Family Medicine First-Year Residents

Why you chose Family Medicine? 
I chose family medicine because of the variety in both patients and conditions that it allows me to treat. Additionally, I appreciate the continuity of care that is present with family medicine and the opportunity to truly get to know my patients over a long period of time. 

Why you chose University of Missouri? 
I chose Mizzou because it had everything I was looking for in a program. I also attended Mizzou for my undergraduate degree and loved living in Columbia. During my interview day, I immediately felt at home here and knew it was where I wanted to spend the next 3 years for residency. 

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
 I grew up in Fenton, MO, a suburb of St. Louis. I’m the second oldest of 4 brothers and have a cat named Tito. In my free time I enjoy watching sports (usually STL Blues or Mizzou), going to the gym, pickleball, and playing video games. 

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
I’m an identical twin 

Do you have any specialty interests?
Sports Medicine

Why you chose Family Medicine? 
I have always been dedicated to serving my community and family medicine will allow me to have the most broad scope practice. I want to have the training to be able to help any person who comes to my clinic with any issue they have. I also love continuity of care and the relationships you build with patients. 

Why you chose University of Missouri? 
I love how patient focused the education from the University of Missouri is. This program has welcomed me and feels like home. 

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.? 
I am from Caruthersville, Missouri, and I plan to return to the Bootheel of Missouri to practice after completing residency. My father, mother, and husband have supported me through every step of this journey and I am beyond grateful for the relationships I have with them. My husband, David, and I have two dogs with us here in Columbia, Roscoe and Raelynn. My parents have two dogs as well, Leo and Max. These dogs mean the world to me. David and I love watching shows together, doing escape rooms, going to the gym, and playing games. I also enjoy making beaded bracelets and reading. 

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
I just got married on April 11! 

Do you have any specialty interests? 
I am interested in obstetrics and emergency medicine.

Why you chose Family Medicine? 
When I think of the the practice of medicine, I think of the doctor with whom you make an appointment when you are sick, the one that knows your name and story, the one who advocates for you and helps connect you with other specialities in the community. When I think of Family Medicine, I think of these same qualities, physicians who want to get to know their patients, who build rapport and trust with each visit, and who want to provide compassionate care to all people, regardless of their history and social barriers. I chose Family Medicine so I can be that doctor, the one who shows up for his patients and chooses to provide compassionate care for all who walk through the door. 

Why you chose University of Missouri? 
I chose the Family Medicine program at the University of Missouri because it felt like a place where helping patients was the number one priority. When looking at residency programs, I wanted to continue working with underserved populations, and I felt this passion was shared in the family medicine program, specifically looking at working with individuals experiencing homelessness. I also felt a strong sense of community and warmth from the residents and faculty in the program, sharing many of the same ideals that I have as a family medicine physician. I am grateful for the opportunity to continue my training with this amazing program!

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.? 
I was born and raised in Kansas City, so the Midwest has always been home to me. Most of my family lives in KC, including my girlfriend, my parents, my sister and her fiancé, and a large extended family. My girlfriend and I have 2 cats, Nessy and Gia, and they love getting into trouble! In my freetime, my girlfriend and I like to travel to places new and old whenever we can! I also enjoy theater, both local productions and big broadway shows! My current favorite show is called Something Rotten. 

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself? 
I spent 7 summers as a camp counselor at the Lake of the Ozarks (and six years as a camper), so I have spent over a year of my life at the lake! I have a 3D printer (that I don’t use enough) and love to print cool figures and gifts! 

Do you have any specialty interests? 
I am interested in Street Medicine, working with underserved communities and more specifically people experiencing homelessness

Why you chose Family Medicine? 
In my third year family medicine rotation, I witnessed the meaningful relationships primary care physicians have with their patients and knew that I wanted to develop that in my future practice. I love that family medicine allows me to be present for both the significant milestones and the everyday moments that shape patients’ lives. To me, there is something special about growing alongside patients, learning and supporting them through different stages of life. I have also always had an interest in taking care of the aging population and felt as though family medicine would provide me the best training to guide patients with compassion and support through the later years of their life. 

Why you chose University of Missouri? 
I chose the University of Missouri because of the welcoming environment I felt during my interview. The program’s emphasis on continuity of care and academic autonomy were two important factors that were especially important to me when choosing a residency program. I also felt a strong sense of community amongst faculty and residents which made my decision clear. I knew that anywhere I went for residency would provide me adequate training, but I felt as though I could truly thrive both academically and personally at Mizzou! 

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.? 
I am from Elizabethtown, Kentucky, a small town about an hour south of Louisville. I have lived in Kentucky my whole life and stayed here for both college and medical school, so I am excited to move to a new state! Outside of medicine, I enjoy all types of crafting. I have recently been scrapbooking a study abroad trip I took to London in undergrad. I also enjoy doing puzzles and board games with family and friends and reading historical fiction! 

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself? 
I have a knack for remembering birthdays! 

Do you have any specialty interests? 
I have a special place in my heart for the elderly population, so I am considering geriatrics.

Why you chose Family Medicine? 
I value the opportunity to care for patients of all ages and across all stages of life. Family medicine allows me to build meaningful, long-term relationships with patients, which I find deeply rewarding. I am especially passionate about health literacy and preventive care, and I believe that practicing medicine is not simply about preventing death, but about helping patients define the kind of life they want to live and supporting them in achieving those goals. For me, family medicine is the ideal setting to promote wellness and improve quality of life. I also have a strong interest in teaching and appreciate the opportunity to educate patients about their health. It is the diversity of patients and breadth of training within family medicine that make it an especially fulfilling field for me. 

Why you chose University of Missouri? 
I have always been very impressed with the education, teaching, structure, and reputation of the University of Missouri. So having the opportunity to train here is an honor! My husband is also a resident within the Internal Medicine residency here at MU. We were drawn to the highly academic environment of this training hospital. My husband’s family are all from Missouri and my family are all from Arkansas and therefore we consider this region to be home. This is where we want to raise our family, build our community, and practice medicine long term. 

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.? 
I am originally from the small town Beebe, Arkansas. I am married to my best friend, Andrew, and we have one son named Calihan who is our favorite human. We also have two doodles named Hermione and Luna, named after our favorite story series - Harry Potter. As a family, we enjoy running, taking long walks, and spending time outdoors. We are passionate about developing a close knit community and seeking consistent fellowship with them. We are excited to do this in Columbia! 

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself? 
I absolutely love coffee and consider it a hobby. My ideal day would be spent having good conversation over a hot cup of coffee. I spent one summer during my undergraduate education conducting a comparative study of healthcare policy and design in Sweden. I have a Masters in Business Administration with a focus on healthcare leadership. I also minored in classical studies and studied Latin in college. I really enjoy studying the Bible and have discovered profound peace in doing so. 

Do you have any specialty interests? 
I aim to pursue training in full-scope family medicine with an emphasis on procedural skills. I am also interested in additional training in emergency medicine, with the goal of practicing both rural full-scope family medicine and emergency care. I have a strong interest in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and its applications in improving patient care. I am deeply committed to preventive care and lifestyle medicine. Additionally, I have spent several years volunteering with the unhoused population and hope to further develop my skills through training in street medicine. Finally, I have a longstanding passion for teaching and look forward to opportunities to incorporate education into my career.

Why you chose Family Medicine? 
I chose family medicine because of its empathetic and holistic approach. I prioritize treating my patients as people first and building meaningful, long-lasting relationships with them. I also love that family medicine gives me the opportunity to pursue my passion for providing trauma-informed care and advocating for women’s health and reproductive rights. 

Why you chose University of Missouri? 
I had a very positive experience in medical school at the University of Missouri and know I will receive excellent training in residency here! I was lucky enough to be mentored by some amazing family medicine faculty and residents during medical school. They inspire me, and I am so excited to officially join the MIZZOU FM family! 

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.? 
I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri and have one older sister and two younger siblings who are fraternal twins. My parents live in California now where the weather is perfect year-round, and I love the excuse to visit Cali anytime I can! I have two cats, Earl Grey and Teacup, and coming home to them is the best part of my day! My hobbies include musical theatre, dance, piano, reading, binge-watching my comfort shows, and traveling. I am also slowly learning mountain biking so catch me on the trail soon! 

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself? 
Growing up I was involved in a leadership organization for young women called Job’s Daughters, and as a teenager I was the first candidate from Missouri to win the title of Miss International Job’s Daughter 2013-14. I served as a pubic relations ambassador and represented the organization for a year, traveling to 32 states, Canada, Australia, Brazil, and the Philippines. It was one of the most amazing years of my life! The experience gave me public speaking and leadership skills I use to this day and a passion for advocating for and empowering women. 

Do you have any specialty interests? 
I truly appreciate all aspects of family medicine, but my main interests are women’s health and mental health.

Why you chose Family Medicine? 
I was always drawn to Family Medicine from a young age. My mother worked as an LPN in a rural Family Medicine clinic when I was younger and have fond memories associated with this time. As I got older, I was drawn to Family Medicine due to broad range of populations I could serve in addition to the variety of conditions I would encounter. I strive to be that rural physician that my community relies and trusts to care for their families. As a rural Family Medicine physician, we are typically the first line of investigators to uncovering the different ailments that inflict our patients and first line of aid to provide healthcare to underserved areas. 

Why you chose University of Missouri? 
I attended University of Missouri-Columbia for medical school and decided to integrate my M3 year to the Mizzou Family Medicine Program. Its reputation for training well-rounded compassionate physicans was an aspect I greatly sought after in a program. All the physcians and residents I have worked with have been so welcoming and engaging with their patients and peers. I do plan on raising my own family in Missouri, so joining a local program that is known for showing support and flexibility for its residents’ career and family goals was a crucial part of why I chose Mizzou. 

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.? 
I am from a small town called Green Castle in rural north Missouri, a town around 275 people. My passion for rural medicine stems from the observing the shortage of healthcare access we had available and wanting to personally bridge the gap in similar communities. I have two full younger siblings, a brother and sister, and three older half sisters - so a big family! I am very close to my grandparents, especially my Granny who would helped develop my love of computer games, i.e. Nancy Drew. I have been married to my amazing husband for almost four years and greatly enjoy watching movies or having intellectual discussions with him. My hobbies include arts and crafts, suduko puzzles, and scouring for antiques with my father. 

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself? 
When I was in first or second grade I created a painting of a sunrise that was later presented on an electronic billboard in New York City. 

Do you have any specialty interests? 
Rural Medicine, Women’s Health, and possibly Maternity Care

Why you chose Family Medicine?
I chose Family Medicine because it aligns with my passion for building long-term relationships and making a meaningful impact across all stages of life. This specialty offers the unique opportunity to make a significant impact on the health of individuals, families, and entire communities – all of which I cherish. I enjoy the breadth of medicine, the ability to perform procedures, and the opportunity to help patients return to function—whether that’s managing chronic disease, treating musculoskeletal injuries, or guiding preventive care.

Why you chose University of Missouri?
Being from Mid-Missouri, I tell people I have been a Mizzou Tiger since the day I was born, with much of my childhood and adult life being spent enjoying MU sporting events and traditions. My wife and I loved our time earning our undergraduate degrees here, and I was fortunate to stay for medical school.

The program’s emphasis on full-spectrum care, procedural training, and serving Missouri communities aligns perfectly with my long-term goals. Being able to train in a place that feels like home, surrounded by patients and communities that helped shape who I am today, made Mizzou an easy choice. 

MIZ

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
I’m from Jefferson City, Missouri—a close-knit community of about 50,000 people only 30 miles south of Columbia. I married my high school sweet heart during my second year of medical school. My wife and I are fortunate to be surrounded by both of our amazing families and a multitude of friends here in central Missouri. I enjoy spending time outdoors, cooking for family and friends, relaxing at the lake, and cherishing time with my wife and dog.

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
Back in my prime, I was Mizzou’s Homecoming King. I love music – a goal of mine is to master the guitar and learn piano during residency! 

Do you have any specialty interests?
I am very interested in Sports Medicine, Rural Medicine, and Geriatrics!

Why you chose Family Medicine?
I explored nearly every single specialty and landed on Family Medicine. I chose it because of the incredible variety it offers and the opportunity to build lifelong relationships with my patients. There is nothing more special to me than earning a patient’s trust, sharing in their joys and challenges, and being a consistent presence in their lives over the years.

Why you chose University of Missouri?
Mizzou was an easy choice for me after being here for undergrad and medical school. I love how close the Family Medicine department is and know I wanted that kind of relationship and community for my residency training.

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
I was born in Aleppo, Syria and grew up in Wildwood, Missouri. I am the oldest of my sister and brother, and we have an amazing mom and dad. I am lucky to have my siblings in Columbia with me - one in law school and the other in med school. My fiancé and I loved Mizzou so much that we chose to stay for both our residencies. We are excited to start this new chapter together! In my free time, I love to be with friends and family, walk my Havapoo (his name is Blue!), run, play tennis, read, travel, and try new foods!

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
I love learning new languages! My first language is Arabic, and I also studied Spanish in college including a study abroad experience in Spain. I am excited to see what language I will explore next!

Do you have any specialty interests?
I am interested in women’s health, sports, mental health, geriatrics, and palliative medicine. I am especially passionate about using my Arabic and Spanish skills to better connect with and care for patients whose primary language is not English.

Why you chose Family Medicine?
I chose Family Medicine because it allows me to practice the full breadth of medicine while building meaningful, lasting relationships with patients. I want to care for individuals and families across all ages and stages of life and continue to be their focal point of care. During my medical school training, I had difficulty in choosing just one specialty because I loved everything, but Family Medicine allows me the ability to diagnose and manage conditions across all specialties, which I find fulfilling and rewarding.

Why you chose University of Missouri?
I chose to stay at Mizzou for residency because Columbia has been my home since 2018 through my undergraduate studies and medical school. I have developed a strong support system here with close friends and wonderful faculty mentors, so staying for residency felt like a natural continuation of relationships and community. I love the smaller-town feel of Columbia, the Midwestern sense of community, and ability to practice more full-scope rural medicine in Fulton, MO.

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
I grew up in Cape Girardeau, Missouri where my parents and younger brother still live. When I go visit, I get to see my two mini goldendoodles, Stella and Lucy, who are the most perfect girls in the world. In my free time, I love doing anything outside, walking and running on the trails, biking, going to farmers markets, and playing pickleball. I also love art, cooking, needlepoint, reading, and watching reality TV.

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
I am a huge fan of Survivor and have a watch party with my friends every week. My boyfriend is an orthopedic surgery resident at Mizzou.

Do you have any specialty interests?
I see myself practicing more full-scope rural Family Medicine long term.

Why you chose Family Medicine?
I chose Family Medicine for so many reasons, but I think it boils down to forming lifelong relationships with patients and helping them feel empowered about their health. I love the art of medicine and being able to help manage various aspects of a person’s health while also appreciating and addressing social determinants of health and barriers they may be facing. There are also no two days that are the same in Family Medicine, which always keeps you on your toes.

Why you chose University of Missouri?
I chose the University of Missouri because I enjoyed coming in person for my interview and meeting so many amazing people. During my interview, I learned that there were opportunities to really explore your passions within family medicine with supportive faculty to guide you along the way. One of my mentors also did her family medicine residency at Mizzou, and I really look up to her and the type of physician she is, which helped me to confirm my decision.

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
I am from Atlanta, Georgia, and a true southerner at heart. I grew up dancing, doing ballet, modern, jazz, and tap, which was always my favorite. I went to college in New Orleans and have been a Midwesterner for about 6 years now. I have a cat named Emmy who is very cute. Outside of medicine, I enjoy cooking and trying new recipes. Some of my hobbies are playing games, working out, pickleball, and watching reality tv.

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
A random fact about me is that I watched all of the Harry Potter movies for the first time in 2025. Also, my favorite color is pink.

Do you have any specialty interests?
I am interested in working in an underserved area after residency. Within Family Medicine, I would like to do academic medicine, women’s health, and lifestyle medicine.

Why you chose Family Medicine?
Since starting medical school, I have always been drawn to family medicine. One of the things I value most about the field is the continuity of care that comes with building long-term relationships with your patients. In family medicine, you are able to care for patients of all ages, backgrounds, and medical conditions while having the opportunity to stand by each individual through their best and most challenging moments. I also enjoy the breadth of the field and how you can develop your practice based on your personal interests as well as the needs of the community you are serving, which makes the specialty both meaningful and adaptable.

Why you chose University of Missouri?
I have been a Mizzou Tiger for the last eight years as both an undergraduate and medical student, which has made Columbia, Missouri a second home for me. Mizzou Family Medicine has amazing faculty and mentors, along with an excellent reputation as a family medicine residency. Their commitment to serving Missouri and the opportunities in rural medicine were also a big factor in my decision. I couldn’t see myself going anywhere else.

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
I grew up in Troy, Missouri, a small town about an hour outside of Saint Louis. My father, uncle, and grandfather built the house that my brother and I grew up in, and my parents still live there to this day more than 25 years later. My family also has a goldendoodle named Harper who is the fifth member of our family. Outside of medicine, I enjoy running, lifting, listening to audiobooks, playing pickleball, wakeboarding/wakesurfing, and more recently learning to swim competitively (although I won’t being going to the Olympics anytime soon).

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
I am currently training for my first Triathlon which I am hoping to complete before residency starts!

Do you have any specialty interests?
I am currently interested in rural medicine and sports medicine but am open to everything family medicine has to offer.

Why you chose Family Medicine?
Clinically, I enjoy learning which pursuits bring meaning to my patients’ lives and empowering them to do those things. Family medicine physicians are able to do this for patients with a wide variety of backgrounds and a wider variety of goals. At the level of health systems, I am interested in better understanding and intervening on conflicts between the business of health and the practice of medicine, and family medicine offers many opportunities to make a positive impact on how we deliver healthcare.

Why you chose University of Missouri?
I was impressed by the folks I met during my interview, and Mizzou offers opportunities for training in sports medicine that fit well with my clinical interests.

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
I grew up in Morrisville, North Carolina and most of my family has settled down there over the years. My fiancé and I have three pets – a Great Dane mix named Ajax and two sister tortoiseshell cats named Lapis and Lazuli – and we are looking forward to finding a home with more space for them to frolic. In my free time I enjoy games of all kinds, archery, weightlifting, and photography.

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
When I was young, my parents narrowly talked me out of becoming a falconer.

Do you have any specialty interests?
My interests are broad, but I am leaning most strongly toward sports medicine.

Why you chose Family Medicine?
I chose family medicine because it allows me to build long-term relationships and care for the whole person across all stages of life. I’m drawn to its variety and the chance to understand the broader factors that impact health. I strongly believe preventative care is the most impactful form of medicine, and this field allows me to focus on keeping patients healthy and catching issues early.

Why you chose University of Missouri?
I chose the University of Missouri because it offers strong, well-rounded training and the opportunity to pursue a fellowship. I came to Columbia for my interview day and had a great experience with the staff and residents and I loved the smaller city feel. It was especially meaningful to couples match here with my fiancé (pursuing Ob-Gyn), who is from St. Louis, allowing us to be closer to family and build our future together.

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
I’m originally from the small town of Anamosa, Iowa. I grew up playing many sports with my two older brothers and I eventually went on to play football at Wartburg College. Now, I still try to play sports whenever possible which consists mainly of pickleball, rock climbing, and basketball. My fiancé and I enjoy working out together and going on walks.

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
I’m a diehard Green Bay Packers fan.

Do you have any specialty interests?
Sports medicine, lifestyle medicine.

Why you chose Family Medicine? 
I chose to specialize in Family Medicine for the clinical variety and patient connections. I enjoy the challenge of practicing a wide range of medicine across all ages and the flexibility in how you can tailor a FM practice. Whether it’s inpatient, outpatient, obstetrics, sports, rural ER, etc., it can be done by a Family Physician! Additionally, I believe FM has a unique capacity for developing community ties and deep patient connections as you care for individuals and families across generations. 

Why you chose University of Missouri? 
Ultimately, I chose the University of Missouri for the high quality of training and the community. In particular the strong inpatient medicine and sports training at MU aligned with my interests and I felt that I would be simultaneously pushed and supported at this program into becoming the physician I aspired to be. The first time I visited Columbia was on my interview day. The faculty and residents I met were welcoming and friendly and I felt the culture of the town was similar to that of Iowa, my home state. Also, I was impressed by the parks, trail systems, and outdoor recreation Columbia has to offer. Overall, the University of Missouri offered the training, support, and community I was looking for in a residency program. 

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.? 
I grew up in Riverdale, Iowa which is a small town of around 400 within the larger Quad City Area of Eastern Iowa / Illinois which has a population of roughly 380,000. I have two siblings and am a middle child. I am currently engaged and will marry my fiancé, Rachel, in the fall of 2026. I love sports and the outdoors. In particular football, baseball, golf, skiing, hiking, and canoeing are a few of my favorite hobbies. 

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself? 
I traveled to India in 2023 as part of a global health expedition providing care to rural areas in the Himalayan Mountains. Also, I try to go skiing and make a trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area once a year! 

Do you have any specialty interests? 
I am considering pursuing a Sports Medicine Fellowship

Why you chose Family Medicine?
I chose Family Medicine because I value building long-term relationships with my patients and caring for them across all stages of life. I enjoy the versatility of the specialty and the opportunity to address not only medical concerns, but also the social and community factors that impact health.

Why you chose University of Missouri?
I chose Mizzou because it allows me to train close to home and serve the community that helped shape who I am. As a lifelong Mizzou Tigers fan, I have always felt a strong connection to both the university and the Columbia community. I have fond memories of cheering on Mizzou football with my family.

Tell us about your hometown, family, pets, hobbies, etc.?
I am originally from Eugene, Missouri which is 45 minutes south of Columbia. I grew up on a farm alongside my 3 brothers. I completed my undergraduate education and medical school training in Kansas City through the 6 year BA/MD track. In my free time I like to golf with friends and spend time outside!

What random fact(s) would you like to share about yourself?
My favorite golf course that I have played is Payne’s Valley near Branson, Missouri.

Do you have any specialty interests?
Sports Medicine