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Current Fellows

3rd Year Fellows (2024-2027)

  • Jonathan Dounel, MD

    Jonathan Dounel, MD

    Chief Fellow

    Hometown: New Providence, NJ

    Medical School: Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University

    Residency: UC San Diego

    Research Interests: Early detection and risk stratification for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and colorectal cancer 

    Hobbies: Seeking out great coffee, sushi, and live music, chasing the perfect playlists through HIIT workouts and Spin classes, attempting to become ’someone who runs,’ and binge-watching reality TV. 

    Why UCSD: Emphasis on well-rounded clinical training, abundant scoping exposure both inpatient and outpatient, mentorship with a focus on individual career goals, and amazing connections that I built with fellows and faculty here as a resident were key factors that drew me to stay at UCSD for fellowship.
  • Katherine Jordan, MD

    Katherine Jordan, MD

    Chief Fellow

    Hometown: Darnestown, MD

    Medical School: Washington University in Saint Louis 

    Residency: Duke

    Research Interests: Overlap between technology/AI and hepatology

    Hobbies: Running up the coast, biking, swimming (especially in the ocean!)

    Why UCSD: I was impressed on my interview day by the depth and breadth of clinical training, as well as the ability to train at four different hospitals. UCSD is also uniquely positioned in the middle of one of the biggest biotech hubs in America, which was a huge draw as someone interested in device design/healthcare innovation. Finally, the weather. 
  • Maria Abraham, MD

    Maria Abraham, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Kerala, India 

    Medical School: Harvard Medical School

    Residency: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston

    Research Interests: Medical Education

    Hobbies: Going out for nature walks, spending quality time with family, arts & crafts (calligraphy, card-making, now planning to experiment with watercolor), taking care of my plants. 

    Why UCSD: I found UCSD to be a very welcoming community with great colleagues and strong clinical and procedural training. Being in California also meant my husband and I didn't have to be long distance anymore. Lastly, the perfect San Diego weather all-year round is a huge bonus!
  • Omar Belfaqeeh, MD

    Omar Belfaqeeh, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Abu Dhabi, UAE

    Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

    Residency: Icahn School Of Medicine at Mount Sinai (Morningside/West)

    Research Interests: Advanced Endoscopy, quality improvement in ERCP

    Hobbies: Spending time with my family, visiting theme parks and the zoo, exploring SoCal nature, and trying new restaurants

    Why UCSD: UCSD offers an exceptional and supportive training enviornment and is renowned as a leading center for research and innovation.
  • Sa Do Kang, MD, PhD

    Sa Do Kang, MD, PhD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Seoul, Korea

    Medical School: Penn State 

    Residency: Hopkins Bayview 

    Research Interests: Proteomics, microbiome, IBD

    Hobbies: Exploring local restaurants, hiking 

    Why UCSD: As I was applying to the research track, I wanted a program that provided both rigorous, well-rounded clinical training as well as various research opportunities. I couldn’t have asked for a better place to be as UCSD GI/hepatology is a leader in both clinical practice and research.  In terms of location: great weather year-round, accessible nature, proximity to Orange County and LA, and great Asian food scene are highlights of living in San Diego.

2nd Year Fellows (2025-2028)

  • Gloria Lin, MD

    Gloria Lin, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Philadelphia, PA

    Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin

    Residency: University of Texas Southwestern

    Research Interests: IBD, clinical trials in therapeutics, CRC screening

    Hobbies: Running, hiking, scuba diving/snorkeling

    Why UCSD: I wanted to have a balance of strong clinical training and ample opportunities for research in IBD. The warm hospital environment (and weather!) as well as engaging attendings during my interview day also helped me select UCSD. 
  • Kelli Liu, MD

    Kelli Liu, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Pasadena, CA

    Medical School: Wake Forest Univeristy

    Residency: UC San Diego

    Research Interests: GERD, LPRD, Belching Disorders, Disorders of Gut-Brain Axis

    Hobbies: Running, Hiking, Eating Pastries

    Why UCSD: I absolutely LOVED the people I worked with during residency and had a wonderful GI research and mentorship experience. On top of the training experience at multiple different sites, UCSD also sees rare, complex, and routine pathologies as a tertiary care center that set up fellows with a very strong base of knowledge and experience. 
  • Danielle Mirda, MD

    Danielle Mirda, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Napa, CA

    Medical School: George Washington University

    Residency: University of Pennsylvania

    Research Interests: Colon cancer, health equity & health disparities, QI

    Hobbies: Tennis, hot yoga, reading, baking, NYT games 

    Why UCSD:  I was drawn to UCSD for its outstanding clinical training, commitment to underserved populations, and strong mentorship. I am interested in colorectal cancer prevention and health equity, and UCSD offers the patient population and resources to make a meaningful impact through both clinical work and research. The genuine warmth and collaborative spirit I experienced on interview day have continued to be a defining part of my experience here so far.
  • Maria Mironova, MD, MHSc

    Maria Mironova, MD, MHSc

    Research Fellow

    Hometown: Moscow, Russia

    Medical School: Lomonosov Moscow State University 

    Residency: Capital Health RMC

    Research Interests: Multi omics of fatty liver disease, artificial intelligence in hepatology

    Hobbies: reading with my kids, weightlifting, skiing, traveling 

    Why UCSD:  During my hepatology fellowship at the NIH, I looked for a program to build solid gastroenterology skills and advance my hepatology research. UCSD appealed to me for its mentorship, diverse clinical experience, and strong research support. The way UCSD integrates clinical care and research made it the right fit for me to grow as a clinician‑investigator. The San Diego weather is a nice bonus.
  • Nivita Sharma, MD

    Nivita Sharma, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Kennesaw, GA

    Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine

    Residency: Duke 

    Research Interests: IBD and women's health, gender representation within the GI workforce

    Hobbies: Crafting (jewelry making, candle making, everything DIY), reading rom coms, baking, scenic walks with my partner, trying new restaurants and recipes with my partner

    Why UCSD:  The faculty and fellows on interview day instantly felt like family. Every person I have met so far has been an excellent teacher as well. The range of hospital settings we train in provides high clinical volume, diverse patient populations, and incredibly complex clinical cases that are paramount to my learning within three years. 

1st Year Fellows (2026-2029)

  • Christian Bonilla, MD

    Christian Bonilla, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Burlingame, CA

    Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University 

    Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital 

    Research Interests: Quality Improvement, Health Policy, Advanced Endoscopy, General GI

    Hobbies: Hiking, cooking, going to concerts/music festivals, traveling, longboarding, reading. 

    Why UCSD: Well rounded program in an excellent location and phenomenal clinical training and research opportunities across sites. Also the ability to care for a diverse population is a great bonus. Supportive culture and fantastic attendings and co-fellows. 
  • Matthew Kubina, MD

    Matthew Kubina, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Bolivar, OH

    Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University (NEOMED)

    Residency: University of Michigan

    Research Interests: Steatotic liver disease, genetic determinants and risk factors for long term liver-related outcomes.

    Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, watching sports, playing fantasy football, weightlifting and being active, reading, listening to music.

    Why UCSD: The GI fellowship program at UCSD seemed to have a great combination of strong clinical/procedural exposure as well as a robust research department, especially for my research interests in steatotic liver disease. Additionally, both the fellows and GI department faculty were incredibly friendly and welcoming during my interview days, and the culture at UCSD seemed like a truly great place to continue training.
  • Michael Nash, MD, PhD

    Michael Nash, MD, PhD

    Research Fellow

    Hometown: Del Mar, CA

    Medical School:  University of Colorado

    Residency: UCLA

    Research Interests: The role of innate immunity, hematopoietic stem cell function and diet in driving early development of MASLD and other digestive diseases, immune-gut interactions, novel measures of gut function and digestive disease symptomatology

    Hobbies: Weight training, running, hiking, guitar, biking, gardening, fly fishing, bird watching, herpetology, studying the biology of chameleons to support long-term conservation and species survival, forest conservation locally and in Madagascar, veterinary medicine

    Why UCSD: I grew up in San Diego and love the area. I have family and friends in San Diego and being here lets me sustain and support important relationships. It's an incredible stroke of luck that in addition to the above benefits, UCSD also has some of the most impactful research in the world in my field of choice, while also having an outstanding clinical training program in all subspecialties of GI. I can't imagine a better fit for me professionally and personally. So excited to be here and work with everyone!
  • Lorenzo Q. Olive, MD

    Lorenzo Q. Olive, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Camden, Mississippi

    Medical School: East Tennessee State University James H. Quillen College of Medicine

    Residency: UT Southwestern Medical Center

    Research Interests: Currently exploring all areas of Digestive and Liver Disease.

    Hobbies: Hiking, weightlifting, traveling, spending time with my dog, engaging in water sports with him, and exploring new coffee shops. 

    Why UCSD: I chose UCSD for its exceptional clinical training, collaborative culture, and outstanding mentorship. The opportunity to care for a diverse patient population while learning from leaders across the full spectrum of digestive and liver diseases made UCSD the ideal place to continue my training. Outside of fellowship, I'm excited to explore San Diego's outdoor lifestyle and enjoy the city with my dog.
  • Pooja Pandita, MD

    Pooja Pandita, MD

    Clinical Fellow

    Hometown: Columbus, Indiana

    Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

    Residency: UC San Diego

    Research Interests: Colon cancer screening, health equity, artificial intelligence in gastroenterology 

    Hobbies: Tennis, hiking, traveling, trying new restaurants

    Why UCSD: I had a wonderful experience at UCSD during residency, where I received exceptional clinical training across multiple hospital sites. Combined with the outstanding research opportunities, strong mentorship support, and collegial environment, I was drawn to staying at UCSD for fellowship.