First
Year Residents -
Sharon Boyce, M.D.
As a native of Brooklyn, New York and raised in a family of Trinidadian immigrants, I was loved by the best parents a person could wish for. They instilled in me some of my present core values: to love God and to be diligent in all that my hands find to do, whether at home, school, work, or elsewhere.
Ever since I could remember, two of my most important goals were to be an outstanding doctor and teacher. Prior to entering medical school, I had already achieved my first goal, teaching and tutoring for well over ten years. After meeting my wonderful and supportive husband, Collin, my next goal of becoming a physician began to materialize at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.
It has also been one of my dreams to serve as a physician in a rural community and I am excited that I will have the opportunity to fulfill this dream in Marquette. On the day of my interview, I was truly impressed with the camaraderie of the residents, the friendliness and support of the faculty and staff, and the unique atmosphere of Marquette. During my visit to the town, I was struck by the friendliness of its citizens and was cognizant of a love of the outdoors which I share. With Lake Superior just a stone's throw away, I needed no further convincing about making Marquette my new home. Here, I will continue to enjoy many of my hobbies, including mentoring youth, teaching, singing, walking, biking, and rollerblading, as well as my craftwork (crocheting, cross-stitching, sewing, embroidery, and origami).
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Christopher Dehlin, M.D.
I was born and raised in Gladstone, Michigan, which is a small community on the southern part of the Upper Peninsula. After high school I went on to Michigan Technological University in Houghton, Michigan, where I earned a BS and MS in mechanical engineering. I worked for a year as an engineer in Brighton, Michigan, while applying to medical school.
My first two years of medical school were at Wayne State University and I lived in Ann Arbor with my wife, Jen, who was in medical school at the University of Michigan. I transferred to Michigan State University and joined the Rural Physicians Program at the U.P. campus to complete my third and fourth years of medical school and be with Jen who was entering the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program.
We welcomed our first child, Samuel, into our family in November 2006. But even with a new baby and our busy schedules we manage to find time to enjoy all sorts of outdoor activities, especially road/mountain biking in the summer and Nordic skiing in the winter. Of course, this is made easier by the fact that there are trails and ski hills within 10 minutes of home.
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Lisa Knauf-Jorasz, D.O.
I grew up in Bark River, Michigan. I completed my undergraduate education at St. Norbert College in DePere, Wisconsin, where I earned my BS in biology. I then attended Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kirksville, Missouri. My clinical years of medical school were based “below the bridge” in Saginaw, Michigan, which made me appreciate the Upper Peninsula even more.
I chose Marquette for my residency because of its great teaching faculty and its unique ability to train family physicians for rural medicine, not to mention the fact that it’s not far from my hometown.
My husband also graduated from Bark River High and will be joining me in Marquette in October after he finishes his enlistment with the United States Marine Corps.
We are both very excited to call Marquette our new home and look forward to experiencing all Marquette has to offer!
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Katie Picucci, D.O.
I am a native of the Upper Peninsula, born and raised in Iron Mountain. I completed a BS in biology at Alma College and attended medical school at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. The majority of my past two years of medical training were spent in rural areas, including Cheboygan Memorial Hospital and Munson Medical Center in Traverse City. These experiences have affirmed my desire to return to a medically underserved, rural community to practice. The friendliness of the people and sense of community attracted my husband and I back to the Upper Peninsula.
During my childhood and adolescence, I spent some summers training in Marquette as a competitive skater. The rural character, picturesque setting, and abundant and diverse cultural activities make Marquette an idea location.
As a medical student I had the opportunity to rotate through Marquette General Hospital and was impressed with the number and diversity of pathologies observed. I was also very impressed with the staff’s interest and enthusiasm for sharing information and teaching.
Training at a regional medical center in an unopposed program, coupled with proximity to family, makes Marquette the best match for me!
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Melanie Purres, M.D.
While most people would be nicely settled into their careers at this point in life, I have been provided the opportunity to begin a new adventure training at the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program. My journey to this point has been diverse and interesting.
I was born and raised in Ontario, Canada. I earned my undergraduate degree at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia and, having already seen my own country coast to coast, I ventured to Asia for a year of exploration and adventure. Upon my return I was drawn to the field of health, trained in therapeutic massage and started my company Workers Rehabilitation Services providing onsite services for the prevention and treatment of occupational injuries to various workplaces. Although both my work and business were very successful and rewarding, I felt that I could have a more comprehensive influence on peoples’ health and pursued medicine with the goal of becoming a primary care provider. Older than the average medical student, the opportunity to pursue my new ambition was provided by an offshore medical school. My husband and I survived our long commute, infrequent visits and the various other stressors of living apart. We are thrilled to be living together again and have now made the United States our new home along with our two baby daughters.
I believe that this program will provide exactly what I had been looking for: a strong unopposed program in a large teaching center with broad exposure, responsibilities, support and guidance so that upon completion I will be comfortable to practice the full gamut of primary care in a somewhat rural setting. Marquette is a wonderful, family oriented community with incredibly beautiful landscape, endless recreational activities and, most importantly, wonderful people. Each day I discover yet another reason confirming that our family has made the right decision to relocate here. In my opinion, Marquette is one of America’s secret gems!
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Matthew Roberge, M.D.
I grew up in northern Michigan and learned to love the many opportunities for recreation and a relaxed lifestyle that life here presents. I went to college at Ferris State University where I met and fell in love with my future wife, Kristy. For the last four years we have been in the Detroit suburbs while I attended medical school at Wayne State University.
We were attracted to the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program for many reasons. I have an interest in international medicine; and I believe the Marquette program provides excellent training for working independently. The program is located in a medical center with state of the art technology and excellent specialists available for teaching. We were both impressed with the way that we were welcomed as a family to the community. I am also looking forward to taking my fishing, hunting, and skiing equipment out of retirement while we are here.
Second
Year Residents -
Chat Brundavanam, M.D., M.P.H.
I always wanted to live in a place that is calm, serene and filled with natural beauty. Marquette happens to be the perfect place I was looking for.
I was born in a small town in India. I completed my medical education at Gandhi Medical College in Secunderabad, India, and came to the United States two years ago. Since then I have toured all over the country and I can confidently say that Marquette is one of the most livable places in the US.
The Family Medicine program here is an excellent place to learn as it is unopposed and the faculty and staff are all very cooperative and work like a family.
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Gunmeet K. Kaleka, M.D.
I was born and brought up in Punjab, India. I completed my medical education at Baroda Medical College, in Northwestern India, after which I joined my husband in the United States. Before applying for residency I had a chance to work and acquaint myself with different clinical settings – a hospital, a private clinic, and a free-standing charitable institution in the Appleton, Wisconsin, area.
When I first came to Marquette for my interview, its calm, serene beauty was so enticing and picturesque that my husband and I decided to make it our home. To make the decision easier, I was really impressed by the program’s hospitality, well-rounded curriculum, great faculty, and friendly group of residents. I had high expectations for Marquette in terms of education and outdoor activities, and the program and area have meet those expectations. But I have been especially taken by the people and their commitment to making us feel welcome.
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Huma Khan, M.D.
I was born in New York City, but my upbringing was truly international. I was schooled in Bahrain, Karachi and Southfield, Michigan. I joined Baqai Medical University to study for my medical degree.
After graduating I had the opportunity to gain clinical experience in three different units at the Aga Khan University Hospital: The most challenging was the breast cancer screening clinic; Experience in the infectious diseases clinic introduced me to the reality of the prevalence of various diseases in the Pakistani population; The most enjoyable was my short experience in the Community Health Center, which was my first experience with the concept of family medicine.
During my four year stay in Southfield, Michigan, I traveled around the state and thoroughly enjoyed the natural beauty and tranquility of northern Michigan. This had a role in my decision to join the residency program in the Upper Peninsula. Over the past year I have enjoyed the serenity and scenic beauty of Marquette along with getting a taste of the UP culture. The physicians here are truly dedicated to providing the best possible care to their patients, in doing so they have created an amazing platform that teaches the art and skills of Family Medicine. Marquette and the residency have become home away from home.
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Siddhesh Lotlikar, M.D., M.P.H.
It has been quite an experience coming from Mumbai, India, to Marquette. I was born in Goa, a beautiful beach state on the west coast of India. I completed my medical education in Mumbai, one of the busiest cities in the world.
I had always wanted to pursue higher education in the USA and UT Houston School of Public Health’s Masters program was just the right place. The transition from Mumbai to Huston and then to Marquette has been quite dramatic, but every step has enhanced my experiences.
My interview experience at the Marquette Family Medicine Program, and the beautiful surroundings, influenced my decision to come to Marquette. My first year has not been a disappointment. Marquette combines the charm of rural life with the amenities of urban areas. The program’s emphasis on the “whole you” is an excellent balance of challenging work and recreational activities. I am sure the training will help me come out as a well-trained family practitioner.
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Kanthi Narra, M.D., M.P.H.
I grew up in India, in an extended family constantly surrounded by grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. So Marquette strikes a familiar chord. Sir William Osler said that "the practice of medicine is an art, not a trade, not a business, a calling; a calling in which your heart will be exercised equally with your head." I was fortunate enough to be exposed to my calling at an early age and consider it a privilege to help people when they are most vulnerable. As I had always wanted to be a Physician, and a PCP in particular, it was not much of a surprise when I joined Manipal Medical School. I was lucky to be exposed to people from different states and countries as my classmates.
My interest in Health Policy led me to Cornell University, NY, and then to East Tennessee State University to pursue my Masters in Health Administration and Public Health. I loved being in Johnson City, TN, and when I visited Marquette for my interview, I knew this was the place for me. Marquette has an unopposed, resident friendly program and an excellent teaching faculty, but it is the beautiful lake, and the warm and friendly faculty that made this program my first choice.
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Gabe Schuldt, M.D.
I was born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa, but started coming to the U.P. as a young child for summer vacations. My family stayed on Grand Island for several weeks each summer and I came to love Lake Superior and the northern forests.
After graduating from the University of Iowa with a B.A. in Anthropology, I drove even farther north than Marquette, and started graduate work at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks. I soon decided that a life of academic archaeology wasn’t for me, but loved Alaska, and there was no question in my mind that I would stay. I got a job with a social services agency working for people with disabilities, and bought a piece of land 25 miles north of town. I built a small cabin and somehow made it through my first winter without freezing to death. Toward the end of my stay in Alaska, I met my wife Natalie, who is a native Alaskan and grew up on a homestead near the Alaska Mountain Range.
Our lives turned 180 degrees when I was accepted to Tulane Medical School and we drove 4,500 miles south to live in New Orleans. For three years we became acquainted with the ways of New Orleans and were settling in for my fourth year of medical school when Hurricane Katrina made landfall. At that point, Natalie was six months pregnant and we spent the fall with family members across the U.S. I continued my rotations at various hospitals and clinics, and on December 9, our son Charlie was born in Arizona.
When looking for residency programs, we noticed that Marquette had a fine program in a beautiful setting, a place where we could feel at home. Over the past year we have become very attached to Marquette. The program is all we expected and more, and the people are dedicated, gifted and welcoming. We definitely picked the right “home” for my residency.
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Third
Year Residents -
Maciej
Czechowski, M.D.
I was born and raised in Krakow, Poland. When I was ten years old we moved with my family to Canada. It was at Queen’s University in Kingston, Canada, where I began my university studies in Biochemistry. I went back to Krakow, Poland, for my medical studies, which I completed at the Jagiellonian University – one of the oldest universities in Europe (founded in 1364).
I had a wonderful time studying in Europe and I took all possible opportunities to travel to all the surrounding countries. It was also during this time that I met my wife, Ewelina, with whom I share a passion for travel, fencing, photography and restoration of old furniture. Having spent the greater part of my life in Windsor, Ontario (right across the river from Detroit), and many summers with family and friends in Northern Ontario, I was very familiar with the beauty and tranquility of the Upper Peninsula. Of course I am personally excited about being part of this very strong program of Family Medicine. Over the past two years I have been quite impressed by Marquette General Health System and feel it is a great place to gain experience with diverse areas of medicine.
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Joel
Dank, M.D.
I wanted to do my residency here in Marquette because, quite simply, I am a Yooper. I came to the U.P. very reluctantly at 10 years old when my Dad transferred from St. Cloud, Minnesota. I could not wait to return to Minnesota, and did so when I began college at the University of Minnesota. However, the U.P. had grown on me and after two years in Minneapolis I transferred to Northern Michigan University. I finished my undergraduate education and was accepted to the Rural Physician Program at Michigan State University’s College of Human Medicine. After two years spent in East Lansing pining for the U.P., I returned for my clinical training. While in Marquette, I was able to work very closely with residents and attending physicians and felt like an integral member in the care of a wide variety of patients. I was also able to hunt, fish, play hockey, and my wife Betsy and I had our first child, James. We look forward to remaining in the U.P. for as long as is humanly possible.
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Jennifer
Dehlin, M.D.
I'm from Houghton, a small town on the UP's Keweenaw Peninsula. I went to Michigan Tech for undergrad and studied biomedical engineering. I went to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor for medical school. While we enjoyed living in the shadow of "the big house," my husband and I jumped at the opportunity to continue our medical education back up north.
As I finish my second year of residency he is graduating from MSU's rural physician program based here, and will join this year's intern class. Training here has been a great experience for both of us. MGH is a well respected, full service hospital with a full staff of specialists, plus excellent family medicine faculty and staff docs.
The people here have been dedicated to training family medicine residents for many years, and it shows! Residency training is demanding, but we're able to find time to balance our work with family life. This winter my husband and I welcomed our first child, Samuel James, into our family. We also continue to find time to play at the beach, mountain bike and road bike in the summer, and nordic and alpine ski all winter. Come for a visit and see for yourself what a great place Marquette is to live and practice medicine!
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Chris
Dums, M.D.
I grew up in Northern Wisconsin and attended Dartmouth College in New Hampshire. After college I spent four years doing construction work (building log homes) before attending the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee. I enjoy all things outdoors, especially hunting, fishing, kayaking and cross country skiing. I chose Marquette because it is a great place to continue doing these activities and at the same time obtain a high-quality education.
While interviewing in Marquette I had the sense that the residents were very happy with their decision to do residency here. Over the last two years I have found this to be true. I am looking forward to completing my training this year, enjoying the outdoors and perfecting my “Yooper” accent.
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Emily
Godec, M.D.
I was born and raised in Marquette. I attended Northern Michigan University for my undergraduate education. There I received my BS in Environmental Conservation and Human Physiology. I then attended Michigan State University for medical school. I spent my first two years in East Lansing and my clinical years in the Upper Peninsula. While in the U.P. I had the opportunity to work at rural hospitals, namely Keweenaw Memorial Hospital in Calumet and OSF St. Francis Hospital in Escanaba, which helped me realize what living in “real” rural areas was like.
I chose to stay in Marquette for my residency training because it is unopposed and this is allowing me to get a lot of pediatric and obstetric experience. I also appreciate the caring staff, the close proximity of my family, and the abundant year-round outdoor recreational activities here. I am very excited to be giving something back to the wonderful Marquette community.
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Family Medicine Residency, 1414 West Fair Ave.
Suite 36, Marquette MI 49855
Inquiries
can be made by:
e-mail:
residency@mgh.org
phone: 1-800-774-4844
