Cambodia before doing my undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. In the almost ten gap years I had before med school I worked mostly in global health and foreign policy, including being an associate fellow in health security at a think tank in Washington, DC and running a small maternal health nonprofit in Sierra Leone. I did my graduate work in international affairs at the University of California, San Diego and my post-baccalaureate work at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia, where I stayed for medical school. I realized I most enjoy the case-by-case work of direct patient care in the quest to improve health, versus the zoomed-out lens of policy and public health work.
I love the quick pace, choose-your-adventure breadth, focus on community health and root causes, ability to do procedures and reproductive health, and ethos of Family Medicine. The people at UCLA are phenomenal. Somehow every year they manage to select the perfect group of residents that clicks and complements each other, and there is a warm, encouraging, and “a rising tide lifts all boats” culture that is immediately noticeable from your first time meeting everyone on interview day. Our faculty and program leadership are supportive of their residents as diverse people with lives outside of medicine and help us be the best clinicians and members of our community possible.
Outside of the hospital and clinic you can find me hanging out with (chasing after) my toddler in the various lovely parks and beaches of Los Angeles and Santa Monica, reading mystery and spy novels, hiking/camping/boogie boarding, and playing the piano. I sincerely believe the secret to happiness is to go outside and have a snack.
Interests in FM: outpatient gynecology, reproductive and sexual health, refugee and immigrant care, procedures, policy and advocacy, patient education
Emily Nguyen, MD – Medical School: UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Hello everyone! My name is Emily, and I was born and raised in the Bay Area, CA. I went to UC San Diego for undergrad where I earned a degree in Human Biology and one of my favorite extracurriculars was tutoring in biology and string orchestra classes at a local middle school. During my gap years, I stayed in San Diego to work in clinical research with a focus on veteran health before moving to LA for medical school. At UCLA, I continued my passion for community teaching through school outreach programs such as Project HEAL, and by organizing and attending health fairs with the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association.
I am beyond excited to pursue residency training in Family Medicine as I believe it is the field that aligns best with my goals of providing comprehensive longitudinal care to patients of all ages and backgrounds and improving health literacy through patient education. UCLA’s program is the perfect fit for me because it offers diversity in both patient population and healthcare systems to train well-rounded physicians. I have felt so welcomed and supported by faculty and peers since starting residency. It truly does feel like we’re one big family!
Outside of medicine, you’ll find me on my quest for the best croissant and matcha latte, exploring the outdoors on nature walks, looking out for whales on a sailboat, getting way too competitive playing board games, traveling with my loved ones, or playing Clair de Lune on the piano on repeat!
Interests in FM: women’s health and reproductive medicine, adolescent medicine, community medicine, nutrition and lifestyle medicine, preventative medicine
Isabel Strouse, MD – Medical School: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Pronouns: she/her/ella
Hey everyone! My name is Isabel and I grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. I was born to a Mexican American mom and German Jewish dad, and have a younger sister and lots of stepsiblings. My journey at UCLA initially started during my undergraduate career, where I studied Biology. I ultimately decided to finish college back in the desert and completed a double major in Psychology and Biology in the honors college at Arizona State University. I stayed in the heat a little longer for medical school, and graduated from University of Arizona in downtown Phoenix this past May.
My road to family medicine has been a winding one – growing up I thought I wanted to pursue dance, photography, or painting professionally. But exposure to the sciences in high school and college, including research in behavioral neuroscience with a focus in women’s health, combined with community engagement opportunities, confirmed that a career in which I could use a science background to serve others would be my best fit.
I also initially thought I would pursue neurosurgery. However, a range of passions I developed in medical school, spanning from health policy and antiracism advocacy to developing and leading a pipeline initiative for underrepresented youth, and advocating for increased intimate partner violence education for medical trainees, showed me that a career which showcased my diverse interests would be most fulfilling.
My third year family medicine clerkship confirmed that I had found my people, and fate brought me back to UCLA for residency! I couple’s matched here with my partner, who I met in medical school. I’m grateful to be in a specialty and a program that enables me to connect with others over a wide range of interests while being an important advocate for patients in an inequitable healthcare system.
I chose UCLA for a variety of reasons. What first drew me here is the diversity and strength of the residents and faculty – everyone has their own unique story, background, and perspective to bring to the table. I also saw my own interests and passions within family medicine reflected in this program, and was excited to be at a strong academic institution with a unique commitment to providing healthcare to vulnerable communities in Los Angeles. The people here are kind, compassionate, and inspiring, and I knew this is a place I would be able to achieve my goals in medicine.
Outside of medicine, I love hiking, going to the beach, gardening, snuggling with my cat, exploring LA food, live music, dancing salsa/bachata, pickle ball, and bingeing reality TV.
Interests in FM: advocacy, DEI initiatives and health equity, behavioral health, women’s and reproductive healthcare, community engagement, academic medicine and teaching/mentorship
Eugene Suh, MD – Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Pronouns: he/him/his
Hi everyone! My name is Eugene, and I was born in Koreatown, Los Angeles, CA. While I spent most of my life in Los Angeles, my childhood took me briefly to other places. During this time, my family moved to Seattle and Cerritos as my parents navigated different job opportunities. However, we eventually returned to Koreatown before I began middle school, and Los Angeles has been home ever since.
I come from a close-knit family. My parents originally immigrated from South Korea to Los Angeles just before I was born. I am the youngest of three children, with an older brother and sister. Today, all of us, including my parents, still reside in the greater Los Angeles area. Family has always been an essential part of my life, and despite the various paths we’ve taken, we remain geographically close and connected.
In addition to my family, my fiancée, Paarul, plays an important role in my life. We met during my third year of medical school in Chicago. She is also in the medical field, currently completing her residency there. Although we live in different cities for now, we are united by our shared passion for medicine and the experiences we’ve had together in our respective journeys.
Looking ahead to the future, after completing residency, I envision myself continuing to work with underserved communities, a passion that has shaped my career aspirations. Street medicine, in particular, is an area I am deeply interested in, and I plan to continue working with programs that provide care to homeless populations. I’m also considering fellowships in Community Medicine or Addiction Medicine, though I’m open to exploring other possibilities as well. My goal is to remain adaptable while keeping my focus on service to communities in need.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy staying active and making the most of my free time. I love activities like biking, hiking, and jogging, and I’m also a huge basketball fan. Playing and watching the NBA is one of my favorite pastimes. I also have a fondness for board games, especially Catan, and I enjoy playing Nintendo Switch games such as Super Smash Bros and Mario Kart.
Recently, I traveled to Costa Rica, where I went white-water rafting for the first time. This experience was the highlight of my trip, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in thrilling water activities. The trip was a reminder of how much I enjoy new experiences and the importance of balance between work and personal life.
As I continue through my residency, I am committed to mentoring pre-med students and working alongside Street Medicine programs. These efforts allow me to give back to the community while helping the next generation of medical professionals. My journey is still unfolding, but I’m excited about the path ahead, both professionally and personally.
Interests in FM: street medicine, addiction medicine, mentorship
