Faculty Spotlight
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Faculty Spotlight - Special Edition: Dr. Dana Weishaar
Tell us a little about your background, where you’re from, and what led you to CNUCOM.
I grew up in the Midwest. Born in Muscatine, Iowa, and raised in Indianapolis and Columbus, Ohio, I never dreamed I'd one day be living in California. My roots are
relatively humble. Neither of my grandfathers completed a high school education. My parents were proud first-generation college graduates, and my sisters (I have
two younger) both completed master’s degrees. I graduated from The Ohio State University with a Zoology degree and got my doctorate at Medical College of
Ohio/University of Toledo COM. After residency, I matched into the Cardiology fellowship at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, which is how I ended
up on the West Coast. Ultimately, I ran the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Program for Northern California Kaiser Permanente out of San Jose and Santa
Clara. My circuitous path to CNUCOM started with KP connections throughout Northern California. One of the passionate hospitalists in Sacramento enjoyed my
lecture style so much that she implored me to consider joining the CNU faculty and wrote a letter to the school encouraging them to hire me. I am beyond happy
that they did. Teaching at CNUCOM is more rewarding than I ever expected
Read more about this faculty spotlight here!
May 2025 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Brenden Tu
Tell us a little about your background, where you’re from, and what led you to CNUCOM.
I bring with me over a decade of experience from UC Davis Student Health and Counseling Services, where I’ve worked in both Urgent Care and Primary Care settings. My
path to medicine has been shaped by a blend of academic and hands-on experiences. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Natural Resources from UC Davis and went on to
complete a Master of Science in Forestry at Colorado State University. Eventually, I pursued my MD at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and returned to California
for residency in Family and Community Medicine at UC Davis Medical Center.
April 2025 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Adedeji Okikiade
Tell us a little about your background, where you’re from, and what led you to CNUCOM.
I was born and raised in Nigeria (West) from a proud Yoruba heritage. I grew up in a family where love, contentment, and strong values shaped my outlook
on life. My upbringing instilled a deep sense of purpose and a desire to contribute meaningfully to my community. My lifelong passion for the medical
profession has been the driving force behind my journey. I have always been fascinated by the intersection of science and human well-being; this
passion has grown stronger over the years. Outside of medicine, I find immense fulfillment in imparting knowledge to students, mentoring them toward
their academic success, and contributing to the future of healthcare through medical education. CNUCOM stood out to me as the perfect place to
further this mission. Its commitment to academic excellence, innovation, and student-centered learning aligns with my values and aspirations. I am eager
to be part of a community that nurtures future physicians, and I look forward to contributing my skills and experiences to this dynamic environment.
March 2025 Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Susan Stevens
Tell us a little about your background, where you’re from, and what led you to CNUCOM.
I grew up in Wellesley Massachusetts, the daughter of a rheumatologist. At Williams College I met my husband. After
graduating from Harvard Medical School, I left Massachusetts to join my husband at UC Davis where he was studying
winemaking. We settled in Napa and had 2 great daughters. Like many of my wonderful CNSU colleagues I had a fulfilling
career with The Permanente Medical Group (the Permanente 1/2 of the Kaiser Permanente team). Upon retiring at age 61,
several of my Permanente colleagues reached out, shared how much they enjoyed teaching at CNSU and encouraged me to
join the faculty.