Michael Chappell, MD grew up in Little Rock, AR, and earned his undergraduate degree from Hendrix College, a small, liberal arts college in Conway, Arkansas. He majored in biology and minored in history while also playing intercollegiate soccer and singing in the choir. He attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and completed his internship in internal medicine at St. Mary’s Medical Center in San Francisco. He became interested in ophthalmology when he discovered that being an eye doctor allows fulfillment of a wide spectrum of clinical and surgical responsibilities. Dealing with all age groups and generally achieving a satisfied patient population are additional incentives for pursuing this specialty. Michael is also excited about continuing the professional tradition in his family in which both of his grandfathers, various uncles and aunts, and his mother have found being a physician to be both intellectually stimulating and personally rewarding. Michael was drawn to California Pacific because of the outstanding clinical and surgical experience available in a variety of hospital and outpatient settings and the camaraderie that exists among the residents and teaching staff. While at CPMC, he feels that he has gained a great deal of knowledge and experience that will help him throughout his career. Next year, Michael will continue his training at the University of Washington in Seattle where he will do a fellowship in ophthalmic plastic and reconstructive surgery.

 

Rishi Doshi, MD grew up in La Palma, CA and received an undergraduate degree in Psychology from the University of California at Berkeley. He first grew to enjoy the diversity of the Bay Area during these college years, which taught him invaluable lessons about the people he would soon care for as patients when pursuing a career in medicine. Years later, while volunteering at a medical camp in Gujarat, India, he first became inspired by the ability of ophthalmic surgery to provide tangible and immediate change in people's lives. He returned to the University of California at San Diego for his final year of medical school, where he solidified his interest in the field and decided to pursue a residency in Ophthalmology. He is excited to be training at California Pacific Medical Center, where he has found a very close-knit community of talented residents and faculty who help make the hard work enjoyable.

Outside of medicine, Rishi enjoys playing basketball, traveling to distant corners of the world (or in tougher economic times, going to the coffee shop on the corner), eating at all of San Francisco's incredible restaurants, and continuing his hobbies of poetry, spoken word, and guitar.

 

Christian Hester, MD is originally from Magnolia, Arkansas. Dr. Hester received his undergraduate degree in Economics and Business from Hendrix College in Conway, AR. He studied medicine at the University of Arkansas for Medical Science (UAMS). Dr. Hester’s previous work experience includes political and policy internships in grassroots efforts with the American Academy of Ophthalmology in Washington, D.C., and at the Arkansas Medical Society in Littlerock. He worked at the American Academy of Ophthalmology in San Francisco, where he performed social media needs and risk benefit analysis and served as a liaison between physician and young ophthalmologist leadership and AAO staff. Dr. Hester chose California Pacific Medical Center to have the opportunity to work with Dr. Susan Day, as he also trained in low vision rehabilitation with Dr. Donald C. Fletcher.

Dr. Hester enjoys experiencing the diverse culture in San Francisco and exploring the numerous restaurants and eateries with his fiancé. His other personal interests include cooking, fly fishing, playing guitar and singing, news and politics, and tennis.

 

Adam Gess, MD grew up in Alexandria, Minnesota and received his undergraduate degree in sociology from Wheaton College, IL. In college he participated in the Human Needs and Global Resources program, during which he spent six months working in a medical clinic in rural Honduras. His interactions with a volunteer group of ophthalmologists during his internship in Honduras greatly influenced his interest in the field of ophthalmology. He attended the University of Minnesota School of Medicine, and completed his internship in internal medicine at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco.

Adam’s interest in ophthalmology is fueled by the rewarding nature of restoring sight, and the profound impact this has on patients’ lives. He comes from a family of eye doctors, and developed an interest in international eye care through the influence of his grandfather, a medical-missionary ophthalmologist in Sierra Leone, West Africa. He hopes to incorporate international service in the developing world as a regular part of his career.

Adam is excited to be training at California Pacific Medical Center because of the outstanding clinical and surgical volume, the variety of training environments, the superb faculty, the opportunity for international rotations, and the excellent camaraderie between residents and faculty. In his free time, Adam enjoys spending time with his wife, reading, enjoying the outdoors, and traveling.

 

Alan Lowinger, MD grew up just outside of New York City. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and completed medical school at UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. As a medical student, Alan worked as a primary care provider at a clinic for uninsured Camden, NJ residents. As part of the Student Scholar Program, he spent significant time volunteering in charity hospitals in India. He was also co-President of the International Health Interest Group, raising money for health care needs abroad and helping to organize a for-credit ten-lecture elective on important international health matters.

Alan is most content in the proximity of a yoga mat or a journal with a gel pen. If he were not a resident, he would without a doubt be traveling.

Geoffrey Wilkes, MD received his undergraduate degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in Biology and his medical degree at the University of Michigan Medical School. His previous work and volunteer experience is varied and extensive. He served in a number of capacities with the West Virginia Governor’s School for Math and Science, ranging from activities coordinator to physician in residence. In his eight summers with the National Youth Science Camp in West Virginia, his responsibilities included audio-visual technician, rock climbing program coordinator, medical assistant and ultimately as the camp physician. Recently he held a unique role outside of medicine as the Personal Assistant to stand-up comedian Josh Blue.

Dr. Wilkes volunteered in Benin, Africa with Unite for Sight, helping to organize an eye clinic for vision screening and treatment. This included assisting with cataract surgeries, an experience that inspired him to pursue ophthalmology as a career. Dr. Wilkes selected residency training in ophthalmology at CPMC because of its reputation for clinical excellence and for the supportive family atmosphere amongst the residents, attending physicians, and staff in the Eye Department. Dr. Wilkes and his partner, Erin Welch, an ambulatory care pharmacist, are new to the San Francisco Bay Area. They enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors. His hobbies include cooking, hiking, camping, water sports, and basketball.

 

Sally Chang, MD is originally from Taiwan. She attended high school in Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Chang graduated summa cum laude with undergraduate degrees in Biomedical Science and Biololgy at the University of Pennsylvania. She continued on at UPenn to obtain her medical degree. During medical school, Dr. Chang did neuro-ophthalmology research involving patients with multiple sclerosis, and she was awarded at the national neuro-ophthalmology conference. Her extracurricular experiences at UPenn include a position as Ophthalmology Interest Group-Co- President, as well as volunteering in the free Chinatown clinic. Prior to her arrival at CPMC, Dr. Chang completed her internship in internal medicine at the Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, CA. Dr. Chang chose the Eye Department at CPMC to work with exceptional faculty and to experience diverse training opportunities that involve exposure to many patient cases.

Dr. Chang has lived in San Francisco for one year. She enjoys the opportunity to visit her family in the Bay Area. Outside of medicine, Dr. Chang’s interests include piano, cooking, and trying new restaurants with her fiancé. She enjoys traveling and has recently returned from her first trip to Hawaii and spent time in Oahu.

 

Edie De Niro, MD joined the CPMC Department of Ophthalmology in November 2010. She grew up in Spokane, WA and has lived in San Francisco for the past ten years. Jennifer earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology at Williams College, a liberal arts college in Williamstown, MA. She graduated summa cum laude and received highest honors for an undergraduate thesis about the evolution of phenotypic plasticity in chorus frogs. While at Williams College, Dr. De Niro received the Coaches Award in Varsity Cross Country and she continues to be an avid runner.

Dr. De Niro came to CPMC after her diverse experiences at UCSF that included Medical School Representative for the Student Health Committee, Dean’s Fellowship for Summer Research, and Coordinator for Men’s Support Group for a homeless health clinic. Prior to medical school, she worked for three years as a Researcher and Lab Manager at the University of California, Berkeley, and taught Physical Science and Chemistry at the Mercy High School summer school program.

Dr. De Niro chose to pursue Ophthalmology because vision has a profound impact on a person’s life. She selected residency training at CPMC because of the program’s focus on applied training and the supportiveness and camaraderie of the residents and faculty. After completion of the residency program, she hopes to be able to volunteer her skills to help people in developing countries. During her free time, Dr. De Niro enjoys cycling, soccer, traveling abroad, and going to the theater.

Residents

The core of PVF’s commitment to medical education is its support for one of the country’s most prestigious and sought-after residency programs. The residents currently in training are listed on the left.

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