Meet the Team

Our Physicians

Leadership Council

Alan Hathcock, MD, MPH, FHM, FACP

Chief Executive Officer and Medical Director

Dr. Hathcock received his BA in English and Sociology from the University of Texas at Austin in 2002 followed by two years of public health service in Peace Corps Nicaragua. He went on to complete his medical degree and master’s in public health degree, as well as his Internal Medicine residency and Chief Resident year at Tulane Medical Center in New Orleans. After serving as the Hospitalist Medical Director at Ochsner Medical Center, he joined Northern Colorado Hospitalists in 2016 and became the group’s first Chief HR Officer in 2018. He was then selected by the NCH Board of Directors to become CEO and Medical Director in 2020. He has four kiddos and his wife is a pediatrician. Outside of the hospital, he loves to run, hike, ski, bike, fly-fish and spend time exploring all things outdoors with his family.

Anupama Gandhe, MD, MPH

Chief Human Resource Officer

Dr. Gandhe received her medical degree in India before moving to the United States in 2003. She then completed a Masters in Public Health from Western Kentucky University. She trained in internal medicine from Saint Vincent’s Hospital in Worcester, Massachusetts and was a practicing hospitalist in MA from 2008 to 2015. She moved to Colorado in early 2016. Dr. Gandhe enjoys cooking, travelling, painting and spending time with her husband and daughter.

Kathrin Harrington, MD, SFHM

Chief Medical Officer

Dr. Kathrin Harrington grew up in Switzerland and Oklahoma. She received her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology as well as her Medical Doctorate from the University of Oklahoma. Dr. Harrington completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Colorado, with an emphasis on hospital medicine. She joined Northern Colorado Hospitalists in 2012. Her medical interests include quality improvement. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two children, reading a good book, and exploring the Colorado mountains.

Morgan Cline, MD

Poudre Valley Hospital Medical Director

Dr. Cline attended medical school at the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. She then completed her residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Alabama—Birmingham. After finishing residency, she moved to Fort Collins to join Northern Colorado Hospitalists. In her spare time, she enjoys baking, trying out new restaurants, and enjoying time with her family. 

Marshall Davis, MD

Medical Center of the Rockies Medical Director

Dr. Davis is a native of Colorado. He did his undergraduate training at the University of Northern Colorado and has a Masters in Public Health from the Colorado School of Public Health. He did research at the National Institutes of Health in Washington, D.C. and then attended medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa. Outside of work, he loves spending time with family and enjoys racquetball, skiing, biking and working outside.

Nathan Smith, MD

Greeley Hospital Medical Director

Dr. Smith grew up in San Antonio, TX. He earned his B.S. in Biology from Tulane University. He went on to earn his Medical Degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. Following medical school, he was commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, TX. He served seven years as an Army physician, then spent three years as a Hospitalist in Colorado Springs prior to joining Northern Colorado Hospitalists. He enjoys spending time with his wife and twin girls, along with traveling and fly-fishing.

Karl Stoltze, MD

MCR Assistant Hospital Medical Director

Dr. Karl Stoltze received a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry from the University of  New Mexico. He then completed medical school at the University of New Mexico. He  went on to perform his residency in Internal Medicine at Legacy Health in Portland,  Oregon. He has worked as a hospitalist in New Mexico prior to joining Northern  Colorado Hospitalists. He has one daughter and one son. Outside of the hospital he  enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, reading, hiking, and playing soccer.

Rebecca R. Jackson DO, CMD

Post-Acute Care Medical Director

After receiving her undergraduate degree from Colorado State University, Dr. Jackson continued on to Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. She then completed her residency at the Family Medicine Center in Fort Collins, followed by a fellowship in Geriatrics at Oregon Health Sciences University in Portland.

In the decade prior to joining NCH, Dr. Jackson focused on care of the elderly across a variety of settings including post-acute and long-term care. Her experience as a medical director spans entire systems of geriatric care including nursing home, assisted living, home health and therapy services. She has worked as a medical director for a provider group, focusing on policies to improve geriatric care and quality of life. She currently serves as a board member of the Colorado Medical Director Association. Her other professional areas of interest include dementia care, polypharmacy, and falls.

Outside of work she enjoys time with her family, hiking, riding her bike, or simply being in her garden.

Joann Mueller, MD

Vice Chief Human Resource Officer

Dr. Mueller grew up in Colorado Springs and received her BS in Biochemistry from the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs. She completed medical school at the University of Colorado and Internal Medicine residency at the University of Utah. Outside of work she enjoys running, hiking, baking, and spending time with her family.

Greg Feldpausch, DO

Director of Education

Dr. Feldpausch attended Michigan State University for undergraduate training, completing a degree in Nutritional Sciences. He graduated from medical school at Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. He then worked in flight medicine for the US Air Force in Cheyenne WY, before returning to training and completing the Internal Medicine Residency at Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, OR. Outside of work he enjoys cycling and exploring the mountains with his family.

Justin Roesch, MD

Director of Professional Physician Evaluation and Quality Control

Dr. Roesch is a native of The Land of Enchantment. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology as well as his Medical Doctorate from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Thereafter, Dr. Roesch completed his Internal Medicine residency, including a Chief Resident year, at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center in Tucson Arizona. Following residency, he completed a Medical Education fellowship at Johns Hopkins before returning to the University of New Mexico as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Hospital Medicine. He was faculty for 5 years at UNM SOM, and served as Assistant Director of Assessment and Learning, Assistant Director for the Feedback Initiative, and Block Chair for the Clinical Reasoning Curriculum. Dr. Roesch maintains an interest in feedback, psychological safety in clinical environments, and diagnostic reasoning. In his free time, Dr. Roesch lives on his road bike, his mountain bike, and loves to ski, fly fish, and read non-fiction.

Kelly Mistry, MD

Director of Coding and Billing

Dr. Mistry attended The College of William and Mary for undergraduate followed by Eastern Virginia Medical School. She completed Internal Medicine training at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville followed by a year as Assistant Professor at UVA. Then in a bid to move to Colorado, worked in Grand Junction for 6 years before relocating to Fort Collins. Outside the hospital she enjoys reading, yoga, hiking, camping, traveling, eating and spending time with her husband and son.

Joseph Huguelet, MD

Director of Compliance

Dr. Joseph Huguelet grew up in Anchorage, AK but lived and worked in a number of places before receiving a B.S. in molecular biology from Western Carolina University. He graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, MN. He served an additional year there as a Chief Resident before joining Northern Colorado Hospitalists. Outside of work, he and his wife enjoy traveling, hiking, biking and camping.

Stacie Joseph, Executive Administrative Assistant

Stacie grew up in the Big Sky Country and moved to Fort Collins in 1998 where she and her husband raised three daughters. In her spare time, Stacie enjoys family time, outdoor living, and home improvements.

Leanne Burris, Credentialing Liaison

In 2017, Leanne moved to Colorado with her husband and five children, and since then has fallen in love with the mountains.    Growing up in the Midwest had its own country charm, but in no way did it compare to the beauty of a sunset over the Rockies.  For Leanne, any and all quality time spent with her husband and children is the best, in her opinion!  Camping, hiking, kayaking, board games, and cooking are among a few of her favorite past times.

Sydney Campbell, Administrative Assistant

Sydney is a Colorado native and grew up in Loveland. She spent six years on the Western slope in various mountain towns and moved back to the Front Range in 2023. In her spare time, Sydney and her husband enjoy skiing, traveling, and adventuring in the mountains with their Australian Shepherd.

Dena Ewan, Director of Finance

Coming Soon

Andrea

Andrea Nedelcu, Full Charge Bookkeeper

Andrea was born and raised in Romania where she completed her university education. She moved to Fort Collins in 2012 when her husband got a job transfer in the wonderful Colorado area which they now consider their home.  She brings more than 10 years of working in diverse financial positions with multiple companies and she has gained extensive insight in the field of Accounting. With a keen eye for details, her main goal with a company is to ensure that the books and financial statements accurately reflect the finances.  When she is not reviewing numbers, she spends time with her husband and their two kids. 

Karen Landry, RCM Specialist

Karen Landry is a Colorado native and has lived in Fort Collins for 24 years. She has been working in medical billing since 2014 and has found a passion for helping both providers and patients navigate the challenges of medical insurance. She enjoys gardening, cooking, and food preservation; she loves to hike and camp with her family and spend time in the great Colorado outdoors.

Brynn Hagen, HR and Compliance Manager

Brynn grew up in northern California and enjoys living in Colorado.  She has a passion for cultivating long-lasting partnerships through authentic connections and creating people-centric experiences that foster meaningful, cohesive cultures.  Brynn enjoys spending the three hundred days of Colorado sunshine socializing on sunny patios, listening to live music, and spending time with her family and friends.

 

Coming Soon

Senior Partners

William Bennett Austin, DO

Dr. Austin graduated from medical school at the University of Health Sciences in Kansas City, Missouri. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Providence St. Vincent Medical Center in Portland, Oregon. He served an additional year there as a Chief Resident. In 2004 he moved to Fort Collins to help start Northern Colorado Hospitalists. His medical interest is in glycemic control in the hospitalized and critical care patient. Outside of work, he enjoys the Rocky Mountains with his wife and three children.

Beth Yoder, MD, FHM

Dr. Yoder did her undergraduate work at Bethel College in North Newton, KS, and then did research in child and adolescent sleep and development through Brown University . She attended medical school at the University of Colorado and completed residency training at the University Hospitals of Cleveland (Case Western) before joining the Northern Colorado Hospitalists in 2004. Her interests include palliative care. When not working she and her husband enjoy traveling, cooking, contemporary art, and sculpture.

Jennifer Woelk, MD, FHM

Dr. Woelk attended Brandeis University before attending the University of Connecticut Medical School. She received her Internal Medicine residency training at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine where she was chief resident from 2004-2005. Dr. Woelk medical interests include VTE diagnosis and Stroke management. Outside of work she enjoys swimming and being outdoors, especially on the beach.

Mary Spannring, MD

Dr. Spannring attended Marquette University for her undergraduate training and went on to medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin. She attended residency in General Surgery at Mayo School of Medicine and followed this with her Internal Medicine residency at the Marshfield Clinic. She was Chief Resident at the Marshfield clinic following residency. She and her husband have two daughters.

Victoria Clipsham, MD

Dr. Clipsham attended the University of Oklahoma for undergraduate studies as well as medical school. She received her Internal Medicine training from the University of Tennessee at Memphis. Within medicine she has interests in hospital medicine as well as cardiology, pulmonology, and endocrinology. Outside of work she enjoys horseback riding, traveling, jogging, and reading.

Piotr Filipowski, MD

Dr. Filipowski initially received his medical degree in 1991 from Jagiellonian University of Krakow, Poland. Since then, he completed his specialty training in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine. He worked as a physician in Poland for 10 years before emigrating to the United States. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York and then worked as a hospitalist in New Jersey before moving to Fort Collins. He has two daughters and his wife is a pediatrician. His interests outside of medicine include spending time with his family, hiking, reading and kayaking- in addition to skiing.

Kate Knepper, MD, FACP

Dr. Knepper received her BA in Human Biology from Stanford University in 1993. She graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in 1999, and from their residency program in 2002. She spent eight years in private practice in Fort Collins before joining Northern Colorado Hospitalists. Her medical interests are in palliative care. Outside the hospital, she enjoys hiking, cooking, gardening, and spending time with her husband and son.

Christine Johnston, MD

Dr. Johnston grew up in San Diego and attended Georgetown University for her undergraduate studies. She went on to medical school at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. She completed her Internal Medical Residency at Temple University Hospital and practiced General Internal Medicine in Philadelphia for 8 years before moving to Fort Collins in 2007 and transitioning to Hospitalist Medicine. In her free time Dr. Johnston enjoys biking, running, skiing and exploring Colorado with her husband, two children, and two dogs.

Adam Mack, MD

Dr. Adam Mack received a Bachelor of Science in Animal Science from Colorado State University and completed medical school at the University of Nebraska. He went on to perform his residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Vermont, and has worked as a hospitalist in Washington state prior to joining Northern Colorado Hospitalists in 2010. His interests include spending time with his family, fly fishing, woodwork, and biking.

Nancy Terrell Maller, MD

Dr. Maller has been a practicing hospitalist since 2002 and has previously worked in Washington State, Idaho and most recently in Denver, Colorado. Dr. Maller obtained her Internal Medicine training at Yale University in New Haven, CT. In addition, she received her fellowship training in Rheumatology from Columbia Presbyterian in New York. When not working, Dr. Maller enjoys biking and spending time with her husband Mike.

Michael Osborn, DO

Dr. Osborn attended Pittsburg State University for undergraduate studies, followed by the Kansas City University of Medicine for medical school. He then completed a combined Internal Medicine and Pediatric residency at The University of Kansas Medical Center. Within medicine his interests are hospital medicine, quality improvement and medical informatics. Outside of work he enjoys trail running, mountain biking, camping, and fishing.

Alexander Myers, MD

Dr. Alexander Myers is a native of Salt Lake City, Utah and completed his undergraduate training in Biology at Westminster College. He attended medical school at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He completed residency training in Internal Medicine at University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis. Dr. Myers enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, hiking, biking, and playing guitar.

Adam Ward, DO

Dr. Adam Ward graduated from the University of Illinois with a BS in biology and went on to medical school at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency at the University of Chicago (NorthShore) internal medicine program. He has enjoyed his time in leadership positions within NCH and the UCHealth system with a particular interest in physician wellness.  His favorite past time is skiing with his family and friends. He also enjoys hiking and has summitted well over 100 of Colorado’s 13,000- and 14,000-foot peaks with many more to come.

Kelly Buisseret, MD

Dr. Buisseret grew up in Longmont Colorado before attending Cornell University in Ithaca, New York for her undergraduate studies. She went on to medical school at the University of Colorado and completed internal medicine residency at Exempla Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Denver. Outside the hospital she enjoys biking, hiking, making jewelry, enjoying Colorado’s sunshine, and building a cabin.

Peter Wallskog, MD

Dr. Wallskog received his education and training in Milwaukee, Chicago and Minneapolis. He provided care for patients in a traditional internal medicine practice in the Twin Cities for eight years before focusing on hospital medicine in 2003. After completing an MBA, he rediscovered his love of medicine and remains devoted to bedside care with concurrent systemic change. This Midwestern transplant is very excited to relocate to Colorado with his wife and high school sweetheart, Kate, and anticipates his three adult daughters will visit and join them in all of the outdoor activities along the Front Range. While not in the hospital, Dr. Wallskog will be hiking with his wife, enjoying her fabulous cooking, or triathlon training.

Eric Hess, MD

Dr. Hess received his Bachelors of Science and Medical Doctorate from the University of Illinois and completed his residency at Evanston Northwestern Hospital. He served an additional year there as a chief resident and went on to practice 15 years of inpatient and outpatient medicine, first in Northern Illinois and then in Fort Collins. His interests include running and spending time with his family.

Robert Enguidanos, MD, MPH

Dr. Enguidanos obtained his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and then a Masters in Public Health at UCLA. His medical degree is from University of California, San Diego. He completed a combined Internal Medicine – Pediatrics residency at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. Following that IDr Enguidanos worked as a hospitalist in the Phoenix area for 15 years. He enjoys working with Spanish speaking patients. In his free time he likes to swim and hike.

Benjamin Ruckman, DO

Dr. Ruckman grew up in the Colorado mountains,and attended Colorado State University for undergraduate and graduate school, before attending Rocky Vista University for medical school. He received his Internal Medicine residency training at Parkview Medical Center in Pueblo, Colorado. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking and skiing.

Lucie Uncapher, MD

Dr. Uncapher received her medical degree in the Czech Republic where she grew up. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Oakwood Hospital and Medical Center in Dearborn Michigan in 2016 and moved to Fort Collins shortly afterwards. She loves to spend her time outdoors and enjoys camping, hiking and skiing. She also plays piano and likes to travel.

Eduardo Cruz, MD

Dr. Cruz attended medical school in Ecuador. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 2014, after completing residency he worked as a Hospitalist in Iowa before joining NCH in 2018. His medical interests include Hospital Medicine, Nephrology and Infectious Diseases. In his free time he enjoys reading, photography, running, hiking and spending time with his wife and two dogs.

Masumi Arakane, MD

Dr. Arakane grew up in Ecuador where she attended medical school. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and then worked as a hospitalist in Iowa before deciding to move to Colorado. In her spare time, Dr. Arakane enjoys traveling, playing piano, cooking and enjoying the outdoors with her husband and two dogs.

Erin Koenig, MD

Dr. Koenig attended medical school at the University of North Dakota. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She and her husband enjoy hiking and traveling. She also loves to cook.

Leah Selby, MD

Dr. Selby grew up in Cheyenne, WY and did her undergraduate work at the University of Wyoming. She received her medical degree from the University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle, WA. She completed her Internal Medicine-Pediatric residency program at Loma Linda University Medical Center in Loma Linda, CA. In her spare time she enjoys baking, reading, running and cycling.

Emily Frydendall, MD

Dr. Frydendall is a Colorado native, born and raised here in Fort Collins, CO. She attended the University of Colorado at Boulder for her undergraduate degree in Integrative Physiology followed by medical school at the University of Colorado. She completed her internal medicine residency at Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver, CO and then served as chief resident for the program. Outside of the hospital she enjoys hanging out with her husband, who is a consult-liaison psychiatrist, their 2 young boys, as well as their 2 Labradors. She loves to hike, read, and travel.

Brody Jones, MD

Dr. Jones grew up in Colorado and got his Bachelor’s degree in Sports Medicine at Colorado State University. He attended medical school at Rosalind Franklin University in Chicago before returning to Colorado to do internal medicine residency at the University of Colorado in Denver. Outside of medicine, he enjoys traveling, snowboarding, and spending time with his significant other Melissa and their dog Toby.

Rebecca Bade, MD

Dr. Bade is a Colorado native, and grew up in Fort Collins. She did her undergraduate training at Colorado School of Mines before attending medical school at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. She completed residency training at the University of Colorado and then was delighted to join the NCH team in her hometown as a hospitalist. Dr. Bade’s medical interests include quality improvement, transitions of care, and medical education. Outside of work, she loves to spend time with her family, travel, read, and enjoy the beautiful state of Colorado.

Brian Daily, MD

Dr. Daily grew up in Lakewood, Colorado. He graduated from Arizona State University with degrees in Biology and Spanish, worked as a medical interpreter in Denver, and then served as a medical volunteer in the Dominican Republic. He studied medicine at Georgetown University and completed Internal Medicine residency at Saint Joseph Hospital in Denver. In his free time he enjoys playing squash, tennis, cycling, snowboarding, and spending time with his family.

Christopher Zirker, MD

After growing up in North Carolina, Dr. Zirker completed his BS and MS in Biomedical and Mechanical Engineering at the University of Virginia. He then moved to Vail where he performed biomechanics research before deciding he wanted to pursue medicine. He attended the Yale School of Medicine then completed his internal medicine residency in the Hospitalist Training Program at the University of Colorado. His medical interests include critical care, medical education, spinal cord injury, sepsis, and diagnostic ultrasound. He enjoys spending time with his wife and their three boys while also tinkering with computers, indulging in hi-fi headphones, and of course experiencing all that Colorado has to offer.

Stephen Groendyk, DO

Dr. Groendyk attended MCPHS University for his undergraduate studies. He went on to medical school at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He then finished his medical training at Parkview Medical Center’s Internal Medicine Residency program. His interests inside of medicine include Hematology and Oncology as well as Critical Care medicine. Outside of medicine Dr. Groendyk enjoys a variety of hobbies including alpine and big wall rock climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, acrobatic yoga, highline slacklining, photography, and playing guitar.

Kalpana Bicknell, MD

Dr. Bicknell completed her undergraduate training at University of Miami and subsequently completed medical school at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. Afterwards she did her internal medicine residency at Loyola University Medical Center. She has been practicing as a hospitalist since that time and joined Northern Colorado Hospitalists in 2021. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her husband and three kids as well as hiking and running.

John Dickens, MD

Dr. Dickens attended Bowdoin College before attending the University of Vermont College of Medicine. He received his Internal Medicine residency training at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine during which he also completed an MPH and a General Medicine Fellowship in 2004. Dr. Dickens’ medical interest include using Point of Care Ultrasound (POCUS) to enhance clinical decision making. Outside of work he enjoys music and being outdoors.

Dara White, MD

Dr. White attended medical school at Texas A&M University. She completed her residency and a chief year at the University of New Mexico before moving to Northern Colorado. She enjoys spending time with her family and partner outside of the hospital and is looking forward to exploring the Colorado outdoors. 

Michael Fackler, DO

Dr. Fackler earned his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.  He then completed medical school at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  Following graduation from medical school he did his internal medicine training at Henry Ford Health System in Michigan. His medical interests include hospital medicine and quality improvement.  He is a Colorado native, so outside of work he enjoys being outdoors and in the mountains with his wife and daughter.

Katherine George, DO

Dr. George grew up in Jacksonville, Florida. She attended Wake Forest University for undergraduate studies, and Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale for medical school. She completed Internal Medicine residency at University of Louisville in Kentucky. She moved to Colorado in 2022 with her husband and their black lab. Outside the hospital she enjoys baking, skiing, rock climbing, and reading sci-fi novels.

Ryan Owen, DO

Dr. Owen received his B.S. in Physiology through the Lyman Briggs College at Michigan State University followed by his medical school training at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency training at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan. He relocated to Fort Collins in 2022 upon completion of residency to begin his career in Hospitalist Medicine. His medical interests include point-of-care ultrasound and critical care. Outside of work he enjoys skiing, hiking, camping, and all the outdoors have to offer.

Brian Birks, DO

Dr. Birks grew up in Colorado and completed his undergraduate education at the University of Colorado at Boulder with a focus in human physiology. Following undergrad, he spent 5 years doing research in sleep and chronobiology with CU Boulder. He studied medicine at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Loyola University in Chicago. He has a passion for cardiac and pulmonary medicine. Outside of medicine he enjoys spending time with his wife and son, exploring new restaurants/breweries, cycling, climbing, hiking, and generally anything outdoors. 

Constance Steinmann, MD

Dr. Steinmann grew up in Gainesville, GA and attended medical school at American University of the Caribbean in Saint Maarten. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Memorial Health University Medical Center in Savannah, GA. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, running, traveling, and cooking.

Hannah Hewitt, MD

Dr Hannah Hewitt grew up in San Diego, Ca before attending Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo for undergraduate studies. She obtained her medical degree from Ross University and completed her Internal Medicine Residency training at Virginia Tech- Carilion Clinic in Virginia. She worked in Brighton, Colorado for a couple years before relocating to Fort Collins. Her husband is a firefighter for the city of Fort Collins. Outside of medicine she enjoys playing soccer, snowboarding, camping, traveling, and spending time with her dog.

Junior Partners

Radu Blejeru, MD

Dr. Radu Blejeru did his medical school in Romania and internal medicine residency in New Jersey. After working on both coasts he decided to move to Colorado to be closer to the mountains. He enjoys hiking, downhill skiing, biking, golf, tennis, and all that the great Colorado outdoors have to offer. 

Monica Blejeru, MD

Dr. Blejeru was born and raised in Romania, where she completed medical school.  She completed her  Internal Medicine residency in New York. After having spent a majority of her medical career in Maine, she decided to move to Colorado because it reminded her of her native country.

Monica enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, hiking, playing tennis and skiing in her free time.

Reid Sanders, DO

Dr. Sanders grew up in the small town of Ludington, Michigan, and received his medical degree through Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency throughout Sparrow Health Hospital System in Lansing, Michigan. He has relocated to Fort Collins, Colorado in the Summer of 2023 to pursue a career in Hospitalist Medicine. He has many interests in outdoor activities including skiing, mountain biking, and fishing. Dr. Sanders is excited to explore more of the endless opportunities and activities Colorado has to offer.

Lyndie Wilkens, DO

Dr. Wilkins is a native of Loveland, Colorado. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Northeastern University. She attended medical school at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and then completed her residency training in Internal Medicine at Mountain Vista Medical Center in Mesa, Arizona. Outside of work, she loves hot yoga, trying new recipes, and spending time with her family.

Artur Karimov, MD

Dr. Karimov was born in Russia, grew up in a city called Kazan, and graduated with an MD degree from Kazan State Medical University in 2005. He worked in a hospital there for a bit, and then in 2009 he started a residency in Internal Medicine at a University of Tennessee program in Nashville. Dr. Karimov finished his residency in 2012, and then worked as a hospitalist ever since, in Dayton, Ohio, in Ewa Beach, Hawaii and Austin, Texas. He also worked one year as a primary care physician in Austin Texas (2020 – 2021) and gained invaluable experience as a PCP. Most recently he worked as a hospitalist and an associate medical director for The Sound Physicians Group at Ascension Seton Medical Center in Austin. He met his fiancée Dr. Narina Grove in 2021,  had a long distance relationship, and finally this year was able to move to Colorado with his children so that they can all live together as a family. 

Daniel Daoud, DO

Dr. Daoud grew up in southwest Michigan and earned his bachelors in Zoology from Michigan State University. He moved to downtown Detroit to attend Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He discovered a passion for travel and international medicine while on a study abroad in Malawi, Africa in Spring 2020 just before graduation.  In the midst of the pandemic, he learned he would be completing his Internal Medicine training as a VA sponsored resident at Tripler Army Medical Center in Honolulu, HI. While in the south pacific, he hiked, fished, scuba dove, and trained with a diverse patient population.  He is beginning his career in Hospitalist Medicine in Northern Colorado

Andrew Vest, DO

Dr. Vest was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. Completed a B.S. undergraduate degree at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville and medical school at the University of North Texas Health Science Center. Excited to relocate to the mountains, Dr. Vest, enjoys spending time with his girlfriend and pug, Gravy, in the great outdoors. Other interests include hiking, skiing, camping, pottery, and compassionate patient care. Dr. Vest has co-authored a chapter on discography and has a special interest in interventional pain management.

Maxwell Hudson, DO

Dr. Hudson was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. Excited to return to Fort Collins with his wife, three children, and two dogs, he completed his masters in Nutritional Science at Colorado State University prior to attending medical school at Midwestern University in Arizona. He completed his residency training in family medicine and became a hospitalist at Skagit Regional Health in Mount Vernon, Washington. Outside of medicine, he enjoys mountain biking and spending time with his family in the outdoors.

 

Mitchel Brown, DO

Dr Brown grew up in Colorado. He did his undergraduate training at CU Boulder and then did medical school at Rocky Vista University. He then completed his Internal Medicine Residency in South Denver and after practicing for a couple of years in Washington he is back to Colorado. He spends his time with family and dog and enjoys hiking, biking and reading. 

Abdurraheem Farrah, MD

Dr Farrah grew up in Amman, Jordan. He is a graduate of the University of Jordan medical school. After medical school, he moved to the USA in 2017, to attended Internal Medicine residency at St Joseph’s hospital in downtown Chicago. After residency, he ventured out to the great plains where he settled into the community of Casper Wyoming serving the community and surrounding areas for four years. During his tenure in Wyoming, he developed a great love for the mountains, and this bolstered his passion for rock climbing, running, hiking and outdoor photography. He moved to Colorado in Summer of 2023 and looks forward to serving the Coloradan community as well as exploring all the great mountains the state has to offer.

Kyle Higbee, MD

Dr. Higbee grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area. He completed his Bachelor’s in Molecular Biology at Brigham Young University in Utah and then returned to California for medical school at the University of California, San Diego. He then moved to Kentucky to complete his Internal Medicine residency at the University of Louisville. He, his wife, and his two daughters are thrilled to be back near the mountains. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, camping, reading, baking, cooking, and spending time with his family.

Jason Spicher, MD

Dr. Jason Spicher is from Lancaster, Pennsylvania. He studied biology, chemistry and Spanish at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. After college, he moved to Alamosa, Colorado to volunteer in the county public health department and became interested in community healthcare. He returned to Pennsylvania where he helped Penn State University develop a new medical school curriculum, which he later attended. He and his wife were excited to return to Colorado where he completed a Family Medicine residency at Poudre Valley Hospital. His medical interests include public health, point-of-care ultrasound, and medical education. In his free time, he can be found cycling, camping, or working on his Volkswagen van. 

Renee Chen, DO

Dr. Chen grew up in Northwest Ohio and received a bachelor’s degree in biology from Ohio Northern University. She then went on to complete a master’s degree in biomedical sciences at A.T. Still University in Missouri where she later attended medical school.  She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Billings Clinic in Montana. In her free time Dr. Chen enjoys spending time hiking, camping, kayaking, cooking, and spending time with her husband and golden retriever. 

Dani Dague, MD

Dr. Dague was raised in Wyoming surrounded by horses and a large extended family, but Colorado has become her true home, having lived here for over 20 years. She earned her B.S. at Colorado State University, and her M.D. at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. She completed her residency training in Internal Medicine, through the University of Washington. She enjoys spending time with her family, friends and dogs. In her free time, you can often find her in the middle of a home remodeling project.

Our UCHealth Hospitalist Nurses

Monica Lambert, RN

Monica Lambert completed her nursing degree at Regis University. Her 17 years of nursing have been spent entirely at Poudre Valley Hospital. She enjoys running, reading and traveling with her daughter and her husband.

Denise Rex, RN

Denise Rex earned her nursing degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 1999. Her areas of interest in medicine include cardiac and infectious disease. Outside of work she gardens, does yoga, is learning the guitar and spends her free time with her two sons and her husband.

Jenn Schneider, RN-BC

Jenn earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology at Pacific Lutheran University and then her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at the University of Northern Colorado. She has been working at Medical Center of the Rockies ever since. She loves spending time with her husband, two children, and three rescue dogs. In her free time she is an avid swimmer, snowboarder and enjoys SCUBA diving worldwide.

Amanda Hlawaty, RN

Amanda received her nursing degree from the University of Northern Colorado and has been a nurse within the Poudre Valley Health System since 1997. She is certified in critical care through the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses. She enjoys hiking, biking and skiing with her husband and 2 sons.

Sheila Kelly, RN

Sheila completed a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology in 2005 from the University of Northern Colorado and went on to get her Bachelor of Science in Nursing in 2007, also from the University of Northern Colorado. She has worked at both Poudre Valley Hospital and Medical Center of the Rockies ever since. When not at work, she enjoys traveling with her family, gardening, and spending time with her two children, Drake and Willow, as well as her 4 dogs.

Deborah Peralez, RN

Deb graduated from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center with her BSN in 1999 after working many years in the dental field. She has worked at University Hospital, PVH, and MCR. Outside of work she loves spending time with her husband, music, cooking , animals, traveling and outdoor activities.

Matt Wolf, RN

Matt is a veteran of the United States Air Force. He has worked as a nurse for Poudre Valley Hospital/Medical Center of the Rockies since July of 2000. Matt earned his Associates Degree in Nursing from FRCC in 2000 and his Bachelors of Science Degree in Nursing from Western Governors University 2013. When not working, Matt enjoys sports, driving his vintage 1969 Chevy Nova, and spending time with his wife Nicole and their twin children, Michael and Madison.

Isaac Kimani, RN

Isaac was born and raised in Kenya. He received my bachelors in Computer Information Systems and Management at CSU, in 2004, and later pursued my BSN from UNC (Greeley) in 2008. He graduated in 2016 from Grand Canyon University with my Masters in Healthcare leadership and administration. He worked as a float pool RN at both PVH and MCR. Outside of the hospital Isaac enjoys watching sports, spending time and traveling with my family.

Kristen Quaid, RN

She started as a nurse at MCR in 2008. Her first nursing degree was through Aims Community College. She achieved her Bachelor’s degree from University of Colorado in 2014. She has worked at both MCR and PVH. She is certified in Med-Surg and Emergency Nursing. She enjoys spending time with family and friends playing board games, working out at the gym, hiking and traveling.

Rachel Zwickel, RN

Rachel received her BSN from the University of Northern Colorado in 2011. She worked at MCR from 2010-2019, with most of her time in the Emergency Department. In 2019, she was excited to join the Hospitalist team while helping to open UCHealth Greeley Hospital. Her faith and family are most important to her, and she enjoys doing activities like bike rides, riding horses, and spending time in the mountains.

Whitney Johnson, RN

Whitney graduated in 2003 with a degree in Health and Exercise Science from Colorado State University with emphasis in Health Promotion. In 2008 she graduated from the University of Northern Colorado and obtained a Bachelors of Science in nursing. She has worked for the health system for 17 years. Before she became a nurse she worked in admissions, Occupational Health and coordinated the Employee Wellness program before she went on to become a nurse. In her spare time she enjoys riding bikes with her boys, gardening, sewing, refinishing furniture, traveling, and baking.

Lisa Schwartz, RN

Lisa received her BSN from the University of North Dakota in 1985. Her 34+ years of professional experience includes various nursing and leadership roles predominantly in the area of Cardiovascular medicine. Lisa enjoys spending her free time with family/friends enjoying the outdoors boating, golfing, hiking as well as time with their dogs.

Sarah Watson, RN

Sarah is a Colorado native and grew up in Aurora, Colorado. She moved to Fort Collins for college in 2000, and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from CSU in 2004. At the same time, she enrolled in the second degree program at University of Northern Colorado and earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing in 2006. She started out in the Resource Pool, and then worked on the Medical Unit at PVH as a bedside nurse, charge nurse, and Clinical Educator until 2015. She then became a Discharge Nurse for the Transitional Care program at PVH and had that role for 6 years. She is also Med-Surg certified through ANCC. In her free time she likes to ride her bike, read, play games, chill and watch Netflix, and travel with her husband and two kids.

Ivy McColley, RN

Ivy has been an RN since 2016. She was previously at Banner’s Progressive Care Unit at the same time as an Acute Care RN at UCHealth Greeley. After this, she was a Discharge RN PRN, and finally a travel nurse for about 8 months before transitioning to the Hospitalist RN role.

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“We take care of our physicians so they can take care of our patients”