We train fellows to become faculty and directors, and all our fellowship graduates have gone on to do just that – securing faculty or director roles after graduation.
St. Mary’s Regional Hospital partners with the University of Colorado School of Medicine to offer the longest-standing Medical Family Therapy Fellowship in the United States. We are in our 13th year of training pre-doc interns and post-doc fellows for careers as medical educators and MFT graduate school faculty.
Everything you need to know about our fellowship program and what to expect
Over half of your time is dedicated to education and scholarship, including resident evaluation at rounds, video precepting, medical didactics, leading a rotation in family-oriented care, supervising masters-level trainees, and personal scholarship.
Training is diversified through rotation choices that include addiction medicine, inpatient rounds, group medical appointments, HIV clinic, homeless clinic, and an elective.
Douglas Mcphee, PhD
2020 - 2021 Fellow
From: Texas Tech University
Now: Mt Mercy University
My experience as the Family Medicine Education Fellow was all I hoped it would be and more. When I applied and interviewed for this position, I read past fellows’ testimonials and wondered if they were overstating the experience. Now, on the other side, I assure you that St. Mary’s is all it's cracked up to be. For me, my most extensive and thrilling opportunities for growth involved resident education. I frequently gave presentations to our residents as part of residency-wide “Education Days;” I was highly involved in evaluating and teaching residents as part of the inpatient “Family Medicine Teaching Service” rotation; I contributed to the longitudinal behavioral medicine curriculum; I provided 2nd year residents with in-depth training on how to better involve families in treatment; and I planned presentations for national, multidisciplinary medical conferences. It was awesome! I additionally emphasized development of administrative skills. I learned about grant writing--including writing a $90,000 grant proposal to create a new integrated care service that was actually funded. Through it all, Dr. Reitz and Dr. Olson provided me with masterful, caring mentorship. In Grand Junction, my wife and I felt at home. We became attached to the community and were in awe of the natural beauty and recreational opportunities that surrounded us there. I strongly encourage anyone who is interested to apply! Since finishing at St Mary’s, I’m now the Clinical Director of Mt. Mercy’s MFT program.
Jessica Stephen Premo, PhD
2018 - 2019 Fellow
From: Virginia Tech University
Now: St Mary’s Addiction Clinic
The St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency is the prefect platform to launch your Family Medicine career. The fellowship has offered me many unique learning and professional opportunities. Clinically, I have been able to further foster my passions in Addiction and Adolescent Medicine. In the Addictions Clinic, I have been fortunate to train and collaborate with Dr. Ryan Jackman, a certified addiction medicine specialist. In this unique setting we are able to work collaboratively to meet the needs of a high-risk population. Faculty development opportunities include teaching residents, evaluating their progress, and developing curriculum. You couldn’t ask for a better place to live than Grand Junction, Colorado! Grand Junction is a beautiful place with endless outdoor adventures to be had. Located by several national parks, lakes, trails, and more. The best part being the emphasis on a true work life balance that is often missing in PhD Programs. St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency offers many opportunities for professional and personal growth and is the perfect place to embark on your career.
Glenda Mutinda, PhD
2017 - 2018 Fellow
From: East Carolina University
Now: JPS Residency Programs
It is without a doubt that my fellowship at St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency Program was the best decision to complete my doctoral education. Dr. Reitz and Dr. Olson, along with the faculty, residents, and staff have developed an environment that fosters both learning and great relationships. Dr. Reitz’s philosophy of mastery and autonomy allow for faculty development through individualized electives and program development based on one’s interests. For example, Dr. Reitz and I developed an exercise group for the clinic’s patients and created an elective where I worked closely with the clinic to develop a sustainable financial model for behavioral health. With Dr. Olson’s support, I was able to teach the on-going behavioral medicine curriculum by shadowing and evaluating residents’ skills and precepting during seated rounds, teaching a section of the Primary Care Behavioral Health curriculum, evaluating residents in clinic. Lastly, my work in the HIV clinic was especially rewarding as I worked alongside a team of providers (biomedical and behavioral health) to provide patient-centric care for a very vulnerable population. As I transition into my position as the Director of Interprofessional Wellness at JPS Health, I recognize that the exposure I had in residency education and program implementation at St. Mary’s are crucial in my on-going success.
Dan Blocker, PhD
2016 - 2017 Fellow
From: East Carolina University
Now: Pomona Valley Residency
My fellowship at St Mary’s has provided opportunities in multiple domains in my faculty development. This has included resident education and evaluation, integrated care visits, and quality care improvement projects. Dr Randall Reitz and Dr Mike Olson provide great support and supervision. My time working as a member of the collaborative team at the HIV clinic has been among the most formative and enjoyable. We provide HIV/AIDS care for most of Western Colorado. In this setting, I collaborate with Dr Amy Davis to ensure that psychosocial factors are considered as they greatly impact HIV medication adherence and quality of life. I have lived across the United States and can say without hesitation that Grand Junction is one of the most awesome places I have lived. With hiking within a 15-minute drive, bike trails throughout the city, great dining offerings, and a unique downtown, it has a little bit of everything. It provides a great opportunity to live a balanced work and home life. I’m currently the Associate Program Director at the Pomona Valley Residency in Rancho Cucamonga, California.
Kaitlin Leckie, PhD
2013 - 2015 Fellow
From: Texas Tech University
Now: University of Texas Medical Branch
My experience as a MedFT Fellow at St Mary’s was integral to my career development as a researcher, clinician, and teacher. One of the highlights of my experience was leading a clinic-wide, multidisciplinary project to engage high-risk, complex patients as agents in their healthcare. Our Family-Activated Care Team Care Plans were recognized by the local medical society as outstanding models of patient-centered care. My dissertation data were collected through the FACT project and focused on the multifaceted relationships between health activation, social support, overall functioning, and utilization of healthcare services among high-risk patients. This project would not have been possible without the innovative and supportive spirit present at St Mary’s and especially Dr Reitz’s apt balance of guidance and respect for my autonomy. I am now the Director of Behavioral Health Education at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, Texas.
Laura Sudano, PhD
2012 - 2013 Fellow
From: Virginia Tech University
Now: University of California San Diego
My fellowship at St Mary’s offered an immense amount of support in my professional development. Dr Reitz is readily available and works alongside you, as researcher, teacher, co-therapist, and supervisor. Living in Grand Junction was invigorating and offered many new adventures, including trail running in the Colorado National Monument and indulging Colorado’s best ski slopes. This beautiful place provides the work/life balance we all strive to achieve. I have since joined the University of California at San Diego family medicine faculty as the Director of Behavioral Health. St Mary's fellowship prepared me for this position with great training in teaching the behavioral sciences, evaluating residents per ACGME milestones, completing practice-based research with physicians, and providing patient care in multiple settings. I’m currently an Associate Clinical Professor at UCSD and the staff sports therapist for the San Diego Padres.
Randall Reitz, PhD
Dr. Reitz is a licensed MFT and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. He has also been the executive director of the Collaborative Family Healthcare Association and the CEO of Summit Community Care Clinic, a safety net medical clinic where he led the integration of behavioral health and dental services. He completed his doctorate at Brigham Young University and master’s degree at Indiana State University.
Michael Olson, PhD
Dr. Olson is a licensed MFT and an AAMFT Approved Supervisor. He has taught MedFTs and family physicians since 2001. He completed his PhD at Kansas State, a master's degree at Brigham Young University, and a post-doc at the University of Texas Medical Branch.
Amy Davis, MD
Dr. Davis oversees our primary care psychiatry and HIV medicine curricula. She completed medical school at SUNY Buffalo, residency at Maine-Dartmouth, and a fellowship in primary care psychiatry at UC Irvine.
Ryan Jackman, MD
Dr. Jackman completed residency at St Mary’s and a fellowship in Addiction Medicine at the University of Colorado. He runs an addiction clinic in our residency and oversees the fellowship’s addiction curriculum.
Justin McCarthy, MD
Completed residency at St Mary’s and medical school at Creighton University. He supervises the fellow’s experience in providing services to the unhoused at the Catholic Outreach Day Center.
Tonya Cook, PharmD
Dr. Cook completed her doctoral studies at the University of New Mexico, leads our psychopharmacology curriculum, and co-leads the Medication Assisted Treatment experience with the fellow.
Alicia Gutierrez, LCSW
Alicia is a core member of our behavioral health team. She is a bilingual and bicultural therapist who directs the HIV Clinic and supervises the fellow’s experience there.
Sara Barrett, LCSW
Practiced integrated care in rural Colorado for 5 years before joining our team. She leads our PCBH curriculum.
When applying, upload the following documents as separate PDFs:
For questions, email reitz.randall@gmail.com or mike.olson@imail.org.
Applications are due by December 15. Interviews will be on January 24.
Post-docs receive $46,000 for the year and pre-docs receive $42,000. We supplement your income with a $4,000 pro-rated bonus upon obtaining Colorado licensure. We also offer generous health and dental insurance, a $1,000 moving assistance benefit (pre-tax), and $1,000 in continuing education funds.
Our interns receive 6 paid holidays, 15 days of PTO, and 5 days of paid conference/training time.
Western Colorado is home to world-class skiing/snowboarding, hiking trails, and mountain biking. Exceptional camping, whitewater rafting, gold medal fishing, trophy hunting, and nationally recognized golf courses are just minutes away. Cultural activities include several theater companies, an arts center, a symphony orchestra, and regular concerts. Learn more about where our residents work and play in Grand Junction, Colorado.