Meet Us

Hello HELLO! I'm Bri, a proud SoCal native with a passion for becoming a "glocally”-aware pediatrician. Growing up in LA, I’ve had the privilege of experiencing a vibrant blend of cultures and communities that have shaped my perspective on healthcare and life. After completing undergrad at Whittier College (Go Poets!), I pursued my medical education at WesternU of Health Sciences in Pomona with an additional year of OMM Pre-Doctoral Teaching Fellowship. During residency, I've been fortunate to expand my sense of home to include Loma Linda, where I’ve had the honor of working alongside a diverse group of individuals who share a commitment to caring for children and their families. Outside of medicine, you'll find me indulging in my love for COWS (both the adorable & the delicious varieties), fangirling over Harry Potter and Disney, recharging with boba and food therapy, or exploring new places through travel! Excited to welcome you into a supportive community where we learn, grow, and care together!

Hi, I’m Elisa! I was born in New York City and grew up in Hackensack, NJ. I studied Exercise Science at Rutgers University–New Brunswick while working as a Children’s Library Assistant, a job I held from high school to the start of residency. For my medical education, I attended Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem, New York. Matching at Loma Linda for residency then brought me to Southern California—my first time living on the West Coast—where I’ve grown so much in pediatrics, found a second family in my co-residents (with my younger sister nearby in LA!), and even became a cat mom! In the program, I am one of the “Disney adults.” You’ll often find me in my Disneyland hoodie, at the parks with my Magic Key or planning “Disney Days” at work. Outside of work, I enjoy music festivals, exploring SoCal’s diverse food scene, digital painting on my iPad, anime and manga, reading fantasy and mystery, and playing pickleball (a hobby I discovered after moving here). Best of luck in the interview process and I hope to meet you soon at Loma Linda!

Hi my name is Brayden and I am very excited to represent Loma Linda as one of the pediatric chief residents! I grew up in Pleasant Grove, UT and did my undergrad in mechanical engineering at Brigham Young University in Provo, UT. Halfway through, I decided that engineering was not my jam so I added on extra classes to complete the pre-reqs for medical school and I went to Kansas City University in Joplin, MO. During my interviews for residency, I was drawn to Loma Linda due to the people I interacted with and how close everyone is with each other, so I was very happy that I matched here. After chief residency, I plan to do hospitalist medicine. My wife and I love to travel and we also got annual passes to Disneyland which we are putting to good use. I also enjoy running, hiking, camping, board games, and playing music. We became parents during residency and would be happy to answer any questions you have about parenthood in residency! I hope to see you soon at Loma Linda!

Hi! My name is Christy and I can’t wait to meet you! I am originally from the underrated state of Arizona where I also went to undergrad, and then moved to Virginia for medical school at Liberty University. I was so happy to come back to the West Coast for residency, especially to California because of the beautiful variety in nature from mountains to beaches. I have also met lifelong friends at this program and enjoy exploring new hikes, food, and boba with them (you will quickly learn we are kinda obsessed here). Besides yapping with my coworkers, I also love playing board games, playing piano/singing, and traveling to visit my family and friends around the country! Residency can be hard but I hope to help continue the positive atmosphere of Loma Linda when you (hopefully) join us!

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.