John B. Paik-Tesch, MD

Family Medicine - Program Director

Dr. Paik-Tesch graduated from The University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health and did his Family Medicine Residency training in Merced. In 1994, after completing his residency, he joined on as faculty for the Merced program. In addition, he completed a Fellowship in Faculty Development at UCSF. While practicing the full scope of family medicine, Dr. Paik-Tesch developed areas of special interest in geriatric medicine, hospice, and the care of patients with HIV/AIDS. In 2009, Dr. Paik-Tesch became the Program Director. His major goal has been to provide a nurturing learning environment and to prepare future family physicians for success in whatever practice environment they choose. He has also tried to strengthen ties of the residency to the community and UC Merced. His hobbies include hiking, reading (fiction, nonfiction and history), traveling, listening to music, and going to the gym.

William M. Entwistle, MD

Family Medicine - Assoc. Program Director

Dr. William Entwistle was born in Temuco, Chile.  He is a recent graduate of the program (class of 2018).  His passion for medicine started as a child when he joined his parents during visits to the homes of school children from the rural communities, in Chile. He learned how crucial the lack of healthcare can be in the life of an entire family. Eventually, a career in medicine was his first choice as he entered the university. He and his family moved to Bolivia where I attended Universidad Mayor de San Simon. Dr. Entwistle now lives in Merced with his lovely wife and best friend, Marcela, along with their 8 year old son Nathan and one on the way.  Family has always been his source of inspiration to be a better husband, father and doctor.

Charlie L. Kano, MD

Family Medicine - Assoc. Program Director

Dr. Kano graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin and trained at the Merced Family Medicine Residency.  In 1994, after completing his residency, he joined on as faculty for the Merced Program. In addition, he completed a Fellowship in Faculty Development at UC San Francisco.  Dr. Kano has also obtained Certification in Hospice and Palliative Medicine and has worked many years as a medical director of a local hospice organization. In 2009, Dr. Kano became the Associate Program Director and the Medical Director of the Family Medicine Center.  His focus has to improve clinic processes and quality improvement. His outside interests include cooking (past life as a chef) and spending time with his wife and twin boys.

Theresa A Schill, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Schill was born in Mountain View, CA. She went to UC San Diego for both her undergraduate and medical studies. After graduation from medical school, she came to Merced for residency, where she was the co-chief resident during her third year. She joined MFA, Inc. after residency and has been a full-time teacher since then. Recently, she has taken on the role of Associate Program Director for the program and has done wonders. Her special interest is in obstetrics, pediatrics, and women’s health.
 

Albert P. Col, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Col received his medical degree from the University of Southern California in 1986 and completed his residency at the Merced Family Medicine Program.  In 1990, he joined Merced Faculty Associates Medical Group and began teaching on the inpatient and outpatient services of the residency program.  Dr. Col pursued his professional interests in Sports Medicine by completing the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Sports Medicine.  He has served as the team physician for two of the local high school football teams for over 20 years.  Dr. Col also has a passion for teaching assessment and procedures in the care of the skin.  He helped establish several rural clinics to treat underserved populations with dermatologic conditions. His interests include traveling with his children to show pigs at fairs, hunting, running his ranch.

Brian K. Sugimoto, MD

Family Medicine

Originally from Sacramento, CA, Dr. Sugimoto attended UC Davis for his medical training. He completed his residency training here at Mercy Medical Center in 1996. He joined the faculty after graduation and has been here ever since. He is married to Twylla Cox-Sugimoto who is also a graduate of the program. They have two boys, Kyle and Garret. Dr. Sugimoto’s passion for teaching includes the ER, critical care, and obstetrics.

Jared A. Paskin, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Paskin attended UC Irvine for undergraduate studies and Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Mexico for his first two years of medical school. Then he finished his last two years at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.  After graduating from the Merced Family Medicine Residency in 1983, he opened his own practice in Merced.  During this time, Dr. Paskin was very active in the medical community taking on leadership roles in the hospital and served as Board Director of a local Independent Physician’s Association. In 2007, Dr. Paskin became a faculty member serving as an attending physician on inpatient medicine services and a preceptor in the Family Medicine Center.  He also coordinates the didactics on the Geriatric Rotation since he has completed the Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatric Medicine. His interests include flying drones and hosting great parties.  

Muhammad Shabbir, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Shabbir is a board certified family physician who completed his doctoral degree from the Government College in Daska, Pakistan. He is also a graduate from our program and was the co-chief during his third year of training. His family was originally from Florida, but because of his passion for teaching he stayed in Merced and joined the faculty in 2009.

Oscar V. Ramos, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Ramos is a graduate from the Class of 2015. He attended medical school at Ross University School of Medicine and completed his clinical rotations in Puerto Rico, Miami, New York, and California. He is a board certified family practitioner and has recently taken up the role of Chairman of the Department of Family Medicine at Mercy Medical Center. In his free time, he enjoy sports, especially soccer and basketball.

T. Mark Sphabmixay, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Sphabmixay is a board certified family medicine physician. He completed his undergraduate study at UC San Diego and received his doctoral degree from Ross University. Dr. Sphabmixay joined the faculty in 2010 after completing his residency with us. He also serves as the Secretary of Treasury for the Merced-Mariposa County Medical Society. He has a special interest in geriatrics, obstetrics, and pediatrics, and adolescent care.

Lesley Xiong, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Xiong is a Merced native and is the eldest of 8 girls.  She attended UC Davis for undergraduate studies and Georgetown University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C. for medical school.  After graduating from the Valley Consortium for Medical Education Family Medicine Residency in Modesto, California, Dr. Xiong joined the Dignity Health Foundation Medical Group in Merced as a family physician. In 2015, Dr. Xiong joined Merced Faculty Associates Medical Group and began serving as faculty for the residency program.  She teaches on inpatient medicine services and in the outpatient Family Medicine Center. Her interests include cooking, promoting educational opportunities in the local Hmong community, and being a mom.

Brian J. Vierra, MD

Obstetrics/Gynecology

Dr. Vierra is a board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist. He graduated from Loyola University, Stritch School of Medicine in Maywood, IL. He spent his first two years of residency at Baylor College of Medicine and third and fourth years at Danbury Hospital, where he was the co-chief resident. He has been a faculty member teaching our residents Obstetrics/Gynecology since 1991.

David E. Silveira, PsyD, LCSW

Director of Behavioral Sciences

Dr. Silveira was born in Merced, CA and has been a lifelong resident. He attended California State University, Fresno for both his undergraduate and graduate degrees. Upon completing his Master’s degree in Social Work, he spent two more years completing post graduate work to receive his LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker) to provide therapy and counseling to the community. Following years in the community as an LCSW, he attended California Southern University where he completed his Doctorate in Psychology. He has extensive experience as a Behaviorist in Family Medicine, Mental Health Care, and Hospice. He is a member of NASW (National Association of Social Workers) and STFM (Society of Teachers of Family Medicine). His hobbies include camping and cooking. He likes to serve his community and has been a member of the Merced Breakfast Lions Club for over 30 years.

Zoë Anaman, MD/MPH

Family Medicine

Dr. Zoë Anaman is a first-generation daughter of parents from Ghana, West Africa. She is a native of Little Rock, Arkansas. She is an alumna of Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Biochemistry. She then attended and completed Medical School and Graduate School at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock Arkansas, obtaining her Medical Doctorate and Master’s in Public Health. Her residency was completed at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Northwest Campus in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Dr. Anaman joined the Merced Family Medicine Program as faculty in 2019 as a board-certified family practitioner. She practices full scope family medicine with a heightened interest in Obstetrics and Women’s health. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time with family and friends, playing tennis, hiking and exploring California.

James R. Rabago, MD

Family Medicine

Dr. Rabago is a Stanford University alumni then attended the UC Davis School of Medicine for his medical degree. He is a graduate of our program and has since been a part of the faculty. His mission is to provide a medical learning environment that graduates FP Residents who are outstanding, full spectrum, independent Family Physicians throughout their careers.

Neha Mahajan, DO

Pediatrician

Gurpreet Dhillon, MD

Family Medicine

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