FACULTY & STAFF

FAMILY MEDICINE RESIDENCY PROGRAM

Meet Our Faculty and Staff

Parastou Farhadian, MD, CPE, FAAFP

Program Director, Family Medicine Residency Training Program

Dr. Farhadian is the Founding Program Director of the newly established Family Medicine Residency Program at Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City, CA. She has joined the Mission Community Hospital with 12 years’ experience in Graduate Medical Education. Dr. Farhadian is a graduate of the California Healthcare Foundation(CHCF) Leadership Fellowship. She is also a Certified Physician Executive. She is currently a member of the CAFP Foundation Board of Trustees. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her family.

Heidi Pang, DO

Core Faculty, Associate Program Director
Site Director: Santo Nino Clinic

Dr. Pang is an Associate Program Director of MCH Family Medicine Residency Program and Site Director for Santo Nino Continuity Clinic. She received her medical degree from Touro University California and completed her residency program at RUHS/UCR Family Medicine Program. Her special interests include diabetes care, clinical scholarly activities, quality improvement and curriculum improvement. Outside of work, she enjoys exploring different sushi restaurants, Pilates, interior design and spending time with her golden retriever and fiancée.

Barbara Ackerman, BSN, RN, PhD.

Core Faculty, Associate Program Director, Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Ackerman earned a BSN from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and a PhD from California School of Professional Psychology – Fresno. She completed the Behavior Science/Family Systems Educator Fellowship with STFM in 2014 and the Leadership Fellowship with the California Health Care Foundation at UCSF in 2020. A teacher in Family Medicine since 2011, Dr. Ackerman enjoys her various roles as educator, clinician, administrator, and researcher. Her professional interests include serving the underserved and providing whole person (integrated) health care. Outside of work, she enjoys English mysteries and jazz.

Jose Gonzalez-Correa, MD

Dr. Gonzalez grew up in the San Fernando Valley, where he witnessed the challenges of accessing reliable healthcare. His education at SSOM and training in full scope family medicine at RUHS have equipped him to provide exceptional care. Dr. Gonzalez is excited to serve you and train the next generation of family physicians.

James A. Michail, MD, CMD

Core Faculty, Geriatric Medicine

Dr. James Michail was raised in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. He has a special interest in the science of aging and advocating for rights of the older population. Dr. Michail also specializes in post-acute and long-term care medicine as a Certified Medical Director. He graduated from the University of Southern California with a Bachelor of Science in Gerontology from the Davis School of Gerontology. He then attained his MD degree from St. George’s University in Grenada. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at The Brooklyn Hospital Center in Brooklyn, NY, and his Geriatrics fellowship at the UCLA Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Michail is an avid tennis player and enjoys mountain biking. He is fluent in English, Spanish, and Arabic.

Robert Meyerson, MD

Faculty, Santo Nino Continuity Clinic
Dr. Meyerson grew up in Omaha, Nebraska, completed medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, and has been Family Medicine board certified since 1983. Over the past 35 years, he practiced Family Medicine at Austin Regional Clinic, Austin Texas. U.S. and International Health care disparity has led him to practice Family Medicine from urban Hartford, Connecticut to rural Nebraska, the Caribbean and South Pacific islands. Dr. Meyerson is excited to be training Family Medicine residents and anticipates learning as much as he teaches. When not wearing a stethoscope, Dr Meyerson loves enjoying time with his family, his three dogs, gardening and playing of tennis.

Phung Nim, DO

Faculty, Northeast Community Clinic
Phung Nim, DO is Board Certified in Family Medicine. Dr. Nim received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree at Western University. She subsequently completed her residency at Kaiser Riverside. Since graduation, she has been working at Northeast Community Clinic where she is a participant in the National Health Service Corps Loan Repayment Program. Although limited due to Covid-19, she enjoys traveling, visiting historical landmarks, and eating regional foods. email: pcnim@necc.net

Kara Cunningham

Faculty, Northeast Community Clinic
Kara Cunningham is a family medicine physician practicing in East Los Angeles. She completed her undergraduate degree at San Francisco State University, where she was a member of the University’s Women’s Soccer team. She received her Medical Degree from St. George’s University in the West Indies and completed her Residency training at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center in San Bernardino. Born and raised in Northern California, she is loving living in Southern California and exploring the different neighborhoods (and restaurants) here in Los Angeles. She is passionate about equity in medicine and has a special interest in women’s health. email: karafaye.ham@gmail.com

Family Medicine Program Coordinator

Hilda Quezada

Program Coordinator, Family Medicine Residency Training Program

Mrs. Quezada has work in the medical field since 1985, in private medical offices and hospitals as a Medical Assistant, Phlebotomist, Research Coordinator, Institutional Review Board Coordinator, Medical Staff Coordinator and now Family Medicine Residency Program Coordinator at Mission Community Hospital. Outside of work she loves spending time with family, especially with her 4 grandchildren and her 3 dogs (Max, Gizmo and Lola). For excitement you will find Hilda on the back of a Harley-Davidson enjoying long rides with her husband, family, and friends.

en_USEnglish