Jennifer Chavarin, MD
Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara I am a First-generation American physician born and raised in Southern California. Being the eldest of five siblings, I embraced a profound sense of responsibility and care from an early age. My parents always encouraged and taught me the importance of education and the significance of hard work. This upbringing instilled in me a deep commitment to making a positive impact in my community.
My academic journey led me to the University of California, San Diego (UCSD), where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Biology with a Minor in Healthcare & Social Issues. While at UCSD, I gained invaluable experience while working at LabCorp and developed an interest in the intricacies of medical specimens and the stories they hold.
During medical school, I immersed myself in initiatives like GUIMEDIC and FM4 Paso Libre, providing essential care to rural indigenous communities and offering support to migrants along with refugees undertaking the challenging journey on La Bestia to the United States. I completed my clinical rotations in Las Vegas, Nevada, where I volunteered at the Nevada Obstetrical Community Clinic. Additionally, I have worked as a medical assistant at an OB/GYN clinic. Here, I had the privilege of providing much-needed care to underserved populations, reinforcing my commitment to addressing healthcare disparities.
My medical interests include full spectrum family medicine, medical literacy, obstetrics and reproductive health. Beyond medicine, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our daughter. I enjoy the great outdoors through hiking, cooking, knitting and crocheting, puzzles and exploring ways to harness the metaverse.
Jesus Gonzalez, DO
Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State UniversityI was born and raised in the East Bay to Mexican immigrants who ingrained in me the value of compassion and resiliency. Throughout my life I have been inspired by my family who worked in the agricultural fields of Salinas and various construction sites in Northern California. I stumbled into higher education earning degrees in Cultural Anthropology and Biological Sciences from San Francisco State and Cal State East Bay.
Prior to my career in medicine I taught at Cal State East Bay’s Department of Biological Sciences and Department of General Studies as a Lab Instructor and Teaching Associate. In 2015 I took a break from teaching to complete an internship with the Joint Genome Institute’s Microbial Ecology Lab where I conducted research on the microbiota of switchgrass. Right before starting medical school, I worked as a high school teacher at Tilde Preparatory School in Walnut Creek teaching courses in Math, Science, Political Science, Sports Medicine, and Spanish Language.
My passion for community-centered medicine and advocacy was ignited when I started volunteering at Oakland’s Highland Hospital. There I spent over 5 years helping manage a volunteer program in their Infusion Center and GI Lab.
In medical school I became involved with the New Mexico Medical Reserve Corps on projects such as the COVID Rapid Response Team and Vaccinations Pods. In the Reserve Corps I traveled throughout Southern New Mexico proving medical care to rural communities. I also volunteered with the Border Servant Corps, proving medical triage to recently arrived immigrants seeking asylum. I am humbled to be regularly invited to middle and high schools to discuss issues facing immigrants and share their stories of resiliency.
In 2023 I was selected by the New Mexico chapter of the American College of Physicians (ACP) to represent Southern New Mexico in congress to advocate for policies aimed at increasing the physician work force in rural areas and expanding Medicare coverage in children. For my history of grassroot activism and patient advocacy, I was awarded the Class of 2024 Excellence in Diversity Student Award by Burrell College.
Outside of medicine I enjoy spending time with my better half, Dr. Jessica Dagget, who I met in medical school. I also enjoy baseball, mixed martial arts, watching documentaries, and strength sports. I’m a competitive powerlifter with an over 500lb squat and deadlift but I’m happiest when I pick up my 15lb long-haired chihuahua, Yumi.
Darcy Luck, DO
Darcy Luck, DO
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus
I was born in Panama City, Panama, at a former US Military base to an American father and Honduran mother. While much of my early life was spent at various military bases in Central America, we returned to the US when I was around 5 years old. I grew up in rural North and South Carolina, surrounded by cotton and tobacco fields, poultry, and cattle farming until my family ultimately settled in Myrtle Beach, SC where I graduated high school.
I obtained a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Medical Humanities from Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC. During this time I developed an interest biomedical ethics and worked as a medical assistant at the emergency department of Conway Medical Center, where this experience solidified my decision to become a physician.
For medical school I attended Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in Spartanburg, SC where I was able to explore a broad range of interests, from community medicine, abortion care, and mentorship for low-income students from rural SC interested in STEM education. Initially drawn to general surgery, I completed two years of surgical residency after graduating in 2020, with intern year at East Carolina University in Greenville, NC, and second year at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
However, starting residency at the height of the COVID-19 Pandemic had a major impact on my perception of medical care and I recognized that I wanted to provide more comprehensive care to my patients throughout all stages of life. At the end of my second year of surgical residency I made the decision to transition to family medicine and took a sabbatical which allowed me to refocus my educational goals on holistic healthcare, emphasizing the emotional and social aspects of patient well-being.
My main areas of interest in family medicine are in hospice and palliative medicine, community medicine, and abortion care and I am absolutely ecstatic to be able to explore this area of medicine at Natividad Medical Center and to support the communities in Salinas and Monterey County. As a child of a Honduran Immigrant, I am proud to be able to serve communities similar to my own family.
Outside of work I enjoy crafting and fiber arts, and have developed a passion for crochet and sustainable fashion. I like to spend my free time cooking with friends and family, watching movies, roller skating, exercising, listening to music, and reading science fiction and fantasy novels. I can be most often found in the company of my husband and our dog, Beary Manilow, the best couch potato in the world.
Jasmine Morante, MD
Universidad Científica del Sur Facultad de Medicina Humana, Peru I am a proud daughter of first-generation Peruvian immigrants and was born and raised in South Florida. As a child, amidst the 2007 recession, my family and I struggled financially, and I lacked health insurance for a big part of my childhood. One day, when I was 8 years old, I had a high fever and a sore throat, but my mom could not afford to take me to see a doctor. Fortunately, she was informed about a Cuban family doctor who provided care at no cost, and he was able to see me and get me the antibiotics I needed for my strep throat. It was at this moment that I was inspired to follow a similar path. I knew that when I grew up, I wanted to become a physician, and help underserved patients.
At the age of 16, I moved with my mother to Peru and started medical school at Universidad Científica del Sur. It was during my last year of medical school, or what for us is our internado/intern year, that I was drawn to primary care and Family Medicine after witnessing my patients fighting severe complications from chronic diseases like diabetes or hypertension. These complications could have been prevented if only they had received adequate treatment for those diseases with a primary care physician. Sadly, due to the high corruption that exists in the Peruvian government, the healthcare system barely focuses on primary care, which in turn is the reason why our hospitals are collapsing with severely ill patients. Many times, our hospitals lacked basic equipment, which forced me and my colleagues to use our imagination by utilizing Coca-Cola bottles for procedures like paracentesis. Despite all of this, my last year of medical school strengthened my desire to work with underserved and marginalized communities.
In 2023, I was accepted into the UCLA International Medical Graduate program and moved to Los Angeles. During my clinical rotations in Los Angeles, I was shocked by the tremendous demand for Spanish-speaking doctors. Here, I found my place as a native speaker. For this reason, I am thrilled to be at Natividad. It truly feels like a dream, knowing that much of the patient population we serve are Latinx immigrants, and I will be giving back to my community.
My interests in Family Medicine include Addiction Medicine, street medicine, LGBTQIA+ care, and HIV care. In my free time, I like to travel and visit as many places as I can but also enjoy staying at home watching anime with my Peruvian hairless dog, Nena. Additionally, I love music and singing. I hope someday to be able to write my own music!
Jacob Ongaro
Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine I was born in Salinas (at SVMH) and grew up in the Monterey/Salinas area. I graduated from Palma High School in 2013 and went on to study Integrative Biology at UC Berkeley. In college I was most interested in learning about evolution, physiology, ecology, botany, and anthropology. After graduating from Berkeley, I worked in several jobs, including medical scribe in an Oncology/Hematology clinic, EMT/med tech at an addiction recovery facility, kayak guide in Elkhorn Slough, lifeguard, and teaching assistant. I started medical school at Touro University California in the height of the pandemic, and had many, many hours of Zoom learning at home. I had the good fortune to come home and complete my 3rd year rotations at Natividad – which cemented my interest in pursuing a career in Family Medicine. I am especially proud to be returning home again as a resident physician to serve my family, friends, and community. Outside of medicine, I enjoy swimming, running, biking, enjoying nature, playing guitar and piano, cooking, and more. I am an aficionado of great music from the 60’s to 90’s, and listen to too many podcasts.
Diana Ornelas, MD
University of California, Riverside School of MedicineI am from Los Angeles County in Southern California, born in West Covina and raised in La Puente. I have two older siblings and the unique experience of being an identical twin. Both my twin sister and I are first-generation and will become the first doctors in our family. I am also the proud daughter of brave and hardworking parents who immigrated to the US from Mexico and who have worked in casting and molding factories throughout my life, an experience that has given me the strength and resilience to become a physician. I attended UCLA and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Biology. During my time at UCLA, I participated in various pipeline programs for underrepresented in medicine (URiM) students, which sparked my interest in Family Medicine and social justice work. Especially inspiring was my participation in the Harbor-UCLA Summer Urban Health Fellowship, where I developed my passion for community medicine and advocated for health equity and environmental justice for underserved communities in South Los Angeles. I completed my medical education at the UC Riverside School of Medicine where I became immersed in the service of underserved and vulnerable communities by volunteering at the Riverside Free Clinic (RFC), providing basic health services to homeless, uninsured, and underinsured patients. Through the strong ultrasound curriculum at UCR, I also discovered my love for Point of Care Ultrasound and became a student instructor and facilitated scanning sessions for first year medical students. Committed to mentorship, I also served as one of the Co-Chairs for the Latinx Medical Student Association at UCR and I look forward to continuing to mentor URiM students as a resident at Natividad. I am so incredibly honored to begin my journey as a Doctora at Natividad and serve the underserved and migrant farmworker communities of Salinas and Monterey County. Not only will I receive the full spectrum and obstetrical training that I am looking for, but I will also have the privilege of serving the communities that welcomed my father in his early days as a farm worker. My professional interests include obstetrics, hospital medicine, POCUS, and community medicine. For fun, I enjoy spending time with family and taking my rescue dog Buttercup on walks and car rides. I also enjoy drinking unique lattes at coffee shops, trying new restaurants, and shopping. For wellness, I enjoy group workouts, like kickboxing, and traveling.
Lindsay Richards, MD
University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine I was raised in a small town in Central Florida by my parents and older sister. Prior to medical school, I studied Economics and Microbiology at the University of Florida. I then worked for an organization called Compañeros En Salud (Partners In Health), where my focus was implementing shared medical appointments for patients with diabetes. During this time, I was inspired by working with teams of community health workers who showed me the power of accompaniment and refusing to accept that any life is worth less than another. This experience made choosing family medicine easy – it reinforced that the tools for our communities to live long and healthy lives already exist, and it showed me how primary care doctors have the privilege of helping to share those tools.
I value maintaining interests outside of medicine as a way to build community and keep a balanced perspective. Some of my favorite activities during medical school have included working as a catering waitress and a dog walker, apprenticing at a bike shop, gardening (but mostly just pulling weeds), woodworking, rock climbing, playing board games (especially Wingspan and Smash Up), joining a DnD campaign, and spending quality time with my partner, friends, and family.
I chose Natividad because of the program’s genuine connection to their community and commitment to their patients. I’m so grateful for the privilege to train here and to join the Salinas community.
Marissa Scott, MD
University of Queensland School of Medicine in Australia I grew up in a small suburb of Los Angeles, and attended UC Berkeley for my undergraduate studies. During my time at Cal I pursued a minor in global poverty, which deepened my understanding of the existing structural inequities within the medical system and influenced my perspective on healthcare. Ultimately, this led me to pursue a career in medicine.
Through advocacy work, volunteering within the community, and clinical rotations, it became exceedingly clear that family medicine is where my passion lies. This specialty’s emphasis on holistic, patient-centered care is reflective of my personal values and aligns with my motivations for entering the medical field. I am so excited to join the Natividad family and be part of a residency program dedicated to promoting equity within the community.
Maintaining a well-rounded life outside of medicine has always been important to me. I grew up hiking, camping, and surfing (I know, typical Californian hobbies), and continue to make time to enjoy these activities as much as possible. I also love exploring new genres of music and attending live music events whenever I can.
Celene Serrato Flamenco, MD
Ross University School of Medicine I was born in King City and raised in Greenfield, CA. My parents instilled in me the values of hard work, resilience, and compassion. Growing up in South Monterey County, my family worked as field workers, harvesting grapes and cauliflower for most of my childhood. At a young age, my dad left his home in Mexico and my mom from Honduras to pursue a better future. Early on, I became aware of the challenges and sacrifices they had made to provide for our family. Despite the hardships, my brother and I were encouraged and supported to prioritize education.
As a first-generation college graduate, I received my BS in biology with a minor in Spanish from the University of California, Riverside. During my time there, I had the opportunity to participate in a medical brigade in Honduras, which solidified my desire to pursue medicine. This experience also gave me a unique perspective on the impact of environmental and socioeconomic factors on health. Throughout my undergraduate studies, I continued to explore the field of medicine, volunteering at an internist clinic near campus and assisting in a physical therapy department while studying abroad in Thailand. After graduation, I worked as an optometry assistant before applying to medical school.
As the first in my family to attend medical school, I graduated from Ross University School of Medicine, where I was a part of the Family Medicine Interest Group and served as president and vice president of the campus OB/GYN Interest Group. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I volunteered with the Monterey County Health Department, where I scribed and assisted with the vaccine clinics held throughout the county. It was important to me to participate in providing vaccine access to the farm-working community, which was among the most vulnerable populations. I enjoyed speaking with middle and high school students in Greenfield and King City to discuss medical career opportunities throughout my medical education. During my third year, while doing my Family Medicine rotation, I realized the specialty embodied what I strive to accomplish as a physician, which includes holistic care, versatility, continuity of care, and community involvement.
I am beyond excited to return to the Salinas Valley and join Natividad. I look forward to serving the community that has given me so much. My medical interests include preventative care, rural medicine, and maternal and reproductive health. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, going on long walks with my dog, traveling, and learning about my family ancestry and family tree.
Meghan Zander, MD
University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
I was born and raised in Wisconsin and am the oldest of 5 siblings. I attended college at UW-Madison and majored in Biology and Spanish. During college, I worked as a personal care worker, an office assistant in research, and during my summers I worked as a cook and waitress at a local restaurant.
After college, I spent 2 years living in Madrid, Spain, teaching English to kids in primary school. While living there, I was able to improve my Spanish skills and immerse myself in Spanish culture. When I returned to the U.S., I worked as a medical assistant at Planned Parenthood in Milwaukee, Wisconsin for 2 years. It was there that I began to truly understand how social determinants affect a person’s health, and that looking at patients on a community level can be useful to understand the unique needs of my patients.
I then began medical school at UWSMPH. I participated in a program called TRIUMPH, where we got training in aspects of public health that affect patient care. As a part of this program, I also completed a longitudinal community project with the Gerald L. Ignace Indian Health center to address the low vaccination rates in the children and adolescents served by the clinic. Additionally, I was a clinic co-coordinator for a student run clinic in Madison, WI, called MEDiC. I also participated as a board member of the PRIDE in healthcare student organization, and assisted with planning the annual LGBTQ+ health summit.
In my 4th year of medical school, I spent 8 weeks rotating in Riobamba, Ecuador. I was able to experience providing medical care in rural areas where patients worked in agriculture. I also took medical Spanish classes in the afternoons, and was able to improve my medical Spanish skills.
I am so thrilled to begin residency at Natividad where I will get a broad scope of training with a focus on community health, and hope to get extra training in reproductive care. I also look forward to using my spanish skills and continue to improve upon them. I’m excited to work with like-minded people focused on advocacy and health equity, and feel privileged to take care of the community of Salinas.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling, playing pool with my partner, reading, cooking, and spending time with my cats Jasper and Felix.
