Did You Know?

April, 2010

Resident Rotation Travels

• 4th Year resident, Laura Foudy, MD and 3rd year resident, Ashlee Warren, MD completed a Global Health trip to Uganda during March.
• One of this year's co-chiefs, Jen Maya, MD, is spending April on a Global Health rotation in Oaxaca City, Mexico.
• In March, 2nd year resident, Brian Leonard, DO, traveled to Denver, Colorado to do a Community Health rotation.

Residents Honored

Saint Joseph Residents Honored at March 19, 2010 IAFMR Reseach Day

Congratulations to two St. Joe residents who were honored for the presentations:

• Mike Sanderson, MD won 1st place in the poster category for his "Diabetic Group Visits" presentation.
• Stacy Majoras, DO placed third in the case presentation category for her "A Case of Lemierre's Disease" presentation.

Hi, I’m Jake Corry from Cedar City, Utah. After attending Pikeville College of Osteopathic Medicine, my wife Melissa and our children Spencer, Jessica and Kristian decided the International Health Track and the friendly atmosphere made the St. Joe Family Medicine Residency the perfect fit for us. Since then we have attended a daughter, Kamryn, to the family. I am anxious to enjoy my favorite sports, biking, running and camping at some of the local parks. My sports goals are to become a licensed skydiver and participate in a triathlon.

To contact Jake, click here.

Hello, I’m Gordon Givan.  I grew up in Ohio and graduated from the University of Cincinnati Medical School.  I enjoy, playing soccer, trail running, traveling and spending time with family and friends.  I’m also an avid Ohio State sports fan.  Go Buckeyes! I am anxious to pursue my interest in Sports Medicine through the strong curriculum offered here at St. Joe. Since. My other professional interests include Primary Prevention and Alternative Medicine.

To contact Gordon, click here.

Hi, my name is Brian Huber. I grew up in Findlay, OH, which allowed me to have the honor of being an Ohio State Buckeye fan. In South Bend, I have the pleasure of sharing my dislike of Michigan with all the wonderful Notre Dame fans, which makes me feel at home. I went to school at the University of Cincinnati for both undergrad and medical school. I have a wife, Bobbie, and three children, Zoe, Gabriel and Jocelyn, all of whom have converted themselves to hoosiers. My interest outside medicine includes anything to do with food, but mostly cooking it and doing work on my house. Otherwise, I am either working or playing with the family. My career aspirations are wide open and I am patiently waiting for that light bulb moment to occur.

To contact Brian, click here.

Hello, I’m Matthew Johnson.  My hometown is Berrien Springs, Michigan and I attended Loma Linda School of Medicine in California.  I am interested in the Mental Health aspect of Primary Care and am the first doctor in my family.  I enjoy world travel and photography and have quite a photo collection from my visits to four of the seven continents.  I am looking forward to continuing my travels through the residency’s International Health program.

To contact Matthew, click here.

Hello, I am Brian Leonard from the Chicago suburb of Westchester, Illinois.  I am a graduate of the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and am interested in working for underserved populations and fighting for their right to access quality health care.  My wife Jessica and I love outdoor activities and I am particularly fond of playing guitar and fishing, my two favorite ways to relax.  I am excited about the varied opportunities at Saint Joseph’s and am looking forward to the new hospital that will open next year.

To contact Brian, click here.

Greetings Y’all.  I’m James Robinson from Gulf Shores, Alabama.  I am a graduate of the University of Alabama Medical School.  I hope to do a Sports Medicine Fellowship and work with a college team one day or work in college/student health.  I enjoy college football, especially the Auburn Tigers, and will have to get used to living in “Big Ten Country”.   The great family medicine and sports medicine education drew me to the Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center, so I loaded up my labs, Boyden and Levi and headed north.

To contact James, click here.

Hi, I’m Megan Parrish from Kendallville, Indiana. I am a graduate of the University of Notre Dame (Go Irish!) and the Indiana University School of Medicine. I was drawn to the St. Joseph program due to its strong commitment to underserved medicine and look forward to taking advantage of the opportunities both locally and internationally that St. Joseph offers as part of its residency. In my spare time I enjoy running, swimming, biking and hiking, and have completed several triathlons, including Ironman Wisconsin 2005.

To contact Megan, click here.

Hello, I am Justin Smith of Kokomo, Indiana.   I, too, am a “true Hoosier.  I am a graduate Butler University and the Indiana University School of Medicine.  My love of sports resulted in several knee surgeries that led to my passion for Sports Medicine.  I enjoy spending time with my significant other, Zae and my family and friends.  I am also looking forward to checking out the music and art scene in the northern Indiana/Michigan area.

To contact Justin, click here.

Hi, I’m Joe Cerjak from Indianapolis, Indiana.  I recently graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine. I look forward to working at St. Joseph’s because of their outstanding dedication to the community. I am excited about the move to South Bend because I am a diehard Indiana University basketball fan, and now will finally have a football team to cheer on. My wife Bre and I are heavily involved in animal rescue and in the 4 years that we have lived in our house, we have had at least 30 animals living with us and have found good homes for most of them (the rest are still under our roof so I think they are in a great home). I love anything outdoors especially sports and am currently trying to learn to play the guitar. The next few years are going to be a challenge, but I am very much looking forward to overcoming it and coming out on the other side as an outstanding physician.

To contact Joe, click here.

Hello, I’m Garrick Collins.  I am a graduate of Benedictine University and the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. I grew up on a farm in the small rural community of Tyro, Arkansas. I am interested in working with the underserved populations in rural areas. Having my family still living in these communities, I have seen first hand the dramatic need for quality health care, and feel this is going to be a new area of crisis as older physicians in these areas begin to retire. My wife, Juliet, and our two children, Grace and Garrick II, love traveling, visiting with family, and family-friendly cooking activities. We also have enjoyed restoring/remodeling old homes; our last two residences were over 100 years old.

To contact Garrick, click here.

Hello, my name is Marin Garcia III. After graduating from Indiana University School of Medicine, I decided to pursue Family Medicine at Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center.  It was clear to me that this particular residency program was the ideal choice.  The program is very family friendly, which I’m sure my wife and son appreciate very much-considering the work-load of an intern.  The program is well rounded, affording many different educational tracks, including a Global Health Track.  The location of the residency, between Kenosha WI, and Indianapolis, IN, makes it easy to travel and visit my family in these areas.   

To contact Marin, click here.

“Back home again in Indiana” I am Stacy Majoras. I was born and raised in Auburn Indiana, graduated from DeKalb High School, then obtained my bachelors of arts in Athletic Training from Purdue University. Chasing my life long dream of moving to California; I attended Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pomona California. Upon graduating, coming home to Indiana was a priority. Returning to South Bend, where my father grew up, is especially important. As an arthritis sufferer, I am dedicated to educating our youth about the importance of staying healthy. My passions include sports medicine, distance running, football as well as several other athletics, and curling up with a good book on a rainy day. My husband and I share the greatest of all my passions; being a Boilermaker

To contact Stacy, click here.

Hi, I am Jean Miller. I’m an “Okie”, but I come to South Bend by way of sunny Southern California. I obtained my undergraduate degree from Oklahoma State University, then taught high school science for 6 ˝ years before deciding to go back to school. I graduated from Western University’s College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific or COMP for short. I am interested in using technology to improve patient care in my practice. Most of my free time is spent with my husband, Dwight and daughter, Katelyn. I love spending time with my family, watching movies, reading, and solving puzzles..

To contact Jean, click here.

Hi, my name is Sarah Werner. I am from a small town called Fort Loramie, Ohio. I went to Ohio University in Athens, Ohio, for undergrad as well as medical school. I just completed a Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, which is a professional interest of mine. I am also very interested in other forms of Integrative Medicine and in taking part in the International Health Track at SJRMC. In my spare time, I love camping, running, gardening and more than anything else, just hanging out with my adorable daughter, Sophia, and wonderful husband, Craig. Craig, Sophia, and I are looking forward to all that St. Joseph’s and South Bend have to offer.

To contact Sarah, click here.

Hi there! My name is Laura Wulff, and I’m a born-and-bred South Dakotan. I escaped to Minnesota for my undergraduate studies (go Gophers!) before returning to South Dakota for medical school. I’m excited to establish my new life here in Indiana. My professional interests include women’s and international health, among others. In my spare time, I enjoy music, movies, traveling, and ethnic food. I also love sleeping in on my days off and hanging out with my cat, Abby.

To contact Laura, click here.

Hello, my name is Richard Zentz. I grew up in Warsaw, Indiana and received my undergraduate degree from Indiana University. My medical school training was from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine, and my medical interests include preventive care and working with the underserved populations of the world. My wife, Aislinn, and I are are proud parents of a baby girl, Grace, and we are very excited to be back in northern Indiana. I enjoy being outdoors, listening to music, and playing soccer. I look forward to working with the great faculty, staff, and residents at St. Joseph Regional Medical Center this year.

To contact Richard, click here.

Hi, I am Perpemelo Balasta. I was born in Manila, Philippines, and moved to southern California when I was 14. I completed my undergraduate education at Cal-State University, San Bernardino, and I successfully pursued an MPH in Global Health in Loma Linda University for my desire to work in underserved areas and in developing nations. Also, I graduated with a DO degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, which allowed me to venture into the midwest USA. My desire for international health remained strong and brought me here to St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residency, which has an international health track. Among my interests include traveling, learning about new cultures, running, and sketching. Although I am not a sports buff, I will be rooting for the "Fighting Irish" from now on.

To contact Perpemelo, click here.

Hey, my name is Rebecca Bauer. I grew up in Brazil, IN, went to undergrad at Indiana State, and attended med school at IU, and I feel very blessed to take my next step at St. Joe. I was so impressed with the program’s learning environment during my 3rd and 4th year rotations, and having the opportunity to be a part of that made the decision to continue my training with St. Joe very easy. St. Joe is also very involved in providing healthcare to those who need it most, and being a former Primary Care Scholar at IU, I want to work with underserved populations in the future. Consequently, I am really excited about the many opportunities available at this program to help me do just that. As you might have guessed from my hometown, I’m a small town girl. I love horseback riding, can’t get enough of big trucks, and miss driving my dad’s tractor, but South Bend is a Goldilocks kind of town…not too big, not too small, but just right. I also really enjoy music; I play the piano, church organ, flute, and piccolo, and I hope to learn the guitar someday. My husband, Michael, is originally from the South Bend area, and he is currently going to grad school for education at IUSB. He also coaches basketball for St. Joe High School, so he’s very happy that I joined the right team! We are parishioners at St. Matt’s, and we enjoy spending time with friends/family, watching sports, but most of all, just relaxing (smile).

To contact Rebecca, click here.

Hi, I’m Jonathan Goit. I did my undergrad at BYU and graduated from Midwestern Medical School at Midwestern University in Glendale Arizona. I’m married with three kids, all boys. I came to St. Joe because of my interest in Sports Medicine and their strong affiliation with Notre Dame. I lived in Guatemala for several years which fueled my interest in serving the underserved, especially within the Latin community. My hobbies include mountain biking (not a whole lot of opportunity in Indiana), weight lifting, camping and restoring classic cars.

To contact Jonathan Goit, click here.

Hi, I’m Rob Hays. I grew up just around the corner in Granger (literally a ten minute drive from the hospital). I went to Indiana University for both my undergraduate education and medical school. My first real interest in medicine came when I was sixteen and had Guillain Barre syndrome and was forcibly introduced to life in the hospital. Outside of medicine, I am a second level black belt in Kyokushin karate and love to play basketball. It is my hope to make a strong connection to my patients like the doctors who treated me years ago did. In addition, given my connection to athletics (karate, basketball, etc.), I hope to continue on to sports medicine fellowship following residency.

To contact Rob Hays, click here.

Hello, I am Jeff Hill. I grew up in Illinois and Indiana. I graduated from BYU, then Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. My wife Kapri, and children Kutler and Haven have loved our experience at St. Joe thus far. I am interested in Sports Medicine and International Health. Outside of medicine I enjoy Thai food, playing any sports (no shame in being a “has been”) and spending time with family.

To contact Jeffrey Hill, click here.

Hi, I’m David Perez from Idaho.  I graduated from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  I have 3 beautiful daughters Kassi, Novena and Portia and I am working on converting them to Irish fans!  I choose SJRMC after the staff displayed how willing they are to go out of their way for a total stranger.  During my interview, I encountered a unique situation that prompted the administrative staff to go above and beyond.  Selfless acts of kindness speak a great deal about the character of a residency.  I knew this was a great place to be.

To contact David Perez, click here.

Hello, I'm Jonathan Schmidt and i'm from Manteno, Illinois. I received my degree in Microbiology at Southern Illinois University and then graduated from the University of Illinois College of Medicine. My wife and I went to the same high school with a graduating class of 65 students. We enjoy a lot of outdoor activities from bike riding, to grilling, to running, as well as water sports. As an undergraduate I owned a 16 foot 1957 starcraft boat. It barely ran, but it was wonderful to be out on a lake in the middle of summer. Now our dog manages to keep us fairly busy. I am excited to begin the next step in my training here!

To contact Jonathan Schmidt, click here.

I am Cynthia Thai. I went to Windsor University School of Medicine in the Caribbean. I like St. Joseph because of the friendliness of the residents and because of its International Health Track. My interests are in Women’s Health and International Health. I enjoyed going on long bike ride with my husband and taking care of my son.

To contact Cynthia Thai, click here.

Hi, my name is Lisha Town. I am originally from Bloomingdale, Indiana. I graduated from Indiana University School of Medicine. I am interested in obstetrics and rural medicine. My husband, Travis, and I have a little boy, Austin, who fills most of my free time. Other than spending time with my family I enjoy hiking, canoeing, and reading.

To contact Lisa Town, click here.

I'm Dave Wyncott, a local boy through and through having grown up in Elkhart, Indiana. I studied Sociology at the University of Notre Dame, then worked for my parents’ printing business for a year before completing a post-baccalaureate premedical program at Johns Hopkins University. After a year of volunteer work at Saint Joseph’s Sister Maura Brannick Health Center for uninsured patients, I earned my medical degree from The George Washington University in Washington, DC. I met my partner Andrew at Notre Dame and together we enjoy cooking, wine, home improvement, spending time outdoors, rooting for the Fighting Irish, and spending time with our two dogs. My medical interests are varied but I have a special interest in women’s health, geriatrics, and the care of the underserved. I chose Saint Joseph for residency because of the incredible residents, supportive faculty, and dedication to patients through excellence.

To contact Dave Wyncott, click here.