Peer Support Ambassadors 2026-2027
Sabreen Aulakh, MD (Neonatology)
Hi, I'm Sabreen! I was born and raised in San Jose, California, and am currently a Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellow. I truly could not have made it through training without my support system or my co-trainees. The shared experience of this difficult yet rewarding journey creates a bond unlike any other, and building community has carried me through both the hardest and most joyful moments. As a Peer Support Ambassador, I hope to continue prioritizing connection while we process the highs and lows of training together. During my free time, I love going to reggaeton concerts, trying new boba spots, planning tropical getaways, and watching reality shows.
Brandon K.K. Fields, MD (Musculoskeletal Imaging)
Hi, I’m Brandon! I am a Musculoskeletal Imaging Fellow in Diagnostic Radiology. I matched into Diagnostic Radiology at UCSF in 2020 and have been in the Bay Area since 2022. I was inspired to become a GME Peer Support Ambassador because, over the years, I have increasingly recognized the importance of intentionally balancing life in medicine with life outside of medicine. We delay many life milestones to do what we do, and the demands of training can make it easy to forget to slow down, look around, and prioritize the people and experiences that matter most to us.
I hope to support my colleagues in maintaining perspective and remembering the lasting and fulfilling parts of life beyond our work – the interpersonal relationships we value, the important life events that can become so easy to miss when we are frequently on call or simply exhausted, and the importance of being both professionally fulfilled and personally well.
I also hope to create a welcoming space for conversation, whether that means talking through challenges in training, navigating life transitions, or simply stepping out of the reading room (yes, we do occasionally come out of the dark room!) and having a nice chat.
Dev Gingrich, MD (Pediatrics)
I am a pediatrics resident who is routinely struck by the transformative and emotionally complex nature of medical training. I became a Peer Support Ambassador because I believe that some of the most meaningful parts of this experience happen when we make space to reflect together, to share our experiences honestly, and to remind one another that we are not alone in the challenges and joys of this work.
I hope to offer my peers a safe and welcoming space to process the ups, downs (and sideways) of residency, explore deeper meaning in this work, and build connections across the wider GME community. As a former farmer and garden educator, my own path to medicine has been shaped by interests in health equity, environmental health, and the ways in which our communities and environments shape well-being. I am drawn to the narratives we construct during this process and the ways we further define and connect to our values as we grow into the physicians we seek to become.
Outside the hospital, you can usually find me outdoors on a run, taking care of plants, and sharing meals with the people I love.
Emily Hacker, MD (Urology)
I'm a fifth-year urology resident interested in genitourinary reconstruction. I grew up in Oregon, went to undergrad at McGill, and worked as an ICU nurse for a few years before heading to Pittsburgh for med school. Supporting my peers through the challenges of training and work in medicine has always been a high priority for me. I have navigated firsthand the emotional and moral distress that comes with trying to care for patients in our current medical system. Processing the second-hand trauma is critical to our ability to care for patients and ourselves along the way and I look forward to trying to help others do the same. Outside of work I am a serial hobbyist who loves to try new things. Most of the time you'll find me out on the trails exploring SF with my partner and my dog Layla.
Sophie Jin, MD, MPH (Occupational and Environmental Medicine)
I am a fellow in Occupational and Environmental Medicine. Before coming to UCSF, I completed a residency in Emergency Medicine at York Hospital during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and worked in Baltimore City.
I'm interested in the prevention and mitigation of environmental health impacts among vulnerable populations, especially in the context of climate change. I love to explore nature, eat food with friends, and cuddle my cat.
As a peer ambassador, I look forward to supporting physician well-being, particularly around holding the hard stories and encounters of patient care as well as navigating burnout and queer BIPOC identities in medicine.
Emily Kaplan, MD (Internal Medicine)
I am a second-year Internal Medicine resident with a passion for addressing the psychosocial barriers that shape health outcomes. As a queer physician, I am also dedicated to creating affirming spaces for patients from marginalized communities. My favorite part of medicine is learning my patients’ stories and being able to offer presence and compassion, especially when there are no easy answers. I became a Peer Support Ambassador because medical training has shown me how easy it is to carry difficult experiences in silence, and the tension between appearing capable on the outside while quietly carrying the emotional weight of our work. We spend our days helping patients and their loved ones navigate fear, grief, uncertainty, and loss, yet often struggle to make space for our own emotional lives. My hope is to help create a culture where physicians feel comfortable reaching out to one another, processing the experiences that shape us, and remembering that we were never meant to do this work alone. Outside of the hospital, you'll usually find me running to Ocean Beach, people watching at a neighborhood cafe with a good book and something sweet, or spending time with friends.
Matthew Rodriguez, MD (Family & Community Medicine)
I am a second-year Family & Community Medicine Resident. I am interested in addressing health disparities in the Filipino and AANHPI community, care for individuals who are unhoused, immigrant and refugee health, LGBTQ+ health, reproductive care, and community health. As a child of immigrants, I feel the immense responsibility of being the first in the multiple domains that comes with being first generation. The pressure and expectations of being the representation for the community and paving the way for those who are underrepresented are experiences I relate to. I’m looking forward to supporting my peers through these feelings and any additional challenges that come with a career in medicine.
For my wellness, you can find me cooking my favorite Filipino foods, shopping at gift stores, playing the clarinet, trying different coffee shops, or photographing my plate at good foodie spots.
Krystal Straessler, MD (Radiation Oncology)
I'm a PGY-5 Radiation Oncology resident at UCSF. Prior to residency I completed an PhD in Human Genetics and my MD at the University of Utah. I grew up in Arizona and have lived in Utah and the Bay Area during different stages of my education and training. Outside of work, I'm a mother who enjoys running, hiking, reading, and spending time outdoors with my family. One of the things I value most about residency is the community that develops through shared experiences. I've come to appreciate how meaningful it can be to have a trusted colleague who will listen without judgment after a difficult clinical experience or during challenging personal or professional moments. I am honored to serve as a GME Peer Support Ambassador and hope to provide a confidential, supportive resource for fellow residents and trainees.
Clark Williamson, MD, MPH (Internal Medicine)
Hi, I’m Clark! I’m an internal medicine resident in the UCSF Primary Care Track. Before residency, I earned an MPH at Harvard T.H. Chan and worked in population health consulting—experiences that taught me to see physician well-being as a structural concern, not just an individual one.
I joined the Peer Support Ambassador program because I know how hard it can be to ask for help in a culture that prizes self-sufficiency, and I believe honest conversation is one of the most meaningful things we can offer each other during training.
Outside of work, you’ll find me exploring San Francisco’s restaurants, running through Golden Gate Park, or planning the next trip.
Woodi Woodland, MD (Otolaryngology)
Hi, I am one of the third-year ear, nose, and throat residents! I am originally from Fairfax, Va but moved to Tennessee as a teenager. I moved to California for residency and have been loving getting to know my new city throughout my time here. As someone who moved here after only visiting once, I remember those first few months settling in — trying to adjust to long work hours with family unreachable due to time differences, while also learning not only my new role but also my coworkers. In this ambassador role, I am looking forward to connecting with those who have had similar experiences, while also offering thoughtful insight into how different my experience is now compared to when I first started. As a surgical resident, I look forward to providing a broad range of mentorship across trainees given the breadth of our field and experiences. As a head and neck trainee, I feel comfortable sharing in the grief of managing an unfortunate patient outcome, the joy of tackling one's first case as a primary surgeon, the learning curve of managing the floor, and the art of communicating with consultants. I find strength in community and am honored to continue strengthening the UCSF community and trainee wellbeing by serving as an ambassador.
Lisa Young, MD (Anesthesiology)
I am a PGY-2 resident in the anesthesiology department. My interest in the peer support ambassador program began during my first year of residency. Before starting my intern year, one of my mentors told me, "Medicine is like air; if you're not careful, it can take up everything in your life." I did not realize how true this was until I experienced this myself. During this period, I was fortunate to have friends, family, and mentors who were willing to let me vent and also give me gentle but constructive advice. Eventually, I was able to share this same support and advice with others. This experience helped me understand that as we do our best to learn and grow, so many of us are inwardly struggling with doubts, stress, and work-life balance. I want to be a listening ear for anyone who needs it. Outside of residency, I enjoy running, hiking, and spending time with friends and family.
Anna Zhao, MD (Surgery)
I am a general surgery resident at UCSF. I was previously a high school teacher but felt drawn to medicine to empower kids to have the basic health and tools to thrive in the rest of their lives. I initially wanted to pursue pediatrics, but fell in love with surgery during medical school. I love that as surgeons we can offer a concrete solution that we can enact with our own hands to improve patients' lives. I strive to maintain that optimism throughout the ups and downs of residency and firmly believe that a balanced life outside of residency is the key to success in a stressful, demanding profession. Outside of the hospital, I'm pet-mom to a one year old golden retriever (demon) and a beautiful tuxedo cat (princess), which wouldn't be possible without my wonderful partner. I also love to read, hike around the Bay, and enjoy the amazing food and brews in the region. Come talk to me about not being a morning person in a 24-7 job, finding ways to sneak in sunlight during the day, being an Asian American woman in healthcare, or where to get the best dumplings in town.
