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Chief Medical Residents 2025–26

  • Charlotte Ellberg, MD

    Charlotte Ellberg, MD

    Chief Medical Resident 2025-26
    Undergrad: University of California, Davis  
    Medical school: California Northstate  

    I grew up in a small beach town, and moved up to Northern California for undergrad and medical school. Between undergrad and medical school I took a few gap years to travel and work, spending time primarily in Augsburg, Germany and Sacramento. Although I do love NorCal, I am so happy to be back near the beach and I am so pleased with the strong training and great friends I have made through this program. I plan to pursue a career in Pulmonary and Critical Care, and am passionate about Med-Ed, Procedure training, Delirium, and SDOH. Outside of the hospital I love spending time at the beach, Farmer’s Market, or a brewery.
  • Emma Mulligan, MD

    Emma Mulligan, MD

    Chief Medical Resident 2025-26
    Undergrad: Boston University
    Medical school: Boston University

    I am from the tiny mountain town of Gold Hill just outside of Boulder, Colorado and grew up loving the outdoors. I moved to Boston for a biomedical engineering undergrad and continued on at BU for medical school where I developed a passion for medical education and diagnostic reasoning. (Fun fact Faizah and I met on our graduation day from BU!) I have loved my years here and am so excited to continue as a chief this upcoming year. Professionally, I am interested in nephrology, medical education (particularly diagnostic reasoning), clinical research, and dialysis devices. I spend my time outside of work doing kung fu, lion dance, hiking, and Dungeons and Dragons.

  • Kevin Paternostro, MD

    Kevin Paternostro, MD

    Chief Medical Resident 2025-26
    Undergrad: Oregon State University
    Medical school: Oregon Health & Science University

    I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon but worked all over the country prior to medical school as a travelling consultant before returning to the PNW for medical school. I love SD, but those Douglas Firs are still my home. My clinical interest is in cardiology and specifically advanced heart failure and cardiac transplantation - so crazy what a new heart can do for quality of life! My wife and I welcomed our son Silas on New Years Eve this year so if you see me outside of work you will definitely see a baby strapped to my chest. He likes looking out windows, making raspberries on his stomach, and discussing the intricacies of the Frank-Starling Curve.
  • Faizah Shareef, MD

    Faizah Shareef, MD

    Chief Medical Resident 2025-26
    Undergrad: University of Miami 
    Medical school: Boston University School of Medicine 

    I'm originally from the streets of Brooklyn, made a detour through middle of nowhere Florida, then Miami (which doesn’t count as Florida in my mind), followed DC and Boston—before finally landing here on the sunny West Coast. I've officially sipped the West Coast Kool-Aid and can't imagine another winter elsewhere. Like Charlotte, I'm hoping to pursue Pulmonary and Critical Care, with a special interest in sleep (and also sleeping). Outside the hospital, you’ll usually find me on a mountain, at the beach, trying new restaurants, or occasionally off exploring somewhere new.
  • Alisse Singer, MD

    Alisse Singer, MD

    VA Chief Resident in Quality and Patient Safety 2025-26
    Undergrad: Wesleyan University
    Medical school: UCLA

    I grew up in Honolulu then moved to the East Coast for my undergraduate degree. Between undergrad and medical school, I worked in Boston doing research. I was lucky enough to come to the West Coast to pursue my medical training in LA and now here in San Diego. During residency, I developed my interests in hospital medicine, quality improvement, and medical education. Outside of residency, I enjoy reading, doing puzzles, and hiking around San Diego.
  • Matthew Tan, MD

    Matthew Tan, MD

    VA Chief Resident in Quality and Patient Safety 2025-26
    Undergrad: UC San Diego  
    Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science  

    I’m one of the VA Chiefs, Matt (or Matthew, I go by both). I was born and raised a little up north of UC San Diego in Escondido and went to medical school in Chicago. My interests include medical education, infectious diseases, and LGBTQ+ healthcare! Outside of medicine, I’m a console + tabletop gamer, a graphic artist, and a cat dad to two orange boys (we all share a single brain cell).

  • Julia Weston, MD

    Julia Weston, MD

    Chief Medical Resident 2025-26
    Undergrad: St. Olaf College 
    Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

    I was born and raised Minneapolis, Minnesota and decided to spread my wings and leave for residency. I was lucky enough to get to come to UCSD! During residency I have developed my interests in global health, pulmonology/critical care, medical Spanish and health equity. I have also been lucky enough to travel frequently to Mexico with my husband during residency; it is such a plus living so close to the border! In my free time, I also enjoy weight lifting, hanging out with my two pitbulls, cooking and working on improving my (amateur) DJ skills.