2012 Residents
The 2012 residents will start their intern year in July of 2009. Welcome!
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Lisa Gilbert
I was born at a young age in Springfield, Missouri and was raised in Kenya and Togo. Then I moved back to Springfield for college at Missouri State. I took a wonderful year off to volunteer at an AIDS orphanage in South Africa when my parents moved there and decided upon medicine at this point. Then I chose Southwestern Medical School because my brother and his family live in Dallas.
Why Via Christi? I felt a sense of belonging and "homeness" at Via Christi that I had not experienced elsewhere. The program provided a diverse practical experience base with a strong education. I also like the Mid-West and Wichita felt more manageable and calmer after the busy pace of Dallas city life.
Passions: Hobbies...I like pina coladas, long walks on the beach... oops, wrong survey! I like the Lord, hiking/backpacking, writing, making music, making tea, making friends, and any combination of God, hiking, writing, music, tea and friends.
Favorite Books: Children's fantasy and/or sci-fi novels.
After residency plan: "It's a dangerous business, going out of your door. You step into the Road, and if you don't keep your feet, there is no knowing where you might be swept off to."
Home town: Springfield?
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John May
Born in Wichita and raised in nearby Colwich, Kansas. I attended Andale High School and then obtained my undergraduate degree at the University of Notre Dame. Thereafter, I attended the University of Kansas, School of Medicine.
Why Via Christi? During an extensive perusal of catalogs, websites and online forums, I realized more and more that all I wanted in a Family Medicine residency program was in my backyard. Via Christi offers what few programs can: in-depth and thorough training that can be modified to fit your future plans. No matter where your interests lie, one can find an active service and a willing, education-minded faculty to guide your learning and growth as a resident physician. My particular interests in Family Medicine include endoscopy, Pediatrics, and inpatient medicine. In my few months as a resident, I have already performed several scopes and managed innumerable hospital patients of all ages.
Passions: Collegiate athletics: naturally, I pay fanatical attention to the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame and the KU Jayhawks. In that vein, I try to play golf or any other sport when the weather and schedule allow. I am also an avid music fan and am quick to find opportunities to attend concerts, no matter how far away. This past summer I flew to L.A. to attend the Coachella Music Festival, flew from there to attend a few shows in Chicago and returned to Kansas City in time to catch the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. I also enjoy playing the piano, guitar, and drums and recently took up oil painting.
Favorite Books: 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell, 'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding, 'The Mouse That Roared' by Leonard Wibberley, 'Divine Comedy' by Dante Alighieri, The Onion’s 'Our Dumb World', 'In Cold Blood' by Truman Capote, 'Of Mice and Men' by John Steinbeck
Favorite Quotes: "Build up your weaknesses until they become your strong points." – Knute Rockne
After residency plan: I intend to work for a private practice group in West Wichita.
Home town: Colwich, KS
Residency stats: Vaginal deliveries: 40+; C-sections: 8; Forceps deliveries: 1; Intubations: 32; Scopes: 4; Circumcisions: 9; Arterial lines: 4; Lumbar punctures: 3 (Stats after six months of residency.)
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Steven Ballard
Graduated from OKlahoma State University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Science.
Home town: Hutchinson, KS
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Ashley Fagot
Born and raised in Nebraska. Stayed true to my Nebraska upbringing and went to Lincoln for undergrad (Go Huskers!) and Omaha for medical school--couldn't really come up with a good excuse to venture elsewhere...and very glad I didn't. :) Didn't ever take any extra time off to do other "cool" things outside of school, but I think I definitely made up for it by spending a good amount of time in Nepal, Kenya, Peru, and China over the past 5 years--which were all amazing!
Why Via Christi? Amazing and fun people, broad spectrum training, the "international" excitement in the air, and it just felt like home.
Passions: Attempting to know God and make Him known, humbly striving to truly love others, being overseas, the mountains, painting, cooking, baking, running, outdoor activities, reading, listening to music, spending quality time with friends, dark chocolate, thinking deep, mangos, dancing, smiles, eyes, reusable bags...and I should probably stop... :)
Favorite Books: A Severe Mercy, Redeeming Love, Mere Christianity, Lord of the Rings, Three Cups of Tea, A Chance to Die, Tale of Two Cities, City of Joy, Knowing God, Pride and Prejudice, Chronicles of Narnia & The Hobbit
Favorite Quotes: "What does love look like? It has the hands to help others. It has the feet to hasten to the poor and needy. It has the eyes to see misery and want. It has the ears to hear the sighs and sorrows of men. That is what love looks like." Saint Augustine
After residency plan: Humbly serve overseas, fight the world's injustices, care for the sick and broken, love those aren't loved, add a little beauty through art, and so on... Small things, very small things. :)
Home town: McCook, NE
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Karlyn Armbruster
Hometown: Virginia, Minnesota. My husband is Adam, he is in the class of 2011 here at VCFM. College: The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minnesota. Medical School: University of Minnesota, Duluth/ Twin Cities.
Why Via Christi? #1: opportunities! VCFM offers thorough training in the basics such as pediatrics, medicine, obstetrics, and FM clinic. But where the program shines is in the depth of procedural training available: upper and lower endoscopies, c-sections, etc ... Wichita is a city that embraces Family Medicine, and therefore the residents work hand-in-hand with specialists. Opportunities to get numbers in the procedures residents are interested in is integrated into the program, not something you'll have to give up elective time or work strenuously to do. As residents progress through the program, they are encouraged to moonlight to further their independence and exposure to learning opportunities. Your desires are your only limit! #2: fellow residents! Although the program is demanding, the residents here impressed me as well-balanced, kind, motivated people during my interview process. Now as an intern, I am privileged to work with these individuals.
Passions: Being a native Minnesotan, I am new to Wichita and have found that the city has every bit of midwestern charm that I am accustomed to, just a lot warmer! My husband and I enjoy the sensible cost of living here and the access to outdoor activities. I love to take part in the local arts as much as I can, including plays/ music/ museums, of which Wichita has an abundance. A brand new convention center will open here in January 2010 and nationally renowned musicians and other groups perform here on a regular basis. The area has a lot to offer with regard to eating, one of my favorite pastimes :) In fact, I have heard that Wichita has perhaps the highest restaurant to population ratio in the nation. From what I have observed, this is quite possibly true! From Thai to BBQ to Middle Eastern to good old fashioned steakhouses, Wichita has excellent cuisine no matter what your preference! A great indulgence after a hard day's work.
Favorite Quotes: "Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk." -- a classic "The best way is always through." -- Robert Frost "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace." -- Jimi Hendrix
After residency plan: Adam see our future practice in a smaller rural town. Ideally I would like to do OB, probably scopes. We both enjoy mission work and hope to integrate yearly trips into the mix.
Home town: Virginia, Minnesota
Residency stats: As of 2/26/2010 - C-Sections: 15; Vaginal Deliveries: 44; Forceps Deliveries: 0; Vacuum Assisted: 3; Circumcisions: 3; Colonoscopies: 25; EGDs: 14; OB Sonos: 4; Colpos: 0; LPs: 5; Paracentesis: 1;
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Sarah Mandigo
I was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but raised in other less populated parts of Wisconsin, most recently in a village of 400 people. College and medical school years at the University of Wisconsin - Madison brought a drastic broadening of my horizons and included the study of Spanish, 7.5 months in the Dominican Republic, and 6 weeks in rural Bangladesh.
Why Via Christi? Via Christi was THE program that stood head and shoulders above all of the other programs that I encountered in the pre-interview season and on the interview trail. It's tremendous attraction for me was its strength in obstetrics, including C-section training, international family medicine fellowship opportunity, and the large number of kindred spirits that I encountered in Via Christi's residents and faculty.
Passions: the Trinity, loving God and loving people, a job well-done, reading, hiking, and canoeing
After residency plan: To work full-time in overseas medical missions, caring for the underserved and teaching nationals
Home town: Alma Center, WI
Residency stats: As of 01/06/10, C-sections 13, vaginal deliveries 23, vacuum-assisted delivery 1, perineal repairs 12, circumcisions 5, OB ultrasounds 5, intubations/LMA placement 21, paracentesis 1, arterial line 1, central line 1, ICU patient encounters approximately 50.
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Marcus Weiser
Born and raised in Grinnell, KS. Attended Bethany College for undergrad, and KCUMB for medical school. Married to my wife, Meghan. We have a 2-year old daughter, Lillie.
Why Via Christi? I wanted the best broad-spectrum training I could find to prepare me to practice full-scope family medicine. "Full-scope" is a term other programs used, but to me the term means: lots of OB including performing of c-sections, lots of scopes, great all-around procedural training, high-volume inpatient medicine including day-to-day ICU patient management, strong didactics, etc. I looked at many family medicine residencies and found that very few programs have it all - Via Christi does. Plus, we have noon basketball twice a week - I was SOLD!
Passions: Passions: Faith and Family. Hobbies/Interests: Basketball, Golf, anything outdoors, Traveling, Reading Toddler Books (usually with my kid), Watching Toddler Movies (sometimes with my kid), Watching Grown-up Movies, ESPN, Grilling, Wii, Politics . . . ok that's enough.
Favorite Quotes: "Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought." - John Paul II
After residency plan: Full-scope family medicine in rural midwest.
Residency stats: As of 02/01/10: Vaginal Deliveries - 27 Forceps - 1 C-Sections - 8 Colonoscopy - 26 EGD - 25 Thoracentesis - 1 Lumbar Puncture - 2 Circumcisions - 4 Arterial Line Placement - 2 Central Line Placement - 2
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Robert Ullom
Graduate of KU Med in 2009. Born and raised in south eastern Colorado.
Why Via Christi? I chose Via Christi for the strength of the program, it's work ethic, and the opportunities it provides. We do full spectrum Family Medicine plain and simple. We expect a lot out of our residents and this drives us to be competent physicians who excel in our field, both here at home in the United States and abroad.
Passions: I love to travel and experience other cultures. My most recent trip was to India, you can read about it at http://rullom.blogspot.com/2009/01/setup.html I also love the outdoors and am itching to get back on the slopes of Colorado. Computers, movies, gardening, ceramics, and zymurgy round out the majority of my random hobbies.
Favorite Books: I have many others, but one I'll list here is the following: -"The gift of Pain" by Dr. Paul Brand
Favorite Quotes: "Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become." -Unknown "Life is a STD with a 100% mortality rate." -Random med school quote "There'll be storms, abrupt dusks under leaden, too heavy clouds; there'll be hail, frozen tears, long journeys on quiet trains, but not every thunderbolt kills, not every death means an ending, not every speech missing means silence." -Zagajewski
After residency plan: I payed for medical school with the Kansas Medical Student loan (KMS) from the State of Kansas. In agreement with my contract I will practice somewhere in Kansas for four years, except for four counties specified by the state. After that I'm unsure, but I know that I want to practice full spectrum Family Medicine. I have had aspirations of applying to the VCFM International Fellowship program, but will need to decide officially on that and subsequently sort out the details. My dream... my ideal practice would be something similar to what a group of our residents have set up in Iowa ( http://www.vcfm.net/fellowships/international-medicine-fellowship/six-international-fellows-stick-together/ ), except in Kansas so that I could pay back my KMS debt.
Home town: Wiley, CO
Residency stats: Vaginal Deliveries: 39 C-sections: 13 Forcep Deliveries: 4 Intubations: 61 Circumcisions: 5
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Alison Raymond
Born and raised in Wichita, KS. Graduated from Goddard High School and Kansas State University. Headed to Kansas City after K-State to attend KU School of Medicine. It was there I met the most awesome guy ever, my husband Brad. I finished up my last two years of medical school at KU-Wichita. I feel blessed to have matched into such a wonderful residency program!! :)
Why Via Christi? THE PEOPLE! Everyone is bright, friendly and hard-working. Also chose VC for the broad spectrum training. Regardless of what my future practice looks like, I will be well-prepared and can tailor my practice to what I WANT it to be, rather than what I'm limited to do based on my training.
Passions: Faith, family, friends, cooking, running, mountains, outdoors
Home town: Wichita
Residency stats: Colposcopy-1, Colonoscopy- 14, EGD- 10, Vaginal Deliveries- 33, C-sections- 11, Circumcisions- 7, Arthrocentesis- 1, Thoracentesis- 1, Arterial line-1 (as of 12/31/09- end of my first six months)
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Kristin Thornton
Bedford High School - Bedford, IA MidAmerica Nazarene University - Olathe, KS Kirskville College of Osteopathic Medicine/A.T. Still University - Kirksville, MO
Why Via Christi? I'm the oldest of four and am the first in my family to go into medicine. My desire to learn medicine stems from my interest in Chemistry in high school (nerd alert! LOL) and my desire to help people. I didn't want to be stuck in a lab all of my life and Medicine has been a great way to use my love of a challenge with my desire to help others. Via Christi Family Medicine was my first choice for residency as it has the best combination to prepare a doc for rural or overseas work. Family Practice is a great choice since we get to see all people of any age and at varying times in their life. From the newborn to the grade school, high school and even young adults in college. As well as the adults who may be carrying their own first child or expecting a new grandchild and may be battling several chronic conditions. I've been truly blessed to be a part of Via Christi Family Medicine Residency!
Passions: International medicine Helping others Volleyball Games: especially cards and Blokus!
Favorite Books: Favorite Authors: Dee Henderson, Francine Rivers, Lori Wick, Thoene, Twilight Series
Favorite Quotes: "I can do ALL things through CHRIST who gives me strength." Phil 4:13
Home town: Bedford, IA
Residency stats: Vaginal deliveries: 30 C-Sections: 3 Forceps delivery: 2-3 ICU patients: probably 20 in one month of medicine. I'll have to keep track this month!
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David Lee
Graduate of Ben Gurion University of The Negev.
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Brian Stith
Born in Dodge City, KS, but later moved to and graduated from high school in Manhattan, KS. After high school I went to Kansas State University where I graduated with a degree in microbiology and then I went to medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. Before medical school I worked at the National Cancer Institute and was an EKG tech.
Why Via Christi? Because the attendings and residents were the types of physicians that I wanted to be like in my future practice. Also, due to the friendly atmosphere and great didactic training
Passions: Faith, Spending time with family, Music (guitar, piano), I like to make it to KSU football or basketball games, Golf, Attempting to play basketball, Going to the gym when there is time
Favorite Quotes: "There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." Albert Einstein
After residency plan: I would like to settle down into a small town in Kansas or Nebraska.
Home town: Manhattan, KS
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McGarrett Groth
Well, if you really want to know about me and are spending time looking at my profile you must really be bored! Ok, now that we have that cleared up, on to the good stuff. I was born and raised in a small town in northeast Kansas called Hiawatha. Well not actually born there, but for sake of the arguement I won\'t claim being born in Nebraska! Sorry Fagot! ;) For those of you that don\'t know where that it, look at a map! Just kidding! It is about 18 miles from the Nebraska border and 45 miles from Missouri. As for my true birth story just ask me as it is a good one! A true miracle for sure! Well some poeple might think of it as a punishment because I survived and know they have to put up with me! I went to college at KSU and will always be a Wildcat! After that I went to medical school Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences. (That\'s not a mouthful at all...) For my third and fourth year rotations I came down to Via Christi here in Wichita and liked it enough to stay.
Why Via Christi? I chose Via Christi for many reasons. As I mentioned above, I did my third and fourth year rotations down here and had nothing but great things to say about my experiences here. For one, I enjoyed the hands on experience we get especially when it comes to OB. We are primaries on c-sections on day one and I guess I was a glutten for punishment and like getting thrown into the fire! Also, I really have to say that we have a great group of residents, faculty, and community attendings that we rotate with. Everyone is easy to get along with and are eager to teach and help each other out. I felt as though I \"fit in\" here and that is what I think the right residency program is all about. When you know it is the right place for you, you know. I like the promotion of the full spectrum training for family physicians that is emphasized at Via Christi. My ultimate goal is to stay in the rural midwest and practace full scope primary care. Another draw to the program is the Sports Medicine fellowship as my other interest in medicine has always been orthopedics. Oh yeah, study group helped too! (If you have questions what this entails, just ask.)
Passions: Outside of the obvious passion of medicine, at the top of my list is friends and family. I believe that is what truly makes my life great is the wonderful supportive friends and my caring family. I especially love to spend time with my niece and nephew which are the most amazing little kiddos you will ever meet! Yeah, that\'s a challenge! (Ok, I may be just a bit biased, but they are pretty awesome!) When I am not working, I like to play sports. Basketball is the one I play most of the time now and I suppose some may say I am a bit wild and out of control on the court. I suppose that that isn\'t too far of a stretch! (Ask Dr GM Stephens for details.) I also like to play baseball, softball and football. I also enjoy riding my motorcycle when the weather is nice out. There is just something relaxing about hitting the open road without any particular destination and taking in all the sights and sounds along the way all while basking in the open breeze. Unfrotunately I am not cool enough to join the scooter gang... uh-hum... (Not to mention any names or anything, Gilbert, Fagot, M Penny....) I also like to tool on cars and motorcycles when I get the chance. I guess that stems from being raised on a farm when I was younger. I love to listen to music and watch movies when I get the chance. I am also trying to learn the guitar, but just not quite talented enough to make the resident band.. But I am trying! :P
Favorite Quotes: Git \'R Dun! Ok, I couldn\'t think of anything else, but isn\'t that an appropriate quote coming from a rural KS boy?! Who doesn\'t like Larry the Cable Guy?!
After residency plan: After residency I would like to do the Sports Medicine Fellowship. I have always been interested in orthopedics and this way I will get my ortho fix all while still being a part of my other passion of family medicine. Ideally I would like to go back to a small to medium sized town that has a small college and do full spectrum medicine and be the team doctor for the college on the side.
Home town: Hiawatha, KS
Residency stats: 30 SVD 1 Vacuum 8 C/S *one month of OB
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Katy Liu
I was born and studied through fifth grade in Taiwan before moving with my family to Ames, Iowa. Since then I've lived in college towns and, with the continual flux of international students, thought Iowa was more diverse than it really was.
Why Via Christi? An Internal Medicine resident at the University of Iowa strongly recommended the Family Medicine Residency Program at Via Christi because he knew I wanted a hands-on, strong, and well-rounded training for possible future rural or international practice. When I visited Via Christi, the staff and residents were not only friendly, but they conveyed the spiritual support within the residency, as well as the active outreach effort in living their faith in patient care. In a world where the truth and the salvation of Christ are so desperately needed but deemed politically incorrect, how the medical and spiritual worlds merge at Via Christi really attracted me.
Passions: Singing- who needs an iPod when you can sing all day? Traveling- I enjoy experiencing different natural sceneries, visiting various museums. I love meeting different people and seeing the smiles that are brought on by a foreigner's simple greeting in their native tongue. Kids- I'm compelled to smile when I see one. I'm also an amateur reader and photographer learning to walk in others' shoes.
Favorite Books: Knowing God by J.I. Packer; Pursuit of God and Root of the Righteous by A.W. Tozer; Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis; The Holy Spirit by Billy Graham. Tale of Two Cities, The Count of Monte Cristo, Chronicles of Narnia, Lord of the Rings, Sherlock Holmes series, Arsene Lupin series, Agatha Christie series, Chinese martial arts novels by Jin Yong, and comic books such as Detective Conan and One Piece (maybe I shouldn't admit to this, but they are really good).
Favorite Quotes: "You must be the change you wish to see in the world." -Mahatma Gandhi. "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." - 1 John 1:9, the Bible. "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." - 2 Timothy 1:7
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Andrew (Andy) Pope
I grew up in Hoxie, KS. I attended KU where I received two degrees, Biology and Business Administration. I worked at a bank as a loan officer for a year prior to medical school. During medical school, I met and married the woman of my dreams, Katherine. We currently have two dogs, a Golden Retriever and a Shih Tzu.
Why Via Christi? I chose Via Christi for several reasons, but the two biggest are the quality of the residents, and the breadth of training that will be available to me.
Passions: The Lord, golf, basketball, learning to play my guitar, walks with my wife and dogs, camping, traveling, float trips, reading, and movies.
After residency plan: I am trying to remain open to opportunities. With that said, we will probably stay in KS. I would like to either own my own practice or be part of a group with a few partners.
Home town: Hoxie, KS
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Drew Cheng
I hail from Charleston, South Carolina, although I've been blessed to have been able to live in and experience a variety of different cities and states throughout my life from San Francisco Bay Area to Costa Rica to my birthplace of Kaohsiung, Taiwan. My college curriculum in California focused on Chemical Engineering; however, being a part of a singing group that performed in nursing homes both cemented my desire to work directly with people and led me to meet my wonderful wife Laura, who is currently a medical student at KU Wichita. I attended the Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine where I have come to appreciate the tremendous disparities in healthcare between different communities, ethnicities, and backgrounds. I hope to make a difference in shrinking such gaps through my learning and work at Via Christi.
Why Via Christi? My wife, who is also passionate about family medicine, and I are looking to eventually work in underserved and/or overseas communities. Therefore, we desired a residency program that not only gave its residents a firm, well-rounded foundation in all aspects of taking care of a family, but also promoted service of its communities. I was furthermore impressed by the quality of the residents as well as the warm camaraderie that existed among them. This is a family I want to be a part of!
Passions: Food is a great passion of mine - not necessarily gourmet, but just plain old good food. Also, I enjoy swing dancing, soccer, ping pong, badminton, bowling, and most of all, spending time with my family (which includes a Siberian cat that has been hypoallergenic for me).
Favorite Books: The Little Prince by Saint-Exupéry, The Brothers Karamazov, Barabbas, Knight's Cross: Life of Rommel, The Hunt for Red October
Favorite Quotes: From Kung-Fu Panda, at the end: Po: You wanna get something to eat? Shifu: [sighing] ... Yeah.
After residency plan: Practicing medicine in an underserved and/or international setting, going wherever God leads us.
Home town: Myrtle Beach, SC
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Marta Hantke
Born and raised in Newberg, Oregon (near Portland), volunteered at a free medical clinic for a year in Milwaukee, WI, moved back to Portland to check out health care for veterans before meeting patients who would make the commitment to medicine worthwhile! I got my Masters in Public Health, started medical school, and then got to come to the centerfold city for residency! (That is an affectionate term because every map I have places Wichita buried in the spine of the map!)
Why Via Christi? So many reasons! The opportunity to do international rotations during residency, the opportunity to do the International Medicine Fellowship, the opportunity to be involved in a program where so many residents are Christians and value God's presence in their lives, the tremendous amount of OB training, the opportunity to do so many procedures, and the opportunity to be treated as competent from day one!
Passions: Hanging out with friends, watching movies, Thursday Women's Prayer Nights.
Favorite Books: Jesus, M.D.; Miracle at Tenweck: The Life of Dr. Ernie Steury
Favorite Quotes: "Anything you can conceive, and in that you believe, you can achieve!"
After residency plan: I would love to do the International Medicine Fellowship offered here - 2 months of tropical medicine, 5 months in Africa, and 5 months in Wichita as junior faculty and doing rotations in Ortho, Burn, Anesthesiology, Dental, Trauma...
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