Our Fellows
Our Fellows
2026-2027
Eden Altwies, MD
Dr. Eden Altwies was raised in a small town in Washington State before moving to Seattle, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Public Health and her M.D. from the University of Washington. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at UCLA Medical Center in 2026. During residency, she participated in a longitudinal global health track and developed a strong interest in the intersection of palliative medicine and global health, with a focus on expanding access to palliative care for vulnerable populations. Outside of medicine, she enjoys exploring Los Angeles’s vibrant food scene and crafting in many form
Kim Edelsberg, DO
Dr. Kim Edelsberg was born and raised in New York and earned her degree in neuroscience from Binghamton University in 2015. She moved to California to attend medical school at Touro University California, graduating in 2022, and went on to complete her Internal Medicine residency and serve as Chief Resident at Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara. Her interest in palliative care grew from a desire to help patients and their loved ones navigate the complexities of serious illness with clarity and compassion. She is particularly interested in the intersection of palliative care and addiction medicine and is passionate about advocating for the recognition of substance use disorders as life-limiting illnesses deserving of equitable, comprehensive care.
Esther Kang, MD
Dr. Esther Kang (they/them/theirs) was born in Seoul, Korea and raised in Chicago, IL. and Torrance, CA. Esther studied Neural Science at New York University and received their MD from UC Davis School of Medicine. Esther completed their combined residency training in Internal Medicine-Pediatrics at UCLA and then served as one of the Internal Medicine chief residents. Prior to medical school, Esther worked as a middle school science teacher and spearheaded sexual education initiatives in Oakland Unified School District. Esther is passionate about medical education, care of adolescents and young adults living with serious illness, and health equity. Esther strives to increase access to palliative care for all communities, especially those who live at the intersection of other marginalized experiences, such as non-English speakers, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and transitional aged young adults.
Apoorva Mylavarapu, MD
Dr. Apoorva Mylavarapu was born in India and raised in San Diego, California. She graduated from UCLA with a degree in Neuroscience and stayed at UCLA for medical school. It was here that she first fell in love with palliative care, drawn to the impact she could have on her patients. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at UC Irvine, where she developed a deep commitment to caring for patients with serious illness through thoughtful communication and comprehensive symptom management. She hopes to pursue a career in both palliative and hospital medicine, integrating clinical care and teaching. Outside of medicine, she enjoys trying new recipes, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family.
Laura Santangelo, MD - Chief Fellow
Dr. Laura Santangelo is originally from St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from Emory University before earning her medical degree from The University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at UCLA in the Primary Care track and stayed on as the Ambulatory Chief Resident. Her passion lies at the intersection of primary care and palliative care, and she looks forward to a career that blends longitudinal relationships with patients and holistic, compassionate care for those with serious illness. Outside of work, she enjoys vegetarian cooking, traveling with her husband, and going on beach walks with her dog, Cosmo.
Kenneth Tran, DO
Dr. Kenneth Tran is a native of Daly City, California. He graduated from UCLA in 2018 with a Bachelor's degree in Psychobiology and received his D.O. degree in 2023 from Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Sutter Roseville Medical Center as part of its second graduating class. Ken's interest in hospice and palliative medicine originated after his rotation with the palliative medicine team at Sutter Roseville, and his love for the field has grown exponentially ever since. His interest in palliative medicine became particularly evident throughout his residency training as he was the only resident interested, though through his advocacy for the field as its de facto resident and creating a hospice rotation for the newer residents he was able to grow the palliative/hospice programs at SRMC. He plans to pursue his passion for palliative medicine through fellowship and enjoys teaching residents and medical students on his ongoing medical journey.
Deborah Yip, MD
Dr. Deborah Yip grew up in Los Angeles County, and studied neurobiology and psychology at UC Berkeley (2016). She graduated from UCSF School of Medicine in 2023, and completed her internal medicine residency in the UCLA Primary Care program. She was drawn to medicine and later palliative care as a way to support people through longitudinal, therapeutic connection that is grounded in health equity, and has centered these values in clinical care and advocacy for folks experiencing homelessness and folks in carceral settings. Outside of medicine, she enjoys live music and spending time with her cats and spouse.
Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
Kelly Cheung-Warren, MD 2nd year fellow
Dr. Kelly Cheung-Warren was born and raised in Anaheim, California. She majored in biology at UC Irvine and became the first in her family to graduate college. She attended medical school at the Virginia Commonwealth University and joined the primary care underserved track. She completed internal medicine residency at UCLA’s Primary Care program and completed the Medical Education pathway. Dr. Cheung-Warren is pursuing an integrated two-year fellowship in geriatrics and palliative care to complement her practice in primary care and inpatient medicine. She hopes to serve in underserved settings in LA county as an ally in health equity and social justice. She is also a champion for age-friendly care and leveraging social media for mentorship and medical education.
Ojel Pathak, MD 1st year fellow
Dr. Pathak was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University and earned her medical degree from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by Internal Medicine residency at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach, California. Her interest in hospice medicine began in medical school and evolved into a broader focus on geriatrics and medical ethics. She plans to dedicate her career to caring for older adults with serious illness, particularly during end-of-life transitions. Outside of medicine, she enjoys all things dog-related, crocheting, and tending to her garden.