Meet our Family Medicine Residents
Third Year - Class of 2026
Marina Bond, MD
I got my BS in biology from the University of Washington and completed my MD at the same institution. Before attending medical school, I was a medical receptionist and interpreter for patients who spoke Russian and Ukrainian. I also had jobs as a medical assistant, a medical scribe, a home health aide, and a pharmacy technician. Apart from medicine, I like salsa dancing, mushroom hunting, and reading Russian literature.
Jessie Chin, DO
I grew up in Seattle and studied at Vassar College in New York. I spent several years working for an aerospace company before pursuing a culinary career and becoming a chef in different restaurants. I then decided to switch to medicine and completed my post-baccalaureate premedical studies. I also worked as a medical scribe and trained other scribes. I completed medical school at Pacific NW University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine. In my free time, I like board games, baking, and tennis.
Aubrey Gower, MD
I grew up in Bothell, Washington, and attended the University of Washington, where I earned a double major in biology and psychology and a minor in classics. After college, I worked in pediatric research and then returned to UW for medical school. I have an interest in addiction medicine and health care for underserved LGBTQ populations. Apart from medicine, I enjoy paddle boarding, arcade games, coffee, comedy, and animals of any sort.
Sarah Krawczak, MD
I grew up in Woodinville, Washington. I went to Whitman College for my undergraduate degree, where I studied Biology. I completed my medical education at the Washington State University Elson Floyd College of Medicine in 2023. I was involved in STEM mentoring at a nearby high school during medical school, and I served as the co-president of the Pediatric Interest Group at my school. I also have a strong interest in adolescent care. I love running and hiking.
Epiphany Nick, MD
I have lived in various places but now reside in Federal Way, Washington. I obtained a BA in American Ethnic Studies and a BS in Biology from the University of Washington while conducting research that affected underserved and indigenous communities. I served as a Health Services Assistant at an elementary school and then as a Medical Assistant at Iora before entering medical school. I graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine, where I was very involved in health equity and anti-racism work and influenced the medical school curriculum.
Erica Nkwocha, MD
I earned my medical degree from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and did my undergraduate studies at Whitman College in Washington State. I also obtained an MS in Nutritional Sciences and a Certificate in Social Determinants of Health and Disparities, which was published during medical school. I enjoy writing short stories for myself and for others. Outside of medicine, I have perfected the art of home-cooked meals for my dogs.
Second Year - Class of 2027
Carmen Abbe, MD
I attended Scripps College in California, majoring in Human Biology. After graduation, I did research on male contraception and led clinical trials on this topic. I graduated from Washington State University Elson Floyd College of Medicine where I also earned a graduate certificate in leadership in medicine. I am passionate about access to reproductive healthcare and helped develop my school’s curriculum on this. Outside of medicine, I love roller derby and was a member of the Rat City Roller Derby in Seattle for two years.
Jiaqi Chen, MD
I am from the Midwest and graduated from Saint Louis University School of Medicine after also earning my undergraduate degree in biology from the same institution. I pursued multiple research opportunities in undergrad and med school, and also worked together with student-led groups and non-profit organizations to improve the health of the community. While coming from the Midwest, I am excited to transition to the Pacific Northwest where I rotated as a medical student and have family nearby.
Diana Dinh, DO
I have strong ties to the Pacific Northwest, having grown up in Everett, Washington. I earned a Biochemistry degree from the University of Washington and then went on to AT Still University of Health Sciences School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona. I completed a Sub-Internship with the Kaiser Permanente Washington Family Medicine Residency. I am committed to serving the underserved and have spent time helping nonprofit free health clinics, supporting Afghan refugee groups, and participating in environmental cleanups for the local community. These experiences granted me induction to the Sigma Sigma Phi Honors Society, whose members share a passion for community service.
Valerie Holt, DO
I grew up in Virginia to parents who are first generation immigrants (my dad is from Malaysia and my mom is from Taiwan). I attended the University of Virginia in Charlottesville and obtained a master’s in public health from George Washington University in DC. While attending AT Still School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, I participated in many community activities. I believe strongly in the power that community has to transform health.
Zorie Jones, MD
I am a graduate of the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. I attended the University of Saint Joseph in Connecticut for my undergraduate studies, where I majored in biology. During my studies I participated in breast cancer research, looking at risk factors impacting mental health outcomes and health disparities among women of color. This led to publications and presentations. I was also active in the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), providing mentorship to underrepresented high school youth, and peer mentorship for medical students.
Michaela Murphy, MD
My hometown is Seattle. I earned an undergraduate degree in Philosophy at Vassar College in New York, then completed medical school pre-requisites at North Seattle College, followed by medical school at the University of Washington. I am passionate about working with communities historically marginalized in medicine. My volunteer work includes working for a student-run free clinic for people experiencing homelessness, providing health and harm reduction supplies to community members who use drugs, and mentoring students.
First Year - Class of 2028
Aaron Bautista, DO
I grew up in San Diego, where helping my Filipino immigrant family navigate the healthcare system sparked my desire to care for underserved communities. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Human Biology and Society from UCLA and my doctorate from Western University of Health Sciences COMP. During medical school, I served as Student Government President and was named both a National Health Service Corps Scholar and an AAFP Emerging Leader Institute Scholar, researching licensing exam equity in family medicine. After completing a sub-internship at Kaiser Permanente Washington, I’m excited to return to serve diverse communities and advance LGBTQ+ health. Outside of medicine, I enjoy weightlifting, playing board games, chasing my family dogs, and competitively playing Nintendo Switch games.
Tim Iwuoha, DO
I was born and raised in Seattle, WA. I went to the University of Washington where I obtained my BS in Public Health. I went to medical school at Pacific NW University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima, WA. In college and in medical school, I was very involved in extracurricular activities surrounding community service and youth mentorship. I was also active in organizations such as Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and the Washington State medical Association (WSMA). I have a strong interest in sports medicine. In my free time, I like listening to music, cooking, and supporting Seattle sports teams.
Lucy Li, MD
I grew up in East Bay, CA, and growing up in an immigrant family shaped me as a person and I take great pride in my family. I moved up to Seattle for UW undergrad and stayed for UW School of Medicine, Go Dawgs! I intend to work with my patients in progressing towards their goals, acknowledging that it may not always be a linear process.
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends over sharing the love for food or taking a mental break walk with my dog. I also love taking long walks and trying new crafting projects.
Taha Rahmatullah, MD
Elmer Vazquez, MD
Born in central Mexico, raised in Spokane Washington after 1st grade, I was lucky enough to attend the University of Washington for my undergraduate and Medical Degrees with 5 years in between running a gym and being a trainer in the greater Seattle region. Being non-traditional, I chose medicine with family medicine in mind from the very beginning. My varied interests and love of longitudinal relationships saw no other fit. If I had to narrow my areas of interest down, I would choose preventive medicine, lifestyle medicine, sports medicine. I also enjoy procedures, particularly anything with ultrasound guidance. In my spare time I stay as active as possible by taking my dogs to the beach/park with my wife, lots of crossfit, volleyball, golf, jiu jitsu.
Savanna Yann, MD
I was raised in Tacoma, Washington by Cambodian refugees and Laotian immigrants. My passion for medicine comes from living through financial and academic difficulty. I spent my whole life working and wanted to serve others who have similar experiences to myself. Throughout undergrad, I have connected with various cultural clubs to widen my worldviews and learn more about my culture in addition to other cultures. I have volunteered at community programs to help with citizenship, English language learning, supporting elementary age children with reading, food banks, and more. While I was in medical school, I volunteered at under-resourced high schools by giving kids exposure to careers in healthcare and did monthly presentations for underrepresented premed students about the medical school process. My passions in medicine include: Gender Affirming Care, Reproductive Care, LGBTQIA+ Health, Addiction Medicine, Immigrant Health, and Advocacy.
Graduates’ Perspectives
"Of the 14 Family Medicine residency programs I interviewed at around the country, Kaiser Permanente Washington Family Medicine Residency stood out as the best for me. The integrated care delivery system, the innovative curriculum, and the inspiring program director all perfectly aligned with my interests and values. Although my small family's move from Kansas City came with some severe sticker shock (Seattle is very expensive), I wouldn't have traded my training at Kaiser Permanente Washington Family Medicine Residency for anything. It was the collegiality with residents and faculty, the values-based resident scheduling (i.e., prioritizing patient-PCP continuity, long-term learning value, and burnout prevention), the high-functioning team, the program's commitment to combat systemic racism, and the robust support at a primary-care-centric organization that made this residency program truly amazing. The personal and professional growth I experienced was unparalleled. Now, as a faculty member at a Family Medicine Residency program in the Midwest, I'm constantly suggesting how we can improve with "Where I trained, we..." I look back with pure gratitude for the patients I met, the amazing residents with whom I worked side-by-side, and the world-class educators and administrators at Kaiser Permanente Washington Family Medicine Residency in Seattle."
— Brandon Hidaka, Class of 2020
"The best part about being a resident at Kaiser Permanente Washington Family Medicine Residency is being in an environment that is truly committed to improving healthcare. On a residency level, this means that the faculty members are very open to our ideas and are there to help us make things happen. We often check in with each other and ask ourselves, 'What can we do to better support our patients and each other?' As an organization, Kaiser Permanente Washington Family Medicine Residency has a strong commitment to primary care and has recently launched an initiative called 'Advancing Primary Care,' in which we use a multidisciplinary team approach to make sure more patients, especially the patients that have the hardest time coming in, are getting all their preventative health needs met. As a resident, it is inspiring to see an entire organization make this type of commitment to primary care. It is an environment that strongly supports Family Medicine and one where new physicians thrive."
— Phyllis Ying, Class of 2019
"Training at Kaiser Permanente Washington Family Medicine Residency provides an everyday reminder of why it is so wonderful to become a family doctor. The curriculum is unique and built to model the life of a family doctor in practice. The faculty members are examples of how to follow your interests while balancing full-spectrum care. The continuity clinics are team-based and functional so that time spent in the clinic is productive both for your patients and your learning. As a resident, you have ownership over your panel of patients and have the time in the clinic to establish individual relationships early in your training. You also have amazing technology at your fingertips to ensure your patients are meeting targets for their chronic conditions and are up-to-date on preventative health care. There are both virtual and in-person opportunities to engage with specialists, and they are welcoming of our questions and extremely helpful in partnering with PCPs to best manage challenging diagnoses. All of that, and it is just a fun place to be — great people and a most supportive training environment!"
— Annie Gayman, Class of 2017