Alums Report Career Milestones as 2024 Begins

The book is an outgrowth of COVID-19. Jefferson says she added journaling to her daily self-care regimen during the pandemic and has continued to journal and write daily words of empowerment and encouragement to herself. The book consists of 101 of her favorite notes she wishes to share with other women – and men as well.

Jefferson describes herself as a strong booster of Touro University California, as evidenced by her status as a multiple alumna. She completed work this academic year on her preliminary Administrative Credential through the Graduate School of Education.

Jefferson is an assistant principal at Hogan Middle School in Vallejo. A small book launch celebration occurred on Valentine’s Day at the school, during which she described the process that led to the book’s publication this year.

More information about the book is available at www.camillejeffereson.com.

Dr. Elaine Ho (DO 2016), is the new Chair of the Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health at Touro University California’s College of Osteopathic Medicine. She succeeds Dr. Jay Shubrook, who served in an interim capacity for 18 months.

Ho completed her Family Medicine residency at PIH Health Hospital in Downey, where she served as Chief Resident. She later served as Associate Program Director for the Family Medicine Residency Program at St. Joseph Medical Center in Stockton and as Medical Director of the St. Joseph Medical Center Residency Clinic at Community Medical Centers.

“Dr. Ho brings a wealth of experience, expertise, and dedication to our esteemed institution,” Dr. Tami Hendriksz (DO 2006), Dean and Chief Academic Officer of the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Interim Chief Academic officer for the University, said in announcing Ho’s selection. “We are incredibly fortunate to have her leadership guiding us into the future.”

Dr. Samarth Bhatnagar (MSMHS 2017, DO 2022) has won the 2023 Resident Writing Award from the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians of California.

His winning submission, "Gout: A Case Study," is described in an ACOFP-CA press release as “a testament to his outstanding clinical acumen and educational contribution to family medicine.”

“His paper thoroughly discusses the management of a particularly challenging case of gout with atypical presentations and complex comorbidities, including Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD3b) and Congestive Heart Failure (CHF),” the ACOFP-CA says in the press release. “His approach, which resulted in a significant clinical improvement through the innovative use of Allopurinol and Pegloticase, demonstrates the critical impact of dedicated, patient-centered care.”

Bhatnagar is a resident physician at Adventist Health Ukiah Valley.

"We are proud of our residents' high scholarship and clinical dedication,” Dr. Bruce Koyle, President of ACOFP-CA, says in the press release. “Dr. Bhatnagar's work reflects his expertise and the excellent training provided by Touro University."

Elena Makani da Silva (MSPAS/MPH 2014) has been appointed as Medical Director for Peach Tree Health in Lincoln. She started in December.

Peach Tree Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center serves North Sacramento, Sutter and Yuba counties with four main clinics in mostly rural and underserved areas.

Da Silva has a background in clinical research. She worked for 13 years at UCSF and five years at San Francisco General Hospital before joining the Joint MSPAS/MPH program at Touro.

She was a Physician Assistant for four years after completing the Joint Master’s program, then served for five and a half years as a Clinical Physician Assistant for Solano County Family Health Services before taking on her new role.

Sarah Kent (MSPAS/MPH 2023) joined the St. Peter’s Health Medical Group’s North Clinic in Helena, Montana, in December as a Physician Assistant.

Kent is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, the California Association of Physician Assistants, and the Montana Association of Physician Assistants.

Her background prior to becoming a Physician Assistant included work as a Research Associate and as a Clinical Research Coordinator.

Darcie Larimore-Arenas (MSPAS/MPH 2012) has accepted a full-time clinic position as a Physician Assistant with California Orthopedics & Spine, which has offices in Novato and Larkspur.

The health care team at California Orthopedics & Spine provides orthopedic and sports care to Marin County residents as well as those in the greater San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California. The office includes specialists in spine care; shoulder care; hip and knee care; hand, wrist and elbow care; and foot and ankle care, to include injury prevention as well as treatment.

She joins Kevin Holman (MSPAS/MPH 2007) at the practice. Holman has been at the practice since completing his Joint Master’s program at Touro.

Larimore-Arenas will remain as an Adjunct Associate Professor in the Joint MSPAS/MPH program. She has taught at Touro since December 2015.

Dr. Uyen Thai (PharmD 2019) has earned board certification as an Oncology Pharmacist from the Board of Pharmacy Specialties.

The BPS Board Certified Oncology Pharmacist program is a credential for pharmacists who have met specified eligibility criteria spanning at least four years and who in their practice make use of “an increasing number and complexity of drug therapies for treating and preventing cancer, manage cancer-related situations not encountered in other disease states.”

Thai has worked for Sutter Health since October 2021 as an Ambulatory Care Oncology Pharmacist. She became an Advanced Practice Pharmacist in the Oncology Pharmacotherapy Clinic in January. She served at both Dignity Health and Adventist Health prior to joining Sutter.

Dr. Joy Moverley (MSPAS/MPH 2012) was featured on the Pre-PA podcast “Pre-PA Club.” You can listen on Spotify.

Moverley is Director of the MSPAS/MPH program at Touro University California. She also serves as a Professor and Assistant Dean in the College of Education and Health Sciences.

Dr. Gerard Baltazar (DO 2007) was featured on “The Surgical Soul” podcast. You can listen on Spotify.

Baltazar is a trauma surgeon with NYU Langone Health in New York. He serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine.

Camryn Wentworth (MSN 2023) started a new job in January as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at NorthBay Medical Center in Fairfield.

She was previously a Clinical Nurse at the NorthBay Health hospital. She worked prior to that as a Registered Nurse with HCA HealthCare’s TriStar Division.

Wentworth was one of two recipients in early 2023 of the Travis Credit Union-NorthBay Health Nursing Scholarship.

Dr. George Mikhail (PharmD 2019) started a new position in January as Inpatient Pharmacist Lead at Kaiser Permanente.

Mikhail previously served as a Clinical Pharmacist with Kaiser prior to his promotion. He also served previously as an Inpatient Pharmacist with Community Medical Centers, and as a Clinical Staff Pharmacist-Hematology/Oncology for Sutter Medical Center.

He is a Board-Certified Sterile Compounding Pharmacist and a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist.

Dr. Baqara (Maya) Yoder (PharmD 2015) was hired in November to teach part time as an Associate Professor of Clinical Sciences at Touro University California.

Yober has served for eight years as a Staff Pharmacist at Sonoma Valley Hospital and serves as a preceptor for the College of Pharmacy. She previously served as a Pharmacist or Staff Pharmacist for three major retail chains and for the University of California, Davis.

She is a Board-Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist and has completed the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ Emergency Medicine Certificate Program and has earned the Transition of Care Pharmacist Certificate from Cedars-Sinai.

Dr. Jin (Daniel) Taegun (MSMHS 2016, DO 2020) has been accepted to the Neuromuscular Fellowship with the Department of Neurology at UCLA, which begins in July and ends in June 2025.

Taegun is currently a 4th-year resident in the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Department at the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. He spent a transition year at Hemet Global Medical Center in Hemet.

He serves as Secretary/Treasurer on the Executive Council of the American Osteopathic College of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Resident Council, and as a Physiatrist in Training Ambassador with the American Association of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.

ATTENTION ALUMS!

If you have reached a personal or professional milestone (including marriages, anniversaries, professional travel, awards, achievements, grants, publications, graduations and more – PLEASE let us know! Email gfaison@touro.edu.