HIV Clinical Leadership Program Fellows
2021 -2023 Class
Dr. Earl Gerald (EG) Carlos
Dr. Earl Gerald (EG) Carlos
EG was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to the United States at five years old. He completed his undergraduate studies at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL. Before medical school, he worked for AmeriCorps in Chicago as a Community Resource Educator. He attended medical school at Nova Southeastern University and became a Family Medicine resident at Detroit Wayne County Health Authority through Michigan State University. During residency, he completed a tropical medicine rotation in Mutomo, Kenya where he experienced the disparity of HIV care in developing countries. In October 2019, he was employed as an HIV medical doctor in South Sudan through Doctors Without Borders. He hopes to play a part in closing the gap in HIV care in the U.S. and globally. Aside from medicine, he is an avid tennis player and enjoys playing guitar and salsa dancing.
EG was born in Manila, Philippines and moved to the United States at five years old. He completed his undergraduate studies at Benedictine University in Lisle, IL. Before medical school, he worked for AmeriCorps in Chicago as a Community Resource Educator. He attended medical school at Nova Southeastern University and became a Family Medicine resident at Detroit Wayne County Health Authority through Michigan State University. During residency, he completed a tropical medicine rotation in Mutomo, Kenya where he experienced the disparity of HIV care in developing countries. In October 2019, he was employed as an HIV medical doctor in South Sudan through Doctors Without Borders. He hopes to play a part in closing the gap in HIV care in the U.S. and globally. Aside from medicine, he is an avid tennis player and enjoys playing guitar and salsa dancing.
Dr. Rebecca Lee
Dr. Rebecca Lee
Rebecca was born and raised in New York State. She moved across the country to work with Los Angeles County patients at Harbor-UCLA for her Internal Medicine Residency training. Residency at Harbor-UCLA introduced Rebecca to her passion – taking care of vulnerable populations and advocating for health equity at all levels of clinical care. She was drawn to the HIV Clinical Leadership fellowship because of the mentorship provided by the faculty. She is looking forward to nurturing her interests in HIV medicine and social determinants of health.
Rebecca was born and raised in New York State. She moved across the country to work with Los Angeles County patients at Harbor-UCLA for her Internal Medicine Residency training. Residency at Harbor-UCLA introduced Rebecca to her passion – taking care of vulnerable populations and advocating for health equity at all levels of clinical care. She was drawn to the HIV Clinical Leadership fellowship because of the mentorship provided by the faculty. She is looking forward to nurturing her interests in HIV medicine and social determinants of health.
Dr. Oliver Refugio
Dr. Oliver Refugio
Oliver was raised in Los Angeles, California. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physiology & neuroscience from UC San Diego. His interest in HIV began while finishing an MPH in epidemiology at San Diego State, where he wrote his thesis on the impact of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on the sexual health of military men living with HIV. Oliver completed his medical degree at UCLA Medical School and residency training in Internal Medicine at UCLA-Olive View. In addition to HIV, he is interested in adult primary care, PrEP, sexually transmitted infections, and expanding access to care through telehealth. His focus is serving communities of color, particularly immigrants and those who identify as LGBTQ+ who are impacted by HIV. Oliver is excited to continue providing care for the underserved community in Los Angeles County.
Oliver was raised in Los Angeles, California. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physiology & neuroscience from UC San Diego. His interest in HIV began while finishing an MPH in epidemiology at San Diego State, where he wrote his thesis on the impact of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy on the sexual health of military men living with HIV. Oliver completed his medical degree at UCLA Medical School and residency training in Internal Medicine at UCLA-Olive View. In addition to HIV, he is interested in adult primary care, PrEP, sexually transmitted infections, and expanding access to care through telehealth. His focus is serving communities of color, particularly immigrants and those who identify as LGBTQ+ who are impacted by HIV. Oliver is excited to continue providing care for the underserved community in Los Angeles County.
Class of 2020-2022
Dr. Johnathan Kao
Dr. Johnathan Kao
Dr. Jonathan Kao, MD was born and did most of his schooling in California before going off to explore the rest of the country. He first went to Michigan to attend Michigan State University College of Human Medicine where working with the underserved communities in Flint, Michigan solidified his interest in primary care. He than traveled to Memphis Tennessee to do his residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Service Science Center. His work with the HIV clinic led him to pursue a career in HIV Primary Care. In addition to HIV medicine, he is interested in helping patients transition from their pediatric providers to adult physicians and stay connected and engaged with the healthcare community throughout their lives. After many years away from Southern California, Jonathan is excited to be returning home to all the amazing food and to continue his training in HIV medicine.
Dr. Jonathan Kao, MD was born and did most of his schooling in California before going off to explore the rest of the country. He first went to Michigan to attend Michigan State University College of Human Medicine where working with the underserved communities in Flint, Michigan solidified his interest in primary care. He than traveled to Memphis Tennessee to do his residency in Internal Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Tennessee Health Service Science Center. His work with the HIV clinic led him to pursue a career in HIV Primary Care. In addition to HIV medicine, he is interested in helping patients transition from their pediatric providers to adult physicians and stay connected and engaged with the healthcare community throughout their lives. After many years away from Southern California, Jonathan is excited to be returning home to all the amazing food and to continue his training in HIV medicine.
Dr. Tri Trang
Dr. Tri Trang
Tri was born in Vietnam and grew up in central Massachusetts. He left to the capital district of New York to complete both undergraduate and medical school training. He attended Union College through a joint degree program with Union Graduate College where he doubled majored in Biology and Economics while achieving a Masters in Healthcare Management. He was inspired to pursue family medicine through the experiences he had as Albany Medical College. Tri returned home to central Massachusetts for family medicine residency to serve at the same FQHC that he and his family used when they first immigrated to the United States. Throughout his residency program Tri was exposed to patients of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. He worked closely with the HIV team at his clinic where his passion in serving the underserved became more directed towards infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. Tri is a new transplant to the west coast and is exited to explore hiking trails in state parks, beaches along the coast, and all of the delicious foods offered at LA's unique restaurants,
Tri was born in Vietnam and grew up in central Massachusetts. He left to the capital district of New York to complete both undergraduate and medical school training. He attended Union College through a joint degree program with Union Graduate College where he doubled majored in Biology and Economics while achieving a Masters in Healthcare Management. He was inspired to pursue family medicine through the experiences he had as Albany Medical College. Tri returned home to central Massachusetts for family medicine residency to serve at the same FQHC that he and his family used when they first immigrated to the United States. Throughout his residency program Tri was exposed to patients of various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds. He worked closely with the HIV team at his clinic where his passion in serving the underserved became more directed towards infectious diseases such as HIV, hepatitis, and tuberculosis. Tri is a new transplant to the west coast and is exited to explore hiking trails in state parks, beaches along the coast, and all of the delicious foods offered at LA's unique restaurants,