Class of 2021
Albert Aparicio, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Rowland Heights, CA
Medical School
Howard University College of Medicine
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
I absolutely fell in love with the culture of this program. Also, aside from the amazing family-oriented staff and faculty, I know Kaweah Health will help me become the best emergency medicine physician I can be.
Why did you choose your specialty?
I am convinced that emergency medicine is my niche in the medical field. It allows me to become a first responder and gives me the opportunity to treat patients of different backgrounds. It also gives me the opportunity to work with various other medical disciplines and tackle a huge breadth of pathology and physiology.
What are your hobbies?
Hip-hop dancing, weightlifting, traveling, music
Benjamin Camacho, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Sacramento, CA
Medical School
UC San Francisco School of Medicine
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
Outstanding core faculty with a strong residency program designed around constant exposure and hands-on, intense training in a busy emergency department. Kaweah Health allows residents to often work in a one-on-one dynamic with their attending physicians, providing personalized and attentive, detail-oriented teaching in a fast paced setting.
Why did you choose your specialty?
Emergency Medicine allows me to provide care with advanced imaging and laboratory studies while working alongside other dedicated medical professionals to populations who require assistance in diagnosis or management of their disease regardless of ability to pay, documentation or insurance status.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy traveling to distant foreign countries, learning languages and various culinary techniques
Patsy Chenpanas, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Los Angeles, CA
Medical School
Howard University College of Medicine
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
The program’s leadership and staff were all so inviting, engaging and welcoming on interview day! I was also very impressed with how the residents were very happy and energetic about their experiences here and about the community they serve. Also, the location is ideal - you are within 2-3 hours of anything the state of California has to offer, with less traffic and a cost of living that is hard to beat.
Why did you choose your specialty?
As an EM doctor, you are prepared to handle anything, anywhere, at any time. This is the type of doctor I have always wanted to be - equipped and ready for any problem or anyone that may come through the emergency room doors. I also enjoy the wide variety of situations you are exposed to in emergency medicine, which constantly challenges me to be a better doctor.
What are your hobbies?
Hiking, camping, exercising, traveling, art, food festivals, and live shows or music
Hector Guerrero, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Hesperia, CA
Medical School
University of California San Diego
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
Visalia is an exciting city with a lively downtown and close proximity to the stunning Sierra Nevada Mountains. The area’s diverse patient population, low cost of living, and community feel make it second to none. The hospital sees varied pathology with a lot of trauma while serving an underserved population; in combination with a supportive faculty, it makes Kaweah Health a great place to train.
Why did you choose your specialty?
Emergency medicine trains physicians to be able to handle some of the most complex and challenging illnesses seen in medicine. Emergency physicians must be able to quickly discern between someone who is sick and very sick, then quickly intervene to treat. I’ve always enjoyed the ED pace, the teamwork, and the diversity of patients seen.
What are your hobbies?
Backpacking the Sierra Nevadas, cooking carne asada tacos for friends, travel, and SCUBA diving
Nicole Guillen, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Sparks, NV
Medical School
University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine
Why did you choose your specialty?
Diversity, fast pace, fun people
What are your hobbies?
Hiking, camping, swimming, my dogs
Josue Guzman-Burgueno, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Murrieta, CA
Medical School
New York Medical College
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
Close to my hometown, affordable housing, 3-year program, receptive faculty, large class size
Why did you choose your specialty?
Treating everyone on the age spectrum was a big draw for me. Each day is different in the ER, and you never know who or what will walk or get carted through the doors.
What are your hobbies?
Going to rock concerts, attending sporting events, singing in the car, exploring local breweries, and playing with my pup
Travis Helm, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Kingsburg, CA
Medical School
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
It is a program full of great people in the community I want to spend my career in.
Why did you choose your specialty?
It offers the broadest knowledge base and the ability to see anyone and treat anyone.
What are your hobbies?
I enjoy any outdoor activity such as camping, hiking and golfing. I usually spend most of my free time renovating our home, and spending time with my wife, friends and family.
Priscilla Henson, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Reno, NV
Medical School
University of Nevada, Reno
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
Everyone was so friendly - faculty, residents, support staff - they all made me feel welcome. I also prefer small towns like Visalia over big cities, so the idea of a residency program with a busy ED that wasn’t in a huge city was very appealing.
Why did you choose your specialty?
I love the variety and the pace of emergency medicine.
What are your hobbies?
Hiking, reading, and especially cooking
Theresa Kim, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
Medical School
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, Chicago
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
I really enjoyed talking to the residents during the resident’s social the night before and participating in the interactive small groups on interview day. The faculty were so welcoming and the residents seem to really love being part of the Kaweah Health family. In addition, the underserved patient population that Kaweah Health serves makes it an ideal place to train. Visalia is so close to home (LA), as well.
Why did you choose your specialty?
I was an EMT before going to medical school. As I would hand off patients, I never knew what happened to them. I wanted to be involved in stabilizing patients at the hospital. As I was doing my clerkships during my third year looking for the right fit, I noticed I loved certain aspects of every rotation. My last rotation was emergency and that’s when I realized, it had all my favorite parts of all my 3rd year rotations (suturing, LPs, intubations, etc). It’s a perfect fit!
What are your hobbies?
Hapkido (black belt), indoor rock-climbing, watching UFC and horror/crime movies
Carli Nichta, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Westlake Village, CA
Medical School
Creighton University School of Medicine
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
Fit with residents, small town, location
Why did you choose your specialty?
Fit
What are your hobbies?
Hiking, running, working out, cooking, being outdoors, surfing, playing with my dog
Stephanie Songey, DO - Resident Physician
Hometown
Danville, CA
Medical School
Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
I rotated at Kaweah Health as a fourth year medical student, and had one of the best experiences of medical school. The current residents, faculty and emergency department staff were so encouraging and I felt I fit into their team. The residents are some of the most confident and experienced residents I have learned from. I knew being a resident here would set me up for success.
Why did you choose your specialty?
I love what I am able to do in Emergency Medicine. I love the people I get to work with, the fast paced environment and the ability to make an immediate impact and know how to save someone’s life.
What are your hobbies?
Traveling, hiking, skiing, playing the violin
Jeff Wells, MD - Resident Physician
Hometown
Fresno, CA
Medical School
University of California, San Francisco
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
Close to home, love the community, great program with great residents
Why did you choose your specialty?
Fast-paced, good lifestyle, shift-work, ED family
What are your hobbies?
Pianist, gamer, outdoors, assembling metal earth products, being with friends/family
Dane Zappa, DO - Resident Physician
Hometown
Oakland, CA
Medical School
Western University of Health Sciences
Why did you select Kaweah Health’s residency program?
Ever since I met my wife, I’ve loved visiting the Central Valley. I know, I know, I get a lot of raised eyebrows at enjoying my time with her parents in Hanford, but you get used to the cow smell. I love the rural aspect of this location and I love the unpredictability of what rolls in through the ED doors.
Why did you choose your specialty?
A combination of loving the variety of pathology and hating clinic and rounds. I like practicality, and I never understood making a patient wait 5 hours for you to round on them when there are things that can be done beforehand. The ED was the right choice for me.
What are your hobbies?
A combination of healthy and unhealthy things. I like to run, lift, bike, especially on the trails with my dog, cooking and gardening. I also enjoy television, movies and video games.
