About Us

Dr. Natalie Pardo is a pediatric resident at Valley Children’s and part of the program’s class of 2027. A native of Bakersfield, California, Dr. Pardo attended the California Health Sciences University College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her research endeavors have focused on evaluating and addressing health behaviors, food insecurity and health education. While in medical school, Dr. Pardo analyzed food insecurity on campus and identified the need to establish a student-run food pantry to increase access to safe and nutritious food for students.

As a pediatrician, she aims to help patients throughout their most formative years and guide them into adulthood, and she hopes to provide patients and families with a solid educational foundation to help them achieve their health goals.

Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in pediatrics and pediatric infectious diseases, Vini Vijayan, MD, FAAP, FIDSA joined Valley Children’s Specialty Medical Group as a pediatric infectious diseases specialist in 2019.

Dr. Vijayan has a rich background in teaching and research, and her work has been published in a variety of peer reviewed journals, including Clinical Pediatrics, Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology and the Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Beyond her printed work, Dr. Vijayan has presented at state, national and international levels to groups such as the Asia Pacific League of Associations for Rheumatology Congress, the European Congress of Rheumatology and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Marisela Sanchez is the Assistant Director of the Health, Safety, and Wellness Department in the Panama-Buena Vista Union School District in Bakersfield, where she supports a team of 38 dedicated team members, including safety/employee health staff and nursing staff to enhance district health outcomes. A credentialed school nurse since 2012, Marisela brings extensive experience in school-based healthcare, previously serving as both a school nurse and a special education program specialist supporting nursing services.

Through her leadership, Marisela champions comprehensive school health services that address the diverse needs of students, ensuring they are healthy, safe and ready to learn.

Board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Dr. Julieanna Sahouria joined Valley Children’s Specialty Medical Group as a pediatric emergency physician in September 2012. She serves as Chief of Staff and as a Base Hospital Medical Director at Valley Children’s Hospital. Dr. Sahouria has published in peer reviewed publications including Circulation and Pediatric Radiology and has presented and conducted research on a variety of topics in her field. Her areas of special interest include quality improvement, asthma treatment, evidence-based medicine, and development and improvement of the electronic medical record.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. 

Ratan Milevoj is Vice President of Innovation, Marketing and Communications and Assistant Chief Strategy Officer at Valley Children’s Healthcare. She developed the organization’s energy resilience and sustainability strategy, including its campus microgrid. She has represented Valley Children’s nationally with partners such as the California Hospital Association, the United States Department of Energy and the American College of Healthcare Executives, and participated in a White House roundtable on health care energy resilience.

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.

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.