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Our Residents

Class of 2022

Daniel Iqbal, DO

Chief Resident

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Physician
Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

Originally from the tiny town of Sunnyvale, Texas, Dr. Iqbal graduated from New York University with a degree in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies in 2014. After spending a year working at a bariatric surgeon's office in Brooklyn, he moved to Las Vegas to attend Touro University Nevada for medical school and then relocated to the Big Island for residency. A first generation American with roots in Lahore, Pakistan, Dr. Iqbal is fluent in Punjabi and Urdu and is proficient in Spanish; in his spare time, he is learning Hawaiian these days! He is thrilled to call Hilo home and falls more in love with this charming island and its wonderful people every day.

Kalinda Matthews-Harris, MD

Resident

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Physician
Meharry Medical College

Dr. Matthews-Harris grew up in Eugene, Oregon. After earning a degree in culinary arts, she moved to the Big Island 15 years ago. As a cook and waitress, she loved working with and serving the people of Hawai`i, and she decided to go back to school to further those goals. She attended the community college in West Hawai`i and then UH Hilo and Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee. She is thrilled to come back home to live and work in the place, and with the people, she loves.

Jaime Parra, MD

Resident

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Physician
University of Texas Health Sciences Center

Dr. Parra is originally from San Antonio, Texas. He had the opportunity to undergo his undergraduate studies at Brandeis University in Waltham, MA, where he ultimately decided he wanted to pursue a career in medicine. He was fortunate to study medicine in his hometown at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. During medical school, he had the opportunity to work at student-run clinics where he treated refugees from all over the world, homeless individuals, and even those affected by addiction. Those experiences helped him decide he wanted to not only pursue medicine, but serve in an underserved part of the country where he can have an impact. He is excited to begin his training in Family Medicine in the welcoming and vibrant community of Hilo and hopes to serve the community in the most impactful way.

Khushbu Patel, MD

Chief Resident

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Physician
SBKS Medical Institute and Research Center, India

Dr. Patel was born and raised in Limdi, Gujarat, India. She attended medical school in Vadodara, Gujarat, India before relocating to the USA. Medicine has always been the center of Dr. Patel's life as a second generation physician in her family. She loves to practice patient-centric medicine with focus on women's health. Being a foreign medical graduate, it has been a long journey for Dr. Patel and she is excited to continue her journey on the Big Island serving the community. Moving to Hawai`i has been a magical moment for her. Mahalo no kēia manawa kūpono.

Chad L.M. Ahia, MD

Resident

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Physician
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Dr. Ahia is an off-cycle resident, slated for residency completion at the end of 2022! Dr Ahia was born and raised in Hilo, graduating from Hilo High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, University of Queensland School of Public Health, and University of Queensland Faculty of Medicine in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. He is humbled and honored to return home and serve his Big Island community.
These physicians will graduate from their residency in: 2022

Class of 2023

Andrew Chang, MD

Resident

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Physician
American University of Antigua, College of Medicine

Dr. Chang was born and raised in Queens, NY. He fell in love with the island life when he went to medical school in the beautiful Caribbean nation of Antigua. There, he developed an interest in rural and preventative medicine by working in local clinics for underserved communities. He considers it his kuleana to connect with his patients in order to provide the best care possible. He is fluent in Korean and has been attempting to learn pidgin during his time here. When not at work, he enjoys watching the NBA and MLB (Go Knicks and Mets!), cooking, exercising and going on as many hikes as he can.

Laura Hernandez, MD

Resident

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Physician
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

Dr. Hernandez grew up on a farm in Northern Michigan before moving to Oahu. She attended UH Manoa and worked as an Elementary/Special Education teacher in Honolulu before attending medical school. She had the opportunity to train around the world, from St. Martin to England to Florida, but her goal was always to return to Hawaii as part of the answer to the Island’s physician shortage. She is honored to serve as a primary care physician for the people of Big Island. When she is not working, she enjoys spending time at the beach or in the ocean with her husband and dog.

Shelley Kirkham, MD

Resident

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Physician
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Dr. Kirkham comes to Hilo from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks. She has a special interest in serving indigenous populations and in improving the delivery of rural health care. She and her husband raised their children during her sixteen year career as a paramedic. She worked as a flight medic and also as a firefighter paramedic. When she's not at work, she and her husband enjoy hiking, snorkeling, and spending time with their cats, Maui and Kikimau.

James Finney, MD

Resident

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Physician
Tufts University School of Medicine

Dr. Finney grew up in a rural New England town where he worked in engineering, politics, and business. He attended Dartmouth College with a degree in Cognitive Science and married the love of his life. After a few years of work and travel, he and his wife decided life needed more purpose. They travelled to Nepal to a small community of former slaves where they saw how much suffering exists in places with no doctor. Determined to become a physician, Dr. Finney then completed a post-baccalaureate pre-med program at Harvard University. With his wife and daughter, he worked for a year at a clinic in Belize. He attended Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston and had two sons. Now here on Hawai’i Island, he is so grateful that his family is blessed to enjoy the wonderful people, ocean life, and culture of the Big Island. As a physician, Dr. Finney particularly enjoys helping people achieve a healthier weight, helping parents train their children, and assisting patients who want to live tobacco-free.
These physicians will graduate from their residency in: 2023

Class of 2024

Bruna Lima, MD

Resident

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Physician
American University of the Antigua School of Medicine

Bruna Lima, MD was born in Brazil and moved to Florida in her teenage years to pursue her dream of a medical career. After working as a surgical technologist she completed her undergraduate studies with a Bachelors of Science from Florida Atlantic University and obtained her medical degree from the American University of the Antigua School of Medicine. Dr. Lima is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish and loves going on mission trips and serving the underserved alongside her husband who is also a Family Doctor. Dr. Lima dreams of running a practice that is geared towards a Direct Primary Care model, with a focus on lifestyle medicine and Aesthetic Medicine as well. Dr. Lima enjoys life outdoors and feels right at home here in Hilo where she can go to the beach with family and friends, go scuba diving and skydiving.

Fujiko Matsui, DO

Resident

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Physician
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dr. Fujiko Matsui finished her Bachelors degree in Japanese and said to herself, “I should become a doctor.” She completed her medical degree at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Southern Utah. She was drawn to medicine as the perfect bridge between helping people and teaching. She has worked as a life coach, tutor, translator, college professor and stay-at-home mom not to mention beekeeper. She served refugee and homeless populations in her previous careers and is excited to get to know Hilo and support the community’s unique needs. When she has time she enjoys stargazing on Mauna Kea with her husband and three children.


Laureen Nilo, DO

Resident

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Physician
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dr. Nilo was born and raised on Oahu. She grew up in Waipahu and graduated from Punahou. She moved away to the mainland with the intention of returning home and is very grateful to have the opportunity to reintegrate herself and serve her Hawaii community. She attended University of California, Riverside and got her BS in Neuroscience and Loma Linda University where she got her MPH in Health Policy and Leadership. With her public health experience working with underserved communities and her osteopathic medicine background, she believes that awareness of available local resources and establishing community partnerships enhances family physicians’ ability to provide holistic care to the patient population we serve. Thus, she emphasizes the importance of preventive care while looking out for patterns or gaps in care that may be affecting the well-being of communities, and believes in working with the community to find long-lasting solutions. On her days off, she enjoys spending time with her dog, relaxing with friends and family at the beach, and is always down to explore

Kristen Richard, MD

Resident

Kristen Richard, MD
Physician
University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts

Dr. Richard was raised in Tennessee. She travelled extensively for her medical training and explored multiple fields before choosing to come to Hilo, Hawaii. She has special interests in the underserved populations, lifestyle, global, and sports medicine. In her spare time she likes to travel, participate in sports as well as outdoor activities, and pursues weekend culinary endeavors. She is thrilled to be a part of this community and has been welcomed as ohana.

Brian Thielen, MD

Resident

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Physician
University of Minnesota

Dr. Brian Thielen grew up in Rochester, Minnesota. He spent significant time in the Hawaiian Islands during his childhood. He attended college at Iowa State University, obtaining a degree in Genetics, with a background in diversity and multicultural studies. He has planted his roots on the Big Island after attending medical school at the University of Minnesota. He has a passion for working with diverse, underserved populations, and for rural health. He is humbled to start his career as a family physician and serve the community of Hilo. In his free time, he loves to surf, fish, and spend time at the beach.

Benjamin Wing, MD

Resident

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Physician
American University of the Caribbean

Dr. Benjamin Wing is of Filipino, Dutch, and Chinese heritage. He was born in Canada but grew up primarily in Utah. He developed a love for the Hawaiian Islands while studying Biochemistry at Brigham Young University Hawaii in Laie. He later earned a Master of Science degree in Clinical Neuroscience from University College London. While finishing up his time in the United Kingdom, Benjamin was blessed to meet his wife. He graduated from the American University of the Caribbean, having received clinical training in St. Maarten, the UK, and the USA. Dr. Wing feels humbled to return to Hawaii to serve the people who helped him feel at home years ago, and is happy to be establishing roots with his family here on Big Island. Dr. Wing has particular interests in patient and community education, Lifestyle Medicine, and the impact of social media on adolescent behavioral health. Outside of medicine, Dr. Wing enjoys table tennis, movies, video games, woodworking, birdwatching, and most importantly, spending time with his family.
These physicians will graduate from their residency in: 2024