PGY-1 Class

Ojasvie Agnihotri, MD, MPH

MD: UT Health San Antonio Long SOM
MPH: UT Health Houston in Austin
BS: UT at Austin

Where are you from? Where do you consider to be your hometown?
Houston, TX.

Why did you choose our program?
I had several VA rotations in medical school and loved working with that population! Both the residents and leadership at this program seemed honest, warm and welcoming, so I thought it would be a perfect fit for me.

What are your psychiatry interests?
Child & adolescent psychiatry, women’s mental health, and addiction psychiatry.

What are your hobbies and favorite things to do in LA?
Trying new food, flea/farmers markets, and workout classes/hikes.

What is on your bucket list?
Running a marathon.

Heidi Banh, MD, MS

MD: UCSD
MS: USC - Global Medicine
BS: USC

Where are you from? Where do you consider to be your hometown?
San Gabriel, CA.

Why did you choose our program?
UCLA/VA was my ideal program - a smaller-sized, community-oriented academic program with a family feel, strong mentorship, and that would foster my many professional interests. I was drawn to the older yet multigenerational patient population here and loved that this program had strong CAP representation! But it was the unparalleled warmth, authenticity, and care of everyone I met on my interview day and beyond that captured my heart! I wanted to keep growing alongside this community who shared my values, who were excited about my dreams, who prioritized our wellness, and who I felt confident would nurture me as both a psychiatrist and a human. And of course, being able to come home to LA close to my family and community was a priority and blessing.

What are your psychiatry interests?
For fellowship, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, and Palliative Care. Other interests include intergenerational wellbeing, family mental health, cultural and community psychiatry, positive psychiatry, and medical education.

What are your hobbies and favorite things to do in LA?
Huntington Botanical Gardens, catching a sunset on a beach walk, nature hikes, watching touring Broadway musicals (favorite theater in LA is the Ahmanson!), or enjoying a live performance at the Hollywood Bowl (I just watched the Opening Night Henry Mancini 100th Celebration the night before intern year started!).

What is on your bucket list?
Seeing an original cast of a musical on Broadway.

Anna Butcher, MD

MD: University of Toledo
BS: UCSD

Where are you from? Where do you consider to be your hometown?
Tokyo, Japan is my hometown, followed by Southern California.

Why did you choose our program?
I was drawn to the close-knit community and the opportunities available at this program including serving vulnerable populations and research opportunities. The location was also ideal for me because it is close to family and has many food options!

What are your psychiatry interests?
CL, HIV Psychiatry, and cultural psychiatry.

What are your hobbies and favorite things to do in LA?
Watching musical theater, exploring new food spots

What is on your bucket list?
Going on a Broadway cruise

Harman Brah, MD

Physician Scientist Research Track

MD: UCSD
BS: LMU

Where are you from? Where do you consider to be your hometown?
Fremont, CA.

Why did you choose our program?
I chose the GLA VA/UCLA program because of the supportive culture and an opportunity for world class training.

What are your psychiatry interests?
Research and Interventional Psychiatry.

What are your hobbies and favorite things to do in LA?
I like to play chess and dance salsa. My favorite thing to do in LA is to eat at new restaurants.

What is on your bucket list?
I want to go to Alaska.

Ojas Deshpande, MD

MD: CUSM SOM
BS: UCLA

Where are you from? Where do you consider to be your hometown?
Originally from a small town in WA called Yakima but have lived in Mumbai, NYC and several other places along the way. Southern California has been home for the last several years though!

Why did you choose our program?
I am thrilled to be able to work with the veteran population and engage more regularly with social determinants work in a program filled with passionate & driven individuals. Working with the VA also provides access to a nation-wide database to conduct larger scale informatics work and produce meaningful insights for our patient population.

What are your psychiatry interests?
I'm interested in the intersection of informatics and the social determinants of mental health (especially health literacy). I'm also hoping to learn a little more about Forensics and Neuromodulation.

What are your hobbies and favorite things to do in LA?
Food tourism is a big hobby, but I enjoy the piano, trading stocks, building stuff and am always down to try new things.

What is on your bucket list?
World travel is a big bucket list item, along with skydiving and learning to juggle.

Nicholas Finger, MD

Where are you from? Where do you consider to be your hometown?
Brooklyn, NY.

Why did you choose our program?
I fell in love with the VA during my 4th year at UCLA. It provides a great opportunity to help our veterans, a patient population that really aligns with my interests in addiction and chronic pain.

What are your psychiatry interests?
Addiction and Chronic Pain.

What are your hobbies and favorite things to do in LA?
Backpacking in the Sierras, Cooking and enjoying the food and wine scene. Sewing and thrifting for vintage clothes and furniture.

What is on your bucket list?
Hiking the Via Alpina.