Current Residents
Family Medicine Residency Program
| Name | Facility | Medical School |
| FIRST YEAR | ||
| Ninad Athale, M.D. | Sacramento | University of California, San Diego |
| Nicole Calvillo, M.D. | Davis | University of California, Davis |
| Emily Lash, M.D. | Sacramento | Oregon Health Sciences University |
| Michael Molina, M.D. | Sacramento | Stanford University |
| Flora Rafii, M.D. | Sacramento | University of California, Davis |
| Mollie Yi-Ting Teng, M.D. | Davis | University of California, Davis |
| Name | Facility | Medical School |
| SECOND YEAR | ||
| Laura Applebaum , M.D. | Sacramento | University of Pennsylvania |
| Jennifer Clary , M.D. | Davis | University of California, Davis |
| Erin Deane, M.D. | Sacramento | University of California, San Diego |
| Shelley Eder, M.D. | Sacramento | University of California, Davis |
| Raymundo Ortega, M.D. | Sacramento | University of California, Davis |
| Robert Martinez , M.D. | Sacramento | University of Cincinnati |
| Mark Moeller, M.D. | Davis | University of California, Davis |
| Name | Facility | Medical School |
| THIRD YEAR | ||
| Erin Barnes, M.D. | Sacramento | University of Kansas |
| Claudia Galli, M.D. | Davis | University of Iowa |
| Rajani Gopalapuram, M.D. | Davis | Siddhartha Medical College; Ghandi Medical College |
| Crystal Masley, M.D. | Sacramento | Loyola University |
| Gulrukh Rizvi, M.D. | Sacramento | University of California, Irvine |
| Click here to read all of the bios |
| Ninad Athale, M.D. | top | |
 | Even though I claim to be a native Californian – born in San Diego – I grew up and spent most of my life in the suburbs of Washington, D.C. I graduated from the University of Virginia and majored in English Literature and Chemistry. I moved back to San Diego and worked for two years at the VA Medical Center before completing medical school at UC San Diego. My interests in medicine include addiction medicine and working with underserved populations. After learning American Sign Language at UC San Diego, I am excited to work with the Deaf community in Sacramento as well. Outside of medicine, I enjoy rafting on the river, cooking, playing the piano, and watching my hometown football team, the Washington Redskins, during Sundays in the fall. |
| Nicole Calvillo, M.D. | top | |
 | I was born and raised in the Central Valley and graduated from Fresno State (go Bulldogs!) with a degree in Biology. From there I attended medical school at UC Davis, and had such a great time in Sacramento that I decided to extend my stay. Family medicine appeals to me because of the wide range of patients and diseases, and the Sutter program offers exceptional training combined with a close-knit, supportive atmosphere. Now my husband and I live in Davis and enjoy playing with our obnoxious Jack Russell puppy and watching the Dodgers beat the Giants every chance they get! |
| Emily Lash, M.D. | top | |
 | I graduated from Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland, Oregon. I am originally from a rural town in Vermont, but moved out west to ski and have been living on the west coast ever since! When not pursuing medical interests you can find me running, backpacking, rock climbing, skiing or singing. My goals for residency are to learn as much as possible and enjoy my time here at Sutter. |
| Michael Molina, M.D. | top | |
 | Mike Molina considers himself a native of Northern California with Vacaville as his hometown. He received a B.A. and Master of Public Health from the University of California, Davis. He received an M.D. from Stanford University School of Medicine. He values the patient physician relationship as the core to delivering primary to increasingly diverse communities. In his free time, he mentors young people pursuing careers in medicine and volunteers at Clinica Tepati, a student-run free clinic serving uninsured residents of Sacramento. |
| Flora Rafii, M.D. | top | |
 | I received my B.A. in molecular and cell biology from the University of California, Berkeley and graduated from the University of California, Davis, School of Medicine. I am particularly drawn to community work with those on the margin of society and was co-director of the Willow's Project, a homeless screening clinic. I recognize that beyond the tools of natural technology there is healing power in personal relationships. It is exciting to be part of a residency program which offers incredible clinical training in one of the most diverse cities in the nation. On the week-end, I enjoy a relaxing brunch in downtown Sacramento and short trips to Napa or Tahoe. |
| Mollie Yi-Ting Teng, M.D. | top | |
 | I grew up in San Diego, and I received my undergraduate degree in Neuroscience from Tulane University, and my MD at UC Davis, where I also received my MPH. Now I am honored and excited to be a part of the Sutter community as a family medicine resident, because I feel like I am challenged academically every day, but in an atmosphere where I feel truly supported. I eventually would like to somehow tie in my public health background with my career in medicine. I am also interested in international medicine and hope to do at least some short-term medical missions trips again in the future. Outside of medicine, I absolutely love traveling around the world, which is how I use up most of my vacation time. I also enjoy snowboarding, biking, shopping, reading, dancing, playing piano, hanging out with family and friends, and playing whiffle ball with my roommates. |
Laura Applebaum, M.D. | top | |
 | I graduated from Princeton University with a B.A. in social psychology. I went to medical school in my hometown of Philadelphia, PA, and received my MD from the University of Pennsylvania. In medical school, I became interested in global health and spent a month working in a clinic in Guatemala. I love that Sutter provides me with opportunities to pursue my interest in working with underserved populations through clinic, electives and international opportunities. In my free time, I enjoy traveling with my husband, cooking, reading, hiking, and playing with my cats. |
Jennifer Clary, M.D. | top | |
 | I was born and raised in Northern California in the town of Petaluma and attended U.C. Davis where I received my B.S. in Human Development. Before applying to medical school, I worked in the Division of Pain Medicine at the U.C. Davis Medical Center as a research assistant. I attended U.C. Davis School of Medicine where I came to love the field of Family Medicine. I have enjoyed my time here in Sacramento and am very excited to be here for residency, especially as a part of this amazing program. My passions include adolescent medicine and women’s health. In my free time, I enjoy running, practicing yoga, gardening and planning my 2008 wedding! |
Erin Deane, M.D. | top | |
 | I grew up in both rural Minnesota and the Sacramento area, and earned my BS in Chemistry at CSU Sacramento. After working as a chemist for a year, I attended UC San Diego School of Medicine. My husband and I are so excited to be back in Sacramento and love living here! We are avid hikers, rafters, cyclists, and travelers and can always find something fun to do here. Downtown Sacramento has the perfect mix of urban restaurants/entertainment and available parking! I love the educationally challenging and supportive environment at Sutter and thrive on the strong clinical responsibility we hold during patient care in our training. I also especially enjoy our large pediatric population exposure. |
Shelley Eder , M.D. | top | |
 | I was born in Brawley, CA (in the desert east of San Diego) and was raised in San Diego, CA. After graduating with my B.S. in Psychology from UC Davis, I returned to San Diego where I worked at Planned Parenthood for two years as a Reproductive Health Assistant. My husband got a job as a middle school teacher here in Sacramento, so we returned to UC Davis for medical school. This was perfect for me as I was able to continue my work at the Imani Clinic (a student-run clinic in Oakpark), which I had been a part of since my undergraduate years. My main interests in medicine are women's health and working with the medically underserved. I am thoroughly enjoying being a part of the Sutter family, as everyone is super-supportive and friendly, which creates a wonderful atmosphere for learning. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband, our friends and family, and our cat, as well as hiking, camping, playing tennis, and going dancing! |
Raymundo Ortega, M.D. | top | |
 | Originally from the Bay Area I grew up in Sacramento and attended undergraduate college at U.C Davis where I also received my M.D. My clinical interests include pediatrics, women’s health, sports medicine and outpatient procedures. With so many interests it was no surprise that I required most of my fourth year to decide on a specialty. A fourth year elective at the Sutter program helped me to solidify my interest in family medicine and I feel very fortunate to now be a part of this very encouraging, supportive and passionate family. I believe that the diversity of interests among the Sutter residents and staff truly reflects the program's well balanced and flexible curriculum. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife camping and skiing in Lake Tahoe, wine tasting in Napa Valley, relaxing on the coastal beaches of Northern CA and of course visiting the city of San Francisco…Go Giants! |
Robert Martinez, M.D. | top | |
 | I was raised in Northern California in the Bay Area and the Central Valley. I completed my undergrad at UC Davis, then worked in various fields afterwards including the biotech industry, gene mapping with the Human Genome Project at Stanford, and primer design and virus detection for the animal laboratory at UC Davis. I completed my medical training at The University of Cincinnati (Go Bearcats!), where my wife and I had our two children. I chose family medicine because of my interest in preventative care and interest in primary care to underserved communities - not to mention interests in OB, pediatrics, and mental health. When I'm not working, I like to spend my time with my wife and little ones, and, if possible, mountain biking, baseball, running, martial arts, and anything else where I'm not confined inside a building. |
Mark Moeller, M.D. | top | |
 | After graduating from Dartmouth College with a B.S. in English Literature, I spent the next several years in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco working with software and Internet business start-up companies. Ultimately, I decided to change career paths and refocus my time on helping others through medicine. I received my medical degree from UC Davis in 2007. Family medicine was the best choice for me because of the size and breadth of intellectual and interpersonal challenges unique to that specialty. Although the training in this program is rigorous, the culture is supportive and there is a healthy appreciation for work-life balance. When not working I enjoy lots of reading, hiking, swimming, and great silly playtime with my wife and kids. |
Erin Barnes, M.D. | top | |
 | I was born and raised in Kansas and did my undergraduate education at Kansas State University where I received a degree in chemistry. After taking a year off to travel to Africa, I attended medical school at the University of Kansas. My main interests are women's health, obstetrics, and pediatrics. I chose family medicine because I believe in a holistic approach to patient care and could not do obstetrics without pediatrics and vice versa. My boyfriend and I couple's matched. He is a surgery resident at UC Davis and so far we're really enjoying Sacramento. My interests outside of medicine include yoga, running, biking, gardening, and hiking. |
Claudia Galli, M.D. | top | |
 | After growing up in the San Francisco Bay Area, I went to college at UC Davis where I graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences. I spent the next couple of years working in the biotechnological field. My husband and I moved out to Iowa where I completed my medical school training and we had our two little boys. We are very happy being back in California. We especially love being in Sacramento where we are close enough to visit our family in the Bay Area as well as close to the mountains to go hiking or snow-boarding. I really enjoy the Sutter Health Family Medicine Residency Program. I love being in the Davis track where I can work in a smaller community. My interests are women's health and reaching underserved populations. |
Rajani Gopalapuram, M.D. | top | |
 | I graduated from Siddhartha Medical College, India. I moved to United States where I volunteered in cancer based research project at UC Davis Medical Center, did a preceptorship in a medical office and also worked as a lab technician at Quest Diagnostics. I enjoy reading, cooking and spending quality time with family and friends. I especially enjoy working at this program as the faculty and colleagues are friendly, supportive and there is a good balance between work experience and family time. |
Crystal Masley, M.D. | top | |
 | I received my B.S. in biology from the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana. After graduating, I decided to stay in the mid-west and moved to Chicago where I completed my M.S. in Cell Biology, Neurobiology, and Anatomy at Loyola University. I then worked as a research assistant studying the effects of alcohol on wound healing after burn injury. Completing my time at Loyola, I graduated from the Stritch School of Medicine. During medical school, I had the opportunity to travel to Haiti the summer after my first year. It was an experience that had a lasting impact on me and strengthened my interest in family medicine. Being a Modesto, CA native and deciding I'd had enough snow and humidity, I decided to head back to the sunny Central Valley for residency. I am thrilled to be at Sutter. It is a place with great people and top notch training. When I'm not working, I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, watching movies, gardening, trying new restaurants and exploring all that Northern California has to offer with my husband. |
Gulrukh Rizvi, M.D. | top | |
 | Upon graduation from San Francisco State University with a B.S. in Cell & Molecular Biology I spent two years at California Pacific Medical Center doing research in finding pathways to prevent neuronal cell death in ALS. I continued on to medical school at the University of California, Irvine where I became involved in granting opportunities and health care to underserved populations via student run organizations. Outside of work I enjoy hiking, gardening, cooking, traveling, going out with friends, reading and being informed about our environmental and political climates. |