Class of 2026

Bio:
Hi y’all! I grew up in small-town Texas and later moved to smaller-town Texas. I’m known as Whitney from Whitney. I was raised by two selfless parents who devoted their time to all of my siblings and my extracurricular activities. My family has now grown to include several nieces and a nephew, to whom I absolutely cherish being an aunt. 

I am the first in my family to go to college and beyond, but I knew from a young age that I wanted to be a physician. While at ACU, I discovered my passion for medical missions after several trips to Guatemala with the pre-health program and local doctors. I started medical school open to any field but fell in love with full-spectrum Family Medicine and its flexibility for any community I serve in the future.

During medical school, I married my incredible husband, Michael. He is passionate about humanitarian aid, working at the American Red Cross, and being in seminary. We have two rescue pups together, Ollie and Scout. In our spare time, we enjoy traveling, hiking, window shopping, or relaxing at coffee shops.

Why Via Christi?  

During medical school, I was encouraged by a classmate to look at Via Christi after discussing my interest in medical missions. After interviewing, Via Christi was the one program that checked all my boxes– strong inpatient medicine and pediatrics, advanced OB training, POCUS, and faculty that care about me as a person and a growing physician. We visited in person for the callback weekend, and meeting everyone solidified that the program and Wichita felt like home to us!

Passions/Hobbies:

During the COVID pandemic, when all gyms were closed, I bought a Peloton bike that I absolutely love. If I have a free weekend, you can find me either refurbishing furniture, visiting family, hiking, or playing tennis.

Favorite Books: 

The Bible, Gentle and Lowly, Anatomy of a Kidnapping

Plans after residency:

Full-spectrum family medicine with OB wherever the Lord leads us, whether local or internationally.

Bio: 
I grew up way down in New Orleans with all the music, food, and celebration of life that make the city so vibrant. Most of all it is the community I have there of family and friends that make this place so special to me. After high school, I shocked my Louisiana relations by going to college at University of Alabama where through a variety of experiences including an art therapy class with Alzheimer’s patients and a mission trip to Jamaica with the Missionaries of the Poor, I felt called to pursue a career in medicine. After being accepted to LSU medical school I took a two-year deferment to serve as missionary with FOCUS (Fellowship of Catholic University Students) at the University of Southern Mississippi mentoring college students which was a great opportunity to mature in my faith and develop the spiritual and emotional attentiveness which is so vital to the practice of medicine. 

Returning to New Orleans as a medical student allowed me to rediscover the city as an adult and to see the poverty and social injustices that existed especially through encounters with the homeless population.  As I progressed through medical school I became more and more convinced that pursuing Family Medicine would best equip me to serve people outside the healthcare infrastructure through community based medicine. God willing, I hope to one day return to New Orleans and serve the people in the place I call home. 

Why Via Christi? 
I was not expecting to end up in Kansas and was quite skeptical of the bland food and cold winters. However, after reading the resident and faculty bios I wanted to learn more about why so many incredible people were living in Wichita. I did a Sub-I in January as a winter trial and found out I could survive the cold with jackets generously donated by my midwestern friends and the food with some hot sauce (I was pleasantly surprised by Wichita's cuisine). What sealed the deal was meeting individuals with a passion for excellent and compassionate medicine who I wanted to model after and learn from. In addition, I knew the broad spectrum training would prepare me to serve in whatever capacity I felt called. Most importantly it was a place where I could practice medicine in a way that did not violate my faith and continue integrating spirituality within my practice of medicine. 

Passions/Hobbies:  Dancing, cooking, frisbee, biking, walking outside, reading, playing guitar, mission trips, enjoying time with family and friends

Favorite Books:  The Classics: The Bible, Aeneid, Odyssey, St. Augustine's Confessions, Count of Monte Cristo, Brothers Karamazov, The Lord of the Rings, Pride and Prejudice

Others: The Moviegoer by Walker Percy, Joan of Arc by Mark Twain, anything by Pope John Paul II, GK Chesterton, C.S Lewis, and Louis De Montfort

Favorite Podcast:  Doctor Doctor

Favorite Quotes:

"Blessed are we doctors often unable to remove illness, blessed are we if we remember that we have in the presence of sick people, not only bodies to cure, but also divine and eternal souls, and we must love them as ourselves."  - St. Giuseppe Moscati

 “Forsan et haec olim meminisse iuvabit,”  ~ “Perhaps one day it will be pleasing to remember “Even these things with joy.”  - Virgil in the Aeneid 

"Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler" ("Let the good times roll")  - New Orleans

Plans after residency:  Hopefully back down to New Orleans but open to anything including Global Health, Direct Primary Care, and practicing with Fertility Awareness Based Methods. In your search for residency look for places that will bring out the best in you and help you flourish as a person as well as a future doctor. Also don't be afraid of some adventure!

Bio: 
I was born and raised in rural Kansas in a town known for its quirky water towers and pizza tacos. My parents have an accounting firm, which they grew while raising me and my four siblings. Growing up, I enjoyed a lot of things including academics and sports, although my parents probably knew they weren’t raising the next Michael Jordan. I had a few exposures to medicine at some pretty impressionable moments in my life that caused me to shift my focus toward the future. The family medicine doctors I’d known since I was a child taught me what it meant to be a physician, and I developed a passion for Family Medicine. I met my wife, Kylie, in college at Newman University, and we were married the year after we graduated. Not long into marriage and barely into medical school, we learned we were no longer a family of two. Near the middle of my first year of school, we were blessed with our daughter, Gianna. Kylie was in Wichita, well into her third year of medical school and taking care of a newborn, while I studied up in Kansas City. The pandemic actually worked in our favor, letting our family live together while we finished up school. We loved our little family so much that we decided to add to it, and our son Elijah was born during my fourth year of school. The four of us stay pretty busy, but we wouldn’t have it any other way!

Why Via Christi? 
Family medicine embodies everything I believe a physician should be. Like the doctors I grew up around, I want to be there for my patients for whatever needs they have. For me, there isn’t any other option besides full-spectrum family medicine training. While being a KCU-Core student is a great way to get to know the program, I took it one step further by being married to one of the residents. In a way, the decision felt like it had already been made because I felt I belonged to the family long before applications began. I felt my choice for this program was led by friends, family, and God. Via Christi not only has the qualities of a robust full-spectrum family medicine program but the spirit as well. You can tell by the kinds of residents it attracts, and by the faculty who nurture its existence. VCFM is the place where I know I am challenged to become the best physician, spouse, father, and disciple I can be.

Passions/Hobbies:  Family time, board games (especially chess), movies, books, camping, backpacking, running, singing, craft beers, scotch, cigars and good conversation.

Favorite Books:  Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien, 12 Rules for Life by Jordan B. Peterson, Man's Search for Meaning by Victor E. Frankl

Favorite Quotes:

“Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things.”  – George Carlin

“Beware of unearned wisdom.”  – Carl Jung

"The world offers you comfort. But you were not made for comfort. You were made for greatness"  – Pope Benedict XVI

"Memento Mori"

Plans after residency:  We plan to end up somewhere in Kansas, practicing full spectrum Family Medicine.

Bio:

I grew up in Hiawatha, KS, as the daughter of two family medicine physicians, and wanted to be a doctor since before I could remember. Scrubbing in on my first C-section in high school solidified that desire, and sparked my excitement for rural medicine. I met my husband Jacob in high school, and we got married shortly after graduating from K-State. Six months into medical school I convinced my husband we absolutely needed a puppy, so Evi, a Pembroke Welsh Corgi, entered our lives. Now our house is covered in corgi hair and our phones are filled with pictures of her. 

Why Via Christi?

As I was lucky enough to go to KUMC-W, Via Christi was always the standard to which I compared other residencies, with OB, C-sections, and procedures being my main focus. While I found other residencies that had similar numbers, the people and culture at Via Christi were unlike anywhere else. During my Sub-I I felt at home and could easily visualize myself working here.  And I love being a part of the legacy of Via Christi graduates serving rural Kansas. 

Passions/Hobbies:  Hiking and camping are my favorite ways to spend time, but if I have a weekend at home you’ll usually find me in the garden.  

Favorite Podcasts:  National Parks after Dark, Ologies

Favorite Book:  The Stormlight Archives by Brandon Sanderson 

Plans after residency:  My husband and I plan to move back to small-town Kansas and practice full-spectrum family medicine. Outpatient, inpatient, ED and lots and lots of OB. 

Bio:

Hi there! I grew up in Bettendorf, Iowa (one of the four Quad Cities) with my parents and older brother. My childhood was filled with tromps through the woods, "frog hunts" i.e. swatting my net at leaping frogs at the pond, mud up to my knees, and endless hours spent swimming. I also grew up with parents in the medical field, with my dad a pharmacist and my mom a retired rad tech.  So in addition to the sunshine days, I also had overnights in the "dark room" of the radiology department. During these nights, my mom taught me about anatomy and caring for others, initiating the spark of interest in healthcare that has taken me on this journey. Fast forward many years, and I am overjoyed to take on this next step to becoming a full-spectrum family medicine doctor at Via Christi! My partner, Dan, our golden retriever, Bix (named after a running race in the Quad Cities), and our cat, Lucy, join me on this journey - we are so excited to be here! 

Why Via Christi? 

Even before the residency hunt, I was told time and time again to check out Via Christi. I was told the OB training is one of the best experiences you could get in a family medicine program and that if I wanted to be a full-spectrum family medicine doctor, I should try my best to go here. I then had the opportunity to work with several doctors who did their residency here at Via Christi (Dr. Brent Owen and others up in Algona, Iowa), who showed me excellence in all areas of family medicine, including obstetrics and women's health which are strong interests of mine. I feel extremely fortunate to be able to continue my training at Via Christi and cannot wait to see where the road takes me. 

Passions/Hobbies:

Anything outdoors (hiking, biking, pickle ball, xc skiing, camping), reading, cooking/eating good food, traveling (featuring the photo of me in Greece), swimming 

Favorite Podcast: 

The Moth Radio Hour

Favorite Books:  Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe by Fannie Flagg, The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah, Beartown by Fredrik Backman 

Favorite Bands:  Hozier, Noah Kahan, Dave Matthews Band, Wild Rivers, Taylor Swift 

Plans after residency:  After residency I hope to practice full-spectrum medicine with an emphasis on obstetrics and women's health. 

Bio:

Hi!  I'm from Garden City, Kansas, a small-ish town in southwest Kansas and one of the most geographically isolated towns in the country. Growing up in a town that's far from everything taught me the importance of relationships. It doesn't matter where you are -- it's the people you are there with. I love Kansas and the people who live here, and I am so thankful to have been able to stay for college, medical school, and now residency! I am passionate about rural family medicine & hope to stay in Kansas and make a difference as a full-spectrum rural family med doc!

Why Via Christi? 

I was able to do a Sub-Internship with Via Christi during my fourth year of medical school and fell in love with the program. The high intensity and large volume is there, but so is immense support from faculty and residents. I immediately felt comfortable and a sense of belonging. I am so glad to have been chosen to be part of the team! Staying in Wichita is a huge perk as well!

Passions/Hobbies:  Any time spent with my family, friends, and boyfriend is time well spent! On days off, you might find me on a long walk or run with my dog, Millie, and boyfriend, Zach. We usually end up stopping at one of the many yummy local coffee shops in Wichita! I also love cooking, baking, gardening, yoga, reading, podcasts, and music.

Favorite Quote:  “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.”  -St. Catherine of Siena

Plans after residency:  Serving the underserved - be it rural medicine, a federally qualified health center, or something I haven't discovered I am passionate about yet!

Bio:

Hello! I was born in Northern Ireland but made my way to Kansas at a young age, so Wichita has been where I have called home for most of my life. Growing up, I always wanted to work in the medical field and shadowed in nearly every area before deciding on medicine after spending a summer in Zambia at a Christian mission hospital.  Throughout my time in college and medical school, a desire to work internationally using medicine and missions to help those in underserved areas led me to family medicine. 

I grew up with four brothers, and my parents live on a small hobby farm (donkeys, goats, sheep), so I enjoy spending time with them and then traveling to new places both in the US and overseas!

Why Via Christi?

When I decided on family medicine, I knew I wanted to go somewhere that would provide the training I wanted in obstetrics and also be trained by and have mentors who have a heart for global health. Via Christi has both of those and so much more in the training it provides for inpatient medicine, clinic, and procedures as well as the value it places on community within the residency and Wichita as a whole. 

Passions/Hobbies:  I became a runner during COVID and enjoy the flat lands of Kansas for running outside when the weather cooperates! I enjoy reading biographies, making desserts, growing my indoor plant collection, and hosting friends!

Favorite Books:  God's Double Agent, Breaking Cover, Unbroken, Being Mortal, Redeeming Love, The Insanity of God

Favorite Quotes:

 “Serving God is not a matter of location, but a matter of obedience.”

― Nik Ripken, The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith Resurrected

Romans 8:28 (ESV)

And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Plans after residency:  International medical missions in a rural community 

Bio:

Howdy! I’m Pete- I’m the middle child of 7. I grew up on an apple orchard in rural Western Washington but moved to Wyoming when I was 17. I attended a small Catholic College in Lander, Wyoming where I spent my time learning to speak, read, and write in Latin, reading classical theology and philosophy, horseback riding into the Wind River Range, teaching backpacking and mountaineering courses, and chasing elk, lion, and deer on the weekends.

After school I worked simultaneously volunteering in search and rescue while working a day job in direct care in a traumatic brain injury unit. It was both these experiences that started the fire that eventually grew into a plan to enter medicine. After my time in the TBI unit I spent about a year working for a federally funded non-profit and worked investigating abuse and neglect of individuals with disabilities across the state of Wyoming. After this I entered the oilfield and worked my way up from a roughneck on a workover rig to eventually becoming a field engineer and leaving the oilfield 4 years later as the Senior Lead Field Engineer for a large oilfield company in Williston, North Dakota.

Ultimately, my heart was always drawn back to medicine. My love-language is gift giving and what better gift than to be able to give the gift of good health? I went back to school and crammed another degree in biology with a minor in chemistry along with an enormous amount of ocular tumor immunology into 4 semesters. I applied to medical school, and by the Grace of God I’m here in residency now at Via Christi. 

Why Via Christi?

I chose Via Christi in large part because of the bios that I found on this very page. I initially did not know about Via Christi, but a friend pointed it out to me well past the application deadlines. I took a shot in the dark and applied and was put on a waiting list- and the rest was history. When I read through the bios I was struck at how comfortable people were talking about what they really cared about, and it felt like I was reading about a group of “my people.” There were very similar backgrounds, experiences, and interests to my own and the residency offered everything I wanted in terms of volume, exposure, and culture. 

Passions/Hobbies:  I spend my free time building Jeeps (some of them can drive underwater!), gold-panning on my gold claim, guiding elk, deer, and mountain lion hunts, backpacking, mountaineering, climbing, canyoneering, and SCUBA diving. Other hobbies include competitive shooting, reloading, fly-fishing, sailing, welding, hunting for dinosaur bones, skiing, building computers, reading, writing letters, cooking, drawing, and traveling (managed to make it to essentially the entire US and most of Europe so far!)

Favorite Book:  The Silmarillion by JRR Tolkien - the Tale of Beren and Luthien is truly the greatest romance ever told. 

Favorite Quote:  “But of bliss and glad life there is little to be said, before it ends; as works fair and wonderful, while they still endure for eyes to see, are ever their own record, and only when they are in peril or broken for ever do they pass into song.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien, The Silmarillion

Plans after residency:  Full spectrum rural family medicine in the smallest town that will hire me in the Rockies.

Bio:

I am an only child and first generation college student born and raised in rural, south Alabama on 40 acres, where my family dabbled with cattle, pigs, gardening, and chickens. I got inspiration to pursue FM partly from my own family doctor and partly from disfavor of the highly specialized but hardly personalized direction that medicine is headed. I met my wife Allie, who's now a practicing PA, at a premedical summer internship, and we have an Aussie Doodle named Moose. 

Why Via Christi? 

Of the few FM programs left that train full-spectrum family physicians (in the broadest sense of what that could mean), Via Christi rose to the top. With no geographical preference for residency, I considered several of these programs. Via Christi was repeatedly brought up, either as the bar to beat or as the training site of the most prized faculty. During my sub-i here, it became apparent why this place has such a respected reputation nationwide. The faculty are approachable, vastly informed, and supportive (both educationally and spiritually); residents bond like none I witnessed elsewhere; and there is unanimous dedication among faculty and residents to train full-spectrum capable physicians, which means outstanding procedural, POCUS, and OB training. I was also impressed by the organized and common-sense approach taken to carry out these things. 

Passions/Hobbies:  mountain biking, film photography, vintage trucks/motorcycles, learning Spanish, pickleball, mechanic work

Favorite Podcasts: 

The Joe Rogan Experience

Lex Fridman Podcast

Favorite Books:

Extreme Ownership by Jocko Willinck

Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig

1984 by George Orwell

Most Frequently Remembered Quotes:

"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now."  - Chinese Proverb

"No man ever steps in the same river twice. For he's not the same man and it's not the same river."  - Heraclitus

Plans after residency:  Rural, full-spectrum family medicine, likely in Alabama where our families live

Bio: 

Hey there! I grew up just 50 miles north of Wichita in the rural town of Hillsboro, Kansas where I was the third of four siblings (older sister, older brother, younger sister). I didn't have any "medically-inclined" personal connections/role models growing up, but I did have two parents who encouraged me to wholeheartedly pursue my passions and interests. Their encouragement and my passions led me to MidAmerica Nazarene University for undergraduate studies, where I was fortunate to receive an excellent biology/chemistry education in a transformative Christlike community. Though not initially pursuing medicine while at MNU, I had several incredible faculty mentors that encouraged me to do so and I will always be grateful that they did. Medicine is where I truly felt that I would be able to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those in my community in an intellectually stimulating and fulfilling way. I married my high school sweetheart, Shelby, in the summer between graduating from MNU and starting medical school where I would go on to spend my two pre-clinical years in Kansas City and my two clinical years in Wichita. Shelby received her nursing degree while at MNU, and while working as pediatric nurse has also taken on a second full-time job as my greatest supporter and encourager to help get me where I am today. We welcomed a Bernedoodle, Kona, into our lives at the beginning of medical school and then welcomed our daughter, Presley, into our lives near the end of medical school.

Why Via Christi?

Via Christi was a no-brainer top choice for me as I considered where I would complete my family medicine residency. Having spent my clinical years here in Wichita, I got to work with Via Christi residents and faculty on many rotations and it was evident to me that Via Christi attracted and trained the exact type of family physician I aspired to be. With these connections, I was forced to compare every other program I interviewed with to what I knew best - and none came close. Equipped, personable, and community focused, I couldn't imagine NOT training here. At Via Christi, I could be confident that my family and I would be joining a program that would come alongside us throughout my training, supporting both professional and personal goals we share.

Passions/Hobbies:  Outside of medicine, I especially enjoy fine coffee brewing, camping/backpacking, cooking, trying new whiskeys/bourbons, and spending time with Shelby, Presley, and Kona exploring local parks, restaurants, and coffee shops.

Favorite Quotes:

From Psalm 62, "Truly my soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken."

From an admirable medical school preceptor, "Life is good"

Favorite Books:

Greenlights - Matthew McConaughey, Denali's Howl - Andy Hall, 7 Men and the Secret of Their Greatness - Eric Metaxas

Plans after residency:  We will be sticking around the Sunflower State after residency, but we're not at this point sure where that will be. I plan to practice broad-scope family medicine in a rural or small community, with particular interests in obstetrical care, clinic procedures, diabetes management, substance-use disorder care, and sports medicine. Outside of medicine, I hope to someday serve my community in another way, with dreams of opening a coffee shop and employing individuals with disabilities.

Bio:  

I grew up in a small town in southern Louisiana with my four sisters and surrounded by cow pastures. My father, a rural family physician, was my first inspiration to become a doctor. The admiration our community had for him was evident from a young age, and I knew I wanted to impact people the way he did. 

I took a nontraditional path to medical school. It included a year of studying to be a Catholic priest and two years working with men, women, and children experiencing homelessness as an employee of Catholic Charities. These two experiences were instrumental in fostering my desire to become a family physician, and allowed me to discover a passion for serving the most vulnerable, underserved members of our society.

I married my wife, Celeste, at the end of my first year of medical school in the midst of COVID stay at home orders. We welcomed our son, Ambrose, at the end of my second year of medical school.

I'm an avid golfer and love restoring antique furniture in my spare time. If I couldn't be a family physician, I'd either own an antique shop or flip houses for a living.

My future plans are to return to southern Louisiana to practice full scope family medicine with obstetrics in a rural community. In the meantime, I am enjoying my time away from the swamps of Louisiana and soaking in all that Wichita has to offer!

Why Via Christi? 

Initially, it was the broad spectrum training. However, after interviewing and visiting for a second look, it was also the people.

The fellowship among the faculty, residents, and spouses is unparalleled. It was such a nice surprise to see that residents and faculty were just as interested in my wife as they were in me during our visits. My wife told me at the beginning of my application season that if we were going to leave Louisiana for residency, she would need a program with great spousal support. At the end of our first visit, it was clear Via Christi provided the community we had been looking for.

Passions/Hobbies:  Golf, running, refinishing antique furniture

Favorite Books:  He Leadeth Me, Death Comes for the Archbishop, the Harry Potter Series

Favorite TV Shows:  Any Star Wars series on Disney+, Downton Abbey, The Crown, Anything on HGTV

Favorite Quotes:  "A life not lived for others is not a life.”  - Mother Teresa; "Faith is not an illusion, a flight of fancy, a refuge or sentimentalism; rather it is total involvement in the whole of life and is the proclamation of the Gospel, the Good News that can set the whole of the person free."  - Pope Benedict XVI

Plans after residency:  Return to rural southwestern Louisiana to practice full scope family medicine

Bio:

I was born and raised in Wichita, KS by two incredible parents who served as great role models for my two sisters and me. I certainly had many blessings growing up on the east side of Wichita with such a supportive family, church, and social group who always encouraged education and community service. 

After graduating from high school, I went to Wichita State University to study biomedical engineering but discovered along the way that serving others through the vehicle of medicine was where I was meant to be. A life goal of mine was always to serve in the Peace Corps so after graduating from WSU in 2017, I began my service as a Community Health Educator in the southern part of Belize in a small Mayan village called Conejo Creek. The two-year placement taught me many things (including how to speak Q’eqchi’ Mayan!) but ultimately solidified the desire to study medicine with the goal to eventually revisit to the international stage as part of my regular practice. I returned in 2019 and was lucky enough to begin medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine – Wichita.  

Why Via Christi?

I was drawn to family medicine because it incorporates every specialty of medicine at every age range over a long period of time. I discovered during my time at KU that VCFM truly trains their residents to practice broad-scope medicine in any setting or resource requirement. Outside of the unparalleled training, I found residents that were friendly, eager to teach, and showed tremendous character and I knew fairly quickly that I wanted to emulate them when I would reach residency. It is also a unique opportunity to train as a resident in my hometown and I am looking forward to providing medical care to the community that helped create the man I am today!

Passions/Hobbies:

My family and my faith are my two biggest passions other than medicine and I try my best to give them the ultimate priority for my time. Outside of that, my hobbies include running, basketball, and watching one of the many outstanding Kansas sports teams (Go Chiefs! Go Shox!). I’m a big pet guy and have an aussie/border collie mix name Mak that is the ultimate fetch partner and always keeps me on my toes. I also love music and my annual top 50 Spotify playlist often includes every genre there is!  

Favorite Podcasts:  Curbsiders, everything by Fr. Mike Schmitz

Favorite Books:  Mountains Beyond Mountains, The Screwtape Letters, Mere Christianity; Favorite 

Plans after residency:  I aim to practice broad-scope medicine with inpatient, outpatient, and OB. After a few years in practice, I plan to go spend some time doing international medicine and looking specifically at Doctors without Borders! 

Bio: 

Hey there! I am a born and raised Colorado native, growing up in a close-knit family of four in the suburbs of south Denver. I grew up playing competitive soccer from an early age and for all four years of college. Following college, I took two gap years working as an Emergency Department scribe and a middle school coordinator for a Denver-based church. From these experiences, I knew I wanted a healthcare career focused on building meaningful relationships with people. 

I met my husband, Jonathan, during medical school, and we got married just before graduation. We have navigated all of the steps of medical school, and now residency, side-by-side. He is an anesthesiology resident at KU-Wichita!  We have a golden retriever named Mila, who loves a good walk and meeting other pups.

Family medicine seemed like the natural fit for me with the foundation in building long-term relationships with patients from all ages and the ability to practice in a variety of areas such as OB and sports medicine. 

Why Via Christi? 

A majority of my preceptors during my third-year family medicine rotation graduated from Via Christi, and they were the most competent, friendly, and compassionate physicians to work with. After spending a month at Via Christi during my fourth year, I was even more impressed by the work ethic, knowledge, and kindness all of the residents possessed, and I knew Via Christi was the right place for me. I was certain Via Christi would support and guide me in both my professional goals as a family medicine physician and personally by providing a supportive community.

Passions/Hobbies:  I enjoy most outdoor activities, but hiking, running, and playing soccer are my favorites. I also love gardening and attempting to keep my collection of indoor plants alive and watching as many professional football and soccer games as possible. 

Favorite Podcasts:  Any true crime podcasts, but “My Favorite Murder” is my favorite one.

Plans after residency:  I may head back to Colorado with my husband, Jonathan, to be closer to family. I am interested in sports medicine, OB, and academic medicine, so this is still to be determined!

Bio:

I was born and raised in the mountains of Wyoming, where summers are beautiful but short and the winters are cold and windy. While I have chosen not to pursue my family heritage with a career in agriculture, I nonetheless have a special place in my heart for wild places and salt-of-the-earth people who are rooted in rural communities. I hope to return to rural Wyoming to serve my community, though I also anticipate a career in international medicine somewhere along the way.

I take extra joy in finding common ground with people I meet and love the opportunity to form longitudinal relationships with patients in Family Medicine. I enjoy thinking deeply about each patient and getting nerdy in the details of medical conditions and pathophysiology. This is extra fun to do on inpatient services and critical care, though really I'm not picky.

Why Via Christi? 

At the AAFP conference my 4th year of medical school, I stopped by the Via Christi booth mostly by accident. I was instantly struck by the aura of warmth and intentionality found in the conversations I had with faculty and residents. Not only does Via Christi offer incredible training and opportunities, but also a call to something greater. This sense of purpose and community is a rare find and something I knew I couldn't pass up. I knew I wouldn't have to compromise camaraderie and meaningful relationships to pursue my passions in medicine.

Passions/Hobbies:  Fishing, watercolor painting, delicious coffee, cultivating anything that grows (I'm waiting for a breakout career in mushroom farming)

Favorite Podcasts:  ClincialProblemSolvers, Outlaw Ocean, Bad Blood, Outside Podcast, History That Doesn't Suck... and lots more 

Favorite Books:  When Breath Becomes Air. Anything by Brandon Sanderson or CS Lewis

Favorite Quotes: 

“Our greatest fear should not be of failure, but of succeeding at something that doesn't really matter.” - D.L. Moody

"God is still on the throne" - my mom

Plans after residency:  international medicine vs rural family medicine