Current Residents
Chrissa Karagiannis, DO (she/her)
Dr. Karagiannis grew up in the Bay Area, staying until she went to undergrad at UC Santa Cruz, earning a degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. She remained in Santa Cruz after graduation, volunteering and then working at the Santa Cruz AIDS Project as a health educator and case manager. Here, she learned about the harm reduction philosophy and grew her interest in advocating for the underserved and improving healthcare access and equity.
She went to medical school at Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she continued her advocacy efforts and discovered a new love in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). She volunteered locally at the Solano County Opioid Coalition and later nationally as Chair of the Student Osteopathic Medical Association's Overdose Prevention Task Force. She also conducted research on stigma reduction through interprofessional education. Her passion for OMM led her to spending an extra year as an undergraduate OMM teaching fellow, deepening her growth as an osteopathic physician (DO).
She chose Family Medicine because she deeply values the relationships she’s able to build with patients. She is committed to bringing equitable access to care for all individuals, in order to help patients live their most healthful and fulfilled life. Her interests include substance use, addiction, OMM, advocacy, research and medical education. In her free time, she enjoys reading, crafting, doing Pilates, and spending time with loved ones.
Stanislava Matejin, MD (she/her)
Dr. Matejin graduated from the University of Novi Sad Faculty of Medicine in Serbia. Her professional career began as a primary care physician before she relocated to the U.S., settling in Houston, TX. She has gained extensive clinical and research experience in the fields of family care, infectious disease, cardiology and cardiovascular surgery, and pathology. She has authored numerous publications, including first-authored papers, and has been involved in various research projects. She earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree with honors from the University of Texas Health Science School of Public Health. At the beginning of 2023, she made the exciting decision to move to beautiful Northern California, where she intends to remain and contribute to this vibrant community.
She enjoys multitasking and taking on new challenges. She is fluent in English and Serbian, and she has intermediate proficiency in Spanish. Known for her caring and warm personality, she is enthusiastic about sharing her passion and positive energy to help others and work towards a healthier, more equitable future for everyone. Her areas of interest are maternity care and emergent medicine, and she has a passion for performing various office procedures. She is also excited to learn more about community and integrative medicine, among other areas.
Beyond medicine, she is deeply enthusiastic about horses, yoga, hiking, and travel, which continue to inspire her. She has authored a book titled “A suitcase full of dreams.” One of its messages is the belief that “Our worth is measured by the amount of sacrifice we are willing to make in order to achieve our dreams.”
Daniel Bishop, DO (he/him)
Dr. Bishop attended medical school at Western University of Health Sciences- COMP Northwest. He earned his undergraduate degree in Biopsychology at UC Santa Barbara. Before attending medical school, he worked as a Critical Care EMT at Royal Ambulance in Santa Clara County, California. During this time, he volunteered for a program called Housing for Health in his hometown of Santa Cruz. He continued his community service with underserved populations while in medical school volunteering with a youth program called Jackson Street serving as a mentor for underprivileged youth. These experiences guided his career path to advocate for his patients and train in a setting that emphasized working with underserved communities. His clinical interests include Addiction Medicine, Mental Health, and OMM. Outside of his professional life, he is married and met his wife at Harbor High School in Santa Cruz. He and his wife enjoy surfing, fishing, and working on classic cars together.
Dara Lopes, MD (she/her)
Dr. Lopes was born in Hawaii and spent much of her youth in Brazil. She was exposed to diverse cultures at a young age which sparked her desire to explore and comprehend the world at a deeper level.
She pursued her bachelor’s degree in Cell & Molecular Biology at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, but found herself diving deep into language studies and became fluent in both Spanish and Portuguese.
After completing her undergraduate degree, she embarked on an eight-year global adventure that ignited her passion for Global Medicine. This led her to pursue her Doctorate in Medicine at St. George’s University. During this transformative period, she embraced a holistic lifestyle, prioritizing the integration of mind, body, and soul. She aims to incorporate this approach into her medical practice by focusing on Functional & Integrative Medicine. Her strong belief in a biopsychosocial model of healthcare is what ultimately led her to pursue a career in Family Medicine.
In her spare time, she enjoys delving into topics like neuroplasticity, manifestation, self-development, and spirituality. Additionally, she finds joy in mastering headstands and cooking fresh, spicy food.
Farah Tiab, DO (she/her)
Dr. Tiab is a native of Northern California with roots in France and Algeria. She grew up with a personal and deeply transformative experience with healthcare, which coupled with her interest in human physiology, inspired her to become a physician. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and her Master’s Degree in Healthcare Administration from University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, Texas. She is an elected member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society which recognizes physicians with exemplary interpersonal, clinical and leadership skills.
Prior to medical school, she worked in clinical dermatology which laid the groundwork for her passion for medical and cosmetic dermatology. She chose to pursue a career in Family Medicine because her medical interests have quite a wide range, and she also wants to be able to help people in all stages of their lives. Her other medical interests include preventive and lifestyle medicine, osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT), patient-centered care, and working with people to identify solutions to advance their health equity.
She chose the Morehouse School of Medicine Dominican Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program because of their commitment to building a resident-centered curriculum, the top-tier faculty mentors, and of course the prime location. She lives in Santa Cruz County with her husband, daughter and two senior dogs. In her spare time, she enjoys laughing with family and friends, exercise, sushi, and beach volleyball.
Francisco Arrieta, MD (he/him)
Dr. Arrieta is from San Diego, CA. During his time as an undergrad, he worked various jobs in afterschool and educational programs that served inner city youth. After completing his bachelor degree at San Diego State University he went on to UAG in Guadalajara for medical school. During his time in Mexico, he volunteered in medical brigades that provided healthcare access to people in rural and impoverished towns.
He chose family medicine residency in Santa Cruz, CA because this program emphasizes community outreach, healthcare for the underserved, as well as resident wellness and work-life balance. As a member of the inaugural class of family medicine residents, he is excited to help develop a legacy of support and collaboration among the faculty and fellow residents.
His interests include pediatrics, adolescent medicine, and hospitalist/inpatient medicine. In his free time, he enjoys building gundam model kits, San Diego Padres baseball, and spending time with his family.
Chris Romo, MD (he/him)
Dr. Romo grew up in Roseville and spent much of his life in the Sacramento Valley, which instilled in him a deep appreciation for the diverse communities of the region. His journey in healthcare began at California State University, Sacramento, where he pursued a degree in Psychology while balancing the demands of collegiate Cross Country and Track & Field. Following his undergraduate studies, he worked as a caregiver at a memory care facility, an experience that sparked his interest in patient care and inspired him to pursue medicine.
He embarked on a second degree in Chemistry at the University of Nevada, Reno. His academic pursuits ultimately led him to the Universidad de Autónoma de Guadalajara, School of Medicine in Mexico, where he nurtured his skills and passion for healthcare in a diverse and enriching environment.
Throughout his journey, he has remained steadfast in his commitment to the underserved. He dedicated his time to volunteering at Clinica Tepati, a Spanish-speaking nonprofit organization in Sacramento, providing essential healthcare services to uninsured individuals. Cognizant of the health disparities pervasive in marginalized communities, he is determined in his mission to deliver culturally competent and empathetic care to his patients. In addition, he believes in the importance of fostering these values in our next generation of health care professionals which Chris did through mentoring underrepresented students while at Tepati.
He is honored to continue his training and advocacy work at Morehouse School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency Program at Dominican Hospital, Santa Cruz. Beyond medicine, Chris finds enjoyment in cooking Mexican cuisine, immersing himself in outdoor activities, capturing moments through photography, and exploring the vibrant cultures of Latin America.
Jyotan Sahni, MD (she/her)
Dr. Sahni was born and raised in a small town in the Himalayan foothills in India. After completing her med school from Himalayan Institute Of Medical Sciences, Dehradun and Post graduate diploma in Obstetrics and Gynecology from D.Y Patil University, Pune, she worked in a government medical college and hospital in her home town as an obgyn. She has a Professional Diploma in Medicine for the Older Person from Royal College Of Physicians of Ireland and has worked as a house-physician with rehabilitation centers and nursing homes in NY. She is passionate about holistic medicine, caring for the vulnerable-Women’s health, the children, the elderly, the underserved and the marginalized population. She loves family medicine because of its holistic approach, and the everlasting bonds formed with the patients.
As a family medicine physician, she intends to work very closely with the local communities advocating prevention, healthy lifestyle choices and bringing the best of care to them. She wants to keep educating and updating herself and intends to do research in parallel. In the past she has done translational research at Mayo Clinic, MN as well as has taught medical assistants in NY and medical students in India. She has been a volunteer with the Red Cross and local EMS. In her free time, she loves spending time with her son and dog. She also enjoys biking, swimming, camping and watching movies.
More About Our Family Medicine Residency Program
To discover more information about our program, meet our faculty and residents and learn how to apply, please visit any of the following pages:
