Fellows

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.

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.

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

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.

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.