Dr. Carol Stewart, Associate Clinical Professor at UCLA, began her education at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, earning her BS in Biology, Summa Cum Laude in 1986. She completed her combined BS-MD degree program at Albany Medical College, receiving her Doctorate in Medicine, Cum Laude in 1988. She returned to her hometown for residency, completing her three years in Family Medicine at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Utica, NY in 1991. She stayed on as faculty there for the next nine years, ultimately serving as Program Director from January 1996 through her departure in early 2000.
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After two years as Medical Director of the South Central Family Health Center and an Assistant Professor at USC, she migrated across town to UCLA where she served as core faculty for UCLA’s Family Medicine Residency. She continues to practice full scope Family Medicine, including obstetrics, and enjoys teaching these skills to residents and students both at the bedside and through formal courses as a certified ALSO instructor (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics). Dr. Stewart also holds a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
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Current Professional Activities/Committees
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David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Dept. of Family Medicine
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Health Sciences Associate Clinical Professor 2009 - Present
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Health Sciences Assistant Clinical Professor, 2002 – 2009
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Skirball Hospice Medicine
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Associate Medical Director 2010 – 2014
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University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine
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Assistant Professor of Clinical Family Medicine
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Medical Director of South Central Family Health Center 2000 - 2002
Carol Stewart, MD, FAAFP
Program Director
Dr. Hector Arreaza is a board-certified family physician and the Associate Program Director for Clinica Sierra Vista’s Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program. Originally from Venezuela, Dr. Arreaza graduated cum laude from Rómulo Gallegos University and began his career providing urgent and primary care in underserved rural communities.
After relocating to Utah, he dedicated his time to supporting immigrant and refugee populations as a medical interpreter and Spanish translator. In 2013, he earned a scholarship to the UCLA International Medical Graduate (IMG) Program, which led him to Clinica Sierra Vista’s Rio Bravo Residency. As a member of the program’s inaugural class, he proudly served as the first Chief Resident.
Today, Dr. Arreaza provides compassionate care at East Niles Community Health Center and remains deeply involved in teaching the next generation of physicians. His medical interests include obesity medicine, chronic disease management, outpatient procedures, and advancing medical education through podcasting. He is fluent in Spanish and an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Obesity Medicine Association.
Dr. Arreaza’s commitment to family, education, and service reflects his passion for building healthier communities, one patient at a time.
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Dr. Arreaza is the driving force behind two influential podcasts that extend Clinica Sierra Vista’s impact far beyond the Central Valley: Revista Médica AFP (listen to the Podcast) and Rio Bravo qWeek (listen to the Podcast).
Hector Arreaza, MD
Associate Program Director
Dr. Verna Marquez is a dedicated family medicine physician and Associate Program Director at Clinica Sierra Vista’s Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program. A proud graduate of the program herself, Dr. Marquez made history in 2018 as its first graduate to return as a faculty member. She now plays a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of physicians through clinical teaching, mentorship, and wellness leadership.
Originally from the Philippines, Dr. Marquez earned her Doctor of Medicine from Far Eastern University-Nicanor Reyes Medical Foundation in 1999. She went on to become a Diplomate of the Philippine Board of Radiology and a Fellow of the Ultrasound Society of the Philippines in 2006. After moving to the United States, she worked as a registered nurse at Adventist Health Bakersfield, where she cared for patients across Medical/Surgical, Pediatrics, and Burn Units. These years of bedside experience deepened her commitment to primary care, leading her to pursue residency training in Family Medicine.
Dr. Marquez brings a comprehensive approach to her practice, with a particular interest in women’s health, obstetrics, point-of-care ultrasound, global health, and research. She is passionate about teaching and is known for her ability to integrate clinical expertise with compassionate, patient-centered care. Her unique background in radiology and nursing enhances her ability to train residents across a broad range of care settings.
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When she’s not mentoring or delivering care, Dr. Marquez enjoys staying active with regular workouts and values her downtime, especially when it involves a good nap.
Verna Marquez, MD
Associate Program Director
Dr. Harnek Singh was born in Punjab, India, and moved to Southern California at the age of eight. Since then, he has proudly called Orange County home. In 2023, he relocated to Bakersfield, California. Dr. Singh earned his bachelor’s degree in Integrative Biology and Physiology from UCLA, followed by his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Emanate Health in West Covina.
Dr. Singh is board-certified in Family Medicine and provides full-spectrum care in both inpatient and outpatient settings. He treats patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, with particular interests in musculoskeletal health, sports medicine, and street medicine. He regularly provides sideline medical coverage for the Bakersfield Condors, an AHL hockey team, and supports various local sporting events throughout the year.
He currently serves as the clerkship director for third-year medical students rotating through the Family Medicine service. Passionate about education, Dr. Singh enjoys teaching and mentoring medical students and residents. His commitment to academic growth is reflected in the numerous case reports his mentees have presented at national conferences. He is also a strong advocate for resident and physician wellness and serves as a mentor to many in training.
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Each week, Dr. Singh leads his team in Street Medicine rounds, providing care to the unhoused population in the community. He says that, aside from working with residents and students, this is the highlight of his week.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Singh enjoys spending quality time with his wife, son, and parents. A lifelong fan of superhero films, his favorite is The Dark Knight, which he has watched more than twenty times. He is also an avid basketball enthusiast who enjoys watching, playing, and talking about the game. A fun fact: Dr. Singh is a trivia buff and would happily spend all day playing trivia games if he could.
Harnek Singh, MD
Faculty
Dr. Jacqueline Uy graduated from the Loma Linda University of Medical Center as a chief resident in June 2016 after receiving her Doctor of Medicine degree from the College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila. In 2003, Dr. Uy received a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology.
Dr. Uy current holds a Master’s degree in Population Medicine from the School of Public Health, Loma Linda University Medical Center.
Dr. Uy is fluent in English, Tagalog and Visayan.
Jacqueline Uy, MPH, MD
Faculty
Dr. Schlaerth is a native of Pennsylvania. She graduated from Manhattan College and received her medical degree from the State University of New York, Buffalo. Dr. Schlaerth completed her pediatrics residency at LA Children's Hospital and an Infectious disease fellowship at LAC-USC Medical Center. She is board certified in pediatrics, pediatric infectious diseases, family medicine and has a Certificate Added Qualifications in Geriatrics. Dr. Schlaerth was an associate professor at Loma Linda and is an associate professor emeritus at USC. She has a special interest in research and has published in addiction medicine, child development and other areas.
Katherine Schlaerth, MD
Director of Pediatrics Curriculum
Dr. Steven Saito graduated medical school from the Univ. of Illinois College of Medicine. He then served in the US Navy. His first duty station was Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton, and his subsequent tour was as a General Medical Officer at Marine Corp Air Station Yuma. He served those who serve, achieving the rank of Lieutenant Commander. He completed his residency training in 2020 and joined the Rio Bravo Faculty Team.
Steven Saito, MD
Faculty
Dr. Yunior Martinez Duenas, MD, FAAFP, is a board-certified family medicine physician and the Medical Director of Family Medicine at Clinica Sierra Vista. With nearly two decades of experience, Dr. Martinez Duenas delivers compassionate, comprehensive care to families in Kern County, guided by the belief that everyone deserves access to quality healthcare.
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Originally trained at the University of Havana in Cuba, Dr. Martinez Duenas came to the United States with a deep commitment to serving underserved communities. He completed his residency at the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program, where he distinguished himself as a two-year Chief Resident and now proudly serves as a part-time faculty member. His leadership and dedication continue to shape the next generation of physicians.
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Dr. Martinez Duenas exemplifies the mission and heart of Clinica Sierra Vista; bringing expert care, cultural understanding, and deep compassion to every patient encounter.
Yunior Martinez Duenas, MD
Faculty
Dr. Alejandro Gonzalez Perez is a dedicated and compassionate family physician who has been committed to patient-centered care for over two decades. He earned his medical degree in 1999 in Cuba, where he laid the foundation for a lifelong commitment to community health and service.
After moving to the United States, Dr. Gonzalez Perez completed his Family Medicine residency at the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program with Clinica Sierra Vista (CSV) in Bakersfield, California. Today, he proudly serves as both an Attending Physician and Faculty Member at Clinica Sierra Vista, where he provides high-quality medical care while also training the next generation of family medicine physicians.
Fluent in Spanish, Dr. Gonzalez Perez is especially passionate about serving the underserved population in Bakersfield, building trusting relationships with patients through culturally sensitive, accessible care.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Gonzalez Perez enjoys spending quality time with his family and friends. He is also an avid cook who loves sharing meals as a way to connect and unwind.
Alejandro Gonzalez Perez, MD
Faculty
Namdeep Grewal, MD
Faculty
Dr. Sudha Ranganathan became a core faculty physician at the Rio Bravo Family Medicine Residency Program in December 2023. Prior to that, she worked for three years in both the obstetrics and gynecology and family medicine departments at Kern Medical Center.
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Dr. Sudha Ranganathan went to medical school and graduated with an MBBS degree in 2000 from Chengalpattu Medical College, India. She earned her postgraduate medical degree from JIPMER, India, after completing residency training in obstetrics and gynecology and practicing for five years in various academic institutions. She has a Diplomate of National Board degree in obstetrics and gynecology from India. Dr. Ranganathan moved to the United States with her spouse, who is also a pediatrician, and switched to Family medicine to continue her medical practice. She completed her residency at Louisiana State University Shreveport / Monroe Family Medicine program and became board-certified in family medicine. After serving as a core faculty member for one year in the same program, she relocated to Bakersfield.
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Dr. Sudha Ranganathan practices full-scope Family medicine with a special interest in obstetrics and gynecology, adolescent medicine, and pediatrics and enjoys teaching. She believes in health education to empower her patients to improve health outcomes, especially in underprivileged populations. Dr. Ranganathan likes to travel and visit new places, loves to cook, and keeps herself active by playing badminton, pickleball, and tennis with her kids.
Sudha Ranganathan, MD
Faculty
Roberto Velazquez Amador, MD
Faculty
