Emily Cochard is a 2015 graduate and former Chief Resident of the St. Vincent Internal Medicine Residency program. She went on to complete Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship at Indiana University in 2018 and returned to St Vincent thereafter, where she has taken on leadership roles within the residency. Her goal is for all residents to have an educational and meaningful experience in the intensive care unit, regardless of their desired career path. She has implemented ICU lectures, hands-on central line courses and ultrasound rounds; mentors residents interested in pulmonary and critical care and coordinates research opportunities; and supports positive resident-nursing relationships.
When asked her favorite thing about the STVIM program, she said, “the community atmosphere and dedication to resident success.”
After working as a hospitalist, Robert Fick came to St Vincent in 2012 because of his desire to be more involved in medical education. He has become increasingly interested in ambulatory medicine and is now a full time outpatient faculty member and primary care physician. "Working alongside resident physicians and medical students to provide high quality care to our PCC patients is an incredibly rewarding experience. Everyday you know you are making a difference."
Whitney Fraiz has been a teaching hospitalist for the past 3 years after completing her residency and PGY-3 chief year with the Ascension St. Vincent Internal Medicine Residency in 2019. While primarily teaching inpatient medicine, she is also staffing in the outpatient resident clinic. She has special interests in global health, point-of-care ultrasound, and clinical reasoning. She has always been inspired by the team atmosphere in the STVIM department and hopes to carry forward and grow the collaborative learning environment that is fostered here.
When asked his favorite thing about the STVIM program, he said, “The people. We have a group of faculty and residents with outstanding camaraderie, teamwork, and ability. People support each other and challenge each other to improve. I have constantly been challenged to improve my own leadership skills and development as a physician by our residents, faculty, and support staff and am a better physician for it.”
Growing up in Newburgh, IN, I remember watching MASH with my dad after school and thinking that if I ever became a doctor, Captain Pierce would be my role model; someone who could balance laughter in an environment that can be heavy with fear and grief. I went to Purdue for undergraduate college and achieved a Bachelor in Science, but found little joy in the research and development that followed when I worked for a company in Bloomington after graduation. I needed a career where I worked with people and not HPLC machines. I matriculated in Louisville SOM where I explored becoming a medical examiner to OB/GYN to in-patient psychiatry. With my husband's guiding reassurance, internal medicine was what I knew to be my perfect fit. I chose Ascension St. Vincent for residency because of the people who would form and guide me as well as the benefit of being close to my older sister, who is my best friend. The deal was sealed when meeting my interviewer who loved MASH and understood what kind of potential I had to become the kind of doctor I was trying to develop into. When I graduated, that same interviewer offered me my dream job becoming a medical educator on the in-patient wards and I have never looked back. I continue to pursue my passion for education and mentorship with gratitude, but more confidence that I have become the physician I always hoped to be with the help of invested faculty and friends.
Spencer Romstadt has been a hospitalist at Ascension St. Vincent since 2019. He is originally from Indiana and returned here after residency to start his hospitalist career. Prior to becoming an APD, Dr. Romstadt served three years on the hospitalist leadership team. He is married and has one son, and a second son on the way. His favorite part of working at STV is having the opportunity to educate students and residents and watching them grow as individuals and physicians. In his free time, Dr. Romstadt enjoys spending time with his family, camping, traveling, cooking, reading, playing golf, and brewing his own beer.
I have been a nocturnist at Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis for the past 10 years, and without a doubt, the highlight of my role is working with the residents! Few things are as fun as being able to work up a good case with the residents, embracing the energy and excitement that comes with it, and diving into a good differential diagnosis! What has stood out to me most about the Ascension St. Vincent Internal Medicine Residency is the atmosphere. We are a family that supports and encourages each other to be the best! Outside of medicine, I cherish time with my family, enjoy cooking, and have a deep (arguably unhealthy) passion for all things Indiana University sports!
Meaghan has been with Ascension St. Vincent since the start of her residency in 2021. She served as a third year chief resident and then worked as both a hospitalist and in the primary care clinic before joining as core faculty for both inpatient and outpatient. Meaghan also has a special interest in addiction medicine and has an addiction medicine clinic at the primary care center. She is passionate about medical education and loves getting to work with residents and medical students!
Dr. Palmer moved to Indianapolis for medical school in 2014 and has never looked back. She now works as a hospitalist at both 86th Street and at Seton Long Term Acute Care Hospital. Her clinical interests include bioethics, procedures, and critical care. Her drive as an educator stems from her own personal educational experience at Marian University COM and Ascension St Vincent Internal Medicine Residency Program. "I saw strengths and weaknesses in my own medical training, and strive to improve upon these already strong programs to grow an even brighter future."
Self described scheduler, disaster manager, behind the scenes administrator, event planner, food/candy provider, aka work mom. Hannah joined STVIM in November 2015: “I love seeing the residents grow and achieve their goals. From Internship until their Senior Resident year, you see each individual grow. I have great respect for their hard work and dedication and I’m so glad to be a portion of their journey to a Physician.”
Erica joined Ascension St. Vincent in 2022 and has loved becoming a part of the STV IM family. She splits her time as a program coordinator for both the Internal Medicine residency and Cardiology fellowships programs. Erica is a mother of two, and she and her husband love spending time outdoors/hiking and making memories with their kiddos. When asked what her favorite part of STV IM was she said, “just the sense of family and care for one another all the way from our PD to residents within the program. It is a true joy to come to work. I love being able to see the residents grow so much in just a short amount of time. They work so hard to become the best physicians they can be, and I am so happy to be a small part of that journey with them!”
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