Fellows

Sunmi is so excited to join UW for the RHAP fellowship! When you ask Sunmi where they’re from, you may get a different answer every time! As a military kid, what home meant and where home was ever evolving. Their memories are scattered between various cities in South Korea and US. On grey Seattle days, their heart may be wandering the crowded markets and sunny shores of Busan!

Sunmi lived in the Midwest for over a decade, where they completed their medical degree and MPH at the Ohio State University. At OSU, Sunmi was deeply involved in leadership for APAMSA, the Asian Free Clinic, and Medical Students for Choice. They participated in research on language disparities and engaged in advocacy for reproductive justice and gender health.

They completed residency at Swedish Cherry Hill Family Medicine Residency with their continuity clinic at International Community Health Services. Sunmi is so grateful to have their community members serve as their teachers and shape who they are as a doctor. During residency, Sunmi took on leadership as an OB lead, wellness lead, and community medicine lead.

Sunmi is excited to nurture their skills as an abortion provider and advocate. Outside of the clinic, you can find Sunmi wandering the streets of the International District plotting what to eat next! They also enjoy geeking out over stationery, public transit, music, urban foraging, and of course, their cats!

I took a circuitous route to the field of medicine, spending time building and painting theatre sets, considering the possibility of a career in academia, and, finally, settling into work in global health after college. I spent several years working in program coordination for medical non-profits based in Guatemala before realizing I found the medical care itself fascinating and deciding to take the leap and go to medical school.

I spent a year at Temple University in Philadelphia checking off my basic science courses before moving to the US-Mexico border to attend medical school at Texas Tech El Paso. I completed my family medicine residency at Duke University in Durham, NC where I was lucky enough to have a former Reproductive Health Access Project Fellow, Dr. Joi Spaulding, as one my attendings. She, and many other passionate physicians, gave me the chance to experience how meaningful providing abortion care is. I cannot say enough wonderful things about the providers and staff at Planned Parenthood South Atlantic who welcomed me as a trainee, and I look forward to the new mentors I will meet in Washington. In addition to the focus on abortion care in residency, I was also part of the advanced obstetrics track focusing on antepartum and intrapartum care for pregnant patients. I am very excited to spend time teaching residents on L&D during my time as a fellow in addition to getting to work together in the outpatient family medicine clinic.

When I am not in clinic or the hospital, you can find me reading in nearly every genre, playing board games, and working on my new crochet skills, which involves a lot of counting under my breath and learning by re-doing sections when I misread the pattern.

I am delighted to be joining the University of Washington family medicine team for the next year. Please give me your favorite best berry picking and restaurant recommendations when we meet.

I am a proud Puerto Rican from the beautiful mountain town of Aibonito, where I grew up surrounded by stunning landscapes and vibrant culture. My childhood was filled with beach adventures, music, and cherished moments with family, whose support shaped who I am today.

As the first in my family to become a doctor, my journey into medicine began after a life-changing trip to Ecuador, where I provided health education and care to underserved communities. This sparked my passion for primary care, leading me to study Biology and Pre-Med at the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez, and attend medical school at Ponce Health Sciences University.

I completed my family medicine residency in Hoboken University Medical Center, New Jersey, gaining invaluable experience in holistic care across all life stages. I also received advanced training in menopause, reproductive, and prenatal care, along with abortion care through the MAP program. As chief resident, I focused on fostering a patient-centered environment and improving residency experiences.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking, exploring new places and, traveling. I’m excited to continue serving a new community in Washington while embracing the region’s beauty and culture

Nikeeta Shah (she/they) is a Southern California transplant who came to Seattle for family medicine residency at Swedish Cherry Hill and is very excited to be staying for the Reproductive Health Access Project fellowship. She completed undergrad at Pitzer College and medical school at Western University of Health Sciences. She wants to practice full spectrum primary care that includes reproductive health, equity and justice work, addiction medicine, mental health, and integrative modalities of healing that address chronic pain and underlying trauma. She is looking forward to improving her skills as an abortion provider and advocate this year. Outside of work, she loves dance and movement, spending time with loved ones, cooking and eating yummy food, and being in the sun next to water. 

Originally from Anchorage, I still identify with Alaska as my home. I did my undergraduate studies in Anthropology at WWU; this was where I first became knowledgeable and passionate about reproductive health and justice. I spent time working for Planned Parenthood as a regional field organizer based in Anchorage. This prompted me to pursue my MPH in Health Systems and Policy at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. After that, I moved to D.C. to work for MSI Reproductive Choices, a British-based NGO providing direct services globally. One of my projects at MSI entailed interviewing and filming MSI staff and clients in Cambodia and Tanzania about a myriad of reproductive health topics. This work ultimately inspired me to shift careers and apply to medical school with the goal of providing full spectrum reproductive health care, including abortion. I stayed in DC for medical school at George Washington and now am completing residency at Swedish First Hill Family Medicine Residency. I am overjoyed at the opportunity to join the RHAP Fellowship at UW. I enjoy spending time outside in Seattle– running, hiking and gardening. I live here with my spouse Ryan, our dog Taro, and we are expecting our first baby in July 2024. 

Natalie Cheung-Jones (she/her) grew up on a rural island of the coast of Maine but has called Washington home for the last 10 years. She went to Pacific Northwest University in Yakima, WA, for medical school and graduated from the University of Washington Family Medicine Residency. Before medical school, she worked as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood in Seattle where she fell in love with reproductive and sexual healthcare. After fellowship, she wants to continue full-spectrum family medicine with obstetrics and an emphasis on abortion, vasectomy, contraceptive, and teaching other reproductive and sexual health care. Outside of work, you can find her gardening, reading fantasy books, walking her dog and paddle boarding.

Samantha Glass (she/her) is a Chicago native who is excited to be living her dream working in the name of reproductive justice as the new Reproductive Health Access Project Fellow. She obtained an undergraduate degree at the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) in Spanish and Biochemistry, went on to medical school at the University of Illinois at Chicago and finished her training in family medicine at the University of California Riverside. Her professional passions include reproductive health, equity and justice, and full spectrum primary care. As a fellow she hopes that she will improve her skills as an abortion provider and gain experience as an abortion advocate. Outside of work, she loves to cook, try new restaurants, take spin classes, and spend time with her family and friends. She is looking forward to discovering all that Seattle has to offer.

Hello! My name is Sheila (she/her). I am Iranian-American and grew up just outside Sacramento, CA. I received my undergraduate degree from UCLA in psychobiology and osteopathic medical degree from Western University of Health Sciences. I spent a gap year as an AmeriCorps volunteer working to support underserved and resource-limited high school students. I returned to Sacramento for residency in Family and Community Medicine at UC Davis, and I am incredibly excited to be joining the University of Washington team as a Reproductive Health and Advocacy Fellow. Like many of us in family medicine, I have a list of passions that includes refugee and immigrant health, mental health, and of course, reproductive health and justice. I aspire to provide full-spectrum care— cradle to grave, contraception to conception, and prenatal to abortion care. As a fellow I plan to hone my skills as an abortion provider, educator, and advocate. After fellowship, I plan to provide abortions in areas across the country and train and grow with the future generation of providers by incorporating abortion training in primary care training. Outside of medicine, I fill my cup with snowboarding, hiking, paddle boarding, dancing, breweries, and international travel!

I grew up in Minnesota, then spent a decade on the East coast for college, Community Healthcorps and medical school before moving to Seattle for Family Medicine Residency at the University of Washington. I was fortunate to receive strong reproductive health training integrated into my residency, and wanted to develop further expertise in comprehensive family planning including abortion care, miscarriage management, complex contraception as well as advocacy and teaching skills in reproductive health and justice. I am thrilled to be staying at the University of Washington for the Reproductive Health and Advocacy fellowship. My other medical interests include refugee and immigrant health and hospital medicine. After fellowship, I plan to practice full spectrum family medicine and provide abortion care in provider-shortage areas. Outside of medicine, I enjoy hiking, reading in the park, cooking and eating new food.

I am originally from Southern California. I finished my Family Medicine Residency at Chestnut Hill Family Practice Residency in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. I have always had a strong passion in reproductive healthcare. During my medical training, I have had opportunities to learn more about abortion training, women’s health, and reproductive health which sparked my interest even further in this field. I am excited to join University of Washington and Reproductive Health Access Project (RHAP) in furthering my training in family planning, abortion care, and reproductive health advocacy during the next year. I also look forward to improving my leadership skills and participating in more advocacy opportunities through Leadership Training Academy. I have always been interested in full spectrum family care which includes comprehensive reproductive health services. After fellowship, I plan to practice full spectrum family medicine and provide abortion care in underserved areas. I am very excited to return to the west coast and be part of the University of Washington family. Outside of clinic, I enjoy baking and cooking, exploring downtown, trying new restaurants, and traveling to visit family, friends, and new places!