Health Care Career Pathways Team

My mission is to change the complexion of health care leadership. I am an internal medicine hospitalist practicing in Tacoma, and the Medical Director for Healthcare Career Pathways. I attended historically black Morehouse College, where I was inspired to become a physician-activist. I studied Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shanghai and Beijing and worked in public health internships. My medical training spanned the University of Michigan, Rush & Cook County Hospitals in Chicago, and Legacy Health Systems in Portland, Oregon. After residency, I joined Group Health (now Kaiser Permanente Washington) because of its unique potential to address racial/ethnic health inequities. I took a one-year educational leave to complete the Mongan/Commonwealth Fund Fellowship in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University, focusing on hospital community benefit policies and practices. Currently, he's building programs to support Black, Brown and Indigenous students to become health care leaders through virtual shadowing and mentorship. I’m also organizing with other Washington leaders of color to develop a BIPOC-led, convening non-profit organization called The BIPOC Health Careers Ecosystem, dedicated to developing Black, Brown and Indigenous healthcare leaders. I have two brilliant, beautiful, and bold children, Marzieh and Adib, enjoys studying Black history and practicing Chinese, and am active in my faith.

I joined Kaiser Permanente in 2018 and recently transitioned into her administrative role with the Health Care Career Pathways Program in 2023. She runs the Healthcare Career Pathways Pre-Med Shadowing Program and our Tacoma Public Schools Next Moves Partnership Program for high school students. I am involved in numerous community events and festivals that shine light into the tradition, culture, and ancestry of our people. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family and dedicating my leisure time to assisting my children with their extracurricular activities: gymnastics and Samoan Fireknife.

I grew up mostly in Renton, Washington, one of the most diverse cities in the country. My interest in medicine started from a young age in a conversation about medical racism experienced by her African American community. I graduated from UW Seattle in 2020 with a B.S. in Public Health-Global Health. Post-graduation I participated in the Shoreline Community College Post-Baccalaureate program, Virtual Rounds College, iHUMAN, and became an emergency department scribe through ScribeAmerica. As a strategy consultant, I am grateful for the opportunity to get to know and build programs for students like me who are pursuing healthcare related careers. In my free time I enjoy learning and practicing instruments such as the bass and languages such as Japanese and Korean. I plan on becoming a physician who practices patient-centered care, improves healthcare access, counsels youth and advocates for marginalized groups within my community.

I have worked on Virtual Rounds, iHUMAN, and am an alumnus of previous Virtual Rounds and Public Health programs created by HCCP. I recently graduated from Seattle Pacific University and continue to work on future programming for HCCP. Since my freshman year of college, I have wanted to be a psychiatrist for a variety of age groups and demographics because talking with people about their experiences--both in the long and short term-- is something very valuable for me. As of now, I am still working on gaining clinical hours, experience, and other pre-medical requirements for my current track. Apart from work and medicine, I enjoy scenic road trips and trying out all the local foods along the way.

I graduated from the University of Washington in 2023 with a Bachelor of Science, majoring in Public Health-Global Health. Along with my role as a strategy consultant for HCCP, I also work as a medical scribe at the PolyClinic. With a childhood encapsulated by sports, community, and culture, I aim to dedicate my adulthood to the intersection of those three areas by becoming a sports medicine physician. With service being the backbone of a community, I hope to engage with patients, providing a level of cultural competency that improves health outcomes and empowers communities to overcome existing health barriers. Working with HCCP has allowed him to begin to actualize this hope, encouraging underrepresented students to pursue their career goals and demonstrating that diversity in healthcare leadership roles is a necessity. Outside of work, I enjoy engaging with sports, playing video games, and enjoying the little things in life.

I graduated with a major in Molecular Cellular and Developmental (MCD) biology with a minor in Diversity from the University of Washington, Seattle. During undergrad I worked a Fred Hutchinson Cancer Institute for 2 years before transferring to Seattle Children’s Hospital designing CAR T-Cell plasmids. I grew up in Mount Vernon, WA and spent most of her summers on the farm and working part-time at the Mount Vernon Farmer’s Market stand teaching people how to use their food stamps. I enjoy spending time at Camp Korey and tutoring elementary school students during the year. Myr goal is to one day become a physician so I can help serve the Latino agricultural community working in Skagit Valley.

As a recent graduate with a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Washington, my journey has been deeply influenced by my Mexican heritage and upbringing in a rural area. From a young age I discovered a passion for medicine as I found myself advocating for family and friends who faced language barriers within the healthcare system. Currently, I am incorporating my scientific background and cultural insights as a strategy consultant working alongside medical professionals. This role allows me to merge my interest in healthcare and problem-solving, while also contributing to addressing systemic challenges in the field as an aspiring physician. I am committed to leveraging my diverse experiences to drive positive change and equitable access to healthcare for underserved communities like the one I come from. On my own time I enjoy spending time with my dog, eating and trying a whole lot of different foods, traveling, and laughing a lot.

For more than 15 years, I have dedicated my life and work to growing people, helping organizations and communities find sustainable ways to create and engage opportunities. I have been privileged to contribute my experience and skills to governments at regional and national levels, local and international nonprofits, and community-based organizations. I am a Doctoral Researcher in the field of Business Administration, and I hold a master’s degree in Organization and Leadership Development. I am a trained Project/Program Manager, and a Finance and Accounting graduate. As an ICF trained career and lifestyle coach, I use neuroscience techniques to support individuals and groups on their journeys. I also serve Washington Permanente Medical Group as a Wellness Champion. My top values include but are not limited to honesty and transparency, empathy, respect, inclusivity, and equity and my leadership style is a combination of the ethical, transformational, and authentic styles. When not active at work, I spend my time in experimental cooking, wandering in nature, playing soccer, kayaking, telling stories, and in loud and deep-felt laughter. Personal motto: before you act, think twice, understand the situation, and perceive the impact of your action.