2023-2024 Nurse Practitioner Residents

Samuel “Sam” Cork, M.S.N., A.G.P.C.N.P.-B.C.

Samuel Cork is an adult gerontological primary care nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from the UCSF School of Nursing. As a nurse, Cork worked as a supervisor at a nursing home during the COVID-19 pandemic, gaining experience in wound care, postop care, and discharge planning. He has also worked as a hospice nurse in the Bay Area, providing end-of-life care and support to patients and family members.

Before entering the nursing process, Cork earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience at UCSC. He discovered his passion for healthcare while working as a certified nursing assistant with patients diagnosed with dementia. Cork’s clinical interests include neurodegenerative disease, caregiver education to optimize family support, and primary cardiovascular prevention. His research interests include deprescribing for older adults. His primary care placement is at the VA Northern California Health Care System in Mather, CA.

Laura Failinger, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Laura Failinger is a family nurse practitioner who graduated from Regis University in Denver, Colorado with her Master of Science in Nursing. She worked as a bedside nurse for seven years, predominantly in the Intensive Care Unit specializing in Cardiology. Additionally, Failinger has worked in an emergency department observation unit as well as on a neuroscience unit. Her focus in healthcare is centered on making lasting relationships with patients, highlighting each person’s unique situation and needs.

While she enjoys working patients with all ages, she is especially interested in adolescent healthcare and older adult health. Failinger is dedicated to LGBTQ+ healthcare and mental health. One of her personal goals is to become fluent in Spanish and discover aspects of healthcare outreach, including mobile medicine clinics and street medicine. Her primary care clinic placement is at El Dorado Community Health Centers in Placerville, CA.

Andreana “Andie” MacIvor, M.S.N., P.M.H.N.P.-B.C.

Andreana “Andie” MacIvor is a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner (P.M.H.N.P.) who graduated with her Master of Science from Wilkes University. She began her nursing career caring for critically ill patients in an intensive care unit near her hometown, Boiling Springs, Pa. Throughout her career, MacIvor has witnessed the prevalence of mental health challenges faced by her patients, including issues such as stigmatization, discrimination, and inadequate access to mental health treatment. Motivated by these observations, MacIvor decided to pursue a career treating people who have psychiatric illnesses and addressing the barriers to quality behavioral health care.

MacIvor’s current clinical interest is stigma within mental health. She believes it is necessary to explore patients’ experiences with stigmatization to reduce its occurrence and foster an environment in which patients feel neither judged nor discriminated against. MacIvor’s clinical assignment is with the UC Davis Health Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences in Sacramento, CA.

Rachel Michaels, D.N.P., F.N.P.-B.C.

Rachel Michaels is a family nurse practitioner who graduated from the University of California, Irvine with a Doctorate in Nursing Practice. Her nursing career began 20 years ago and has included care in various specialties such as trauma critical care, pediatrics and adult/geriatric chronic disease management. During her time as an RN, Michaels developed a passion for assisting patients achieve sustainable goals that improved their quality of life.

Michael’s approach is both proactive and respectful of the patients’ limitations and abilities. In practice, she champions the need for a medical home which provides a healthy and holistic individualized approach to care. Michaels aligns with the mission and vision of a healthcare system that values care of the underserved and underrepresented communities and promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion. She strives to improve the health of our community through education, training and being a reliable partner in health. Her primary care clinical assignment is with Harmony Health in Marysville, CA.

Shante Myers, D.N.P., F.N.P.-B.C.

Shante Myers is a graduate of Doctorate of Nurse Practice – Family Nurse Practitioner program at Samuel Merritt University. Over the last several years, Myers has worked in different areas of healthcare including, inpatient, outpatient, and public health settings. Prior to joining the N.P. residency at the Betty Irene Moore School of Nursing, she worked as hospital case manager, gaining insight into the complex care needed to keep at-risk communities healthy. Her work as a case manager inspired her to become a Nurse Practitioner and to better understand the factors that contribute to poor health outcomes.

Myers’ goal is to educate patients on their healthcare conditions, empower them with knowledge to better manage their health, and help them navigate the healthcare system to bridge the gap between resource acquisition and quality care. Her prior healthcare roles included coordinating in-home lab services for patients, implementing syringe exchange programs and serving as a medical assistance in an orthopedic clinic. Myers’ clinical interests include endocrine, hematology and cardiac disorders, along with preventive care. Her research interests include reducing health disparities related to social determinates of health and closing gaps in patient understanding of health conditions to help reduce the risk of hospital admission. Her primary care assignment is at WellSpace Health in Citrus Heights, CA.

Jasmine Padda, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Jasmine Padda is a family nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from San Jose State University. For the past seven years, Padda worked as a registered nurse at the student health center at California State University, Stanislaus where she assisted with clinical care services, performed nurse-led appointments and completed triage visits.

Prior to her experience with student health services, Padda completed a registered nurse residency program at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center working as a pediatric nurse in the intensive care unit. There, she developed an interest in infection control. Padda’s other clinical interests include health promotion and nutritional counseling. Her research interests include creating equitable care for diverse populations. Padda’s primary care clinical assignment is at Community Medical Centers in Stockton, CA.

Maribel Perez, M.S.N., F.N.P.-B.C.

Maribel Perez is a family nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from University of California, Los Angeles. She worked in an emergency department for seven years serving the East Los Angeles community, where she cared for underserved, vulnerable populations and was the main preceptor for nursing students, new graduate nurses, and experienced nurses. He work included providing medical services to underserved and vulnerable populations and volunteering in medical missions in rural villages in the Philippines.

During the last year of her family nurse practitioner program, Perez worked as a teacher assistant for UCLA undergraduate nursing classes, educating the next generation of nurses. Her clinical interests include family practice with an interest in endocrinology and women's health, emphasizing ways to decrease health disparities in preventive and disease management. Her research interests include how to apply evidence-based research to clinical practice to combat type 2 diabetes and obesity. Her primary care assignment is Health and Life Organization, Inc. in Sacramento, CA.

Amy Yujin Shin, D.N.P., C.R.N.P., A.G.N.P.-C.

Amy Yujin Shin is an adult gerontological primary care nurse practitioner. She graduated with a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care from Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing in Baltimore, MD. As a registered nurse, Shin primarily worked as a bedside nurse in Baltimore and saw firsthand how social determinants of health affects people and their wellbeing. Shin joined a medical mission in Cusco, Peru, providing essential medical care to disadvantaged communities. Shin's clinical interests include adult-gerontology health, preventative medicine and endocrinology within primary care. She is particularly interested in working with underserved populations and advocating for those who may not have sufficient access to resources and opportunities in healthcare. Her long-term goal as a nurse practitioner is to provide comprehensive and culturally-humble care and to improve outcomes within communities. Her research interests include self-management education, cardiovascular prevention, comorbid conditions in patients with diabetes and dietary factors in chronic disease. Her primary care clinical assignment during residency is at Northern California VA Medical Center in Mather, CA.

Kristin Soriano, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Kristin “Kris” Soriano is a family nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from University of California, San Francisco. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from University of California, Berkeley. Prior to entering graduate school, she worked as a community health worker at LifeLong Medical Care, a federally qualified health center in Oakland, CA. Soriano worked primarily with individuals who were unhoused or had mental health or substance-use disorders. In this role, Soriano coordinated patient care and provided case management services. Her clinical interests include family medicine, sexual and reproductive health, adolescent health, addiction medicine and behavioral health for unhoused patients and underserved and minority populations. Her research interests include disparities in health care among unhoused and incarcerated populations and the connection to substance use disorders and mental illness. Soriano’s primary care clinical assignment is at One Community Health in Sacramento, CA.

Amanda Tuazon, D.N.P., F.N.P.-B.C.

Amanda Tuazon is a family nurse practitioner, holding a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree from the Sue & Bill Gross School of Nursing at UC Irvine. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of San Francisco. With six years of experience as a registered nurse on a medical-surgical telemetry unit, Tuazon dedicated her work to vulnerable populations grappling with challenges including homelessness, low socioeconomic status, poor health literacy and limited access to primary care. She witnessed firsthand the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on this community when the hospital emerged as the “epicenter of the epicenter” during the height of the crisis.

Tuazon's practice is characterized by her dedication to fostering human connection with her patients. She believes in supporting, educating and empowering individuals, equipping them with the essential tools and resources to advocate for themselves and effectively manage their health. Tuazon's clinical research interests include diabetes education and management, as well as promoting holistic health among health care professionals. Tuazon has previously conducted research on stress reduction strategies for registered nurses who worked during the pandemic, as well as timely meal tray delivery for diabetic patients in the hospital setting. Her broad clinical interests encompass primary care, urgent care and surgery. Her primary clinical assignments are at Sacramento County Health Center and UC Davis Health’s Mobile Clinic in Sacramento, CA.

Scottie Wan, M.S.N., P.H.N., A.G.P.C.N.P.-C.

Scottie Wan is an adult gerontological primary care nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from UCSF School of Nursing. His experiences include working with patients with dementia in adult day health centers, skilled nursing and assisted living facilities. Wan also provided palliative care home visits for geriatric patients with multiple chronic comorbidities on polypharmacy. Wan’s past experience includes providing care for the homeless population in his hometown of San Jose, CA as part of the Santa Clara Valley Homeless Healthcare Program. As a multilingual child caregiver of immigrant Asian (Burmese and Chinese) parents and grandparents, Wan’s research interests include mental health, multigenerational caregiving, caregiver burden and holistic medicine. His clinical interests include integrative health, palliative care, public health nursing and increasing access to underserved and minority populations. His primary care clinical assignment is at UC Davis Health Internal Medicine and the Healthy Aging Clinic in Sacramento, CA.

Sarah Yang, M.S.N., F.N.P.-C.

Sarah Yang is a family nurse practitioner who graduated with a Master of Science in Nursing from Samuel Merritt University in Sacramento, CA. Yanghas 6 years of experience working in a primary care setting as a medical receptionist and referral coordinator, assisting underserved communities in the Greater Sacramento area. In 2021 she served as a student nurse vaccinator at a mass vaccination site organized by Kaiser Permanente at Cal Expo in Sacramento. Yang’s clinical interest focuses on preventative and women’s health, with an emphasis on holistic and patient-centered care. Her research interests include health disparities, chronic care management in Southeast Asian communities, rural health, hospice and palliative care and women’s health with a focus on perimenopause. Her primary care clinical assignment is at Veterans Administration Northern California Health Care System in Mather, CA.