From newborns to grandparents, we’re dedicated to caring for your entire family when you need it most.
Yuma Regional Medical Center offers health services for all ages and aspects of life. Whether you have a common illness or need specialized treatment, our experts provide outstanding, personalized care.
We believe in improving the lives of those who call Yuma County home. That’s why we complete a community health needs assessment every three years to identify and evaluate health related needs our community.
The exceptional faculty members that lead our Family & Community Medicine Residency program share a passion for teaching and clinical education. They mentor and guide our residents to provide them with a comprehensive education and the tools they need to practice family medicine.
Chief Academic Officer Program Director
Returning to Yuma after completing her education and residency has been a wonderful experience for Dr. Diaz. A graduate of Yuma High School, she went on to earn her undergraduate degree at the University of Arizona and her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her Family Medicine Residency at the University of Kansas Medical Center and was appointed chief resident of her class.
Dr. Diaz enjoys caring for the entire family, but her true passion is caring for women and children. As a faculty member for our residency program, she precepts in all areas of our medical specialty. She enjoys traveling, reading, quilting and spending time with her family.
Medical Director
After being in private practice in Yuma for 30 years, Dr. Steven Anderson joined Yuma Regional Medical Center's Family Medicine Center as a faculty member of the Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. In addition to treating patients at the Family Medicine Center, Dr. Anderson serves as a teaching faculty member for the family medicine residents and serves as Medical Director of the Family Medicine Center. Dr. Anderson received his medical degree from the University of Alabama and completed his residency in Family Medicine at Florida Hospital in Orlando and Holston Valley Hospital in Kingsport, Tennessee. Dr. Anderson is fluent in Spanish and French. In his free time, he enjoys golf, bicycling, fishing and family activities.
Program Director, Sports Medicine Fellowship
Dr. Ryan Zerr joined the Yuma Regional Medical Center's Family Medicine Center faculty to direct the Sports Medicine fellowship. In addition to treating patients for athletic injuries, he serves as the mentor to our non-operative sports medicine fellows. Dr. Zerr earned his medical degree from the Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences in Kansas City, MO. He completed his family medicine residency at Phoenix Baptist Hospital in Phoenix, AZ and his sports medicine fellowship at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is board certified in family medicine with a certificate of added qualification in sports medicine. Dr. Zerr likes spending time with his family and watching them participate in athletic, school and community events. He also enjoys weight lifting, travel and smoking meats like ribs and pulled pork.
Dr. N. Ogechi Abara is a family medicine physician with a love for teaching and community engagement, as well as a special interest in marginalized communities and the care of older adults. Her experiences provide her a good understanding of integrative medicine, which she uses in treating patients with holistic, nurturing and clinically sound medical care.
Dr. Abara attended medical school at Ross University School of Medicine in Bridgetown, Barbados. She completed her family medicine residency and geriatric medicine fellowship at The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston in Galveston, TX.
When she is not practicing medicine, Dr. Abara enjoys working out, running, swimming, listening to music, playing the piano, singing and writing poetry.
Dr. Alsaiegh was born and raised in Baghdad, Iraq and moved to the U.S. while in high school. She earned her Master’s degree in Public Health at St. George's University School of Public Health in Grenada and her medical degree from St. George's University School of Medicine. Following medical school, she held a position as a clinical research associate at Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center and most recently graduated from Yuma Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program. Upon graduation, Dr. Alsaigh joined the Family Medicine Residency Program as a faculty member. She practices at Yuma Regional Medical Center as a hospitalit and at YRMC's Family Medicine Center.
Dr. Alsaiegh believes her vast life and educational experiences have prepared her well for her career in family medicine. In the future, Nada plans to spend some of her free time offering international, humanitarian medical services to the underserved. She is fluent in both English and Arabic.
Core Faculty
Dr. Matthew Bishop is a family medicine physician that strives to promote health literacy and health empowerment. He prioritizes personal choice and adapting the care plan to the patient’s culture. He holds particular interests in integrative medicine and global health. Born and raised in San Diego, California, he attended medical school at Ross University School of Medicine in Dominica. He completed family medicine residency at Yuma Regional Family and Community Medicine Residency and, upon graduation, joined as a faculty member. While not practicing medicine, Dr. Bishop enjoys cooking, camping, hiking, and traveling with his wife and children.
Dr. Natalia Galarza was born in Durango, Mexico, but grew up near Yuma, in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora. Inspiring her interest in becoming a doctor was her mother, who works as a family physician in San Luis Rio Colorado. Dr. Galarza attended medical school at Universidad Autonoma de Baja California, located in Mexicali, Baja California. She graduated with honors.She completed her Family Medicine Residency at Yuma Regional Medical Center, where she had the honor of being in the program’s very first graduating class.
She has worked on both side of the international border as a physician, which gives her a first-hand understanding of this region’s unique healthcare challenges. That experience has also inspired her deep passion for Yuma County and the health of its residents. Dr. Galarza says she considers herself an adopted Yuman, as her husband and children are proud Yumans. She believes in Family Medicine as a whole and loves the bond that this specialty allows physicians to have with their patients. As a faculty member serving YRMC’s Family Medicine Program, Dr. Galarza sees her purpose as being there to help the growing program reach its full potential, all while improving the health of the community and advancing family medicine outreach.
Dr. Guerrero joined Yuma Regional Medical Center's primary care team in April 2019. He was born and raised in Ensenada, Mexico and moved to the U.S. in his youth. He earned his medical degree from the University of California, Irvine and subsequently completed his family medicine residency at the same institution.
After practicing for seven years in Los Angeles, California, the U.S. Army activated Dr. Guerrero and stationed him here in Yuma. Shortly thereafter, he set up private practice in the community. He and his team have been serving Yuma-area residents for more than 20 years. He is fluent in both English and Spanish. When Dr. Guerrero is not taking care of patients, he loves spending time with family—especially his grandkids. He is a baseball fan and Arizona Diamondbacks supporter.
Dr. Kumar was born and raised in India where he also completed his medical school training at Stanley Medical College and Hospitals in India. He then worked as a junior doctor in the ICU and cardiothoracic surgery departments at Billroth Hospital in Chennai before he came to the U.S. to pursue residency. Dr. Kumar underwent two years of general surgery residency at the University of Arizona in Tucson before deciding to switch to family medicine. He completed his Family and Community Medicine Residency at Yuma Regional Medical Center in Yuma, AZ.
Upon graduation, Dr. Kumar joined the Family Medicine Residency Program as a faculty member. He practices at Yuma Regional Medical Center as a hospitalist and at YRMC's Family Medicine Center. His hobbies include sports, movies and books.
Dr. Reusser, a family medicine physician, has special interests in adult medicine and preventative health. He graduated from the Saint James School of Medicine in Anguilla. He completed his family medicine residency at Wheeling Hospital in Wheeling, WV.
Dr. Reusser enjoys spending time with his family, playing basketball, reading and trying new things.
Dr. Alfonso Téllez II was born in Tucson, AZ and grew up in Yuma. He earned his medical degree from the University of Arizona. He completed his family and community medicine residency and sports medicine fellowship at Yuma Regional Medical Center. He feels deep satisfaction from his work in the community to promote health education and help the underserved. In his free time, Dr. Téllez enjoys cycling, soccer, hiking, movies, cooking and planning trips to new places.
Dr. Palak Satija was born in New Delhi, India and moved to Canada in her youth where she grew up. She earned her medical degree from the Medical University of Lodz in Lodz, Poland. Thereafter, when she was undergoing the match process, she landed on an interview in Yuma and instantly fell in love with the warm, family-oriented nature of the residency program. Over the course of residency in Yuma, Dr. Satija discovered her passion for teaching and didactics. She went on to complete a faculty fellowship in her final year along with the Global health track.
She believes in being the patient's strongest advocate during their entire healthcare journey, while providing care that is respectful of and responsive to individual patient preferences, needs and values. Dr. Satija's areas of clinical interest include academic medicine, global health and hospital medicine. In her spare time, Dr. Satija enjoys maintaining an active lifestyle, traveling, watching tennis and spending quality time with family and friends.
Our residents come from around the world, bringing with them a wide variety of unique experiences and perspectives as they continue their medical studies.
Join us in congratulating the recent graduates of our Family & Community Residency Program.
Our dedicated team in the Graduate Medical Education office is always available to assist you.