Class of 2026
Pari Abdolhosseini, MD
Co-Chief Resident
Jordan Ginn, DO
Elizabeth Hollenbaugh, DO
Academic Chief Resident
Sucharat “Gift” Tayarachakul, MD
Co-Chief Resident
Michael Valencia, DO
Wellness Chief Resident
University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth
Dr. Valencia was raised in the Southern California city of Chino Hills. After high school he packed his bags and headed to Waco, Texas, where he attended Baylor University. At Baylor he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in biology, and more importantly, found a passion for community service. The volunteer experience he cherishes the most was leading an after-school program for underserved kids. After graduating, he worked as a medical scribe in the emergency department of a Waco hospital, where he was exposed to caring for those who had nowhere else to go for medical help. Dr. Valencia then attended medical school at the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas, where he started his journey to become a Family Medicine physician. After a month-long rotation with the East Hawaii Health Clinic, and being introduced to this wonderful community, Dr. Valencia knew this was where he wanted to start his career as a family medicine doctor. He hopes to bring his passions for women’s and children’s health, preventative medicine, and community outreach to Hawai’i Island to form enduring relationships with the community.
Class of 2027
Fernando Coura, MD
Dr. Fernando Coura is originally from Sao Paulo, Brazil. Even though raised in a big city, since his childhood he developed a strong connection to nature and rural areas – his father’s family was from a small rural town, where he used to go on vacation every year. After graduating as a medical doctor at University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, he decided to have his career based in a rural setting and to help underserved communities. His love for Hawai`i started since his first visit as a tourist. That dream came true for the last three years, when he moved to Oahu with his wife. Dr. Coura is excited to help Hawaiian communities and to focus on point of care ultrasound as well as lifestyle medicine. Some of his hobbies are traveling, open water swim, scuba diving, hiking and reading books.
*On Lifestyle Medicine Board Track
Joanna Highstein, MD
Dr. Highstein grew up in Poland and went to study Psychology in France, where she worked with psychiatry patients, children with developmental delays and disabilities. She continued her studies in Richmond, VA where she started a family. During this time, she volunteered as a culinary arts teacher in a local school for several years to promote healthy eating habits and teach meal preparation from fresh ingredients to local children, participated in research at the VCU Malaria research lab, and conducted a study of Richmond City water quality. She studied both eastern and western traditional herbal medicine via Sacred Plant Traditions, the Institute of Vedic studies and others. She then attended American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.
Dr. Highstein currently lives in Hilo with her husband and 3 children. Her major interests are lifestyle medicine, mental health, and obstetrics and gynecology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, swimming, sailing, taking walks and supporting the local arts community. She is on board of a local Charter school and is undertaking a local music education project.
Michael Potter, DO
Dr. Potter was raised in Southern California by his wonderful parents with four great brothers. At BYU-H he carved wood, surfed, studied biology and music, and sang in choir. On tour with the choir, he traveled to the Pacific and met and married his beautiful wife Sarah in the Laie House of the Lord. She was born in Waikato New Zealand and was raised in Laie as part of the Tahitian community. They have five lively keiki.
Michael enjoys spending time with family and friends, good food, teaching, wood carving, playing music, the ocean, building family trees, and tinkering with his computer. In Tennessee during medical school, he was the Admiral of Spice for LMU-DCOM’s BBQ club.
Dr. Potter is eager to serve where there is need. There’s nowhere that the Potter `ohana would rather be for residency than home in Hawai`i.
Kevin Rogers, DO
Dr. Kevin grew up in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and fell in love with tropical life while interning at a fasting retreat in Costa Rica. He pursued his medical degree with a passion for reversing diabetes, cancer, and heart disease through lifestyle medicine. Before becoming a doctor, Kevin worked as an international online health coach, helping parents and families establish sustainable healthy practices, lose weight, and regain vibrant energy.
He enjoys ultramarathons, soccer, basketball, tennis, hiking and exploring with his wife and four children.
A dedicated teacher and health advocate, Dr. Kevin believes in empowering patients to understand and address the root causes of disease. Thrilled to join the Hilo community, he looks forward to contributing to the health and well-being of his new `ohana.
*On Lifestyle Medicine Board Track
Kelsey Shea, DO
Dr. Shea grew up in the San Francisco Bay area and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a BA in Integrative Biology. She spent a few years working in a clinical and basic science research at Oregon Health and Science University where she developed an appreciation for evidence-based medicine.
Dr. Shea attended PNWU-COM in Yakima, Washington to gain perspective on healthcare in underserved populations. She moved to Fairbanks, Alaska for third-year clinical rotations where she learned about the obstacles Native Alaskans face accessing healthcare in an isolated arctic environment. During her fourth year, she rotated in Oahu and developed a strong desire to move to Hawai`i to start her career. Dr. Shea visited the islands throughout her life and is excited to grow, learn, and contribute to the health of her community. In her spare time, she enjoys singing and playing `ukulele and just about any type of outdoor recreation.
*On Lifestyle Medicine Board Track
Kayla Thomas, DO
Dr. Kayla Thomas was raised in Missouri and Arkansas. She has dreamed of becoming a physician for as long as she can remember. She attended college at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, obtaining a degree in Biology. She then attended the Arkansas College of Health Education receiving her Master’s in Biomedicine. Dr. Thomas obtained her medical degree from the Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine.
She visited the Hawaiian islands for vacation and immediately fell in love with the people and the culture. Dr. Thomas has a strong interest in Lifestyle and Preventative medicine. She is very excited to serve the community of Hilo. In her free time, Dr. Thomas enjoys lifting at the gym, watching movies, spending time with her cat, and enjoying the outdoors.
Class of 2028
Lauren Fong, DO, MPH
Dr. Lauren Fong grew up in Sacramento, California, and earned her undergraduate degree in physiology and neuroscience at UC San Diego, with minors in psychology and business. She completed both her medical degree and Master of Public Health at LECOM in Erie, Pennsylvania. Before medical school, she worked as a medical scribe at a Federally Qualified Health Center, where she developed a passion for primary care and working with underserved communities. Her interests include improving access to care, addressing health disparities, and practicing full-spectrum family medicine. Dr. Fong was drawn to the Hawai`i Island Family Medicine Residency for its strong commitment to community-based care, public health, and Native Hawaiian health. Outside of medicine, she enjoys playing pickleball, baking, and watching basketball.
Benjamin Gozun, MD
Dr. Gozun is a local resident physician who grew up on Oahu. He graduated high school from Damien Memorial School and completed his undergraduate education at the United States Air Force Academy. Upon graduation, he served as a pilot and held a variety of leadership positions throughout his active-duty career. After completing his military service, he returned home to pursue medical education at the John A. Burns School of Medicine earning his medical degree in 2025.
Dr. Gozun became passionate about rural family medicine after completing a six-month clinical rotation on the island of Kaua`i. Drawing from his background, Dr. Gozun is exceptionally attuned to the needs of veterans and those within his Filipino community. Through his extensive involvement in the Hawaii Houseless Outreach and Medical Education Project, he has a distinct understanding of the challenges faced by the less fortunate. Altogether, Dr. Gozun is committed to the care of all who call Hawai`i home.
Arie Hakimi, DO
Dr. Hakimi was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. He completed his undergraduate studies at UCLA before earning his medical degree from Kansas City University in Joplin, Missouri. Now a first-year resident physician in Family Medicine, he’s excited to be training in a specialty that values long-term relationships, whole-person care, and community connection.
Outside the clinic, Arie is always looking for a good adventure – whether it’s hiking a new trail, trying out a hole-in-the-wall food spot, or catching a last-minute flight somewhere new. He’s also a huge fan of the UFC and NFL, and rarely misses a fight night or Sunday game. When he’s not outdoors or cheering on his favorite teams, you can probably find him unwinding with a good video game and some great food.
Thuy Nguyen, MD
Dr. Nguyen was born in Vietnam and immigrated to the United States, where she attended San Diego State University for her undergraduate studies. She completed her clinical rotations in Chicago, Bakersfield, and San Diego, experiences that solidified her dedication to Family Medicine and to serving underserved communities with compassion and cultural humility. Passionate about improving healthcare access where it’s needed most, Dr. Nguyen is excited to continue her journey as a physician committed to serving the community from start to finish. Outside of medicine, she enjoys raising chickens, caring for a variety of wildlife, and spending time with her dog. She is honored to begin this new chapter of service and connection.
Kyle Nugent, DO
Dr. Nugent grew up in Kaneohe, Hawai`i and attended Maryknoll High School. He went on to graduate from Pacific University and later earned his medical degree from Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine with the goal of one day returning home to Hawai`i to practice medicine. In his free time, he loves exploring new fishing spots with his wonderful wife, Debbie, and enjoys playing Overwatch 2 with friends.
Melody Yang, DO
Dr. Melody Yang was born in Taiwan and raised in California. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Social Behavior from the University of California, Irvine and gained experience working with culturally diverse patient populations and advocating for mental health in Southern California before attending medical school in Michigan. There, she continued her work for the underserved with her school’s street medicine program while providing care to the homeless community. Her goal is to empower patients as agents in their own health in the context of their sociocultural environments. In her free time, she enjoys practicing martial arts, cuddling with her car, exploring nature and cooking.