OB/GYN Residency Program

Our Residents

If you have questions or would like to correspond with one of the residents, please send us an email. We welcome your questions and comments.

PGY-4

Ayman Alladawi, MD, is a 2004 graduate of Ross University. Dr. Alladawi received his bachelor of science (Chemistry) from University of California, Irvine in 2000. He has previously completed a year of Ob/Gyn Residency at SUNY – Downstate Medical Center between 2004 – 2005. He is fluent in Arabic and enjoys basketball, the outdoors, weight training, entrepreneurship.

Michelle Gutierrez, MD, is a 2003 graduate of University of California, Irvine College of Medicine. Dr. Gutierrez served as Camp Counselor at the UCI Camp Med. This experience was designed to encourage disadvantaged and underrepresented high school students from Orange and L.A. Counties to consider a career in the medical professions. She also worked as a student volunteer at various health care clinics and organizations including Long Beach Memorial Pediatric Clinic, Madres del Futuro Clinic, Santa Ana Vaccination Project, Clinica Cariño and the Flying Samaritans. She also helped provide valuable information to her school of medicine campus as a representative for the Journal for Minority Medical Students. Dr. Gutierrez speaks Spanish and enjoys cooking, swimming, dancing and poetry.

Catherine Worden, MD, is a 2004 graduate of USC School of Medicine. As the Child Activity Coordinator for the Family Services of Rochester (Child Protective Services), Dr. Worden coordinated activities for children while their parents were undergoing anger management counseling. She also participated in a community mural project in Manhattan Square Park as a volunteer mural painter with the Pyramid Arts Center. Dr. Worden also assisted with patient care as a volunteer in the Loma Linda Children’s Hospital Emergency Department. She enjoys gardening, camping, canoeing, hiking, and bicycling.

PGY-3

Denise Gentles-Ford, MD, is a 2005 graduate of the University of Kansas School of Medicine. Dr. Gentles-Ford received her bachelor of science (biology) from the University of CA, Riverside in 1999. During Dr. Gentles “free” time activities have included participation in Clinica Dispersario, Silver City Clinic and Child Family Health International providing health screenings for US as well as international patients. Administratively, she served as Treasurer for the American Med. Women’s Association and President of The Spanish Language Table. She also has mentored as Big Sister for the Big Sibling Program as well as for elementary, high school and college students. She is fluent in Spanish and enjoys cooking, exercising, shopping and traveling.

Nah Yong Kim, MD, is a 2005 graduate of SUNY Downstate College of Medicine. Dr. Kim received her bachelor of science (biology) from Sogang University, Seoul, South Korea in 1997. She is fluent in Korean and enjoys jogging, skating, piano and cello.

Tikvah Myers, MD, is a 2004 graduate of Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science. Dr. Myers received her bachelor of science (biology) from Oberlin College, Oberlin, Ohio in 1997 with an additional degree in African American Studies. Administratively, Dr. Myers has served as a member of the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, a subcommittee on clinical teaching facilities covering students’ experiences at UCLA affiliated hospital sites. Additionally, she has volunteered in Project Santa Claus as gift coordinator, mentored at the Children’s Outreach and Relief Effort, UCLA and participated at the Bi-annual Lennox Health Fairs. She enjoys soccer, cooking and painting.

PGY-2

Marsha Martinson, MD, received her B.S. in Biochemistry from University of California, Los Angeles in 2000. This achievement was followed later with the receipt of a medical degree from UCLA/Drew Medical Education Program in 2006. Dr. Martinson served as a Primary Care Subcommittee Student Representative at Charles R. Drew University, College of Medicine between 2004 and 2005, Planning and Delivery Committee Member for the Wilmington Health Fairs/Harbor-UCLA Fellowship and Director & Co-Director to the UCLA Black Hypertension Project. Her hobbies include reading, dancing, spending time with family and friends, exercising and listening to music. She speaks Twi, Ghanian dialect, West Africa.

Richard Eppey, MD, received a B.S. in Biology and a B.A. in Spanish from Pacific Union College in Angwin, CA in 2002. He continued his studies at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, receiving a medical degree in 2006. His hobbies include cooking, cycling, building and rock climbing. Besides English, Dr. Eppey is fluent in Spanish.

Janis Coates Penner, MD, received her B.S. in Biology from Azusa Pacific University in 2002. She received her medical degree from Loma Linda University School of Medicine in 2006. She served as a member of the Ob/Gyn Interest Group at LLUSM as well as a hospital volunteer within the Clinical Care Extenders organization. Dr. Penner enjoys tennis and travel, noting to date that she has traveled to 29 of the 50 states in the U.S. It is her lifetime goal that she touch foot into all 50.

PGY-1

Melissa Ching, MD, is a 2007 graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, School of Medicine. In 2002 she received her BA (English and Liberal Studies) from the University of Hawaii, Manoa. Before joining White Memorial, Dr. Ching was a volunteer coordinator for Americorps VISTA at Neighborhood House San Diego. She was also an Americorps - Domestic Violence Shelter advocate. Dr. Ching enjoys reading, traveling, surfing, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, hiking and cooking.

Jacqueline Dela Merced, MD, is a 2007 graduate of New York Medical College. In 2000 she received her BS (Physiological Science) from University of California, Los Angeles. Before coming to White Memorial, Dr. Dela Merced was a performer for the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association, and was the president of the American Medical Student Association. Dr. Dela Mereced provided care at San Francisco General Hospital Emergency and Nursery Departments. Dr. Dela Mereced speaks Spanish and enjoys piano, symphonies, musicals, dance, sports and exercise.

Jamie Plett, MD, is a 2007 graduate of Loma Linda University, School of Medicine. She received her BS (Biology) from Truman State University in 2002. Prior to joining White Memorial, Dr. Plett was a trip organizer for the Community Kids Connection where she led a camping trip for 15 students and their mentors. She worked in a medical clinic in Mexico for the Christian Medical and Dental Association. Dr. Plett speaks Spanish and enjoys gardening, reading, cooking, hiking and teaching.