Top row: Ameen Shahnam, Katie Tom
Bottom row: Ellen Hoang, Erin Yoshida, Sherry Wan
Dr. Ameen Shahnam
Hometown: Reno, NV
Education:
Spanish Language and Literature, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, 2009
Biology, University of California, San Diego/University of Nevada, Reno, 2011
DDS, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, 2015
AEGD, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, 2016
Personal interests: Being from the Tahoe area, I grew up skiing, loving the outdoors, and eating the best all-you-can-eat sushi around. My first hike ever was Mt. Whitney, the highest in the continental US, and, miraculously, it went well. I also played soccer pre-COVID and hope to join intramural teams at UW soon.
Fun facts about me: I have visited 46 U.S. states, mostly on my cross-country moves. I have driven on moves between the West Coast and D.C. 3 times. I postponed my orthodontic dream to serve in the United States Air Force for 5 years. During that time, I lived in Germany and visited 49 countries. I love sharing travel tips!
Favorite things about the Seattle area: I continue to backpack, hike, and have fully embraced the stand up paddleboarding craze. I can’t wait to try the incredible restaurants and watch the Niners beat the Seahawks.
Dream vacation: Backpack through Patagonia, Chile, tour New Zealand in a camper van, or ski pillow lines in Japan.
Original AIM screen name: MeenDaBean. Feel free to IM me, but you may get my Away Message.
Starbucks order: Salted Caramel Cream Nitro Cold Brew. I’ll drink mostly any coffee or tea though.
Dr. Kaitlyn (Katie) Tom
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Education:
BS in Biology, University of Washington, 2016
DDS, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2020
Personal interests: Personal Interests: hiking (Mt. Rainier is my favorite, it’s gorgeous in the summertime!), growing avocados (current COVID obsession), going to Huskies basketball and volleyball games, and traveling.
Fun Facts about me: I have a pet turtle back home in Hawaii
Favorite things about the Seattle-area: I love getting flowers from Pike Place Market, watching the sailboats and sunset at Gasworks Park, kayaking at the UW waterfront, and scoping out the best coffee shops. I never drank coffee until I came to Seattle, and now I probably drink on average 3 cups a day.
Favorite Netflix show to binge: Grey’s Anatomy
Starbucks order: Toasted Coconut Milk Cold Brew. Having grown up in Hawaii, I love coconut everything!
Dr. Ellen Hoang
Hometown: Houston, TX
Education:
BA in Economics, Rice University, 2016
DMD, Harvard School of Dental Medicine, 2020
Personal interests: You can usually find me consuming some type of carb – whether it’s fresh-baked cookies or pasta made from scratch. I also love crawfish boils, kickboxing, tennis, and taking “candids” of my photogenic co-residents when we’re out and about.
Favorite things about the Seattle-area: Since I really enjoy architectural photography, Seattle has really cool museums and buildings like the Seattle Public Library and the Chihuly Garden and Glass Museum right next to the Space Needle! Also, there are so many vantage points to get a good view of the city’s skyline like at Kerry Park and Gasworks Park.
Favorite TV show to binge: The Office (I think I’ve seen this about 7 times, and I will try to incorporate Office-themed gifs into chats whenever I can.)
Dream vacation: I really want to travel to rural Japan, stay in the ryokans, soak in the hot springs, and feast on fresh sashimi.
Favorite memory with a co-resident: Accompanying Erin when she adopted her quarantine-cat, Ted! He’s a bit of a devil, but definitely a cutie (I secretly want to kidnap him and keep him forever).
Dr. Erin Yoshida
Hometown: Hilo, HI
Education:
BS in Chemistry, Pacific University, 2016
DDS, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2020
Personal interests: Pre-COVID, I enjoyed traveling, watching broadway musicals (I sing the Hamilton songs in the shower), and trying new restaurants.
Fun facts about me: I tap danced for 10 years growing up so I sometimes tap to the beat whenever I wear clackity heels. I love dancing to the Happy Feet soundtrack.
Favorite things about the Seattle-area: The hikes have been so beautiful here in the PNW! I’m also looking forward to apple picking season in the fall; the Honeycrisp apple is my favorite!
Favorite orthodontic appliance: The Hyrax appliance is probably the coolest because it’s named after an adorable, fluffy mammal with a diastema.
Dr. Sherry Wan
Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI
Education:
BS in Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016
MSE in Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, 2019
DMD, University of Pennsylvania, 2020
Personal interests: Eating oysters with my fiancé Michael and developing a systematic review and meta-analysis of the best dog parks in Seattle with my Samoyed, Monty, and my Shepadoodle, Teddy.
Fun facts about me: My first foray into wire-bending was when I was a competitive jewelry/metal artist in high school. I then switched from bending wires to bending carbon fiber poles as a pole vaulter on my college’s varsity track & field team.
Favorite things about the Seattle-area: The seafood scene is incredible, it’s one of the most dog-friendly cities in the US, and everytime I see Mt. Rainier as I’m driving over Lake Union it’s hard to keep my eyes on the road!
Favorite memory with a co-resident: Testing the limits of my respiratory system on a challenging hike to Lake Serene with all my co-residents, and then enjoying Lauren’s delicious homemade birthday cake popcorn after.
Favorite Trader Joe’s item: Balela (savory Middle Eastern salad) – I didn’t know I could like a dish with the word “salad” in it until I tried this.
