Tamara Thomas, MDDean, Loma Linda University School of Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: global health, faculty development, disaster response Current Research: career development, learning for the long-term 
Personal
Hometown: Spokane, WA Hidden Talents: fantasy football Favorite Pastimes: exploring, reading, cooking, hiking, skiing Favorite Past Job: lifeguard on the lake – can life get any better than that? Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Padawan for life long learning; fantasy life- Wonder Woman Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Solomon Islands, Afghanistan What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: hiking, gardening, cooking |
Lea Walters, MD
Chair, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: disaster medicine, intergenerational communication Current Research: Working in Fours: a toolkit to facilitate intergenerational communication in the emergency department. In process: a qualitative study of emergency department staff responding to the San Bernardino terrorism attack. 
Personal
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ Hidden Talents: according to my husband, Cliff, I can make dogs howl (with my singing!) I can undo all knots. Favorite Pastimes: hiking with our dogs, but I also love knitting and reading. Favorite Past Job: teaching high school science Fictional Character You Most Identify With: has to be Nancy Drew. I mean who wouldn’t! Great friends, perfect hair, cute little sports car, smart, and always on an adventure! Favorite Place You’ve Visited: The Galapagos. That was on my bucket list and it was an incredible trip! Most Interesting Fact About You: Sorry, I can’t tell you that! 😄 But one thing most people don’t know about me is my mother was Filipino and I make delicious lumpia and pancit! What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: I love the shops and restaurants in Redlands. I live in the mountains, so I’m close to beautiful hiking trips. |
Besh Barcega, MD
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Residency: Pediatrics, Loma Linda University Medical Center Fellowship: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: teaching situational awareness, patient/family centered care Personal Hometown: Philippines Hidden Talents: it’s so hidden, even I can’t figure it out Favorite Pastime: reading, traveling Favorite Past Job: it was NOT being a venipuncture tech Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Hercule Poirot Favorite Place You’ve Visited: most recently- Waimanalo Beach in Oahu Most Interesting Fact About You: attended 3 different schools for 1st grade |
Robert Barry, MD
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Professional:
Medical School: Stony Brook University School of Medicine Residency: Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Academic Interests: Maritime and wilderness medicine Personal: Hometown: Los Angeles Hidden Talents: Cooking Favorite Pastimes: Diving, fishing, surfing Favorite Past Job: Data Manager for surgical missions abroad Fictional Character you most identify with: Calvin's Dad from Calvin and Hobbes Favorite place you’ve visited: Pohnpei in the Federated states of Micronesia What do you like to do in the Loma Linda Area: Hiking in the nearby mountains |
Deena Bengiamin, MD
Associate Residency Program Director,
Department of Emergency Medicine Medical Education Fellowship Director, Department of Emergency Medicine |
Professional
Medical School: UC Irvine School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, UC Irvine Medical Center Fellowship: Medical Education, UCSF Fresno Academic Interests: medical education, simulation, faculty development Personal Hometown: Irvine, CA Hidden Talents: crocheting Favorite Pastime: spending time with my family, cooking and baking Favorite Past Job: Santa's helper Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Jasmine Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Florence, Italy and Varanasi, India Most Interesting Fact About You: I was born in Egypt and grew up in Oman What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: exploring the outdoors |
Lance Brown, MDVice-Chair for Operations, Department of Emergency Medicine
Head, Department of Pediatric Emergency Medicine Contact
email: [email protected] |
Professional
Medical School: Harvard Medical School Residency: Emergency Medicine, LA County/USC Fellowship: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: educational debt, foreign body management Current Research: abdominal pain in children Personal
Hometown: I grew up in Michigan Hidden Talents: I can put central lines in left handed Favorite Pastime: triathlons Favorite Past Job: emergency physician, Tuba City, AZ Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Hubert J Farnsworth Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Putrajaya, Malaysia Most Interesting Fact About You: I have completed several Ironman races What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: swimming |
Eric Chao, MDEmergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: NYU Grossman School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital Academic Interests: operations, education, wellness, telemedicine Personal Hometown: Honolulu, HI Hidden Talents: being loud enough to karaoke without needing a microphone Favorite Pastimes: NYT crossword, board games, running (sometimes), traveling, napping Favorite Past Job: busking with my cello in Waikiki Fictional Character you most identify with: Neville Longbottom Favorite place you’ve visited: Rome, Italy. Carbs and culture, what more could you want? |
Lynda Daniel-Underwood,
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Professional
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Advanced Degree: PhD in Leadership, Andrews University Academic Interests: undergraduate medical education Current Research: education Personal
Hometown: Berrien Springs, MI Hidden Talents: score keeper for volleyball and basketball at Mesa Grande Academy Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Albus Dumbledore Favorite Place You’ve Visited: New Zealand, Iceland What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: find locally-owned restaurants |
Viam Dinh, MD
Ultrasound Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
Contact
social media: @viamdinh |
Professional
Medical School: University of California San Francisco Residency: Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Fellowship: Ultrasound and Critical Care Fellowships, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: critical care ultrasound Current Research: critical care ultrasound, medical student ultrasound 
Personal
Hometown: Orange County, CA Favorite Pastimes: tennis, yoga, paddle boarding Favorite Past Job: working at the swapmeet Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Vietnam What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: apple picking, hiking, yoga, tennis, eating great food |
Seth Dukes, MD
EMS Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch Residency: Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Fellowship: EMS and Disaster Medicine, SUNY Upstate Medical University Academic Interests: prehospital medicine, tactical medicine 
Personal
Hometown: Houston, TX Hidden Talents: I can fall asleep almost anywhere Favorite Pastimes: playing sports (football, soccer, basketball, etc) Favorite Past Job: SWAT medic Fictional Character You Most Identify With: this was the hardest question to answer...going with Papa Smurf (football nickname, you can ask me about it and I will explain it) Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Zurich, Switzerland Most Interesting Fact About You: I don’t know if it is the most interesting, but I have congenital radioulnar synostosis on the right What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: many great restaurants to enjoy, get a workout in or play intramurals at the Drayson Center, jump some EMS calls |
Nancy Ngo, DOEmergency Medicine Clerkship Director,
Department of Emergency Medicine Contact: email: [email protected] |
Professional
Medical School: Des Moines Univ Osteopathic Medical School Residency: NYC Health + Hospitals/Coney Island Personal Hometown: Chicago Favorite Pastimes: binging k dramas, snowboarding and cooking complicated recipes that are probably way over my head Fun Fact: I hate running but ironically have run 2 marathons Favorite place you’ve visited: Havasu Falls |
Amye Farag, MDGlobal Health Fellowship Director,
Department of Emergency Medicine Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine Contact: email: [email protected] |
Professional
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine: Dayton, OH Residency: Mercy Saint Vincent Medical Center: Toledo, OH Academic Interests: Health Care Systems Development, Access to Care, Health Care costs Current Research: ED Costing in Sudan/Sub-Saharan Africa Personal Hometown: Scottsdale, AZ Hidden Talents: event planning, master googling Favorite Pastimes: travel, spending time at the beach or hiking, spending time with my family and our pups! Favorite Past Job: flight physician! Fictional Character you most identify with: Princess Jasmine Favorite place you’ve visited: Cinque Terre, Italy or Cairnes, Australia What do you like to do in the Loma Linda Area: trying out new coffee shops and local food spots! |
Liz Fierro, MD
Associate Residency Program Director,
Department of Emergency Medicine Pediatric Emergency Medicine Asst. Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine |
Professional
Medical School: UC Davis School of Medicine Residency: EM, Loma Linda University Medical Center Fellowship: Pediatric EM, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: PEM, medical education, diversity in EM, pediatric emergency management, thegurneyroom.org, pocketpem.com Current Research: Resident education, Western Regional Alliance Pediatric Emergency Management. Personal Hometown: Richmond, CA Hidden Talents: Fixing things, techy wizard Favorite Pastimes: Peloton or Tonal workouts, playing with my pups, fixing websites, renovating my house Favorite Past Job: HS teacher Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Great Barrier Reef (with Heather) Most Interesting Thing About You: I took the very non-traditional route to medicine and my husband built an airplane in our garage. |
Zan Jafry, MD
Ultrasound Fellowship Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Mercy St. Vincent Medical Center Fellowship: Emergency & Critical Care Ultrasound, Loma Linda University Academic Interests: resuscitative transesophageal echocardiography, medical education, physician coaching, advanced cardiac ultrasound Current Research: TEE in the ED, POCUS for the diagnosis of HOCM, integration of POCUS training into undergraduate medical curricula Personal Hometown: Detroit Metropolitan Area, MI Hidden Talents: remixing foods in the kitchen Favorite Pastime: travel, reading Favorite Past Job: flight doc Most Interesting Fact About You: I'm way too interested in Jeopardy What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: bowl |
Sharmin Kalam, MD
Medical Director, Advanced Urgent Care,
Department of Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine |
Professional
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Sinai Grace Hospital/Detroit Medical Center Fellowship: Ultrasound, Yale University Academic Interests: ultrasound and global health 
Personal
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA Hidden Talents: basketball, photography Favorite Pastimes: travel, photography and watching TV, foodie Favorite Past Job: worked for Air Tahiti Airlines Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Daenerys Targaryan (aka Mother of Dragons) Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Bora Bora, Tahiti Most Interesting Fact About You: before medical school, I was training for Muay Thai boxing competitions |
Mike Kiemeney, MDEM Residency Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
Contact
social media: @MikeKiemeney |
Professional
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, East Carolina University/Vidant Medical Center Academic Interests: graduate medical education, wellness, emotional intelligence Current Research: entrustable professional activities, medical education, wellness, emotional intelligence 
Personal
Hometown: Chino Hills, CA Hidden Talents: seeing over crowds, telling amazing dad jokes Favorite Pastime: playing with my kids, watching the Dodgers and Lakers, concerts, reading, telling amazing dad jokes Favorite Past Job: chemistry and math tutor in college Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Jolly Green Giant Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Maui, HI Most Interesting Fact About You: The first time I traveled outside the country was to Papua New Guinea for 1 month on a medical mission trip as a medical student. What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: eat, hike in the hills, tell amazing dad jokes |
Heather Kuntz, MD
Associate Pediatric Emergency Fellowship Program Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin Residency: EM, Loma Linda University Medical Center Fellowship: Pediatric EM, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: medical education, radiology Current Research: Interpersonal violence in physicians 
Personal
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI Hidden Talents: climbing ropes, juggling, playing violin Favorite Pastimes: beach days, surfing Favorite Past Job: life-guarding Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Hermione – if only I had magic! Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Great Barrier Reef (with Liz) Most Interesting Fact About You: I joined the Redlands circus What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: hike with friends and dogs on the various trails around |
Jean Lo, MD
Toxicology Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine
Contact:
email: [email protected] |
Professional
Medical School: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center Fellowship: Toxicology, University of California San Diego Medical Center Academic Interests: medical toxicology (CO poisonings, envenomations and drug interactions), trauma and neurologic emergencies Current Research: anticoagulants, envenomation Personal Hometown: Alhambra, CA Hidden Talents: long distance running Favorite Pastime: hanging out with family and friends Favorite Past Job: worked at a bowling alley in high school Hobbies: running Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Paris, New Orleans (great food and music) Most Interesting Fact About You: I enjoyed a solo drive from Iowa City to New Orleans during medical school What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: visit Redlands |
Alana Harp, MDMedical Education Fellow, Department of Emergency Medicine
Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine Contact: email: [email protected] |
Professional:
Medical School: Loma Linda University University Residency: Stanford Academic Interests: Medical education Personal: Hometown: San Bernardino, CA Hidden Talents: I can sleep takeoff to landing on practically any flight. Favorite past job: I was a lifeguard for a swim school in San Diego and I loved it so much. Favorite place I’ve visited: New York City. We are fortunate to visit frequently because we have family back east and I never get tired of the hustle and bustle (or the pizza). There’s always something new to do or see or eat and I always look forward to our next trip back. |
Daniel Rossie, MDAssociate Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: ED throughput, bedside resident training Current Research: traumatic arthrotomy work up in pediatric patients Personal Hometown: Granada Hills, CA Hidden Talents: cat dad/cat whisperer Favorite Pastimes: napping, watching the Dodgers or the LA Kings Favorite past job: baseball umpiring Fictional character you most identify with: Pablo from Backyard Baseball Favorite place you’ve visited: The north shore of Oahu What do you like to do in the Loma Linda area: explore the many restaurants of downtown Redlands, hiking in the nearby mountains |
Brian Savino, MD
Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
EMS Fellowship Director, Department of Emergency Medicine |
Professional
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Western Michigan University School of Medicine Fellowship: EMS, University of California San Francisco Academic Interests: EMS Current Research: comparing direct versus video laryngoscopy for prehospital intubation 
Personal
Hometown: Riverside, CA Hidden Talents: toddler wrangler, burrito connoisseur Favorite Pastimes: guitar, hiking Favorite Past Job: wakeboard instructor Fictional Character You Most Identify With: John McClane. Yippee-ki-yay!! Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Florence, Italy Most Interesting Fact About You: I’ve intubated while lying, sitting and standing. That’s why EMS is the best! What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: head up the mountains – camping, hiking, lakes! |
Dustin Smith, MD
Vice Chair for Academic Affairs, Department of Emergency Medicine
Medical Director, Medical Simulation Center Contact
email: [email protected] social media: @DustinsTw1tter (Although 140 characters just doesn't usually work. I'd rather grab coffee and actually laugh together in person) |
Professional
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Residency: Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University School of Medicine Fellowship: Global Health, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: education, simulation Current Research: education, simulation, empathy 
Personal
Hometown: Langhorne, PA Hidden Talents: My kids say I can always tell when someone is lying. That’s a parent win! Favorite Pastime: anything that involves time with family, preferably outdoors Favorite Past Job: rose nursery grunt. I am sure it didn't have a job description other than "get that kid to do it, he's only here for the summer" Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Hobbes – still laugh out loud when reading those comics Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Quartier-Morin, Haiti Most Interesting Fact About You: I always get pulled aside for secondary screening at airports. Every. Single. Time. In fairness, I do have some weird stamps on my passport What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: Go out to eat with my wife. Less of a foodie and more of a "that place will either kill us with a GI bug or be really good" kind of experience |
Cory Toomasian, MD
Associate Medical Director, Department of Emergency Medicine
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Professional
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: medical student and resident education 
Personal
Hometown: Menlo Park, CA and Ann Arbor, MI Hidden talents: I speak Mandarin Chinese (真的！) Favorite pastimes: swimming, hiking, long drives for weekend camping Favorite past job: I used to run anesthesia on sheep and pigs! Fictional character I relate with most: Forrest Gump ("I'm not a smart man, but I know what love is" also "JENNNNNY") Favorite place: Yosemite NP Loma Linda area activities: exploring area mountains, dodging rattlesnakes, hunting for special hole-in-the-wall restaurants |
Brian Wolk, MD
Associate Residency Program Director,
Department of Emergency Medicine Toxicology Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine |
Professional
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine Residency: Emergency Medicine, University of Massachusetts Fellowship: Toxicology, University of Massachusetts Academic Interests: toxicology, education Current Research: envenomation 
Personal
Hometown: Boston, MA Hidden Talents: useless trivia Favorite Pastime: skiing Favorite Past Job: firefighter (volunteer) Fictional Character You Most Identify With: ‘Dug’ (the dog) from ‘Up’ Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Switzerland Most Interesting Fact About You: During medical school, I went backpacking solo (in the rain) and smashed my face on a rock. I put on a butterfly dressing and didn’t seek medical attention until 2 days later when someone noted it looked gnarly. By then, the laceration was already starting to heal and they wouldn’t close it- luckily it healed well What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: hiking |
Tim Young, MD
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship Director,
Department of Emergency Medicine |
Professional
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine Residency: EM, Loma Linda University Medical Center Fellowship: Pediatric EM, Loma Linda University Medical Center Academic Interests: medical education, pediatric resuscitation, simulation, technical skills, teaching and learning using technology Current Research: simulation for teaching medical student acute care skills, sports performance analysis software for teaching intubation, TED-style resident grand rounds presentations Personal
Hometown: Fontana, CA Hidden Talents: fast reflexes - honed by years of my kids knocking things off of tables and my ability to pick out fake American accents on TV and in movies Favorite Pastimes: currently watching Stranger Things with headphones after my kids go to bed and then being unable to fall asleep. Millie Bobby Brown is British. Favorite Past Job: demolition worker or batting cage attendant Fictional Character You Most Identify With: Cameron Frye from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off Hobbies: watching Angels baseball, playing wiffle ball/baseball/softball with my kids, daytime surf trips to Orange County, trips to San Diego with my wife while the kids are in school, playing guitar, trailer camping Favorite Place You’ve Visited: Cusco/Machu Picchu Most Interesting Fact About You: I was once hit by a foul ball at a baseball game and was carted out of the stadium. This was before the fast reflexes. What Do You Like To Do In The Loma Linda Area: drive-in movies at Mission Tiki with my kids, eating at Eureka Burger, the State, or Dhat Island and dessert at A La Minute. |