PGY-4
Berneen Bal, DO, MPH
Berneen Bal, DO, MPH
Undergraduate school
University of California, Davis
Medical School
A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Professional Interests
Public and community psychiatry. Improving health equity for LGBTQ+ populations and individuals who are incarcerated
How I Thrive
I thrive by spending quality time with friends and family, showing people pictures of my dog, watching bad T.V., listening to good music, and sharing a meal with loved ones. I am happiest getting to laugh with others and being taught something new.
Riley Darby-McClure, MD
Riley Darby-McClure, MD
Undergraduate school
Oklahoma City University
Medical School
University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Professional Interests
Severe/persistent mental illness, interventional psychiatry, psychotherapy, psychedelic medicine
How I Thrive
Spending time with family and friends, mindful movement, being outside
Cecilia Nease, MD
Cecilia Nease, MD
Undergraduate school
McGill University
Medical School
Marshall University
Professional Interests
Addiction, public policy
How I Thrive
Spending time with friends and family, figure skating, traveling, music festivals and concerts, cooking.
Eliana Sosa, MD
Eliana Sosa, MD
Undergraduate school
California State University, Fresno
Medical School
Medical College of Wisconsin
Professional Interests
Minority and underserved mental health, LGBTQ+ psychiatry
How I Thrive
Cooking, knitting, gardening.
Jong Hyun (Jason) Yoon, MD
Jong Hyun (Jason) Yoon, MD
Medical School
Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science - Chicago Medical School
PGY-3
Shawyon Sedaghati, DO
Shawyon Sedaghati, DO
Undergraduate School
University of California, Riverside
Medical School
Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific or just COMP
Professional Interests
child and adolescent psychiatry, addiction medicine, mental health policy and advocacy
How I Thrive
Exploring the vast array of culinary offerings here in the East Bay. Cooking dishes inspired by my cookbooks. Collecting books and eventually reading them. Spending quality time with my lovely and incredible fiancée, and of course, my supportive co-residents!
Heidi Stahl, MD
Heidi Stahl, MD
Undergraduate School
University of California, Berkeley
Medical School
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Professional Interests
immigrant & minority mental health, general adult psychiatry, mood disorders, and community psychiatry
How I thrive
For fun I like to garden, hike, play volleyball and tennis, cook, and hang out with friends
Christyn Haigler, MD
Christyn Haigler, MD
Undergraduate School
Spelman College
Medical School
Morehouse School of Medicine
Professional Interests
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, minority mental health, mental health policy and advocacy
How I Thrive
Trying new restaurants, binge watching series, going to the movies, tropical vacations.
See profile on My Doctor Online
Emilio Esquivel, MD
Emilio Esquivel, MD
Undergraduate School
De Anza College; University of California, Berkeley
Medical school
University of California, San Francisco
Professional interests
Community psychiatry, integrative psychiatry, addiction psychiatry, consult & liaison, palliative care
How I thrive
Hanging out with friends, family, my partner, and cat Stanley, preferentially over a pot of loose-leaf tea. To keep myself active, I thoroughly enjoy rock climbing, bouldering, both indoor and outdoor, and occasional basketball.
Ariel Wilson, MD
Ariel Wilson, MD
Undergraduate School
University of California, San Diego
Medical School
University of Virginia
Professional interests
Adult Outpatient Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy
How I Thrive
I enjoy spending time outdoors with my dog (hiking, going to the beach), volleyball, yoga, cooking/eating, reading, and writing!
Brittany Abeldt, MD
Brittany Abeldt, MD
Undergraduate School
University of California, Santa Barbara; Santa Barbara City College; University of San Francisco
Medical School
Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine
Professional Interests
Psychotherapy, General Adult Psychiatry, Psychotic Disorders, PTSD, Addiction
How I Thrive
Hanging with friends and being outdoors! I’ve been enjoying East Bay’s beautiful weather and amazing food. I love playing volleyball, hiking, rollerblading, and biking. I also like concerts/music festivals, scary movies, and playing ukulele.
PGY-2
Jay Annam, MD
Jay Annam, MD
Dorothy Bowers Wu, MD
Dorothy Bowers Wu, MD
Undergraduate School
Rutgers University
Graduate School
Manhattan School of Music
Medical School
University of New Mexico School of Medicine (including PGY1)
Professional Interests
Integrative, interventional and psychodynamic frameworks for clinical psychiatry. Humanistic and positive psychology. Health equity.
How I Thrive
Being in stillness and in flow states with art, music, narratives, children, animals, nature, food, movement and sacred spaces
Alexander Cody, MD
Alexander Cody, MD
Undergraduate School
Columbia University in the City of New York
Medical School
University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Professional Interests
Addiction Medicine, Artificial Intelligence in Psychiatry, Emergency Services
How I Thrive
Soccer, golf, skiing, exploring the city and eating good food
See profile on My Doctor Online
Shannon He, MD
Shannon He, MD
Undergraduate School
Northwestern University
Medical School
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Professional Interests
Emergency psychiatry, interventional psychiatry, cultural psychiatry, minority and underserved mental health, LGBTQ+ psychiatry
How I Thrive
Spending time with my family, friends, and pets, arts and crafts (e.g. drawing, wood whittling), exploring new food/local restaurants, hiking, TV/movies, playing sports
Alex Maben, MD
Alex Maben, MD
Undergraduate School
Stanford University
Medical School
University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Professional Interests
Community psychiatry, general psychiatry as well as multiple psychiatric subfields, medical education theory & implementation
How I Thrive
Hiking through nature, cooking a variety of cuisines, and walking around different parts of the Bay Area. Spending quality time with friends, family, and my partner. Drinking tea, listening to music, and enjoying the outdoors.
Alan Shu, MD
Alan Shu, MD
Undergraduate school
University of California, Berkeley
Medical school
University of Washington
Professional interests
Child/adolescent, consultation-liaison, LGBTQ+, peri-natal, public/community
How I thrive
Traveling, exploring new restaurants/bars, cooking, hanging out with friends
PGY-1
Alec Allee-Munoz, MD
Alec Allee-Munoz, MD
Undergraduate School
The George Washington University
Medical School
Keck School of Medicine of USC
Professional Interests
LGBTQ+ Mental Health and Advocacy, Cultural Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine
How I Thrive
In another life I was a professional pianist. Hobbies include parsing through a tricky Chopin Etude, exploring queer culture throughout The Bay, hiking, and traveling. I find joy in studying, practicing and utilizing Spanish, frequently listening to audiobooks or podcasts in Spanish.
Samantha Avila, MD
Samantha Avila, MD
About Me
Samantha Avila double majored in Chemistry and French at Williams College. She completed a Master of Science in Biochemistry at the University of Paris, Diderot, through a Fulbright research grant. She completed her MD at Duke University School of Medicine. She is interested in child and adolescent psychiatry.
How I Thrive
I balance my time with training for the NYC marathon and enjoy spending time outdoors. I am fluent in Spanish and French and enjoy spending time with family and friends speaking these languages, hiking, and bouldering with friends and resident colleagues at KP.
Franz Belz, MD
Franz Belz, MD
Undergraduate School
University of Texas at Austin - Biomedical Engineering
Medical School
Duke University
MPH University
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Professional Interests
Becoming an excellent community psychiatrist with a side hustle of systemic change (~ advocacy, community engagement, quality improvement, and practice-relevant research).
How I thrive
Staying active: climbing, basketball, volleyball, rollerblading, biking The Outdoors: any mode of locomotion through Mother Nature Making Music: playing piano with a loop pedal and singing pop renditions Cuisine: backyard-to-table cooking, cooking international street food Advocacy: advocating for systemic change to facilitate access to and promote mental health Podcasts: The Happiness Lab, Hidden Brain, Think Fast Talk Smart, Codeswitch, Spanish Duolingo
Amaka Ehirim, MD
Amaka Ehirim, MD
Taylor Henderson, MD
Taylor Henderson, MD
Undergraduate School
Baylor University
Medical School
The University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Professional Interests
Reproductive Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, health policy, and improving health equity for marginalized patient groups– especially Black Americans.
How I Thrive
Thriving for me is a balance of learning, connection, and creativity. Yoga and roller skating with my dog keeps me active, while museums and art galleries fuel my creative side. I thrive on meaningful conversations with friends and new faces, and I express myself through fashion, curating outfits that feel as unique as I am.
Mark Sanders, MD
Mark Sanders, MD
Undergraduate
San Diego State University
Medical School
Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine
Professional Interests
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction, Consult & Inpatient Psychiatry, Mental Health Policy
How I thrive
Playing and watching sports, spending quality time with friends and family.