Residents
First Year Residents
Rabia Malik, DO
Where are you originally from?
Chicago, ILUndergraduate College:
University of Illinois at ChicagoWhere did you attend Medical School?
Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (Harrogate, TN)Why did you choose PTHA?
From the many reasons why, I chose to rotate with PTHA as a medical student due to the opportunity to be able to work with underserved populations. Being immersed in a unique culture, I immediately fell in love with faculty, staff, residents, and patients! The teamwork at the clinic and family-like atmosphere was one I wanted to be a part of. PTHA also provides the ability to practice broad spectrum family medicine and was a huge proponent of osteopathic manipulation/treatment which coincides with my interestsWhat are your interests?
My medical interests are, but not limited to, health disparities, underserved populations, health literacy, women’s health, obstetrics, osteopathy, sports medicine, and dermatology/cosmetics. Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking, home décor (on a budget!), yoga, hiking, playing sports, and board games.What are some fun facts about you?
I LOVE donuts, a lot. My guilty pleasure is definitely watching reality television. I am pretty much an open book so this question is quite difficult!Matthew Shoemaker, DO
Where are you originally from?
Las Vegas, NevadaUndergraduate College:
University of Southern CaliforniaWhere did you attend Medical School?
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic MedicineWhy did you choose PTHA?
PTHA really checked all of the boxes I was looking for in a residency - a supportive team, the belief that a person's health encompasses all aspects of their life, and training in both an urban and rural environment. PTHA's emphasis on community, both within the program and within the community we serve, really stuck out to me. All of that, mixed together with the fantastic location (I now have no excuse to not go hiking) made PTHA the logical choice for me!What are your interests?
In terms of my medical career, I'm interested in practicing primary care with an emphasis on nutrition and preventative medicine. Dealing with any health issue takes up so much time, effort, and energy on the part of the patient - I want to educate my patients, to prevent as much as possible so that they can enjoy their lives fully when they're out of the office. Outside of medicine, I love trying new recipes for meals to impress my friends (my eggplant parmesan recently got rave reviews), gardening, exploring new restaurants and bars, and badly dancing at raves and concerts.What are some fun facts about you?
I'm usually in charge of cooking the meat when I go out for KBBQ. Unlike most people with seafood allergies, I'm allergic to fish but shellfish is A-OK. I grew up in Las Vegas and prefer bingo to poker.Josh Wright, DO
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Seattle, but spent most years growing up in the Puyallup and Tacoma areas.Undergraduate College:
University of Washington, TacomaWhere did you attend Medical School?
Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Lauderdale, FloridaWhy did you choose PTHA?
I was actually inspired to become an osteopath after shadowing Dr. Aaron Rhyner at PTHA, during undergrad. Over the course of nearly two years, Dr. Rhyner graciously showed me what culturally-competent care truly looked like and the delicate balance of mind, body, and spirit that facilitates wellness. While I certainly enjoyed sunny Florida, I simply could not find another residency with as much soul and conviction as PTHA. We are the product of our environment, and saw an incredible opportunity to give back to the communities that shaped me into who I am today. Combine this with unopposed training at incredible facilities, a Native American and osteopathic curriculum, as well as the chance to bring my wife and son back home, PTHA represents EVERYthing I could hope for!What are your interests?
Where to begin! Professionally, I am passionate about genuinely knowing those I serve, osteopathy, lifestyle medicine, mindfulness, and the future possibilities of telehealth platforms. Beyond healthcare, I am always seeking new travel adventures with family and friends—especially finding the best burger spots! I can't help but take tons of photos and videos with my phone, commemorating trips with fun movies! My hands like to stay busy so in my free time I'm slowly learning how to work on my MINI Clubman. At the end of the day, I enjoy winding down by watching paranormal investigations on YouTube or playing video games with my wife!What are some fun facts about you?
Recovering potato chip addict (honestly, just carbs in general; I blame my former soccer coaches). I'm bulletproof...well, I drink bulletproof coffee each morning at least...never. enough. butter! Moderately fluent in baby babble but can get around town in Spanish, if needed. Played guitar for 12 years and slowly learning piano. I originally considered architecture before deciding to attend med school with a history degree; my senior paper explored how acupuncture was bringing a Chinese cultural influence BACK into Tacoma—believe it or not, Tacoma's waterfront had a Chinatown until the late 1800s! I also have two spoiled chiweenies named Mia and Kailani.Alex Yang, MD
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Houston, Texas, although I moved to Baltimore, Maryland the following year so I consider Baltimore my adopted hometown.Undergraduate College:
Johns Hopkins UniversityWhere did you attend Medical School?
George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Washington, D.C.Why did you choose PTHA?
I completed a surgical internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC last year and realized that I needed a complete change of pace. I wanted to foster longitudinal, intimate relationships with my patients and be able to understand their circumstances by familiarizing myself with the community that they live in. Simply put, I wanted to experience the community which I would be serving in order to become a better provider for my patients. I believe that the future of healthcare starts at the level of the community and PTHA presented the perfect opportunity for me to escape from big city hospitals. PTHA promotes the mind, body, and soul as equal tenets of wellbeing and I wanted to tailor the way I practice medicine to this concept.What are your interests?
I have a broad and disparate variety of medical interests that include addiction medicine, integrative medicine and alternative treatments for mood disorders such as PTSD, depression, anxiety (I worked on a psilocybin study in medical school that really blew my mind), sports medicine, critical care, and minor bedside procedures. Outside of medicine, I enjoy anything outdoor-related such as fishing, hiking, kayaking, etc.; karaoke even though I'm a terrible singer, exploring new bars and restaurants, playing guitar and piano, watching and playing all types of sports, and I also LOVE sleeping.What are some fun facts about you?
I have a twin brother who I do not look alike at all, I have a cat and a dog who actually love each other dearly, I'm allergic to nuts/peanuts and have made multiple trips to the ED, I used to break dance a lot in college and high school (I am now absolutely terrible now).Second Year Residents
Craig Wolfe, DO
Where are you originally from?
Colville, WashingtonUndergraduate College:
I earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwest Nazarene University in Nampa, Idaho and a Master of Arts in Medical Sciences degree from Heritage University in Toppenish, Washington.Where did you attend Medical School?
Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima, WashingtonWhy did you choose PTHA?
I chose PTHA foremost because of the authenticity of its faculty, staff, and residents. It was clear that everyone truly enjoyed being a part of this program and encouraged residents to immerse themselves in the community, not be apart from it. The rigorous curriculum covers all aspects of traditional family medicine while also providing a very unique approach to treating rural and underserved communities, which aligns with my personal and professional interests.What are your interests?
My medical interests include collaborative care, rural medicine, and behavioral health. Outside of medicine, my wife and I have two young boys who keep us very busy. We love spending time together outdoors going on hikes, enjoying wildlife, and just playing in dirt.What are some fun facts about you?
When I was young, I learned how to tie my shoes by dreaming. When driving, I have a knack for missing the exit. If I ate tacos for breakfast and dinner every day for the rest of my life, I would still pick a taco to be my last meal on Earth. I was today years old when I learned the FedEx logo has an arrow in it. Lastly, I’m not superstitious, but I am a little stitious.Thomas Morello, DO
Where are you originally from?
Philadelphia, PAUndergraduate College:
Oberlin CollegeWhere did you attend Medical School?
Western University of Health Sciences - College of Osteopathic Medicine of the PacificWhy did you choose PTHA?
Wow, where to begin! First, as an occupant of this land-- and having been blessed with immense privilege in my life-- the opportunity to leverage my medical education to serve Indigenous communities felt meaningful and important to me. During my time rotating at PTHA as a medical student, the closeness of the community and beauty of the clinic itself formed a strong impression. I felt at home. Second, I was looking for a program with a sincere interest in osteopathic medicine, which I found at PTHA to extend from residents to attendings to patients. Beyond the patients and the osteopathy (not that I needed a beyond), the natural beauty of the PNW has been easy to fall in love with.What are your interests?
Medically, I am interested in the areas where healthcare overlaps with social justice and an exploration of what it means to be fully human: structural origins of health disparities, population health, behavioral health, women’s health, group visits, hospice & palliative care, and traditional osteopathic medicine. Personally, I am easily lost in music and nature (I am a former DJ and a fledgling backpacker), and love connecting deeply (or shallowly!) with dear pals.What are some fun facts about you?
Prior to medical school, I worked as a community organizer, paralegal, after-school teacher, and meditation instructor. In 4th grade, I won the MVP at a basketball camp-- my skills have been downtrending ever since. Bill Murray once threw me a beer on a golf course which my parents saved in the basement until I turned 21, at which point it was decided that we should probably just pour that old can down the drain.Nicole Labban, DO
Where are you originally from?
I’m originally from Phoenix, Arizona. The past 3 years, I have been living in Washington, D.C. for Medical School (living in DC has had a huge impact on my personal and professional development, I have to mention it!)Undergraduate College:
I graduated from Arizona State University & Barrett, The Honors College in 2016, where I got my degrees in Biological Sciences with an emphasis on Genetics and Cellular Biology, along with Spanish. Through Barrett, I was able to defend an undergraduate thesis: The Immune Blockade Therapy in Metastatic Osteosarcoma, under the excellent guidance of the Blattman Laboratory.Where did you attend Medical School?
I attended A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona for medical school. 1 year was spent in Arizona, with the subsequent 3 years spent in D.C. working with Unity Health Care.Why did you choose PTHA?
PTHA was the natural next step for my growth as a Physician committed to caring for our most vulnerable populations. In medical school, I had the opportunity to work long-term in underserved communities of Washington D.C. (wards 1, 7 & 8, consisting of primarily Black, Immigrant and Homeless communities), which profoundly altered the way I would see and choose to practice medicine. PTHA appealed to my desire to combine my values in life, with my career; namely, to learn about and serve minority populations and People of Color in the United States, along with working on advocacy & community/preventative health for these populations. I am thrilled to work with the Puyallup tribe of Washington state, learn about both their unique culture and barriers to care, and to receive rigorous training in a setting that balances in-patient and outpatient services. Similarly, I am excited to work alongside individuals who share similar values to me.What are your interests?
My interests include Mutual Aid, advocacy work, equity (racial, gender, LGBTQ+) in medicine and reading all the books (current book list: The Selected Works of Audre Lorde, Pleasure Activism and From Beirut to Jerusalem). I also love gardening and propagating plants, third-gen coffee, bouldering and creating (in whatever way possible). I am very invested in my spirituality and community. I’m also trying to learn more languages - Portuguese and Arabic!What are some fun facts about you?
I am fluent in Spanish, first-generation Lebanese-American, and while in DC, was very involved in the art scene, making album art and music videos for local rappers. I’ve also made art for social change (selling works for donations to different NGOs)Third Year Residents
Laura Fox, MD PhD
Where are you originally from?
Sultan, WAUndergraduate College:
Cornell UniversityWhere did you attend Medical School?
University of South Dakota Sanford School of MedicineWhy did you choose PTHA?
Growing up in rural Washington, I recall many occasions where the culture and traditions of Salish tribes touched both my educational and personal experiences. My training in South Dakota also brought me closer to patients from the reservations at Rosebud, Pine Ridge, and Standing Rock. Learning medicine in that environment offered constant reminders that modern healthcare holds only a small part of what it means to be a truly well human being. PTHA emphasizes a whole-person approach to full-spectrum care. Such comprehensive training in my home state was all I could ever ask for!What are your interests?
My medical interests include women’s health, nutrition, holistic medicine, and making it simpler for those with unique neurocognitive needs to engage with their own medical decision making, particularly individuals on the autism spectrum. My scientific expertise is in traumatic brain injury, anxiety, PTSD, and neuroendocrinology.What are some fun facts about you?
I turned down the chance for a spot on the U.S. Olympic archery team and went to college instead of Beijing, but I still love to shoot and coach today. I am fond of outdoor activities and enjoy even more sharing the outdoors with friends and family. I play a few instruments (some better than others!) and volunteer with Girl Scouts of Western Washington as often as I can. My husband and I love exploring new places and new foods together, at restaurants and at home. I was once an engineer at Boeing, love anything J.R.R. Tolkien ever wrote, and for better or worse, am a morning person.Chelsea Nagayama, DO
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Honolulu, HI and I grew up in a suburb near Fort Worth, TX in a town called Keller. I’ve lived in Seattle and Kitsap peninsula since undergrad.Undergraduate College:
University of WashingtonWhere did you attend Medical School?
A.T. Still University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona Community campus: Renton, WAWhy did you choose PTHA?
PTHA has a great mix of things I really cared about in a residency- a warm welcoming community clinic, a large hospital to soak up all the knowledge, opportunities to gain rural experience, ability to grow my OMM skills, and a team that will allow me to grow as a provider and person. Also, I felt the folks at PTHA promoted the culture of understanding health and healing beyond institutional medicine, which really resonated with me.What are your interests?
In medicine, I am interested in OMM, obstetrics, lifestyle medicine and practicing in a rural environment. Outside of medicine, I like to cook and pretend I am a member of the Bon Appetit test kitchen, have dance offs with anyone willing to lose, nerd out about painting and art theory, and see live music (hopefully that isn’t just a distant memory of the past).What are some fun facts about you?
I have a fine art degree in painting and drawing and a few of my favorite artists are Richard Tuttle, Jessica Stockholder, Phillip Guston and Joan Mitchell. Art and medicine are very unique, however one commonality that I am drawn to in both fields is the physicality of the work. I once dined with Michelle and Barack Obama… well I once dined at the same restaurant as them in Honolulu during the holidays and FORMER (but forever in my heart) PRESIDENT OBAMA WALKED RIGHT PAST ME!Daniel O’Bryan, DO
Where are you originally from?
St. Louis, MOUndergraduate College:
Maryville University of St. LouisWhere did you attend Medical School?
Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic MedicineWhy did you choose PTHA?
I choose PTHA for the ability to train in a similar size hospital as my surgical training hospital. I also was looking for a primary care program that had unopposed training. The program has shown that education to their residents is key. I also wanted to strengthen my osteopathic skills and PTHA has the tools that would allow this. The idea of training in an environment that also allows me to learn more about Native Americans is very unique and exciting to me.What are your interests?
My medical interests include being part of an outpatient clinic with the opportunity to work within the community and at local hospitals. I enjoy any hands-on medicine for example OMM and bedside/minor procedures. I would also be interested in substance abuse or sleep medicine. Outside of medicine I enjoy many things. Creating has to be one of my favorite past times, this includes cooking, DIY projects, baking, piano, gardening and more. I also enjoy being part of groups, whether it is my Kickball group or just a group to hang out and grab some dinner. I love any type of games from board games to puzzles to computer games. I’m a big movie and music fan as well, but I would say most people are!What are some fun facts about you?
My dog gets too much attention and has more beds than she is “years old”. I never had an animal until 2nd year of medical school. Business was my first career; medicine was is my second and final career where I started out as a surgery resident and have since transitioned into family medicine. I forced myself to start drinking coffee 1st year of medical school, prior to that I couldn’t tolerate the taste of coffee. I always try to go, do, or experience something new every year of my life.Yuina Satoh, DO
