The LAGMC/USC Pediatric Chief Resident Year
Annually, a group of Pediatric and Medicine+Pediatric residents are selected to serve as LAGMC/USC Pediatric Chief Residents. The chief resident year is an additional year in a leadership role dedicated to working with the residents, medical students, inpatient faculty, and residency administration to improve the program, resident education, and resident well-being.
This leadership position carries a broad range of responsibilities. The chief residents are given the important responsibility of teaching trainees in various capacities, including at the bedside, as part of the core curriculum, as well as at morning report for the inpatient wards teams every morning. Clinically, the chief residents help supervise the care provided in the inpatient wards, pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), and pediatric procedural sedation.
Chiefs serve as advocates and liaisons between the house staff, faculty, and administration. They serve as members of many hospital administrative committees.
Chief residents often go on to competitive and successful careers (primary care and subspecialty) with leadership positions.
Chief Residents (2026-2027)
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Dr. Alex Fernandez
Pronouns: he/him
Languages Spoken: English, Spanish, some Italian
Hometown: El Paso, TX
Undergrad: UT Austin
Medschool: Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hobbies: Soccer, running, cycling, weightlifting, traveling, languages, coffee shop exploring, listening to edm, spanish trap and country in no specific order.
Fun fact: I got to see Ronaldo score a goal in Madrid and I may have cried.
Why LAGMC/USC? I wanted to be a part of a program in a county hospital that primarily focuses on caring for those who are underserved. I wanted to be a part of such a positive, fun, and caring community of pediatricians. The interview really displayed the genuine and caring side of the program. LA is so diverse with so much to do! I wanted to have an outlet outside of work to be able to explore and continue pursuing my hobbies.
Plans after residency: Undecided but thinking about Pulm, GI fellowship or outpatient pediatrics. -
Dr. Jaclynn Kovach
Pronouns: She/Her
Languages Spoken: English
Hometown: Commerce, MI
Undergrad: Michigan State University
Med School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
1 Fun Fact: Since 2015, I’ve run a half marathon every year with my dad!
Fav LA Restaurant: Too many to choose from—but a few favorites are Bluey’s, Cento, and Leo’s Tacos Truck.
Why LAGMC/USC: The people, the people, the people! Moving across the country, I wanted a program where I’d feel not just supported, but truly at home. That’s exactly what I found here—a team that feels like family. On top of that, I’m so proud to care for such a unique and inspiring patient population, alongside colleagues who are just as passionate about serving our community as I am.
Plans after residency: Excited to be one of the Chief Residents for 2026–2027, then applying to PEM Fellowships :) -
Dr. Hannah Zipfel
Pronouns: She/her/hers
Languages: English, Spanish
Hometown: Chandler, AZ
Undergrad: Arizona State University
Med School: Touro University COM, CA
Hobbies: Baking, acrylic painting, puzzles, hiking, playing with my cat, binge watching The Office for the 20th time
Fun fact: I taught preschool for 5 years before I started med school and my classroom was of course fully Disney themed
Why LAGMC/USC? I don’t like being bored so LA is the perfect place for a busy body like me! I love that we’re close to beaches, mountains, and theme parks! I picked this program because of how community service driven everyone was. I love working with people who are kind and who want to share that with our patients.
Plans after Residency: Pursue a heme/onc fellowship -
Dr. Connie Ly
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Languages Spoken: English
Hometown: Garland, TX
Undergrad: UT Austin
Hobbies: running, yoga, pilates, pottery, beginner adult ballet, finding hole in the wall restaurants
Favorite thing about Los Angeles/LAGMC/USC: I love the community of East LA and working for a county hospital. Also, our residents are truly some of the best people I have ever met!
Fun Fact: I saw Mike Tyson at an Erewhon during my intern year.
Plans after residency: Neonatology
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Outside of my subspecialty training, the chief resident year was the year I grew the most as a physician as well as a human. I had so much fun with my co-chief residents learning how to take care of sick children and learning how to be a leader/teacher/mentor. I will always be thankful for that year of important training that set me up for success as a fellow and attending.
Daniel Im, M.D.
Former Pediatric chief resident
LAC+USC Pediatrics residency program graduate -
It's true that having "Chief Resident" on one's resume is helpful, and it is a respected accomplishment. You can think of it as your first job after residency, but in the cozy safety of your "home," where you have many attendings to ask questions of, to learn from. It was a fun and happy year! The year really honed my management/decision-making skills, and it helped so much to feel even more confident in the "outside world" thereafter. As you know, after residency, we have to now figure out what to do with each patient on our own, and after chief year, I felt even more ready to do just that. It was an honor to be able to work an extra year and more closely under our attendings. I'll always be grateful.
Shelly Canlas, M.D.
Former Pediatric chief resident
LAC+USC Medicine + Pediatrics residency program graduate -
I have so many memories of chiefs teaching morning report that made me excited about pediatrics and later teaching myself. I’m the educator I’m today because of those role models and my time as chief! Also, I can say when I applied for jobs some of the places preferentially hired ex-chiefs.
Jackie Vargas, M.D.
Former Pediatric chief resident
LAC+USC Medicine + Pediatrics residency program graduate -
I’m came out the other end a better doctor. Whenever people ask me about my experience, I only talk about learning how to take care of sick, vulnerable children. The amount of clinical work as learning, justifies dealing with the administrative responsibilities.
Pruthul Patel, M.D.
Former Pediatric chief resident
LAC+USC Medicine + Pediatrics residency program graduate -
It was one of the best years for many reasons and it set me up for great job opportunities. I was asked to be a site director based on my chief year experience which led to my current director job which is balanced and sustainable which is quite hard to find in hospital medicine. All of my co-chiefs ended up in leadership roles as well. I can’t believe how many times I use a skill I learned or developed during chief year. It continues to be helpful.
Brittany Middleton, M.D.
Former Pediatric chief resident
LAC+USC Pediatrics residency program graduate -
Many lessons from that year that I keep with me today, both in medicine and with people.
Aslam Khan, D.O.
Former Pediatric chief resident
LAC+USC Pediatrics residency program graduate