First Year
Shannon Salerno, M.D.
Hometown: Overland Park, KS
Undergraduate: Creighton University
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: One of the things I like the most about family medicine is the ability to care for people during all stages of life, both in the hospital and out in the community, and this program provides ample opportunities for both. The city is large enough to offer a wide range of experiences, but small enough to get around town without difficulty. Last, but not least, I appreciate the supportive atmosphere among residents and the faculty’s eagerness to help you grow as a physician!
Robert Garekis, D.O.
Hometown: Milwaukee, WI
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: Family medicine was my specialty of choice due to its astounding scope. While attending medical school in Iowa I was aware of the reputation SMEF had for producing excellent physicians that practice in a wide variety of positions. My top priority was to find a residency where I would be trained in full scope family medicine so that my career path would not be limited by my training, but rather enhanced by it. SMEF graduates go on to practice in emergency departments, as hospitalists, in obstetric roles performing c-sections, and in outpatient clinics directly out of residency without needing to pursue fellowships for additional training- that spoke volumes to me as an applicant.
Katherine Evans, D.O.
Hometown: Hinton, IA
Undergraduate: University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
Medical School: A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: I chose SMEF as it is an unopposed residency that offers full-spectrum family medicine training while still being associated with the University of Iowa (Go Hawks!). Being in the city we have the opportunity to work with many different specialists. We also have a very diverse patient population as we serve the surrounding tri-state area. I was fortunate to complete a rotation with SMEF and really enjoyed working with the residents and faculty. They were so friendly and inviting! Sioux City is a great location due to its larger size while also having a small town feel. I’m from the area, so that was a bonus!
Cassady Miller, M.D.
Hometown: Wakefield, NE
Undergraduate: Wayne State College
Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: SMEF is an unopposed program where you can get the best all-around training and be prepared for full-spectrum family medicine in the future. You can also target what you plan to do in the future by getting to choose from many different electives, which you can complete your second and third years. This program really enables you to be successful in whatever part of family medicine you desire and allows you to get the broad training you need so you feel comfortable. The people are also a big factor; they are so supportive and really are like a family.
Ben Schwab, D.O.
Hometown: Great Bend, KS
Undergraduate: Drury University, Springfield, MO
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: SMEF is a tight knit community of physicians where nearly half of Sioux City Family Medicine practitioners have come through. The respect and camaraderie of Family Medicine practitioners and specialists with the residents set a positive tone for a strong learning environment. Having two hospitals to train in set up an opportunity to learn how more than one system operates. This would make it so I could more easily adapt to a new environment when I graduate the program. I am a DO who wants to develop my OMM skills. Having physicians on staff who are board certified DOs is paramount to my future skill development. Lastly, though not least, the other residents are great people and easy to get along with.
Austin Granatowicz, M.D.
Hometown: Firth, NE
Undergraduate: Morningside College, Sioux City, IA
Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: SMEF stood out to me because it was an unopposed community based program in a relatively bigger city, with class sizes that weren’t too big or small and faculty that have a great relationship with the residents. Early on in your first year you’re given the independence to see and manage your own patients in both the inpatient and outpatient setting, knowing that you always have faculty and upper level residents to fall back on and help guide you. It was important to me to find somewhere that was family friendly. Residency is a huge time commitment and you’ll be expected to work hard, but faculty and other residents here put a big emphasis on work life balance.
Second Year
Valery Tran, M.D.
Hometown: Den Haag, NLD
Undergraduate: Washington University, St Louis, MO
Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: I was particularly impressed with the resident comradeship and faculty-to-resident ratio here – it really feels like a family! Geographically, I appreciated that SMEF, being an unopposed program, would give me the opportunity to be involved in the full care of our patient population in every clinical setting, while being in a town large enough to house the full gamut of medical sub-specialties.
Robert Paul Andrews, M.D.
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Undergraduate: University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: I chose SMEF due to the large amount of inpatient and emergency medicine that is offered. I intend to practice as a hospitalist with some shifts covering the ER and felt this program would offer me the broadest range of experiences and training. I felt I would leave the program prepared to care for any patient who I would see in the hospital.
Kylie Cowdin, M.D.
Hometown: Northfield, MN
Undergraduate: Winona State University, Winona, MN
Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: I knew that I wanted to do lots of obstetrics after residency, and I knew I would get a lot of OB experience at this unopposed program. I also wanted to be able to use my Spanish, and there is definitely that opportunity at SMEF. Lastly, I wanted a residency where I would feel supported and enjoy the people I work with.
Jeffrey Cotter, M.D.
Hometown: Wichita, Kansas
Undergraduate: Newman University, Wichita, KA
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita
Why I Chose SMEF: I was looking for a program that could prepare me for any path I decided to take in my career. I am interested in many aspects of family medicine care delivery and fellowship opportunities. I knew that Siouxland Medical Education Foundation would prepare me for any path I desired upon completing the program. I could not be happier with my decision!
Erik Burnison, M.D.
Hometown: Huron, SD
Undergraduate: University of South Dakota-Vermillion
Medical School: University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: With a fairly large population yet still remaining an unopposed residency, we get an exceptionally broad range of opportunities to practice medicine. The attendings and staff are knoweldegable, easy to communicate with, and well-respected in the community. With 6 residents per class, the workload is manageable and the atmosphere is constructive, supportive, and fosters our independence.
Eli Wayman, M.D.
Hometown: Omaha, NE
Undergraduate: University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE
Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Why I Chose SMEF: I wanted an unopposed family medicine program. I wanted to be able to work directly with physicians and not have to compete with residents from other residency programs (OB/GYN, internal medicine, surgery, etc) for opportunities. When I was applying to residency programs, I was told the analogy that it is better to be on a division II school (Siouxland) and on the field playing than on a division I (university associated residencies) and on the bench. From what I’ve seen from family medicine residents at university associated programs, that is the case. Often they are on the bench. I’d rather be in the game!
Third Year
Sean Nelson, M.D.
Hometown: Portage, WI
Undergraduate: University of Nebraska
Medical School: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE
Why I Chose SMEF: I chose to come to SMEF because of the opportunity for exceptional training in full-spectrum Family Medicine at a community-based and truly unopposed residency program. There were other “unapposed” programs, but which shared the hospital with numerous other residents in various specialties from other programs. The access to procedures to enhance my training here was unparalleled. My wife’s family lives in Omaha, so the location was a bonus as well.
Mary Catherine Mohr, D.O.
Hometown: Alexandria, MN
Undergraduate: College of St. Benedict
Medical School: DO, Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA
Why I Chose SMEF: I chose to come to SMEF because it offered full-spectrum Family Medicine that is community-based and unopposed. Training here will prepare me to work almost anywhere. The diverse patient population found in Sioux City gives plenty of opportunity to see and do things that might be more common in an urban practice, while also serving the surrounding rural populations. This is a great place to get trained as a competent and experienced Family Medicine physician who will feel comfortable working in many different practice environments.
Lauren Norman, M.D.
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Undergraduate: Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Medical School: St. Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
Why I Chose SMEF: As a medical student I tried my best to apply to mostly unopposed Family Medicine programs. I didn’t want to have to compete with other residents for procedures, deliveries, i.e. learning opportunities! I chose to come to SMEF because I knew I would be able to get the full spectrum training I wanted so that I’d be prepared for the future. For the most part, this place felt like home when I visited, the faculty and the residents were so warm and inviting. I don’t exactly know where I will end up after residency, but I know I’ll be prepared after training here at SMEF.
Kristen Maylott, D.O.
Hometown: Enfield, Connecticut
Undergraduate: University of New Haven, West Haven, CT
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Kansas City, MO
Why I Chose SMEF: I chose SMEF because I completed a rotation with them and really enjoyed my time with the residents and faculty. I formed a great connection with the residents and really felt like they took me in to their “family.” I am interested in rural medicine and the unopposed training at SMEF provides a great foundation, as well as, the skills and experience necessary to practice in a rural area. Also, I wanted a program that provided healthcare for an under- served population and SMEF participates in community health as well as prenatal care for patients on the reservations. After spending a month with SMEF, I felt the environment was very positive, supportive, and the perfect fit for me!
Dylan Smith, M.D.
Hometown: Table Rock, NE
Undergraduate: Wayne State College
Medical School: University of Nebraska Medical Center
Why I Chose SMEF: Knowing that I eventually want to return to a rural community, I wanted an unopposed program that would prepare me for whatever might walk through the door. With a strong overall training, including OB, I feel that that SMEF is definitely the right program for me.
Cora Ruhl, M.D.
Hometown: Leon, KS
Undergraduate: Tabor College in Hillsboro, KS
Medical School: KU School of Medicine – Salina, KS
Why I Chose SMEF: I am interested in rural medicine, so I was very impressed with the rural focus at Siouxland. Everyone I met seemed genuinely interested in who I am and what I want out of residency. The people at Siouxland are warm and friendly, and I felt like I fit in well.