On Friday, March 15, Valley Children's Healthcare announced the latest class of residents for its Pediatric Residency Program, affiliated with Stanford University School of Medicine, and the Pharmacy Residency Program. On National Match Day, medical students across the nation discovered where they will train for the next three years.
This year, Valley Children's Pediatric Residency Program welcomes 14 new residents, marking the eighth graduating class from its esteemed program.
"We are thrilled to introduce the Class of 2027," says Dr. Vini Vijayan, Director of Valley Children's Pediatric Residency Program. "These individuals represent the future of pediatric care, and we are honored to be a part of their journey and have them join us in caring for the children of the Central Valley."
This year, 10 out of 14 residents are from California, and two from the Central Valley. The members of the Valley Children’s Pediatric Residency Class of 2027 are:
- Simrin Bains, MD, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, School of Medicine; from Pleasanton, CA
- William Bautista, MD, California Northstate University College of Medicine; from Hayward, CA
- Roxanne Coronel, MD, Ateneo School of Medicine and Public Health; from San Francisco, CA
- Amy Du, MD, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine at Florida Atlantic University; from Boynton Beach, FL
- Sonia Dubey, MD, St. George's University School of Medicine; from San Francisco, CA
- Veronica Gullapalli, MD, St. George's University School of Medicine; from San Ramon, CA
- Navya Katragadda, DO, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine; from Cerritos, CA
- Aaron Kian, MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine; from Carmichael, CA
- Natalie Pardo, DO, California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine; from Bakersfield, CA
- Bibi Patel, DO, California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine; from Clovis, CA
- Meghna Peesapati, DO, Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine; from Chicago, IL
- Katherine Shah, MD, Ross University School of Medicine; from Lynwood, CA
- Daniel Slaton, DO, A.T. Still School of Osteopathic Medicine – Arizona; from El Centro, CA
- Mia Wolff, MD, Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine; from New Alexandria, PA
The residency matching process begins during an applicant’s final year of medical school, when they apply to residency programs of their choice. More than 150 candidates interviewed at Valley Children’s and then met with a panel of representatives, including pediatric specialists, nurses, social workers and pharmacists. The Match uses algorithms to provide a systematic approach for fair residency placements. Match Day processes are similar among several health professions, including medicine, pharmacy, dentistry, optometry and others.
“For pharmacy graduates, residency training is a critical year of clinical learning," explains Dr. Wenee Lopez, Director of Valley Children's Pharmacy Residency Program. "Our pharmacy program also welcomes five new pharmacists, who will receive specialized training to provide exceptional pharmaceutical care to children."
The members of this incoming Pharmacy Residency class are:
- Chad Hayashi, PharmD, University of Southern California; from Fresno, CA
- Jessica Irish, PharmD, University of Rhode Island; from Windham, NH
- Melinda Misaki, PharmD, University of Southern California; from Clovis, CA
- Justine Montero, PharmD, University of Southern California; from Cerritos, CA
- Gislia Negrete, PharmD, Pacific University Hillsboro, Oregon; from Santa Paula, CA
“Since 1999, Valley Children’s has been training pharmacists to provide specialized pharmaceutical care to kids,” says Dr. Lopez. “Residents tend to work where they train, and we hope this leads to many of them staying right here to serve families throughout Central California.”
Valley Children’s will officially welcome residents during the annual White Coat Ceremony, when they will receive their traditional lab coats. That will take place at Valley Children’s Hospital on Friday, June 28.