-
Alison Aronstam, MD, MS
Ali Aronstam graduated from UCSF’s School of Medicine and is currently completing her Internal Medicine residency at the same institution. She also has an MS in Medicine and Public Health from UC Berkeley. In her free time, she enjoys baseball (especially listening to SF Giants games on the radio), hiking and biking, and reading. “Through both direct patient care and systems level work, I aspire to expand the reach of palliative care into communities that have not had ready access to the service… as I near the end of residency, I come away with a deep appreciation for the impact that a palliative care provider can have as a clinician, educator and advocate.”
-
Han Bao, MBBS, MA
Han Bao completed her medical education at Nanjing Medical University in China and has earned an MA in Healthcare Ethics from St. Joseph’s University and an MBA from Goldey-Beacom College. She is currently a resident in Internal Medicine at Jacobi Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. Her hobbies include hosting tea ceremonies, fishing, and collecting stones. “My residency caring for diverse patients with complex illnesses cemented my passion for palliative care. Leading early GOC conversations in high-stakes situations, I've seen how proactive communication reduces conflict and family distress. Cultural, religious, and health literacy differences often shape difficult reactions to bad news.”
-
Kevin Han, MBBS
Kevin Han is a graduate of Shanghai Medical College at Fudan University in China and a current resident in Internal Medicine at SUNY Downstate in New York City. Outside of work, he enjoys cooking Asian fusion cuisine and caring for his pets (which include a puppy, tortoise, gecko, and tree frogs). “I realized that healing isn't only measured by shrinking tumors, but also by the presence of a listening ear and a compassionate heart and a willingness to advocate for the whole person. These are values I hope to carry forward and refine through further training.”
-
Susan Kennedy, MD
Susie Kennedy attended UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Medicine and is currently a resident in Emergency Medicine at the same institution. Her hobbies range from skateboarding to surfing to trail running; she was previously a hairdresser and salon owner. “During my palliative elective in residency, time slowed. There was time to ask questions around priorities, to gauge understanding, and to explore a person's hopes and fears. I began learning the tools to alleviate suffering…I hope to be the provider that gets to stay in the room, to hold space for the big emotions, whether they be grief, frustration, joy, or relief.”
-
Justin Nathan, MD, MA
Justin Nathan earned his MD from New York Medical College, as well as an MA in Health Justice and Bioethics from Temple University. He is currently an Internal Medicine resident at Temple University. His interests include music (especially folk and Americana), reading, backpacking, and weight lifting. “I have come to recognize that helping people to understand their diseases and prognoses as well as advocating for their goal-concordant care is what drives me most. I am especially drawn towards helping those unable to advocate for themselves, due to their illness, poor health literacy, or systemic barriers. It is through the lens of palliative care that I believe I can make my greatest impact.”
-
Katrina Sadang, MD, MPH
Katrina Sadang completed her medical education at UCSF’s School of Medicine and an MPH from Harvard. She is currently a Chief Resident in Family Medicine at Lifelong Medical Care in Richmond, CA. Outside of work, she enjoys hula dancing, singing karaoke, and watching musicals. “I hope to both practice palliative care and bring a palliative care lens to my outpatient primary care practice. I have particular interest in early integrated palliative care since I believe primary care is an ideal setting to engage patients in palliative care before they present to higher acuity settings such as hospitals or skilled nursing facilities. After fellowship I hope to expand access to palliative care services to underserved communities, including low-income patients and Spanish-speaking Latinx patients.”
-
Jamee Schoephoerster, MD
Jamee Schoephoerster is a graduate of the University of Minnesota Medical School and a current third-year resident in General Surgery at Oregon Health and Sciences University. In her free time, she enjoys ceramics, Nordic skiing, and building furniture for her future house. “My decision to pursue a palliative care fellowship reflects my deep commitment to improving surgical care as a whole. I want to master advanced communication and symptom management skills, become an educator in this space, and serve as a bridge between two historically displaced disciplines. I hope to be part of the broader movement working toward a surgical culture that equally prioritizes both technical excellence and compassionate, patient-centered care.”
-
Elaine Yan, MD, MS
Elaine Yan earned her MD from Georgetown University, as well as an MS in Biophysics and Physiology from the same institution. She is currently an Internal Medicine resident at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. Her interests range from yoga and meditation to Bay Area sports teams to trying new restaurants. “When I reflect on my why in medicine, I often return to the bedside moments I share with patients who are living with serious illnesses, and the ways I work to uphold their dignity at the end of life. Looking to the future, I envision myself working in a multidisciplinary outpatient setting and providing quality palliative care early in patients' disease courses, maintaining transparency of disease prognosis in a culturally competent manner. I want to support patients in navigating serious illnesses, returning agency to patients by engaging them in advance care planning as they near the end of life.”