REGENTS OF UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director, Ultrasound Education, DGSOM
Job Titles:
- Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Alan Chin, M.D. completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California, Los Angeles and then medical school at the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine. He did his pediatric residency at UCLA. Dr. Chin is a faculty pediatric hospitalist attending at UCLA, caring for hospitalized pediatric patients at both UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital and Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center. Additionally, Dr. Chin is Program Director for the UCLA Pediatric Residency Program. His main interests are in medical education, inpatient pediatric care, and electronic medical records. He is actively involved in both the mentorship and education of medical students and residents. Alan is passionate about maintaining a high level educational experience for UCLA medical students and pediatric residents, while providing excellent clinical care to hospitalized patients.
Job Titles:
- Hospital Medicine
- Hospitalist
Dr. Alexandra Milin Glaeser is a hospitalist physician who practices at UCLA Ronald Reagan and Santa Monica medical centers. She is board certified in internal medicine.
Dr. Glaeser received her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine. During her medical education, she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She completed her internship, residency, and chief residency at the University of California, Los Angeles. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania, graduating magna cum laude with honors in her major.
She has a passion for medical school and residency teaching. Currently, she is the Vice-Chair of the Acute Care College at the David Geffen School of Medicine. She is also the co-director of the inpatient Procedure Service and of internal medicine privileging. She does quality improvement research on procedures and inpatient clinical outcomes. She regularly teaches point of care ultrasound and incorporates it into her care of patients.
Job Titles:
- Medical Director
- Medical Director of the UCLA Simulation Center
Cecilia Canales is the Medical Director of the UCLA Simulation Center. Dr. Canales received her MD from UC Irvine School of Medicine and completed her residency at UCLA Department of Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine. As Assistant Professor in Residence, she also holds a Master of Science in Clinical Research and a Master of Public Health.
Dr. Canales has a long history at UCLA with over 18 years of experience in simulation-based education, training, research and administration. Prior to her medical training, she conducted clinical research in the Anesthesiology department and coordinated simulation training at UCLA Simulation Center, playing a pivotal role in expanding training programs to medical student and residents. She left UCLA to establish and lead UC Irvine's simulation center in 2010, serving as the Director of Operations and Curriculum Development as well as their Staff Director of Clinical Research. Her dual passion for education and discovery have fueled her to seek out translating simulation research to link learning outcomes to clinical outcomes. Her research has focused on using POCUS to identify frailty and predict postoperative outcomes; creating teaching tools to enhance humanism, empathy, and teamwork; and advancing language equity in perioperative neurocognitive disorders affecting older adults undergoing surgery.
Dr. Canales has been awarded multiple grants for her research efforts and recognized as a National Academy of Medicine Scholar in Diagnostic Excellence. Most recently, she was selected for the UCLA Clinical & Translational Science Institute Career Development Award to continue her work in improving cognitive outcomes for older adults. She also serves as a core simulation educator for residents and students.
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for the Center for Continuing Professional Development
Job Titles:
- Standardized Patient Educator
Chiquita Melvin joined UCLA in 2021 as a Standardized Patient (SP) Educator. Chiquita has a Bachelor's degree in Political Science and Spanish from the University of Georgia and a Master of Fine Arts degree in Acting from the University of Virginia. In addition to roles in theatre, web series, television, and independent films, she has worked as an actress with Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theatre. She received her medical simulation experience with the School of Medicine and the School of Nursing at the University of Virginia and with the Grossman School of Medicine at NYU. As an SP Educator, Chiquita casts, trains, and directs actors to portray patients for UCLA medical students and other learners. She believes the merging of performance art and medical instruction is an important cause, which the role of SP Educator allows her to fulfill.
Job Titles:
- Simulation Specialist, Equipment Manager, Data Analyst
- Specialist at the UCLA Simulation Center
Cory Soto is a simulation specialist at the UCLA Simulation Center. He is responsible for coordinating undergraduate medical education programming and running simulation sessions for medical students, residents and hospital staff. Cory received his certification as a pharmacy technician in 2007 and has experience working in the Neurology/Oncology and Operating Room pharmacies at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, before transferring to the simulation center in January 2013. He earned his bachelor's in Biochemistry at UCLA in 2011 and lends his experience to the development of our sustainable simulated pharmacy for medical education. He manages the maintenance of simulation equipment inventory and provides troubleshooting to ensure smooth operations. In his free time, Cory enjoys cycling, reading and writing.
Job Titles:
- Learning Experience Designer, Graphic Designer, Editor
Dan Weisman is a Learning Experience Designer, graphic designer, editor, videographer, and animator. Dan is responsible for creating interactive and engaging learning experiences using the latest technologies and multimedia tools. Before joining the UCLA Simulation Center team, he worked as a Video Production Specialist and Instructional Designer for the UCLA School of Theater, Film, and TV (TFT) and UCLA Online Teaching and Learning. His duties included running a video production studio on campus, video editing for numerous online courses, and helping redesign course websites in the Canvas LMS. In 2021, he participated in research into XR and immersive 3D learning environments, collaborating to produce multiplayer videogame-style learning environments designed to be experienced on a stage sized LED wall. Prior to joining TFT in 2019, he worked as a key member of UCLA Life Sciences Core Media, helping to create instructional media for Life Sciences and other majors. In his free time, he is a freelance artist for a wide range of clients in the academic, entertainment, and biotech fields. He earned his MFA from UCLA in 2012, majoring in Film and Television with an emphasis in Animation.
Job Titles:
- Director, POCUS, Internal Medicine
Job Titles:
- Director, Clinical Engineering at UCLA Health System / Finance
Job Titles:
- MEHP / Assistant Dean for Clinical Education
Job Titles:
- Associate Program Director & Associate Clinical Professor, General Internal Medicine
Job Titles:
- Director of Student Assessment
Job Titles:
- Standardized Patient Educator
Jackie Torres joined UCLA full time as an SP Educator in October 2024. However, she has been part time with DGSOM since 2007 as a Standardized Patient. She joined the UCLA SP Program out of appreciation to the medical staff that was key in saving her after an accident that kept her in and out of a hospital for over a year. What she learned from that led her to write and publish the book: "Save Me First", about the challenges patients face in a hospital. Her experience as an actress in over 35 films and TV series, as well as her role as a TV producer of 3 number one series for Telemundo Network, director of 3 urban films in Los Angeles, and producer of multiple live shows, have given her access to a wealth of experiences that have blended wonderfully with effective communication in a medical setting. She has a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from the University of Maryland, College Park and a Master's Degree in Public Communication from the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras.
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Curricular Affairs
Job Titles:
- Director, American Heart Association & Allied Health Education Programs
Job Titles:
- Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Job Titles:
- Director of the Skills and Simulation Learning Labs at UCLA School of Nursing
- Director, Skills and Simulation Lab, UCLA School of Nursing
- Master Degree Prepared Nurse Practitioner
Jihan Ceyhan is a dual master degree prepared Nurse Practitioner with experience in clinical practice, nursing education, simulation, clinical abstraction, wellness and coaching. She received her B.S. from University of Delaware in 2006 and completed a dual master's degree program at New York University (NYU) graduating with degrees in both Adult Gerontology Primary Care and Holistic Nursing in 2013. She holds national board certification as an Adult Gerontology Nurse Practitioner. Ceyhan's clinical practice in oncology includes serving as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner for multiple surgical specialties including Head and Neck Oncology, Thoracic Oncology and Plastic and Reconstructive Surgical Oncology during her time at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City. She has also served as a nurse educator, teaching skills and simulation lab- based nursing courses, at New York University (NYU) and University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).
Currently, Ceyhan is the Director of the Skills and Simulation learning labs at UCLA School of Nursing. Her responsibilities include overseeing effective coordination and management of all operations, scheduling, processes, budgeting, policies, procedures and resources for the labs. She collaborates with nursing faculty to develop, assess and revise standardization of nursing skills and simulation for our nursing programs. Ceyhan and the lab team were recently awarded the coveted UCLA Star Award for their dedication and commitment to innovation, collaboration, communication, creativity and consistently exceeding goals and work expectations. She is currently pursuing a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) at the John's Hopkins Carey Business School and an Executive Doctorate of Nursing Practice (E-DNP) at the John's Hopkins School of Nursing.
Areas of Expertise and Interest
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Program Coordinator
- Administrative Assistant and Program Coordinator for the UCLA Simulation Center
Kacey Borders is an Administrative Assistant and Program Coordinator for the UCLA Simulation Center. She is responsible for coordinating and scheduling all aspects of meetings, simulation sessions and other events within our Simulation Center. Since March 2014, Kacey has served as our initial point of contact for coordinating/maintaining the calendars for the Center's Director and staff. Kacey has a bachelor's degree in Communication Studies and Marketing. She enjoys fashion design and sewing women's apparel.
Karina Isenberg graduated in 2024 with a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Administration and a minor in Business from California Baptist University and she is currently pursuing an MBA. She has gained hands-on experience in simulation-based education, medical inventory management, and interprofessional collaboration through her role at the IPE-LRC and a simulation internship at California Baptist University. In her free time, she can usually be found at the local farmers market.
Job Titles:
- Director, Academic Technology
Job Titles:
- Radiology
- Interim Vice Dean for Education Assistant Dean for Inclusive Excellence
Job Titles:
- Standardized Patient Program Director
Kenneth Lay directs the Standardized Patient (SP) Program which is responsible for teaching and evaluating medical student performance and providing SPs for other educational activities at the UCLA Simulation Center. Ken joined UCLA in 2016 after 8 years with the Office of Medical Simulation at Western University of Health Sciences. He is a member of the Association of Standardized Patient Educators and holds degrees in Electronic Media Communications and in Cinema-Television Production from Missouri State University and the University of Southern California respectively. Ken is an award-winning community theater actor and director, having worked on stages throughout the Inland Empire. He is also a novelist and playwright with one published novel and a play that was performed locally at the Santa Monica Playhouse in 2019.
Job Titles:
- Finance Business Partner, Education & Research Programs
Job Titles:
- Director of Program Evaluation
Job Titles:
- Administrative Assistant
- Administrative Assistant for the UCLA Simulation Center
Michael Lopez is the Administrative Assistant for the UCLA Simulation Center. He provides executive support to the leadership team and assists with day-to-day operations. Before UCLA, he worked in film preservation, entertainment, and managed several successful re-housing efforts for the special collections archive at the University of Southern California. Michael enjoys running and training for the Boston and Tokyo marathons.
Job Titles:
- Senior Educational Analyst
Job Titles:
- Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education
Job Titles:
- Operations Specialist
- Simulation Specialist
Nina Do is a simulation operations specialist. Nina began her career at the UCLA Simulation Center in 2019 as a student worker, where she worked with both our simulation technology team and our Standardized Patient Program. Nina received a bachelor's degree in Human Biology and Society from UCLA in 2022. In her free time, she enjoys playing volleyball and squash, and has a passion for medical education. She is dedicated to advancing the field of medical education and helping others reach their full potential.
Job Titles:
- CASIT Executive Director
- Executive Director, CASIT
Job Titles:
- Research Manager
- Simulation Specialist, Program Manager
Rukhsana "Roxy" Khan is Research Manager and a simulation specialist at the UCLA Simulation Center. She manages all the research projects at the center and is also responsible for coordinating and running simulation sessions for medical students, residents and hospital staff. Roxy earned her bachelor's at UCLA and an MPH at USC. Her interest in medicine led her to first volunteer at the simulation center as an intern, and subsequently she was hired as full time staff in August 2011. She loves her dog Bam-Bam.
Job Titles:
- Operations Specialist
- Simulation Specialist
Ryan Damm is a simulation operations specialist and has been at UCLA Simulation Center since June 2022. He is responsible for coordinating and running simulations for medical students, residents and hospital staff. He completed his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology at California State University, Northridge in 2023. As a Pre-Med student, Ryan has worked as an organic chemistry research assistant, volunteered as a suicide hotline counselor, and traveled to Kenya to shadow in public hospitals. Ryan loves to spend his free time with friends, and enjoys volleyball, playing video games, and watching Netflix.
Job Titles:
- Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist
- Simulation Specialist
Ryan Gouras is a skilled healthcare simulation operations specialist with a rich background in medical education. In 2016, he earned his Bachelor's degree in Microbiology from UC Santa Barbara and began his journey in healthcare as an EEG researcher. Starting in August 2023 at the UCLA Simulation Center, he brings four years of experience as a simulation specialist from UC Irvine medical school and an additional two years from Pacific College Nursing School. His role as a Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist, along with his commitment to creating immersive training scenarios, allows him to make valuable contributions to student learning experiences that empower future healthcare professionals. Beyond his professional pursuits, Ryan enjoys an active lifestyle and is an avid admirer of both renaissance and modern art.
Job Titles:
- Operations Director
- Operations Director of the UCLA Simulation Center
Sarah Petro is the Operations Director of the UCLA Simulation Center. Sarah oversees daily business operations, ensuring that the Simulation Center runs as efficiently as possible while providing effective education to all of its learners. Sarah came to UCLA in December 2016 from the Cleveland Clinic, where she served as manager of the Simulation and Advanced Skills Center. During her tenure there, she helped the Clinic enhance its long-standing reputation for offering world-class education and development to both in-house trainees and medical professionals from around the world. A Cleveland native, Sarah attended Baldwin-Wallace College and graduated Cum Laude with a degree in business marketing and management. Off the clock, you'll find Sarah practicing Yoga, or browsing the produce selection at her favorite organic grocery store.
Sonal Chand is a seasoned professional with a decade of hands-on experience in the audio-video industry. Continuing his journey in June 2022, he embarked on his role as an Information Systems Analyst at UCLA Housing. With an inherent passion for technology and a keen understanding of audio-video systems, Sonal has consistently showcased his adeptness in blending technical prowess with creative innovation. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to enhancing user experiences and optimizing communication through his work. Sonal's proficiency and dedication mark him as a valuable expert in the realm of audio-video technology. In his free time, Sonal enjoys restoring and modifying cars, spending time with his family and friends, and going on road trips.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor
- Advisor for Structural Competency and Innovations
Terence Keel is an Associate Professor with a split appointment in the Department of African American Studies, and the UCLA Institute for Society and Genetics. He has written extensively about race, religion, law, public health, and modern science. His widely acclaimed first book, Divine Variations details how religion helped produce scientific racism and remains a hidden feature of the life sciences. He is the Founding Director of the Biocritical Studies Lab and currently serves as an Associate Director for the Ralph J. Bunche Center for African American Studies. He is also Associate Director of Critical Theory in the Center for the Study of Racism, Social Justice & Health where he works with Dr. Chandra Ford of the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Keel received his Ph.D. from Harvard University and is currently a Research Fellow at the UCLA Luskin Center for History and Policy.
Job Titles:
- Executive Director of UCLA Center for Prehospital Care
Job Titles:
- Chief Academic Information Officer
Job Titles:
- Senior Standardized Patient Educator