RESIDENCY LEADERSHIP

Eric Hsieh, MD, FACP
Program Director
Vice Chair of Education

Since starting as faculty here at USC I have always considered the strength of our program to be our faculty's unwavering commitment to teaching and our Medical Center's amazing diversity of patients and wealth of pathology. Since becoming Program Director, the Associate Program Directors and I have designed this program to utilize our University's abundance of resources to help each resident achieve their goals. With these things in mind, we believe we offer a training program that can provide any trainee with superb internal medicine training while helping to advance each person along their desired career path.

Trevor Angell, MD
Associate Program Director

I completed residency and clinical/research fellowship in Endocrinology at USC, and then joined the faculty at Harvard Medical School to focus on clinical research and patient care. I returned to USC to be part of the incredible clinical and research environment here. The residency program offers a remarkable experience with a diverse patient population within the resources of a renowned academic institution. The commitment of the faculty is to the work and the well-being of our trainees. I am passionate about fostering clinical skills, research opportunities, and career development for every resident.

Cathy Jalali, PhD
Associate Program Director

As a newer addition to the USC community, I am constantly amazed by the work our physicians do in our unique and diverse setting. I consider it a privilege to take a small part in our residents’ training and strive to apply my background in cognitive studies and educational sciences to optimize learning opportunities and educational experiences for our faculty, trainees, and students.

Sonia Lin, MD, FACP
Associate Program Director

During my chief residency, I realized my interest in medical education and passion for working with residents. Here at USC, we train our residents to be confident clinicians and inquisitive academicians, which becomes especially apparent when they continue their careers, as they are recruited to renowned institutions to work and pursue fellowship training.  Our program is constantly innovating and improving based on resident feedback.  I am excited to share with you in person all the reasons I love this program and to help you achieve your own career goals.

Jennifer Marks, MD, FACP
Associate Program Director

I am one of the luckiest people. I have the three best jobs: mom, doctor, teacher. A thread that runs through all three is mentorship, which is also one of the primary responsibilities of being an APD. I endeavor to see residents as people, not just as doctors in training. I feel privileged to know residents personal as well as professional aspirations. Not unlike the joy I feel watching my own kids learn and grow, I love to see the transition of residents from nervous intern to confident leader. Being an APD is truly a special honor.

Patrick Sarte, MD, MS, FAAP, FACP
Associate Program Director

The USC Internal Medicine Residency Program fosters an environment for our trainees to develop individualized autonomy under the guidance of excellent teaching faculty. For these reasons in addition to the breadth of pathology and learning opportunities available at this facility, I chose to train here myself. I stayed as faculty so that I can contribute to improving further the operational and educational aspects of the hospital and training program. I remain here because I enjoy teaching both the residents and medical students, and I continue to learn from them and our patients on an almost daily basis. At USC, I have personally been able to make a difference in the lives of my patients as well as my trainees whom I have witnessed develop into confident and independently capable physicians.

Carrie Ward, MD
Associate Program Director

“I trained at the County.”  This phrase has been spoken for decades by thousands of physicians and it instantly conveys that they are well-trained, experienced, and capable.  I rely on my LAC+USC residency experience every day as I practice medicine and I am so happy to return as an Associate Program Director.  I hope to be a role model for trainees, not only professionally but also as someone who believes in a balanced life, taking joy in raising twin boys with my wife, cheering for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and spending time in nature.

Breck Nichols, MD, MPH, FACP, FAAP
Med/Peds Residency Program Director

As Med/Peds Residency Program Director, I am honored to support our residents in setting and reaching their professional and academic goals. The wide scope of pathology present in the diverse population at USC makes this an excellent place to train. Our goal is to support our residents as they go through the program and graduate as self-assured physicians with vast experience.  

Tracey Samko, MD
Associate Program Director

After completing my residency here at LAC+USC Keck Medical Center of USC, I stayed on as chief resident and enjoyed supporting the program and incoming Med Ped residents. My primary care focus is on socially and medically complex people of all ages and LGBTQ+ populations. This program and the leadership provides a diverse learning environment that allows residents to explore the many options in medicine.