Chief Residents - Residents

Christina Buchanan, MD

Hometown: Fullerton, California
Undergraduate School: Notre Dame
Medical School: Georgetown

Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?

It’s a high-volume residency program with a tight-knit group of faculty and residents who serve a unique patient population.

What’s the best thing about being a resident/fellow at the University of Hawaii?

Loving the people I work with and being excited to spend time with them outside of work hours! Also, feeling confident that I’ll leave this program a well-trained OB/GYN.

How do you like to spend your off-time?

Hiking, running, catching sunsets on the beach, and spending time with friends

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?

Wagaya Ramen

Deena Elwan, MD

Hometown: Roseville, California
Undergraduate School: UC Berkeley
Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences

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Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?
I really liked the strong generalist training, and living in Hawaii seemed like it
would be a fun, new adventure

What’s the best thing about being a resident at the University of Hawaii?
Our faculty are some of the most approachable and supportive faculty around.
We have a great mix of university and private/community faculty so lots of varied training opportunities. Also, my co-residents are great!

How do you like to spend your off-time?
I like to take advantage of all the outdoorsy things Hawaii has to offer- diving, surfing, hiking, going to the beach.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?
Scratch Kitchen

Pamela Estrada, MD

Hometown: Garden Grove, California
Undergraduate School: University of California, San Diego
Medical School: University of California, Irvine

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Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?

During my interview, I spent a few days before and after the interview exploring the island. I took the public bus and got a really good feeling about the place and people here. It’s very true — the aloha spirit is real. In addition to enjoying the sights, I also appreciated how kind the people were. And I thought to myself, I wouldn’t mind waking up early or getting called from home to serve the people of Hawaii and train at such a beautiful place… I still have the same feeling (3 years later). I think that’s important — to have an initial genuine, good feeling about where you’ll be for training.

What’s the best thing about being a resident/fellow at the University of Hawaii?

The VOLUME, attendings, and the residents…. and of course, the gorgeous beaches. OB/Gyn is a very hands-on specialty, and for those who learn by doing, this is a great program. We work hard and enjoy our time at one of the most beautiful places in the world 🙂

How do you like to spend your off-time?

Take long beach walks at Kailua Beach and/or Lanikai or go on hikes to enjoy the scenery and fresh air. The residents often get together, have poke at the beach and do their readings.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?

Hmmm that’s hard. There are a lot of yummy places, especially for poke and Japanese food. We can go get some!

Sherry Firouzbakht, MD

Hometown: New York
Undergraduate School: University of California, Berkeley
Medical School: University of California, Irvine

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Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?

UH has an amazing Family Planning department as well as an impressive case volume on L&D. I knew that training here would prepare me well for working in any type of environment.

What’s the best thing about being a resident/fellow at the University of Hawaii?

I feel lucky to live in Hawaii. Being close to the ocean and able to spend a lot of time outdoors is very therapeutic.

How do you like to spend your off-time?

Spending as much time outside as possible, at the beach, kayaking, sailing. But also love lounging watching Netflix.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?

North Shore Tacos

Kacie Fox, MD

Hometown: Pearl City, Hawaii
Undergraduate School: Wheaton College, Massachussetts
Medical School: University of Hawaii John A Burns School of Medicine

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Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?

I chose UH because as a medical student I worked closely with the prior residents and faculty here and really looked up to them as teachers and overall great people. I ultimately want to stay in Hawaii so training here made sense for me. Another great thing is the patient population – our patients are not only wonderfully diverse but in general, trust their medical providers and I’ve found a much more collaborative, patient-centered approach here compared to other places.

What’s the best thing about being a resident/fellow at the University of Hawaii?

The faculty! Honestly, this is what I will miss the most next year. I love getting to work with both university-based and private attendings, and I genuinely feel that the faculty are invested in our learning.

How do you like to spend your off-time?

Playing and relaxing with my daughter, getting together for meals with friends and family.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?

There are SO many amazing places but a staple in our family is Happy Days for Dim Sum.

Jasmin-Ann Reyes Moncada, MD MS MPP

Hometown: Carson, California
Undergraduate School: UC Berkeley
Graduate School: UCLA and San Francisco State University
Medical School: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, PRIME-LA

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Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?
Because it is an academic program with a community feel. I am rigorously challenged in an intimate environment where my attendings care about me both as a person and colleague. I also want to serve the underserved, and we at UH actually “walk the walk and talk the talk”. Our UH attendings staff our local FQHCs and our program fosters a strong spirit of social justice.

What’s the best thing about being a resident at the University of Hawaii?
Within 10 minutes from my home, I can be watching the sunset at the beach with my 3 year old son and husband after a long day at work.

How do you like to spend your off-time?
Beach day. Trust me, it does NOT get old.

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?
On the bluffs at Diamond Head Beach park eating a cake bomb from Pipeline Bakeshop.

Chief Residents - Residents

Christina Buchanan, MD

Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?

What’s the best thing about being a resident/fellow at the University of Hawaii?

How do you like to spend your off-time?

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?

Deena Elwan, MD

Q & A

Pamela Estrada, MD

Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?

What’s the best thing about being a resident/fellow at the University of Hawaii?

How do you like to spend your off-time?

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?

Sherry Firouzbakht, MD

Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?

What’s the best thing about being a resident/fellow at the University of Hawaii?

How do you like to spend your off-time?

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?

Kacie Fox, MD

Q & A

Why did you choose the University of Hawaii to do your training?

What’s the best thing about being a resident/fellow at the University of Hawaii?

How do you like to spend your off-time?

What’s your favorite place to eat in Hawaii?

Jasmin-Ann Reyes Moncada, MD MS MPP

Q & A

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