Meet our Residents

We are priviledged to work with outstanding residents from over 15 of the best medical schools around the country. They reflect the camaraderie, commitment to patients, and the highest academic standards that are synonymous with Family Medicine.

Class of 2015	Class of 2014	Class of 2013
Tony Grech, U of Michigan Marisa Gross, U of Michigan Julie Kaplan, U of Michigan Belsam Saif, Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine Trevor Shull, Ohio State U Jenna Wissocki, UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Hetal Choxi, Thomas Jefferson U Amy Kreykes, U of Colorado Katherine Lemler, U of Chicago Kyle Smith, Wayne State U Anna (Stanczyk) Laurie, Penn State U	Yasir Afzal, Eastern Virginia Medical School John Breck, Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine Joanna Duquette, Wright State U Winnie Gossa, U of Maryland Christina Li, U of Michigan Annelie Ott, U of Michigan Ravi Rao, Pennsylvania State U Deepti Reddy, Wayne State U Kate Shaffer, Medical College of Wisconsin Allison Ursu, U of Michigan Bryan Vos, Wayne State U	Ketti Augusztiny, U of Michigan Heather Bidgoli, Ohio State U Margaret Greenough, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Aaron Heindl, Wayne State U Joanna Lee, Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine Christopher Love, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA Lindsey Kotagal, U of Michigan Christina Nisonger, U of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Audrey Richardson, U of Michigan Keturah Schacht, U of Michigan

 

 

Our residents are known for their ability to create a strong and active social network. Dinners, pool, football, canoeing down the Huron, and participating in the active Ann Arbor nightlife are among the residents' regular activities. Traditions like the surgery potluck (hosted by the resident on Surg 1 due to no call and no weekends), Journal club, summer party by the lake, and shooting pool downtown with the faculty are just a few of the regular activcities that add to the camaraderie and informal environment that residents and faculty enjoy. Come meet our residents.

Hetal Choxi, M.D., Thomas Jefferson University

Hi, I am Hetal. I grew up in Dover, Del., and went to Carnegie Mellon University for undergrad. After spending a year at the NIH in Bethesda conducting genetics research on schizophrenia, I attended Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia, Penn. There I contemplated going into multiple specialties in medicine before realizing that family medicine was the perfect match for me. I loved the variety with every patient and the flexibility that a career in family medicine provides.

I similarly choose to come to University of Michigan for the variety and flexibility that they provide. From the two family medicine inpatient services, one in an academic hospital and the other in a smaller community hospital, to the two very different continuity clinics, one with a more rural population and the other more of an urban, underserved population, I felt that I could get a taste of the variety that family medicine itself offers. Furthermore, the faculty, residents and support staff are very friendly, interested in our well-being, and available to discuss both career and personal interests.

Ann Arbor is also an amazing town. Coming from Philadelphia I was not sure what to expect of a smaller town, but Ann Arbor has the ability to please anyone who comes. You can find me on a free afternoon tubing down a river across the street from my apartment, sampling the amazing restaurants, wandering around the citywide festivals in the summer, and attempting to run on the many paths around the city. If you have any questions about University of Michigan or just residency in general, feel free to email me.

 

Julie Kaplan, M.D., University of Michigan

Hi, I'm Julie. I'm from Farmington Hills, Mich. - about 40 minutes from Ann Arbor. I lived there my whole life until I went away to college at Washington University in St. Louis. At Wash U, I majored in Philosophy-Neuroscience-Psychology (one major, long name). I then moved to Ann Arbor to go to med school here at the University of Michigan. After doing my third year family medicine clerkship, the philosophy of family medicine really resonated with me and I became energized by the continuity and variety it would allow me.

I am so excited to stay at the University of Michigan because of the nurturing and collegial environment here, both within the family medicine department and throughout the hospital system. As residents, we get great training in both community and academic settings which leaves the doors open to so many diverse post-residency opportunities. Not to mention, Ann Arbor is an amazing place to live.

When I'm not at work, I like to run around campus and take advantage of the local music, food, and sports scenes. I love to travel, spend time with family and friends, and snuggle with my new cat, Hazel.

 

Kyle Smith, M.D., Wayne State University

I grew up in Ada, Mich., which is a suburb of Grand Rapids. I went to Forest Hills Northern High school, where I participated in cross country, track and field (pole vaulting), and marching band. For undergraduate, I attended Hope College in Holland, Mich., where I majored in chemistry and French—which allowed me to spend a semester studying in Nantes, France. I continued pole vaulting for the Hope men's track and field team. Between undergrad and medical school, I was fortunate enough to spend a winter skiing and working in Colorado, followed by several weeks learning Spanish and traveling around Guatemala. I went to medical school at Wayne State University.

I had a difficult time selecting a specialty, because in every area of medicine I found something I liked. I chose family medicine because, for my patients, I want to be seen as "my doctor" as opposed to "one of those doctors I see." I place an enormous value on communication, compassionate care, wide breadth of practice, and an evidence based approach to medicine. Needless to say, the University of Michigan family medicine residency program embodies all of those aspects. As soon as I interviewed here, I knew that I had found my #1 choice of where I wanted to further my training. Outside of work, I enjoy running, traveling, reading, skiing, trying new foods and traveling. Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about the program.

 

Trevor Shull, M.D., Ohio State University

Hi, my name is Trevor Shull, and I grew up in Macomb, Mich.  I spent my college years at Hope College in Holland, Mich., where I studied Biology. I went to Ohio State University for medical school and decided that the unparalleled variety and continuity of Family Medicine made it the perfect specialty for me. 

I love the residency program here at U-M, which provides an excellent balance of academic and community medicine. There are opportunities and faculty guidance in every area of Family Medicine, from Obstetrics to Geriatrics to Research. I am particularly interested in Sports Medicine, and I know that I will get great training in this as well as the many other areas that make a complete family physician. The residents and faculty of U-M Family Medicine are some of the most intelligent and caring people I know, and I really feel like part of a family here. 

For a smaller city, Ann Arbor has fabulous food and activities. When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife Mary (a Pediatrics resident), watching and playing sports, bike riding, and playing the piano. 

 

Anna (Stanczyk) Laurie, M.D., Pennsylvania State University

Hello! My name is Anna Laurie. I grew up in Sylvan Lake, Mich., and Ortonville, Mich., and went to the University of Michigan–Flint for undergrad, where I majored in Biochemistry. I decided it was time for a change of scenery for a while, and went to Penn State Med School in Hershey, Penn. I was attracted to the specialty of family medicine going in to med school, and Penn State really fostered my interest. Ultimately though, I knew I wanted to come back to my home in the Midwest for residency and beyond. 

I chose the University of Michigan Family Medicine program for residency because it honestly had everything I was looking for, including a blend of academic and community medicine, research opportunities, integrative medicine, and much more. I found myself measuring other programs up to U-M, especially because the program offers so much within a nurturing and collegial environment.

In my free time I enjoy spending time with my husband, Justin, and our cat, being outdoors, doing arts & crafts projects, baking, and of course, Detroit sports (Philadelphia sports too, thanks to my husband). 

 

Amy Kreykes, M.D., University of Colorado

My name is Amy Kreykes. I grew up on a farm in northern Colorado and attended the Univeristy of Colorado School of Medicine for medical school. I had the unique opportunity to be paired with an amazing family physician as my preceptor for the entirity of medical school (she also happens to be a Univerity of Michigan Family Medicine Residency graduate). Working with her made me realize that there really wasn't anything but family medicine for me. I loved all of my other rotations, but when I was away from my continuity patients, I really missed them. I decided to check out the University of Michigan and see what they have to offer. As it turns out, the program was all that I had heard and more! We have an amazing faculty and an excellent blend of community and academic medicine. We have a multitude of opportuniities to pursue areas of medicine that interest us. We also have an amazing group of people that are a joy to work with and foster an environment of learning and comraderie. But perhaps most importantly to me, when I interviewed at U-M I saw that the residents here are really sharp. It is obvious that residents here are excellently trained and some day I hope to serve my community as well as my preceptor does.

Outside of medicine I am a stereotypical Colorado kid....I love hiking, camping, skiing/snowboarding, biking, etc. I recently purchased an inflatable kayak that I keep in my car and I hit the river whenever possible. I LOVE to travel and spend golden weekends exploring Michigan since I am new to the state. I love spending time with friends and family. Hope to see you at the University of Michigan for interviews and your residency in the future.

 

Belsam Saif, D.O., Michigan State University

Hi, my name is Belsam. I was born in Iraq and moved to the U.S. at age 6. I call Michigan home because that is where I have spent most of my life. I went to undergrad at Wayne State University, and medical school at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. After that, I did a transitional rotating intern year at Henry Ford Hospital. I knew I wanted to see patients of all ages and various medical problems and family medicine is all that and more.

I decided to come to U-M for many reasons, too many to list. It was the one interview where I left excited and could not stop talking about how much the program had to offer and all of the friendly staff I met. I think we have every kind of fellowship there is, but I am mostly interested in academic medicine and teaching.

In my free time, I love to spend time with my family. My two brothers and I all got married within one year. Our family is growing and it is a very exciting time for all of us.

 

Anthony (Tony) Grech, M.D., University of Michigan

My name is Tony Grech. I am a native Michigander and proud of it!  I grew up in Allen Park, one of the inner ring suburbs of Detroit. I toured the state during undergrad spending time at Grand Valley State University (Grand Rapids, Mich.), Washtenaw Community College (Ann Arbor, Mich.), Mott Community College (Flint, Mich.) and ultimately completed my degree in biology at The University of Michigan–Flint.

I am thrilled to be at Michigan for residency as I believe this program has it all!  The faculty and staff are truly dedicated to teaching residents the finer aspects of family medicine. We have a fantastic mix of community and academic medicine with Chelsea Community Hospital and the U. I see myself in a more rural setting, which the Chelsea site fits perfectly. My current goal is to obtain a fellowship in sports medicine and cover the local high school events in whichever city I practice. 

Outside of medicine I enjoy spending time with my amazing wife, Christie, who is a pediatrics resident here. I also enjoy, running, biking, cooking and learning about the history of baseball.    

 

Bryan Vos, M.D., Wayne State University

My name is Bryan Vos. I am a life-long south-eastern Michigander. I grew up in Trenton, Mich., near Detroit. I studied Biochemistry at the University of Detroit Mercy and did three years of research in organic chemistry during my undergraduate career. I stayed in Detroit for medical school, attending Wayne State University School of Medicine. It was during this time that I nurtured a passion for primary care and prevention and decided to go into family medicine.

I am delighted to be a part of the University of Michigan Family Medicine program. I particularly like the dedicated staff, who are committed to teaching residents and helping us become excellent practicing physicians. The program offers a seemingly endless array of opportunities to explore unique areas of interest within primary care. Perhaps most importantly, the staff and fellow interns are great and they create a positive and supportive atmosphere for their collegues and patients.

In my spare time I enjoy the company of my wife, Stephanie. We love to travel and enjoy the outdoors by camping and hiking and playing with our dog, Scout.

 

 

Allison Ursu, M.D., University of Michigan

My name is Allison Ursu. I grew up in Endicott, a small town in Upstate N.Y. I went to Johns Hopkins for undergrad where I majored in Cognitive Science. I worked for two years in developmental psychology before moving to Ann Arbor to start medical school at U-M. Entering med school I thought I would pursue a subspecialty in pediatrics, but during my third year I realized I was drawn to primary care because of its variety and continuity.

I chose to stay at U-M for family medicine because it really offers the best of academic and community medicine, but especially because of the fantastic faculty and residents I worked with during my third year clerkship. The Department feels like a family, with people you enjoy working and playing with. I would like to work in a small town or rural practice after residency so I chose the Chelsea site which absolutely has that feel.

Outside of medicine I enjoy cooking, trying new restaurants, going to farmers markets -- basically anything related to food. I love to be outside as much as I can whether it's walking my dog, JayJay, in the Arboretum, kayaking, playing tennis, or gardening. If I have to be inside then I love to watch old movies and read.

 

 

John Breck, D.O., Michigan State University

Hello everyone! My name is John Breck and I very honored to be a part of this amazing program. I grew up in the small town of Laingsburg, just outside of Lansing, Mich. I attended Michigan State University for my undergraduate years and graduated with a bachelors of science in economics with a focus on healthcare economics. GO GREEN! After college I took a year off to coach soccer, travel around Argentina, and recharge. Next, I attended medical school at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. I chose family medicine after much bouncing around and just love the variety of patients, procedures, and medical issues.

I knew U-M was the place for me after the fun dinner with the residents and the great interview day. I felt right at home and knew the combo of a large, highly respected university hospital and the great community hospital and clinics could not be found anywhere else. Currently, my interests in family medicine are broad but I would like to focus on sports medicine and wilderness/travel medicine in the future.

Outside of medicine I love spending time with my wonderful wife, Charlotte, and our dachshund, Hank. We cannot get enough of being outdoors, especially rock climbing, snowboarding, playing soccer, and ultimate frisbee. Food and travel are also passions of ours.

 

 

Christina Li, M.D., University of Michigan

Hi! My name is Christina Li. I was born Toronto, Canada, but by now, I'm practically an Ann Arborite. After wandering through various schools and countries during grade school, I came to University of Michigan for a B.S. in Biology. I stayed on at U-M for medical school, and I'm thrilled to still be here for residency! It's not uncommon for people to be won over by the excellence of the U and the charm of the town, so you'll hear that story more than once.

U-M's residency program gives me a chance to treat underserved populations, both locally and overseas, and it exposes me to both small-town community medicine and national-powerhouse tertiary care. For a specialty that interacts with so many aspects of medicine, I can't think of a better educational setting. Even better, it's been warm fuzzies since the first handshake with the people of our department.

When not in clinic or on the wards, I enjoy doting on my pet cat, checking out new restaurants, replenishing myself through music, and devouring books like it's going out of style.

 

 

Weyinshet (Winnie) Gossa, M.D., University of Maryland

My name is Weyinshet, but I go by Winnie. I grew up in western Ethiopia in a small town called Dembi Dollo. My grandparents are farmers, so I spent a lot of time on their farm. I moved to the United States in July of 1999 at age 14 and lived in the Washington, D.C./Maryland area for the past 12 years. I went to Loyola University in Maryland for undergrad where I majored in Biology/Chemistry with concenteration on Molecular Biology. After graduating from undergrad, I directly went to medical school at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. I was in the dual degree program with MD/MPH.

I chose family medicine because I enjoy taking care of both children and adults and dealing with diverse medical problems. I also have an added interest in public health and global health and I think that family medicine is the best speciality to foster and practice these interests. I chose to come to University of Michingan because of the quality of the program and the people who work here. I was interested in a University-based program, but I also wanted to get community experience and this program does this best. I selected the Yspilant clinic site because I am interested in working with urban, underserved and immigrant populations.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking and trying different types of food, reading inspirational books, going to church on Sundays and traveling.

 

 

Kathryn Shaffer, M.D., Medical College of Wisconsin

Hello, I am Kate Shaffer. I grew up in rural Minnesota, Monticello to be precise, roughly an hour outside of the Twin Cities. I went to the College of St Catherine in St. Paul, Minn., where I studied Chemistry and Theology. I knew from the beginning of medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin that primary care was from me. I chose U of Michigan for several different reasons. I wanted a program that would train me to be the best that I could be as a Family Physician. When interviewing here it was clear that this was a place of excellence, and more importantly, a place of friendly and caring individuals. From medical assistants at the clinics to the attendings, everyone truly cares about you and wants to help you develop into the best physician. I am excited to work in Chelsea, back to my rural roots from my childhood. When not working I enjoy being active (cycling, hiking, jogging, and swimming, and walking my dog Hattie), photography, dinner's out with friends and family, and going to my favorite independent band concerts. I cannot wait for you to come to Ann Arbor and try the food, meet the friendly faculty and residents, and I hope you fall in love with the program as I did.

 

 

Deepti Reddy, M.D., Wayne State University

I sort of grew up all throughout the U.S. before coming to Ann Arbor for my last two years of high school. I went to U-M for my undergraduate degree, and Wayne State in Detroit for medical school where, through our curriculum and interest groups, I was exposed to the amazing effects that CAM had on people's lives and health. I also found my calling working in an urban setting. After medical school, I went to Kerala, India, for a year (best decision of my life!) to study yoga and get certified in acupuncture. Family medicine is the obvious choice of specialty if you're interested in health justice and accessibility issues. I work at the Ypsilanti clinic for those same reasons.

I came to the U because of its strong focus on integrative medicine. My dream is to provide low-cost integrative medical care to an urban, low SES population. My husband and I live in Detroit (and have an apartment in Ann Arbor as well), in an intentional community we started that seeks to bring together people who have both social justice and faith/spirituality as driving principles in their lives. We live with folks who work with LGBTQ homeless youth, environmental justice, workers' rights, and urban farming. Let me know if you ever want to explore the "real" Detroit on a weekend. It's a gritty, beautiful city waiting to be fallen in love with.

 

 

Yasir Afzal, M.D., Eastern Virgina Medical School

Hi everyone! My name is Yasir Afzal. I grew up in Karachi, Pakistan. I came to the United States in 2003 for college at Boston University and majored in Biochemistry/Economics. My interest in medicine stemmed from working as an EMT at Boston University and eventually led me to Eastern Virginia Medical School. I chose family medicine because every other residency program seemed to provide too narrow a variety of patients. The vast breath of patients seen in family medicine will insure that I am never bored with my work!

When interviewing at the University of Michigan I was really impressed with the camaraderie among the residents and the close knit teams in the clinics. The staff really cares for its residents here and takes that extra step to help us in overcoming any challenges encountered during the course of the residency. The aspect that really sold me to the University of Michigan was the Chelsea clinic and community hospital. This site mirrors the full spectrum care of family medicine that I would like to practice. I consider myself an old school generalist and plan on seeing all types of patients and doing a combination of inpatient/outpatient medicine in the future.

Outside of work, I am an avid biker and was very excited to come to Ann Arbor which is a very bike-friendly city. I love watching ice hockey (Go Bruins!), reading science fiction novels and listening to symphonic rock music.

 

 

Annelie Ott, M.D., University of Michigan

Hi, I am Annelie. I grew up in a small town called Malchow in former East Germany. It is located halfway between Hamburg and Berlin. In 1998 I came to the U.S. as an Au Pair and just by chance I ended up in Ann Arbor. I met my husband here and a few years ago we added a wonderful little boy to our family.

I graduated from U-M with a degree in psychology. I loved U-M and the Ann Arbor community and so applied and was accepted to the U-M Medical School. I now continue to be a happy resident of both the U-M Family Medicine department and the Ann Arbor community. From my first contact with U-M family physicians here as a medical student, I felt right at home. Furthermore, there is such a variety of people here that you can always find someone to advise you and who shares your interests.

From my first few weeks in Ann Arbor to this day I love this town. What I like most is the diversity of people. It is hard for a day to go by without passing by people conversing in another language. It is not a big town, but you can almost find anything you might want to do. I like traveling, good food, engaging novels, going for a run, taking hikes and going to the lake with my husband and son.

 

 

Ravi Rao, M.D., Penn State College of Medicine

My name is Ravi Rao and I grew up in Thornton, Penn. (southwestern suburbs of Philly). I studied Neuroscience and Economics at Penn State main campus for undergrad (I bleed blue & white) and then went on to the medical campus in Hershey, Penn., for medical school. I chose family medicine after bouncing around between neurosurgery, ENT, peds, and EM, before finally realizing family medicine gives me everything I want and nothing I don't. I plan to pursue a sports medicine track during residency as I love playing, watching, and covering sporting events.

I chose the U of Michigan for a lot of reasons, but mainly because after my interview here I just knew it was the right program for me. The residents and faculty were the type of people I knew worked hard and would be excellent teachers and role models but also fun to be around outside the hospital environment. Most importantly, I felt this program helps you pursue your individual goals with the perfect balance of support and autonomy. I chose the Ypsilanti site for similar reasons -- I felt drawn to the more urban, underserved, younger population it offers; and saw it as the type of practice I hope to pursue after residency.

Outside of medicine I enjoy anything outdoors, be it kayaking, hiking, skiing, or IM/team sports. I'm also really into cooking and Ann Arbor is an awesome place for that with great local grocers and a surprisingly robust restaurant/bar scene.

 

 

Aaron Heindl, M.D., Wayne State University

My name is Aaron and I am a native of Traverse City, Mich. After undergrad in Grand Rapids, I completed medical school in Detroit at Wayne State University. I am thrilled to be at U-M for residency because of what it has to offer: delivery of high quality primary care, focus on education, and an endless list of resources within the department. Most important, the people here are the type that I want to learn from and work with. My medical interests are broad, but include procedures and hospital care as a means of continuity. In my free time you will find me outside fly-fishing, camping, or hiking. I also enjoy all sports and playing the pipe organ, which I studied for about 12 years.

 

 

 

 

Christina Nisonger, M.D., University of North Carolina

I went to the University of North Carolina for medical school, but I am a Michigan native. I grew up in Milford, Mich., and went to University of Michigan for undergrad. I majored in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology and was a member of the Women's Gymnastics program at Michigan. I'm a HUGE Michigan fan (Duke too). I love sports!!! I love to play them, watch them, and cover them from the sideline. I have a strong interest in Sports Medicine and am planning to do a Sports Medicine fellowship following residency. I'm really excited to be back at Michigan for residency. I'm proud to be in a program associated with a great hospital, well-known faculty, and enthusiastic residents.

 

 

Joanna Lee, D.O., Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine

First of all, congratulations on choosing the wonderful discipline of family medicine. I am so excited to be a part of the family medicine program at the University of Michigan because of the great education, diverse population of patients, amazing attendings, and the fun, supportive residents. You'll have to come here to check it out! My name is Joanna -- and I'm truly a Michigan girl at heart. I grew up in the small suburb of Northville, Mich. I attended University of Michigan with a major in cellular molecular Biology. For four years, I changed alliances and attended Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. From there I completed a transitional year at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Mich. From my years of education and training, I've found my interests align in preventative and international health care. I'm elated that I've begun residency here at the University of Michigan! You'll love what this residency has to offer. And, you'll love Ann Arbor's vibrant culture -- and yummy restaurants. I hope to see you during interview season! :)

 

 

Audrey Richardson, M.D., University of Michigan

I grew up in several small southern Michigan towns (Morenci, Vicksburg, Mendon, Olivet) until finally settling in Chelsea, Mich., for my middle and high school life. Yes, I can still sing the fight song. Then I moved to Bourbonnais, Ill., to attend Olivet Nazarene University where I majored in biology. After a brief flirtation with the environmental sciences, I settled on medicine and jumped at the opportunity to return to Michigan for medical school. After living four years in Ann Arbor while attending U-M Medical School I was thrilled to stay here for my residency in family medicine. My interests are many and varied like any good family medicine physician, but today I like obstetrics, underserved care, and community development. I plan to practice in an unserved area when I graduate, most likely an urban setting. In my biased opinion, our program is rock-star because of the dedication and awesomeness of my peer and faculty colleagues. I also love the chance to have an urban-favored clinic, the university hospital academic opportunities, and good 'ol Chelsea community hospital feel. My interests outside of medicine include any activity outdoors (hiking, camping, exploring), playing any sport, playing violin/listening to music, trying new things/traveling to new places, visiting my boyfriend, Peter, in Memphis, Tenn., reading books, mentoring middle school and high school students through a program at my church and visiting my family on the west-side of the state. Thanks for taking time to look at our residents' page, and I can't wait to meet you on your interview day!

 

 

 

 

 

Resident Honors and Achievements

Residents of the program have a very impressive record of scholarly and educational achievements. Accomplishments include:

Jake Bryan was selected to serve as the AAFP Resident Alternate Delegate Representative to the AMA House of Delegates for 2009-10.

Tammy Chang, M.D., M.P.H., was selected to serve as the Academic Department of Family Medicine appointee to the AAMC Organization of Resident Representatives from 2008-2010.