CCFMGToday
Central California Faculty Medical Group & University Centers of Excellence

SUMMER 2021
Saving Patients Time and Money:
University Orthopaedic Associates Surgeon Performs Surgery for Trigger Finger
in the Office

Caring for Today’s Patients. Teaching Tomorrow’s Doctors.

CCFMG
Board of Directors
Joyce Fields-Keene, MPA, CMPE
Chief Executive Officer, Ex-Officio

Randall Stern, MD, FACS
Chairman/President
Medical Director, Valley Vascular Surgery Associates
Jim Comes, MD, FACEP – Vice Chairman
Chief of Emergency Medicine, UCSF Fresno
Ivan Gomez, MD – Secretary
Chief of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF Fresno

Patients, Friends,
and Partners of CCFMG,

I

am excited for you to share in the excitement of our newly redesigned bi-annual magazine, CCFMG Today.
For many years, this magazine has allowed us to tell unique stories about the incredible work happening in the community to improve patient care, expand medical
education, and support clinical research. We are thrilled to continue that legacy with a new, refreshed look and feel.
As you continue reading through this magazine, you will

CONTENTS
Faculty in the News	2
Welcoming New Physicians	4
Saving Patients Time and Money	6
Faculty Focus	8
What Our Patients are Saying	12
University Centers of Excellence Locations

Vice Chair of Family and Community Medicine, UCSF
James Davis, MD, FAC – Treasurer Chief of Surgery, UCSF Fresno Chief of Trauma Surgery,
Community Regional Medical Center

Michael W. Peterson, M.D. MACP
Y. Frank and Roxie Moradian Chair in Medicine UCSF Professor of Medicine
UCSF Fresno Associate Dean

Uzair Chaudhary, MD
Interim Chief of Medicine, UCSF Fresno Chief of Hematology/Oncology, UCSF Fresno

Yu-Hung Kuo, MD, PhD
Chief of Neurosurgery, UCSF Fresno

Carlos Sueldo, MD
Chief of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UCSF Fresno

Armen Martirosian, MD Program Director of Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Program

John Moua, MD
Interim Chief of Pediatrics, UCSF Fresno

John Tran, MD, FAPA
Chief of Psychiatry, UCSF Fresno

Christina Maser, MD, FACS Medical Director, University Surgical Associates

Richard Kiel, MD
Medical Director Advanced Heart Failure, UCSF Fresno

Haifaa Abdulhaq, MD
Director of Hematology, UCSF Fresno

Teresa Daniele, MD, FACC
Chief of Cardiology, UCSF Fresno

Craig Wagoner
Ex-Officio
Community Medical Centers

find that as the faculty physician group for UCSF Fresno, our physicians are caring for today’s patients and teaching tomorrow’s doctors. The last year has shown us this is more important than ever before. We could not be more proud of
our clinicians’ and staff’s continued commitment to providing
exceptional patient care and expanding medical education.

As a physician medical group, our goal is to deliver exceptional patient care, and we know that we cannot do that alone.
Our key health care partners are vital to helping us teach, engage in medical research, and care for our community. This partnership model allows CCFMG’s physicians to remain independent while working closely with our key partners in the Central Valley. This physician autonomy is crucial to the delivery model of expert, compassionate, robust patient care.
Being a CCFMG provider is synonymous with compassionate care and expert medical education. Those guiding principles are as true today as when CCFMG was founded in 1979.
As the Chief Executive Officer of CCFMG, I take immense
pride in the work our team of physicians, advanced practice providers, and administrative staff has accomplished over the last 42 years. I encourage you to learn more about CCFMG as you read through this magazine, explore the links to our website, and watch a video we developed to learn about our physicians, the care they provide, and what makes us unique.
We could not continue to provide world-class patient care and medical education without you. Thank you for your continued support.

With sincere gratitude,

Joyce Fields-Keene

University Cardiovascular Center (Clovis)
T: 559.666.1993 | F: 559.540.2957

University Cardiovascular Center (Fresno)
T: 559.320.0545 | F: 559.320.0550

University Dermatology Associates
T: 559.266.4100 | F: 559.266.4199

University Diabetes
& Endocrine Specialists
T: 559.323.9236 | F: 559.323.0294

University Gastroenterology & Hepatology Associates
T: 559.256.5136 | F: 559.485.4504

University Medicine Associates
T: 559.320.1090 | F: 559.320.0331

University Obstetrics & Gynecology Center
T: 559.443.2694 | F: 559.443.2696

University Orthopaedic Associates
T: 559.320.0531 | F: 559.320.0539

University Perinatal Associates (Clovis)
T: 559.472.4255 | F: 559.324.8786

University Psychiatry Associates
T: 559.320.0580 | F: 559.320.0582

University Pulmonary Associates
T: 559.256.5130 | F: 559.485.4504

University Sleep and Pulmonary Associates
T: 559.435.4700 | F: 559.298.7951

University Surgical Associates (Fresno)
T: 559.435.6600 | F: 559.435.6622

University Surgical Associates (Visalia)
T: 559.435.6600 | F: 559.435.6622

University Urogynecology Associates
T: 559.908.9270 | F: 559.320.0558

University Women’s Specialty Center
T: 559.320.0555 | F: 559.320.0558

Valley Vascular Surgery Associates

2625 E. Divisadero Street, Fresno, CA 93721 | 559.453.5200
universitymds.com

T: 559.431.6226 | F: 559.440.9005

Congratulations
Joyce Fields-Keene
on celebrating 40 years of dedication to Central California Faculty Medical Group!

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE VIDEO

Scan here to learn more about Central California Faculty Medical Group and the University Centers of Excellence.

Valley Hospitals may delay surgeries due to extreme blood shortage

“It’s an ongoing, sometimes hour-by-hour process to make sure that the supplies on hand are adequate for what you are doing.”
James Davis, MD, FACS
Chief of Trauma, CRMC
Chief of Surgery, UCSF Fresno
Professor of Clinical Surgery, UCSF

COVID-19 impacts kids from Black, Latino communities disproportionately

“This crisis of a pandemic really should allow us to look at these issues and really start looking for long-term solutions to the issue of health disparity in our county certainly but also in our state and our country.”
Lori Weichenthal, MD, FACEP, RYT
Assistant Dean of Graduate Medical Education, UCSF Fresno
Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, UCSF

FACULTY
IN THE NEWS
CCFMG’s faculty physicians are the medical experts of the Central Valley. On a weekly basis, both local and national media outlets
turn to our UCSF faculty practicing in Fresno for their expertise on trending health topics. In 2021,
our physicians were interviewed by local media outlets like ABC 30, KSEE 24, CBS 47, and GV
Wire, as well as national media outlets like yahoo!news.

Physicians partner with
police to encourage gun safety

“I wish I could buy everyone in Fresno a gun safe, but they are very expensive. The cable locks are just a bare minimum, a firewall. But it’s better than nothing, especially with little kids.”
John Bilello, MD, FACS
Chief of Pediatric Trauma,
CRMC Clinical Professor, UCSF

Fresno County not close to herd immunity, health officials say

“It’s not becoming as much of an access issue, it’s not because
of an inventory of vaccine issue. It’s becoming a
fact that there are a lot of adults that are eligible
that do not want to get the vaccine at this point.”
Kenny Banh, MD, FACEP
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, UCSF Fresno
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, UCSF

2	universitymds.com

FACULTY IN THE NEWS

Some Adolescents ages 12 to 15
get first does of COVID-19 vaccine at UCSF Fresno vaccination site

“A large percentage of the pediatric population, they can be asymptomatic carriers or they can get really minor symptoms. If we’re
talking about herd immunity, it’s actually really important to get those that are asymptomatic and carrying it and spreading it to others.”
Kenny Banh, MD, FACEP
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education, UCSF Fresno
Associate Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine, UCSF

“I think it’s very important that people vaccinate their kids. As a pediatrician,
we’re seeing that kids don’t die as frequently as older adults but we’re seeing some long lasting effects from COVID.”
Christian Faulkenberry-Miranda, MD Associate Clinical Professor, UFSF

PHYSICIAN
SPOTLIGHT

Farah Karipineni, MD, MPH, FACS
Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF University Surgical Associates

Why did you become a physician?

I became a physician after I battled a severe illness during adolescence. One of the physicians I met changed my life and my family’s life with how he cared for me, not just medically but mentally and socially. I realized that because of his art of doctoring, whatever I did in my future life path would be in part thanks to him. That’s when I realized how powerful an effect you can have on patients’ lives as a physician.

Can you tell us about your specialty?

Mother expecting twins
survives COVID-19 after 49 days in the hospital, ECMO treatment

“We only offer ECMO when someone
is relatively young, healthy, and have a good chance to come through it okay because it’s
a very intense therapy… She has an amazing spirit, she was actually cracking jokes in the ambulance on the way here so she is unbelievably strong, and
I think that helped her get through this.”
Crystal Ives-Tallman, MD
Assistant Clinical Professor, UCSF

My specialty is endocrine surgery, which is a subspecialty of general surgery. It focuses on surgical management of the endocrine glands, mainly the thyroid, parathyroid, and adrenal glands. I
also do quite a bit of general surgery, such as hernias, gallbladders, soft tissue surgery, and robotic surgery.

What do you enjoy the most about practicing in the Central Valley?

I really enjoy
practicing in the Central Valley
because of the diverse population we serve. Diversity is incredibly important to me, personally and professionally, and it is so rewarding to serve patients from different walks of life.

3

Raj Amin, MD
University Orthopaedic Associates Joint Reconstruction/Revisions

Welcoming New Physicians

Iziegbe Ehiorobo, MBBS

Tia Vang, MD

WELCOMING
NEW PHYSICIANS

What made you want to practice in the Central Valley?

Goeffrey Rohlfing, DO University Orthopaedic Associates Joint Reconstruction/Revisions

Being born in downtown Fresno and raised in both Clovis and Fresno, I have a deep foundational

What are you most looking forward to in caring for Central Valley patients?

relationship with the wonderful people of the Central Valley. From my youth, it has always been my dream to come back to these roots and practice medicine.

Now, as a fifth-generation physician and a third- generation physician to those of the Central Valley,
I feel incredibly lucky to be able to fulfill that dream and treat those that make this area so special.

What made you want to practice in the Central Valley?

The opportunity to return to the Central Valley was one that I could not pass up. I grew up in Fresno and since 1992 my family has called Fresno home. The multi-cultural environment and friendly people of the Central Valley make it not only an easy place to live but an excellent area to practice. In addition, my late father was a psychiatrist in the Valley for 29 years. He worked tirelessly for his patients and I look forward to the privilege of coming home to follow in his footsteps.

University Medicine Associates Rheumatology

What are you most looking forward to in caring for Central Valley patients?

What made you want to practice in the Central Valley?

Making the decision to practice in the Central Valley was quite easy and largely driven by my commitment to service and making an impact. During my time in San Francisco, I saw several patients travel hundreds of miles north to see a rheumatologist due to the shortage of providers in the Central Valley, and I realized that this was a huge opportunity to help bridge that gap.

I look forward to joining the excellent team of health care practitioners on the ground, working together to continue to provide the best care that the patients in the Central Valley deserve while developing a good rapport and building life-long relationships with my patients.

University Medicine Associates Internal Medicine

What made you want to practice in the Central Valley?

As a high school student in the Sunnyside Doctors Academy, I spent a summer working on a tuberculosis project with the Fresno County Department of Public Health. I recall being appalled by the number of unaddressed tuberculosis cases in the Southeast Asian community due to poor access to health care services. Since then, I was determined to improve the health standards of underserved communities in Fresno.

What are you most looking forward to in caring for Central Valley patients?

I look forward to returning to the Central Valley
and expanding access to culturally — and linguistically
— concordant health care.

Over the last 40 years CCFMG has strived
to provide high quality care for today’s patients, while teaching tomorrow’s doctors.

What are you most looking forward to in caring for Central Valley patients?

Above all else, I’m most looking forward to giving back to the community and caring for the people of my hometown. The Central Valley is a unique area with an incredibly hardworking, diverse and active population. I look forward to using my knowledge of the Central Valley to provide patients with personalized, and my very best, orthopedic care.

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Events
Visit universitymds.info/ events for a list of upcoming continuing medical education or health and wellness events featuring CCFMG’s expert faculty physicians.

Vipul Jain, MD, MS Elected President
of the California Thoracic Society

4	universitymds.com

In March, Executive Vice Chief of Medicine at UCSF Fresno and CCFMG physician Vipul Jain, MD, MS, was elected President of the California Thoracic Society.
The California Thoracic Society (CTS) was established in 1940, starting as the Southern California Anti- Tuberculosis League, and focuses on clinical activities surrounding pulmonary, sleep and critical care
practice issues, education, government, and payer policies for care access issues. As the largest chapter of

the American Thoracic Society, CTS’s membership includes pulmonary physicians, critical care specialists, internists, pediatric pulmonologists, allergists, thoracic surgeons, PhDs, respiratory care professionals, advanced practices nurses, registered nurses, and CPTs.
In his role as president, Dr. Jain will work closely with the CTS board and committees to collaborate with California Medical Association
delegates and University of California institutional

leadership in advancing the practice of medicine in California through advocacy and education.
Dr. Jain is also a Professor of Clinical Medicine with UCSF and Interim Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at UCSF Fresno. In addition to his faculty duties, Dr. Jain is the Medical Director for CCFMG’s University Pulmonary Associates faculty practice site.

5

Saving Patients Time and Money:
University Orthopaedic Associates Surgeon Performs Surgery for Trigger Finger in the Office

In Holen’s case, her symptoms did not disappear after a steroid shot and she prepared herself for surgery and all it would involve, including a hospital admission. To her surprise, Dr. Hoekzema gave her a choice of having the surgery in a hospital – or at the
University Orthopaedic Associates faculty practice site in Clovis.

also is less costly than a hospital procedure, which makes it an attractive option for patients who are uninsured, under-
insured, using a Health Care Savings Account or who have high insurance deductibles.

SAVING PATIENTS
TIME AND MONEY

“We are always interested in being able to expand our
service lines and this in-office surgery for trigger finger is a great choice we can provide for our patients.”

C

athy Holen woke up on a recent morning and her right thumb clicked and
popped every time she tried to bend it. Holen types every day at her job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture in helping farmers apply for federal crop insurance, and suddenly she had limited use of her thumb.
“I had no grasp. I couldn’t grab things. I had no strength in it. And it hurt. It hurt really bad. And over time, it kept getting worse,” she said. “It wasn’t just clicking and popping any more, it was locking.”
Holen was diagnosed with stenosing tenosynovitis or “trigger finger,”

6	universitymds.com
Photography by: Chance James

a relatively common and painful condition in which a finger or thumb freezes in a bent position. Holen sought care from Nathan Hoekzema, MD, a UCSF Fresno orthopaedic surgeon who specializes in surgery of the hand, wrist
and elbow. Dr. Hoekzema had treated her three years prior for a joint issue with another finger.
Steroid injections often resolve a trigger finger, but in some patients, surgery is necessary.

30
minutes
In-office surgery
or

3

OVER HOURS
having surgery in a hospital

ood tests

Ane

review ease

“He said, ‘you can either come in
the office and just have it numbed and be awake for it (the surgery) or you can go to the hospital and they can sedate you.’ And I chose to come here and not be sedated. It
doesn’t make any sense. You always feel awful afterwards and I just didn’t want to do that,” Holen said.
University Orthopaedic Associates has been offering in-office surgery for trigger finger for about four months. It requires a procedure area, but Dr. Hoekzema said the surgery itself is something that can
easily be done in an office. It involves making a small incision to release the bulge or knot that the tendon
is catching on. It does not require a lot of cutting or equipment, he said. Patients are given a local anesthesia, called WALANT, to numb the hand area. The anesthesia makes office- based procedures easier because it minimizes bleeding and maximizes visualization of the surgery site.
In-office surgery is efficient, Dr. Hoekzema said. It takes about 30 minutes from check-in at the front desk to walking out, he said. By contrast, having surgery for trigger finger in a hospital can take three hours, including time for blood tests, insertion of an intravenous line for anesthesia, visits with nurses and an anesthesiologist, and time for recovery. Surgery in an office

While having surgery
in the office is all- around more efficient than a going to the hospital, Dr. Hoekzema reminds patients that
“it’s not like you’re cutting corners or getting out easy from an operation.
You still have to heal. You still have to go through all the healing milestones. But the procedure itself is a bit easier. And you avoid some of the things that anesthesia needs, like labs, chest X-rays and EKG (electrocardiogram). We don’t need those in the office because
it’s straight, local anesthesia.”
But in-office surgery is offered only as an option for patients with trigger finger, Dr. Hoekzema said. “It’s never mandatory.” He understands some patients prefer surgery to be done in the hospital.
Besides offering in-office surgery for trigger finger, Dr. Hoekzema also provides the choice for DeQuervain’s surgery to release pressure on a pinched tendon that runs along the side of the wrist near the thumb. Both trigger finger and DeQuervain’s are common conditions. “We probably had five patients today with it (trigger finger),” he said recently.
Holen said her in-office surgery was fast and easy. “After receiving

Nathan Hoekzema, MD Orthopaedic Surgeon,

UCSF Fresno

an injection that numbed her hand, “I felt a little bit of pressure, but I didn’t feel any pain whatsoever,” she said. Once her hand has healed, she looks forward to cooking and baking, among other activities. Her husband is a drag racer and a race is tentatively scheduled for October at
a campsite outside Dos Palos. She is responsible for some of the cooking during races. “Everyone makes a meal and we just have a great time.”

Dr. Hoekzema said most patients are surprised and pleased that surgery for trigger finger can be quickly and safely done in the office. UCSF Fresno orthopaedic surgeons, who also are UCSF professors and as faculty train orthopaedic surgery residents at UCSF Fresno, are happy to offer this as a surgical option, he said. “We are always interested in being able to expand our service lines and this in-office surgery for trigger finger is a great choice we can provide for our patients.”

Hear more about Cathy’s experience with Dr. Hoezkema and University Orthopaedic

Associates.	7

FACULTY FOCUS

University Pulmonary Associates Offers the Only Interventional Pulmonology Care in the

“We do both in one setting, which is much better for the patient because they can undergo one procedure and be done. It’s faster, so from diagnosis to treatment is much less time because they don’t have to undergo multiple procedures by multiple

to the American Heart Association Journal, childhood cancer survivors are three times more likely to have a cardiac event than their peers who never had cancer.
“Heart disease and cancer are prevalent in the Central Valley. Working together for patients is huge, and

Central

Pravanchan Hegde, MD

Waqas Aslam, MD

Valley

F

or the last decade the emerging medical subspecialty of interventional pulmonology has been helping to
reduce the time patients go from diagnosis to treatment with new minimally invasive procedures. CCFMG physicians and UCSF Fresno Department of Internal Medicine faculty, Pravanchan Hegde, MD, and Waqas Aslam, MD, are the only board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians providing robust interventional
pulmonology care to Central Valley patients at University Pulmonary Associates.
Interventional pulmonology utilizes the minimally invasive procedures of robotic bronchoscopy, endobronchial ultrasounds, and endoscopic ultrasounds to diagnose and treat conditions of the chest and lungs.
These procedures use a patient’s natural

operators,” Dr. Hegde explained.
As a developing subspecialty of pulmonology that is not widely available, University Pulmonary Associates is proud to provide the medical expertise to bring these new care and treatment options to Central Valley patients. In 2015, Dr. Hegde started the
only center in California to offer patients the combined endoscopic ultrasounds and endobronchial ultrasounds for diagnosis and staging lung cancer. The interventional
pulmonology clinic at University Pulmonary Associates is also one of very few throughout the United States that offer these combined minimally invasive procedures. Additionally,
Dr. Hegde and his colleagues started the very first Robotic Bronchoscopy Program on the West Coast in 2019.
In addition to lung cancer, patients with Valley Fever, which can mimic lung cancer, various tumors, infections, and more can also

New Cardio-Oncology Program Provides Multidisciplinary Care for Patients

W

hen a cancer patient receives treatment, one of the last things on their mind is how cancer therapies may affect their long-term
heart health. That is why University Cardiovascular
Center physician and UCSF Fresno Department

there is no other program like this in the Valley where
patients can get streamlined, multidisciplinary care. It’s a very valuable and unique service that is being offered here,” Dr. Kunchakarra said. This cardio-oncology program will be the first in the Central Valley.
“My interest in cardio-oncology comes from my prior research experience looking at detecting early cardiac toxicity using strain echocardiography
in patients with breast cancer undergoing cardiotoxic therapies,” Dr. Kunchakarra said.
With her experience in advanced cardiac imaging,
Dr. Kunchakarra has the ability to evaluate abnormalities early on during cancer therapies to ultimately
minimize any damage to the heart from chemotherapy. Cardio-oncology is an evolving division of cardiology, and the concept is new to most cardiac clinics.
Dr. Kunchakarra will serve as Director of Cardio- oncology, and the program will be available at the University Cardiovascular Center. “She has played a vital role in bringing this
program here as she

airways and esophagus to access the lungs to examine a nodule or mass, biopsy
it, diagnose it, stage it if the nodule is cancer, and potentially add markers for future radiation treatments.
In a normal case, diagnosis and staging of lung cancer would be two separate procedures, meaning patients have to be
put under anesthesia twice. Dr. Hegde and Dr. Aslam use robotic bronchoscopy and a combination of endobronchial ultrasound and endoscopic ultrasound to provide both diagnosis and staging in one procedure. An additional benefit to patients is that these minimally invasive procedures leave no scars.
8

benefit from interventional pulmonology care. University Pulmonary Associates also offers patients treatment for advanced airway procedures for tumor de-bulking to relieve obstructions utilizing lasers and stents, benign obstruction airway issues such as scaring or tracheal stenosis, and bronchoscopic lung volume reduction for severe emphysema
and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease utilizing these minimally invasive procedures.
As this new field of pulmonology continues to develop, Dr. Hegde and Dr. Aslam
are continuing to work on expanding interventional pulmonology care and treatment options for patients through research and clinical trials to advance the health of the communities in the Central Valley.

of Cardiology faculty member Siri Kunchakarra, MD, has started a cardio-oncology program.
As an emerging multidisciplinary field of medicine, cardio-oncology is designed to care for the heart before, during, and after cancer
therapy to prevent heart damage and decrease the risk of developing heart disease later in life.
While not historically available to patients in the Central Valley, cardio-oncology programs have existed for many years in other areas in California and the nation. These programs have successfully treated patients who have had or are currently in cancer therapy and have heart disease, or are at high risk of developing heart disease. There has been success in treating patients who have an increased risk of heart disease due to the type of treatment they receive, such as childhood cancer survivors. According

is specially fellowship trained in advanced cardiovascular imaging, including cardiac CT/MRI and strain imaging. These are the foundation
of identifying early toxicity and allowing for safer oncology cardiac monitoring,” said
Dr. Teresa Daniele, UCSF Fresno’s Chief of Cardiology.

“Heart disease
and cancer are prevalent
in the Central Valley. Working together for patients is huge, and there is no other program like this in the Valley...”
Siri Kunchakarra, MD

9

A

s we begin to emerge from the pandemic slowly, our children are eager to
resume engagement in the sports they love. We are all happy to see human interaction and physical activity return. However, with the return of youth sports comes the return of sports injuries, and it becomes vital to refresh ourselves on youth injury prevention.
A common cause of youth sports injuries is overuse due to single- sport specialization. In generations past, children changed sports with the seasons throughout the year, but today it is common for a child to play just one sport year-round. Many children play on more than one team at the same time, as well. This concern is currently elevated due to the perceived need to “make up” for lost seasons in 2020, and the risk increases by the relative lack
of conditioning over the last year.
When a child participates in just one sport, they continually use the

same muscle groups and apply unchanging stress to specific areas of the body. This can lead to muscle imbalances that put children at serious risk for overuse injuries combined with overtraining and inadequate periods of rest.
Coaches and parents should be aware of the more common signs of overuse injury.
These include:
Pain - This pain is not associated with an acute injury, such as a fall. The pain often increases with activity and is improved with rest.
Swelling
Changes in form or technique
Decreased interest in practice
Many overuse injuries in children are preventable. The key to prevention is to avoid overdoing any single sport and give growing bodies adequate rest between practices or games.

UCSF Fresno’s COVID-19 Equity Project Receives Dean’s Commendation for Exceptional Volunteerism and Community Service

By: John Wiemann, MD Associate Clinical Professor, UCSF University Orthopaedic Associates

Injury Prevention with the Return of Youth Sports

UCSF School of Medicine Dean Talmadge King Jr., MD, recognized the work of UCSF Fresno’s
COVID-19 Equity Project with a Commendation for Exceptional Volunteerism and Community Service.
With the help of the City of Fresno and numerous local community partners, UCSF Fresno’s COVID-19 Equity Project has provided nearly 24,000 COVID-19 tests and has administered more than 20,000 vaccines as of April 2021.
The COVID-19 Equity Project, led by CCFMG physician and Department of Emergency Medicine at UCSF Fresno faculty member, Kenny Banh, MD, has been an invaluable resource to medically underserved communities in Fresno. Of the 25,691 COVID-19 tests given as of May 7, 2021, 80% of those tested identified as people of color. Of the 27,166 vaccines administered as of May 5, 2021, about 70% of the individuals vaccinated identified as people of color.
In addition to his duties as the Medical Director for UCSF Fresno’s COVID-19 Equity Project and his work in the Emergency Department at Community Regional Medical Center, Dr. Banh is the UCSF Fresno Assistant Dean of Undergraduate Medical Education and an Associate Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine with UCSF teaching medical students, residents, and fellows through UCSF Fresno.

FACULTY FOCUS

UCSF Fresno Expands Research, Names Assistant Dean

In recognition of his relentless efforts to ensure Central Valley patients have
access to new treatment and care options, Associate Dean of UCSF Fresno, Michael
Peterson, MD, named Eyad Almasri, MD, Assistant Dean of Research, a new position at UCSF Fresno.
Dr. Peterson noted a number of factors that lead to Dr. Almasri’s appointment, including Dr. Almasri’s successful oversight of the National Institute of Health (NIH)-funded trials and PETAL network studies at UCSF Fresno, and his leadership role in building COVID-19 research during the pandemic.
A UCSF associate clinical professor, Dr. Almasri is faculty at UCSF Fresno in the Department of Internal Medicine – Pulmonary and Critical Care and Sleep Medicine. He also is medical director of the intensive care unit at Community Regional
Medical Center (CRMC), is a member of the Extra Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation, or ECMO, team, and cares for Central Valley patients at University Pulmonary Associates, a Central California
Faculty Medical Group faculty practice site.
“Someone once told me early in my career that busy people are the ones who find time,” said Dr. Almasri. “The busier I am, the more time I carve out for research.” Research leads to solutions for medical problems, he noted.
This includes investigating health conditions specific to the Valley as well as clinical trials that bring new treatments to the area before they are available more
broadly. For example, early in the COVID-19 pandemic,
UCSF Fresno and CRMC were the first in the region to offer remdesivir as a treatment for COVID-19.
Dr. Almasri’s focus as Assistant Dean of Research includes encouragement of multidisciplinary work that will only increase the opportunities for new treatment and care options

Limit the number of teams in which your child is playing in one season. Kids who play on more than one team are especially at risk for overuse injuries.
Do not allow your child to play one sport year-round
— taking regular breaks and playing other sports is essential to skill development and injury prevention.

Specific tips to prevent overuse injuries include:

10 universitymds.com

to Central Valley patients.	11

Reviews

WHAT OUR PATIENTS
ARE SAYING

What Our Patients Are Saying

Were you happy with your visit and care?
Please share your experience by leaving us a review.

Thom R.
TR	Alan Kelton, MD | University
Medicine Associates
“Thank you” just cannot convey the depth of my gratitude for Dr. Kelton’s dedication to his craft – that of saving lives.

Aida M.
AM	Teresa Sigala, MD | University
Medicine Associates
“The best doctor in the Central Valley! She cares about her patients and has pushed me to prioritize my health more. Every

Genevieve
G	Teresa Daniele, MD FACC
University Cardiovascular Center

“From my first encounter with Dr. Danielle, my experience has been kind, efficient and educational.

Leslie B.
LB	Vipul Jain, MD, MS | University
Pulmonary Associates
“I appreciate Dr. Jain’s office team for warmly welcoming me to my appointments, their professionalism and caring attention to my needs.

Lauren
L	Brian Morgan, MD, PhD
University Women’s Specialty Center

“Dr. Morgan and his staff are amazing! They have taken such good care of me for now all

 		time I see her I feel a trusted
friend is taking care of me.”

GJ

Gordon J.	 	
Soe Naing, MD MRCP, FACE,

I have full confidence in her
partnering with me in my care. The office staff is wonderful as well.”

My health is vastly improved as is my life without ongoing and frequent asthma attacks. Dr.
Jain makes a difference . . . I will

three pregnancies I’ve had.
Dr. Morgan is always patient with my questions and his staff does their absolute best to ensure

ECNU | University Diabetes and Endocrine Specialists
“Dr. Naing is awesome. He listens to my concerns intensely and he is

Denise J.
DJ	Nathan Hoekzema, MD University Orthopaedic
Associates

M&R

Mark and Robin
Greg Simpson, MD | University Dermatology Associates

always be grateful for his care.”

Guadalupe L.

the wellbeing of the patients.”

Sonia M.

very knowledgeable. My diabetes has been under control with his help.

“Dr. Hoekzema and his staff, are so professional and helpful! They

“Dr. Greg Simpson is the best doctor around. He is professional,

GL	Valley Vascular Surgery
Associates

SM	Marina Roytman, MD, FACP
University Gastroenterology
& Hepatology Associates

His bedside manner is exceptional.

truly care and go the extra mile!”

courteous, level headed and

“That staff and doctors at Valley

His office staff are also very helpful.”	 	

Tammie Z.

friendly and sincerely wants to help people in general. Very thorough and an eagle eye. The staff is

Vascular are very attentive and they took really good care of me very well. I would recommend them to my

“We visited Dr. Roytman for the first time for my husband’s liver issues and I have no words to describe

DR

D.R.
Felice Lin, MD | University Cardiovascular Center

“Dr. Lin is a very good and through Cardiologist. She adjusted my medication with a mix old and
new medicine. She is on time but she finds time to answer all of my questions without feeling rush.”

TZ	Michael Charles, MD
University Orthopaedic
Associates

“Dr. Charles, the physician, and medical assistants were professional and kind. They
provided clear explanation of my condition and treatment plan… I have increased range of motion. This has provided me a much improved quality of life. Thank you!”

also better than anybody else.”

Tanya H.
TH	University Obstetrics
& Gynecology Center

“A wonderful team of professionals that works in all areas of your well-being.”

family and friends. They took my leg pain away. I’m so grateful to them.”

Ruth C.
RC	Farah Karipineni, MD, MPH, FACS | University Surgical
Associates

“Very thorough and friendly.”

how gentle, caring, loving and
knowledgeable Dr. Roytman is. We felt so comfortable with her. We recommend her to everyone.”

Christine L.
CL	University Sleep and
Pulmonary Associates

“So grateful to my sleep team!! They make sure that I understand the process and they listen to my input!”

Caring for Today’s Patients. Teaching Tomorrow’s Doctors.

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2625 E. Divisadero Street, Fresno, CA 93721

University Orthopaedic Associates, Exclusive Orthopaedic Surgeons for the Fresno Grizzlies!
For more than 20 years, the Fresno Grizzlies have provided Fresno and Clovis a team to growl and cheer for. CCFMG is proud to announce our faculty practice site, University Orthopaedic Associates, is now the exclusive orthopaedic surgery office
for the Fresno Grizzlies. Our team of 12 board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons provide the entire spectrum of orthopaedic care for Central Valley patients and their favorite local baseball team. Robert Kollmorgen, DO, FAAOS, FAOBOS, will be the exclusive orthopaedic surgeon to the team.

Robert Kollmorgen, DO, FAAOS, FAOBOS