Meet Us

Hello, my name is Mwape! I was born in Zambia, but spent the majority of my childhood in Minnesota. I left the frigid winters to attend undergrad at Southwestern Adventist University in Keene, Texas where I studied Biology. I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the last 7 years living in Loma Linda, attending medical school and residency, and now I have the wonderful opportunity to tackle chiefdom with three amazing ladies and physicians. Outside of work, I’m all about finding the perfect balance between weight lifting, binge-watching TV, cooking, and hunting down the best new restaurants—I’m a total foodie at heart. I’m also a big fan of hosting game nights with my husband, while squeezing in some travel adventures whenever I can. Career-wise, I’m hoping to find a hybrid position to pursue both inpatient and outpatient pediatric medicine. If you’re like me and like a bit of everything (or just undecided), I am happy to connect with you this interview season. Best of luck!

Hi everyone! I’m Michelle and I feel honored to be working with such an amazing group of doctors! I am originally from Kentucky but I’ve slowly moved west, living in Maryland, Michigan, and now here and now I proudly consider myself a Californian. In my free time, I love traveling to obscure places, surfing, hiking, working out, listening to music from around the world, playing violin, and being spoiled by the amazing food my family makes whenever I visit them (Indian + Filipino). If I have a weekend off, I sometimes like taking off to Mexico to volunteer at the border for refugee health and I will be moving to Mozambique to work as a pediatrician at one of Loma Linda’s global health sites. I look forward to meeting you soon!

Hello everyone, I am so excited to meet all of you and to be working with my wonderful squad of Co-chiefs this year! I am a SoCal girl through and through. I went to college in LA at Occidental College and completed medical school at Western University of Health Sciences where I did additional training and teaching as an Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine Fellow. I was so happy I matched into the Loma Linda Peds Categorical program, as I could feel the culture of care and commitment to education when I did a peds MS-3 rotation at RUHS and worked with LLU residents and attendings. Outside of the hospital, you can catch me eating brunch at a new spot, spending time with friends in the sunshine, working out at a pilates studio, watching k-dramas, or browsing Barnes and Noble (even though I am on a book budget). Wishing you the best during the interview season and hope to see you soon!

Hi hi! I've been asked to introduce myself. I'm Jenna Yoshisato. I'm from Vallejo, CA in the Bay Area. I studied Psychology with an emphasis in Biology and a minor in Human Development at UC Davis for undergrad. The plant pathology lab I worked in graciously hired me after graduation and I got to live my cozy little plant path lab life for 2 glorious gap years while applying to med school. While I am personally from California, my family has roots in Hilo, HI, so we spent a lot of time in the islands growing up. Never dreamed I'd end up living there full time, attending med school at John A. Burns School of Medicine on Oahu. I may have also accidentally acquired a cat while there. Whoops. Now I'm here, loving the home I've found in LLU Peds Residency. I'm stoked that I get to extend my time here by serving as one of this year's chiefs alongside my incredible co-chiefs before I try to go off and live my hospitalist dreams. In my off time, you can find me hermitting with audiobooks and crocheting, while imagining what it might be like to leave the comfort of my home and experience more adventures for realsies.

Dr. Tsai was born and raised near Chicago, IL. She studied neurobiology and English literature at the University of Wisconsin - Madison, where she met many of her closest friends through Kappa Alpha Theta sorority and Greek InterVarsity. She completed medical school at New York Medical College, followed by pediatric residency and a chief resident year at Loma Linda. She married her med-peds classmate! She chose to stay at Loma Linda due to her passion for resident education, mentorship, wellness, global health, and advocating for women and minority leadership in medicine. She works as a pediatric hospitalist at Loma Linda University Children's Hospital and Riverside University Health Systems, while her husband alternates between Loma Linda internal medicine inpatient and Moreno Valley Med-Peds outpatient clinic. In their free time, they enjoy traveling, eating, cooking, baking, and spoiling their shiba inu!

Dr. Vercio moved from the Pacific Northwest to attend LLUSOM, and stayed for residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. Since completing residency, he has practiced at LLU at various locations including Beaumont clinic, Moreno Valley Med-Peds, Redlands, and was the medical director of the Pediatric Residency clinic as it transitioned from being a Children's Hospital-based clinic to SAC. Because he and his wife are committed to global service, they spent a year and a half in India in the small town of Ottapalam which gave him a new appreciation for practicing in a relatively rich resource setting.  He is interested in spiritual care, global health, clinical reasoning, teaching medical students and residents, and enjoys music, mountain biking, surfing, camping and hiking.

Dr. Pina was born and raised in Moreno Valley, CA. She studied Biology with a minor in Religion at Baylor University in Waco, TX. She completed medical school at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in Henderson, Nevada, followed by pediatric residency and a chief year at Loma Linda. She then transitioned to a full-time attending role as core faculty for the primary care track, with leadership roles as director of advocacy and quality improvement. She is also the medical director of DIME: Diversify, Include, Mentor, and Educate for LLUCH and has a passion for learners, diversity, and inclusivity for all. She is currently the residency track director for the primary care residency track and an associate program director for the categorical pediatric residency program. She and her husband have a blended family, three children, and a ten-year-old Pitbull mix rescue. In her free time, she loves traveling, doing Tae Kwon DO with her two boys, and watching 90-day fiancé and all the spin-offs.

Dr. Loh was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii.  She attended Loma Linda University for both medical school and residency.  You can often overhear her say, “I have the best job ever! I get to have a blast interacting with babies, kiddos, and teens in my University private practice, and then have the privilege to work with residents in the Newborn Nursery and in their Continuity clinic.”  She feels truly blessed to be a part of the Loma Linda Pediatric Residency family. Her special passion is her work with the Professional Development Coaching program for residents. Outside of work, Dr. Loh hangs out with her husband and three sons playing sports, going to the beach, eating out, and traveling.

Dr. Lima attended medical school at Western University/COMP and completed her Pediatric Residency at Loma Linda University.  After residency, she was honored to serve as a Pediatric Chief Resident for one year. After chief year, Katie stayed with the Loma Linda Pediatric faculty as part of the core Pediatric faculty at Riverside University Health Systems (RUHS).  At RUHS, she serves as Vice Chair of the Pediatric Department and Associate Program Director of the Primary Care Track of the Loma Linda Pediatric Residency. Katie's professional interests include resident education and improving pediatric care to the children of Riverside County.  She was born and raised in Southern California and married her high school sweetheart. They have 3 active children. If she is not on the soccer sidelines, she is likely baking a batch of cookies or planning her next Disney trip!

Dr. Tan grew up in Ontario, Canada but came to Loma Linda University for medical school.  She fell in love with Southern California and completed her pediatric residency at LLU. She spent her first post-graduate year doing locum tenens work in every corner of the country, but returned to Loma Linda to join the Pediatric Faculty Group.  In 2009, she began spending the majority of her clinical time at the SAC clinic and had the opportunity to be part of the tremendous growth of this organization leading to an intimate involvement with our LLU Pediatric program. The growth and education of the LLU Pediatric residents is now one of her passions. Joy outside of work includes snow-skiing, houseboating and traveling with my family.

Dr. De La Pena attended UC San Diego for undergraduate, and the University of Wisconsin, Madison for medical school. She did pediatric residency at Loma Linda. After completing pediatrics, she decided on a Pediatric Rheumatology fellowship, which she completed at CHLA. After completing fellowship, she returned to Loma Linda where she is currently an attending physician in Pediatric Rheumatology. She grew up dancing, and especially likes tap dancing. Her favorite hobby is reading. She is married and has two boys, Tyler and Aiden. 

Dr. Hamra was born and raised in Thailand. He moved to California during high school and attended Loma Linda University for both medical school and residency. After residency, he served as medical director for the craniofacial team before transitioning to a full-time hospitalist. In his spare time, Stephen loves to play a variety of different sports and travel the world. He has now been to more than 40 countries and all 7 continents.