PGY-1
Nick Berg
I am colorblind
Hometown: Mount Horeb, WI
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin - La Crosse
Medical School: Rocky Vista University - Utah
Hobbies: Rock climbing, snowboarding, biking, video games, guitar
Pets: Cat (Raerae)
If Not ER: Surgery or Family Medicine
If Not a Doctor: Astronaut
Favorite Band: Creed
Favorite Book: A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bill Bryson)
Best Star Wars Character: Chewbacca
Favorite Sports Team: Green Bay Packers
Best of Palm Springs: Exploring the outdoors
Worst of Palm Springs: The heat!
Stephanie Caro
I was an Emo kid in high school
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergrad: UC Santa Barbara
Medical School: California University of Science and Medicine
Hobbies: Competitive napping, hiking, reading, board games and vido games
Pets: Mila the Torby
If Not ER: Surgery, Anesthesia
If Not a Doctor: Veterinary medicine
Favorite Band: One Ok Rock
Favorite Book: The Kite Runner
Best Star Wars Character: Cassian Andor
Favorite Sports Team: LA Lakers, San Diego Padres
Best of Palm Springs: Driving distance to the moutains, beach, etc.
Worst of Palm Springs: Heat/weather
Joshua Cortez
I have a dual citizenship in Mexico, pero no hablo espanol bien
Hometown: Temecula, CA
Undergrad: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Medical School: Kansas City University
Hobbies: Coaching wrestling, working out, golfing
Pets: 2 golden doodles (Oliver and Clifford)
If Not ER: PM&R
If Not a Doctor: Lawyer
Favorite Band: Simple Plan
Favorite Book: Looking for one
Best Star Wars Character: Luke Skywalker
Favorite Sports Team: Eagles
Best of Palm Springs: Great weather for pools and patio beverages
Worst of Palm Springs: Not looking forward to the electricity bill
Alexis de Lacy
I won my 5th grade class D.A.R.E. medal
Hometown: Edmonds, WA
Undergrad: University of Washington (Go Dawgs!)
Medical School: Western University COMP-NW
Hobbies: Powerlifting, dancing, cheerleading, getting into canyoneering and canyoning
Pets: Kitty named Isla
If Not ER: OB/GYN or General Surgery
If Not a Doctor: High school biology teacher and cheer coach
Favorite Band: Goth Babe, Purity Ring
Favorite Book: Water for Elephants
Best Star Wars Character: Chewbacca
Favorite Sports Team: UW Huskies Football
Best of Palm Springs: Being a 2 hour drive or flight away from family, outdoor activities
Worst of Palm Springs: Scorpions and big spiders
Derek Fish
In undergrad I spent a month in the Bahamas studying marine biology
Hometown: Graham, WA
Undergrad: Pacific Lutheran University
Medical School: Pacific Northwest University
Pets: Arista the cat
Hobbies: Adventures with the family and baseball
If Not ER: Pulmonary/Critical Care
If Not a Doctor: Firefighter
Favorite Band: Rise Against
Favorite Book: When the Air Hits Your Brain
Best Star Wars Character: R2-D2
Favorite Sports Team: Los Angeles Angels
Best of Palm Springs: Sun year round and a great little community
Worst of Palm Springs: Summer heat!
Morgan Ford
I'm a pretty good whistler
Hometown: Lindstrom, MN
Undergrad: University of St. Thomas, St. Paul MN
Medical School: A.T. Still University - Kirksville
Hobbies: Reading, playing video games, roller blading, hanging out with my dog
Pets: A corgi, two cats and a frog
If Not ER: Family Medicine
If Not a Doctor: Paramedic
Favorite Band: Radiohead
Favorite Book: Slaughterhouse-Five or Jane Eyre
Best Star Wars Character: Gonk Droid
Favorite Sports Team: None
Best of Palm Springs: Super excited to work with a diverse patient population
Worst of Palm Springs: Not excited about the AC bill
Katerina Hitchcock
I love love love old people
Hometown: Temecula, CA
Undergrad: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Medical School: Kansas City University
Hobbies: Thrifting, baking sourdough bread, walking everywhere, dancing at bars
Pets: 8 yr Goldendoodle (Oliver), 4 yr old Goldendoodle (Clifford)
If Not ER: Derm
If Not a Doctor: Own a Greek bakery and coffee shop
Favorite Band: John Mayer
Favorite Book: Endless Forms Most Beautiful
Best Star Wars Character: Anakin
Favorite Sports Team: KC Chiefs
Best of Palm Springs: Always something to do
Worst of Palm Springs: AC bill
Cassidy Kotselas
I adopted my cat 8 years ago in Palm Springs. Now he's coming home!
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergrad: Creighton University
Medical School: Rocky Vista University
Hobbies: Hiking, suba diving, making sourdough bread
Pets: Tiger Lily
If Not ER: OB/GYN
If Not a Doctor: Underwater wildlife photographer or Lonely Planet writer
Favorite Band: KC & the Sunshine Band
Favorite Book: My Family and Other Animals
Best Star Wars Character: Jar Jar Binx
Favorite Sports Team: Denver Nuggets
Best of Palm Springs: Location
Worst of Palm Springs: It gets a little toasty
Hope Luker
A recovering shopaholic (thrift shopping doesn't count)
Hometown: Evanstown, IN
Undergrad: IUPUI and Utah Valley Univrsity
Medical School: Western University COMP
Hobbies: Rock climbing, thrift shopping, doggie hikes, instruments
Pets: 2 doggies Chester and Benny (they got 1st place in the doggie division in 2024 5K in PS)
If Not ER: Family Medicine
If Not a Doctor: High school science teacher
Favorite Band: Glass Animals
Favorite Book: Harry Potter
Best Star Wars Character: Baby Yoda
Favorite Sports Team: Whatever team my husband is rooting for at the time (usually the Utah Jazz)
Best of Palm Springs: The people I meet and the relationships/friendships
Worst of Palm Springs: Finishing residency and having to say goodbye to those people
Joel Smith
I hate pickles but love relish
Hometown: Everett, WA
Undergrad: Cal Poly San Luis Obispo
Medical School: University of Washington
Hobbies: Skiing, cooking, strategy games
Pets: Milton (Goldendoodle)
If Not ER: Internal Medicine
If Not a Doctor: Engineer
Favorite Band: St. Lucia
Favorite Book: Dune
Best Star Wars Character: R2-D2
Favorite Sports Team: UW Football or Seattle Kraken
Best of Palm Springs: The people and the weather
Worst of Palm Springs: Desert critters/bugs