First Year Residents

Natividad Medical Center Web Site

Monterey County Web Site

Meet our 1st Year Residents

Having been born and raised in Minnesota, I went to the University of MN for undergrad. After finishing my bachelor’s in Genetics and Cell Biology, I still didn’t have any real idea of what I wanted to do with my life. An interest in foreign languages and cultures that my parents had cultivated in me had led me to apply to the Peace Corps before graduation. Accepting the invitation to serve as a Public Health and Community Development volunteer in Guinea-Conakry, a country on the West Africa, was probably the best choice I ever made in my life. It helped me make the decision to apply to medical school. I wanted to be close to my family and old friends so I decided to go back to Minnesota. My professional interests are many and include Women’s health, Tropical medicine/ID, Obstetrics/MCH, Behavioral Medicine, Africa and cross-cultural medicine and underserved populations -- hence, bringing me to Natividad. My personal interests include travel, live music, my husband and two cats, coffee, visiting the ocean and seeing the mountains, biking and camping -- perfect for this area!

Laurel Grimm, MD
Mayo Medical School

Michelle Melo, MD
University of Maryland

I was born in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and my family moved to a Washington, D.C. suburb in Maryland when I was eight years old. After attending Tulane University, where I studied Neuroscience and Brazilian Studies and acquired a great appreciation for Jazz and Cajun cuisine, I moved back to the D.C. area. I did research at NIH, followed by a stint as a nanny for a wonderful family before heading up to Baltimore for medical school at the University of Maryland. After med school, I headed west to San Francisco, working at Stanford on a chest pain study while trying to figure out where to go for residency. After looking at programs all up and down the East and West Coast, I was impressed by the camaraderie found at Natividad. The doctors, administration, and residents are very impressive and I feel privileged to be among an exciting group of interns and such an extraordinary team atmosphere.

I was born in Chicago, and raised in Mexico. I attended college at Sacramento State University, where I majored in Biochemistry and Biology. After completing my Bachelor’s degree, I matriculated into Western University College of Health Sciences and finished with a Doctorate in Osteopathic medicine. In my spare time, I enjoy attending church and spending time with my two small children. I chose Natividad for residency because it offers a wide variety of experiences and opportunities to give back to “La Communidad.” In the future, I hope to work in a clinic that services low-income and underserved populations. I believe that my experience at NMC will leave me well-prepared to accomplish my goals.

Lynette Mendoza, DO
Western UHS

Paige Moore, MD
New York Medical College

I received my medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, NY. After a hiatus from medicine, which included raising a wonderful family, I had a calling to return to full time medicine. Having grown up in the area, I can personally attest to the beautiful surroundings and cultural richness of our area. I enjoy working with the wonderful, grateful patient population and appreciate my incredible fellow residents, attendings and staff here at Natividad.

Born in San Francisco and raised in Marin County, I always had a desire to become a doctor. My role models and greatest supporters were always my parents. My father taught me self-reliance, a will to always find a way around obstacles, a curiosity about life -- and how to bake! From my mother, I inherited compassion, temperance and that a little self-indulgence is great for life's balance. My loving husband has taught me generosity and humility. Powered by these characteristics, and combined with a diverse and challenging university experience at UC Davis (B.S. in Anthropology, Minor in Spanish), I found my path led me to medical school at Touro University in Vallejo, CA. Being an Osteopathic school, in addition to the basic medical curriculum, I was taught holistic practice as well as hands-on manipulative therapy, OMT. By paying closer attention to the anatomy and proper function of the body's various tissues, and taking into context the body's inherent ability to heal itself, I am more inclined to encourage health than treat disease. I try to think of each patient as a sum of their upbringing, current disease states, social status and emotional or spiritual well-being. I feel close to the population at Natividad, love speaking Spanish on a daily basis, and being part of a family-oriented community that is so welcoming and appreciative of our care!

Alison Palacios, DO
Touro University

Angel Parker, MD
University of Leicester, UK

I was born in South Africa and have lived in the States, England, France and the United Arab Emirates and now find myself in Northern California, Lucky Me! I studied in England and went to Newcastle University for my undergraduate degree in Biomedical Sciences and the University of Warwick for a postgraduate degree in Medicine. Although I miss Europe, I feel very lucky to be in the Residency Program at Natividad, working with such great people. Natividad has a great patient population and I am really excited to be involved in such an interesting community. My husband and I live in Monterey and even with the 35-minute commute, nothing beats living by the sea!

After growing up in the foothills surrounding Redding, California, I spent a stint in the Bay Area for college and then went to medical school at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona, California. After medical school and working in Southern California, I am glad that I found Natividad in my travels to different family medicine programs. I was looking for a strong unopposed program with great people, patients and teaching, and I've found all three! The scenic beauty of the foothills reminds me of my hometown, and it is minutes away from my husband’s work as an engineer at Moss Landing. When I'm not at the hospital, I enjoy cooking some of the many fresh vegetables that are grown by local organic farms, backpacking in the nearby wilderness areas, and going to San Francisco to visit friends! Natividad is a great place to work, the under-served patient population is very grateful for their care, and it is an extremely rewarding experience.

Jeanette Wahl, DO
Western UHS

Candice Weaver, DO
Touro University

I was born and raised in Los Angeles County, California, and started my college education at U.C. Berkeley (Go Bears!). After graduating from Cal with a degree emphasis in Public Health Policy, I completed my premedical studies at Johns Hopkins University, where I also worked in cancer research. I took a year off of school to work as a research coordinator in Los Angeles before enrolling at Dartmouth Medical School for my Masters degree in Public Health (emphasis in biostatistics, epidemiology, and health quality improvement). During my time at Dartmouth, I was able to co-produce an educational documentary on domestic violence in rural communities that was adopted by several organizations in Vermont. Immediately after completing my MPH, I enrolled at Touro University, where I earned my medical degree. While at Touro, I worked as a freelance writer and was a founding member of the Global Physicians Corps, Inc, and traveled to Tanzania as a medical volunteer. I've had a variety of experiences since I started college, but I expect my experience at Natividad to be the most rewarding and educational. As a National Health Service Corps Scholar, I have committed to working in a community such as the one we serve in Salinas. I was attracted to Natividad because the residency program not only offers a wealth of opportunities to learn and develop my skills as a physician, but it also provides the opportunity to do so in a friendly environment and in a culturally-rich community.