Meet Our Faculty!

The faculty of the Travis Air Force Base Family Medicine Residency are made up of 16 Family Physicians and 1 Behaviorist. Many have completed fellowships in Obstetrics, Sports Medicine, and/or Faculty Development. Several others have advanced training in acupuncture or colonoscopy.  Together, we represent a well-rounded core faculty who are dedicated to teaching the next generation of physicians, both residents and medical students alike!

David A. Klein, MD, MPH

Program DirectorAdolescent Medicine FacultyUndergraduate Education: University of Maryland, College ParkMedical Education: Uniformed Services UniversityResidency: Travis AFB, CAFellowship: Adolescent Medicine, San Antonio Military Medical Center, TXMasters Degree, University of Maryland, College ParkClinical Interests: Reproductive health, LGBTQ+ health, eating disorders

Michael Kim, MD, FAAFP 

Associate Program Director Undergraduate Education: University of Washington, WAMedical Education: Uniformed Services University of Health SciencesResidency: Nellis AFB, NVClinical Interests: Research, Education, Faculty Development, Quality Improvement, Publications, OBGYN, Procedures, Hospital Medicine

Brie Gawrys, DO, FAAFP 

Assistant Program DirectorFMOB Faculty

Undergraduate Education: Duke University

Medical Education: LECOM Bradenton

Residency: Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, VA

Fellowship: OB Fellowship, Natividad Medical Center, CA, STFM Faculty Development, UCSF Faculty Development

Clinical Interests: Women's Health, Lifestyle Medicine, Acupuncture, OMT


Alex Knobloch, MD, CAQSM, FAAFP

Assistant Program DirectorSports Medicine FacultyUndergraduate Education: North Central CollegeMedical Education: Uniformed Services University of Health SciencesResidency: Eglin AFB, FLFellowship: Sports Medicine, Uniformed Services UniversityUCSF Faculty DevelopmentClinical Interests: Sports Medicine, Running Medicine, Concussion Education, Near-Peer Teaching, POCUS  

Joel Herness, MD

Associate Program Director, Transitional Year Undergrad: University of Washington (Seattle, WA)Medical School: Uniformed Services University of Health SciencesResidency: NCC, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, VAFellowship: Faculty Development Fellowship, University of North Carolina Clinical interests: Evidence Based Medicine, Hospital Medicine, Metacognition/Cognitive Bias 

Gabriel W. Briscoe, MD

Flight CommanderUndergraduate Education: San Jose State University Medical Education: Weill Cornell Medical CollegeResidency: Travis AFB, CAClinical Interests: Inpatient Medicine, Evidence-based Medicine

Jeffrey Smith, DSW, MSW

FMRC Behavioralist Graduate School: Syracuse University Masters in Social WorkDoctorate Program: University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, Doctorate in Social WorkClinical Interests: Military Social Work, Military and Veteran Suicide Prevention, Behavioral Health in Primary Care Setting, Post Traumatic Stress/Trauma related Conditions, Battlefield Acupuncture

Denny Gerold, MD

Core FacultyUndergraduate Education: University of Minnesota Medical Education: University of Minnesota Residency: Eglin AFB, FL Clinical Interests: Flight medicine 

Glynnis Knobloch, MD

Medical Student CoordinatorUndergraduate Education: Wake Forest University Medical Education: Indiana University School of Medicine Fellowship: UCSF Faculty Development Residency: Eglin AFB, FLClinical Interests: Underserved Medicine, Women's Health 

Alexander R. Kim, MD, CAQSM

Sports Medicine FacultyUndergraduate Education: Cornell UniversityMedical Education: Uniformed Services University of the Health SciencesResidency: Travis AFB, CAFellowship: Sports Medicine, National Capital Consortium for Sports Medicine, Uniformed Services University, United States Naval AcademyClinical Interests: Sports Medicine, MSK Ultrasound, Therapeutic Golf

Shelby Takeshita, MD

Medical DirectorFMOB FacultyUndergraduate Education:Medical Education: Creighton University School of MedicineResidency: Travis AFB, CAFellowship: Obstetrics, Natividad Medical Center, Salinas, CAClinical Interests: Obstetrics and Being Awesome

Christina Valerio, MD, MPH

Medical Student CoordinatorUndergraduate Education: Johns Hopkins UniversityMedical Education: Tufts University School of Medicine Residency: Travis AFB, CA Clinical Interests: Medical Care for Underserved Populations, Women's Health, Public Health/Population Health

Whay-Yih Cheng, DO

Didactics CoordinatorUndergraduate Education: University of Illinois, ChicagoMedical Education: Western University of Health Sciences - COMPResidency: Scott AFB, ILClinical Interests: OMT, Women's Health, Medical Education and Wellness 

Anna Milliren, DO 

Core Faculty 

Undergraduate Education: Pacific Lutheran University Medical Education: Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic MedicineResidency: Travis AFB, CA Clinical Interests: Women's health, Reproductive Care, Osteopathic Manipulation, Alternative Pain Management 

Taran Silva, DO

Core Faculty Undergraduate: Michigan State University Medical school: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic MedicineResidency: Scott AFB, ILClinical interests: OMT, acupuncutre, global health, hospital medicine, health policy 

Diana Trang, DO

Core Faculty Undergraduate Education: University of California, Berkeley Medical Education: Touro University Nevada, College of Osteopathic Medicine  Residency: Nellis AFB, NV Clinical Interests: OMT, vasectomy, diabetes management, integrative medicine, acupuncture 

Kara Babo, MD

Core FacultyUndergraduate Education: California State University, ChicoMasters: Midwestern UniversityMedical Education: University of Cincinnati College of MedicineResidency: Travis AFB, CAFellowship: Sports Medicine, Travis AFB, CAClinical Interests: Sports Medicine, MSK Ultrasound, Director of Fun