Internal Medicine Residents - R1

Tamanna Ahluwalia, DO, MS

Hometown: San Jose, California
Undergraduate Education: UC Davis
Graduate School: Georgetown
Interests: Going to the beach, walks, trying new food/ coffee shops, listening to jazz music, arts and crafts, reading fiction novels
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I did the bulk of my medical school in Santa Maria and fell in love with the Central Coast patient population. Aside from location, I was drawn to the tight-knit culture I have heard about from current residents.

Clay Callaghan, DO

Hometown: Newbury Park, CA
Undergraduate Education: UCSB
Graduate School: LECOM
Interests: Reading, traveling, hiking/backpacking
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I’ve always wanted to come back to the area after my time there during undergrad. Also really enjoyed my time at the interview and appreciated the community feel in an institution with more resources and areas of opportunity for learning.

Alyssa Chandi, MD

Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate Education: University of Toronto
Graduate School: University of Toronto
Interests: I enjoy pottery and crafting—especially making handmade cards. I’m a fan of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Raptors, and I’m definitely a huge dog person (maybe a little obsessed with our family dog, Pluto). I also love traveling and hope to explore national parks like Yosemite in the future.
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I chose Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for my residency because of the phenomenal experience I had during my rotations there. I was drawn to the supportive community and the emphasis on compassionate, patient-centered care. It’s also a great place to learn, with excellent teaching and plenty of opportunities to grow. It felt like home from the start, and I’m excited to be part of the team!

Gabriel Escudero, DO

Hometown: Moorpark, CA
Undergraduate Education: UC Davis
Graduate School: Touro University California
Interests: Listening to and making music/Watching and playing basketball/Video games/Exploring new restaurants and trying new foods
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I decided to do a rotation there because I was hoping for someplace closer to home, and ended up loving everything about the hospital from the facilities itself, to the awesome residents and program faculty that I worked with. I think Cottage is the perfect environment for me personally to thrive and enjoy residency.

Thomas Jergensen, MD

Hometown: NYC, NY
Undergraduate Education: Loyola Chicago
Graduate School: Loyola Chicago
Interests: Climbing, skiing, biking, surfing, scuba diving
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: The people and the place! Not to mention the food!

Jacob Khuri, DO, MPH

Hometown: Amman, Jordan / Lake Forest, CA
Undergraduate Education: University of Redlands
Graduate School: Imperial College London
Interests: Cooking (Mediterranean/Middle Eastern), hiking beautiful SoCal trails, growing indoor plants, health care policy/advocacy.
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: The beautiful coastal location, strong academic reputation, and top-tier community-based training at a regional tertiary care and Level I trauma center.

Roberto Lopez Cervera, MD, PHD

Hometown: Mérida, Yucatán, México and Los Angeles, CA.
Undergraduate Education: UC Santa Cruz
Graduate School: University of Minnesota
Interests: Volleyball, board games, powerlifting, and game shows.
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I loved the balance between excellent clinical training and wellness outside of the hospital. The patient population is also close to my heart.

Althea Mahesan, MD

Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergraduate Education: University of Southern California - Neuroscience
Graduate School: Ross University School of Medicine
Interests: Outside of work, I enjoy surfing and yoga, which keep me centered. I also have a passion for exploring different cultures through travel and food. As a foodie, I love trying new cuisines and often cook traditional Sri Lankan dishes, which is my comfort food.
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I was drawn to Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for its hands-on learning opportunities, supportive and nurturing environment, and the chance to train in a beautiful coastal city that reflects my love for the ocean and balanced living.

Bikram Otal, MD

Hometown: Oak Park, CA
Undergraduate Education: University of California, Santa Barbara
Graduate School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Interests: Outside of work, I enjoy CrossFit, motorcycle riding, sailing, and exploring local restaurants and events. I’m also passionate about animal welfare and frequently visit sanctuaries like The Gentle Barn. When time permits, I love traveling—especially to places rich in culture and natural beauty.
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I chose Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for residency because it represents both professional excellence and personal significance to me. I previously worked in healthcare in Santa Barbara, and during that time, I came to admire Cottage’s reputation for compassionate, high-quality care. I’ve long held the goal of returning here as a physician, to serve and give back to the community that helped shape my journey into medicine. During my rotation at Cottage, the commitment to mentorship, teamwork, and patient-centered care confirmed that this was where I wanted to train and grow.

Raymond Sanchez, MD

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate Education: UC San Diego
Graduate School: St. George’s University
Interests: Surfing, snowboarding, hiking and camping
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I chose Cottage Hospital because of its exceptional teaching faculty, exposure to a wide range of complex pathologies, and the opportunity to continue my passion for surfing at Santa Barbara’s renowned surf spots. SB is my home away from home.

Matthew Schmidt, MD

Hometown: Westlake Village, CA
Undergraduate Education: Occidental College
Graduate School: RFUMS Chicago Medical School
Interests: Hiking, mountain biking, board games, 3D modeling, diorama construction and painting, and computer hardware.
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: Loved the people I met during the interview and tour; and it’s close to family which is really important to me!

Kathryn Tovar, DO, MS, MPH

Hometown: Santa Barbara, CA
Undergraduate Education: UC Berkeley
Graduate School: Georgetown University
Interests: Beach walks, hikes, painting, movies, running, hanging out with family and friends
Why did you pick Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital for your Residency?: I loved the team culture, quality of education, and it is home for me.