Meet the Program Leadership Team
Dear Applicant:
It is a pleasure to welcome you to the website of the Pediatric Residency Program in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Washington School of Medicine and Seattle Children's Hospital in Seattle. I hope it will be helpful to you as you consider Pediatric residency programs.
The faculty in the Department of Pediatrics and our two supporting institutions consider our graduate medical education program to be one of our highest priorities. The Department of Pediatrics includes more than 650 academic faculty members. Many of them are national leaders within their individual specialty field. We additionally have another 600 affiliate faculty members that partner with us in our educational mission.
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The mission of our residency program is to help each individual resident achieve their personal career goals and to develop a foundation for a successful and rewarding career in pediatrics. Our department, along with the University of Washington, is recognized in excellence for our primary care, academic programs, and work to address health equity, racism and bias in the profession and practice of pediatric medicine.
The unique regional resident rotation in community practices in Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, and Idaho (WWAMI) regions provides a significant contribution to this recognition. It allows our residents to understand the importance of place and community in providing the best care to children in rural settings.
The department also is among the leaders in pediatric research with well over $231 million of research awards to the department faculty annually. Over the past two decades, approximately half of our residents have pursued careers in community-based pediatrics, while the remainder have continued with academic subspecialty training.
We have many outstanding fellowship programs with more than 60 fellows currently in training and believe this diversity of career interests enriches the training environment for all of us.
Seattle Children's Hospital, the site of our inpatient and much of the subspecialty clinical care, is one of the most progressive children's hospitals in the United States.
The hospital, its leadership administration, and board of trustees have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to the Pediatric Residency Program and an unwavering commitment to providing outstanding, equitable, appropriate, and accessible health care to all children throughout the Northwest. We are the only comprehensive tertiary academic pediatric facility for the WWAMI region, and we provide care for a wonderfully diverse and interesting group of children, adolescents, and their families.
I hope that you will consider applying to our program. We would like to introduce you to the faculty and our incredible house staff, as well as to the beautiful Pacific Northwest and the dynamic international city of Seattle.
Sincerely,
Leslie R. Walker-Harding, MD
Ford Morgan Endowed Chair, Department of Pediatrics; Associate Dean, University of Washington School of Medicine
SVP, Chief Academic Officer, Seattle Children’s Hospital
Executive Leadership
Alissa Darden, MD
Alissa Darden, MD, (she/her) is the Pediatric Residency Program Director. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hospital Medicine. She has a passion for residency education and has dedicated her career to mentoring and nurturing the next generation of pediatricians. Her educational interests, outside of graduate medical education, include recruitment practices, feedback/evaluation, work/life integration and Equity/Diversity/Inclusion Initiatives. Outside of her professional responsibilities, she enjoys watching sports, playing basketball, exploring the local foodie scene, seeking adventure in the Pacific Northwest, and spending time with her husband and two children.
Sabreen Akhter, DO
Sabreen Akhter, DO, (she/her) is a pediatric emergency physician and Associate Professor of Pediatrics. She has been active in leading efforts to center equity, justice, and anti-racism in her work through directing the pediatric residency’s Health Equity Track (HET), the UW School of Medicine's Community-focused Urban Scholars program (CUSP) for students, as well as leading efforts focused on improving equity within the Division of Emergency Medicine. She is interested in narrative writing and using storytelling for advocacy and has been published in various national publications. She loves excellent words, art, nature, food, bad television, and spending time with her family and community.
Hannah Deming, MD
Hannah Deming, MD, (she/her) is an Associate Program Director and Director of Residency Recruitment. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Bioethics & Palliative Care at the University of Washington. She is passionate about medical education, focusing on communication skills and supporting residents around hard clinical events and the challenges of medical training. Clinically, Hannah spends her time on the inpatient pediatric palliative care team and the neurodevelopment clinic at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She strives to empower and advocate for all families navigating serious illness or medical complexity. Outside of work, Hannah enjoys exploring Seattle’s playgrounds with her two children, trying new restaurants, and traveling.
Elena Griego, MD
Elena Griego, MD, (she/her) joined as an Associate Program Director in 2020. She is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at the University of Washington. She is passionate about partnering with residents in clinical and non-clinical settings and uses these experiences to promote curriculum and faculty development focused on improving teaching and assessment in the clinical setting. Clinically, she spends her time caring for hospitalized children at Seattle Children’s Hospital and strives to ensure every patient and family receives timely and equitable care throughout their hospitalization. Outside of work, she enjoys attending local sporting events (Sounders, Seahawks, etc.), spending time on (or near) the water, cooking for friends, discovering new dog parks with her pandemic puppy Zia, and exploring the food scene in Seattle.
Mollie Grow, MD, MPH
Mollie Grow, MD, MPH, (she/her) is an Associate Program Director, Director of the Continuity Clinics, and is faculty with the REACH Advocacy Pathway. She is a Professor of Pediatrics and general pediatrician in the Division of General Pediatrics at UW. She is passionate about providing general outpatient pediatric care for all ages at the UW Roosevelt Pediatric Care Center and supporting families at the UW Newborn Nursery. She also mentors and teaches medical students and previously served as faculty in the UW School of Medicine Colleges program. Her interests include addressing health equity and reducing disparities through advocacy, early childhood relationships, and equity, diversity, and inclusion in care. She loves working with residents to discern their own path and find fulfillment in their pediatric careers. As a Washingtonian since age 4, she spent 10 years on the East Coast before returning home for residency at UW. You can find her with her two daughters and husband biking, hiking, running, enjoying our wonderful local and national parks, and advocating for climate justice.
Fuki M. Hisama, MD
Fuki M. Hisama, MD, (she/her) has been a Genetics Program Director since 2011 and is Associate Director of the Combined Pediatrics-Medical Genetics residency. She is a Professor in the Division of Medical Genetics and Medical Director of the Genetic Medicine service at the University of Washington Medical Center. Her research interests are in rare, undiagnosed genetic diseases, progeroid syndromes, and precision medicine. She leads the UW NIH T32 postdoctoral fellowship in Medical Genetics, and has received awards for outstanding mentorship of faculty, residents, and medical students. She has served in numerous national leadership positions to advance education, clinical care, and diversity, equity and inclusion for the American Board of Medical Genetics, the American College of Medical Genetics, the American Society of Human Genetics, and the American Academy of Neurology. When she is not working, she enjoys hiking with her husband and dog, reading, and dining in Seattle restaurants.
Lilian Ho, MD
Lilian Ho, MD, (she/her) is an Associate Program Director and works primarily with the Primary Care Alaska Track. Clinically, Lilian works as a pediatric hospitalist providing care to infants and children at the Alaska Native Medical Center in Anchorage, in addition to traveling for pediatric field clinics in Kodiak and Bethel. She also instructs medical students as part of the UW School of Medicine Colleges program. Her professional interests include medical education, medical transports, and career mentorship and coaching. She is a novice skate-skier, intermediate sourdough bread baker, and indoor plant and vegetable gardener. She spends most of her free time photographing adventures with her goldendoodle, Roma (Instagram @alaskadood).
Abena Knight, MD
Abena Knight, MD, (she/her) is the Vice Chair of Education for the Department of Pediatrics and Clinical Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Hospital Medicine. She serves as a faculty advisor for the Residency Diversity Committee (DComm) and is the Faculty Coordinator for the funded visiting elective for students underrepresented in medicine. Her educational interests include medical education, pediatric career recruitment and advising, and cultural humility training. She enjoys mentoring and advising learners at all levels. In her spare time, she loves watching sports, enjoying local restaurants and concerts, and spending time with her family and friends.
Krystle Perez, MD, MPH
Krystle Perez, MD, MPH, (she/her) is an Associate Program Director for the Pediatric Residency Program and works clinically in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. She finds so much joy in her work: working with the tiniest, most resilient humans and their families, as well as working with and learning from the amazing residents and fellows. After growing up in Florida and training at the University of North Carolina, she somehow found her way to the unfamiliar Pacific Northwest to continue global health work. Just as she is inspired by the beautiful and diverse landscapes of the region, she finds similar inspiration from the diverse residents that she has had the distinct privilege to work alongside in the NICU. She finds it reassuring to personally know future leaders in this imperfect world. Krystle is honored to call Seattle Children’s/UW home, where colleagues with different backgrounds and experiences strive to do better and be better for newborns, children, adolescents, and families globally.
Celeste Quitiquit, MD
Celeste Quitiquit, MD, (she/her) is an Associate Program Director that supports residency recruitment. She is a Clinical Associate Professor in General Pediatrics and Sports Medicine/Orthopedics and serves as Medical Director for the Athletic Training Program. She served as a former executive resident for our program and rejoined the UW community after completing fellowships in sports medicine and medical education in 2014. Her professional interests include injury prevention, community advocacy, diversity recruitment, and implicit bias. Celeste grew up locally in South King County and now raises her family there. She loves spending time outdoors with her husband, three young children, and extended family.
Jarrad Scarlett, MD, PhD
Jarrad Scarlett, MD, PhD, (he/him) is an Associate Program Director and Director of the Research Track for the pediatric residency program. He is an Associate Professor in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology and Co-Director of the UW NIH T32 postdoctoral Gastro-Intestinal and Liver Disease Training Program. His research interests focus on gut-brain signaling in the pathogenesis of obesity and diabetes and he is a Principal Investigator in the UW Medicine Diabetes Institute. He is dedicated to training and mentoring learners at all levels including undergraduate students, medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty. When he is not in the laboratory or hospital, he enjoys outdoor activities including fishing and hiking, playing soccer, watching sports, and spending time with his wife and two children.
Amy Schumacher, MD
Amy Schumacher, MD, (she/her) serves as Associate Program Director, Alaska Track, and Medical Director of Specialty Pediatrics at the Alaska Native Medical Center. She’s been involved in the Alaska Track since the original exploratory meetings, then serving as Southcentral Foundation site director. In 2014, she started co-directing the track. She also works as liaison to the CINHS and CITC Head Start Programs and the Kusilvak Career Academy health team.
Tracy Seimears, MD, MEd
Tracy Seimears, MD, MEd, (she/her) joined as an Associate Program Director in 2022. She is an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics in the Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine at the University of Washington. She believes deeply in the power of education to develop conversations and advance health equity for patients, families, and all members who work at Seattle Children’s Hospital. She serves as the faculty advisor for Seattle Health Equity Rounds. Clinically, she enjoys providing equitable care for children who are hospitalized. Outside of work, she enjoys time outdoors with family and friends and eating all the food that Seattle has to offer. She loves kayaking and exploring the outdoors.
Richard Shugerman, MD
Richard Shugerman, MD, (he/him) has had the joy of working with pediatric residents for more than 30 years. He currently serves as the Director of the Pediatric WWAMI program, which has undeniably been one of the most distinctive and coolest parts of our residency for 50 years. Richard is passionate about helping residents and faculty to connect with their own inner wisdom to find the best answers to the questions they are trying to answer. He loves cooking, wake surfing, skiing, and spending time with family and friends. He is incredibly grateful to live in such a beautiful city, state, and region and to be part of such an amazing Department of Pediatrics.
Hannah Tully, MD, MSc
Hannah Tully, M.D., MSc, (she/her) is the Pediatric Neurology Program Director and Assistant Professor of Neurology at the University of Washington. She earned her medical degree from Duke. Her clinical interests include genetic disorders, movement disorders and brain malformations. Her research interests include the identification of genes that influence structural brain development.
Tara Wenger, MD, PhD
Tara Wenger MD, PhD, (she/her) is an Associate Program Director for our combined Peds/Genetics Track for the pediatric residency program. She is a Professor in the Division of Genetic Medicine and is the Associate Medical Director of Inpatient Genetic Services. Her research employs implementation science to improve access equity to precise genetic diagnosis in hospitalized children, as well as use of technology to improve access to genetics services. When she is not in the hospital, she enjoys spending time with her husband and four daughters, cooking, supporting University of Washington women’s sports, volunteering as an art docent for elementary school students, and paddle boarding with her Australian labradoodle.
Executive Residents
Hannah Benjamin, MD, MS
Hannah Benjamin, MD, MS, (she/her) is a Pediatric Executive Resident and Acting Instructor at the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics. Originally from San Diego, California, Hannah made her way to Stanford University where she played volleyball and completed undergrad. She moved to Colorado to complete her Masters in Anatomy and her MD degree. As a pediatric resident, Hannah was involved in the REACH pathway–Toppenish branch, QI work dedicated to improving patient sleep in the hospital, and research in medical education in the NICU. In addition to applying to neonatology fellowship this year, Hannah is passionate about serving Latinx families and communities and is currently working towards language certification. Outside of the hospital, you can find her cooking for friends and family, hosting dinner parties and pizza nights in her backyard, or exploring the outdoors with her husband, Connor, and their two pups, Winnie and River.
Victor Hsiao, MD
Victor Hsiao, MD, (he/him) is a Pediatric Executive Resident and Acting Instructor at the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics. He grew up in Seattle and graduated from Princeton with his BA in biology with minors in computer science and engineering biology. He then attended medical school at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California where he spent a year in Taiwan working with youth in the foster care and juvenile detention systems. In residency, he was involved in the Alaska Track and STREAM (Sustaining and Training for Resilience, Engagement, and Meaning), a HRSA-funded multi-site research collaborative to build multi-dimensional curriculum on topics including mental health, engagement in systems improvement, professional resilience, and joy and meaning in work. Clinically, he is passionate about using a whole-person approach in his care for patients and the delivery of primary care in underserved communities, both urban and rural.
Dilara Onur, MD, MS
Dilara Onur, MD, MS, (she/her) is a Pediatric Executive Resident and Acting Instructor at the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics. After spending her formative childhood in the Bay Area, Dilara made her way to Southern California where she completed her BS in Biology at the University of California, San Diego and Master of Science in Global Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. She then completed her MD degree at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson before making her way to the PNW for residency. Clinically, Dilara is applying into palliative care fellowship this year, and is interested in trainee wellness, medical education/mentorship, and humanism in medicine. Outside of the hospital, you can find her taking engagement and family photos, cooking/baking for friends and co-workers, and enjoying live music and sports.
Ellie Pearlman, MD, MS
Ellie Pearlman, MD, MS, (she/her) is a Pediatric Executive Resident and Acting Instructor at the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics. A proud Chicagoland native, Ellie moved east to New Hampshire for undergrad at Dartmouth College before making her way back home to obtain her master's in Engineering Design, and Innovation at Northwestern University focusing on healthcare delivery design. She then attended the Perelman School of Medicine for medical school. In residency, Ellie was a member of the Alaska Track (Fairbanks/South Central Foundation sites) and is passionate about community and primary care pediatrics. Outside of work, you’ll find her cooking pizza with her husband in their backyard, riding her bike around the city, or out hiking on the trails.
Phanith Touch, MD
Phanith Touch, MD, (he/him) is a Pediatric Executive Resident and Acting Instructor at the University of Washington Department of Pediatrics. A “UW Lifer,” Phanith has been part of the Husky family since undergrad through medical school and residency, where he was one of four inaugural pediatric residents in the Health Equity Track and active member of the Diversity Committee. He is a proud Khmer American and community organizer, serving on the board of directors of two community organizations that bridge the intergenerational gap between youth and elders, health equity work among marginalized communities in King County, and supporting the community towards realizing a dream of building a community center. Clinically, he is interested in sports medicine, where he can help young people find joy in movement and play, develop trusting relationships, and have a place in the community. Outside of work, he enjoys dreaming big, reading and being cozy, spending time outside on hikes, climbing, backpacking, board games, photography and strolling through all the aisles of Costco.
Support Staff
Scott Olson, MHA
Scott Olson (he/him) is the Residency Program Manager. He was raised in the Seattle area and completed undergraduate studies at the University of Washington. He first joined the program in 2008 as a program coordinator. During that time, Scott returned to the University of Washington to earn a Master of Health Administration. After a period managing fellowship programs in the Heart Center, Scott returned to the residency program in 2021 to fill the manager role. He is passionate about applying QI methods to make improvements in medical education, resident well-being, and health equity. Outside of work, Scott enjoys cooking, biking, and family time with his husband, their son, and foster children they have had the opportunity to care for.
Lauree Herrmann
Lauree Herrmann (she/her) serves as the Program Management Specialist. She has worked in a variety of capacities at Seattle Children’s since starting in 2010, but finds her work with the pediatric residents the most rewarding. She works extensively with the Clinical Competency Committee, intern orientation, recruitment, and day-to-day workings of the residency program. Lauree graduated from the Leadership Empowerment for Advancing Pediatric Education Specialists (LEAPES) program through the Association of Pediatric program Directors (APPD). She came to Seattle by way of North Carolina, where she graduated from Meredith College. She enjoys volunteering with cancer patients and their families, as well as exploring all that Seattle (and the great Pacific Northwest) has to offer. She has been known to design a weekend getaway for residents and would love to help you discover the Emerald City, as well.
Sean Cabanting
Sean Cabanting (he/him) is a Resident Program Scheduler. Prior to joining the team in 2022, Sean was an admin in the Pediatric Gastroenterology and Hepatology Division at Seattle Childrens. Sean grew up and lives on the Eastside of Seattle and graduated from Seattle University. He enjoys spending time with friends and family especially cooking and experiencing new cuisines with his son and daughter.
Crystal Gonzalez-Guzman
Crystal González-Guzmán (she/her) is a Pediatric Residency Coordinator. She joined GME in 2018 and served as the Intern Scheduler prior to joining the coordinator team. Crystal is involved in resident recruitment, intern retreat, special projects, and the daily operations of the residency program. She grew up between Zacatecas, México and Leavenworth, Washington before graduating from the University of Washington, Bothell. During her free time, she enjoys concerts, power lifting, cooking, and going to soccer games.
Sylvia Lago
Sylvia Lago (she/her) is the REACH (Resident Education and Advocacy for Child Health) Kisii and Toppenish Program Coordinator. She also coordinates the Community Practice (CP) rotation, handles resident grant administration, and coordinates the behavioral health curriculum. Sylvia joined GME in 2007. She is originally from the East Coast where she got her BA from Boston College and MBA from the University of Pittsburgh. She has lived in Seattle for 30 years and now considers herself a full-fledged Seattleite! In her free time Sylvia enjoys travelling the world with her husband and adult daughters, practicing her now rusty Spanish, lifting weights, and reading any and all fiction books. She is grateful for all the amazing and inspiring pediatric residents that she has crossed path with over the years and loves watching their careers flourish!
My Linh Nguyen
My Linh Nguyen (she/her) is the WWAMI Program Coordinator. As part of the residency program, all residents in their R2 year will spend 2 months working in one of our 6 WWAMI practice sites located in Bellingham, Yakima, Port Angeles, WA; Pocatello, ID; and Billings, MT. She helps to coordinate credentialing with each of these sites and will be your resource for all things related to your WWAMI rotation. In addition to this role, she works with University of Washington medical students who are completing their clinical training at Seattle Children’s. My Linh was born in Vietnam and grew up in Seattle. She has fond memories of Seattle during the grunge music scene in the 90s and early 2000s. These days, she loves baking all kinds of desserts for the office, decorating cookies, sitting quietly next to the water, and enjoying the diversity of the food scene here in the city.
Rebecca Robbins
Rebecca Robbins (she/her) is a Pediatric Residency Coordinator. She grew up in Littleton, Colorado before moving to Washington to attend the University of Puget Sound. She joined GME in 2008 and works primarily with the residency management system, MedHub, and a variety of other tasks within the program. In her free time she enjoys reading, tabletop and internet gaming, visiting Washington State parks, and riding the ferries.
Marciano Rodriguez
Marciano Rodriguez (he/him) is a Pediatric Residency Coordinator. He joined the GME in 2022 as the Health Equity Track Coordinator. In addition to his primary role, he provides support to the pediatric executive residents. He was born and raised in Nicaragua, and later moved to Seattle. He served in the United States Air Force before returning to Seattle to attend the University of Washington. Since graduating, he has worked in various healthcare administrative roles at different levels within organizations in the Seattle area. He enjoys watching the Huskies, Seahawks, and Sounders. He loves cooking, outdoor activities, and spending time with his two children and large extended family.
Amanda Soliai
Amanda Soliai (she/her) was born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska and is proud to be "Alaska Grown." She went to the University of Alaska Anchorage and graduated with a degree in Business Administration. She has had the pleasure of working with the Alaska Track for the last 12 years and loves creating new relationships and working with an adventurous group of residents in such a unique program. Outside of work, Amanda enjoys spending time with her family and trying new foods and activities. Her hobbies include fishing, coffee, CrossFit, and everything Costco.
Theresa Vu, MFA
Theresa Vu (she/her) is a Pediatric Residency Coordinator. She previously worked in the Orthopedics and Sports Medicine department at Seattle Children’s. She currently works with the Diversity Committee, continuity clinics, special events, and daily on-goings of the residency program. She grew up in Spokane, Washington before receiving her BFA at the University of Washington and her MFA at New Mexico State University. She was an instructor at Bay Area colleges for nearly 10 years before moving back to Washington in 2012. In her free time, she enjoys hiking all over the PNW, knitting socks, and working in her garden.