Dr. Almudhafar attended medical school at the University of Belgrade in Belgrade, Yugoslavia and completed her internship and residency at the Riverside County Regional Medical Center program in Family Medicine in Riverside, California. Dr. Almudhafar is fluent in English, Arabic and Serbian. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine and enjoys spending time with her family and traveling

Philosophy: “I will ensure that my patients receive the best physical, psychological, and emotional care possible. I strongly believe in delivering patient-centered and patient-driven care while always respecting a patients cultural and spiritual beliefs.”

Cielito Blanco-Capistrano completed her Doctorate of Medicine at the Manila Central University in the Philippines where she also practiced as a medical physician for several years. She then completed her Masters of Science degree and Family Nurse Practitioner at Charles Drew University School of Nursing in Los Angeles, California. She is board certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is a clinical instructor for the Family Nurse Practitioner Program at California Baptist University. She works in conjunction with our physicians to enhance our team approach to patient care and is fluent in English and Tagalog.

Philosophy: “I am passionate about understanding the needs of each of my patients in order to help them manage their physical and emotional health. Each patient is a member of a family, and a member of a larger community with their own individual experiences, and my goal is to support each of my patient’s values and preferences throughout the clinical process.”

Sabrina Garrovillas completed her Masters of Science degree and Family Nurse Practitioner at California Baptist University. Her undergraduate studies were completed at the University of California at Riverside in Riverside, California with a major in Biological Sciences. She works in conjunction with our physicians to enhance our team approach to patient care.

Dr. Ivanova attended medical school at the Academy of Medicine in Sofia, Bulgaria. She completed her internship at the University of Louisville in Louisville, Kentucky and stayed at the university to complete her residency as well. She then earned a Geriatrics Fellowship at the University of California in Irvine, California. Dr. Ivanova speaks fluent English and Bulgarian. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine and is Board Qualified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Geriatric Medicine. Dr. Ivanova is also certified in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.

Dr. Benjamin Mahdi attended medical school at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica, West Indies. He completed his Family Medicine internship and residency at the Eisenhower Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Benjamin T. Mahdi is Board Certified by the American Academy of Family Medicine.

Dr. Mahdi graduated from the Sofia Medical Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria and completed his residency at the University of Louisville Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky specializing in Primary Care. He is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Board of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He is also a Certified Medical Director. He has served in a Leadership Role at the RCMA since 2005 and serves on the board of the Inland Empire Health Information Exchange. He is board certified in family medicine, hospice and palliative medicine. As an active member of the Riverside and Corona communities, Dr. Mahdi has worked with Riverside Community Hospital and as Medical Director of the Palliative Service at Parkview Community Hospital in developing palliative care programs. Additionally, he is the Medical Director of several nursing homes in Riverside, California. He has been elected chair of the Ethics Committee at Riverside Community Hospital. Dr. Mahdi’s community involvement includes serving as Chair of the Inland Empire Palliative Care Coalition. His affiliations include serving as Assistant Clinical Professor at Loma Linda School of Medicine and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine. In 2012 he received the CMA Foundation’s Robert D. Sparks, M.D. Leadership Achievement Award for successfully leading the Inland Empire to increase the quality of care for patients facing end of life issues. Dr. Mahdi and his wife, Dr. Ana Ivanova, live in Orange County and their son, Dr. Benjamin Mahdi, is a physician with Riverside Family Physicians as well. In his leisure time, Dr. Mahdi enjoys spending time with his grandkids, making his own beer and sausages and traveling with his wife.

Dr. Vicky Mai attended medical school at Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Ft Lauderdale, Florida and completed her internship and residency in family practice at Kern Medical Center in Bakersfield, California. Dr. Vicky Mai is Board Certified with the American Board of Family Medicine. She enjoys gardening, biking, arts and crafts and is fluent in English and Vietnamese.

Philosophy: “Under any circumstance, I will always work with my patients to restore their best possible health.”

Dr. Kacie Paik attended University of California, San Diego for undergraduate study and Howard University College of Medicine in Washington D.C. for medical school. She completed her Family Medicine residency training at University of California, Riverside. She is fluent in English and Korean. Dr. Paik enjoys painting, playing with her cats, traveling, and learning about healthy diets and exercise.

Philosophy: “My motivation for pursuing Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree came from my desire to bridge the low-income community and healthcare. As a healthcare provider, I envion to continue giving back to the community and become a strong advocate for my patients to ensure each patient lives healthier and fulfilling lives.”  

Martha E. Romero is a bilingual Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She earned her MSW degree from California State University, San Bernardino. Martha has over 12 years of experience as a therapist working with children, adolescents, adults and families in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties. She enjoys working with clients/patients to navigate the challenges of life as each person has their own unique story that has shaped what they are currently experiencing. Martha utilizes an eclectic approach to therapy that includes cognitive behavioral techniques, trauma-informed care, narrative therapy, strengths-based and solution focused therapy that moves people towards strengthening their support system, community resources, mindfulness and application of learned skills to live the life they envision for themselves.

Philosophy: “Therapy is a collaborative process that works towards acceptance of feelings, greater self-awareness and understanding of your own experience of the world. It promotes positive change through a trustworthy relationship.”

Dr. Maryam Samadi-Soltani attended medical school at Iran University of Medical Sciences in Tehran, Iran. She completed her Pediatric internship at Ali Asghar Children’s Hospital in Tehran, Iran. After her internship, she completed her residency at Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Dr. Maryam Samadi- Soltani is Board Certified with the American Board of Pediatrics and is fluent in English and Farsi. She enjoys cooking fresh whole foods, spending time with her family outdoors, traveling, and learning about wellness and nutritional sciences.

Philosophy: “Children are our future and it is my goal to build a strong and healthy society. I always care for my pediatric patients as my own children, and having healthy patients is the most satisfying feeling in my life.”

Nestor J Sanchez is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. He earned his M.S. degree from California State University, Northridge and has focused his career on helping patients in underserved communities. Nestor has years of experience in Los Angeles and Riverside working with children, teenagers, elders, and families. He has assisted many who have dealt with anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, family of origin issues, domestic violence and PTSD. Nestor utilizes a warm and personal approach to serve his clients and believes that therapy should be a collaborative process. Nestor believes in the power of self-awareness in helping individuals achieve an authentic, satisfying way of life. He hopes to provide a therapeutic experience that is enlightening and empowering to all patients.

Philosophy: “I believe that success in therapy is when a therapist “works themselves out of a job” which focuses on the value each session can have and the importance of finding resolution to return to the life each person deserves.”

Megg Sofeso completed her Masters of Science in Nursing degree and Family Nurse Practitioner Program at California Baptist University in Riverside, California. Her undergraduate study was completed at the University of Ibadan, Nigeria in Education. She works in conjunction with our physicians to enhance our team approach to patient care. She enjoys spending time with her family, watching movies and reading.

Philosophy: “My goal is not only to treat my patients, but to also help them understand their health and how to reach their individual goals.”