About Us

The Pulse champions the health of kids with stories that highlight patient journeys, physician expertise and the nation-leading impact of Valley Children’s Healthcare throughout the Central Valley. We aim to be a trusted and timely source of accurate information and an advocate for the communities we serve.

For media inquiries, please contact publicrelations@valleychildrens.org.

Staff

Brandon Johansen

Managing Editor

Brandon is an Emmy Award-winning producer and journalist. He worked as a reporter and anchor in Bakersfield before joining ABC30 in Fresno, where he co-produced documentaries about the Creek Fire and the fentanyl crisis. Raised in the Valley, Brandon is devoted to telling the stories of the people who live here, and he brings that drive to Valley Children’s and The Pulse.

Philip Torres

Video Specialist

Philip is an Emmy Award-winning videographer and editor with nearly two decades of experience in broadcast news and creative storytelling. Born and raised in the Fresno area, he’s worked at CBS47, KSEE24 and ABC30, and now brings his passion for visual storytelling to Valley Children’s and The Pulse. His work blends technical expertise with a deep commitment to capturing stories that matter to the community.

Contributors

Tania Pacheco-Werner, PhD

Executive Director, Central Valley Health Policy Institute

Dr. Tania Pacheco-Werner is the executive director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute at Fresno State and a respected health advocacy and policy champion in the Valley. She also serves on the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District Board and the California Air Resources Board, appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom. Tania is the mom of two boys and lives in Sanger, CA.

Bora Timkin, MD

Pediatric Hospitalist

Dr. Bora Timkin joined Valley Children’s Medical Group as a pediatric hospitalist in 2022. He earned a medical degree from University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed a residency in pediatrics at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Dr. Timkin is a member of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the AAP Section on Hospital Medicine (SOHM) and American Medical Association and has worked on various scholarly projects, presentations and lectures. His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including Microbial Pathogenesis.

Venkata Sushma Chamarthi, MD

Pediatrician

Dr. Venkata Sushma Chamarthi joined Valley Children’s Primary Care Group in 2024 as a pediatrician practicing at Dakota Pediatrics in Fresno. In this role, she provides a wide range of pediatric primary care services to infants, children and adolescents, including well-child exams and sick visits. She also has advanced training in pediatric pulmonology and behavioral development, and is certified in obesity medicine through the American Board of Obesity Medicine.

Dr. Chamarthi’s mission is to equip pediatricians with the tools and frameworks needed to deliver compassionate, prevention-focused obesity care, expand access within primary care settings, and champion health equity so that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Jennifer Johnson, MD

Medical Director, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics

Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Dr. Jennifer Johnson joined Valley Children’s Specialty Medical Group as a developmental-behavioral pediatrician in 2020. She serves as the medical director of developmental-behavioral pediatrics for the hospital. Dr. Johnson’s areas of focus include childhood trauma and resilience, foster care, medication management for aggression and self-injurious behavior, and maximization of services for children with autism and intellectual disability. Dr. Johnson is passionate about providing education for patients, families, and providers and advocating for increased supports for children with neurodevelopmental disabilities within the Central Valley.

Carmela Sosa, MD

Director, Guilds Center for Community Health

Born and raised in Fresno, California, Dr. Carmela Sosa joined Valley Children’s Specialty Medical Group at the Charlie Mitchell Children’s Center in April 2012 to provide complex primary care to children of the Valley. Her roles expanded in 2016 to include Associate Program Director of the Valley Children’s Pediatric Residency Program, and again in 2019 to Medical Director of Valley Children’s Primary Care. Today, Dr. Sosa is the director for Valley Children’s Guilds Center for Community Health where she works with community partners to improve the health of kids outside of the hospital walls. With her knowledge and expertise, she works to combat the social drivers that impact the overall well-being of kids throughout the Central Valley.

Michael Scahill, MD

Medical Director, Informatics & Digital Health

Dr. Michael Scahill’s job is to bring technology to improve all facets of care at Valley Children’s. After decades in some of the world’s biggest cities, most in the heart of Silicon Valley, he & his family of rambunctious kids and dogs moved to a ranch in the Valley… and love it. He writes about the ways technology is transforming healthcare interspersed with practical tips for the aspiring ranchero spiced with connections to economics, linguistics and Medieval history. His college Italian teacher called him a “Renaissance man” – it remains the greatest compliment of his life.

Hailey Nelson, MD

Complex Primary Care Pediatrician

Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Dr. Hailey Nelson joined Valley Children’s Specialty Medical Group as a complex care pediatrician at the Charlie Mitchell Children’s Center in 2016. Dr. Nelson enjoys working with children of all ages and abilities and is especially passionate about providing the best possible care to medically fragile children and their families.

Dupinderjit Bhangal, MD

Valley Children's Pediatric Resident, Class of 2025

Born in Dinuba, California, Dr. Dupinderjit Bhangal is a pediatrician who graduated from the Valley Children’s Residency Program in 2025. A graduate of the Xavier University School of Medicine in Aruba, Dr. Bhangal seeks to ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to access healthcare and that every child can reach their maximal potential by being mentally and physically fit. During medical school, she volunteered at a private clinic that provided free healthcare and medications to children of an underserved community.

Zara Arboleda

Public Relations Officer, Valley Children's Healthcare

A proud graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism and two-time Emmy Award winner, Zara spent nearly 20 years as a journalist in the Midwest, Bakersfield and Fresno, telling stories that inform and connect. Zara now leads public relations and communications at Valley Children’s, inspired by her two children and a deep commitment to the mission of improving children’s health across the Central Valley.

Hailey Nelson, MD, FAAP, IBCLC

Complex Primary Care Pediatrician

Michael Scahill, MD, MBA

Medical Director, Informatics & Digital Health

Dr Michael Scahill’s job is to bring technology to improve all facets of care at Valley Children’s. After decades in some of the world’s biggest cities, most in the heart of Silicon Valley, he & his family of rambunctious kids and dogs moved to a ranch in the Valley…and love it. He writes about the ways technology is transforming healthcare interspersed with practical tips for the aspiring ranchero spiced with connections to economics, linguistics and Medieval history. His college Italian teacher called him a “Renaissance man” – it remains the greatest compliment of his life.