People

Attending Family Physicians

Sabrina Mitchell, DO, CAQ, Program Director

Sabrina Mitchell was raised in California. She received her BS in Physiology from UCSD in 1992; graduated from University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1999 and completed residency at MSU-Sparrow in Lansing, MI in 2001 with a focus on rural primary care. Dr. Mitchell is board certified in both Family Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Mitchell works in both the hospital (inpatient) and clinic (outpatient) settings. She also spends a significant amount of time in the clinic doing Osteopathic Manipulative (Hands on) Medicine.

Keith Dickerson, MD, MS- BME, Associate Program Director, Medical Section Chair

Keith Scott Dickerson, MD, MS-BME was born and raised in southeast Pennsylvania, then attended Drexel University in Philadelphia, earning a BS in Electrical Engineering in 1989. He worked for a year for GoreTex then returned to Drexel, earning a Master's in Biomedical Engineering in 1992 then attending medical school at the Medical College of Pennsylvania, eventually graduating Cum Laude and AOA in 1997. After a 3 year residency in Family Medicine at the University of New Mexico he completed a 4 year Air Force commitment at Kirtland Air Force base from 2000-2004, where he was Medical Director and Element Leader for Family Medicine. He realized he wanted to teach, live in Colorado, but not be on the Front Range, so he pursued a job at St. Mary's Family Medicine Residency, where he has worked as Faculty since 2004. His main areas of interest are Hospitalist Medicine, Adult Learner Theory, Quality/Safety and maintaining joy within a medical career by maintaining life balance. His main non-medical interests are outdoor recreating, reading and writing, gardening, listening to and making music and spending time with his wife and daughter. He is currently the Medical Section Chair for St. Mary's and Associate Program Director for the family medicine residency. 2020 CAFP Family Medicine Teacher of the Year, 2020 Heart of St. Mary's Award recipient.

Tonya Cook, PharmD

Tonya Cook is our pharmacy faculty. She earned her doctorate of pharmacy at the University of New Mexico and then completed a residency in Ambulatory Care at the Asheville VA in North Carolina. Dr. Cook’s areas of interest include collaborative care, teaching, mental health, and diabetes management. Outside of work she enjoys reading, hiking and traveling.

Amy Davis, MD, MPH, AAHIVM

Amy Davis has been the medical director of the HIV Collaborative Clinic at SMFM since 2000. Her passion in medicine has been for special populations and the underserved. Her hometown is Queensbury, NY. She received her B.S. in biochemistry from Cornell University in Ithaca, NY then attended medical school at SUNY -Buffalo. She completed residency at Maine-Dartmouth FMR in August, Maine. She practiced 4 years with the Indian Health Service on the Hopi Reservation before joining the SMFM faculty. Her husband is an organic farmer. Together they have three children. 2021STFM Humanism Award recipient.

Ryan Jackman, MD, Addiction Medicine

Dr. Ryan Jackman grew up in South Jordan, UT. Having completed his BA at Utah State University, his MD at The Medical College of Wisconsin, and residency in Grand Junction (finding a place that really felt like home) he moved again to complete a fellowship in Addiction Medicine at the University of Colorado in Denver. His research was funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse & involved translational research in telehealth and resident education. Ryan elected to pursue family medicine because of his love for the breadth of medicine (also known as his inability to settle for just one specialty). Specific clinical interests include addiction medicine, obstetrics, and resident education. He was thrilled have the opportunity to return to St. Mary's and in the "Grand Junction way" build an integrated addiction medicine clinic within the family medicine residency. Outside of medicine he enjoys adventuring with his girls (wife and 3 children) whether that be hiking, camping, and playing princesses.

Justin McCarthy, MD

Justin McCarthy was raised in Golden, CO. His first act of teenage defiance was leaving CO to settle down in Omaha’s amber waves in the study of Medical Anthropology. After earning his BA and MD from Creighton University, Colorado’s prodigal son jumped at the opportunity to return to the dramatic canyon scapes of Western Colorado for residency. While training at St. Mary’s he discovered his joy of teaching and mentoring. He has done additional training in HIV and is board certified in HIV medicine. He sees medicine as a powerful tool for advocacy and enjoys his work in the community medicine and advocacy pieces of curriculum. Justin is married to a small woman with a big heart. His wife, Rachel, works as a LCSW/therapist in town. Together, they have one son, a couple australian shepherds, and enjoy all trail and snow activities afforded in Western Colorado.

Stephanie Voyles, MD

Dr. Voyles was born in Toronto but primarily grew up in Fresno, California. She attended medical school at the University of California at Davis and completed her Family Medicine Residency in Merced, California. After several years practicing rural primary care in the San Joaquin Valley, Dr. Voyles joined the St. Mary’s faculty in 2019 where she enjoys seeing patients in the clinic, hospital, and nursing home settings alongside the residents. She loves full spectrum family medicine and special interests include the care of older adults, mother-baby care, and improving her Spanish language skills. When not working, Dr. Voyles spends time with her husband, their three children, two dogs, one cat, and one bunny (so far!)

Michael Olson, PhD, LMFT

Mike Olson is our Director of Behavioral Medicine Education. He comes to us from the University of Texas where he directed their behavioral medicine program. Dr. Olson has also worked at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, NE, co-directing the behavioral medicine program and contributing to the development of a medical family therapy Ph.D. program. He attended Brigham Young University for undergrad and Masters programs, then Kansas State University for his Ph.D. and a post-doc fellowship in behavioral medicine from University of Texas. He is married with five children. Outside interests include playing piano, art, hiking, & skiing with the family.

Randall Reitz, PhD

Randall Reitz is our Director of Behavioral Medicine. He received a PhD in Marriage and Family Therapy from Brigham Young University. He directs the residency’s integrated behavioral health training programs and the clinic’s integrated behavioral health services. His scholarly interests are narrative medicine, professional identity development, mentorship, and trans-disciplinary training. Dr. Reitz speaks four languages (Spanish, French, Portuguese and English). Outside the clinic, he serves on Grand Junction’s City Council, is married with three children, and loves trail running, mountain biking, and baking. 2019-2020 STFM's 1st ever Mid-Career Behavioral Medicine Faculty Award recipient.

Lyrad Riley, MD

Lyrad Riley grew up in a small town in Northern California. He attended Brigham Young University, then St Louis University Medical School. Residency was back in California at Travis AFB then fellowship in surgical obstetrics in Austin, TX. Dr Riley served as a Family Physician and Flight Surgeon in the Air Force for 20 years before joining St Mary's Family Medicine Residency. He has extensive International experience with over seven years throughout the world including: Great Britain, Germany, Slovenia, Haiti, Belize, Peru, Guam & 7 nations in Africa. He spent 6 years as residency faculty in Florida prior to moving to Grand Junction-- garnering several teacher of the year awards. His main areas of interest include travel medicine and maternity care.

Chris Upton, MD

Christopher Upton was born and raised in central Pennsylvania though left after college to pursue climbing, skiing, and other endeavors in Colorado. He returned to medical school at the University of Colorado Denver and did his residency at St Joseph’s Hospital where he stayed on an extra year to complete an OB fellowship. Clinically, his interests are in Obstetrics (Including operative OB) and procedural training though he also continues to work in the clinic a. Outside of work he enjoys baking bread, gardening, skiing, climbing, backpacking, traveling to remote corners of the globe, and spending time with his wife Sara and their 3 dogs

Bethany Price, DO

Price was born in the small mountain town of Norwood, Colorado, and grew up here in Grand Junction. She completed medical school at Oklahoma State University, then returned to Colorado for residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. Prior to joining St. Mary's, she was working as faculty at St. Anthony North in Denver. Dr. Price enjoys many aspects of Family Medicine, but has special interest in women's health, community medicine, and working with underserved populations. She believes in shared decision making with her patients and works to provide them with medical education so that they can make informed decisions and participate in their healthcare plans. When she is not seeing patients, she enjoys hiking, camping, cooking, and spending time with her husband, twin girls, family and friends.

Sara Warzecka, MD

Sara was raised in Tucson, Arizona attended the University of Arizona where she obtained degrees in Biochemistry and Creative Writing. She attended medical school at the University of Colorado Denver and met her partner Chris Upton on the first day, who quickly convinced her that family medicine was the bees’ knees. They attended family medicine residency at SCL St Joseph’s Hospital in Denver, following which Chris completed an obstetrics fellowship, giving Sara time to explore rural work and in-patient hospice and palliative medicine (HPM). Subsequently, they moved to Asheville, NC for her fellowship in HPM, after which she split her time between attending at an FQHC-based residency and practicing rural hospice in remote western NC. Upon happily returning to Colorado, she initially worked with HopeWest hospice but missed teaching and full spectrum family medicine. She is thrilled to be at the residency where she can impart her passions for end-of-life care, primary palliative care, whole person care, and community health. When she is not running, hiking, traveling, reading, figuring out how to ski, making inexpert ceramics, or spending time with husband Chris and their three fur babies, she volunteers with the local food bank and a health non-profit in Peru, as well as serving on the board for both organizations.

First Year Resident Physicians

Erin Coscia, DO

Erin Coscia was born and raised in Indiana, where she attended the University of Notre Dame for her undergraduate education and Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine for Medical school. She is passionate about her faith, family, and fitness. She enjoys staying active and attributes her competitive nature to growing up as the only girl in a set of triplets and constantly trying to keep up with her brothers (who, coincidentally, are also doctors). Erin has wanted to move to Colorado since she first started attending national training camps and competitions at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs in 2010. She competed in the 2012 and 2016 Olympic Trials and qualified for and competed on the US National Team for Modern Pentathlon in 2018. Erin is passionate about psychology and lifestyle medicine and looks forward to helping her patients optimize their physical and mental health.

Michaela Thurston, MD

I was born and raised in the Denver area before attending college at the University of Alabama. After completing my undergraduate degree in Psychology, I served with AmeriCorps on projects related to natural disaster preparedness and response throughout the southeastern US. I later worked as a certified nurse assistant and a substitute teacher before attending medical school at the University of Colorado. I am interested in broad-spectrum family medicine, with a particular passion for pediatrics, women’s health, and medical education. Outside of work, I love to try out new baking recipes, read, and spend time in Colorado’s great outdoors!

Brooke Terkovich, MD

Brooke Terkovich spent the majority of her childhood in Jackson, WY where she gained a love and appreciation of the outdoors. She also learned the importance of a strong community. Brooke graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington with a bachelors degree in biology. During this time, she studied abroad in Chile focusing on traditional medicine and public health. There she developed a passion for compassion in medicine. Brooke attended the University of Colorado School of Medicine, where she was a member of the Rural Track and spent 6 months of her clinical training in Montrose, CO. She fell in love with the Western Slope during this time. Her interests in medicine include wilderness medicine, full scope family medicine, and women’s health. Outside of medicine, Brooke loves to spend time outdoors doing anything from whitewater kayaking to rock climbing to skiing and hiking. She recently added a puppy to the family and is looking forward to showing him all the outdoor wonders the Western Slope has to offer.

Savannah Bender, MD

I grew up in Wichita, Kansas and completed my undergrad at Emporia State. It was in this small college town that I soon discovered my love for small-town primary care. I was inspired by a provider that could tell me the life story of every one of his patients, not just their medical conditions. I went to the University of Kansas in Wichita for medical school where I continued to focus on rural primary care. During this time, I also developed interests in women's health, addiction medicine, and preventative medicine. Outside of medicine, I enjoy hiking with my husband, trying new breweries or wineries, taking our two rescue dogs for walks, and hosting board game nights with friends. I am so excited to start my training at St. Mary's, and I can't wait to explore all that Grand Junction has to offer!

Anna Rasmussen, MD

Anna Rasmussen was born and raised in Los Angeles, California and attended Stanford University for undergrad. While working in the tech industry for a few years after graduation, Anna discovered her passion for lifestyle medicine and behavioral health. After a year of solo travel through Asia, she returned ready to career-change into medicine, taking pre-medical classes at the local college by night while working in clinical nutrition research during the day. Medical school kept her in SoCal where she studied at the University of California Irvine, completing the Integrative Medicine track alongside her allopathic coursework. She is so excited to be joining St. Mary's Family Medicine Residency to gain full-spectrum training in a place where generalists are valued. Her medical interests include (no surprises here) lifestyle and integrative medicine, as well as behavioral health, women's health, and palliative care. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, cooking, and hitting the trails!

Daniyal Dar, MD

I was born and raised in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, and moved to Los Angeles in my teens. I completed my undergraduate degree at UCLA and worked as an after-school high school instructor before starting medical school at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia. It was there I learned the true scope of Family medicine and instantly fell in love with it. I instantly fell in love with Grand Junction when I came for a second look and am looking forward to the full spectrum training in western Colorado. Outside of medicine, I enjoy playing table tennis, hiking, occasional video games, and baking.

Coleman Strosahl, MD

I was born and raised in northern Minnesota where I survived many long winters, spent lots of time outdoors, and enjoyed the numerous beautiful lakes. I attended the University of Minnesota (go Gophers!) for both undergraduate and medical school. Family medicine was always my calling, as I loved the broad scope of practice and the patient connections that are created. My medical interests include sports medicine and rural medicine. While Minnesota is wonderful, I knew I wanted to spend some time near mountains, which led me to beautiful Grand Junction for residency. My wife, Kennedy, and I are looking forward to making our new home here on the Western Slope and exploring everything that it has to offer! Outside of medicine, I enjoy doing CrossFit, playing guitar, going to breweries, skiing, hunting, fishing, and anything else outdoors.

Faith Hsu, MD

Faith Hsu was born in Houston, Texas and raised in Southern California. After graduating from University of California, Irvine with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biological Sciences and a minor in Art History, she moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan to earn her medical degree at Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine. She is particularly interested in women's health and global medicine. In her free time, Faith enjoys spending time with her family, being outdoors, and crocheting.

Heidi Ness, MD

I was fortunate enough to grow up in Washington state with time in the Midwest, abroad, and in San Diego where I attended Point Loma Nazarene University for my undergraduate degree. Between university and medical school, I had several gap careers including research, teaching abroad, and as an EMT in Seattle. I was proud to graduate from Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine at Washington State University as part of their third graduating cohort. The continuity and community aspects immediately drew me to family medicine, and I am very excited to pursue broad spectrum training here at St. Mary’s! Outside of my professional life, you can find me hiking, surrounding myself with plants, and trying to find the bottom of my “to-be-read” pile.

Second Year Resident Physicians

Brantley Bond, DO

Brantley Bond was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He completed medical school at Rocky Vista University in Ivins, Utah. While there, he studied in the Rural and Wilderness Medicine Honors Track. His medical interests include rural full-spectrum medicine, point-of-care ultrasound, and wilderness medicine. Outside of the hospital, he loves mountain biking and climbing and is excited to make Grand Junction his home and explore with his wife, Julia.

Jen Christiansen, MD

I am a Utah native, born and raised in Salt Lake City. After migrating north to Bozeman, Montana for college, I returned to SLC where I entered the workforce for a few years as a microbiology researcher and ski patroller before attending medical school at the University of Utah. The varied skill set and broad training acquired by Family Medicine physicians is what initially attracted me to the field, along with a desire to combat healthcare disparities. My specific interests include women’s health/obstetrics, rural healthcare, wilderness medicine, and public health. Outside the hospital, you can find me doing anything outdoors including rock climbing, mountain biking, and backcountry skiing.

Cade Cloward, DO

Cade Cloward was born and raised at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah where he gained a love for working hard, learning, and caring for others. He spent two years abroad in Japan where he learned the importance of compassion in communication. Cade graduated from Utah State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Statistics with a minor in Chemistry. He then moved to Oregon with his wife and dog for medical school. Both Cade and his wife earned medical degrees from Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific Northwest and had two daughters during their time there. His medical interests include rural medicine, ultra-sound, and sports medicine. When Cade is not studying and practicing medicine he enjoys adventuring with his wife and their daughters, baking, playing the piano, and mountain biking.

Emily Cloward, DO

Emily Cloward was born and raised in Northern Utah where she gained a love for the outdoors, learning, and helping others. Emily attended Utah State University where she received her first undergraduate degree in Biochemistry. After that, she attended the University of Utah where she received her second Bachelor's in Nursing. She and her husband then moved to Oregon to both attend Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific North. During medical school, they added two more little girls to their crew during medical school. Prior to medical school as an RN, Emily worked in intensive care and emergency medicine settings, which sparked her interest in the role of nutrition and lifestyle in health. She is passionate about lifestyle medicine and full spectrum rural family medicine. When she is not studying, Emily enjoys hiking and exploring with her family, playing soccer, and mountain biking.

Mitchell Darnell, MD

I was raised in the rural Florida panhandle–think more Alabama rather than Miami! After finishing undergraduate study in Tampa at the University of South Florida, I returned home for medical school at Florida State (Go Noles!). I had one goal when it came time to find a residency program: find the best full spectrum, unopposed training. I am confident that this goal was achieved, and I am excited to learn alongside some awesome people in the beautiful Western Colorado setting! My medical interests include rural and underserved healthcare, addiction medicine, and preventative health. Outside of medicine I enjoy anything outdoors, live music, breweries, running, and exploring my new home with my wife Alexis and two cats, Wilson and Moshi.

Ethan Seymour, DO

I was born and raised in rural Ohio where I learned to love open spaces and anything outdoors. After spending a couple of years in rural Brazil in my early 20’s, I attended Brigham Young University in Utah and graduated with a degree in Public Health. After a short stint on the front range of Colorado, I reluctantly left the mountains and attended medical school at Des Moines University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Des Moines, Iowa. While there, I originally thought I wanted to become an ER doctor. After spending time with a lot of family doctors in rural clinics and rural ERs, I realized my passion was in family medicine with its broad scope of practice with the chance to serve people in many different settings. I’m beyond excited to be in Grand Junction at St. Mary’s! Not only do I love the small-town atmosphere, but also the endless outdoor pursuits just minutes from my door. When not at work, you can find me spending time with my wife and family, hiking with my dog, fly fishing, hunting or just about any other outdoor activity you can think of!

Enoch Shissler, MD

Enoch Shissler was born and raised in rural Pennsylvania and completed his undergraduate degree at Shippensburg University. He attended Drexel College of Medicine in Philadelphia, where during his clinical training he discovered full spectrum Family Medicine. This lead him on a journey from the east coast to Grand Junction. Professionally his interests include inpatient medicine, pediatrics, and informatics. Outside of the clinic/hospital he enjoys hiking, photography, ceramics, and any outdoor adventure. He is looking forward to exploring all the outdoor beauty that Grand Junction has to offer while receiving training in full spectrum Family Medicine.

Jessi Valdez, MD

I am originally from Divide, Colorado but mostly grew up in Edgewood, New Mexico. I did my undergrad and medical school at the University of New Mexico and Albuquerque. While in Albuquerque I developed a passion for care for the underserved including care for those experiencing homelessness, HepC/HIV care, and substance use prevention and treatment. I have always loved family medicine and I am so excited to be practicing here at St. Mary's where I am fully supported to become the doctor I want to be. My family and I have been struck by the kindness and outpouring of support from the locals here in Grand Junction! In my time off I enjoy gardening with my son, playing with my daughter, and snowboarding with my husband! Grand Junction has given our whole crew a new playground!

Davis Witt, MD

Witt was born and raised in Arvada, Colorado and was fortunate to also spend many years growing up in Rio Rancho, New Mexico. He attended Colorado State University, where he earned an undergraduate degree in Biological Science and later a masters degree in Biomedical Science. Go Rams! Prior to medical school, he worked at the University of Colorado - Anschutz in a productive research laboratory studying pediatric brain tumors. He then attended medical school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. His wide and diverse medical interests were a perfect match for Family Medicine, where he now more specifically seeks to focus on rural healthcare, preventative medicine and sports medicine. Outside of medicine, Davis is married to his high school sweetheart (Monika), and they have two rescue pups (Jack and Josie). In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer and supporting all the Colorado sports teams, riding his Peloton, camping, hiking, traveling, cooking, and trying new cuisine!

Third Year Resident Physicians

Paul Engstrom, MD

Dr. Engstrom was born and raised in the NE corner of Montana and attended the University of Montana Tech in Butte. He attended medical school at the University of Washington as a part of the Montana WWAMI class. His medical interests include geriatric care, preventative care, diabetes and rural medicine. Outside of the clinic he enjoys playing basketball, weightlifting, biking and running through the countryside, scavenging for food.

Ezekiel Sharples, MD

Dr. Sharples was born and raised in rural Montana and attended Montana State University in Bozeman. He attended medical school at the University of Washington as part of the Montana WWAMI class. His medical interests include rural healthcare and palliative and hospice medicine. Outside of the clinic he enjoys mountain biking, leathercraft, board games, and card games (especially cribbage!)

Kala Griffith, MD

I was born and raised in Columbus Ohio. I ventured near extended family to attend West Virginia University for undergrad (Go Mountaineers!) and eventually made my way back to Ohio to attend medical school at Boonshoft School of Medicine. After several trips out west to ski and hike, I knew I was ready to move away from midwestern life – away from humid summers and gloomy winters. As someone who came into medical school thinking I’d go into Emergency Medicine, I was pleasantly surprised to find my place in Family Medicine. I knew I wanted to work with rural and underserved communities after rural rotations and a global health trip to Peru. The wide range of skills broad-spectrum family medicine offers is a large part of why I love this field, but it’s the continuity with patients I look forward to most. I am so excited for the opportunity to work with and learn from such wonderful people in such a beautiful place! My partner, myself, and our two dogs cannot wait to begin our adventures hiking, kayaking, biking, skiing, and so much more!

Katherine Mackay, MD

I was born and raised in Minnesota and attended Winona State University for undergrad. After college, I was an AmeriCorps VISTA at a public health nonprofit organization in rural Colorado. It was during this year that my passion for public health and patient advocacy was brought to full fruition. I am thrilled to be training at St. Mary’s, where there is a tremendous amount of focus on health equity, patient advocacy, and community health. In my free time, I am an avid skier and love to hike, rollerblade, golf and camp.

Alex Winkler, MD

Winkler Born and raised in rural Kansas, I am excited to be at St. Mary's in Grand Junction! With family in Alaska, Oregon and Colorado, I have always looked forward to someday living in the mountains. As I entered my undergraduate career at University of Kansas, I knew I had a passion for medicine which led me to pursuing a degree in biology. I then completed my Medical Degree at the University of Kansas SOM in Kansas City, where I discovered my passion for broad spectrum rural family medicine. St. Mary’s quickly rose to the top, as I knew I would get the training I was looking for in the location that felt like a second home. In my free time, I enjoy traveling with my girlfriend, Miranda, and going on hikes with our two dogs, KC and Avery. We are big Kansas City sports fans and are always cheering on the Jayhawks, Chiefs and Royals. Rock Chalk!

Heidi Hanekamp, MD

I grew up in Laramie, Wyoming and attended the University of Wyoming where I received degrees in Molecular Biology and Physiology. I played violin with the University of Wyoming Symphony Orchestra and received a minor in Music. After studying anatomy in Glasgow, Scotland, I decided to pursue a medical career and shortly after was accepted into the University of Washington School of Medicine through the WWAMI program. I soon discovered my passion for full-spectrum Family Medicine and fortunately found this amazing program at St. Mary’s where I could pursue my training in a welcoming and supportive environment. In my free time, I enjoy playing violin, skiing, and triathlon training and I am so excited to explore what Grand Junction has to offer!

Allie Trudel, MD

Dr. Trudel grew up in Granite Falls, Minnesota and completed her undergraduate degree at Winona State University. She attended the University of North Dakota for medical school, and participated in the Rural Opportunities in Medical Education (ROME) program. Dr. Trudel’s medical interests include chronic care management, women’s health, rural medicine, and emergency medicine. Outside of the hospital, she enjoys gardening, cooking, and outdoor activities

Jenna Jarvis, DO

Dr. Jarvis grew up in Broomfield, Colorado and earned her B.S. in Chemical & Biochemical Engineering from the Colorado School of Mines. After working as an engineer in the Wastewater Management sector, she attended medical school at Marian University in Indianapolis. Dr. Jarvis’ medical interests include Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Women’s health, in-office procedures, and behavioral health. Other interests include cooking, baking, skiing, hiking, and tennis.

Max Stephens, DO

Dr. Stephens was born and raised in Missouri, completing his BS in biological sciences at the University of Missouri. He went on to study at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine for his medical training. Dr. Stephens’ medical interests are broad - including both outpatient and inpatient medicine, women’s health and obstetrics, LGBTQ+ health, rural and underserved healthcare, health policy development and many things in between. Outside the hospital/clinic, Dr. Stephens loves spending time outdoors camping, hiking, biking, playing volleyball, skiing, cooking, and spending time with his dog

Staff

Michelle Anderson, Program Administrative Assistant

I moved to Grand Junction in 2015 from Idaho. I love living in Colorado because there are 4 beautiful seasons here, and you can enjoy them all outdoors. I enjoy working at the residency because everyone is genuine, fun, and friendly. I can say that every person has positively impacted my life. Every year we welcome new residents from all over, and it is great to be able to engage and work with them in some capacity, and by the time they graduate, you have gained friendships that last. I can't imagine a better career than that!

Joan Cox, Program Manager

Joan joined the residency in June of 2001. Her role has evolved over time from Coordinator to Manager. She was born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, but has lived in GJ since 1985. She has a passion for culinary arts and has a love for traveling. She has one son and two dogs.

Ashley Miller, Program Coordinator

Ashley Miller is originally from Phoenix, AZ but has lived in Colorado most of her life. She is the oldest of eight children, and while she and her husband have none of their own, they do help oversee a battalion of nieces and nephews. In addition to her role in the residency, Ashley is also a published author with at least one novel in the works at any given time. After joining the St. Mary's Family Medicine Residency team as a front desk receptionist in 2018, her position went through several evolutions before she took on the role of residency program coordinator in November 2021.

Recent Alumni

Rachel Gollub, MD

Rachel Gollub grew up in Northern New Mexico, and pursued an undergraduate degree in Cultural and Regional Studies at Prescott College, in Prescott AZ. Her unconventional educational experiences took her across 1,500 miles of the US/Mexico Border, to central Mexico where she worked as an international intern in a small community hospital, and across virtual borders in her home community where she helped to develop language proficiency classes for migrant workers. Each of these experiences further compelled her toward medicine. She attended Northeast Ohio Medical University, where she received her medical degree. She is thrilled to be a part of the St. Mary’s Family Medicine Residency team. Dr. Gollub has a strong belief in the importance of building community around health and well-being and in the transformative power of medicine. She loves Family Medicine for its broad scope, allowing her to take care of the entire family from cradle to grave. She has special interests in women’s health, pediatric care, and Integrative Health. Her ultimate goal is to empower her patients to take charge of their health. When graced with free time, she enjoys being outside pursuing adventures big and small with her husband and son…or cooking delicious food…or curled in a quiet corner with a good book or crafting project.

Ana Nast, MD

I started residency as a new transplant to CO, having spent most of my life much farther east, growing up in PA and NJ. I played field hockey into college, where I studied evolutionary biology and computer science at Harvard, before going to medical school in Cincinnati. While hiking Colorado's 14ers during my first summer of medical school, I fell in love with the state and decided that I wanted to shape my career to allow me to practice in a rural, mountainous setting. I am thrilled to have the chance to live and train in the wonderfully unique location of Grand Junction. The setting will allow me to pursue all of my interests in medicine, including training in a broad array of skills for my future rural practice and building my experience in obstetrics, including applying for a surgical obstetrics fellowship, while using my free time to pursue my hobbies of hiking, climbing and skiing.

Creed Ott, MD

I was born and raised in rural Minnesota. I grew up blue collar and spent about a decade working in construction, both before and during college. I went to Minnesota State University Moorhead and majored in Athletic Training. I then went to the University of Minnesota for medical school. During my fourth year of medical school, I did a month long rotation in Grand Junction and loved it! I felt at home with the awesome residents, faculty and staff. Outside of medicine, I enjoy human powered adventure. My better half, Laura is a PT at St. Mary’s and we are thrilled to call Grand Junction home and embark on this adventure together.

Quinn Rufsvold, MD

I grew up in the tiny town of Fort Ransom, ND, spending most of my time biking around town or skiing/snowboarding on the local ski hill (emphasis on the hill). I received my B.S in Biology and Medical Doctorate from the University of North Dakota. After experiencing a few too many extreme winters and a longing for a wider variety of terrain, a move west for residency seemed like the right choice. I greatly enjoy taking care of patients in the outpatient setting and am working to become certified in HIV care. When not at work you can find me snowboarding, kayaking, hiking, trail running or attempting to mountain bike.

Kellum Schneider, MD

Dr. Kellum Schneider grew up in a small town in western Kansas. He majored in genetics and ran track for the University of Kansas. Being a loyal Jayhawk, he also went to medical school at KU. He enjoys full spectrum medicine but has a special interest in sports medicine and point-of-care ultrasound. When not at work, you can find him running or playing with his two golden retrievers.

Tiffany Smith, MD

I grew up in Littleton and Parker, both of which are in the Denver area of Colorado. My Dad is a Pastor so I was in an environment that exposed me to what it looks like to serve the people in my community. When college came around, I left my home state to attend Bob Jones University in Greenville, South Carolina. My junior year of college I was able to go to Peru on a medical trip which was an eye-opening experience in my life that solidified the fact that I needed to pursue a career in medicine. I attended the University Of South Carolina School Of Medicine in Columbia. It was there that I established my passion for Family Medicine. When I interviewed at Grand Junction, I was thrilled to find a program that supported my passions of an educational environment for patients, an emphasis on preventative medicine and behavioral health, and a belief in the value of continuity of care. I am overjoyed to be back in the beautiful State of Colorado! In my free time, I feel like the possibilities in this State are endless for what I can do – but to name a few, I like to spend time with my fiancé going camping, rock climbing, SUP boarding, and hiking.

Kaitlin Tennyson, MD

This newly transplanted Kansas girl grew up on 6 acres and a pond 15 miles outside the bustling city of Wichita, KS. I attended Southwestern College in Winfield, KS where I played college basketball (Go Lady Builders!) and studied Biology. Following this, I went to medical school at the University of Kansas School of Medicine in Salina, KS… Rock chalk! I entered medical school with an open mind about what type of career I would want to pursue, but knew all along that Family Medicine was my calling. I am absolutely elated to join the St. Mary’s Residency team because of the amazing people who work here, their emphasis on broad scope training and behavioral health, and c’mon…. Umm the mountains!! In my free time, I enjoy playing sports, hiking, fishing and just being outside in nature. I can’t wait to explore this new area and experience all that the Grand Junction community has to offer.

Kelsey Walsdorf, MD

I grew up in southern Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans where I enjoyed outdoor activities, such as boating and fishing and of course love seafood! Prior to medical school I worked as a registered nurse for several years. I went to medical school at Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans where I fell in love with full scope family medicine including obstetrics. My passions include riding horses, hiking, skiing, and pretty much anything outside. I really enjoy all of the outdoor adventure opportunities the Grand Valley and surrounding areas have to offer.

Tirzah Wethern, MD

I grew up in the vast tundra that is Fargo, ND, and ohhhhh boy do I have an accent (how do you say bag?). After completing my undergraduate and Medical Doctorate degrees in my home state at the University of North Dakota, I happily relocated to the Western Slope to complete my Family Medicine Residency at St. Mary’s. I enjoy practicing medicine both inpatient and outpatient, and I have a particular interest in the field of Addiction Medicine. Outside of work you can find me in the great outdoors running, hiking, skiing, and enjoying time with my better half and our two fur-babies.

Lisa Ayala, MD

As a small town farm girl & daughter of a veterinarian in NE Kansas - I learned medicine early working with my father. Through various community service projects & mission trips with my church I found working with & serving others is a passion I couldn’t ignore. I received a Bachelor’s in Human & Molecular Biology from College of the Ozarks in Branson, MO, I also found my husband & “partner in crime” Sergio. After college we returned to the flatlands for medical school at the University Of Kansas School Of Medicine in Salina, KS. We decided to join St. Mary’s Residency because of the broad scope of training, & the family oriented community between residents & faculty. The scenery definitely didn’t hurt our decision! My husband & I enjoy gardening, cooking, raising our 3 goldfish, & exploring the area.

Ryan Gillum, MD

I was born in Fort Collins, CO & went to college in Boulder at the University of Colorado where I studied Anthropology. After graduating I moved to Costa Rica to work as a whitewater raft guide. I lived there for five years spending my free time volunteering in the local clinics where I developed a passion for medicine & helping underserved populations. I decide a career in healthcare was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life & came back to Colorado to study medicine at the University of Colorado. I’m excited to be in Grand Junction to continue my training & to spend my free time mountain biking, backpacking, & climbing around the Western slope of this state that I love & call home.

Kevin Johnson, MD

I grew up in Farmington, Utah then went to Brigham Young University to study Genetics & Biotechnology. I attended medical school at the University Of Utah SOM & looked for an adventure outside of Utah for residency. Grand Junction was the perfect place & I was excited to move here for residency. My wife & I have already enjoyed hiking around the Grand Mesa & Colorado National Monument with our two young children & are excited to explore all the exciting things that Grand Junction has to offer. I am passionate about providing collaborative & individualized care to empower each patient to achieve their own personal health goals.

Allison Marsh, MD

I was raised in rural Autauga County Alabama, where I spent most of my childhood exploring the woods with my sister, climbing/falling out of trees, riding/falling off of horses. I attend the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa (roll tide). Spent 6 months in Lusaka, Zambia, as a preschool teacher’s aide at a home for orphaned children. Then I did an internship with Medical AIDS Outreach of Alabama. These experiences were crucial in leading me to medicine, & especially to primary care. I graduated with a major in Social Inequality & Health. Medical school was at University of South Alabama, where I could be found binge eating seafood enjoying both the beach & New Orleans. I decided it was time for a new adventure & headed west for residency. I am beyond excited to be in Grand Junction, to train with the residents & faculty at St Mary’s.

John Nozykowski, MD

I was born & raised on a small farm outside Longmont, CO. Like most Coloradans my passions lie in the outdoors, but my particular interests are fly-fishing, backpacking & skiing. I attended the University of Northern Colorado for undergrad, & loved studying biology. My interest in science & desire to serve others led me into medicine. My adventure continued in Up-state New York, at Albany Medical College. Between studying & clinicals I explored the beautiful Catskill & Adirondack Mountains (hills compared to the Rockies but gorgeous in their own right). It was a combination of wanting to practice broad spectrum medicine & the desire to serve a small mountain community that led me into family practice. I am so excited to be a part of the wonderful community here in Grand Junction & to explore everything the beautiful western slope has to offer!

Kishan Patel, MD

I grew up in India & moved to Farmville, VA at the age of 15. After adjusting to small town life, I moved to the suburbs of Northern Virginia to attend George Mason University for a degree in Business Management. After college, I headed to New York City for five years before embarking on a long but rewarding journey to Family Medicine. During college, I was introduced to the Shenandoah mountains, & have been chasing opportunities to play in nature ever since. I came to Grand Junction from Vermont where I was fortunate to attend a wonderful medical school, University of Vermont College of Medicine. Strong interests include feeding birds, researching campervans, & playing connect 4. I chose this residency for its fantastic location & an incredibly dedicated group of residents, staff, & faculty. I am thrilled to be in Grand Junction with my amazing partner, Christina, living our peak lives.

Bruce Sharp, MD

I grew up on a small ranch in central Texas working cattle, doing other odd jobs country life entailed. I worked through undergrad at Texas A&M as a welder/ construction worker & continue to love working with my hands. I moved to downtown Houston where I attended McGovern Medical School. While training there, in the largest medical center in the world, I learned my love for rural medicine, preventative medicine & the effect consistent primary care can have on a community’s well-being. My first visit to the state of Colorado was my interview with St. Mary’s where I fell in love with the area. I love to hike & read novels in nature. When home, I spend time working on home improvement projects, watching college football & playing board games. I look forward to learning more about the area & the community of Mesa County.

Ryan Sullivan, MD

I grew up playing soccer & roaming the streets of Northern Virginia. I attended Virginia Tech majoring in nutrition & exercise physiology. I then went to Albany Medical College where I sub-specialized in Adirondack maple syrup & gravel riding. I fell in love with the Grand Junction program while completing a fourth year rotation at St. Mary’s. I’m excited to begin a career in primary care where I can use my background to promote better health in my patients in a place surrounded by people excited by endless outdoor opportunities. I spend my spare time running trails for distances longer than recommended, & have passions for ski touring, riding bikes, waking up in tents, eating peanut butter/banana combinations, semi-sarcastically listening to arguably bad 80’s music, & cooking.

Elizabeth Wright, MD

Growing up in the mountains, forests & rivers of Montana, I have always enjoyed the outdoors. My undergraduate degree was in biology at the University of Montana. I decided to learn German by living in Austria. After a year as an au pair I volunteered as a school teacher (math & physics) for Peace Corps Uganda. By the time I returned to Montana, I knew it was time to fulfill my life-long calling to become a doctor. The University of Washington was in Seattle - I chose clinical rotations in Montana, Alaska, & Wyoming. When it came time to pick a residency, I knew Grand Junction & the state of Colorado had everything I could want, including robust full-spectrum family medicine training, the privilege to work with underserved populations, & easy access to outdoor adventure. In my free time, I enjoy hiking, camping, floating/rafting rivers, live music, golfing, reading, & playing the piano.

Graduate Testimonials

What do Graduates have to say?

A Letter from Dr. Ryan Jackman, Graduate doing Addiction Medicine Fellowship in Denver, CO

"Thank You" is probably not enough to tell you how grateful I am for the environment at the residency. As I look back at who I was before residency and who I have become over the past 3 years I am humbled, grateful and amazed.

Med School was an experience to say the least, and I did wonder if it had changed my fun loving self and sense of humor for the worse, but then I came to Grand Junction and a residency that felt more like family than work and I began to find myself again. Thank you for showing me how much fun medicine can be while helping me to take care of what is most important to me - my faith and family! Thank you for teaching medicine in a way that is memorable and not daunting. Not only have I survived the system and the process, but I've learned how to learn and enjoy this job. Than you for trusting me and my opinion, and for mentoring me along the way. Most of all thank you for being a friend. I am proud to be one of your residents.

A letter from Jennifer Surber, Graduate in Rifle, CO (population 4,636)

Thanks for everything!

It was odd saying goodbye to people last night at Graduation, not really as definitive as I'd imagined. But maybe that is a good thing.

I want you all to know that you are so appreciated. Each of you have fantastically unique personalities, areas of expertise, and special types of wisdom to share. I wanted to say thanks to you for being solid in your dedication to mentoring and remaining available to us residents. So - get away once in a while and recharge--because we need you! You are this residency! You are invaluable. I also hope that you enjoyed our class as much as we did. We are proud of ourselves for what we valued, what we accomplished and for being privileged now to go out and represent this program to the world. While perhaps none of us were exemplary 100% of the time, I think we all feel like we were a dedicated class who worked well together and who respected the program and tried to uphold its strong reputation.

So I may call you one day with an absurd question, a tale of 'medical adventure' that makes you cringe or sigh in relief at a close call, but know that it is you all who gave me this daring and courage to go out and PRACTICE medicine as best I can. And I will work hard to keep learning, keep caring, and live up to your expectations as well as my own. Thank you, and not so much good-bye!

A conversation with Rob Anderson, Graduate in Polacca, AZ (population 1108)

"For the most part everything in my world has been going pretty well. The job is good even if it is a little challenging from time to time. I feel as though I have had superb training for the job that I am doing. Although every once in a while I feel as though I am encountering something that I haven't before, I can't imagine a more comprehensive training program than the residency. I am thankful and grateful to everyone there. The people within the residency really make it what it is. I am thankful for the care that was given on so many different levels.

I appreciate the broad spectrum approach to medicine that allows for the health of the physician itself. All of the precepting physicians have lives outside of medicine and understand the need for this in order to maintain a realistic perspective on medicine. The cool thing is that the preceptors maintain compassion and phenomenal clinical skills. This definitely trickles down to the residents.

The residents at the program tend to be a great group of down to earth physicians who want to make profound differences in the world. Without a doubt they are some of the most beautiful people that I have ever met. The process of learning skills in residency on the road to becoming a better physician can be fraught with peril...the residency did a fantastic job at recognizing that the process must be tempered by "humanness".

I can't imagine doing residency training in a more beautiful setting than the Western Slope of Colorado. There are so many fantastic things to do. The mountain biking, skiing, hiking, camping, and climbing are world class. The scope of training was extraordinarily broad spectrum. I was able to do some appendectomies, C-sections and tons of scopes.

Thank you for everything."

A conversation with Eric Maki, Graduate, Ontonagon, MI (population 7,775)

"There are so many times I look back and think about my training here and how much it helped to prepare me and how well prepared I feel in moving to this rural area. I often hear little voices in my head from each of the faculty members who have told me various pearls over the years. The orthopedic training, the rural experiences, the emergency medicine experiences and all the attending faculty are outstanding. My practice just hired a graduating resident from a "very rural oriented residency", he is nowhere near as well prepared as I was. I would be more than happy to talk to any applicants or residents thinking of going into rural practice".

During his residency, he felt that "training was appropriately onerous" but he felt supported as a human being. The time commitments that were asked of him were necessary and he never felt like a "scut monkey". The other best part about residency was the autonomy that he experienced here "even our specialists are willing to let us do some things versus just watch."

Quotes from Former Residents

"I was treated like family with love and respect. That was key for me. The thing I love best besides the excellent training was the attending physicians. I felt like I learned an incredible amount, but had a lot of fun doing it. There is a good balance not only in the medical training itself, but also between personal well-being." Raphael Allred, Graduate (Klamath Falls, OR)

"The Internal Medicine training was very solid. I'm probably the best prepared in my group. During residency, we are able to develop a very personal practice and this continues on here after residency. The autonomy helped to prepare me for practice. The residency was my surrogate family. There was definite camaraderie" Grant Wang, Graduate (Santa Cruz, CA)