Welcome to VCME
Valley Consortium for Medical Education
Family Medicine Residency Program
Faculty
A brief introductory video to VCME family medicine residency program
Saira Dar, MD, MBA, MEHP, ABAARM
Program Director
Dr. Saira Dar completed her medical education and residency at Regions Hospital in Minnesota in 2005. During her residency training, she presented at various local and National events and conferences on behalf of her training institution.
Dr. Dar finished fellowship in Functional Medicine through A4M and received additional training for reversing cognitive decline in the elderly through the IFM (institution of Functional medicine) She completed her training to treat and manage Opioid dependence and is licensed to offer such treatment.
Dr. Dar completed MBA (Masters in Business Administration) from University of Massachusetts, Amherst and then MEHP (Masters in Health Professions Education) from John Hopkins University.
Dr. Dar's practice is in Modesto, CA. Her practice is largely focused on adults, children and geriatric population. Her main areas of focus are integrative medicine, functional medicine, incorporating diet and lifestyle into health and anti-aging medicine.
Dr. Dar held several leadership roles as a medical director, course director, and supervisor at various organizations.
Dr. Dar's Passion is to provide care that is based on the principles of personalized and integrative medicine and improve health-spans. She focuses on medicine, nutrition, and genomics to cater to each individual patient's needs. Believing that each of us is unique, Dr. Dar develops a customized care plan for one patient at a time.
A brief introductory video to lifestyle, personalized medical practice based upon principles of Functional and Integrative medicine
Anika Godhwani, DO
Associate PD
Medical School: Touro University in CA
Residency: Valley Family Medicine Residency
Thank you for reading! I am a Bay Area native. I came to Modesto for my residency at Valley Family Medicine in 2011. I decided to stay in the area and join the faculty to continue caring for our under-served patients. I enjoy group care, mentoring and advising residents. I also helped start our Rainbow Clinic and enjoy providing care to the LGBT+ community. I love all things Disney and Marvel.
Alexander Phan,
DO
Core Faculty
Medical School: A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine, Arizona 2014
Residency: Valley Consortium for Medical Education – Family Medicine Residency Modesto CA – 2014-2017
Born in San Francisco, I grew up in the Bay Area, went to medical school in Arizona, and eventually ended up in Modesto for continuation of my training as a physician. I was fortunate enough to work alongside excellent residents and faculty. Based on my positive experience, I decided to stay after graduating in 2017 as an attending, thus giving back to the program and serving the underprivileged community here. Outside of work, I enjoy exercising, listening to music, doing outdoor activities (like hiking), watching sitcoms/movies, and spending time with family/friends.
RaeLeigh Payanes,
MD
Core Faculty
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: Valley Family Medicine Residency
I am a mom of 3 energetic and hilarious little boys and wife to an amazing and supportive husband. We have our hands full between soccer, basketball, band and school/work! When I have a spare moment, I enjoy exercising, reading, and spending time with friends/family.
I’m excited to be a part of VCME because it allows me the unique opportunity to continue inpatient medicine, outpatient clinic, obstetric care, and teaching within the residency program.
Susie Wenstrup,
MD
Core Faculty
Medical School: MD, University of Cincinnati School of Medicine 1994
Residency: Stanislaus Family Medicine Residency 1997
Title: UCDavis School of Medicine Clinical Professor
Fellowship: UCSF Faculty Development Fellowship 2012
I have been working at Turlock Medical Office since 1997 and became core faculty for Valley Family Residency Program in 2011.
James
Kraus,
MD
Core Faculty
Medical School: University of Oklahoma COM
Residency: Stanislaus Family Medicine Residency
Interests: Psychiatry, Substance Use disorder (Genesis Methadone program director), Residency education, POCUS, Global Health (10 years in West Africa doing relief work).
Hobbies: raising 4 children, guitar, science fiction books, hiking and camping.
John
English,
MD
Faculty
Medical School: School UC Davis class of 96
Residency: Valley Family Medicine class of 99
I have twofold privilege of caring for the poor and teaching residents. It is both a challenge and a joy to uphold the dignity of the marginalized people I serve, especially those with HIV, while attending to their physical needs. It is a further gift to try to model that care and inspire the hearts and minds of the young doctors we teach.
When I am not at work, you will probably find me at home with my wife Francine and our four beautiful daughters, or perhaps working in the garden or listening to a Giants game.
Amanda Jamal, MD
Core Faculty
Hi, I am a graduate from the VCME family medicine residency reogram and joined core faculty shortly after my graduation, I am involved in in-patient, out-patient rotations as well as curricular design, POCUS and a variety of additional activities. Teaching and training residents and watching their growth over time is tremendously fulfilling for me and that is the reason that despite a long commute, I plan on staying with the program.
Diana
Galvan
Behavior Health Faculty
Medical School: I am behavior health faculty and am actively involved with curriculum, wellness and a variety of seminars. I joined VCME residency program earlier in 2022 and it has been a tremendously fulfilling experience.
Peter
Gaines,
MD
Faculty
Medical School: Medical College of Virginia: Graduated in 1987
Residency: Scenic General Hospital Residency in Family Practice: Graduated 1990
Speciality: University of California at San Francisco, Geriatric Fellowship. Graduated 2000.
I have been teaching in the residency program since 1990 and am still trying to get it right. I love working with patients and their families and also enjoy teaching. The residents have made me a better doctor over the years and I am indebted to them for that. I also speak Spanish and have spent the last 26 years working on my Spanish with my patients. I feel very lucky to have spent my career here.
Mitchel Cohen,
DO
Faculty
Medical School : Midwestern University, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Stanislaus County Family Practice Residency
Who am I?: I am a transplant from Los Angeles. After finishing medical school in Chicago, I wanted to come back home. I completed residency here in Modesto in 1999, joined the faculty group and have never left. Modesto provides me with being close to the mountains as I enjoy skiing, backpacking and am hoping to get back into rock climbing one day. Spending time with my kids is a priority. I enjoy teaching our residents and also learning from them.
Sunita
Saini,
MD
Faculty, Pediatrics
Medical School: Medical College of Ohio
Internship and Residency: Medical College of Ohio/Mercy Children’s Hospital
Specialty: Pediatrics
Hi there! I was actually born and raised in Turlock. I am blessed to have many different aspects to my career: I have a pediatric practice at the Family and Pediatric Health Center in Modesto. I am faculty for the Valley Consortium for Medical Education, so I get to teach the residents in the field of pediatrics. I am the Clinical Chief of Pediatrics for the clinics of the Health Services Agency. I also have administrative duties as Executive Committee Member for our medical board. When I am not working, I am spending quality time with my husband and four children. My hobbies include traveling, scrapbooking, photography, walking, running, dancing, and watching comedy and sci-fi TV series. My obsessions are Star Wars, Disney, Marvel, the San Francisco 49ers, and the San Francisco Giants. My life dream is to visit all 61 National Parks in the USA!
Nancy
Brown,
MD
Faculty, Pediatrics
Medical School: UC Davis
Residency: University of Arizona
I like reading, baking, operas, and walking my dogs.
Ana R
Revilla,
MD
Faculty, Pediatrics
Dr Revilla graduated from Medical School in Argentina in 1994. Some years later she moved to the US and completed her residency in Pediatrics in New Jersey.
After residency she did postgrad studies in Australia and obtained a Master degree in Public Health and Tropical Medicine.
She returned to her family in California, and worked for 16 years at FQHCs in the Central Valley (Community Medical Centers and Livingston Community Health).
During the COVID-19 pandemic she joined Scenic Faculty Medical Group and since then she has been working at the Family and Pediatrics Health Clinic in Modesto.
Dr Revilla is passionate about educating children and families about nutrition. She enjoys teaching residents and medical students.
Meaghan Hongo,
M.D.
Faculty, Pediatrics
Medical Doctorate: Ross University School of Medicine 2013-2017
Residency: University of South Alabama Pediatric Residency in Mobile Alabama 2017-2020
Specialty: General Pediatrics
About Me: I started my medical journey as a scribe at DMC Modesto ER and saw the tremendous need for primary care here in the Central Valley. I attended medical school with the intention of returning home as a primary care provider and was happy to achieve that goal by joining SFMG as a Pediatrician. In my free time I enjoy cooking, crafting, kayaking and hiking with my wonderful husband and our cowardly Labrador-mix.
Sabrina Hussain,
MD
Faculty, OB/GYN
Medical School: State University of New York August 1993 – May 1997
Residency: Obstetrics and Gynecology
Albany Medical Center
July 1997 – June 2001
Christopher Grover,
MD
Faculty, OB/GYN
Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine Graduated 1991
Residency: Obstetrics & Gynecology
University of California San Francisco
Graduated 1995
Susan
Kraus,
MD
Faculty
Medical School: University of Florida School of Medicine
Graduated 2000
Residency: Family Medicine Residency: St. Anthony Hospital, Oklahoma City
Christine Battaglia,
DO
Faculty
Medical School: Touro University – College of Osteopathic Medicine Vallejo, CA 2007-2011
Residency: Valley Family Medicine Residency 2011 – 2014
Thomas Wenstrup,
MD
Faculty
Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Resident: Stanislaus Medical Center, Modesto, CA
I am fortunate to work with a group of highly-skilled, compassionate physicians, who enjoy the challenges of working with underserved populations and of teaching family medicine residents. I would like more opportunities for involvement in efforts to improve the health and well being of the community.