Medical
CALEB LUSK, MD
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Caleb Lusk is a California licensed, board-certified physician at Harbor Community Health Centers who is motivated by a strong desire to provide access to high-quality and affordable healthcare to all.
Dr. Lusk has a particular interest in expanding access to substance use disorder treatment. He completed an Addiction Medicine Fellowship at the Yale Program in Addiction Medicine and is focused on integrating primary care and substance use treatment into patient-centered medical homes.
Originally from the Midwest, Dr. Lusk received his master of public health and doctor of medicine degrees from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine. He completed his residency training and served as chief resident in the Riverside Community Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. He also has a master of arts in biology from Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri, and a bachelor of science in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign.
In his spare time, Dr. Lusk enjoys rooting for the L.A. Clippers and L.A. Chargers and enjoys spending time with his dogs Coffee and Espresso.
FEMI AKINNAGBE, MD
Physician
Dr. Femi Akinnagbe is a California-licensed physician at Harbor Community Health Centers and board certified in family medicine with certifications in yoga and meditation. His experience includes organizing community health fairs for Lomita’s Summer Urban Health Fellowship as well as an international conference of integrative medicine healers, assisting in the development of a nationally recognized well-being curriculum focused on resident physician wellness, and conducting international field research on mind-body medicine.
Prior to joining HarborCHC, Dr. Akinnagbe worked as a registered polysomnographic technologist at Rest Assured Sleep Centers in Maryland.
Dr. Akinnagbe holds a degree in biomedical sciences from the University of Minnesota Medical School. He graduated magna cum laude from both Georgetown University, where he studied physiology, biophysics, and complementary and alternative medicine, and Messiah College, where he studied elementary education. He completed his residency in family medicine at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Dr. Akinnagbe is a member of the Gold Humanism Honors Society for fostering humanism in medicine and the proud recipient of the American Academy of Family Physicians Innovations Grant, teaching yoga and meditation to underserved communities in North Minneapolis.
AHMED KHALIFA, MD
Physician
Dr. Ahmed Khalifa is a California licensed physician at Harbor Community Health Centers, with a broad spectrum of medical care experience.
Dr. Khalifa’s certifications and professional memberships are numerous. He is board-certified in obstetrics and gynecology, as well as internal medicine. In addition, he has a subspeciality in geriatric medicine. His professional organization memberships include the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American College of Physicians and American Geriatric Society. For 10 years, he was also an assistant professor at the University of Southern California Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.
For more than 20 years, Dr. Khalifa has practiced medicine at various locations locally, including the Long Beach Medical Center’s Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, St. Mary’s Medical Center of Long Beach, PIH Health Hospital in Downey and California Hospital in Los Angeles.
Throughout his career, Dr. Khalifa has given presentations and conducted research on topics related to his expertise for which he has received national recognition. He presented an unusual case of hypothyroidism at the Florida Geriatric Society and was an award winner at the Missouri Chapter of the American College of Physicians for the first case report of combined retinitis pigmentosa and Gitelman’s syndrome in the same family.
Dr. Khalifa spent his initial residency in medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri, and had obstetrics and gynecology residencies at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine in Los Angeles, and Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California, where he was also the administrative chief resident. His geriatrics fellowship was from the University of South Florida.
PARISSA MORADI, MD
Physician
Dr. Parissa Moradi is a California licensed physician at Harbor Community Health Centers specializing in obstetrics and gynecology.
Dr. Moradi is trilingual in English, French and Farsi and has several certifications and professional memberships. She has received her board from the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a diplomate of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is an associate professor at Charles R. Drew University of Medicine in Los Angeles. In addition, for several years, she was district vice president of the Los Angeles Medical Association.
Based on her expertise, Dr. Moradi has written articles for several publications, including the Medical Journal of the United Arab Emirates and the Journal of Medical Sciences of Azad University. She has also been published by the United Nations for conducting a study and preparing a report on standardizing the medical emergency needs related to earthquakes.
Dr. Moradi spent her initial residency in medicine at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, and a second residency at Martin Luther King, Jr./Charles R. Drew Medical Center in Los Angeles. She received her medical diploma from Tehran University of Medical Science in Tehran, Iran, and conducted her pre-medical studies at Montpellier Medical School in Montpellier, France.
JEFFREY RAMIREZ, MD
Pediatrician
Dr. Jeffrey Ramirez is a pediatrician at Harbor Community Health Centers. His experience includes serving on the Pediatric Wellness Committee at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Prior to joining HarborCHC, Dr. Ramirez delivered presentations on enteropathy, pediatric cases of salmonella and diabetes, bronchopulmonary dysplasia, and performance-enhancing substances.
Dr. Ramirez holds a medical degree from the Drexel University College of Medicine and a bachelor of science from the University of California Santa Cruz. He completed his residency in pediatrics at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center.
Suneun “Sarah” Reichert, DO
Family Medicine Physician
Dr. Sarah Reichert is a board-certified osteopathic family medicine physician who specializes in patient-centered care and finding preventive treatment and healthy lifestyles suited to the individual.
At Harbor Community Health Centers, Dr. Reichert provides quality comprehensive primary and preventive care to HarborCHC patients, utilizing clinical practice guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Family Physicians and American Academy of Pediatrics.
Prior to joining HarborCHC, Dr. Reichert worked as a supervising physician at HURTT Family Health Clinic and trained as a family medicine resident at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center. Her experiences include providing care to patients with housing insecurities, substance use disorders, and severe mental illness.
Dr. Reichert holds a doctoral degree from A.T. Still University of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona, a bachelor of science degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, and is the proud recipient of the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award and a National Health Service Corp scholarship. She also completed Mental Health Recovery Specialist certification through Mental Health America of Los Angeles and a fellowship in Primary Care Psychiatry at the University of California, Irvine.
Dr. Reichert was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan but she’s no stranger to San Pedro as her husband is a SP native.
WARREN YAMASHITA, MD
Physician
Licensed in California and Hawaii, Dr. Warren Yamashita is a family medicine and addiction medicine clinician at Harbor Community Health Centers who specializes in Asian American Pacific Islander substance use disorder treatment. He is certified by the American Board of Preventive Medicine and the American Board of Family Medicine and is an American Academy of Family Physicians fellow. He has volunteered, mentored, and served on a number of medical education and quality improvement committees, but is currently the founder and chair of the Addiction Medicine Section of the Christian Medical & Dental Associations and a member of the Implementation Committee for the National Institute on Drug Abuse, Western States Node.
Prior to joining HarborCHC, Dr. Yamashita served as Addiction Medicine Director and a family medicine and addiction medicine physician at Hurtt Family Health Center. He is a member of the Board of Directors of the Asian American Drug Abuse Program, a researcher on Asian American and Pacific Islander substance use at Stanford University, and adjunct faculty for the Stanford Addiction Medicine Fellowship. Prior to joining HarborCHC, he served as Chief Medical Officer at Hurtt Family Health Center and a family medicine and addiction medicine physician at KCS Health Center.
Dr. Yamashita holds doctor of medicine and master of public health degrees from the Keck School of Medicine at USC, where he graduated summa cum laude with bachelor of arts degrees in biology and philosophy. He was a co-chief resident in the Hawaii Island Family Medicine Residency Program and both a UC Davis Primary Care Pain Management and Stanford Addiction Medicine fellow.
Dr. Yamashita is the proud recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award, the Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award, the Emerging Leader Institute Award, and the NHSC Loan Repayment Program Award. He has been published in several peer-reviewed publications, interviewed for articles and podcasts, and invited to present over a dozen times across the United States, receiving two first-place awards for presentations at the Hawaii Academy of Family Physicians Annual Conference.
BELINDA K. KHOU
Physician Assistant
Belinda K. Khou is a California licensed physician assistant at Harbor Community Health Centers. As a trilingual English-Khmer-Spanish speaker, she assists HarborCHC physicians in providing a wide range of health services for family medicine and urgent care to all patients at the center. Her experience includes providing chronic, acute, and preventative care for underserved and diverse patient populations. She also organizes lectures on healthy eating habits to engage the community and help diabetes patients make healthy lifestyle choices.
Assisting with treatment involving dermatologic conditions has been a specialty for Khou. At the Ventura Institute of Dermatologic Arts, she worked closely with physicians to assist with skin cancer surgery, biopsies, skin exams, pre-op and post-op counseling, and cosmetic procedures that include dermal fillers and bio-stimulatory agents. Additionally, she has administered photodynamic therapy for patients with widespread, precancerous lesions.
Khou has cardiac experience as well. As an undergrad researcher and experiment leader, she performed a cardiac pacing assay to analyze the relationship of exercise and dietary stress on cardiac arrest and conducted microscopic analyses of Drosophila melanogaster for pre-and post-electrical shock heart conditions.
Khou earned a physician assistant certificate and master of health sciences from Duke University and a bachelor of science in biology from the University of California, Irvine.
In her spare time, she enjoys surfing, hiking, film photography and cooking.
CRISTHIAM SANTOS
Physician Assistant
Cristhiam Santos is a California licensed physician assistant at Harbor Community Health Centers and is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. As a bilingual English-Spanish speaker, he assists HarborCHC physicians providing a wide range of health services for family medicine and urgent care to all patients at the center. His experience includes providing adult care for a wide array of chronic and acute conditions including diabetes, hypertension, asthma, drug and alcohol addiction, dermatologic conditions, and more.
Adding to his overall clinical experience are his past rotations at prominent local hospitals and clinics such as Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, St. Francis Medical Center, California Hospital Medical Center and several others. Working in pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery, and internal medicine are just a few of the medical disciplines that have contributed to his professional knowledge.
Santos also has more than two years of experience as an emergency medical technician. Rendering care to ill and injured patients in Los Angeles County, he transported patients via ambulance to hospitals and performed high-level CPR and first aid to assess patient conditions and help establish a course of treatment.
“I chose to pursue primary care practice as a means to connect with and serve my community,” says Santos. “I practice upstream medicine and try to focus on preventing disease before it happens.”
Santos earned a physician assistant certificate and master of health science from the Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science in Los Angeles, and a bachelor of science in health science from La Sierra University in Riverside.
In his spare time, he has enjoyed doing volunteer work for Schools on Wheels as a tutor and the Tena Foundation for homeless outreach. He also enjoys mountain hiking, bike riding, and rock climbing.
HIND BENNANI, DPM
Podiatrist
Dr. Hind Bennani is a California licensed physician at Harbor Community Health Centers specializing in adult and pediatric podiatry.
Dr. Bennani is experienced in the treatment of a wide variety of podiatric conditions, including wound care, surgery, and working with the special needs of diabetic patients. Her services also include treating severe heel pain, ingrown toenails causing infection and/or weakness, severe pain associated with calluses and corns, infection-producing toenail fungus, and more.
Dr. Bennani is American Board of Podiatric Surgery qualified and holds a doctor of podiatric medicine and surgery as well as a master of science in biomedical sciences from Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. She also earned a bachelor of science in biochemistry from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she graduated with college honors cum laude and departmental honors.
EVELYN M. DESSER, RN, MN, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Evelyn M. Desser is a California licensed, board-certified nurse practitioner at Harbor Community Health Centers, where she provides a wide range of healthcare services to patients of all ages. Since 1990, she has been a primary care provider for various patient groups, including college students, veterans, the general public and underserved communities.
A highlight of Desser’s experience was her 20-plus years of work in a student healthcare setting at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Arthur Ashe Student Health and Wellness Center, where she was directly responsible for certified medical assistants and allergy/immunization nurses and clinics. She was also an active member of clinical operations, infection control and various communications committees. As an “expert level” outreach coordinator, she planned and implemented health fairs and flu shot clinics in multiple campus settings and also functioned in a variety of specialty areas such as triage and health clearance assessment.
Desser gained a wide range of medical and nursing experience at the UCLA Center for Health Services and at the Alta Bates Hospital and Herrick Hospital and Health Center located in Berkeley, California. She has been certified in lifestyle medicine since 2021, a certification that includes training on whole food, plant-based nutrition, physical activity, restorative sleep, smoking cessation, promotion of mindfulness and other stress management techniques, as well as training in counseling around behavior change projects. Ideally, Desser’s preference is always to be mindful of a patient’s preferences while considering adjustments to lifestyle and habits for improvements prior to using medications and surgery.
Her current memberships in professional organizations include the American College Health Association, the American College of Nurse Practitioners and the California Association for Nurse Practitioners. Desser has a master of nursing in primary ambulatory care and a bachelor of science in nursing, both from UCLA.
Dental
ELAINE NGUYEN, DDS
Dental Director
Dr. Elaine Nguyen is a California-licensed dentist at Harbor Community Health Centers who provides general dentistry treatment through preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic oral healthcare to patients of all ages.
Prior to joining HarborCHC, Dr. Nguyen worked as a staff dentist at different Federal Qualified Health Centers in Southern California. Dr. Nguyen’s passion is to help patients and treat them like family.
Dr. Nguyen earned a doctor of dental surgery from the USC Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and a bachelor of science in dental hygiene, also from the USC School of Dentistry.
VINH NGO, DDS
Dentist
Dr. Vinh Ngo is a California-licensed dentist at Harbor Community Health Centers who provides preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic oral healthcare to patients of all ages. He frequently volunteers his services at the Care Harbor LA, California Dental Association, Molina Healthcare, and VPASC health fairs.
Dr. Ngo’s experience includes clinic oversight at Celebrating Life Community Health Center and Family Health Care Centers of Greater Los Angeles. Prior to joining HarborCHC, Dr. Ngo also provided dental services at the Accu Dental Group in Long Beach, CA, SmileDay Dental in Garden Grove and Santa Ana, and SmileBrands Dental and SmileCare Dental in Los Angeles.
Dr. Ngo earned a doctor of dental surgery from the University of Southern California’s Ostrow School of Dentistry.
Behavioral Health
MAYRA GONZALEZ, LCSW
Director of Behavioral Health
Mayra Gonzalez serves as the Director of Behavioral Health at Harbor Community Health Centers. Gonzalez is responsible for planning, developing, and managing all services of the behavioral health services (BHC) department including mental health, substance use, and social services.
Gonzalez is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Licensed Clinical Social Worker with more than 11 years of experience working with diverse communities providing mental health services to young children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families. Mayra has worked within a variety of settings including foster care, probation, family preservation, substance abuse treatment facilities, transitional residential programs, outpatient, and inpatient mental health organizations. Gonzalez’s experience in diverse roles within the social services field has driven her holistic and collaborative approach to promoting positive outcomes for the most vulnerable children, youth, and families in our communities. Gonzalez is an empathetic professional who combines clinical knowledge and compassion for helping others obtain optimal mental health.
Additionally, Gonzalez has worked as clinical lead for behavioral health programs. Prior to joining HarborCHC, Gonzalez worked as a wraparound program manager where she provided clinical and administrative oversight to ensure that youth who were at risk of entering the child welfare system received timely and individualized mental health services. Moreover, Gonzalez has collaborated with organizations to develop training curriculums and workshops on crisis intervention, harm-reduction techniques, and other topics relevant to community-based mental health services.
Gonzalez holds a master’s degree in social work from California State University Los Angeles and master’s degree in business administration from Pepperdine University.
SHRIBALA KUMAR, MD
Psychiatrist
Dr. Shribala Kumar is a California-licensed psychiatrist at Harbor Community Health Centers and is Board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. Her experience includes medication management services for adults, older adults, and detention facility inmates, clinical supervision, outpatient services, and case management in both office and field settings, as well as non-pharmacologic modalities of treatment.
Prior to joining HarborCHC, Dr. Kumar worked as a psychiatrist at the San Pedro and Long Beach Mental Health Centers and at the Century Regional Detention Facility, where she was the designated MIST (Misdemeanor Incompetent to Stand Trial) psychiatrist. She also served as the medical director for Pacific Clinics’ Assertive Community Treatment/Full Service Partnership program for youth with mental illness and their families.
Dr. Kumar holds degrees in intermediate science and internal medicine from St. Xavier’s College and Rajendra Medical College (respectively) in Ranchi, India. She completed her residencies in psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago and the University of Southern California.
While working for the L.A. County Department of Health Services, Dr. Kumar conceptualized and implemented a program to fast-track arrivals to the Inmate Reception Center with severe mental illness and provide treatment within 24-48 hours; the program was later presented at a Bi-Annual Suicide Prevention Conference.
DIANNE BOHÓRQUEZ, Ph.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Dianne Bohórquez is a California-licensed clinical psychologist at Harbor Community Health Centers. Since February 2020, she has been the HarborCHC director of behavioral health. As a bilingual English-Spanish speaker, she provides individual psychotherapy for adults, as well as multidisciplinary consultation with medical providers and directors, case managers, and social workers. She also collaborates in her professional capacity with various community organizations. Dr. Bohorquez has specialized in working with victims and survivors of domestic violence, and in maternal mental health. She has trained with the Department of Mental Health in evidence-based treatment models.
Prior to joining HarborCHC in September 2012, she was a clinical psychologist at the Institute for Multicultural Counseling and Education and provided a full range of psychotherapy to individuals of all ages, including families, and utilized the process of Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Dr. Bohórquez also has experience in conducting geriatric psychotherapy in skilled nursing facilities.
Providing support to cancer patients and survivors has been a specialty for Dr. Bohórquez. At the City of Hope National Medical Center (CHNMC), she was part of a research team that implemented a psychoeducational behavioral intervention for breast cancer survivors that promoted prevention, follow-up medical care, and lifestyle changes for health promotion. In various settings and capacities over the years, including the Ted Mann Family Resource Center and the Center for Culture and Health, both at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), Dr. Bohórquez has been actively involved in providing support for individuals diagnosed with cancer and their family members.
Also at CHNMC, she was a project coordinator for the Latina participants of the Center of Community Alliance for Research and Education. Additional duties included program development, assistance in grant writing, manuscript preparation, and training of project coordinators.
Utilizing her skills and background in psychotherapy, Dr. Bohórquez has frequently acted as a supervisor and in-service trainer to social workers, program directors, nurses, physical therapists, research assistants, and graduate students, among others.
Dr. Bohórquez earned a doctorate in psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in Alhambra, California, and a bachelor of arts in psychology from UCLA.
SANDRA PADILLA, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Sandra Padilla is a California-licensed clinical social worker at Harbor Community Health Centers specializing in behavioral health. Sandra is passionate about making a positive impact within the community. Sandra has extensive experience working with individuals from diverse backgrounds and ages, specifically with populations that have been historically disenfranchised. Sandra is bilingual in English-Spanish.
Prior to joining Harbor Community Health Centers, Sandra worked as a Behavioral Health Therapist at a non-public school. In her previous role as a Behavioral Health Therapist at an FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center), Sandra provided therapeutic services to adults ranging in age from 20 to 95 years old. Additionally, she has served as an advocate for residents in long-term care settings.
Sandra holds a master's degree in social work from the University of Michigan, with concentrations in Aging Families in Society and Community Organization, and a minor in Interpersonal Practice. She also obtained a bachelor's degree in social work from Marygrove College, along with certificates in gerontology and child welfare.
Sandra’s interests include gardening, camping, learning about herbalism, and finding creative ways to upcycle.
ANTHONY JACKSON, LCSW
Licensed Clinical Social Worker
Anthony (Tony) Jackson is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) at Harbor Community Health Centers specializing in behavioral health. His experience includes providing individual psychotherapy to adults living with anxiety, depression, adjustment changes, grief and loss, LGBTQ+ issues, sexual health and gender identity, men’s issues, sex/intimacy/relationship concerns, and behavioral change. Anthony utilizes modalities that are strength-based and solution-focused. Anthony is experienced in practice models such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, and is a Certified Sex Therapy Informed Professional (CSTIP). Anthony provides emphasis on client empowerment, positive motivation, and self-reflection utilizing a holistic approach to assist in building and developing positive coping techniques to meet personal objectives.
Prior to joining HarborCHC, Anthony worked in Orange County as a clinical supervisor and psychotherapist at an Intensive Outpatient Program for KPC Health: Anaheim Global Medical Center. Anthony also operates as a psychotherapist in private practice and in his previous role as a psychiatric social worker at Kedren Acute Psychiatric Hospital & Community Mental Health Center.
Anthony has a substantial internship background: he completed master of social work (MSW) internships as a clinician for a CalWORKs program in Long Beach and as a children’s social worker for Orange County Children & Family Services. He was also an intern for an adult mental health day program at Together: UK in London, providing mental health support to adults in the community.
Anthony holds a master's degree in social work from California State University, Dominguez Hills with a concentration in community mental health. He also obtained a bachelor's degree in sociology, with a concentration in social work and minor in human services from California State University, Fullerton and an associate’s degree in sociology from Cypress College.
In his spare time, Anthony enjoys cooking, swimming and teaching hot pilates.