The Multicultural Physicians’ Alliance (MPA) seeks to serve as the body that recruits the most talented, compassionate, committed, and innovative group physicians to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

We work to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all individuals, enabling them to grow and thrive within their chosen field as they treat and serve patients and their families. In doing so, we hope to not only impact and improve the direct delivery of patient care, but to enhance the health of the children in the communities we serve around CHOP’s hospitals and care centers.

Our mission

Founded in 2002, the MPA comprises residents, fellows, and attending physicians who are committed to creating a workforce that affords the best and most culturally competent care to the patients and families we treat.

Through active participation in the recruitment process, we are dedicated to ensuring that the medical staff is reflective of the community that it serves.

We are also part of a collaborative Alliance of Minority Physicians (with Penn Medicine, CHOP, & Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania) — hear more from our members here, and read more below.

Leadership team

Co-leader  Mya King, MD (PGY-3)
Co-leader Erica Onwuegbuchu, MD, MS (PGY-3)
Co-leader Alexa Mullins, MD (PGY-3)
Recruitment Co-Chair Melodie Noel, MD (PGY 2)
Recruitment Co-Chair Kamaria Taylor, MD (PGY 2)
Recruitment Co-Chair Frances Avilo-Soto, MD (PGY-1)
Recruitment Co-Chair Yvette Portilla, MD (PGY-1)
Social Co-Chair Samantha Kisare, MD (PGY 3)
Social Co-Chair Rebekah Madrid, MD, MS (PGY 2)
Social Co-Chair Gloria Guitierrez, MD (PGY 2)
Social Co-Chair Kayla Cooper, MD (PGY 1)
Community Service Co-Chair Priya Brito, MD (PGY 3)
Community Service Co-Chair Jessica Reed, MD, MPH (PGY 2)
Visiting Clerkship Co-Chair Xzavier Killings, MD, MS (PGY 2)
Visiting Clerkship Co-Chair Natasha Stanley, DO (PGY 2)
Visiting Clerkship Co-Chair B’lane Daly, MD, MSEd (PGY 2)
AMP Liaison Dominique Cooper, MD (PGY 3)

Programming & Initiatives

The MPA engages in a variety of programming to provide exposure to CHOP’s unique clinical learning environment. MPA strives to transparently display the opportunities for mentorship, community, and vast clinical exposure available to potential CHOP trainees and faculty.

Medical Student Conferences

CHOP's MPA is a consistent presence at regional and national medical student conferences sponsored by the Student National Medical Association (SNMA) and Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA). We see participation in these conferences as a crucial opportunity to engage with the broader medical community and create mentoring networks that facilitate pathways for medical and premedical student from various backgrounds.

The CHOP MPA strongly aligns with the mission of both of these organizations in supporting medical students and addressing the needs of underserved communities. If you're planning on attending a conference, please make sure to stop by and see us!

CHOP Visiting Clerkship Program

The Visiting Clerkship Program is designed to welcome a diverse group of medical students to CHOP and encourage exchange, shared experience and exposure.

Visiting medical students will spend four weeks on one of the following: Subspecialty Elective Rotation, Inpatient floor, or the Emergency Department. Accepted students will also be provided with a faculty mentor and have the opportunity to meet with the Residency Program Director, as well as spend time with residents from our Multicultural Physicians’ Alliance (MPA). The MPA meets several times a year to organize activities for recruitment, to participate in community outreach, and to provide a supportive social network for its members.

The clerkship is funded to cover students’ travel and living expenses. Visit the program website for more information, or email Dr. Jessica Fowler.

Residency Interview Season Engagement

The introduction to the MPA family starts during the residency interview process. We organize socials throughout the interview season along with facilitating mentorship opportunities between current residents/faculty and applicants. Our goal is to demonstrate the diverse academic and advocacy opportunities that exist through the people who engage in work in various spaces here at CHOP.

Open House events are hosted through the Residency Program so that interested applicants can learn more about the program in person. These days offer those considering CHOP for their pediatric residency the opportunity to meet with program leadership and current residents and experience the clinical environment and surrounding city of Philadelphia. Those interested in connecting with MPA will have the opportunity to do so through meet ups and social events! 

Community Building and Support

The MPA engages in a variety of activities throughout the year to build community within the group as well as to engage the broader CHOP community in matters of diversity, inclusion, and equity. Events are open and often include residents, fellows, and faculty.

These events create a safe space outside of the hospital to foster community and mentorship. Additionally, they provide opportunities for guidance regarding professional development while strengthening bonds amongst the MPA family.

Residency Program Education

One of the ways in which MPA demonstrates its established presence in the residency program education is through its biannual resident newsletter. The MPA highlights different physicians who have made historic and notable contributions to their respective fields in medicine as well as upcoming opportunities to engage in scholarship, community service, and fellowship.

Alliance of Minority Physicians

The Penn Medicine-CHOP Alliance of Minority Physicians is a collaboration between the Penn Medicine, CHOP, and the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania that seeks to foster innovation by developing leaders in academic and community medicine through intentional program and connection.

MPA and AMP frequently collaborate on programming to support resident and fellow trainees at CHOP and Penn. Through AMP, MPA further expands the network of individuals who can come together to support each other and work toward common aims.

For more information visit the UPHS-CHOP Alliance of Minority Physicians website.

In their own words

“I first experienced CHOP as a medical student through MPA's Visiting Clerkship Program. It was a month that helped me realize I could accomplish my career goals with the support of faculty, the residency program, and MPA. I'm now a third year resident here, and at every step of the way MPA has supported me both professionally and personally. Residency is difficult anywhere, but with the support of my newfound friends, mentors, and the MPA, I have grown as a physician and a person. There is a strong URiM resident contingency here at CHOP. The MPA creates a safe space for us to meet and learn from our URiM faculty mentors. Not only do we work together to foster greater diversity at CHOP, we also meet regularly just to chat and check in with each other. Through the MPA, I have met some of my new life-long friends!” - Herodes Guzman, MD

“I was invited to the MPA applicant dinner the day of my interview at CHOP and everyone involved immediately felt like family. Early communication with MPA was one of my top reasons for wanting to train at CHOP. I then joined the recruitment committee my intern year. MPA is family! One of my mentors is a fellow MPA member and I feel like our relationship is so much stronger because of MPA. One of my best friends is also a part of MPA. I feel that I have a smaller family looking out for me at CHOP.” - Yesenia Sanchez-Kleinberg, MD

“Having a community of support for URiMs has always been important to me, not just for my success but as a way to reach back and help those coming along after me. I have been connected to mentors, sponsors, and made new friends. It has also been a great outlet to explore my academic and professional interests with regard to diversity workforce efforts.” - Jessica Fowler, MD, MPH

“As a URiM, I think it is extremely important to be visible and present. We can make more impactful changes as a group than individuals. I basically found a family in MPA. I found a group of friends with whom I could share struggles and challenges that non URiM colleagues may not face.” - Ignacio Tapia, MD

Contact us

If you are a physician considering residency, fellowship, or a faculty position at CHOP, we’d love to hear from you. Please email us: mpa@chop.edu.