Fellows
Class of 2025
Arjun Patel, MD
Arjun Patel, MD
HOMETOWN: Saratoga, CA United States
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: University of California, Riverside
MEDICAL SCHOOL: M.S. Ramaiah Medical College
ABOUT ME: Sports have been a cornerstone of my life, starting with my family’s apparel business, which fostered my early passion for athletics. Immersed in the vibrant world of sports clothing, I developed a joy in the community that the competition of sports provided. Now, as a physician specializing in Sports Medicine, I am dedicated to helping people regain their mobility and improve their overall well-being to be their best selves on and off the field.
My experiences, from playing collegiate badminton to treating patients, have solidified my belief in the power of movement as a tool for both physical and mental health. My goal is to enable others to experience the joy and community that come with an active lifestyle.
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: During the COVID-19 pandemic, I collaborated with the Pulmonology team at UCSD to research inflammatory markers in patients afflicted by the virus. This work was key in understanding the immune response to COVID-19. During this period, I co-authored and published several articles highlighting our findings and their implications for patient care and treatment strategies.
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH: I chose Eisenhower because during my away rotation, I found that the patients there are deeply committed to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. They consistently strive to incorporate mobility and physical activity into their daily routines, which significantly contributes to their overall well-being and mental health.
Daniel Rochin, MD
Daniel Rochin, MD
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles, CA United States
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: Pierce College
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Wroclaw Medical University, PL
ABOUT ME: I’m a physician who believes exercise is the most important prescription.
Here’s my story:
I grew up in a single parent household in Los Angeles, California. Playing and coaching volleyball was my first passion, along with leading a healthy lifestyle doing crossfit, krav maga and cross-country running.
I dropped out of college to start medical school in Poland at 18 years old, completing the 6 year program at 24 years old I then transitioned back to the US beginning in Philadelphia. Without a credit score or savings I began working various jobs in the healthcare industry ranging from scribe to medical assistant, office manager, phlebotomist and pharmacy assistant to save up to apply to residency.
During this time I picked up Brazilian Jiu jitsu. I met my wife and moved to California, where I went unmatched for residency! Not to be deterred I decided to triple down and make myself a better applicant. Happily I matched the following year, and it’s only been up from there.
I am now starting my top-choice California sports medicine fellowship. I’m a purple belt in Jiu jitsu at Coachella Valley Judo and BJJ. As my journey continues, I find the greatest joy in working with athletes and hobbyists. I’m dedicated to getting people back to doing what they love.
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: Self published a book of primary & urgent care templates for faster documentation and a higher standard of care. Clinic Companion: Essential Templates for Primary Care.
Poster presentations:
- Neck Bumps! Are You Stumped?
- Shoulder Struggle: A jiu-jitsu sideline story
- The Lifestyle Cure for Diabetes Type 2
- Non-pharmacological Techniques to Triple Testosterone
- From Knee Pain to Wrestling Champion
- Hip Hope: Navigating Non-Surgical Paths In Hip Pain Management For The Elderly
Live presentations:
- Musculoskeletal POCUS for Family Medicine
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH: Eisenhower is top notch. Dr. Steele is a great mentor and having lived here before, I’ve heard praise of him for years – so I’ve always wanted to work with him. My wife wanted to surf and I wanted amazing lectures, so being in San Diego for weekly didactics was an easy choice as well! The weather is great here, there are plenty of events, affordable housing and we also love the small town feel of Palm Desert & Rancho Mirage. It’s helpful that my mother lives 3 minutes from the hospital too. Looking forward to a great year!
Class of 2024
Sunny Brahmbhatt, MD
Sunny Brahmbhatt, MD
Sports Medicine Fellow
Sports Medicine Fellowship
HOMETOWN: Chesapeake Virginia United States
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: N/A
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Medical University of Lublin
ABOUT ME: I was born in Jersey City, NJ and raised in Chesapeake, VA. After finishing high school, I went to the Medical University of Lublin. Throughout my time in Medical School and Residency, my passion for Sports Medicine grew, and I was privileged to gain an opportunity to come to Eisenhower for my Sports Medicine Fellowship. As someone who has family and friends in the Southern California region, it was a unique opportunity to be closer to loved ones as well. My hobbies include volunteering, traveling with my amazing wife, working out, cooking, reading, and just spending time with my wonderful family and friends!
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: My academic highlights are rooted in the sacrifices my family made to give me this opportunity. My parents worked very hard to afford me the opportunities I was able to take advantage of. Along with my wife, they helped push me from being a med student, to becoming a Resident then becoming the Chief Resident at my program. I intend to combine primary care and sports medicine to benefit my patients and community as a whole.
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH? I chose Eisenhower Health after seeing the positive culture, amazing staff and faculty, combined with the unique, wide variety of experiences provided. I also saw how they put the patient first, which aligns with my values. I hope to use the skills gained in helping people live an active, fulfilling life and being the best physician possible.
Devak Patel, DO
Devak Patel, DO
Sports Medicine Fellow
Sports Medicine Fellowship
HOMETOWN: Shawnee Kansas United States
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: Rockhurst University
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Kansas City University
ABOUT ME: I was born and raised in Shawnee, Kansas. I then went to call Kansas City my home for the next several years while spending my time in undergrad and medical school. I then went on to move to rural southeastern Oklahoma for my family medicine residency. While there, I came to an appreciation for rural America and how much of an impact we can have on the rural population. While I am not sure if I will return to a rural area, I will always remember my experiences and how they shaped my view of medicine. Being a Kansas City native, I have a deep rooted fandom of the Kansas City sports, including the Chiefs, Royals, and Sporting KC (MLS). I love to spend my free time exploring different areas near to me, and trying new restaurants. I also enjoy spending an afternoon playing disc golf or reading a book by my favorite author, Clive Cussler. I consider myself somewhat of an extrovert, and love to socialize with friends, family, or colleagues.
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: While in medical school I chose to obtain a Masters of Business Administration.
WHY EISENHOWER? I chose to pursue a sports medicine fellowship at Eisenhower Health because of the wide breath of experiences pared with a very robust training program. In addition, culture at Eisenhower is very welcoming and friendly. I also feel the faculty and staff are very supportive and invested in the everyone. Training at Eisenhower also allows me to network with colleagues in the surrounding area. I am very excited for my experience here at Eisenhower and look forward to working with everyone!
Class of 2023
Cesar Abdul-Massih, MD
Cesar Abdul-Massih, MD
HOMETOWN: San Francisco, CA
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: University of California, Davis
ABOUT ME: Growing up in San Francisco, I loved playing sports and rooting for my local teams. During my medical training, I truly enjoyed treating musculoskeletal injuries and covering sporting events, leading me to Sports Medicine! I love playing basketball and volleyball, traveling, eating amazing food, and spending time with family and friends.
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: Reaching this point in my training to where I am able to purse a career which I truly enjoy is a tribute to my mother’s support, sacrifice, and inspiration as war stripped her of the opportunity to achieve her own academic goals. Every step I take towards achieving my career goals has been an academic highlight for both myself and my mom, and I am grateful for this.
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH? The clinical training, educational opportunities, supportive faculty, and the friendly culture all drew me to Eisenhower. After my interview, I knew this was where I want to pursue Sports Medicine training. I am excited and grateful to be part of Eisenhower.
Alex Casey, MD
Alex Casey, MD
HOMETOWN: La Habra, CA
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: California State University at Monterey Bay
ABOUT ME: I’m a Southern California native and enjoy experiencing everything Southern California has to offer, whether it is hitting bombs at the golf course or finding new trails to hike and explore. I also love spending time with my family, dog, and two cats. On any given weekend, you can find me trying out a new local restaurant or catching up on my favorite Netflix shows.
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: I enjoy the crossover between sports medicine, primary care, and the health of the community at large. I am particularly interested in how exercise and healthy living can impact such chronic health conditions as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and addiction.
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH? I chose Eisenhower Health for my sports medicine fellowship because I can gain experience in all levels of athletics, from high school to college to the professional level. I felt a good connection during my interview, and I am now excited to continue practicing medicine in Southern California.
Class of 2022
Melissa Burman, MD
Melissa Burman, MD
HOMETOWN: Chandler, AZ
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: Arizona State University
MEDICAL SCHOOL: University of Medicine and Health Sciences
ABOUT ME: I grew up in the desert of Arizona, racing BMX and mountain bikes at an early age that later became a professional cycling career. I studied Kinesiology at Arizona State University while racing competitively. After retiring from competitive cycling, I went to Medical School at University of Medicine and Health Sciences in St. Kitts to earn my MD, and Internal Medicine residency at Northside Hospital in Lawrenceville, Georgia. With a background in sports and kinesiology and a love for musculoskeletal medicine, Sports Medicine has always been a dream. In my free time, I love staying active and traveling. I enjoy hiking, biking, camping, cooking, yoga and time with my family.
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH? I chose Eisenhower for many reasons, one of them being their reputation within the medical community, but also the reputation of the leadership within the Fellowship’s program. I felt a good connection with the team after my interview and felt what was being taught was in line with how I want to practice. Growing up in the Sonoran desert, I was also excited to return to the West.
Robert Hernandez, MD
Robert Hernandez, MD
Sports Medicine Fellow
HOMETOWN: Santa Ana, CA
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: University of California, San Diego
MEDICAL SCHOOL: University of Illinois College of Medicine
ABOUT ME: Born and raised in Southern California, I easily fell in love with sports at a very young age. I have a tremendous passion for competitive sports at all levels, mentoring at-risk youth, weight training, hiking and BBQing with family
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: Becoming a first-generation college graduate and the first physician in our family.
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH? The culture at Eisenhower is unlike any other. The level of teaching, endless support from faculty and opportunities for mentorship are first-class. Words can’t express how grateful I am to train here in this environment.
Class of 2021
Andrew Nguyen, DO
Andrew Nguyen, DO
Sports Medicine Fellow
HOMETOWN: Rowland Heights, CA / SF Bay Area
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: University of California, Berkeley
MEDICAL SCHOOL: Touro University – California
ABOUT ME: I am a California boy, born and raised. I enjoy spending time with my wife. We enjoy cooking, watching our favorite shows, seeing live music and traveling.
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: Finishing residency and starting fellowship.
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH? I completed my family medicine residency here and really enjoyed my training. Also, Coachella and the BNP Paribas Open.
Xingzi Shangguan, MD
Xingzi Shangguan, MD
Sports Medicine Fellow
HOMETOWN: Lake Oswego, Oregon
UNDERGRADUATE SCHOOL: Vassar College
MEDICAL SCHOOL: St. George’s University
ABOUT ME: I like hanging out with friends, working out, traveling, cooking new recipes and making baked goods. I also enjoy trying out new restaurants and covering sports games.
ACADEMIC HIGHLIGHT: I recently published a book chapter on meniscal tears.
WHY EISENHOWER HEALTH? It is an academic center with a lot of resources that cares about their residents and fellows. During my interview the staff were all friendly and knowledgeable.
Class of 2020
Jeffrey Chen, DO
Geoffrey Lange, DO
Class of 2019
Ernest Kim, MD
William Ward, MD
Class of 2018
James Ritchey, MD
Bishoy Wassef, MD
Class of 2017
Rajiv Tailor, MD
Class of 2016
