Expert Team

Dr. Michelle Hwang is a nephrologist who practices in Torrance. She has a special interest in hypertension, chronic kidney disease, kidney transplant and preventive nephrology. She is fluent in Korean and Japanese. Dr. Hwang completed her internal medicine residency at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, and then completed her nephrology fellowship at UCLA, where she served as a Chief Fellow. Apart from practicing nephrology, Dr. Hwang enjoys hiking and traveling.

Dr. Carolyn Kim is a nephrologist who practices in Pasadena and Burbank. She enjoys practicing all aspects of general nephrology with special interests in hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, chronic kidney disease, preventive care, and transplant-related care. Dr. Kim is committed to building long-term and meaningful connections with patients and emphasizes giving compassionate and high-quality care. She was born and raised in Southern California and is happy to serve her home community

Dr. Sean Lei is a board-certified nephrologist practicing in Burbank. He cares for patients with a wide range of kidney conditions, including hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and transplant-related care. His practice includes both outpatient clinic visits and dialysis care. Dr. Lei is committed to delivering high-quality, individualized, and compassionate care to every patient. Outside of medicine, he enjoys cooking and hiking.

Dr. Anna Gaddy, MD, FASN, FNKF, is a nephrologist and assistant professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin specializing in chronic kidney disease. She is a passionate advocate for live organ donation, having donated her own kidney in January 2024, and focuses on patient education, clinical trials, and public policy in nephrology.

Dr. Lynda Szczech has experienced many facets in the practice of medicine and nephrology.  She has seen patients in the academic setting, private practice, VA system, rural healthcare, and in prisons. She also has experience in research, biotech, and pharmaceuticals. Dr. Szczech aims to foster awareness of kidney disease in the community, shape public policy to facilitate screening and access to care for patients, and build educational programs to disseminate research. 

Shima is a registered dietitian and Ambassador of CORE Kidney. Passionate about empowering individuals to embrace healthier lifestyles, she uses evidence-based research to assess and optimize nutrition tailored to each patient’s unique needs. She educates patients in making informed, nutritionally sound choices for accelerated recovery. Shima’s empathetic approach inspires positive transformations, helping individuals achieve their health goals through personalized nutrition guidance.

James Cunningham is a Psychotherapist and Ambassador of CORE Kidney, treating issues related to wellness and health! He treats and interacts with kidney patients, or, more specifically Nephrology patients for treatment of anxiety and reactivity. Before becoming a psychotherapist, he was an elite athlete and distinguished athletic trainer that worked with other athletes and former Olympians.