Meet the Fellows

Kalen Hendra, MD

Medical School: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine

Residency Program: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

Mentor: Jochen Profit, MD

Research: The Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) population is one of the most rapidly growing racial/ethnic groups in the United States and has not been well studied. My research will investigate bronchopulmonary dysplasia and respiratory-related outcomes in AANHPI infants born prematurely using previously collected data from NICUs across California. My project will highlight differences in health outcomes between the various AANHPI populations, which will serve as a foundation for future research aimed at finding solutions to these disparities.  

Prior Experience: I was born and raised in the East Bay and then traveled to Virginia where I attended University of Richmond for college and Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine for medical school. I was thrilled to come back home to do my residency at UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland and to stay in the Bay for my fellowship training. My passion for pulmonology began as a result of my own experience with asthma and has grown over time. I love that pulmonology provides amazing opportunities for continuity of care, a balance of in-patient and outpatient work, as well as the ability to perform procedures (bronchoscopies). In my free time I like to watch movies and TV (especially superhero-related movies and shows), listen to music and go to concerts, and do yoga.    

Jeff Ni, MD

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Residency Program: University of Chicago

Mentor: Maya Kumar, PhD

Research: Pulmonary hypertension is a heterogenous group of diseases that remains progressive and fatal, oftentimes leading to right heart failure and the need for lung transplantation. Available medical therapies for pulmonary hypertension are largely supportive but not curative, thus understanding the underlying molecular and cell signaling pathways that drive the formation of obstructive lesions, or "neointima", in the pulmonary vasculature is essential for developing therapies to prevent and reverse pulmonary hypertension. My research aims to characterize the activity and downstream effects of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway in neointima formation using single cell sequencing, in situ hybridization, and Cre-lox recombination in a variety of rodent models and human tissue samples. 

Prior experience: I spent most of my years in the windy Midwest, attending Washington University in St. Louis for undergraduate, Loyola University in Chicago for medical school, and the University of Chicago for pediatric residency training. During residency, I was drawn to pediatric pulmonology because of the balanced ability to practice in both the inpatient and outpatient settings, the focus on understanding and applying core pathophysiology principles to challenging medical cases, and the opportunity to participate in exciting and innovative research. I am also passionate about holistic and interdisciplinary patient care, impacting medical health disparities and improving access to subspecialty care. In my free time, I enjoy travelling and hiking with my wife, being humbled in Muay Thai, attempting to dance hip hop, and playing and listening to music. 

Krystal Jin, MD

Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine

Residency Program: Valley Children's Healthcare

Research: As medical technology evolves, there has been a notable rise in technology-dependent children, many of whom require tracheostomies and home ventilators. While these interventions are crucial and often life-preserving, they also carry inherent risks. One of the most prevalent risks associated with tracheostomies and home ventilators is bacterial acute respiratory infections (bARIs) requiring hospitalization. Despite how common bARIs are in this population, clear guidelines for the duration of antibiotics remain undefined, often leading to unnecessarily prolonged antibiotic courses in children. Utilizing data obtained from six major children’s hospitals nationwide, my research project involves looking at the comparative effectiveness of short versus long courses of antibiotics in this population and assess whether the duration affects hospital re-admissions. The findings will inform interventions to improve management of bARIs in this vulnerable population, potentially leading to reduced unnecessary antibiotic exposure.

Prior Experience: My interest in pediatric pulmonology started during my intern year as I was taking care of complex patients with cystic fibrosis and interstitial lung disease. As I progressed through my training and continued to learn about various respiratory diseases-- such as complex asthma, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and chronic lung disease-- I realized my passion to become a pediatric pulmonologist. The aspect I love most about pulmonary medicine is the ability to take the basic science knowledge I learned throughout medical school and apply it directly into clinical practice. I am very excited that I will be working with the Stanford Children’s pediatric pulmonary team and learn from a very hard working group of people who are dedicated to the world of pediatric pulmonology.

My hobbies include spending time with my family, hiking with my adorable dog Bruce, and watching Netflix!

Spoorthi Davala, MD

Medical School: Boston University

Residency Program: UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland

I was born and raised in the South Bay Area and ventured out to Boston University for both undergrad and medical school. I was fortunate enough to come back to the west coast for my pediatrics residency at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. During residency, I found myself drawn to pulmonary medicine because of the wide range of acuity and pathophysiology it encompasses. Additionally, I am passionate about caring and advocating for children with complex respiratory illnesses in both the acute and non-acute care settings. 

Outside of work, I love oil painting, gardening, baking, being outdoors, hiking and spending time with my family and friends! 

Daniel Nachreiner, MD

Medical School: University of Massachusetts T.H. Chan SOM

Residency Program: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

I was born in the East Bay (John Muir Hospital!) but moved up to Oregon when I was 10 years old. I went to Boston College for undergrad and UMass for medical school. I am very excited to be back on the West Coast. My passion for pulmonology started when I was doing research at Boston Children’s Hospital and making a de-escalation pathway off of continuous albuterol for patients presenting with asthma exacerbations. My favorite part of pulmonology is that it provides continuity of care, complex physiology and a mix of procedures and clinical care. In my free time, I enjoy running, playing soccer, and watching sports.