Class of 2024

Bio: I am from the small town of Colwich, Kansas, born and raised on a dairy farm. Being the second youngest of six siblings who all went into some form of medicine, I initially pursued chemical engineering, though chose family medicine after witnessing the impact that caring, compassionate physicians can have in a patient's life after my sister was diagnosed with brain cancer.

Not long after beginning medical school here in Wichita, I knew I wanted to practice family medicine because of the continuity of care and the wide breadth of knowledge and experience involved (getting to deliver babies, performing c-sections, seeing newborns, infants, and adults alike, and managing their chronic and acute conditions in the hospital or clinic). Beyond thrilled that I matched here at Via Christi to learn all of this to make an impact in my future patient's lives.

Why Via Christi?
Via Christi stood above all the rest for me for many reasons. First, Wichita is my home and being close to family was important to me. Working with many of the residents and faculty during medical school showed me that this residency valued compassion, family, and personal well-being, all while teaching high level medical care and management, exceeding their reputation. I was beyond thrilled to match here and learn from their high volume of patients so that I, too, may go out and practice medicine in a rural area.

Passions/Hobbies: Singing barbershop, playing volleyball, tennis, and basketball, and a lot of swing dancing! Hunting in the winter.

Favorite Books: Drive by Daniel Pink, The Road to Character by David Brooks, Any CS Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, or Rick Riordan book!

Favorite Quote: "It's a long road to wisdom, but a short one to being ignored." - The Lumineers

Plans after residency: Hoping to do full-spectrum medicine, with OB, in a rural area!

Bio: I grew up in a small town in east-central Alabama. I met my wife, Rachel, there and we got married while I was in medical school. She works as a pharmacist at Via Christi! We have two dogs, a chocolate lab (Stella) and a small mix-breed (Aubie). We love spending time outdoors and traveling.

I chose to pursue Family Medicine because of the relationships and the variety. I want to be able to provide a wide range of healthcare services to meet the needs of my patients and my community. In a rural area Family Physicians have an opportunity to make a big impact!

Why Via Christi? : I chose Via Christi because of the commitment of the program to train residents broadly. I wanted comprehensive training in procedural skills as well as outpatient medicine that will prepare me for my practice in a rural area.

Passions/Hobbies: Hunting, Fishing, Camping, Canoeing

Favorite Podcasts: The MeatEater Podcast, Unbelievable?

Plans after residency: Full-spectrum Family Medicine in rural Alabama

Bio: Hi! I was born and raised in SWK, and I will likely return to Western KS! I am the youngest of 3 girls, raised by our incredibly hard-working parents who live to serve others. From a young age I felt called to help others and felt drawn to international medical missions. My first experience abroad was in Haiti during high school, and this ignited a passion in me for service in resource-limited areas and the developing world. Initially, I saw medicine as a tool to get to medical missionary service, but while the thought of returning to Haiti brings me so much joy, I know that this type of mission work doesn’t have to mean traveling thousands of miles. It is just down the street or in small towns across my state. I love that medicine allows us to be God’s instrument of healing, by meeting the needs of others physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually. It is a privilege to be able to connect with others this way.

Also - I am engaged to be married September 20201 to my long-time best friend, Chase!

P.S. Feel free to call me Gaby, if you’d like!

Why Via Christi? : The people. I fell in love with Via even before my Sub-I because of the residents and faculty I met while on other rotations. They inspire everyone around them to be better. As I spent more time with the Via Christi family during my Sub-I, I felt inspired and challenged, both personally and professionally. During my interview, Dr. Russell shared with me how great the training is, how much she has grown as a physician, but also how much she has grown spiritually. Y’all, these people are amazing. Also, the training is unparalleled.

Passions/Hobbies: Spending time with my twin nephews and family, traveling anywhere and everywhere, practicing yoga, hiking, biking, fellowship, bible study, deep convos over coffee, reading self-improvement and wellness books, and thrift shopping. I am also a wannabe minimalist – so anything that helps me get there.

Favorite Books: The B-I-B-L-E, Better and Being Moral by Atul Gawande, Mere Christianity

Podcasts: anything with Fr. Mike Schmitz

Quotes: Be the change you wish to see in the world – Mahatma Gandhi

Plans after residency: We love rural Kansas! Practicing full-spectrum care with OB is the goal.

Bio: I grew up with my Dad in the heart of Topeka, KS with neighbors that we called family and friends that I spent every second I could with. I was a little obsessed with sports back then, whether it was playing tennis all day, basketball until wee hours of the morning, rooting for the Jayhawks, or being the student section leader at high school games. Naturally, I picked where I would attend college based on playing tennis, so I ended up at Emporia State. As I reflect on this now, God had ordained this decision. I met incredible people who helped me recognize my gifts in science, relationships, and service, but most importantly friends who introduced me to Jesus through the Catholic Church. This is also where I met my incredible wife, Elizabeth, whose steadfast love was uniquely challenged when I decided to move to Providence, RI after graduating. I had no idea what I wanted to do in life, but I knew I wanted to serve others, so I found an AmeriCorps position at this amazing free clinic. It just so happened that when I arrived in Providence (God’s providence of course), that all the other volunteers were applying to med school. After seeing these selfless physicians who volunteered their expertise and time, along with much help from my friends, I applied for medical school at the last second. Luckily for Elizabeth and myself, KU somehow accepted me, and I got to move home to the great state of Kansas. During our time in Kansas City, Elizabeth and I got engaged, married, and had our first son, James. We also grew in our faith and met a community of people that will inspire us for the rest of our lives. Plus, I learned some medicine along the way.

Why Via Christi? : Funny enough, the first time I heard about Via Christi’s program, I looked them up online and read these same bios that I get the chance to write now. I came home that night and told Elizabeth all about the residents who happened to love C.S. Lewis and Lord of the Rings as much as we did. Not only did I love the bios, but on top of that the training was exactly what I was looking for. A program that was heavy on OB, where I could get trained to do C-sections and endoscopy, plus Wichita was basically in our backyard. I almost thought it was too good to be true. However, when I came for my sub-I it was no longer a fairytale but something I actually experienced. I felt the humility, generosity, intentionality and kindness of every resident and faculty that I encountered. When there had been a scheduling mistake on my first day a resident had prayed on the phone for me and my time there. Where else does that happen?! It was an easy choice in the end, and I feel very fortunate to be a part of this program.

Passions/Hobbies: Time with my family, prayer, backpacking, playing tennis or basketball, running, good conversations over a glass of whiskey and/or a cigar, car karaoke, and reading.

Favorite Books: Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, The Weight of Glory (Essay) by C.S. Lewis, The Confessions by St. Augustine, Laurus by Eugene Vodolazkin, The Betrothed by Alessandro Manzoni, and Exodus.

Favorite Podcasts: Three Dogs North

Favorite Quote: Do not ask “Would it hurt?” but rather “Would it be good?” – Erazim Kohák

Plans after residency: To work in and around Onaga, KS, which is a small rural town in NE Kansas, doing full-spectrum family medicine

Bio: coming soon

Bio: Small town farm kid with a strong love for God, family, and caffeine. I come from a family that is half-farm/half-medicine; my dad was a rancher, my mom is an RN, I have two older brothers who ranch, and one older brother who is a general surgeon here in town. I went to Newman University for undergrad where I met my husband Alec; we got married in 2018. We were blessed by our daughter Gianna's birth in 2019 during my third year of medical school and my husband's first year of medical school, and I discovered the amazing, amazing joy there is to be found in being a parent. My dad passed away from bladder cancer in March of 2021 during Match Week, and I've spent every day since then trying to be a daughter, wife, mom, and physician who will make him proud. I'm a firm believer that there is joy to be found in every moment, and the secret to finding it is almost always gratitude.

Why Via Christi?: Growing up in small-town Kansas, I pretty much always knew I wanted to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a rural community. When I was looking for a residency that could give me the necessary training to do that, Via Christi stood out above any others, especially for their strength in OB training. I also fell in love with the people while I was on rotations; every time I encountered a Via Christi resident, I was struck by their joy, work ethic, love for patients, and their love for God. I felt that this community was one in which I would be accepted and also pushed to be the best that I could be, both in medicine and in all other aspects of life. I also felt that my faith, rather than being tolerated as it had been during some parts of my medical training, was encouraged and strengthened by the people around me. My dad was diagnosed with cancer while I was on a rotation here, and the residents I was working with at the time were so understanding and supportive. He passed away during Match Week, and many, many residents and faculty reached out to me before I was even fully a member of the Via Christi family. I have never doubted for a second my decision to come to Via Christi; you won't find training or people like this anywhere else.

Passions/Hobbies: board games (Catan!), crochet, running, reading

Favorite Books:

The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
The Imitation of God by Thomas à Kempis
Margin by Richard Swenson
Harry Potter series

Favorite Quotes:

"Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men." -Col 3:23
"The only happiness on earth is to apply oneself in always finding delightful the lot Jesus is giving us." -St. Therese of Liseux
"To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift." -Steve Prefontaine

Plans after residency: I'm not sure where exactly we'll end up... hopefully a small town in Kansas with room for two doctors who want to practice full spectrum medicine. I have a particular interest in obstetrics and in fertility awareness based methods of family planning.

Bio: I grew up in an endearing small town in northeast Kansas. My first thoughts of pursuing medicine came as I watched the impact that our local healthcare system and physicians had on our community and my family. It wasn't until a semester into college that I realized medicine was something I wanted to explore. After an initial week of shadowing over Christmas break in my home community, I was struck by the privilege it is to serve people as a physician and to walk with patients through so many highs and lows of life. I haven't looked back since! I love family medicine because of the long term relationships that we get to build with patients and the variety of medical problems seen and treated by family physicians.

I am from a large family - the oldest of 8 kids. We grew up on a hobby farm with chickens, goats, honey bees, an occasional cow, and a large greenhouse. I went to undergrad at Benedictine College, a small school in Atchison, KS (another small town in northeast KS), studied Biology, and made many amazing friends - several of whom moved to Wichita and have been wonderful roommates throughout medical school and residency! I did all four years of medical school at KU-Wichita. I have always been drawn to the idea of serving rural communities. Being in Wichita for medical school, I've also come to love serving the urban underserved population as well.

Why Via Christi?: I was impressed by the people I met at Via Christi. On my Sub-I as a 4th year medical student, I witnessed the residents supporting each other amazingly well. They always had each other's back, frequently checked in with each other to see how classmates were doing, and they exclusively spoke well of each other. I could tell that they leaned on each other to get through the hard days and enjoyed each other's company. I knew this program was a team I wanted to be a part of! Now a part of the program, I can still confirm!

I also felt confident that the program would give me great training in full spectrum family medicine. The OB experience stood out to me! Additionally, it is a high volume program with good impatient training, a POCUS program, procedures, and an option for international training. I feel Via Christi Family medicine will train me well to be a rural family physician.

Passions/Hobbies: Spending time with friends, keeping up with my 7 younger siblings, being outdoors, running, cooking, playing the piano, and holding my friends' babies. When I have extra time, I also enjoy DIY projects. My Catholic faith and relationship with God is very important to me as well.

Favorite Books, Podcasts, and/or Quotes: "Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire" - St. Catherine of Sienna.

Plans after residency: Full spectrum family medicine serving rural Kansas

Bio: I grew up 40 miles northwest of Minneapolis/St. Paul in the fairly small town of Monticello. I met my wife, Corinne, during our senior year of high school, and we eventually got married right before starting medical school. Medicine wasn’t on the forefront of my mind when I went to college. I originally went to college to be a chemical engineer; however, I eventually found my calling to medicine and decided to switch my major to biology in order to fulfill the prerequisites for medical school. Creighton provided the perfect medical school training. Nearly all the physicians I interacted with lived their life by cura personalis, a Latin phrase heard often at Creighton that means “care for the whole person.” In my opinion, no other specialty can live up to cura personlis the way that family medicine can, and so that was largely the driving force for me to pursue the specialty.

Why Via Christi?: When I was looking at family medicine residency programs, I was looking for programs that would provide full spectrum training, thereby allowing me to provide care for the whole person/family in a rural setting. The COVID-19 pandemic making the interview season completely virtual came with plenty of challenges; however, the Via Christi culture was still able to shine through. While the training at Via Christi is unparalleled, the people that create the supportive, friendly culture really make this program outstanding. No matter where you go for residency, you will be working a ton of hours, so the least you can do is work a ton of hours with people you enjoy.

Passions/Hobbies: Fishing; water-skiing; driving motorcycle; playing board games and video games; watching the Twins, Vikings, and Wild

Favorite Quotes:
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali
“If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” – Mother Teresa
“I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.” – Albert Einstein

Plans after residency: I hope to make it back to the Land of 10,000 Lakes, working for a rural practice that includes inpatient, outpatient, OB, and ER.

Bio: TBD

Passions/Hobbies: Running, hiking, reading books of all kinds, visiting new states/cities/countries, enjoying good coffee, birdwatching.

Favorite Books, Podcasts, and/or Quotes:
Once a Runner - James Parker
Where the Crawdad Sings - Delia Owens
Boys in the Boat - Daniel Brown

Bio: I am a washed-up former athlete who originally wanted to go into medicine because of...sports! I fell for the relationships and breadth of small-scale, full-spectrum family medicine and am here to stay.

My family includes my wife, Chelsea, and our 2 children, Kolbe and Fulton. Chelsea and I met at Washburn while she was in nursing school and while I was there playing basketball. We got married in medical school and had our first child during my MS3 year. We have lived in the same home since we got married and have poured our best efforts into learning how to moderately renovate and take care of a dated (and sometimes mechanically suspect) house. We like to spend our free time with our families and the wonderful friends we have both locally and through the program. We find peace in quiet, scenic Kansas settings and are always up for food, drinks, or desserts at local restaurants.

Why Via Christi?: Since the beginning of medical school, I knew that I wanted to be the type of person and physician that I met among the residents and attendings here. They were role models for me throughout medical school and they never compromised who they were despite the difficulty of medicine. They maintained direction, personality, sincerity, kindness, love for eachother, and love for their patients despite everything else going on. I was constantly inspired to join their ranks. In addition to all that, the training at Via Christi was going to open doors instead of closing them. I know that I will be equipped for everything I want to potentially do in my future practice, even though I do not know what that looks like yet! As an added bonus, Via is supportive of my special interest in fertility awareness methods of family planning.

Passions/Hobbies: Family time with my wife and kids, playing basketball, indoor rowing, hunting and outdoor Kansas activities, outings with red wine and good food, the holy mass

Favorite Book: A Song for Nagasaki - Paul Glynn

Favorite Podcasts: The Pillar, EM Clerkship, Ultrasound Podcast

Quotes: Philippians 4:5-8

Plans after residency: We will be staying in Kansas once I finish residency, but I do not yet know what I will be doing. I see myself practicing medicine outside of the larger communities and having a wide range of capabilities, including POCUS, operative obstetrics, inpatient medicine, outpatient medicine, good sports medicine and procedural skills, and organizational leadership. Hopefully I will be able to utilize at least a few of those!

Bio: I’m from a small town in north central Kansas, where I grew up as the oldest of three, surrounded by lots of extended family. My mom is a rural family medicine doc, and it wasn’t until my junior year of college that I decided to follow in her footsteps. Being from a small town, you have the opportunity to try and experience so many different things - which I think translates well to my love of family medicine, where every day can be different! The other part I love about family medicine is the ability to build relationships with others, getting to experience big life moments with people, and caring for the newest of the new and the oldest of the old over the course of their lifetimes.

Why Via Christi?: So many reasons! I had heard through the grapevine that residents who trained here were really well prepared for full spectrum family medicine, especially when it came to obstetrics, which is something I am interested in. On my sub-I here, I was blown away by every person I met, whether it was faculty, residents, or staff. Everyone was interested in teaching or learning, the residents were confident, easy going, and hardworking. But I think the best part about my sub-I (and interview experience) was that everyone was genuinely more interested in who I was as a person, rather than my medical knowledge or background.

Passions/Hobbies: Any outdoor activity/exercise (always willing to try new things!), crocheting, reading, movie marathons, coffee, puzzles, gardening (my sister and I pictured with our radish bouquets), and most recently - rock climbing!

Favorite Books: Any of Bob Goff’s books, the Harry Potter series

Plans after residency: Rural, full scope with obstetrics! Most likely somewhere in Kansas. Could see myself working internationally someday too, but one step at a time for now!

Bio: I was born and grew up in Le Mars, a small town in northwest Iowa. Our claim to fame is being the home of Blue Bunny Ice Cream and we are known at the Ice Cream Capital of the World! I have 3 younger brothers and a little sister who are some of my best friends. I am also very close with my extended family; most of my cousins are like my brothers and sisters too! My dad is a family practice physician in my hometown and my mom is a pediatrician. They met during medical school at the University of Iowa, so it was very special to get my MD there as well.

I chose to go into Family Medicine because I want to be able to partner with my patients for the duration of their lives. Also because variety is the spice of life.

Why Via Christi? : I did my sub-internship during medical school at a small town in Iowa called Algona (this is where Dr. Doolittle came from!). The doctors there practice full-spectrum family medicine: clinic, inpatient. ED, and OB (some do their own c-sections too). Several of them were graduates of Via Christi and recommended it as the best place in the country to get broad-spectrum training in all elements of family medicine.

I interviewed during the COVID-19 pandemic so it was pretty nerve-wracking to pick a program in a city I had never been to (I came to Wichita for the first time ever 2 days before orientation started). However, it was easy to see (even over Zoom) how supportive and wonderful all of the residents and faculty are here! I really felt confident that I would get the support I needed both inside and outside of the hospital.

Passions/Hobbies: Reading, movie nights, cooking/baking. Beach body workouts (exercise is not necessarily a passion, but it is good for me). Time with friends and family doing pretty much anything (#1). Picked up cross-stitching during the pandemic and I find it very therapeutic.

Favorite Books: I really like fantasy books (Harry Potter, Eragon, Blood Song by Anthony Ryan), my mom and I do a lot of World War II Stories (The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah, The Huntress by Kate Quinn). And lots of other stuff: A Gentleman in Moscow, Pride & Prejudice.

Podcasts: Armchair Expert, Bible in a Year, Outcast Catholic (our priest from my hometown does this one!)

Favorite Quotes: Psalm 23: 1-6, Jeremiah 29:11, “You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and loved more than you will ever know”, “May the force be with you.”

Plans after residency: My dream is to practice in a small town in the Midwest where I can do full-spectrum care with OB and hopefully raise a family some day!

Bio: I’m from SW Kansas originally - the part of the state isn’t on the way to anything, and you smell it before you see it despite the complete flatness of it all. I loved it there, though, and it’s places like that which make you value community and relationships (one of those relationships includes an awesome gal in this class!) No one in my family is in healthcare, but my parents and sister have always cheered on my wild dreams from the sideline without hesitation. I graduated college from a school and town that left me changed for many reasons: unbelievable family medicine mentors, the deepest of friendships (including my best friend and husband Austin!), the toughness to live off questionable cafeteria food (what up, hospital weekends), and most importantly a love for my Savior Jesus Christ.

Austin and I married the day after college graduation, on the same lawn (not stressful) and charged right into medical and PT school from there. Our motto is #LivinOnLoveAndLoans and despite the fact we’re now both employed, you’ll never take thrift shopping and Aldi groceries out of my DNA. You can usually find us on a wild Friday night trying a new ice cream flavor while playing a board game. We have been blessed with an amazing community in the big-but-feels-small city of Wichita through our church and school - it still feels unreal that we get to extend that into this next phase of residency.

Why Via Christi? : Going to medical school in Wichita gave me an up-close view of the program a few times over. The residents are a supportive team. The faculty are approachable and incredible at teaching. The training is unmatched.

BUT.

The most important thing I saw was a group of doctors that cared more about character than accomplishment and wisdom more than knowledge. I knew I would grow as a person as well as a physician while learning from them.

Passions/Hobbies: Board games, watching Wheel of Fortune, garage sale-ing, sewing...I relate well to the Medicare population at this point so let’s swerve… running or literally anything outdoors, camping, a little event with friends we like to call B4D (breakfast for dinner), all things women’s health/OB, and exploring new places and new coffee shops with Austin (I actually don’t drink coffee, I’m just in it for the Wife Points. Full of recommendations at this point though!)

Favorite Books, Podcasts, and/or Quotes: Mere Christianity (really anything from Mr. Clives Staples, if my brain has the capacity - I’m always re-reading his work!), the Harry Potter series, most things Jodi Picoult writes.

“What day is it, Pooh?” : “It’s today, Piglet.” “Oh, good! Yesterday, when it was tomorrow, it was too much day for me.”
“Don’t let anyone treat you like an orange Starburst. You are a pink Starburst.”
Psalm 16:11

Plans after residency: Go to some small Kansas town where my husband and I both plan to work part-time, deliver lots of babies (that belong to others), have an annoying amount of children myself, grow a big garden, and probably give into Austin’s requests for chickens (pray for me).

Bio: Born and raised Nevadan! I’m the youngest in a hard-working family, from a tiny town in the southern part of the state. I have had an affinity for the sciences since I was young, and my mom, who is a nurse, pushed me to consider medicine as a career. I immediately fell in love with it because it is the ultimate combination of science and human connection. Growing up across the street from a critical access hospital certainly exposed me to rural medicine, and I knew that I wanted to pursue that as a career. Along the way to my goal I had the opportunity to spend two years in Italy on an ecclesiastical mission. When I returned home and restarted college, I met my wife, and we had two beautiful children while I was in medical school. Having kids while chasing a career in medicine hasn't been easy, but it has been so worth it, especially now that I get my legs hugged when I get home from work!

As for my personality, I enjoy laughing and making others laugh. I like teaching others, and that's actually my style and favorite role as a physician. I'm loyal to my friends and family. I adore poetry and beautiful things in nature. And I'm pretty anxious most of the time, but I hope I'm still fun to be around!

Why Via Christi? : Via Christi Family Medicine was simply the best fit for my goals, my personality, and my family. As far as full-spectrum training goes, this program is without a doubt among the very best. The people here are amazing: kind, service-oriented, and always reaching to do and learn more. I want to surround myself with people that I admire, people that reflect the traits that I yearn to develop in myself. Furthermore, this program demonstrates incredible inclusivity and consideration towards residents with families.

Passions/Hobbies: Chess, teaching, fishing, exercise, listening to and recording podcasts, working with my hands, eating delicious food! I'm most passionate about being a dad and being a doctor.

Favorite Books: The Count of Monte Cristo, Les Miserables, Harry Potter series, The Screwtape Letters, Dante's Inferno, Sei personaggi in cerce d'autore

Favorite Podcasts: Dr. Death, The Curbsiders, Snap Judgment, Criminal, Art of Manliness Podcast

Favorite Poems: Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night, The Road Not Taken, Do Not Stand at my Grave and Weep, If (by Rudyard Kipling)

Plans after residency: I would like to work in a rural health clinic and a critical access hospital practicing full-spectrum rural family medicine. I hope to become involved in projects that improve rural access to health education and healthcare nationwide using remote technologies. My wife will be a Marriage and Family Therapist, and I hope that we can work together to improve the physical and mental wellbeing of our underserved patients.

Bio: Hey y’all, welcome to Via! I seriously can’t overstate the impact these bios had on me as a 4th year med student; it’s such a privilege to be on the other side now and get to share my story with you! I grew up in small-town Kansas with 2 super supportive, hard working parents and 3 younger sisters who were (and still are) my best pals. I went on to Kansas State University for undergrad where I started to explore different career paths. My family is full of veterinarians but after a few long months of being an Animal Science major and coming home smelling like manure, I decided the vet life was not for me and went on to pursue nutrition and eventually human medicine. I started medical school at the University of Kansas and it was there I really began to wrestle with purpose and identity both within and outside of medicine. Around this same time a close friend from undergrad really began to pour into my life. She lovingly, but honestly, pointed out that although I had professed Christianity since I was a kiddo, I had a pretty firm grip on the reins of my life and hadn’t ever surrendered to Jesus as Lord. In January of my third year of medical school, through the honesty of that friend and interactions with other believers who had deep, intimate walks with the Lord, Jesus changed my heart and allowed me to submit my life to him. Life (and medicine) from that point took on a whole new purpose; to know Jesus and to make him known. I’ve since loved pursuing medicine as a tool to meet people’s physical and spiritual needs and finding identity/purpose in being a child of God.

I met my husband, Lucas, at Kansas State where we once said “hi” by the fork line at the dining center….but didn’t resume communication until about 4 years later when we ran into each other at a high school track meet, shared lunch and conversation, and started dating not too long after. His heart for the Lord and for people encourages me DAILY and I’m eternally grateful our lives are one.

Why Via Christi?: Deciding on Via was a no brainer after spending just one day with these people. Throughout the duration of my Sub-I, I found myself consistently blown away by the residents and attendings. They’re compassionate, gritty, faithful, sharp, wise, energetic and consistently pouring into others. I felt supported and encouraged as a student physician, a learner, and a follower of Jesus during my 4 week rotation and couldn’t imagine a better place or better people to endure the rigors of residency with.

Passions/Hobbies:

Learning to love and serve like Jesus and knowing Him more intimately each day
Anything active or outdoors: running, biking, basketball, golf, hiking, camping, fishing
Baking-- the kitchen has been therapeutic and a fun way to serve others over the years!
Board/Card games of any flavor, thanks Covid!

Books: the Bible, Mere Christianity, Lost Art of Disciple Making, None Like Him/In His Image

Podcasts: My Strange Bible, Radical, and Pray the Word with David Platt

Quotes: “For Christ’s love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.” -- 2nd Cor. 5:14-15

“To have Faith in Christ means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way, a less worried way. Not doing these things in order to be saved, but because He has begun to save you already. Not hoping to get to Heaven as a reward for your actions, but inevitably wanting to act in a certain way because a first faint gleam of Heaven is already inside you.” -- C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity

Plans after residency: Our hands are completely open! Ideally somewhere with obstetrics but open to wherever we felt lead after our 3 years in Wichita.

Bio: Like many others, I also grew up in a small town in Kansas and have always loved the small town life. There is something pretty cool about knowing just about everyone in the city. Hesston also provided everything that you could ever need in a hometown; a Sonic, Pizza Hut, and a gas station. I am the middle son of three boys in my family and I come from a family of educators. Both of my parents, brothers, aunts, and my grandma were all teachers, so naturally I had a passion for teaching as well. In high school, I worked as a housekeeper at a nursing home (great for spending money and character building) and saw how cool it was that the CNAs could help the residents with their physical needs. This is what got me thinking about healthcare as a career path. Working as a CNA at that same nursing home a few years later (thought I needed to build some more character) really confirmed my passion of caring for others as they battle their physical ailments. I decided to go the healthcare route and I made the long two minute journey to start school at Hesston College. While Hesston College gave me an amazing education, it also introduced me to a pretty cool girl from Oklahoma. Hannah and I both went out to Virginia to complete our biology degrees at Eastern Mennonite University. While we were there we both volunteered as EMT’s at a local rescue squad and tried to enjoy the amazing hikes that the Shenandoah Valley had to offer. While most people would never want to go live in Kansas, once you come here it will always hold a special place in your heart. We both knew that we wanted to end up in Kansas one day and are so happy to be close to our families, especially since we will be adding another to our family in January!

Why Via Christi? : Once I discovered what family medicine could offer in a rural area, I knew that I wanted to get full scope training. Via was one of the places that offered it so I decided to do a Sub-I with the program. The program was everything I imagined in terms of great full-scope training, but I quickly realized that the people are what makes Via Christi unique. Everyone was extremely kind, fun, smart, and they all seemed like people I would want to hang out with outside of the hospital. I always thought the “find the residency that’s the right fit” was a bunch of bologna until I came to Via. I knew from the first week that this is where I wanted to end up.

Passions/Hobbies: Triathlons, basketball, disc golf, woodworking, basically any sport, hiking, watching football, hanging out with family and friends, board games, grilling, baking (mainly cause I like eating).

Favorite Books: The Giver, anything Malcolm Gladwell, dystopian novels

Favorite Podcasts: Crushing Iron, Freakonomics, Radiolab, NPR up First

Favorite Quotes: “Do your best, have fun, take it all in.” - Clark Roth (my dad)

Plans after residency: Full-ish scope medicine (+/- OB at this point) in rural Kansas working with my PA wife Hannah (we will see if I can convince her that is a good idea) where we can raise some kids and enjoy the small town life.

Bio: I grew up in South Kansas City. My childhood was full of joy and many blessings - I grew up dancing, making music, creating, exploring, and growing close to my three sisters, who are my best friends. My parents were inspirational and incredibly formative - my mom, a special education teacher, inspired in me a heart for others. My father, a full-spectrum family medicine doc, introduced me to medicine. I have fond memories accompanying him on his morning rounds to the hospital as a little girl - peering at the new babies through the nursery window or meeting patients/families for whom my dad had cared for many years. I always admired the practice of medicine but wanted to explore different careers before making such a commitment. In college, I studied finance and had work experience in non-profits and governmental organizations in Washington, D.C. - but in the end learned that my heart was in medicine. After graduation, I started medical school at KU - which ended up being one of the best life decisions I could have made. While in KC, I met my husband, Tyler, on a blind sushi date. He was teaching Latin and philosophy at the time - and was the perfect deep-thinking, methodical, curious man to match my more whimsical nature. He lives with more purpose and love than anyone I have ever met - which inspires me to do the same each day. We got married a couple months before residency and are so excited to be welcoming our first child in January 2022!

Why Via Christi? : I desired to find a residency program that would provide rigorous and excellent training (including a lot of OB, inpatient, and pediatric care) as well as one where I could work with people who similarly valued family and faith. I had heard of Via Christi's excellent training from classmates and graduates of the program in Kansas City and was grateful to do a sub-I to experience the program for myself. The sub-I was such an awesome experience - Via Christi's program made me so excited to be entering family medicine. I saw that the program would challenge me to the point where I would become a skilled, well-rounded physician, and I truly enjoyed the residents and faculty with whom I worked. Each day, I'm continually grateful to be here and to get to work with such kind, intelligent, and fun teachers and co-residents.

Passions/Hobbies:

Daily walks with my husband in all seasons
Designing/renovating our nearly 100-year-old Tudor home
Cooking - especially Asian - Thai/Indian food
Baking - sourdough bread & anything sweet
Thrifting/antiquing
Camping & exploring national parks
Family time!!

Favorite Books:

Old classics - Jane Eyre, Pride & Prejudice
Man's Search for Meaning - Viktor Frankl
Covenant of Love - St. John Paul II

Favorite Quotes:

"Walk with your feet on earth but in your heart, be in heaven." - St. John Bosco
"Be the living expression of God's kindness - in your face, in your eyes, and in your smile." - St. Teresa
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way.” - Viktor Frankl

Plans after residency: I look forward to serving many women, children, and families in my practice someday - especially when it comes to providing obstetric and fertility care for women using fertility-awareness based methods of family planning. As far as location - somewhere in Kansas with a good community for our family - whether that be near family in KC or around close friends elsewhere.

Bio: I grew up on a farm located a few miles outside a little town called White Cloud, Kansas (pop. 116). The oldest child of two farmers, I loved being outside. Combine rides with my grandpa were my personal favorite! I have two younger siblings- a sister, Aubrey and a brother, Nathan. We enjoy going on camping trips as a family (always an interesting adventure!) and spending time out on the lake.

I chose medicine early on in my life. At 2 weeks old, I underwent open heart surgery. The many appointments following my surgery made me appreciate the impact doctors can have on people’s lives. My inspiring high-school biology teacher, Mr. Vitt, and a wonderful hometown physician mentor, Dr. Julie Rosa, solidified this dream for me.

Born and bred a Kansas State Wildcat, I enrolled at K-State my freshman year. My time at K-state opened my eyes to my passion for leadership and fostering relationships with others. Following my sophomore year, I was accepted into the University of Kansas’s Scholars in Rural Health early admission program for rural medicine. This is where I met Jen Mettling, Julia Hemman, and Kylie Hampton (who are now my awesome co-residents!!)

While in medical school, I enjoyed the roles of Rural Medicine Interest Group President, Family Medicine Interest Group President, and AAFP FMIG Regional Coordinator. I also became a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) for two local children in the foster system.

Whenever medical school became overwhelming, I always enjoyed going home to see family and spend time on the farm. It has been soothing to return to the small-town life I grew up in, and I hope to someday be back on the farm, practicing medicine, and enjoying the support of a small town community.

Why Via Christi? : Via Christi stood out to me during my Sub-I rotation. I would work long hours but find that the people around me kept me motivated and inspired me to be a better physician, as well as a well-balanced individual. I remember Dr. Seery, who has since retired, telling me that being a physician is a race, rather than a marathon, and finding ways to keep yourself fueled while still learning at least one new thing each day would help sustain my passion and gift for medicine. This is just one example of the wonderful wisdom that was shared with me by faculty and residents during my time. The people at Via Christi led by example and showed deep care for patients and students. I saw daily the effort residents made to help out their fellow colleagues and make sure everyone was mentally, emotionally, and spiritually okay. I knew I would be accepted, encouraged, and challenged if I ended up at Via Christi. The hands-on experience and mentorship is phenomenal, and I feel blessed to have the opportunity to be a part of this fantastic group of caring, intelligent, and motivated individuals.

Passions/Hobbies: As you can probably tell from my bio, one of my favorite hobbies is going home and spending time on the farm with my family. I love adventuring through small towns and trying out local coffee shops. I also enjoy dirt road drives and hiking (if there is such a thing in KS).

Four of my greatest passions are preventative health, serving others, leadership, and rural medicine. I enjoy finding ways to make improvements on communication, organization, and resources in order to positively impact patient care, local communities, or various organizations.

Favorite Songs: Red Dirt Road- Brooks and Dunn, Diamond in My Pocket- Cody Johnson, and Scars- I Am They

Plans after residency: After residency, I plan to practice full-scope Family Medicine in a Kansas community of 5,000 or less- possibly my hometown. I have grown an appreciation for small-town communities and the support they provide. It is my plan to perform OB deliveries and practice continuity by caring for the newborn patient and his/her entire family. I hope to pursue local leadership opportunities and help serve my community through church and other service activities.

Class of 2024

David Baalmann

Ben Chappell

Gabriela Chavez

Collin Connor

Luke DeJong

Kylie Hampton

Julia Hemman

Travis Kasper

Tyler Laubach

Jeremy Lickteig

Olivia Marozas

Anne Meis

Jen Mettling

Will Miller

Kelly Moeder

Eyan Roth

Anna Supalla

Brynn Wright