Year 5. January 5. Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2026! I sincerely hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season, got some rest and are returning ready to achieve much together as a department over the coming year.
Although none of us can predict what unexpected events could impact our trajectory this year, there is much to look forward to. I invite you to learn about our plans for the coming months this Thursday, Jan. 8, during my annual State of the Department address at Grand Rounds. I will update you on where our department stands with regards to finances, our DoM Strategic Plan goals, clinical initiatives, research growth and much more, including specific plans for the coming months. I will also review our faculty, trainee and department’s many accomplishments over the past year. I encourage all of you to attend in person if you can, or to watch the livestream.
I look forward to what we will accomplish together this year. I am confident that we will further advance our missions toLead in Innovation, Transform Care, and Advance Health for All.
At the end of last year, we had the opportunity to celebrate service milestones of many of our faculty and staff. As we enter 2026, I want to share with you those who were recognized for their contributions to the DoM over the past 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 and 30 years, respectively.
Recognizing Our Faculty and Staff for Many Years of Service
Our department’s dedication to our missions is evident in the broad impact we make on those who come to us for care, on the training of the next generation of medical leaders, scientific innovation and our impact on the greater L.A. community. This dedication is also clear from the number of faculty and staff who choose to make the UCLA Department of Medicine a long-term cornerstone of their careers. Several members of our staff celebrated significant milestones in their years of service to UCLA. Here some of them share their favorite memories from their time in the DoM.
Serena Dawson
Staff Analyst, Executive Administration
5 Years in the DoM
“It is difficult to pick a favorite memory over the last five years. I can say that my favorite part about the past 5 years working at UCLA, specifically in the Department of Medicine has been the way we come together. We come together to face challenges, to support each other and to celebrate accomplishments and milestones. I am incredibly grateful to work alongside amazing colleagues and under supportive leadership.”
Ariela Hakim, MSHCM
Assistant Director, Education
5 Years in the DoM
“My favorite part of my time at UCLA has been the people. I’ve been fortunate to build genuine connections with residents, faculty, staff and program leadership while supporting residents during some of the most important moments of their training and helping strengthen the residency program. Being trusted to support trainees during these key moments in their careers has been incredibly meaningful, and it’s rewarding to know I’m helping shape the future generation of physicians.”
An Lu
Compensation Director
10 Years in the DoM
“My favorite memories are the times when our department comes together to support each other and keep everything running smoothly behind the scenes. From tackling big projects and meeting huge deadlines to sharing laughs during busy days, those moments remind me how much I value the teamwork and connections we’ve built. It’s truly the people who make UCLA special.”
Mondo Medina
Program Coordinator, Education
10 Years in the DoM
“In 2016, I was a care coordinator for the internal medicine division. One of our roles was to connect our high-risk patients to a primary care physician. One of the listed patients was a young gentleman with multiple medical issues including a cancer diagnosis. Standard outreach involved calling the patient, but I noticed the patient was alerted to being in the emergency room in live time. Without hesitation, I decided to walk to the emergency room and introduce myself in person. The patient stated, ‘No one has ever done this before for me.’ He was connected to primary and specialty care services for the next few years. On his last hospital stay I decided to check in on him, but I forgot my badge. So, I checked in with the front desk. After providing the desk with his name, I got a tap on my shoulder. It was his mother also checking in to see him. She said her son always mentions how I was instrumental in him getting his care at UCLA. After his passing, to this day I keep his email in my work contacts as a reminder of the importance of what we do.”
Peter Vittachi
Pre-Award Manager, Research Administration
10 Years in the DoM
“One of my favorite memories at UCLA was when DOM ORA hosted the NCURA conference in 2016–2017. As a new research administrator, that experience was a turning point for me — it opened my eyes to the bigger picture and the incredible coordination required for research to succeed.”
Linda Kaye Czypinski, MD
Associate Section Chief, Division of Hospital Medicine
15 Years in the DoM
“My favorite memories from my time at UCLA are working in the hospitalist workrooms alongside my colleagues during my weeks on clinical service. My colleagues are a big reason why I have stayed at UCLA all of these years — they are the best! They are brilliant, inspiring, supportive, and I can always count on them for a good laugh!”
Mauricia Torres
Division Manager, Division of Hematology-Oncology
15 Years in the DoM
“Reflecting on my time at UCLA, it’s difficult to choose a single favorite memory. What stands out most are the people — colleagues, mentors, and leaders — who have shaped my life and career in ways I couldn’t have anticipated. I’ve been fortunate to learn from both the current and former leadership of the Division of Hematology-Oncology, whose guidance has influenced not only my professional development but also the way I approach challenges, collaboration, and patient care.”
Eric Esrailian, MD, MPH
Chief, Division of Digestive Diseases
20 Years in the DoM
“My favorite memory is actually a blurry time-lapse of an incredible journey, and I am grateful. I think fondly about everything from receiving the offer to join the UCLA GI Fellowship Program and all of my time with my colleagues over the years to helping UCLA buy the Westside Pavillion, creating the UCLA Research Park, and establishing the California Institute for Immunology and Immunotherapy. Even after all these years, I feel like we are just getting started.”
John A. Belperio, MD
Chief, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
25 Years in the DoM
“Most memorable over the past 25 years: Seeing the UCLA Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, Sleep, Allergy and Clinical Immunology grow from 17 to 125 faculty. The fellowship(s) expanded from a total of 6 to 35 with new sleep, interventional pulmonary, lung transplantation and pulmonary hypertension sub-subspecialties. Getting to know so many UCLA physicians, nurses, fellows, residents, students and staff has been an incredible experience. Watching many of my peers make scientific discoveries that have impacted the lives of many of our patients as well as seeing peers and mentors take on leadership positions that are improving UCLA and overall healthcare has been spectacular. UCLA has allowed me to interact with and heal so many special people in our LA county community and beyond — I learn every day from my patients. Working at UCLA is a true privilege and the past 25 years here have been fabulous.”
Nelva Macdonald
Division Manager, Division of Geriatrics and NanoMedicine
25 Years in the DoM
“When I think about my favorite memory from my time at UCLA, it’s hard to narrow it down to just one. I started here 25 years ago in the molecular and medical pharmacology department, and since 2003 I’ve been part of the UCLA Department of Medicine. I’ve seen amazing patient care, research, and teamwork, but what really stands out are the people. The friendships and relationships I’ve built are what made some of the long days, tight deadlines, and big projects turn into good memories. And somewhere along the way, I also met my husband here, which makes this place even more special. So my favorite memory isn’t a single moment, but all the moments shared with the people who shaped my time here.”
Photos courtesy of Nelva Macdonald.
Gregory A. Brent, MD
Senior Executive Academic Vice Chair, DoM
30 Years in the DoM
“I greatly value the opportunities I have had to grow as a physician, teacher and researcher at UCLA and the VA Greater Los Angeles, with so many great mentors, colleagues, students and trainees, and relationships that I have been able to build with colleagues across the campus and from around the world. My greatest memory from my time in department administration is the opportunity be part of a team that led to fully integrate the core UCLA Internal Medicine residency, all fellowships, and co-recruitment of many faculty, between UCLA and the VA. This required the strong support of many VA and UCLA leaders and especially the vision and guidance of our past chair, Dr. Alan Fogelman. This UCLA/VA partnership continues to grow and expand under the VA leadership of Dr. Zhaoping Li and strong support of Dr. Dale Abel. I have had the privilege of teaching medical students for my entire 30 years and serving as curricular course chair in endocrinology for 10 years, my most memorable experience as a teacher. We had Harry Potter trivia contests, costume competitions for Halloween and acapella group performances, along with learning a lot of endocrinology. The greatest satisfaction for me is seeing students and fellows that I built relationships with now teaching, leading courses, and many being recognized with teaching awards.”
Weiling Chen
Senior Training Grant Coordinator, Research Administration
30 Years in the DoM
“My favorite memory from my time as a Bruin so far has been the people I’ve met and the lifelong friendships I’ve made. I have had the privilege of working alongside exceptional faculty and staff across different divisions and departments, including Occupational and Environmental Health (Pulmonary), Blood Bank (Pathology), Rheumatology with Dr. Bevra Hahn and the inspiring faculty and staff, Dermatology with Jing Yu and a wonderful group of faculty and staff, MIMG with Lana Song and an exceptional team of staff and faculty, and now returning to Medicine to work with the amazing Research Administrative Group under Cathy Rujanuruks. I have been extraordinarily fortunate to work alongside people who are smart, exceptional, dedicated, as well as supportive and generous with their knowledge. Those relationships are what have made my time at UCLA truly special for which I am truly grateful each day.”
Other DoM colleagues who celebrated major milestones this year included:
10 Years in the DoM
Adam F. Cavallero, MD, Clinical Chief West Campus, General Internal Medicine – Primary Care
15 Years in the DoM
Andrew Yuen, Program Coordinator, Education
CJ Cabrera, Payroll Analyst, Compensation
Evelyn A. Curls, MD, MBA, Vice Chair, Ambulatory
25 Years in the DoM
Heather Herrera, Financial Analyst, Finance
Tamara Van Wagoner, Division Manager, Infectious Diseases
Harry Shahbazyan, Purchasing Supervisor
30 Years in the DoM
Arlene Lopez, Academic Personnel Director
Raellen Man, Department Research Associate, Research Administration
Reading these wonderful reflections — which cumulatively represent four centuries of service — prompted me to think about my own relatively brief time here at UCLA. This week marks the start of my fifth year in the department. It has been a challenging but enjoyable adventure thus far. I have many memories and have of course chronicled these weekly in my blog posts. As such, it is difficult to single out any favorites from among the many wonderful interactions that I have had with members of this remarkable department, but I recall fondly my first run with the PaceMakers in 2022 and would encourage our residents to resume the running club.
Dale
P.S.
Last week I posted a “driveway moment” picture and asked you what you saw. I did not realize this would turn out to be a Rorschach test.
Dr. Anjani D. Mattai, saw a map of the world, so I went back and looked at the picture, and I believe that I can see what Anjani is referring to.
Dr. Jeff Borenstein wished that 2026 would give me the opportunity to travel to the location he thought I saw on my driveway, namely the continent of Australia. Jeff, I struggle to see Australia here, but will have a low bar to travel there and visit again.
If you were wondering what I saw, see below. Do you see the animal’s face??
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