Leadership and Support Staff

Associate/Assistant Program Directors

Emily Cochard, MD

Medical Director of the ICU, Program Director of the Pulmonary/Critical Care Fellowship

Assistant Program Director, St. Vincent Internal Medicine Residency

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

Residency: St. Vincent Internal Medicine Residency

Fellowship: Indiana University Pulmonary/Critical Care

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.”

Robert Fick, MD, FACP

Assistant Program Director, St. Vincent Internal Medicine Residency

Clinic Director, Internal Medicine Primary Care Center

Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine - IUSOM and MUCOM 

Medical School: Rush University Medical College

Residency: Indiana University 

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, MD

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency

Clinical Assistant Professor, MUCOM and IUSOM

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

Residency: Ascension St. Vincent Indianapolis

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. 

Steve Knaus, MD FACP

Associate Program Director, St. Vincent Internal Medicine Residency

Program Director, St. Vincent Internal Medicine PCC

Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine – IU SOM and MU COM

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

Residency: St. Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis - 3rd year chief

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.”

Michelle Solik, MD, MS

Program Director, Transitional Year Program

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine – IUSOM and MUCOM

Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

Residency: St. Vincent Internal Medicine Residency Program – 3rd yr chief

Dr. Solik joined St. Vincent as an intern in 2014 and now calls STV her home. She works as a hybrid faculty – staffing inpatient as well as the resident clinic. She is a mother to two boys, and she and her husband love to spend time outdoors and cooking in the kitchen. When asked what her favorite part of STV was she simply said “the residents – I love having the chance to be a part of their story as they go on this journey of self-discovery and becoming the doc they have worked so hard to become after all this time. It’s awesome!"

Program Coordinators

Hannah Ramirez

Program Coordinator, Internal Medicine Residency
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 Apollos

Program Coordinator, Internal Medicine Residency

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 one, and she and her husband love spending time outdoors/hiking and serving in their youth group. 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 have loved 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 part of that journey with them!”