Current Internal Medicine Residents
PGY1
Humza Asif, DO
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Humza earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at the University of Nevada Las Vegas. He then earned his medical degree at Touro University of Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine. His medical interests include primary care while addressing the adversities of public health care, particularly in underserved populations. During his free time, Humza enjoys watching and playing sports, particularly basketball, exploring new places, trying new things, and spending time with family and friends.
Paulina Awuah-Saadiq, DO
Paulina moved to Nevada in the 8th grade relocating here from Georgia. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biology in Arizona and completed both her master’s and medical education at Touro University Nevada in Henderson, NV. She is passionate about mentorship, teaching, and DEI initiatives. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, baking, gardening, and traveling. She looks forward to serving the Las Vegas valley and growing her knowledge in an expanding city.
Vicki Belleus, MD
Born and raised in West Palm Beach, FL. Vicki has had a lifelong interest in becoming a doctor. She pursued her undergraduate studies at Florida State University majoring in biological sciences before obtaining a medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine. She has a keen interest in primary care, cardiology, endocrinology, QA/QI, and public health. In her free time, she enjoys reading books, watching foreign shows, and engaging in yoga and strength training. She is excited to be serving the diverse population in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Benjamin Chuang, MD
Originally from San Diego, California, Benjamin Chuang moved to Taiwan with is family at the age of five, where he spent his most of his formative years. After completing his medical education at Kaohsiung Medical University in Kaohsiung City, Taiwan, he decided to return to the US to immerse himself in a more diverse patient population to broaden his understanding and skills building on the internal medicine residency and fellowship training in hematology/medical oncology he experienced in Taiwan. Outside of medicine, Benjamin enjoys hiking scenic trails or going for a refreshing jog. Photography is another passion of his. Above all, he cherishes every moment spent with his loving wife and their precious daughter.
Akash Dadlani, MD
Born in New Delhi, India and raised in California, Akash received his undergraduate degree in Biology at the University of California, Riverside. He earned his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. Clinical areas of interest include working in underserved communities, QA/QI, and utilization of technology/AI in medicine. Outside of work Akash enjoys being outdoors, traveling/hiking/camping, hanging out with friends and family as well as cooking.
Hilary Nsemeke Daniel, MD
Hilary is a native of Akwa-Ibom, Nigeria. His medical journey began at Gomel State Medical University, in Belarus where he not only gained medical knowledge but also learned Russian. He later earned his MD from All Saints School of Medicine in Dominica. He is passionate about cardiology, research, and addressing healthcare disparities. He is driven to explore innovative approaches to patient care and medical advancement. Outside of medicine, he finds joy in playing soccer, swimming, traveling, and trying new things. He treasures moments spent with friends and family.
Emily Heinsen, DO
Emily was born and raised on a small ranch in Central California. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Biology with a minor in Psychology before attending and graduating from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ivins, Utah. In her free time she enjoys reading books, playing board games, and volunteering in the local community.
Hyunsoo Kim, MD
Born and raised in South Korea, Hyunsoo developed a curiosity for life sciences which eventually led him to pursue a career in biotechnology and medicine. After graduating from Yonsei University College of Medicine, he discovered his passion for Emergency Medicine drawn by its close connection to community care and the opportunity to aid critically ill patients. As his training progressed, his focus shifted towards Critical Care Medicine, merging elements of internal medicine with emergency care to excel as an intensivist. Beyond medicine, he enjoys CrossFit and spending quality time with his wife, son, and dog.
John Goto Martin, MD
John was born and raised in the Philippines, where he completed his undergraduate degree as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist at Trinity University of Asia. He subsequently earned his medical degree from the University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center in Quezon City, Philippines. While he has a broad interest in internal medicine, his particular clinical interests lie in geriatrics and gastroenterology. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family and friends, playing MMORPGs, and watching anime. His all-time favorite anime is One Piece.
Jorge Perez, MD
Jorge was born and raised in Southern California. He completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology at California Baptist University in Riverside, California. He then moved to Guadalajara, Mexico to begin his medical education at Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine and finished the clinical portion of his medical education in Las Vegas. He loves all aspects of Internal Medicine and has a profound interest in Gastroenterology, Primary Care, Neurology, and providing care to underserved communities and individuals with special needs. Outside of medicine he enjoys spending time with his family, his pets, going to the movie theater, and driving his classic car (a 1968 auto-stick Volkswagen Beetle). He is excited to stay in Las Vegas to provide exceptional care to its diverse population.
Tuong Pham, DO
Born in Vietnam, Tuong completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Berkeley. She attended medical school at New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in Jonesboro, Arkansas. Her clinical interests include Cardiology, Pulmonology and Critical Care, and Health Equity. In her free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends and family, trying restaurants in Las Vegas, and watching dramas.
Charles Daniel Jao Uy, MD
Dr. Charles Daniel Uy grew up in Cebu, Philippines. He earned his Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the American University of Health Sciences before completing his medical education at Cebu Doctors' University College of Medicine located in Mandaue City, Cebu, Philippines. His clinical interests include primary care, obesity medicine, diabetes management, and nutrition. In his leisure time, Dr. Uy enjoys playing golf and participating in extreme sports such as wakeboarding, longboarding, snowboarding, scuba diving, and shooting sports. He cherishes spending time with his wife and two children.
Okanlawon Abu, MD
Okanlawon was born in Lagos, Nigeria and migrated to Chicago, Illinois to seek better opportunities and a sound education. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Bioinformatics, with a minor in Chemistry from Loyola University in Chicago. He earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago. His clinical interests include working with vulnerable populations and underserved communities. He enjoys volunteering in the community and playing various sports such as soccer.
Khalid Al-Rayess, DO
Khalid Al-Rayess graduated medical school from Midwestern University in Arizona. He is a Bay Area native and attended University of California Berkeley majoring in Molecular Cell Biology. He enjoys movies, theater and supporting professional sports teams such as the Warriors, SF Giants, Raiders, and Arsenal. Khalid stays active by working out, playing tennis/basketball, or running, often rewarding himself afterwards by finding a new coffee shop or ice cream shop.
Alexis Baricevic, DO
Alexis was born and raised in Southern California. She received her undergraduate degree in Nutritional Sciences from UC Berkeley and completed a master’s degree in Global Medicine at USC before pursuing medical school at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. Clinical areas of interest include patient advocacy, primary care, clinical research and the development of new medical devices and technology. In her free time, she enjoys taking dance classes, running, hiking, yoga, playing the piano, exploring new places, and spending quality time with family and friends.
Matthew Barrera, MD
Born and raised in Redlands, California, Matthew completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Riverside. From there he went on to Medical School at St. George University in Grenada, West Indies. His clinical interests include Cardiology and Infectious Disease. In his free time, he enjoys watching Sunday football games, weight-lifting, and trying new restaurants.
Christine Huynh, DO
Dr. Christine Huynh grew up in Renton, Washington. She attained a Bachelor of Science in Bioengineering at Washington State University and completed her medical school training at Pacific Northwest University. Her medical interests include Endocrinology and Metabolism, Hematology-Oncology, and Sports Medicine. During her personal time, she enjoys swimming, tennis, and spending time with her family.
Farah Issa, MD, MBBCh
Farah Issa, a Somali American, is from Alexandria, Virginia, and Cairo, Egypt. She graduated from Cairo University Medical School. Growing up, community service and advocacy were deeply instilled in her by her parents. Volunteering at free clinics and attending medical school in an under-served country inspired her to pursue primary care, specifically Internal Medicine. Her interests in medicine include health equity, community-centered health, and public health education. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, writing, hiking, and spending time with family and friends.
Ameer Khalek, DO
Born and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Ameer attended The George Washington University where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Exercise & Nutrition Science and a Master’s degree in Public Health. Returning to Las Vegas, he graduated from Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine and hopes to continue pursuit of his passions: critical care, public health, QA/QI, and healthcare innovation. Ameer enjoys being outdoors, watching the Rams and Golden Knights play, writing, photography, and spending time with his newfydoodle, Koa.
Olivia O’Keefe, MD
Raised in Las Vegas, Nevada, Olivia is happy to return to her hometown as one of the Primary Care Track Interns. She completed her Bachelor of Science in Biology at St. Edward’s University in Austin, TX, where she cultivated a passion for Geriatrics in the Neuroscience Lab researching Huntington’s disease. She attended medical school at Ross University School of Medicine in Barbados and completed the majority of her clinical training at Dignity Health California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, boy-cat Loki, and cheering on our own NHL team - Go Knights Go!
Shazia Pathan, MD
Shazia was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA. She attended Dubai Medical College to pursue her interests in medicine and global health. She completed her clinical education in Baltimore, Maryland and Los Angeles, California. Her clinical interests include Las Vegas’ diverse patient population and addressing healthcare barriers for underserved populations. Shazia loves adventures, soccer, motorsports, and spending time with her family and friends. She has spent many winter breaks in Las Vegas.
Tha Sok, DO
Tha grew up in Los Angeles, CA and completed his undergraduate studies at University of California, Irvine. He then went on to receive both his masters and medical degree from Touro University Nevada. After residency, he hopes to obtain a job as a hospitalist where he can focus on his passion to deliver quality care to his patients. He loves all fields of Internal Medicine but has a keen interest in Cardiology and Pulmonary/Critical Care. In his free time, he loves to catch up on sports, do escape rooms with his family and friends, hike and spend a day on the golf course.
Joanne Desquitado Uy, MD
Born and raised in the Philippines, Joanne graduated from Cebu Doctors’ University College of Medicine. Prior to pursuing her medical education, she earned a degree in Nursing and acquired her license to practice in the profession. Moving to the US in 2021, she worked as a Registered Nurse in Nevada prior to her acceptance in our residency program. During her time serving the Filipino people, in a country where the majority of the populace experience insufficient healthcare resources, she developed a passion for addressing health inequities.
Jisang Yu, MD
Jisang was born and raised in Yeongwol, a very small town in South Korea. His interest in life sciences from a young age shifted to healing people after graduating college. He worked as a public health physician for three years in an underserved region in Korea developing a vision to establish sustainable medicine in areas in need. Jisang loves to learn new sports and enjoys playing soccer, basketball, volleyball, badminton, ping-pong, hiking, and CrossFit. He also likes to spend quality time with his wife and son.