Meet the Leadership Team

Kira Molas-Torreblanca, DO, MPH, FAAP

Program Director

I am the program director for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program and a pediatric hospitalist at CHOC. I have a master’s degree in public health from UCLA and completed my residency training at the University of Nevada, where I served as a chief resident. After residency, I assumed the role of assistant residency program director before relocating to California with my family, where I was a hospitalist at Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles for 11 years, then subsequently serving as the Pediatric Hospital Medicine Fellowship program director. I have completed advanced training in educational scholarship and healthcare leadership, and my research interests include curriculum development, simulation and qualitative methodology. I have presented numerous workshops at national conferences on topics such as feedback and evaluation, learning climate and trainee autonomy. I recently graduated as part of the inaugural cohort of the Academic Pediatric Association’s Advancing Pediatric Leaders Program and was the recipient of the Golden Apple Award as part of the UC Irvine School of Medicine 2024 Achievement Awards, which is given to a clinical faculty member for outstanding teaching.

I am currently serving a three-year elected term on the American Academy of Pediatrics Section of Hospital Medicine’s Executive Committee. My other clinical interests include health promotion, community health sciences and health equity in the realm of medical health literacy. I grew up in Palm Desert, California, and currently live in Long Beach with my husband (also a pediatrician), our two teenage children and our cavapoo puppy named Ruby. I am an avid fan of Los Angeles sports teams, and in my free time, if I am not cheering for one of them, you will often find me enjoying the churros at Disneyland.

Jennifer Green Lusk, MD, FAAP

Vice Chair of Medical Education

I am the medical director of Rady Children’s Health-Orange County (RCH-OC) Academic Affairs and the vice chair of medical education for the UC Irvine Department of Pediatrics, overseeing all medical trainees (medical students, residents and fellows) while they are on the RCH-OC campus or in the Department of Pediatrics. I received my medical degree from Georgetown University. After finishing my residency at what was then called CHOC, I served as a chief resident.

I now work as a pediatric hospitalist at RCH-OC, where I remain heavily invested in residency training and education. I also started our PHM Fellowship program. I have a passion for medical education and quality improvement, which I bring together in my current roles, working with leaders and learners at all levels to improve how we all learn pediatrics. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and three kids, watching Duke Basketball, exploring as many hikes and beaches in OC as possible, and enjoying fine Italian wines.

Brianna Leyden, MD

Director — Professional Formation, Development and Advancement 

I am the director of professional formation, development and advancement for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatrics Residency and practice as a pediatric hospitalist at Rady Children’s Health Orange County. As director of our ASCEND (Advancement through Skill Cultivation, Empowerment, and Nurturing Development) program, I focus on building a multi-modal approach to personal improvement, fostering clinical and communication skills, and finding joy and resilience in medicine. A Kansas City girl originally, I received my undergraduate and graduate degrees from the University of Kansas. I then completed a pediatrics residency at Phoenix Children's Hospital in 2023 and a pediatric hospital medicine fellowship at CHOC in 2025.

I currently serve as a board member and early-career physician representative for the AAP OC CA Chapter 4, and won AAP OC Young Pediatrician of the Year in 2026, participating in multiple state and national legislative advocacy events. I volunteer for a few of my favorite other organizations: as a court-appointed special advocate in the foster system, med staff for Camp Kesem UCLA, which provides free summer camp for kids whose parents have cancer, and on the Board of Directors for RX Ballroom Dance, which provides dance therapy for adults with neurodegenerative conditions. In the free time that’s left, I enjoy Broadway shows, Formula 1 racing, most music and dance genres, and reading a good book!

Lydia Villa, MD

Director — Advocacy & Community Impact

I am the director of advocacy & community impact at the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program and practice general pediatrics at Clinica CHOC Para Niños in Santa Ana, California. I am an assistant clinical professor at UC Irvine and also serve as the physician champion for information technology for CHOC Primary Care.

Originally from Texas, I earned my Doctor of Medicine degree from Texas A&M Health Science Center. I completed my pediatric residency at Phoenix Children’s Hospital and Maricopa Medical Center.

I am a board-certified pediatrician, educator and healthcare leader dedicated to advancing child health through clinical care, medical education, advocacy and community outreach. Throughout my career, I have been deeply committed to improving healthcare access and outcomes for underserved children and families. I live in Orange County with my husband and two children and enjoy playing with my kids, traveling, reading and going to Disneyland.

Alexandra Roche, MD

Director — Quality Improvement

Bio coming soon.

David Michalik, DO

Associate Program Director — Scholarship

I am a clinical professor at UC Irvine School of Medicine and have been working in infectious diseases and HIV for over 18 years. In addition to my clinical practice, I am actively engaged in medical education and research in several medical fields. During my free time, I enjoy spending time outdoors.

Candice Taylor Lucas, MD, MPH, FAAP

Associate Program Director — Wellness & Belonging

I am an associate program director for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program. I am also a co-director for the UC Irvine School of Medicine’s mission-based program Leadership Education to Advance Diversity—African, Black and Caribbean (LEAD-ABC), a health sciences associate clinical professor and a general pediatrician with the UC Irvine School of Medicine and UC Irvine Pediatric Exercise and Genomics Research Center. I am from Southern California and completed undergraduate training at UCLA, graduate training in the UCLA School of Public Health and medical school at the Keck School of Medicine at USC. I returned to UCLA for pediatric residency and served as a chief resident and subsequently went to NYU/Bellevue Hospital Center to complete an academic general pediatric fellowship with a focus in primary care research and clinical investigation. My public health and research interests address physical activity promotion, early childhood obesity prevention and health inequities. As associate program director, my areas of focus include primary care and community-engaged training opportunities, advocacy, diversity, inclusion and health equity. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, playing with my sons, dancing, basketball and writing poetry.

Hillary Zieve, MD, FAAP

Associate Program Director — Curriculum

I am an associate program director for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program and practice general pediatrics at CHOC Clinica Para Niños and CHOC Boys & Girls Club Clinic in Santa Ana, California. I am the co-director of the residency's Primary Care Pathway as well as the co-director of the UC Irvine/CHOC Health Equity, Anti-Racism, Trauma-informed care (HEARTi) Program. Within the School of Medicine, I am the co-founder and now faculty mentor of Team KiPOW OC, a school-based, behavioral change program which mentors students in Title 1 schools about nutrition and physical activity.

I received my medical degree from the UC Irvine School of Medicine and completed residency and served as a chief resident at the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program. I am a past board member of the AAP Orange County Chapter 4 and was awarded the AAP-OC’s Young Pediatrician of the year in 2019.

I am passionate about medical education, primary care, breast-feeding medicine, childhood nutrition and physical activity. I live in Orange County with my husband and three children and enjoy watching college football, weight lifting and riding my Peloton.

Maryann Davies, DO, MPH

Associate Program Director — Recruitment, Retention, Ambulatory Education & Primary Care Innovation 

I am an associate program director for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program and practice general pediatrics at the CHOC Garden Grove Clinic. I am from Southern California, completed high school at the Orange County School of the Arts and undergraduate training at UC Berkeley. I completed medical school and a Master of Public Health dual degree at A.T. Still University in Arizona and completed residency and served as a chief resident at the Loma Linda Pediatric Residency program. 

I am passionate about primary care, public health, health equity, education and mentorship. I live in Orange County with my husband and two sons and enjoy group exercise classes, coastal views, poetry and art.

Himala Kashmiri, DO

Associate Program Director — Mentoring and Advising

I am an associate program director for the UC Irvine-CHOC pediatric residency program and a pediatric endocrinologist at Rady Children's Hospital. I also serve a role as the program director for the UC Irvine-CHOC pediatric endocrinology fellowship program. I am extremely passionate about medical education and I am honored to serve as one of the associate program directors for such a thriving residency program! In addition to medical education, I take care of patients with a variety of different endocrinopathies and have a special interest in thyroid cancer as well as differences of sex development. My research interests are currently multifaceted in type 1 diabetes, growth disorders and thyroid cancer. I serve leadership roles in various local, regional and national committees and remain invested in community education, patient advocacy and physician wellness initiatives. In my free time, I enjoy playing basketball, traveling, poetry and spending time with family and friends.

Sean Naficy

Chief Resident

I am a chief resident for the UC Irvine/CHOC/Miller's Pediatric Residency program. I am a San Diego native. I attended Emory University for my undergraduate education and then returned to Southern California, graduating from CUSM in 2023 and from UC Irvine Pediatrics in 2026. During residency, I found myself gravitating towards pursuits in education and advocacy, which ultimately led to my decision to become a chief. In the future, I plan to become a pediatric pulmonologist. Outside of medicine, I love to play music and soccer (admittedly not as well as I used to).

Helena Olivieri

Chief Resident

Bio coming soon.

Houda Khalil

Chief Resident

Bio coming soon.

Veronica Melendez

Residency Coordinator, UC Irvine

I am the residency coordinator for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program. I hold a bachelor's of science degree in healthcare administration from California State University, Long Beach. Prior to joining UC Irvine in 2010, I served as the pediatric residency coordinator at Miller Children’s Hospital in Long Beach. In my free time, I enjoy reading, dancing, watching sports, and spending time with my family, friends and two goldendoodles.

Maria Espitia

Assistant Residency Coordinator, UC Irvine

I am a residency coordinator assistant for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program. I joined the program in 2014, bringing a variety of corporate and office management skills. Previously, I served as a human resources assistant and accounting assistant at USA National Title Company. I enjoy shopping for great deals and spending time with my family.

Sabrina Harris

Assistant Residency Coordinator, Scheduler, UC Irvine

I am a residency coordinator assistant for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program. I joined the team in January 2021. Previously, I began working with the residency program in Feb 2020 while filling a temporary position as an administrative assistant. I have an extensive background in administration, office management and accounting, supporting large nonprofit organizations and small business environments. I am a team player and approach all aspects of my position and any job with a positive, hardworking mindset. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, dancing, roller-skating and spending time with my family and friends.

Veronica Le

Pediatric Health Education Coordinator, Miller Children's

I am the pediatric health education coordinator at Long Beach MemorialCare/Miller’s Children’s & Women’s Hospital. I joined MemorialCare in 2025, bringing a strong background in graduate medical education, office administration and finance. Prior to this role, I served as the assistant residency coordinator for the UC Irvine Family Medicine Residency program, where I supported residents and faculty in academic and clinical training.

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and spending quality time with my family and friends.

Francisco (Frank) Cruz

Education Coordinator, UC Irvine

I am an assistant residency coordinator for the UC Irvine-CHOC Pediatric Residency program and education coordinator for the UC Irvine School of Medicine. I hold a Bachelor of Fine Arts from California State University, Long Beach, and a Master of Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts.

Outside of my work in medical education, I am an independent experimental filmmaker. My creative work has been featured at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, the Los Angeles Filmforum, the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) in Mexico City, as well as at independent galleries and screening venues throughout Los Angeles and Mexico. In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking and spending quality time with my family.