CDU’s Family Medicine residents bring diverse backgrounds, experiences, and clinical interests to their training, united by a commitment to compassionate, community-centered care.
Get to know our residents, what inspired them to choose Family Medicine and CDU, and the interests and experiences that shape who they are as physicians.
Shanelle Jackson, MD
Hometown: Bell Gardens, CA
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Clinical Interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, women’s health, preventive medicine, health equity.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Travel, restaurants, fitness, family, and friends.
Why I Chose Family Medicine/CDU: Family Medicine offers lifelong patient relationships and comprehensive care. I chose CDU for its commitment to underserved communities, health equity, and compassionate, patient-centered training.
Samuel Kim, MD, MS
Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Lifestyle medicine, obstetrics, geriatrics.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Fishing, camping, cooking, and trying new foods.
Why I Chose Family Medicine/CDU: I chose Family Medicine to care for the whole person, build lifelong relationships, and serve my community. I chose CDU for its commitment to health equity, underserved populations, and compassionate, patient-centered care.
Manuel Acuna, MD
Hometown: Norwalk, CA
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Clinical Interests: Wilderness medicine.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with family, skateboarding, surfing, and land conservation.
Janita Matoke, DO
Hometown: Various locations across the United States
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interests: Maternal mental health, obstetrics, neuroscience, preventive care, and health equity.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Painting, nature walks, museums, art, poetry, and writing. Award-winning author and essayist.
Why I Chose Family Medicine/CDU: CDU’s commitment to health equity, community service, and compassionate care aligns with my values, making it an honor to train here.
Jasmine Miller, MD
Hometown: Various locations across the country
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clinical Interests: Maternal mental health, obstetrics, neuroscience, preventive care, and reducing health disparities in underserved communities.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Painting, nature walks, museums, art, poetry, and writing. Published and award-winning author and essayist.
Why I Chose Family Medicine/CDU: I chose CDU for its rich history, commitment to health equity, and dedication to serving underserved communities. I am grateful for the opportunity to train in a program that values compassionate, community-centered care.
Fernando Moreno Garcia, MD
Hometown: Boyle Heights, CA
Medical School: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Clinical Interests: Full-spectrum family medicine.
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Reading, music, and combat sports.
Why I Chose Family Medicine/CDU: CDU resonates with me on many levels, from the faculty and staff to my co-residents, the program’s mission, and the patients we serve. I chose Family Medicine hoping to treat multiple generations of a family and help them be their best selves.
Victor Owiredu, MD
Hometown: Atlanta, GA
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Undergraduate Studies: Emory University
Clinical Interests: Sports Medicine
Personal Interests/Hobbies: Soccer, fitness, and outdoor activities.
Why I Chose Family Medicine/CDU: I chose CDU because of its commitment to serving underserved communities and advancing health equity—values that align with my passion for reducing health disparities
Kendra Weiland, DO, MPH
Hometown: Various communities; now Los Angeles, CA
Medical School: Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine (TUCOM)
Clinical Interests: Gender-affirming care, LGBTQIA+ health, HIV medicine, and street medicine.
Why I Chose CDU: CDU’s commitment to health equity, social justice, and caring for underserved communities aligns with my passion for expanding access to compassionate, inclusive care.
Abdullah Tirmizi, DO, MA
Medical School: Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate/Graduate Studies: University of Texas at Austin
Why CDU? I chose this program because of its deep commitment to equity and community-centered care. I believe that housing and healthcare are fundamental human rights, and that physicians have a responsibility to lead in advancing these causes.
Adriana Rodriguez, MD
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Undergraduate/Graduate Studies: University of Southern California
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Why CDU? I was drawn to CDU’s dedication to social justice and health equity for underserved populations. As a proud Angeleno born and raised, it is an honor to serve the city that shaped me and provide a safe space for especially vulnerable populations.
Breanna James, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Undergraduate/Graduate Studies: Spelman College
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Why CDU? I chose CDU Family Medicine because of its strong commitment to health equity, community service, and training physicians to care for diverse populations. The program’s mission and values align with my passion for advancing primary care and serving communities with compassion, respect, and empathy.
Shalom Katas, MD
Medical School: IUHS School of Medicine, St. Kitts & Nevis
Undergraduate/Graduate Studies: University of Nigeria – Medical Rehabilitation (Physical Therapy); University of Port Harcourt – Post Graduate Diploma in Education
Why CDU? I chose CDU Family Medicine because of its strong commitment to health equity, community service, and training physicians to care for diverse populations. The program’s mission and values align with my passion for advancing primary care and serving communities with compassion, respect, and empathy.
Danny Nguyen, DO
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine, Harlem, NY Campus
Undergraduate/Graduate Studies: University of California, Los Angeles
Hometown: Huntington Beach, CA
Why CDU? I joined CDU Family Medicine because I really connect with the mission of serving underserved communities. I also felt at home with the people here, and I knew it was the right place for me to grow as both a doctor and an advocate. Everyone I talked to felt like a friend that I had known for years.
Ferina Farahnik, DO
Medical School: Burrell College of Medicine
Undergraduate/Graduate Studies: University of California, Los Angeles
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Why CDU? I chose CDU because I wanted to give back to serve the communities I grew up in and call home!
Manuel Serrano, MD
Medical School: University of California, Davis School of Medicine
Undergraduate/Graduate Studies: Sacramento State University
Hometown: South Central Los Angeles
Why CDU? For its historical mission of addressing health disparities that exist in my hometown of South L.A.
Tatiana Hatchett, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University
Undergraduate/Graduate Studies: Pace University
Hometown: Monrovia, CA
Autumn Johnson, MD, MS
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Hometown: Inglewood, CA
Why CDU? I am a CDU alumna who is enthusiastic about Family Medicine and community care.
Christopher Seawright, MD
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Why CDU? I chose CDU for its focus on family medicine and its commitment to addressing health disparities.
Jackline Muthoka, MD, MBA
Medical School: University of California, Irvine
Kimberly L. Doughty, MD, MPH
Medical School: Escuela Latinoamericana de Medicina
Why CDU? I chose CDU to join a program dedicated to health equity in underserved areas, especially South LA.
Kevin Kemp II, MD
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
Why CDU? I chose CDU for its mission and commitment toward improving the health of Black and Latino/a/e communities.
Jocelyne Shorts, MD, MS, MPH
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Why CDU? For diversity, mission, and unique cases.
Nancy Rodriguez, MD, MS, MBA, MHA, MPH
Medical School: All Saints University School of Medicine
Why CDU? I was born at Martin Luther King, Jr. Hospital and have seen healthcare disparities first-hand. Now it’s time to give back.
Omar Mir Khaled, MD
Medical School: American University of Antigua College of Medicine
Why CDU? I chose CDU for its mission of social justice, equity, and diversity.
Otis Zeon, MD, MS, MBA
Hometown: Anoka, MN
Why CDU? I completely align with its mission for health equity and social justice.
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