Our Family and Community Medicine Residents

Andrew Burns, MD

education co-chief

Hometown: Middletown, OH

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State because of the strong emphasis on health equity and improving the health of underserved communities. I also enjoyed the great camaraderie among the residents and faculty and the ability to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies and specialists at a world class medical center. I could see Ohio State was a excellent place to receive a well-rounded training.I chose Ohio State because of the strong emphasis on health equity and improving the health of underserved communities. I also enjoyed the great camaraderie among the residents and faculty and the ability to take advantage of cutting-edge technologies and specialists at a world class medical center. I could see Ohio State was a excellent place to receive a well-rounded training.

John Castillo, MD

Hometown: Huntington, WV

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University

Why I chose Ohio State: Columbus is an eclectic city with so much to do and see, it seemed like the perfect place for my kids to grow and learn. Ohio State provides opportunities to explore one's interests and chase our passions. No matter your goals within Family Medicine, Ohio State gives you an opportunity to achieve them all!

Sara Colombo, MD

Hometown: Toledo, OH

Undergraduate: University of Toledo
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: Having gone to medical school here, I knew I would get the residency training I desired from a large academic center like Ohio State.

Katherine Etter, DO

Chief resident

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Undergraduate: Marshall University
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - Athens

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State because of the vast number of opportunities available here including integrative medicine with OMT, the transgender primary care clinic, and palliative medicine opportunities at The James. I also loved the mix having both unopposed and opposed learning opportunities.

Holiday Harris, DO

Hometown: Stephenville, TX

Undergraduate: University of the Incarnate Word
Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State due to the top-tier education in a variety of settings including OSU Wexner, OSU East, outpatient locations, and Nationwide Children's Hospital. We are able to learn from a diverse patient population and ensure thorough training in well-rounded family practice care to apply moving forward in our careers. The faculty is also very supportive and involved in helping us grow as physicians and people.

Michael Ioerger, MD

Hometown: Wichita, KS

Undergraduate: University of Nebraska - Lincoln
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: Coming to Ohio State and being a part of this program gave me the ability to really be true to myself in everything that I do. This includes my advocacy work, my approach to patient care, and the further development of my knowledge & skills. I have what I need in this program to become an impactful & innovative community-focused Family Physician.

Katharine Krepp, MD

Hometown: Sauk Rapids, MN

Undergraduate: University of North Dakota
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State for Family Medicine Residency because I have interests in women's health and rural medicine, and I felt the OSU FM program was supportive, and interested in helping me develop into a competent physician that is able to explore these interests.

Megan McBride, DO

Maternal Child Health Co-chief

Hometown: Portland, OR

Undergraduate: Miami University
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine - Dublin

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State as my first choice because I have a very broad set of interests including inpatient medicine and OB. This program provides a great balance of education and also has the resources to support diverse interests. I also genuinely enjoyed all of the residents that I interacted with during the application process, and I felt like I could see myself fitting in well to their community.

Royce Onyimba, MD

Hometown: Columbia, MD

Undergraduate: University of Maryland, Baltimore County
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose OSU because I was confident that this was the best environment for my development as a physician. I was lured by the chance to train with down-to-earth scholars in both a premier academic institution and a community hospital with diverse patient populations. I was sold by the prospect of diving into the myriad of well-established opportunities provided by Columbus and OSU to further explore my curricular and extracurricular interests.

Amy Aiken, MD

Hometown: Chardon, OH

Undergraduate: Kent State University
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University

Why I chose Ohio State: As an Air Force applicant, I was so excited to hear about the opportunity to do a civilian residency at OSU while training to become a flight surgeon! I appreciate getting to see the similarities and differences in military and civilian medicine.

Varsha Chiruvella, MD

Hometown: Atlanta, GA

Undergraduate: Emory University
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta University

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose OSU because of the amazing camaraderie and friendship that were truly palpable in every room I walked (or virtually "Zoomed") into. Every person in the program, the coordinator, PD and wonderful residents that I interacted with throughout my interview process, was so kind and thoughtful; it felt like I was right at home after every interview and "spotlight night". I also loved the family medicine program at OSU because of the intense exposure residents receive to all aspects of holistic, broad-spectrum patient care. From the longitudinal ultrasound integration to continuity OB deliveries to underserved patient care, residents at OSU are trained from the best to not only be confident and competent to practice medicine, but also serve as patient advocates in the community.

Rachel Jamison, MD

Hometown: Greenville, OH

Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: OSU gives so much opportunity for learning and growth. I'll still be given the flexibility to make my residency the best experience I can for my future goals.

Lydia Karlsson, MD

Hometown: Perry, OH

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: Before I came to OSU as an undergraduate, I was told that you cannot make a small school big, but you can make a big school small and I have continued to believe in that statement through college, medical school, and now as a resident. There is a wealth of opportunity, knowledge, people, and experience at OSU, and I am happy to be a Buckeye for the third time, alongside other wonderful physicians.

Ben Lewis, MD

Hometown: Medina, OH

Undergraduate: The University of Mount Union
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I have always wanted to be a Buckeye and am so thrilled to be here! The ability to work in a community hospital within a large academic institution provides countless opportunities to train in a diverse clinical setting without having to pick between an “opposed” or “unopposed” program. The people here are truly amazing and the residency program feels like a family!

Ellen Rootring, DO

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Undergraduate: Calvin University
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: Ohio State University provides great medical care for patients and has fantastic teachers in all of their residency programs. I loved my experiences with the faculty and residents of the family medicine program. I liked the program's focus on full spectrum health care and health equity for all.

Sonal Singh, MD

Hometown: Baltimore, MD

Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State University for the research, sports medicine, community outreach, and advocacy opportunities. The Spotlight Nights through application season really highlighted all the unique and robust ways residents can be involved. I also wanted a institution that would allow me to advance my other career goals, like getting an MBA.

Madison Smith, MD

Hometown: Canton, OH

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State University because of the vast availability of learning opportunities at my fingertips. Also, faculty, residents and staff that I immediately connected with. Additionally, the extensive knowledge we get in OBGYN care and outpatient procedural management.

Minna Wybrecht, MD

Hometown: Taichung, Taiwan and Ypsilanti, MI

Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School

Why I chose Ohio State: I couples matched with my partner in Anesthesia. We ranked OSU highly because of the numerous opportunities, exposure to diverse pathologies, and co-workers that treat you like family.

Olivia Gevedon, MD 

Hometown: Cincinnati, OH

Undergraduate: The University of Alabama
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: My experiences with the wonderful family medicine faculty and patients at Ohio State during medical school reaffirmed my decision to continue training in Columbus for residency. Since family medicine is incredibly broad, I knew a large academic center like OSU would be able to support my wide-ranging interests and allow me to explore other aspects of the specialty.

Courtney Holbrook, MD 

Hometown: Fort Worth, TX

Undergraduate: University of Arizona
Medical School: Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center Paul L. Foster School of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State because of the strong focus on underserved care. I was also drawn to the myriad of opportunities that exist at an academic medical center - especially one as large as OSU. It is a privilege to gain experience in all my interests within family medicine. Most importantly, everyone here is so friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely invested in my learning.

Paige Lezon, MD 

Hometown: Puyallup, WA

Undergraduate: University of Dayton
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State because of the breadth of opportunities, including training at both a community hospital and a top-tier academic institution. All the residents I met were very welcoming, and I felt the faculty were personally invested in the growth and wellbeing of the residents. As a bonus, Columbus is a lively city with plenty of opportunities to cultivate my extracurricular interests!

Manvir Mangat, MD 

Hometown: Fresno, CA

Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose Ohio State University for my family medicine residency due to its exceptional commitment to education, mentorship, and resident wellness. Coming from Michigan, I
value the programs close proximity to home, allowing me to maintain important connections while pursuing my medical training. Ohio State's reputation for fostering a supportive learning environment and prioritizing resident well-being aligns perfectly with my professional goals and personal values, making it an ideal choice for my residency training in family medicine.

Lucy Oaks, DO 

Hometown: Portsmouth, VA

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose OSU because of the abundant opportunities provided by a premier academic institution. My interests in family medicine are diverse, including women's health, palliative care, and lifestyle medicine. During the interview process, it became clear that OSU could support my passions and foster my development into a well-rounded family medicine physician. I felt an instant rapport with the residents and faculty I engaged with, making me confident that I would thrive in their supportive learning environment.

Joshua Smith, MD 

Hometown: Birmingham, AL

Undergraduate: University of Mississippi
Medical School: University of South Alabama College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: With no previous ties to The Ohio State, I was immediately blown away by the welcoming and friendly atmosphere that I encountered through every interaction with the PD, faculty members, and residents during my interview. OSU provides premiere opportunities and resources, and there is an incredible emphasis on the development of competent, compassionate physicians ready to make an impact in the lives of their patients and communities. Additionally, OSU really prioritizes personal well-being and makes it possible to strike a good work-life balance. Plus, the city of Columbus has excellent food, concert, and sports scenes! Couldn’t be more excited to be training here and go bucks!

Ethan Taira, MD 

Hometown: Wheaton, IL

Undergraduate: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: Ohio State was a clear choice for me in choosing a residency program. I knew this was a program where I would be challenged and encouraged to feel uncomfortable, while also being supported. With my interest in Sports Medicine, Ohio State is able to provide ample opportunities to advance my career by being involved with sporting event coverage and research. I also knew I wanted to be somewhere where my co-residents, the faculty, and the staff felt like family. Immediately from the interview I could tell that the people in this program genuinely enjoyed spending time with each other, both during and outside of work.

Rachael Williams, MD 

Hometown: Olympia, WA

Undergraduate: Dartmouth College
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I chose OSU because of its dedication to excellence in patient care, education and the community. I appreciate that OSU constantly seeks feedback and strives to exceed its own standard of excellence. As a lifelong learner, striving for constant improvement is a goal of mine as well. Additionally, I wanted to have the exposure of working in a community hospital setting, where I hope to practice in the future, while having the resources of a large academic medical center.

TongFan Wu, MD 

Hometown: Fujian, China and Centerville, OH

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

Why I chose Ohio State: I couples-matched with my partner to OSU because we both believe we would receive the training and support that will best prepare us to become the physicians we aspire to be. This program provides expansive resources in both academic and community settings, which made me feel confident that I will have the opportunities to explore my interests within family medicine.