First-Year Residents

Class of 2029

Almeida, John, MD (he/him)
UMass Chan Medical School

With the exception of my college years in St. Louis, I’ve lived most of my life in Massachusetts, so I’m overjoyed to be embarking on a new westward adventure to the Bay Area! I chose Contra Costa because I wanted a full-spectrum, equity-focused training that would prepare me to serve communities most in need. Outside of medicine, you’ll probably find me running in the park while listening to an audiobook, enjoying good food with friends and family, or relaxing at home with my partner and two cats, Lou and Buster.

Carter, Marin, MD (she/her)
University of Arizona College of Medicine Tucson

Growing up, my family moved several times to Chicago, China, and finally Arizona, which I now consider home. My passion for community health began while working as a medical assistant at an FQHC in Northern Arizona prior to medical school, and my clinical interests have since grown to include rural and global health, adolescent medicine, and reproductive healthcare. I chose Contra Costa for its exceptional full-spectrum training and commitment to health equity. Outside of medicine, I enjoy practicing yoga and spending time with my cat, Juno.

Chavez, Alejandro, MD (he/him)
University of California San Francisco School of Medicine

I enjoy reading fantasy, hiking, kayaking, and playing my favorite card game, Hanabi. I’m passionate about improving access to high-quality care for vulnerable populations, which was initially inspired by my time working with health promoters in Guatemala. I chose Contra Costa for its commitment to underserved communities and its excellent full-spectrum training.

Elmor, Sammy, DO (he/him)
Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

I grew up in Augusta, Georgia, and attended medical school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, South Georgia campus. I chose Contra Costa because I believe it will cultivate me into being a community physician with an expertise in full-spectrum care. As someone who is committed to serving the medically underserved, my dream is to be a physician who can treat patients across different healthcare settings and geographical locations and is effective in resource- limited areas.

Essien, Sernah, MD, MS (she/her)
University of California, Riverside School of Medicine

As a queer, first-generation Ghanaian American, I am excited to be part of the Contra Costa community as I build on my skills as a healer, advocate, and organizer. I chose Contra Costa for the unique opportunity to be trained in full-spectrum Family Medicine at a program with strong obstetric training, reproductive health training, and a focus on advocacy and community health. Though I am a Southern California native, I love how dynamic the Bay Area is between its people, culture, and nature, and I feel privileged to serve its diverse population as a family medicine physician.

Hillou, Noor, MD (she/her)
Augusta University of Georgia Medical Partnership

Coming from a working-class family and a labor-exploited community in Atlanta, I bring a background in maternal and infant public health where I worked alongside traditional doulas and childbirth educators. I'm honored to work in the East Bay, where Contra Costa's history and communities share significant connections with the South, and to walk alongside these communities in their pursuit of dignity and health equity throughout all life stages. I believe that physicians are extensions of the communities they serve, with our duty being to serve the people.

Kim, Brittany "Hope", MD, MPH (she/her)
Perelman School of Medicine University of Pennsylvania

I am a child of a Korean immigrant and grew up in a military family, living everywhere from Montana to California to Maryland. My path to medicine has been rooted in relationships: I was drawn to family medicine because it allows you to show up for patients across lifetimes and generations. I chose Contra Costa for its commitment to health equity, mission-driven culture, and exceptional full-spectrum training in family medicine, including obstetrics and reproductive health. Outside of medicine, you can find me skiing, running, cycling, walking my dog, or curled up with a good book.

Liu, Jay, MD, MS (they/them)
Stanford University School of Medicine

I was born and raised in Northern California by Chinese-American immigrants and grew up in the embrace of the queer and BIPOC communities of the East and West Bay. I received an MS in Computer Science and BS in Chemistry from Stanford University, but I chose medicine to combine my passions for science, technology, art, and storytelling into a force for liberatory change and self-empowerment. At Contra Costa, I look forward to continuing to serve my communities as a trauma-informed, justice-oriented advocate and healer. My clinical interests include nutrition and eating disorder care, size-inclusive medicine, and LGBTQ+ health.

Marcos, Jade, MD (she/her)
University of the Philippines Manila College of Medicine

Originally from the Philippines, I moved to the Bay Area as a teenager, and that journey continues to shape my perspective on community, identity, and care. Training across the Philippines and the U.S. deepened my passion for full-spectrum family medicine, women’s health, and community care, and I was drawn to CCRMC for its people, strong social mission, and deep commitment to health equity. I’m excited to come home to the Bay Area and train at CCRMC, where I look forward to the exemplary full-spectrum training and the opportunity to care for the communities that have shaped me.

Petros, Irini, MD (she/her)
University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College

I grew up in a rural town called Walnut in Illinois before moving to Iowa City for college and medical school. As the daughter of first-generation immigrants—a Romanian mother and Greek father—my background has shaped my commitment to serving underserved communities. I chose Contra Costa for its strong training in women’s health and acute care, its dedication to underserved populations, and its alignment with my goal of becoming a community-focused, full-spectrum family physician.

Rangel, Pau, MD (they/she)
University of California Davis School of Medicine

Raised in the Central Valley by strong Colombian immigrant women, I studied biology, Spanish linguistics, and comparative ethnic studies at UC Berkeley before moving to Philadelphia to begin my work in street medicine and harm reduction. I am thrilled to return to the East Bay for Contra Costa’s full-spectrum training, including addiction medicine, gender-affirming care, infectious diseases, and procedural opportunities. I chose this program for its unwavering dedication to anti-racism and its commitment to achieving health justice for our most vulnerable communities, especially in limited-resource settings.

Rodriguez, Samantha "Sam", MD, MPH (she/her)
Keck School of Medicine of USC

I grew up in Southern California, and I am very excited to move to and experience the Bay Area! Prior to and during medical school, I dedicated myself to serving underserved populations through clinical care, advocacy, and mentorship, which solidified my passion for primary care. I chose Contra Costa for its strong commitment to health equity, full-spectrum training, and deep connection to the communities it serves, as well as the sense of belonging I felt among its residents and faculty.

Stubbs, Anna, DO, MPH (she/her)
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University

I loved growing up in the Midwest and spending the past six years in Chicago, and now I’m excited to move closer to family on the West Coast and join Contra Costa. I was drawn to CCRMC’s unparalleled full-spectrum training and its excellence in obstetrics, reproductive, and inpatient care, but it was Contra Costa’s mission-driven commitment to underserved patients that really stood out. My interests include art, public health, addiction medicine, LGBTQ+ care, hosting dinner parties, and outdoor adventures that lead to bodies of water.