Christine Fung, MD
Medical School: The Ohio State University

I am originally from Ohio and attended The Ohio State University for undergrad and medical school. Since I matched at UC Irvine for residency, I have been enjoying the great food, beautiful weather, and awesome nature parks, hiking, and beaches. My residency training was hard but gratifying, and I have been rewarded with strong clinical skills and eternal friendships. By completing a chief year, I could bring new ideas to the residency curriculum as well as continue mentoring and working with residents. Outside of work, I enjoy traveling with my husband and toddler, visiting new parks, and trying delicious food. 

Lindsey Hendricks, MD
Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University

I’m originally from Wisconsin and a big fan of cheese. I couples matched out to UC Irvine and was thrilled to be in a location with ample access to the outdoors. My residency was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences through the pandemic. I made lifelong friends and grew as a physician and educator.  I decided to do a chief year to gain more experience in teaching and mentoring trainees and I’ve loved my time. 

Neil Jariwalla, MD
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin

I grew up in the Bay Area and completed medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin before returning to sunny California for residency. The support and guidance I received from my program directors, faculty, co-residents, and chief residents during my time at UCI combined with my passion for teaching motivated me to pursue a chief year. Mentoring the next group of UCI residents has been incredibly fulfilling and rewarding for me. In my free time I enjoy bowling, watching the NHL, eating delicious food, and hanging out with my residency friends (especially my seniors). 

Samuel Ji, DO
Medical School: Touro University California

My time at UC Irvine was overall really great – there was a genuine sense of community and camaraderie among my co-residents, attendings, and overall hospital environment. From the great environment I could have a great deal of both personal and professional growth, and I felt like I became a strong physician while having quality time with my wife and two kids. I wanted to do chief year to improve our residency and resident wellness through quality improvement and being a leader and resource for the residents. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, barbecuing, and exercising.  

Matthew King, MD
Medical School: Boston University

Originally from Northern California, I attended medical school in Boston and knew I wanted to complete residency in Southern California. UCI Health’s position as both an academic medical center and a community safety net hospital was very appealing to me as I felt this model would provide me with a rigorous and well-rounded experience. My motivations for pursuing a chief year were two-fold: to cement a strong foundation in Internal Medicine before pursuing advanced training and to continue building my leadership and education skill-sets. I was so pleased with my time here that I chose to complete a Cardiology fellowship at UCI. In my free time I enjoy rock climbing, weightlifting, cycling, baking, trying new cuisines and traveling.

Megan MacDougall, DO
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences

I grew up in the suburbs of LA, attended college at NYU, and moved back to California for medical school at Western University. UC Irvine was everything I wanted in a program: an academic medical center, excellent fellowship matches, and an unbeatable location. The part of my training that I am most fond of was the lifelong friendships I made during my training. Whether it was bonding over Thai food during night float, relying on their unwavering support while working in the ICU during the COVID pandemic, or catching up with my cohort during our golden weekends, these experiences shaped me into the physician I am today, and I am eternally grateful for these memories. As a resident, I noticed how faculty and chief residents never stopped trying to improve our program. Inspired by their dedication, I chose to be a chief resident to continue their legacy of advocating for residents. I wanted the opportunity to contribute to the advancement of medical education and patient care at UC Irvine and our training sites. In my free time, I enjoy reading op eds, pilates, and hanging out with my elderly cat Gladys.  

Peter Nguyen, MD
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School

I was born and raised in Orange County and was thrilled to come back to UCI for residency. I loved meeting everyone at UCI including my awesome co-residents, faculty, and mentors. Everyone has been influential in my growth and helped me achieve my goals. I loved mentoring new interns and supporting their career. I decided to do a chief year to find creative solutions to our residents’ problems. I also spent this year highlighting and showcasing what UCI and Orange County have to offer, including our beautiful beaches and food scene! Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my wife, daughter, and cats, playing video games, and eating yummy food.