​Charlene Bongato, DO

​Midwestern University – Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. Born and raised in the Philippines, Charlene later immigrated to the US and calls the Bay Area her home. Growing up in an immigrant family, she witnessed firsthand the challenges of navigating the school and healthcare systems at a young age. She attended UC San Diego for her undergraduate education and majored in Biochemistry.
 

Prior to medical school, Charlene developed a passion for teaching and mentorship and worked as a teacher in the years leading up to medical school as well. Through her own experiences, she understands the importance of sharing knowledge with students or patients, allowing them to make the best choices and help advocate for themselves. She continued to take on more teaching opportunities as she attended Midwestern University in Arizona, serving as a teaching assistant to other healthcare students and also dedicating her time to health education outreach events to local schools and to the Native American communities. She is excited to be back in Northern California and to pursue training in reproductive health, community medicine, and POCUS. 

​In her free time, Charlene enjoys reading books (fantasy, mystery, dystopian novels are among her top genres!), solo travel, and spending time outdoors