Columnists
Kelly Erickson, MD, graduated from the USC Keck School of Medicine in 2010 and is pursuing post-graduate training in Radiation Oncology at Kaiser Permanente – Los Angeles. She graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts in Molecular and Cell Biology. As an undergraduate and medical student, Kelly has always had an interest in both basic science and clinical research, particularly in the field of oncology. She has worked on a number of publications in the field of radiation oncology, her field of interest, in the areas of lung and breast cancer. She enjoys translating her understanding of the often-perplexing world of research and statistics into accessible information for our readers.
Despite her busy residency schedule, Kelly is avidly committed to exercise including kick-boxing, running, weight-lifting and cycling. She enjoys discovering new methods of exercise that are both challenging and fun. Kelly is also a food-lover and often spends her free time in the kitchen, garden and at the local farmers market. She is particularly interested in the use of fresh and seasonal ingredients and transforming traditionally unhealthy recipes into meals that are sensible and nutritious.
Contact Kelly: erickson@myhousecallmd.com
Leah Frankel, MS, RD, is currently working at Apria Healthcare in the San Jose area as a Registered Dietitian, as well as a Nutrition Instructor for the University of Phoenix. Leah earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology from the University of California, Los Angeles, graduating Cum Laude and with Departmental Honors. After graduating from UCLA, she pursued a Master’s of Science in Nutritional Science at the University of Arizona. During her 2 years at the University of Arizona Leah worked as a Teaching Assistant, teaching several undergraduate nutrition classes, conducted research in a Nutrition Assessment Lab, and completed a thesis entitled,” Relationships between nutrient intakes and bone mineral density in healthy postmenopausal women in year 6 of the Bone, Estrogen and Strength Training (BEST) study.” After graduating with a Master’s in Nutrition, Leah completed a dietetic internship at USC + LAC Medical Center, and worked at as a Registered Dietitian at a hospital and multiple skilled nursing facilities in the Los Angeles area. In her free time Leah enjoys staying active by running outdoors, strength training, and taking fitness classes. She recently completed her third half marathon. When she’s not working out, she enjoys baking, cake decorating, and making healthy vegetarian meals.
Contact Leah: frankel@myhousecallmd.com
Jessica Goldman, RN 2011, is currently acquiring her Bachelors of Science in Nursing at the University of California San Bernardino, Palm Desert Campus. She is currently in her OB/GYN rotation at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs, California so stay tuned for the latest news from the labor and delivery wards straight from our nurse on the ground. Jessica spent two years studying at the University of Arizona in Tucson. While in Arizona, Jessica worked at the Women’s Health Clinic and was an active member of her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta. In high school, Jessica was a regionally recognized sprinter, specializing in the 100m, 200m, 4 x 100m, and 400m races. She set a number of school records during her time as part of the Track & Field team at Palm Desert High School.
In her spare time, Jessica enjoys exercising including running, spinning, hiking, lifting weights, and plyometrics. She is also very knowledgeable regarding nutrition and enjoys cooking (she is known for her lactose-free meals as well as meals that are low in cholesterol like many of us need). Jessica will be bringing the latest in fitness and health-conscious culinary arts to you each week.
Brenton Bauer, MD 2012, is a third year medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA where he is completing his clinical clerkships before beginning residency training. Prior to medical school, Brenton attended UC Riverside as a Regent’s scholar and completed his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry graduating Magna Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa.
Brenton’s love of clinical patient care is balanced by his passion to further the understanding of medical knowledge through basic science and clinical research. Throughout his undergraduate and medical training he completed various projects that led to presentations at national conferences and journal publications. He also appreciates the chasm of healthcare disparity currently present in this country and has worked to close this gap as the Vice President of the Riverside Student Run Health Clinic. Under his direction, the organization put on a children’s health fair in an underserved high desert community and provided free health care to the homeless residents of Riverside.
In his free time, you can find Brenton in the gym as he works to maintain a fit lifestyle amongst the “madness” of medical school. He also loves to snowboard, wakeboard, and play baseball, golf and the piano.
Contact Brenton: bauer@myhousecallmd.com
Steve Hole, MD 2012, is entering his final year of medical school at USC’s Keck School of Medicine. He graduated from West Point in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences and a minor in Nuclear Engineering. He will return to an active duty career in the United States Army upon graduation from medical school.
Steve began playing organized sports at the age of 5 and continued through college, lettering 3 years on West Point’s Division I-A football team and earning the Major William Whitehead Award for the football player with the highest class standing. Courses in boxing, survival swimming, and combative fighting complement his years as a multi-sport athlete, team captain, coach, and trainer. He credits his smooth recovery from elbow surgery at the age of 16 for inspiring his career in medicine. His background in team sports, personal experience with joint surgery, and future as an Army physician have resulted in the pursuit of an orthopedic surgery residency with hopes of further education in sports medicine down the road.
In his free time, Steve enjoys fitness, shooting, following college and professional sports, power tools, riding his motorcycle and spending time with his fiance, a dental student in Texas. He earned jump wings as a graduate of the Army Basic Airborne Course at Fort Benning, Georgia. Activities while in medical school have included work as research assistant, class president, tutor, and ethics program consultant.
Contact Steve: hole@myhousecallmd.com
G. John Mullen, DPT 2011, graduated from Purdue University in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Health Science and a certificate in Entrepreneurship and Innovation. He is currently completing his 2nd year at USC’s Doctoral of Physical Therapy program. At Purdue University, John swam collegiately earning Academic All-Big Ten honors. In 2008, John was also awarded first place in the Burton D. Morgan business plan competition at Purdue University. John currently coaches a Master’s swim team in Los Angeles, privately trains swimmers and triathletes, and works at the Clinical Exercise Research Center at USC where he pursues his interest in the effects of resistance training in aging men and exercise in high-risk diabetic children.
In his free time, John enjoys swimming, weight lifting, reading non-fiction books, spending time with family and attending hip-hop concerts.
John also writes an outstanding Swimming Blog for the swimmers in the room.
Contact John: mullen@myhousecallmd.com
Georgina Lee, PharmD 2011, is completing her graduate education at the University of Southern California School of Pharmacy. She graduated from the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Pharmaceutical Sciences. For the last three years, she has been an Intern Pharmacist at Kaiser Permanente in various settings including the outpatient pharmacy, diabetes clinic, anti-coagulation clinic, and the drug education center. In college, she participated in a humanitarian expedition in Guatemala as a relief worker with other members of a multidisciplinary team. When she’s not working, you will find her cheering on her New England sports teams including the Celtics, the Red Sox and the Patriots (yes, even in a room full of Laker fans). In her spare time she enjoys listening to Muse, trying new culinary destinations, hiking and sitting in LA traffic.
Contact Georgina: lee@myhousecallmd.com
Tania Houspian, PharmD 2011, is currently in her third year of pharmacy school at the University of Southern California. She graduated from UCLA in 2007 with a Bachelor of Science in Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics. Having spent 4 years as a Bruin and now living in the world of the Trojans, she prefers the politically correct term “Brojan.” While she does prefer one school over the other, she chooses to keep that preference to herself. In her free time she loves to read, watch movies, go hiking, and laugh. In the future she hopes to use her PharmD in a clinical setting to ensure excellent patient outcomes and proper medication use. She sees herself working one-on-one with patients in an ambulatory care setting to help them control and overcome their ailments.
Contact Tania: houspian@myhousecallmd.com
Michaela Marek, MD 2011, is a fourth year medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch on Galveston Island. She plans to pursue a residency in Dermatology. Prior to medical school, she attended Texas A&M University where she graduated Summa cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science.
While in medical school, Michaela has devoted a significant portion of her time to clinical and basic science dermatological research, from skin cancer to the possible toxicities of prolonged sunscreen use. Her research has provided her with a wealth of information that would be very valuable to the public if it were made more accessible. She is also very enthusiastic about preventive health, focusing primarily on skin cancer prevention. Michaela regularly works in skin cancer screening clinics and gives Stay Shady presentations to the youth in Galveston and the surrounding communities. She is excited about the opportunity to share the knowledge she has acquired in hopes of a healthier future.
Michaela is involved in multiple organizations including her Student Government Association, where she has served as president for the last two years. She plans to pursue similar roles of leadership and service as she continues her post-graduate training.
When she is not busy at the hospital or in the lab, Michaela enjoys sports, both as a participant and a spectator. She also loves shopping, cooking, and eating out when her latest attempt at a new recipe fails.
Contact Michaela: marek@myhousecallmd.com
Rebecca Shatsky, MD 2011, is currently in her fourth and final year of medical school at USC Keck School of Medicine. She will be applying this summer to post-graduate training in Internal Medicine.
Rebecca has a passion for public health and disease prevention that can only be described as “global” in proportions. After graduating from Cornell University in 2005, Rebecca spent two years at the Weill Cornell School of Medicine in New York City working in Infectious Disease research on a national bioterrorism prevention program. During her time at USC, Rebecca has focused her efforts on promoting the school’s International Medicine program, which encourages medical students to complete rotations and conduct research abroad in a variety of different medical specialties. She has spent time working in clinics and conducting research in several different countries. Her most recent work was in Lima, Peru at the Alexander von Humboldt Institute for Tropical Infectious Diseases.
When not on rotation at the Los Angeles County Hospital, Rebecca likes to spend as much time as she possibly can outdoors enjoying the beautiful California weather. On days off, you can generally find her hiking with her dog, biking or spending time at the beach (lathered in sunscreen of course).
Contact Rebecca: shatsky@myhousecallmd.com
Marissa Camilon, MD 2011, is currently completing her medical degree at the USC Keck School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, she completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Irvine where she graduated Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences and a minor in History.
A cornerstone in Marissa’s life is her tireless involvement in the community around her. She is the currently the President of the Associated Students of the School of Medicine. Marissa has also served as the President of the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association and various other organizations on campus.
Part of Marissa’s love of medicine stems from her passion for teaching. She feels that teaching her patients more about their health will ultimately empower them to take control of their personal wellbeing. This passion has led her to House Call, MD where she can put her writing experience (she was a columnist for her college newspaper) to work, sharing her medical knowledge with the greater community.
In her spare time, Marissa enjoys running, baking, borrowing books from her local public library and, of course, spending time with family, friends and her dog.
Contact Marissa: camilon@myhousecallmd.com
