Faculty Bios

Hoby went to medical school at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He completed his family medicine residency at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. He was a chief resident there and completed an Academic Faculty Development Fellowship with a focus on creating a Global Health Track for interested family medicine residents. As part of his residency and fellowship, he traveled to Uganda and Ghana. He is married and has a rescued, Pekingese dog named "Jacob". He loves drinking coffee, listening to music, learning, playing golf, watching sports, traveling, and of course, training new family docs!

Lauren attended medical school at Hahnemann University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, completed Family Medicine residency at Loma Linda University and Sports Medicine fellowship at Kaiser Permanente . She completed a Master of Public Health degree with a focus on Health Promotion and enjoys caring for multigenerational families encouraging them to achieve optimal health. In addition to serving as Team Physician for University of Redlands, UC-Riverside and Redlands High School, she’s an active volunteer in many community organizations. She is an Assistant Program director for LLIECHE FMRP and Director of Primary Care Sports Medicine at LLU. She has held numerous local, state and national officer positions representing family and sports medicine physicians. Lauren loves spending time with her wonderful family, enjoys the outdoors, and is energized by mentoring future family physicians.

Kelly is a full professor at Loma Linda University in both the departments of Family Medicine and Psychology. She received her Ph.D. from Bowling Green State University in Lifespan Developmental Psychology. She has published numerous research articles, given hundreds of professional presentations and conducted many regional and federal grant projects. She teaches in the residency program and supervises research projects and curriculum development grants. She also teaches developmental psychology and research to clinical psychology doctoral students. Her current research interests include team-based care as well as NIA funded research relating to stress and religion effects on mental and physical health outcomes.

Prashanth brings expertise in Primary Care, HIV Medicine, and Clinical Epidemiology. His areas of interest include health disparities and equity, patient engagement, patient physician relationship, cardiovascular residual risk reduction modalities, health model of prevention continuum, caring for people with HIV, Hepatitis B and C, STIs, caring for disenfranchised and marginalized people, technology in medicine, exploring community based solutions to global health issues, and teaching via role-modeling. He started the HOPE Clinic at Loma Linda University to care for people living with HIV/AIDS. He did his schooling at Kasturba Medical College, Manipal University in India, University of North Texas Health Science Center at Fort Worth, TX, and Montgomery Family Medicine Residency Program at Montgomery, AL. He lives with his wife who is an acclaimed interventional cardiologist and their son.

Jamie hales from the Midwestern paradise of southwest Michigan where he met his lovely wife Shallena. He subsequently attended Loma Linda University for both medical school and residency in Family and Preventive Medicine. After residency, he and his family moved to Malamulo Hospital in Malawi to work as a staff physician and then Medical Director of the 210 bed mission hospital in rural Africa. In 2017 he joined the faculty of Family and Preventive Medicine at Loma Linda where he is blessed to be able to participate in the “teaching and healing ministry of Jesus” every day. His other interests include hiking, music, social justice, the great outdoors, and the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Margarete complemented medical school at University of Auckland in New Zealand, her Family Medicine Residency at Franklin Square in Baltimore, and her Preventive Medicine Residency at Johns Hopkins in Baltimore. She is passionate about global health, and lifestyle and sports medicine. In her free time, Margarete enjoys spending time with her family, all outdoor activities, and the ocean!

Mary went to medical school at Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt. She completed her family medicine residency at Riverside County Regional Medical Center (RCRMC) in California. Mary’s interests are in women’s health and inpatient medicine. She is married and has 2 kids. Mary enjoys travelling, spending time with her family, and doing interior design and home decor.

Being in love with medicine her whole life, Ecler began at only age 17 her medical school at The Lutheran University of Brazil in the city of Canoas. Fascinated with the comprehensive care of all ages, and the continuing care of the individual and family, she naturally embraced and pursued her focus in family medicine. While studying for her USLME steps, she worked as a clinical documentation specialist at a hospital in Southern California, where she was able to learn medical coding and how to proper evaluate clinical documents. After completing family medicine residency at Loma Linda University Health as well as being chief resident during her last year, she decided to specialize in geriatric medicine at UCLA. Soon after completing her fellowship in LA, she returns to Loma Linda to pursue her passion by teaching residents and caring for her family and geriatric patients. She is happily married with a new baby girl name Celine. In her free time she can often be seen singing loudly in her car around campus. She also enjoys reading and hiking with her family as well as traveling and water skiing.

Jessica attended Marquette University where she received a Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. She completed a Psychology Postdoctoral Fellowship with an emphasis in Primary Care Psychology at the San Francisco VA Medical Center. In addition to her role providing behavioral health curriculum to the Family Medicine residents, she is the clinical supervisor for the Family Medicine Psychology Practicum Program, and maintains an Integrated Behavioral Health practice in the Family Medicine Faculty Clinic. Jessica is passionate about training psychology students and residents in behavioral health, whole person care, and issues of diversity and inclusion. In her free time she loves spending time with family and friends, watching sports/movies, exercising, reading, and traveling.

Van transitioned from the warmth of sunny, southern California to attend medical school in Iowa, at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine. It was her best decision -- a chance to experience four seasons, learn the Midwest hospitality, appreciate true ice cream, and even learn some medicine. California, however, did summon her back for Family Medicine residency at Loma Linda University. During her residency, she found true joy in treating all patients, appreciate the breadth of family medicine, and learn the importance of creating those relationships with patients. Van rejoins the residency as faculty to share her passion for taking care of patients and engaging other learners to help them reach their own potential. Outside of academic medicine, Van loves to spend time with her awesome husband, Larry, son, Liam, and furry four-legged child, Alte, pier-fishing, updating her home, and making a little bit of noise on her piano.