Faculty
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Jasminka Criley, MD, FACP, FHM Dr. Jasminka Criley is an Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine at UCLA. She is Acting Residency Program Director for internal medicine residents, Director of Inpatient Services for Graduate Medical Education and Medicine Clerkships and Electives Site Director for medical students. Prior to coming to St. Mary, Dr. Criley held an adjunct clinical faculty appointment at Stanford, where she enjoyed teaching housestaff and medical students. Dr. Criley has been a hospitalist since 1998, and is a charter member and fellow of the Society of Hospital Medicine. She received her medical degree in Croatia before coming to Johns Hopkins to work as a research fellow and then research faculty in oncology. She completed her internal medicine residency at Vanderbilt. Dr. Criley has been recognized for her extensive research and work in cardiac examination competency, receiving national and regional SGIM Awards for highest rated Precourse and Outstanding Innovation in Medical Education, and a WGEA Research Award. In 2010, Dr. Criley was elected as one of the top 10 American College of Physicians (ACP) Hospitalists. In addition to teaching and clinical care, Dr. Criley has been advisor and mentor to over 40 residents, medical students and undergraduate students. She serves on multiple local, regional and national committees. Her interests include bedside teaching with an emphasis on cardiac examination, end of life, utilization of resources, medical errors and quality improvement in hospital care. In her free time, she enjoys writing, music, playing piano and spending time with her family. |
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Chester Choi, MD, MHA, MACP Chester Choi received his MD from the University of California, Davis School of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine residency at St. Mary Medical Center in 1976 and his Chief Residency in 1977. Following a fellowship in Infectious Disease at Harbor - UCLA, he returned to join the faculty at St. Mary's in 1980. He is currently a Professor of Medicine at the UCLA School of Medicine. He served as the Southern California Region I Governor for the American College of Physicians and also as the President of the California Chapter. His areas of expertise include the rational use of antibiotics, meningitis, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted diseases, travel medicine and vaccinations, community acquired pneumonia, urinary tract infections and infections in the elderly. Other professional activities include serving as a consultant in the Division of Infectious Disease at Harbor - UCLA Medical Center, directing the St. Mary Medical Center Travelers' Clinic and serving on the Language Access Leadership Council for the California Endowment. His hobbies include woodworking, computers, and gardening. He enjoys traveling and hiking in Yosemite with his wife Lynn. |
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Nitin Bhasin, MD Nitin Bhasin grew up in the Central Valley area of California, close to the San Francisco Bay Area. He obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Molecular and Cell Biology with emphasis in Cell and Developmental Biology from the University of California at Berkeley. He went on to obtain his M.D. degree from St. George’s University. Nitin moved to Southern California where he completed his internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at St. Mary Medical Center. He has traveled to many different parts of the world, and even experienced a Category Four hurricane during his medical school training! His knowledge of world and local geography and excellent sense of direction has earned him the nickname of “Human GPS". He also placed third in the California State Spelling Championship prior to college. Dr. Bhasin enjoys spending his free time with family and friends. He will be pursuing a Nephrology fellowship at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center. |
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Maged Tanios, MD, MPH, FCCP Dr.Tanios completed his Internal Medicine residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan, followed by a fellowships in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine and Sleep Medicine at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Boston, Massachusetts. During his fellowship, he received his M.P.H. in Health Care Management and Policy. He served as Associate Director of the Medical Intensive Care Unit and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Tufts University. He has received multiple awards, including recognition from the American Lung Association and funding from the National Institute of Health. When not caring for critically ill patients or teaching, Dr. Tanios enjoys biking, exercise, and working with his computer. Now that he is in balmy Southern California, Mag and his wife Hanan hope to pick up some new hobbies with his young children Natalie and Michael. |
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Neill Ramos, M.D. Neill Ramos was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio. He stayed in the Midwest for his undergraduate training at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois where he completed his Bachelor’s of Science in Chemical Engineering. Prior to entering medicine, Neill worked for SC Johnson in Racine, Wisconsin in the co-op program in engineering on products such as OFF!, Glade candles, and Scrubbing Bubbles. He also worked 2 years after graduating from college at Degussa Construction Chemicals in Beachwood, Ohio just prior to entering medical school. Neill attended medical school at the Medical College of Ohio (now the University of Toledo). He went on to complete residency here at St. Mary Medical Center. Neill stayed on at SMMC as Chief Resident and then now as faculty. He enjoys teaching the residents both in clinic and on the wards. Outside of work, Neill enjoys sports like basketball and golf, and he also enjoys living a couple blocks from the beach after living in the Midwest and spending time with friends and family especially singing karaoke. |
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Sarah Jean Strube, D.O. Dr. Strube was raised in Huntington Beach, California and completed her undergraduate studies at California Polytechnic University Pomona. Prior to entering medical school, she worked for Pioneer Service and Engineering as an Electronics Technician and at Hewlett Packard as a Customer Service Engineer and later attained licensure as a Certified Physician Assistant. She was eventually able to pursue her life-long dream of becoming a physician and attended medical school at Western University of Health Sciences in Pomona. She graduated with academic honors and was the recipient of numerous awards including the National Dean’s List, Medical Women’s Award and Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at St. Mary Medical Center. Dr. Strube now enjoys teaching and interacting with the residents and strives to provide exceptional medical care to patients. Her special interest involves medical and physical interventions to maintain quality of life for men and women of all ages. Dr. Strube previously competed at the national level in fastpitch softball, including three appearances at the college national championships. She has attained athletic recognition for “all league, all region and most valuable player at third base.” She remains very active in cycling and functional weight training to maintain her conditioning. She is an audiophile and enjoys golfing, reading and spending time at the beach, playing with her dog Imax and Jaz or with friends as her favorite leisure activities. |
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Bettina Kehrle, MD
Dr. Bettina Kehrle was engaged in bench research during medical school in Germany focusing on PPAR alpha and gamma receptors and the role of CD4 cells contributing to atherosclerotic plaques, followed by a one-year research scholarship at The Scripps Research Institute under supervision of Nigel Mackman in La Jolla, CA. Her research during that time focused on the tissue factor-thrombin pathway contribution to the inflammatory response during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. After completion of the research scholarship she received her medical degree in Germany. She completed internship and residency training in Internal Medicine at St. Mary Medical Center and fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System and Cedars Sinai Medical Center with rotations at Olive View Medical Center in Sylmar, Providence St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank, and Little Company of Mary in Torrance. |