Students often ask what the greatest strength of our program is, and the answer is easy: our residents! Learn more about their clinical interests and hobbies outside of medicine. You can also find what our alumni are doing now.
Faculty
Elin Kondrad | Program Director
Elin grew up in a small town in central New Hampshire and got her BA in English from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania. She spent ten years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she went to medical school, completed her residency training, served as a faculty member after residency, and completed her faculty development fellowship.
After her tenure at UNC, Elin served as a core faculty member at the St. Anthony North Family Medicine Residency Program for five years, three of which were spent as clinic medical director. She was drawn to St. Joe's because of the program's sense of community and commitment to caring for the underserved and joined the faculty at St. Joe's in 2015. She served as an associate program director starting in 2017 and took over as program director in 2019. She particularly enjoys primary mental health care and developing longitudinal relationships with patients and their families.
Elin has three children, so much of her free time is spent reading about Harry Potter's adventures, making slime, and going to cross country meets. Her grown-up interests include cooking, running, hiking, and reading novels.
Katie Seitz | Associate Director
Dr. Seitz grew up in Phoenix, Arizona. She is a big wildcat fan, having attended the University of Arizona for both college and medical school. After graduating from the Saint Joseph Hospital Family Medicine program in 2005 she did locum tenens, working as a small town doc in several Colorado locations. Dr. Seitz has been faculty at St. Joseph since 2006 and completed the University of North Carolina Faculty Development Fellowship in 2008. She greatly enjoys teaching and mentoring residents during their training and has been the Associate Program Director since 2009. Specific medical interests include women's health, hospital medicine, geriatrics, and caring for underserved populations . She enjoys traveling, gardening, hanging out in the Colorado mountains, trying out new recipes and spending time with her family and friends.
Michael Matergia | Clinical Faculty, Associate Director
Dr. Matergia grew up in small-town Pennsylvania. He completed his medical education at Harvard Medical School and trained here at Saint Joseph Hospital. As a family doctor, he is passionate about full scope patient care, resident education, and the design of healthcare delivery systems in resource-poor settings.
Together with his wife, Denna, Michael co-founded a non-profit dedicated to providing innovative health and education programs in the rural Eastern Himalayas. He continues to travel frequently to India where he is currently focused on implementing a CHW-led school health program and evaluating and scaling a community-based care system for child mental health.
Michael splits his time between the Center for Global Health at the University of Colorado and Saint Joseph Hospital where he continues to see patients and teach residents. Outside of work, Michael enjoys skiing, cooking, reading, and hanging out with friends and family.
Abria Bonner | Clinical Faculty
Dr. Abria Bonner was raised in Matteson, IL, a south suburb of Chicago. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from Bradley University in Peoria, IL. While attending Bradley University, she was very active in dancing and choreography for the Bravettes Dance Team. She continued her higher education in the Midwest and received her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine, where she met her husband, Nick.
When choosing a residency, Abria wanted full scope training in an urban underserved area and found this with Saint Joseph Family Medicine Residency. She graduated from St. Joes in 2021, and went on to complete a Faculty Development Fellowship at St. Anthony North Hospital with a dual component through the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.
Dr. Bonner is passionate about family planning, prenatal care, representation in healthcare, and educating and supporting residents. In her spare time, she enjoys dancing, watching horror movies, playing boarding games, cooking, and playing with her dog Luna.
Stephanie Sandhu | Clinical Faculty
Dr. Sandhu was born in Toronto, Canada but moved to Boulder, Colorado at a young age. She completed a dual degree in English (Women's Literature concentration) and Neuroscience at the University of Miami and then returned to the University of Colorado for medical school. She is proud to have trained at the Saint Joseph Family Medicine Residency herself and greatly appreciates the program's commitment to serving people who are medically underserved.
After residency she spent five years at an FQHC in Aurora, Colorado where she focused on healthy equity, quality improvement and clinical risk mitigation. She believes healthcare is a human right and returned back as faculty in 2023 in hopes of fostering and supporting resident interest in social justice and high-quality healthcare for all.
She is passionate about reproductive justice, whole family primary care, clinical informatics, and physician wellness. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time cuddling with her toddler, traveling with her family, hiking, dancing and eating yummy food.
Erika Burke | Clinical Faculty
Erika grew up in Sioux City, Iowa and went to Washington University in St. Louis for undergrad where she was an EMT and thought Emergency Medicine would be her calling. She went back to Iowa for medical school at the University of Iowa and developed a passion for primary care and the continuity it offers. During her fourth year of medical school, she did a sub-I here at St. Joe's and loved it, and came here for residency. She stayed in Denver for a few years after residency and then moved to Kansas for her husband's job, where she worked for a FQHC and then spent several years as faculty at a residency in Wichita, KS.
She is now very happy to not only be back in Denver, but also back at St. Joe's. She enjoys caring for an underserved population and all the teaching/interactions that happen in a residency clinic.
Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time outside, traveling, cooking, and spending time with her husband, their 2 children, and their geriatric dog.
Michael DaRosa | Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Sports Medicine
Dr. DaRosa is a primary care sports medicine physician. He completed his residency training in family medicine at Saint Joseph Hospital in 2011. He then went on to complete a sports medicine fellowship at Indiana University followed by a faculty and sports medicine position with Community Health Network. In Indianapolis, Mike cared for athletes of all levels and was the team physician for the Indy Eleven professional soccer team and three local high schools. He also helped care for the Indy Fuel professional hockey team, Indianapolis Colts professional football team, as well as athletes at Purdue and IUPUI University.
In addition to seeing sports medicine patients in private practice at Denver Sports Medicine-SCL Physicians, Mike is part time faculty at St. Joseph’s family medicine residency. Mike oversees the OMT (Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment) clinic, the sports medicine clinic, as well as the sports medicine track. Mike is a team physician for the Glendale Raptors men and women professional rugby teams, and is a medical director of the Denver Public School’s Sports Medicine Department where he supervises residents during weekly injury checks.
Mike’s love of OMT and athletics (former captain of college soccer team) lead him to career in sports medicine. He is very passionate about teaching the residents how to keep their patients active and to get each of them back to the awesome Colorado activities they love.
Rebecca Hainz | Clinical Faculty
Dr. Hainz grew up in Tampa, Florida where she attended the University of Florida for undergraduate and Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Bradenton, Florida for medical school. She completed her residency training at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill and then continued north to Allentown, Pennsylvania where her husband was completing his residency. There she joined the faculty at the Lehigh Valley Family Medicine Residency, an MD/DO program, and after almost four years in the northeast, the decision was made to move in search of more sunshine. In the spring of 2018 she moved to Denver with her husband and prior to joining the faculty at Saint Joseph Family Medicine Residency she worked locums at a private practice office in downtown Denver.
Her clinical interests include full-spectrum family medicine and care of under-served and marginalized populations.
She believes in caring for the whole person and enjoys including behavioral medicine and OMT into her sessions. She has also had the privilege to take multiple international medical trips including a trip to Cambodia just prior to settling in Denver and hopes to continue this work especially in areas where she can improve her Spanish.
Outside of work she enjoys hiking, traveling, exploring local events and music and spending time outside with her husband Case and their dog Mate.
Megan Harper | Clinical Faculty, OB Fellowship Director
Megan was born here at Saint Joseph Hospital and grew up in Golden, Colorado. She obtained her bachelor’s degree in molecular biology from the University of Colorado in 2006, and graduated from the University of Colorado School of Medicine in 2011. She completed her residency and maternity care fellowship at Saint Joseph Hospital, and was fortunate enough to return in 2017 as the Primary Care OB Fellowship Director.
Megan’s clinical interests include prenatal care, women’s health, pediatrics, preventive care, and outpatient procedures. Outside of medicine, Dr. Harper enjoys spending time with friends and family, traveling, photography, hiking, and is an avid college sports fan.
Deb Jacobson | Clinical Faculty, Sports Medicine
Deb is a primary care sports medicine physician. She completed her residency training in family medicine at Saint Joseph Hospital in 2001 and then went on to complete a sports medicine fellowship at Ohio State University where she gained invaluable experience in caring for athletes of all levels with musculoskeletal injuries.
In addition to seeing patients in private practice, Deb holds a part-time faculty position and is the Director of Sports Medicine at Saint Joseph Family Medicine Residency Program. Deb’s team physician duties include supervising the residents at a local high school where they provide training room and event coverage. She is also a team physician for the Colorado Mammoth, men’s professional indoor lacrosse team.
Sports medicine is the perfect way for Deb to combine her medical career with her love for sports. Deb grew up playing many sports and then went on to play basketball at the University of Colorado from 1988 to 1992.
Huy Ly | Clinical Faculty
Huy has spent a majority of his life in Oklahoma - growing up in Stillwater, then attending college in Norman at the University of Oklahoma, where he competed as a gymnast. He went on to earn his medical degree at OU in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. He was excited to venture out to a new state and be a part of the residency program at Saint Joseph Hospital from 2005 to 2008. In 2009, Huy rejoined the Saint Joseph Hospital team as a part-time faculty member.
His other time is spent as a float physician at outpatient practices in the Denver metro area. His special interests in medicine include global health and community medicine, serving those with limited medical resources. He loves to spend his free time outdoors snowboarding, hiking, running, or walking his dog. He will take any opportunity he has to travel around the US and around the world.
Blaine Olsen | Clinical Faculty
Dr. Olsen was born in Denver and grew up in Littleton, Colorado. He graduated from Colorado College in Colorado Springs (after watching a lot of Tiger hockey) with a B.A in Biochemistry. He then moved to Denver to attend the University of Colorado School of Medicine, from which he graduated in 2000. He completed his training at the Saint Joseph Hospital Family Medicine Residency. After finished residency, he enjoyed four years in private practice in Denver, where he practiced obstetrics and taught as a community preceptor for the residency. In 2007, he returned to the Saint Joseph Hospital Family Medicine Residency as a full time faculty member. His interests include teaching surgical procedures, community medicine, geriatrics, and wilderness medicine.
Dr. Olsen speaks Spanish. In his spare time he enjoys spending time in the outdoors skiing, biking, running or doing just about anything else with his wife, two daughters, and their dog, Oscar.
Matt Davis, PsyD | Manager of Behavioral Health Education
Matt grew up in the Pineywoods of East Texas, completed his BS in Psychology at the University of North Texas, and completed his MA and PsyD in Clinical Psychology at Biola University in southern California. He has lived in Colorado since moving here in 2010 for his doctoral internship at Community Reach Center in the north Denver suburbs.
He has worked at 2 different safety net clinics over the last decade as an integrated psychologist, including Bruner Family Medicine. He is passionate about working with immigrant and Spanish-speaking patients, integrating behavioral health into primary care, and training residents to work well with their patients who have traditionally not been well-understood by their medical teams.
Allyson Westling, MD | Clinical Faculty
Dr. Allyson Westling grew up in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. She then worked as the refugee women's program coordinator for a non-profit refugee resettlement agency in Chicago. She moved to Boston, Massachusetts, to attend Tufts University School of Medicine where she earned her Medical and Master's in Public Health degrees. Upon graduation from medical school, she came to Denver for residency training at the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency Program- Denver Health track. She has worked as an outpatient primary care provider with the SCL Medical Group Central Park clinic prior to joining the St. Joseph's faculty team.
Allyson is passionate about improving health care access to underserved populations, food equity, LGBTQ+ care, refugee health, and graduate medical education.
Her clinical interests include women's health, gynecologic procedures, family planning, transgender care, pediatrics, preventative care, advanced care planning, and outpatient procedures.
In her spare time, she and her husband enjoy all things Colorado: hiking, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, trail running, camping and backpacking- just to name a few! When she is not in the mountains, you can often find her wandering around Denver's various museums or checking out a local coffee shop or brewery.
Abigail Rosales | Maternity Care Fellow
I am super excited to join the team this upcoming year! A little about myself, I grew up in Fort Worth, Texas. I graduated from Texas A&M studying biomedical engineering and received my medical degree from Texas Tech University in 2020. I was blessed with an amazing support system along the way in my family and spend any free time with them. I am currently completing my residency training in family medicine at Methodist Charlton medical center in Dallas, Texas. I have thoroughly enjoyed my training thus far. I was able to nourish my passion for teaching and discovered a love for obstetrics. During my free time, I enjoy discovering new foodie places, spending time with friends and family, bowling, kayaking, watching reality TV, and winning UNO games. I am super excited to be joining the family at St. Joseph and in playing a role in the residency program.
Residents
Class of 2026
Joie Akerson, MD | Quinnipiac University
Hello! My name is Joie (pronounced Joey). I’m a Denverite – I was born at St. Joe’s and attended East High School just down the street.
After a childhood of exploring the Rocky Mountains, I went to Wesleyan University in Connecticut where I majored in Neuroscience and Behavior and ran cross country. I spent the next few years working for a mental health start-up – an app focused on helping folks struggling with substance use disorder – in Chicago. The work sparked my passion for providing holistic care to marginalized populations and solidified my desire to build long-term relationships with patients of all ages and backgrounds.
In medical school, at Quinnipiac University, I fell in love with broad-spectrum family medicine. Like most of my family med colleagues, I am fascinated by all aspects of medicine but I’m particularly interested in underserved care, reproductive justice, and environmental health.
I’m thrilled to be back west and serving my hometown as a member of the St. Joe’s team. Outside of medicine, you can find me upcycling used furniture (read: nonstop sanding) or enjoying the mountains on foot, bike, or skis with my husband James, a surgery resident at CU.
Katelyn Pruett, MD | Saint Louis University
Hi everyone! My name is Kate Pruett, and I could not be more excited to join the Family Medicine team at Saint Joseph Hospital. After completing a rotation at Saint Joe's during my fourth year of medical school, I knew this program was a great fit for me. Offering exceptional training in full-spectrum medicine, St Joe's also has the patient population I am passionate about working with and excellent support from faculty and staff. Additionally, I was born and raised in beautiful Colorado and am filled with joy to be returning to Denver.
After attending Baylor University for my undergraduate degree in biology, I studied epidemiology at the Colorado School of Public Health. Throughout my educational training, I discovered my passion for working with people with varied experiences and cultures. I chose to be a family doctor because I love developing long-term relationships with patients of all ages. Combining my interests in medicine and public health, my goals for each patient are treatment of illness, prevention of disease, and promotion of wellness.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors available in Colorado by backpacking, hiking, and snowshoeing. If not outdoors, you can find me at a spin class, reading a great book, working towards fluency in Spanish, or hanging out with my pup.
Ashley Herrera, MD | University of Texas Southwestern
Hey y’all! I am so thankful and excited to be joining the St. Joe’s family!
I was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. In high school, I convinced my mom to go to Mbarara, Uganda with me on a mission trip, where she was the sole medical professional of our group. There, I got to see her wholeheartedly and meaningfully serve sick and injured individuals as a nurse. From then on, I knew I wanted to go into medicine and find ways to give back to communities through it.
I went to Wake Forest University in North Carolina for my undergraduate degree where I fell in love with the outdoors, biology, studio art, rock climbing, some amazing community, and my now husband, Luis. I also got the chance to spend a total of 5 months in Titanyen, Haiti working with the medical outreach team of a non-profit group where I was taught so much about global health, the intersection of faith and medicine, cross-cultural partnerships, and a whole lot about myself.
After graduating, I went back to Dallas for medical school at UT Southwestern. There, I got to explore my passions for health advocacy, palliative care, trauma-informed care, and working with underserved communities. I also got the chance to be a part of an incredible global health distinction program and to spend a month in El Salvador working in a rural hospital. Family medicine was (and is!) the natural and perfect fit for me, as I hope to be able to serve my patients and their communities through clinical care and by addressing health disparities. I know St. Joe’s is exactly where I am meant to be, and I am so excited to learn and grow within this phenomenal program.
Outside of medicine, I love reading, road trips, making mediocre arts and crafts, and basically anything that gets me outside. While we will miss our people in Texas and all over, Luis and I are so excited to get to call Denver home, live near some amazing mountains, and be a part of this awesome community.
Savanna Rosenbaum, DO | Rocky Vista University
Hi everyone! My name is Savanna Rosenbaum, and I am so happy to be joining the Saint Joe's family! I grew up and graduated high school in the small town of Sidney, NE. I attended college a little way down the interstate in Hastings, NE where I was a student-athlete in Track & Field and worked as a nursing assistant. During these years, I also spent a lot of time volunteering in my community (one of my biggest passions!) and falling more in love with healthcare.
I have been in Colorado since 2019 when I moved here for medical school at Rocky Vista University. For much of school, I was undecided about my specialty (because I loved everything) until an international rotation in Kenya when I decided that family medicine was where I truly belonged. I enjoy everything about the full scope of family practice but have a particular passion for women's health, pediatrics, and global medicine. The residents and faculty at Saint Joseph made me feel so at home during my rotation here and I am excited to be a part of this team for my residency training. I am really looking forward to continuing to serve the Denver community and improving my Spanish skills!
Outside of work, I usually spend as much time as possible with my family, friends, and three pups! My husband and I enjoy many walks with our dogs and other outdoor activities like fishing, skiing, and hiking. I also am an avid movie watcher and like playing sports, doing yoga, and traveling anywhere and everywhere.
Adam Rosencrans | Burnett School of Medicine at TCU
Hi everyone! I was born and raised in Portland, Oregon, attended medical school in Texas at TCU, and am thrilled to be in Denver joining the Saint Joe's family medicine program. After earning a BS in Human Physiology from UO (Go Ducks!), I found myself in a variety of roles - from cooking up burgers at Wendy's, to teaching ski lessons at Winter Park, and assisting research projects at OHSU. This range of experiences has instilled in me a deep appreciation for the complex and diverse human stories that intertwine within the realm of healthcare.
I’ve been drawn to family medicine because it enables a broad, multifaceted view of health, allowing me to address a patient’s needs within the context of their life, values, and community. My interests within family medicine include preventive care, reproductive rights, gender-affirming care, and medication-assisted treatment, with a focus on addressing care gaps in underserved communities. I am eager to work for and learn from the diverse patient population and the exceptional faculty at St. Joe's, and to train within and contribute to a culture centered on education, empowerment, and advocacy.
When I'm not immersed in medicine, you can find me exploring the outdoors - be it hiking, running, skiing (especially the Jane side of Winter Park), or appreciating the beautiful landscapes of Colorado. I also enjoy a good amber from a local brewery, a long night of board games with lots of friends and even more rulebooks, and every moment I get to spend with my partner Hazel and our dog, Benito. I’m so excited and honored to have this opportunity to be a part of the St. Joe’s and Denver community!
Jeremy Chu, MD | University of Alabama
Hello there! My name is Jeremy Chu and I am moving out west from Demopolis, Alabama! I grew up in rural Alabama before venturing to Birmingham to study Biology as an undergraduate then completing medical school at UAB SOM. While observing the health disparities present in the Black Belt of the South, I developed a passion for family medicine and plan to practice full spectrum care after residency.
I’m excited to have matched at St. Joseph’s due to the focus on underserved care in a diverse patient population. I was impressed with the commitment to comprehensive care in a culturally sensitive manner. My interests in family medicine are rural medicine, women’s health/obstetrics, and palliative care. I can’t wait to experience the broad scope of training here and become the best version of myself alongside my co-interns.
Outside of medicine, my interests are widespread. I love spending time with my family, including my corgi, Bruno, and my tortoise, Tuchanka. I’m also a big foodie and love trying new foods and recipes. Sci-fi and fantasy are always fun to explore, and I also follow world soccer/futbol. After a long day of one or any combination of these activities, I like to hang out and listen to R&B, soul, with country music occasionally sprinkled in the rotation.
Artur Khachatryan, MD | University of Nevada at Reno
Hello everyone! I'm thrilled to be part of the medical community here. Originally from California, I completed my medical education in Reno, NV before embarking on an exciting new chapter in Denver, CO for my residency at Saint Joseph Hospital. The decision to move here with my wife and two children was driven by the excellent reputation and learning environment that St. Joe's offers.
When I'm not immersed in medicine, I cherish spending quality time with my family. Exploring the outdoors is a passion of ours, and we love to venture out and discover the beautiful landscapes that Colorado has to offer. From hiking in the Rocky Mountains to camping trips in picturesque locations, we enjoy creating lasting memories together.
I'm truly excited to be part of the St. Joseph Hospital residency program and look forward to honing my skills as a family medicine physician while making a positive impact on the lives of my patients and their families.
Brenna Cockburn, MD | University of Washington
Hi everyone!
I grew up in the great state of Montana and studied Cell Biology & Neuroscience and Hispanic Studies at Montana State University (Go Cats Go!) After completing my undergraduate education, I picked up and moved to Pittsburgh, PA to serve as a National Health Corps member in the AmeriCorps organization. I worked as a patient navigator at a family health center and fell in love with all things family medicine. My service year in Pittsburgh ignited the spark for my interests in community-oriented-primary care, addiction medicine, and cross-cultural medicine. I was also fortunate to meet some of my best friends and my husband during my AmeriCorps year, so I consider my service year a particularly special one.
I attended medical school at the University of Washington and had the opportunity to continue to grow my medical interests as a member of both the Underserved and Global Health Pathways. During my time at UW, I was fortunate to work on cross-cultural developmental health screening research, spend 6 weeks learning from community health workers in rural Nepal, and I co-founded a free student-run foot care clinic for unhoused folks in my hometown. I was drawn to the St. Joseph program because of their robust training and commitment to providing care for underserved communities. I am so excited to continue to build on my skill set and continue to feed my passions as a family medicine resident at St. Joe’s!
Lauren Pennington | University of Texas at Houston
Hi everyone! I’m Lauren and I’m so excited to be joining the family medicine program at St. Joseph’s!
I grew up in Dallas, Texas and moved to Los Angeles for undergrad where I majored in Biology and Spanish at Loyola Marymount University. After graduating, I decided to pursue my passion for traveling and moved to Madrid, Spain where I taught English for one year and traveled around Europe. I spent my second gap year working as a scribe at Children’s in Dallas and working at a local gardening company. I unfortunately did not acquire a green thumb and still struggle to keep my plants alive.
I attended medical school at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (McGovern Medical School). I discovered my passion for family medicine while volunteering at Casa Maria, a clinic dedicated to providing care for uninsured patients in the Houston area. I love family medicine because of the focus on preventative care and the opportunity for continuity with patients of all ages.
Outside of medicine, I love spending time outdoors with my fiancé (IM resident at CU), hiking, skiing, walking our dogs and reading. I also love traveling and recently went on a month-long trip in South America prior to starting residency. I am excited to live in Colorado and be surrounded by the beautiful Rocky Mountains and I can’t wait to explore the state in my free time.
Class of 2025
Zach Horwitz, MD | University of Colorado
Hello, my name is Zach Horwitz and I am very excited to be a part of the Saint Joe’s Family Medicine team. I had the distinct pleasure of working at Saint Joseph’s Hospital for a 3rd year rotation and again for an Acting Internship in my 4th year. On both occasions, I saw a collegial team environment that cared deeply about its patients and its resident’s growth.
I grew up partly in Ohio and Texas but have called Colorado my home and my community since 2009. I have had a very non-linear road to medicine including an undergraduate degree in psychology, being the owner and sole therapist of a massage therapy practice, and being the instructor of an anatomy and physiology course. My hopes are to bring each of these elements into my practice of medicine, by advocating for preventative medicine, supporting strong patient education, and acting as the first medical point of contact for patients working through the many uncertainties of the human experience.
Outside of medicine I enjoy quality time outside, running, hiking, paddle boarding, skiing, and appreciating nature. I also am a lover of cooking, board games, craft beer, live music, painting, meditation, and travel.
Meghan O’Leary-Kelly, MD | Georgetown University
Hi everyone! I grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas and moved to Michigan for undergrad where I majored in International Studies at the University of Michigan. Go Blue! After college, I decided to take some time off and moved to out to Denver to be near the mountains. It was here that I found the perfect job that solidified my desire to become a physician. I worked as a clinical research coordinator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and fell in love with the idea of patient continuity. It was so humbling and rewarding to experience the “ups and downs” with my patients. I moved out to Washington, DC for medical school at Georgetown University and found Family Medicine to be the ultimate embodiment of continuity of care. My interests within family medicine include community medicine, behavioral health, and palliative care. I am so excited to be joining the St. Joe’s family where I can serve the community and continue to pursue the wide range of opportunities that Family Medicine has to offer.
When I’m not in the hospital, you might find me enjoying the sunshine and mountain activities that Colorado has to offer or listening to live music at one of the many concert venues in the Denver area. I also enjoy cooking as a way to decompress and look for opportunities to travel at any chance I get.
Haley Porter, MD, MPH | East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine
Hi! I grew up Spring City, a small town in beautiful East Tennessee, and went to the University of Tennessee where I majored in Kinesiology and minored in Nutrition. I discovered my passion for medicine and its intersection with public health after my experiences as a peer health mentor, scribing, and participating in colorectal cancer research. After graduation, I spent time working with AmeriCorps FEMA Corps doing disaster relief work in Houston, TX following Hurricane Harvey where I worked to connect survivors with resources to rebuild their homes. I attended East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine for medical school where I received my MD/MPH degrees. During my time at ETSU, I was on the Rural Primary Care Track where I was able to participate in various community projects in rural Appalachia, which further fueled my passion for working with underserved populations.
I’m excited to have matched at St. Joseph’s due to the focus on underserved care in a team-based setting while also learning full-spectrum family medicine. Other interests of mine in family medicine include integrative medicine, global health, medical student/resident/physician wellness, and health policy.
In my free time I enjoy hiking, kayaking, group fitness, container gardening, novice birdwatching, and having a beer with friends. My favorite hobby is hanging out with my partner (a psych resident at CU!) and our two large, orange cats. I’m excited to explore the Rocky Mountains after living near the Appalachian Mountains for most of my life!
Selina Martinez, DO | Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Hi everyone! I’m from Santa Fe, NM best known for its fall roasting green chile and small-town charm. I did my undergrad at the University of Denver and am very excited to be heading back to beautiful Colorado for this next chapter! I returned to my hometown after college and worked in a family medicine clinic for a few years. This was where I discovered the wide scope of what family medicine offers and knew this was where I saw myself in the future. I attended medical school in Phoenix and enjoyed a few years of wearing flip flops in December (although I do not recommend an Arizona summer to anyone).
I knew that St. Joe’s was the place for me after spending a month with the team as a Sub-intern. I saw first-hand the diverse patient population, strong OB component, and full spectrum training. The relationship between residents and faculty creates a program that truly feels like a family, and I am so excited to be joining that family!
When I’m not at work I can usually be found hanging out with our family dog, Luke, and cooking with my Italian mother. I also do a lot of hot yoga and enjoy hiking or anything outside.
Amy Cox, MD | Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Hello everyone! I am from Traverse City, Michigan, and have spent the last few years in Detroit for medical school. I’m very excited to join the residency program!
I first traveled to Colorado as a kid to go to a dude ranch with my dad and have wanted to return ever since! I grew up on an alpaca farm in a small town in Ohio and later graduated from Purdue University with my bachelor’s in Biochemistry. Outside of school, I worked as a nurse aid and was very excited for a career in healthcare.
During these years, I traveled to Guatemala with my family where we assisted in community health projects, and still do now! These experiences showed me there is nothing better than forming relationships with people to help them improve their health. After graduating college, I spent a month in Guatemala volunteering and learning Spanish. I still have a lot of Spanish to learn, but I look forward to using and improving it at Saint Joe’s!
I was drawn to family medicine because I enjoy working with patients of all ages from infants to the elderly, and I value the long-term relationships we have with our patients. I spent a month at Saint Joseph’s during my last year of medical school and felt right at home here! The faculty, residents, and staff always provide high quality, compassionate care to their patients and I am ecstatic to be a part of that! Outside of medicine you’ll find me enjoying the outdoors. I enjoy rock climbing, snowboarding, hiking, dirt bike riding, and road trips on my motorcycle! Indoors you’ll find me curled up with a good book or experimenting in the kitchen.
Laura Donohue, MD | Wayne State University
Hi everyone! I’m Laura, and I’m so excited to be joining the St. Joseph family medicine residency!
I grew up in Grand Rapids, MI. I received my undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan, in Spanish and Biochemistry. For medical school, I stayed close to home, attending Wayne State University in Detroit. While I was always interested in family medicine, this interest was solidified through work at an FQHC during medical school. It was there that I saw the true impact that good primary care can have. I love the variety that family medicine offers as well as the opportunity to form lasting relationships with patients and their families. There I also worked with a primarily Spanish-speaking patient population which motivated me to continue to develop my Spanish language skills to work towards fluency to better serve my patients. I look forward to continuing to work with this population at St. Joe’s!
Outside of medicine I enjoy running, cooking, traveling, and hiking (my photo is from a 500-mile hike I did across Spain!). I am looking forward to exploring Denver and taking advantage of all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer!
Rachel Patten, MD | University of South Florida
Hi! My name is Rachel and I am making the move out west from Tampa, Florida! I grew up in the suburbs of Tampa before venturing very far from home (about 2 hours north) to study Biology at the University of Florida. I returned home to Tampa to complete my medical school training at the University of South Florida. It was there I really found my love of full spectrum medicine and caring for the underserved.
I am very excited to head out to Denver and train at St. Joe’s program. I couldn’t be more grateful to be coming to a program that offers training in all the areas of family medicine I would like to train in and more. I am especially looking forward to increasing my obstetrics and women’s health skills as well as improving my medical Spanish!
Outside of medicine I enjoy baking, traveling, reading, trying new places to eat, and being outdoors. I am looking forward to exploring Denver as well as the rest of Colorado! I am so thankful to be here and am thrilled to be joining the St. Joe’s Family!
Emma Munger, MD | Creighton University
Hi there! I am unbelievably excited to be joining the family medicine program at St. Joseph’s! I grew up in Iowa, the land of opportunities, and graduated from high school in Council Bluffs, IA. I wanted to go to college out of state, so I went to Creighton University, 10.3 miles away. Afterwards, I lived with my best friends while attending medical school at, you guessed it, Creighton!
In all seriousness, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful family, friends, and education. It is truly a privilege to enter a profession like Family Medicine. I am extremely passionate about forming strong relationships and helping patients navigate difficult life situations. I know that St. Joseph’s is the perfect place not only to cultivate strong clinical skills, but also to be surrounded by passionate and inspiring people. If my past moving habits are any indication, I’ll probably never leave!
Outside of medicine, I’m currently learning Spanish after an eight-year hiatus from my four-year, unsuccessful stent, of studying French in high school. Additionally, after 3 torn ACLS, impressive considering the human body only has two, I have shifted to low-impact activities. I obtained my yoga teacher certification after years of practice and one pandemic! I’m excited for the new environment and terrain Colorado has to offer. In my free time, you’ll see me practicing yoga, reading, watching dog videos, and relaxing with my partner, Ben!
Savanna Savadel, MD | Baylor College of Medicine
Hi everyone! I’m Savannah, and I’m so excited to be joining the St. Joe’s family for residency. I’m from Sarasota, FL – a coastal city about an hour south of Tampa. Growing up there, I fell in love with the sunshine, beaches, and being outdoors! I earned my undergraduate degree in Biology from Florida State University, where I spent a lot of my free time studying maize epigenetics. Specifically, I helped develop a technology that “maps” the DNA landscape of corn – finding the control elements for gene expression so that we can better understand the crop’s traits and behaviors.
I decided to keep my love of science a part of my career and chose to attend Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX for medical school. At Baylor, I had the opportunity to work with a diverse, underserved patient population and realized how much a primary care doctor could impact their lives. That’s when I fell in love with family medicine and decided I wanted to practice full-spectrum care and be an advocate for my patients. I knew St. Joe’s was the perfect residency for me because of the wonderful people, the excellent training, and the diverse patient population! I can’t wait to explore my interests in women’s health, sports medicine, integrative medicine, and underserved care.
When I’m not working, I love to spend time with my husband, Anthony, and our dog, Brady. Anthony and I enjoy cooking new recipes together, hiking or exploring the outdoors, and meeting up with friends at different breweries and restaurants. We also love international travel and exploring new cities! As a new Colorado resident, I am especially excited to get to know Denver and the beautiful Rocky Mountains (and hopefully learn to ski!!).
Class of 2024
Benjamin Burnett, MD | Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Greetings! I’m a Hoosier originally from South Bend, Indiana and ended up in Chicago for medical school. In between I worked for a non-profit in Nicaragua, spent time as a nursing assistant, and served as an AmeriCorps member at a FQHC. I feel incredibly fortunate to have matched in Colorado and to be a part of the St. Joe’s family. I’m interested in practicing full-spectrum care after residency and hope to work and live in another country for a few years.
Outside of the hospital you can find me cruising the streets of Denver on my bicycle, in the kitchen baking cookies, or on the soccer field. I’m a passionate advocate for more walkable/bikeable/liveable cities and a big Liverpool fan. At home I enjoy playing board games, watching Spanish-language shows on Netflix, and cooking vegetarian meals with my partner, Hannah, and our cat Tobias.
Kevin Hill, MD | New York Medical College
Hello! My name is Kevin Hill and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have landed at Saint Joe’s for residency. I grew up in Redwood City in the San Francisco Bay Area and went to UC Davis for college where I majored in Exercise Biology. Amidst dodging a variety of bodily fluids as an EMT at concerts, sporting events, and construction sites, I discovered my passion for medicine.
I developed a passion for learning about health disparities and the Spanish language throughout undergrad and medical school. I spent 7 months in Mexico and Guatemala over the course of 3 trips working in a variety of volunteer and research capacities. During my clinical years of medical school at New York Medical College, I had the opportunity to continue working with underserved Latinx patient populations in East Harlem and the Bronx.
My decision to pursue Family Medicine came as I pieced together everything I value in patient care; longitudinal relationships, patient education, and being uniquely suited to support marginalized communities. While searching for programs, it was clear that Saint Joe’s Family Medicine shared all these values. Coupled with full-scope training in an incredibly supportive environment, I feel incredibly fortunate to have matched here for residency. Outside of medicine, you’ll find me trying to convince my coresidents to play charades. If that doesn’t work, I’m probably trying to convince my cat to go hike my first 14’er with me.
Andrew Levy, MD | University of Colorado School of Medicine
Hey! My name is Andrew but I’ve also gone by Andy, AJ, or Drew at different parts of my life, so I’ll respond to anything.
I moved here to Colorado 11 years ago for undergrad at the University of Denver. I went through probably around 10 majors including everything from sociology to psychology to international affairs before going through EMT training at Swedish Medical Center and deciding that medicine was where I fit best. I still wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do in medicine but through a 3-month experience in Guatemala working closely with a physician there as well as working as an ER scribe and technician (EMT), I decided that medical school was the route for me! I eventually was lucky enough to stay in Colorado after being accepted into medical school here at CU. I promptly proceeded through the first two years doing medical school as virtually as possible and maximizing my ski days only interrupted by a 3-month trip to South Africa rotating in an ED there.
Through third year and my experiences abroad as well as in my Global Health track, I began to fall in love with Global Health and integrating public health into my future. I found myself most passionate about working with underserved populations and truly understanding my patients from head to toe both as an individual and how the system surrounding them affected their health. Family Medicine fit the bill perfectly, allowing me to see a broad swath of patients from diverse backgrounds all while working with colleagues motivated to make changes both for their patients and the surrounding health system. I found all of this and more at the Saint Joseph’s residency and so when it came time to create a rank list with my wife with whom I was couples matching, it was an easy choice what to rank at the top of our list (she’s in the IM program here).
Outside of medicine, I love anything outdoors including hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, mountain biking, and climbing although, being originally from the NYC area, I am equally as comfortable enjoying my time in the city (board games, brewery hopping, and running one of our 3 (!!!) dogs around the park). If you have any questions about the program feel free to email me at andy.levy@sclhealth.org. I'm an open (but sometimes quite rambling) book.
Catherine Mann, MD | University of Colorado School of Medicine
Hi everyone! I grew up in Orlando, FL - around thirty minutes from Disney. I got my undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida, and afterwards, moved halfway across the country to Colorado and attended medical school at the University of Colorado. While I was in medical school, I really grew to enjoy the wide breadth and scope of being in family medicine. I was first acquainted with St. Joe's from a third year rotation, and I really appreciated the welcoming feel of the faculty and doctors that I worked with. Their focus on underserved care was also something I am greatly interested in for my own career.
Outside of the hospital, my fiancé, Martin, and I both love watching television and movies (We love the Alamo Drafthouse!), and finding new places to eat around Denver. I also love to curl up and read a good book. Aside from above, I really enjoy spending as much time as I can with my family and my friends. I also hope to get a dog in the very near future to come home to!
Kristin Porter, MD | University of Colorado School of Medicine
Hi y’all! I’m Kristin, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency! I’m originally from Montgomery, AL. I had a non-linear path to medicine that included getting a degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Auburn University in AL, working as an engineer for Eastman Chemical Company in beautiful Northeast Tennessee for 6 years, and then ultimately deciding to leave that career to pursue a life-long dream of becoming a doctor. I came out to Denver for medical school at University of Colorado because of the emphasis CU puts on full-spectrum family medicine and because my spouse and I wanted to trade the Appalachian Mountains for the Rocky Mountains. We couldn’t be happier that we chose Denver and wanted to stay when it came time for residency. I knew St. Joe’s was the best program for me because the residents, faculty, and staff are amazing, the patient populations is amazing, and the emphasis on underserved care is sincere. My interests in family medicine include medical Spanish, rural medicine, social determinants of health, integrative medicine, and OB.
Outside of medicine, I love to spend time with my spouse, Chris, and our dog Doopy. We go to mountains to camp, hike, bike, and ski. Or we stay around Denver to enjoy one of the many beautiful parks, bike around the city, see some live music, or try a new brewery. Yoga, meditation, and sunshine keep me happy and healthy to show up for my patients and peers every day!
Mark Pryshlak, MD | University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Hello everyone! I am so excited to be joining the St. Joe’s Family.
I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. I grew up loving the outdoors and adventure and while I love my city it is unfortunately deficient in mountains. In 2013 I took off on a cross country bike ride with an organization called Bike & Build. I still remember cresting over the city limits of Loveland’s and seeing those big beautiful Rocky Mountains for the first time. After my trip I settled in Moab, Utah. During my four year hiatus from schooling I was able to climb, bike, run, and hike some of the most beautiful places in the country. I also worked every job under the sun just to live there, from river guide to tree work to garbage man. Along the way I was also lucky enough to meet the love of life (we just got married a week before starting residency!)
Eventually, I was ready to return to higher education. After four years away I felt rejuvenated and ready for a new adventure in medical school. I went back to Buffalo to complete my medical training. Along the way I met incredible patients and found fantastic mentors. I found myself drawn to work with underserved populations focusing on health education and work through social determinants of health. Naturally, that made family medicine the perfect fit.
Other than being outside I appreciate a good brewery and game nights with friends. I love getting deep into a fantasy or sci-fi series. If anyone needs a dungeon master you can let me know.
I am looking forward to working at St. Joe’s hospital with my wonderful co-interns. I am ready for all the work, the tears, the laughter, the learning, the relationships, the growth, and doing it all along with a supportive group of faculty and peers.
Alexandra Rakestraw, DO | Rocky Vista University
Hello to all! I am a Colorado native and grew up in Longmont. I went out of state for my undergraduate education in Texas where I majored in Biology, then returned to beautiful Colorado for medical school at Rocky Vista University. While there, I added an extra year to my training as an Osteopathic Fellow where I delved deeper into osteopathic manipulative medicine and had the opportunity to teach underclassmen. I also participated in the Global Medicine Track and did rotations in Ecuador and Hargeisa, Somaliland. My medical school experiences confirmed that I want to be a family medicine physician so I can see a wide range of patients and partner with them to maintain or improve their health over time.
I am thrilled to be staying close to home to train at St. Joe’s for the next three years! I know that I will receive excellent training here while also being supported and encouraged by our amazing team of providers and staff. In addition to our curriculum, I am most excited about the patient population that St. Joe’s serves and the ability to pursue my personal interests within family medicine. In the future, I hope to primarily work with immigrant and refugee patient populations to improve equitable access to high-quality healthcare. I have spent several months in Uruguay and Guatemala and continue to work towards fluency for my Spanish-speaking patients. Maternal health and integrative medicine are two of my biggest interests within medicine, and I specifically want to find better ways to bring integrative medicine and cultural medicine practices to underserved patient populations.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy being in my garden or tending to my houseplants. I also love spending time in the sun on a hike, while rock climbing, or enjoying a park around Denver.
Christine Seawell, DO | Rocky Vista University
Hi Everyone! I am excited to return to Colorado to practice medicine in my home state! I was born and raised in Littleton, CO and then attended Eastern University, in Philadelphia, where I studied Biochemistry. During my time at Eastern I participated in several international medical trips through which I got to experience a variety of different cultures and learn how to practice medicine in areas with limited access to medical resources. I discovered that I enjoy developing relationships with patients in a primary care setting and learning about the ways that individuals with different cultural backgrounds than myself approach medical care.
I entered medical school at Rocky Vista and continued on my path toward better understanding how to help bring health to those of various backgrounds. During the clinical years of my medical school training I also spent an extra year pursing my passion for Osteopathic Manipulative treatment (OMT) as a Pre-Doctoral Teaching Fellow. During this fellowship year I spent time studying OMT, teaching OMT labs for other medical students, and treating patients in clinic using OMT. I am excited to use the skills that I learned to help patients at St. Joseph Hospital and the Bruner Family Medicine Clinic.
Other aspects of life that I enjoy include spending time with my husband, hosting gatherings at our apartment, dancing, practicing yoga, playing volleyball, skiing, hiking, trying new foods, and traveling.
I am so excited that I get to be part of the St Joe’s Family!
Marisa Wickerath, MD | University of Washington School of Medicine
Hello! I’m originally from Washington state where I grew up in a small farming town called Ellensburg. Unlike Seattle, Ellensburg is on the eastern side of the Cascade Range, so I grew up with lots of sunshine and I followed it here to Denver! Growing up I kept busy with lots of activities, but my favorites included showing horses through 4-H, participating in the local fair and rodeo, and running cross country.
I moved to the “big city” of Seattle for college where I majored in neurobiology at the University of Washington. After graduating, I decided to fulfill my dream of living abroad, so I found a job teaching English in Catalunya, Spain. I learned to speak conversational Spanish there, and I am excited to keep using and improving my Spanish here at St Joe’s!
After Spain I moved to another sunny city – Bend, Oregon where I worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer for a Head Start program. It was here that I discovered my passion for addressing early childhood trauma, also known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).
In medical school at the University of Washington, I combined my love for rural areas with my passion for serving underserved populations through the UW’s rural track. I also continued to work on projects related to ACEs and hope to continue this work in residency. But the best part of medical school by far was meeting my fiancé Benjamin, who is now an internal medicine resident at the University of Colorado.
As you can probably tell from above, my main interests in medicine include full-spectrum family practice including obstetrics, serving rural and Spanish-speaking populations, and working to address ACEs and other social determinants of health.
Outside of medicine I enjoy hiking, road biking, attempting to grow a garden for the first time, and visiting my horse Louie in Cheyenne, Wyoming where he currently lives with my sister! Ben and I also love exploring all of the amazing places to eat in Denver and are always looking for recommendations. I’m excited to be here and it’s an honor to call myself a Family Medicine Resident at St Joe’s!
Staff
Andrea Godina | Family Medicine Program Administrator
I’m Andrea. I started as a temp in May 2022, and before that I was working for imaging facilities doing insurance authorizations. I officially took the role of program administrator in September 2022 for Saint Joseph Family Medicine Residency Program. I love that I get to wear many hats in this role while supporting residents in their educational journey. Outside of work, my family, soccer, and my two dogs have all my time. I look forward to new challenges and rewards with each upcoming resident year.
Stacey Juarez | Program Scheduling Coordinator
Stacey has been with Saint Joseph Hospital since 2006. After working in the hospital for two years, she transferred over to the Sr. Joanna Bruner Family Medicine clinic as the front office supervisor. In 2016, she transitioned to the new scheduling coordinator position in the Family Medicine Residency Program. As a scheduling coordinator, Stacey supports our faculty and residents with all their scheduling needs. With each upcoming resident year, she looks forward to the fresh energy that arrives with our new residents.
Stacia Batth | Administrative Assistant
Stacia is Burner Family Medicine Residency's Administrative Assistant since January 2023. She has transferred over from SCL Heart and Vascular Institute. As an Admin Assistant, Stacia collects and tracks data for each Resident to ensure that they are meeting the requirement of the ACGME in order to graduate. It is a humble experience for Stacia to be a part of an exciting work environment and to watch the Residents grow and develop into wonderful doctors.
Alumni
Check out where our alumni are working and the diversity of practices they choose.
In the last five years, more than 50% of our graduates have gone on to work in underserved or rural practices. Training at St. Joe’s definitely prepares you to work in any environment, such as small towns, federally-qualified health centers, private practices, and academic centers.
St. Joe’s will also prepare you to be competitive when applying to fellowships. Some of the fellowships residents have chosen in the past few years include sports medicine, global health, maternity care, and integrative medicine.