Hometown: Bettendorf, Iowa
Undergraduate: University of Iowa
Medical School: University of Iowa
Residency: Via Christi Family Medicine Residency
Fun Facts: Born in Burma (now Myanmar) and moved to America at 4.5 years of age. I grew up playing and watching tennis; Federer is the GOAT (no argument there). Not many residents played tennis, so I picked golf back up during residency. I'm unfortunately still not very good at it, but it's lots of fun. As you may expect I'm a huge Iowa football fan, Go Hawks! I enjoy making fun of Sarah Johnson and I'm pretty good at it.
Why the IFMF? I have been interested in the international fellowship since medical school, and it is big reason why I chose to come to Via Christi for residency. My passion for international medical missions started in undergrad and stems from my faith as well as seeing the immense needs during visits back to Burma. While attending the Global Missions Health Conference during my 2nd year of medical school I realized how abundantly blessed I have been... and that I can be a blessing to others in need.
The fellowship allow me to expand my skills and medical knowledge in areas where typical family medicine residents do not typically get experience, areas crucial for medical work overseas such as burns, trauma, tropical medicine, epidurals/spinals, and HIV. I also enjoy the flexibility in my schedule to independently study and expand my abilities in other areas such as ultrasound, reading radiographs, etc.
My hope is to return to Burma someday. Still figuring out how that will look and whether it will be on a long term or consistent short term basis.
Hometown: Norfolk Virginia
Undergraduate: Appalachian State University
Medical School: UNC Chapel Hill
Residency: Via Christi Family Medicine Residency
Fun Facts: I love slow mornings and time in the Word, my dog Eliza, hiking/backpacking, mountains, cooking, reading, and theological discussions around campfires in my fuzzy robe.
Why the IFMF?
I have loved my residency community at Via Christi and am interested in overseas missions, considering short versus long term, and figured this would be a great chance to get additional training and do a five month stint overseas :) while staying plugged into my church and family here in Wichita. I'm hoping that I will be able to serve and bless the community that I am sent to overseas! Also hoping to expand some skills from residency including ultrasound and emergency medicine, as well as add new skills including trauma, tropical medicine, spinal placement, and burn management. After the fellowship plans are TBD, maybe rural practice vs a faculty position, would love to be back towards my family on the East Coast, but I'm trusting where the Lord leads and cannot wait to see what he has planned.
Fun Facts: If I had infinite free time I would spend most of it either enjoying music, reading, or running. I enjoy medicine maybe more than I should. I am a middle child. Favorite band is currently MewithoutYou.
Why the IFMF?
have been looking forward to this Fellowship since M4 year and finding out about Via Christi. I have a deep desire to do long term work overseas. I wouldn’t say I have a definitive, clear calling (really good discussion point!) other than what God outlines in the Bible and the encouragement from His Church, but I feel suited for and want to do long term work. I am really enjoying training and following Christ with my co-fellows here at Via Christi.
Fun Facts: My favorite books to read are historical Christian fiction (esp. the Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers). I can re-read books (or re-watch movies) more times than my husband understands. I also enjoy climbing, hiking, Beach Body workouts, driving golf carts, going to Disney World, drinking good coffee with a recent stint ordering many a matcha latte, responding "I don't get it" to Joe Sumhlei, and long dates at cute coffee shops with my husband..
Why the IFMF?
Since our first date, my husband Dan and I have been discussing a future in long-term missions work. We do not yet have clarity on many aspects of our future - when, where, how long - but felt like the fellowship could help us discern our next steps while also preparing us physically and spiritually. From a medical perspective, I'm excited to gain experience in areas that would be beneficial for a family doctor working on the field but that I would not normally have the opportunity to learn during traditional residency training, like trauma management, burn care, dentistry, and tropical medicine.
Fellowship destination: Bangladesh
Home state: Washington State
Education: Seattle Pacific University
Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Via Christi Family Medicine Residency
Dr. McCoy served Rohingya refugees and other groups at Memorial Christian Hospital in Bangladesh. He found himself as the only primary care physician at the hospital when the nation locked down due to COVID, and he developed robust COVID response for the hospital.
Dr. Nathan Piovesan, general surgeon and medical director of the hospital, wrote, "Without Josh we could not have mounted the response we did to help our area of Bangladesh meet the onslaught of this treacherous virus. Although we do not have an ICU or ventilators, we have local leaders and health officers, mayors, and members of parliament calling us to help take care of their patients because they have heard of the reputation of our COVID unit."
The McCoys are now working and reconnecting with family back home in Washington state. They anticipate further overseas work in the future.
About me: I grew up in Connecticut in a family of ten kids. My wife and I met in medical school and did residency together in Colorado. We have two children, Emily and Jack.
Passions: music, guitar, hiking, learning, going to new places, family, faith
After the fellowship, Drs. Brian and Robyn Jennings were sent by Mission Doctors Association to work in Ghana
Left to right: Samuel Porter, MD and his wife, Jessica; Isaac Hatton, MD and his wife, Camille; Brandon Cole, DO and his wife, Jenna
Dr. Brandon Cole works in Michigan and continues to volunteer in the Philippines and elsewhere. He is planning to work full-time overseas in the future.
Belfast, Ireland
College of the Ozarks
Medical School for International Health, Israel
Memorial Family Medicine Residency, Indiana
Dr. Isaac Hatton completed residency at Memorial Family Medical Residency in Indiana before coming to Via Christi for the IFMF. He volunteers with refugees and the medically underserved in the Middle East.
Dr. Sam Porter grew up in Lebanon, where his parents worked with a charitable organization focused on helping refugees. He attended medical school at Mayo and Via Christi for residency and fellowship. He lives and works in the Middle East with Dr. Hatton, providing medical care for refugee populations.
Left to right:
Dr. SunMin Kim (with wife, Angela) is studying language and culture as he prepares to serve in North Africa.
Dr. Garrett Schwab (with wife, Lindsay) is serving among the urban poor in south Dallas at CitySquare Clinic.
Dr. Brett Hoffecker (with wife, Felishia) is practicing full-spectrum family medicine in Scott City, Kansas.
Dr. Casey Hicks moved back home to Alabama and pursued additional Obstetrics and Faculty Development training at Cahaba Family Medicine, where he now serves as faculty.
Dr. Brett Malone is serving in Central Asia.
Left to right:
Dr. Drew Posey is on faculty at Cahaba Family Medicine Residency in Birmingham, Alabama. He continues to volunteer abroad.
After practicing for a few years at Kearny County Hospital in Lakin, Kansas, Dr. Jonathan Peters is also on faculty at Cahaba Family Medicine Residency..
Dr. Lane Olson (with wife, Audra) also works in Lakin, Kansas, and frequently volunteers his time overseas.
Dr. Nicholas Tomsen (with wife, Michaela) also lives intentionally in a lower resource neighborhood. He started Antioch Med, a Direct Primary Care clinic which provides full spectrum, quality care to those with and without health insurance.
Dr. Patrick Allen spent 2 years as a hospitalist in Wichita, Kansas, and has now joined faculty at Via Christi. He continues to travel overseas for volunteer work and teaching.
Dr. Rose Dulaney is currently serving in a medical prison ministry in Virginia
Dr. Isaac Hotz (along with his wife, Dr. Anne Hotz) is a graduate of the Greeley Family Medicine Residency in Greeley, CO. They are serving full time at Hospital Loma de Luz in rural Honduras.
Dr. Daniel Reimer worked for three years as a hospitalist and now does a variety of locums and volunteer work in rural and international settings. He was working in St. Thomas during the Hurricane Irma crisis.
Dr. Heather Licke is currently serving in Goodland, KS.
Dr. Sarah Mandigo is currently serving full time in north Africa.
Dr. Lisa Gilbert spent a few years practicing in rural Lakin, KS. She continues to volunteer much of her time abroad, and assisted in Liberia, Africa during the Ebola epidemic. She is now on faculty at Via Christi.
Dr. Marta Hantke has worked at GraceMed and with refugees in Garden City. She now practices in rural Oregon.
Dr. Jonathon Teubl is from Albany, NY. He is currently serving full time in Northern India.
Dr. Marc Carrigan joined faculty in Springfield, Illinois, and now serves in a rural remote area in western Uganda.
Dr. Dean Kubacz, along with his wife Dr. Dianna Kubacz, were Ascension Via Christi Family Medicine Residency graduates. They served at GraceMed for 2 years and following a year of French language study in France are now serving in Chad.
Dr. Kristin O'Dell came to us from Mayo LaCrosse Family Medicine Residency and is currently working as a hospitalist in Madison, WI.
Dr. Melissa Sandberg is a St. Anthony's Family Medicine Residency program in OKC graduate. She has been serving at Mukinge Hospital in Zambia.
Dr Alice Oliveira was a graduate of the Mayo's Lacrosse, WI Family Medicine Residency program. Following graduation, she has returned to serve in rural North Dakota.
Dr. Alexis Carmer is a Ascension Via Christi Family Medicine Residency graduate. She is serving full time in Jos, Nigeria.
Dr. John Birky served in Lakin, Kansas, and now practices in Garden City, Kansas, serving their growing immigrant and refugee population.
Dr. John Epperly, along with Drs. Kline and McQuillen, practice broad-spectrum Family Medicine as a group in New Hampton, Iowa. They each rotate for a few months per year to support Canillá, Guatemala,
where they have helped build a hospital.
Dr. Rick Moberly, after serving in rural Iowa, is now on faculty at Oregon Health and Science University.
Dr. Logan Banks practices in Burundi, and also works as faculty at the Cox Family Medicine Residency in Springfield, Missouri.
Dr. Kevin Raymer piloted this fellowship in 2008. He and his wife Katie, a general surgeon, worked for a few years back home in Arizona, and are now serving in India.