Residents

Class of 2025

Zach Horwitz, MD
University of Colorado

Hello, my name is Zach Horwitz and I am very excited to be a part of the Saint Joe’s Family Medicine team. I had the distinct pleasure of working at Saint Joseph’s Hospital for a 3rd year rotation and again for an Acting Internship in my 4th year. On both occasions, I saw a collegial team environment that cared deeply about its patients and its resident’s growth.

I grew up partly in Ohio and Texas but have called Colorado my home and my community since 2009. I have had a very non-linear road to medicine including an undergraduate degree in psychology, being the owner and sole therapist of a massage therapy practice, and being the instructor of an anatomy and physiology course. My hopes are to bring each of these elements into my practice of medicine, by advocating for preventative medicine, supporting strong patient education, and acting as the first medical point of contact for patients working through the many uncertainties of the human experience.

Outside of medicine I enjoy quality time outside, running, hiking, paddle boarding, skiing, and appreciating nature. I also am a lover of cooking, board games, craft beer, live music, painting, meditation, and travel.

Meghan O’Leary-Kelly, MD
Georgetown University

Hi everyone! I grew up in Fayetteville, Arkansas and moved to Michigan for undergrad where I majored in International Studies at the University of Michigan. Go Blue! After college, I decided to take some time off and moved to out to Denver to be near the mountains. It was here that I found the perfect job that solidified my desire to become a physician. I worked as a clinical research coordinator at the University of Colorado Cancer Center and fell in love with the idea of patient continuity. It was so humbling and rewarding to experience the “ups and downs” with my patients. I moved out to Washington, DC for medical school at Georgetown University and found Family Medicine to be the ultimate embodiment of continuity of care. My interests within family medicine include community medicine, behavioral health, and palliative care. I am so excited to be joining the St. Joe’s family where I can serve the community and continue to pursue the wide range of opportunities that Family Medicine has to offer.

When I’m not in the hospital, you might find me enjoying the sunshine and mountain activities that Colorado has to offer or listening to live music at one of the many concert venues in the Denver area. I also enjoy cooking as a way to decompress and look for opportunities to travel at any chance I get.

Haley Porter, MD, MPH
East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine

Hi! I grew up Spring City, a small town in beautiful East Tennessee, and went to the University of Tennessee where I majored in Kinesiology and minored in Nutrition. I discovered my passion for medicine and its intersection with public health after my experiences as a peer health mentor, scribing, and participating in colorectal cancer research. After graduation, I spent time working with AmeriCorps FEMA Corps doing disaster relief work in Houston, TX following Hurricane Harvey where I worked to connect survivors with resources to rebuild their homes. I attended East Tennessee State University Quillen College of Medicine for medical school where I received my MD/MPH degrees. During my time at ETSU, I was on the Rural Primary Care Track where I was able to participate in various community projects in rural Appalachia, which further fueled my passion for working with underserved populations.

I’m excited to have matched at St. Joseph’s due to the focus on underserved care in a team-based setting while also learning full-spectrum family medicine. Other interests of mine in family medicine include integrative medicine, global health, medical student/resident/physician wellness, and health policy.

In my free time I enjoy hiking, kayaking, group fitness, container gardening, novice birdwatching, and having a beer with friends. My favorite hobby is hanging out with my partner (a psych resident at CU!) and our two large, orange cats. I’m excited to explore the Rocky Mountains after living near the Appalachian Mountains for most of my life!

Selina Martinez, DO
Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hi everyone! I’m from Santa Fe, NM best known for its fall roasting green chile and small-town charm. I did my undergrad at the University of Denver and am very excited to be heading back to beautiful Colorado for this next chapter! I returned to my hometown after college and worked in a family medicine clinic for a few years. This was where I discovered the wide scope of what family medicine offers and knew this was where I saw myself in the future. I attended medical school in Phoenix and enjoyed a few years of wearing flip flops in December (although I do not recommend an Arizona summer to anyone).

I knew that St. Joe’s was the place for me after spending a month with the team as a Sub-intern. I saw first-hand the diverse patient population, strong OB component, and full spectrum training. The relationship between residents and faculty creates a program that truly feels like a family, and I am so excited to be joining that family!

When I’m not at work I can usually be found hanging out with our family dog, Luke, and cooking with my Italian mother. I also do a lot of hot yoga and enjoy hiking or anything outside.

Amy Cox, MD
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Hello everyone! I am from Traverse City, Michigan, and have spent the last few years in Detroit for medical school. I’m very excited to join the residency program!

I first traveled to Colorado as a kid to go to a dude ranch with my dad and have wanted to return ever since! I grew up on an alpaca farm in a small town in Ohio and later graduated from Purdue University with my bachelor’s in Biochemistry. Outside of school, I worked as a nurse aid and was very excited for a career in healthcare.

During these years, I traveled to Guatemala with my family where we assisted in community health projects, and still do now! These experiences showed me there is nothing better than forming relationships with people to help them improve their health. After graduating college, I spent a month in Guatemala volunteering and learning Spanish. I still have a lot of Spanish to learn, but I look forward to using and improving it at Saint Joe’s!

I was drawn to family medicine because I enjoy working with patients of all ages from infants to the elderly, and I value the long-term relationships we have with our patients. I spent a month at Saint Joseph’s during my last year of medical school and felt right at home here! The faculty, residents, and staff always provide high quality, compassionate care to their patients and I am ecstatic to be a part of that! Outside of medicine you’ll find me enjoying the outdoors with my husband Nate. We enjoy rock climbing, snowboarding, hiking, dirt bike riding, and road trips on our motorcycles! Indoors you’ll find me curled up with a good book, or experimenting in the kitchen.

Laura Donohue, MD
Wayne State University

Hi everyone! I’m Laura, and I’m so excited to be joining the St. Joseph family medicine residency!

I grew up in Grand Rapids, MI. I received my undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan, in Spanish and Biochemistry. For medical school, I stayed close to home, attending Wayne State University in Detroit. While I was always interested in family medicine, this interest was solidified through work at an FQHC during medical school. It was there that I saw the true impact that good primary care can have. I love the variety that family medicine offers as well as the opportunity to form lasting relationships with patients and their families. There I also worked with a primarily Spanish-speaking patient population which motivated me to continue to develop my Spanish language skills to work towards fluency to better serve my patients. I look forward to continuing to work with this population at St. Joe’s!

Outside of medicine I enjoy running, cooking, traveling, and hiking (my photo is from a 500-mile hike I did across Spain!). I am looking forward to exploring Denver and taking advantage of all the outdoor activities Colorado has to offer!

Rachel Patten, MD
University of South Florida

Hi! My name is Rachel and I am making the move out west from Tampa, Florida! I grew up in the suburbs of Tampa before venturing very far from home (about 2 hours north) to study Biology at the University of Florida. I returned home to Tampa to complete my medical school training at the University of South Florida. It was there I really found my love of full spectrum medicine and caring for the underserved.

I am very excited to head out to Denver and train at St. Joe’s program. I couldn’t be more grateful to be coming to a program that offers training in all the areas of family medicine I would like to train in and more. I am especially looking forward to increasing my obstetrics and women’s health skills as well as improving my medical Spanish!

Outside of medicine I enjoy baking, traveling, reading, trying new places to eat, and being outdoors. I am looking forward to exploring Denver as well as the rest of Colorado! I am so thankful to be here and am thrilled to be joining the St. Joe’s Family!

Emma Munger, MD
Creighton University

Hi there! I am unbelievably excited to be joining the family medicine program at St. Joseph’s! I grew up in Iowa, the land of opportunities, and graduated from high school in Council Bluffs, IA. I wanted to go to college out of state, so I went to Creighton University, 10.3 miles away. Afterwards, I lived with my best friends while attending medical school at, you guessed it, Creighton!

In all seriousness, I have been fortunate to be surrounded by wonderful family, friends, and education. It is truly a privilege to enter a profession like Family Medicine. I am extremely passionate about forming strong relationships and helping patients navigate difficult life situations. I know that St. Joseph’s is the perfect place not only to cultivate strong clinical skills, but also to be surrounded by passionate and inspiring people. If my past moving habits are any indication, I’ll probably never leave!

Outside of medicine, I’m currently learning Spanish after an eight-year hiatus from my four-year, unsuccessful stent, of studying French in high school. Additionally, after 3 torn ACLS, impressive considering the human body only has two, I have shifted to low-impact activities. I obtained my yoga teacher certification after years of practice and one pandemic! I’m excited for the new environment and terrain Colorado has to offer. In my free time, you’ll see me practicing yoga, reading, watching dog videos, and relaxing with my partner, Ben!

Savannah Savadel, MD
Baylor College of Medicine

Hi everyone! I’m Savannah, and I’m so excited to be joining the St. Joe’s family for residency. I’m from Sarasota, FL – a coastal city about an hour south of Tampa. Growing up there, I fell in love with the sunshine, beaches, and being outdoors! I earned my undergraduate degree in Biology from Florida State University, where I spent a lot of my free time studying maize epigenetics. Specifically, I helped develop a technology that “maps” the DNA landscape of corn – finding the control elements for gene expression so that we can better understand the crop’s traits and behaviors.

I decided to keep my love of science a part of my career and chose to attend Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX for medical school. At Baylor, I had the opportunity to work with a diverse, underserved patient population and realized how much a primary care doctor could impact their lives. That’s when I fell in love with family medicine and decided I wanted to practice full-spectrum care and be an advocate for my patients. I knew St. Joe’s was the perfect residency for me because of the wonderful people, the excellent training, and the diverse patient population! I can’t wait to explore my interests in women’s health, sports medicine, integrative medicine, and underserved care.

When I’m not working, I love to spend time with my husband, Anthony, and our dog, Brady. Anthony and I enjoy cooking new recipes together, hiking or exploring the outdoors, and meeting up with friends at different breweries and restaurants. We also love international travel and exploring new cities! As a new Colorado resident, I am especially excited to get to know Denver and the beautiful Rocky Mountains (and hopefully learn to ski!!).

Class of 2024

Benjamin Burnett, MD
Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

Greetings! I’m a Hoosier originally from South Bend, Indiana and ended up in Chicago for medical school. In between I worked for a non-profit in Nicaragua, spent time as a nursing assistant, and served as an AmeriCorps member at a FQHC. I feel incredibly fortunate to have matched in Colorado and to be a part of the St. Joe’s family. I’m interested in practicing full-spectrum care after residency and hope to work and live in another country for a few years.

Outside of the hospital you can find me cruising the streets of Denver on my bicycle, in the kitchen baking cookies, or on the soccer field. I’m a passionate advocate for more walkable/bikeable/liveable cities and a big Liverpool fan. At home I enjoy playing board games, watching Spanish-language shows on Netflix, and cooking vegetarian meals with my partner, Hannah, and our cat Tobias.

Kevin Hill, MD
New York Medical College

Hello! My name is Kevin Hill and I couldn’t be more thrilled to have landed at Saint Joe’s for residency. I grew up in Redwood City in the San Francisco Bay Area and went to UC Davis for college where I majored in Exercise Biology. Amidst dodging a variety of bodily fluids as an EMT at concerts, sporting events, and construction sites, I discovered my passion for medicine.

I developed a passion for learning about health disparities and the Spanish language throughout undergrad and medical school. I spent 7 months in Mexico and Guatemala over the course of 3 trips working in a variety of volunteer and research capacities. During my clinical years of medical school at New York Medical College, I had the opportunity to continue working with underserved Latinx patient populations in East Harlem and the Bronx.

My decision to pursue Family Medicine came as I pieced together everything I value in patient care; longitudinal relationships, patient education, and being uniquely suited to support marginalized communities. While searching for programs, it was clear that Saint Joe’s Family Medicine shared all these values. Coupled with full-scope training in an incredibly supportive environment, I feel incredibly fortunate to have matched here for residency. Outside of medicine, you’ll find me trying to convince my coresidents to play charades. If that doesn’t work, I’m probably trying to convince my cat to go hike my first 14’er with me.

Andrew Levy, MD
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Hey! My name is Andrew but I’ve also gone by Andy, AJ, or Drew at different parts of my life, so I’ll respond to anything.

I moved here to Colorado 11 years ago for undergrad at the University of Denver. I went through probably around 10 majors including everything from sociology to psychology to international affairs before going through EMT training at Swedish Medical Center and deciding that medicine was where I fit best. I still wasn’t sure exactly what I wanted to do in medicine but through a 3-month experience in Guatemala working closely with a physician there as well as working as an ER scribe and technician (EMT), I decided that medical school was the route for me! I eventually was lucky enough to stay in Colorado after being accepted into medical school here at CU. I promptly proceeded through the first two years doing medical school as virtually as possible and maximizing my ski days only interrupted by a 3-month trip to South Africa rotating in an ED there.

Through third year and my experiences abroad as well as in my Global Health track, I began to fall in love with Global Health and integrating public health into my future. I found myself most passionate about working with underserved populations and truly understanding my patients from head to toe both as an individual and how the system surrounding them affected their health. Family Medicine fit the bill perfectly, allowing me to see a broad swath of patients from diverse backgrounds all while working with colleagues motivated to make changes both for their patients and the surrounding health system. I found all of this and more at the Saint Joseph’s residency and so when it came time to create a rank list with my wife with whom I was couples matching, it was an easy choice what to rank at the top of our list (she’s in the IM program here).

Outside of medicine, I love anything outdoors including hiking, camping, backpacking, skiing, mountain biking, and climbing although, being originally from the NYC area, I am equally as comfortable enjoying my time in the city (board games, brewery hopping, and running one of our 3 (!!!) dogs around the park). If you have any questions about the program feel free to email me at andy.levy@sclhealth.org. I'm an open (but sometimes quite rambling) book.

Catherine Mann, MD
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Hi everyone! I grew up in Orlando, FL - around thirty minutes from Disney. I got my undergraduate degree from the University of Central Florida, and afterwards, moved halfway across the country to Colorado and attended medical school at the University of Colorado.
While I was in medical school, I really grew to enjoy the wide breadth and scope of being in family medicine. I was first acquainted with St. Joe's from a third year rotation, and I really appreciated the welcoming feel of the faculty and doctors that I worked with. Their focus on underserved care was also something I am greatly interested in for my own career.

Outside of the hospital, my fiancé, Martin, and I both love watching television and movies (We love the Alamo Drafthouse!), and finding new places to eat around Denver. I also love to curl up and read a good book. Aside from above, I really enjoy spending as much time as I can with my family and my friends. I also hope to get a dog in the very near future to come home to!

Kristin Porter, MD
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Hi y’all! I’m Kristin, and I’m thrilled to be a part of the St. Joseph Family Medicine Residency! I’m originally from Montgomery, AL. I had a non-linear path to medicine that included getting a degree in Chemical and Biochemical Engineering from Auburn University in AL, working as an engineer for Eastman Chemical Company in beautiful Northeast Tennessee for 6 years, and then ultimately deciding to leave that career to pursue a life-long dream of becoming a doctor. I came out to Denver for medical school at University of Colorado because of the emphasis CU puts on full-spectrum family medicine and because my spouse and I wanted to trade the Appalachian Mountains for the Rocky Mountains. We couldn’t be happier that we chose Denver and wanted to stay when it came time for residency. I knew St. Joe’s was the best program for me because the residents, faculty, and staff are amazing, the patient populations is amazing, and the emphasis on underserved care is sincere. My interests in family medicine include medical Spanish, rural medicine, social determinants of health, integrative medicine, and OB.

Outside of medicine, I love to spend time with my spouse, Chris, and our dog Doopy. We go to mountains to camp, hike, bike, and ski. Or we stay around Denver to enjoy one of the many beautiful parks, bike around the city, see some live music, or try a new brewery. Yoga, meditation, and sunshine keep me happy and healthy to show up for my patients and peers every day!

Mark Pryshlak, MD
University at Buffalo Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences

Hello everyone! I am so excited to be joining the St. Joe’s Family.

I was born and raised in Buffalo, NY. I grew up loving the outdoors and adventure and while I love my city it is unfortunately deficient in mountains. In 2013 I took off on a cross country bike ride with an organization called Bike & Build. I still remember cresting over the city limits of Loveland’s and seeing those big beautiful Rocky Mountains for the first time. After my trip I settled in Moab, Utah. During my four year hiatus from schooling I was able to climb, bike, run, and hike some of the most beautiful places in the country. I also worked every job under the sun just to live there, from river guide to tree work to garbage man. Along the way I was also lucky enough to meet the love of life (we just got married a week before starting residency!)

Eventually, I was ready to return to higher education. After four years away I felt rejuvenated and ready for a new adventure in medical school. I went back to Buffalo to complete my medical training. Along the way I met incredible patients and found fantastic mentors. I found myself drawn to work with underserved populations focusing on health education and work through social determinants of health. Naturally, that made family medicine the perfect fit.

Other than being outside I appreciate a good brewery and game nights with friends. I love getting deep into a fantasy or sci-fi series. If anyone needs a dungeon master you can let me know.

I am looking forward to working at St. Joe’s hospital with my wonderful co-interns. I am ready for all the work, the tears, the laughter, the learning, the relationships, the growth, and doing it all along with a supportive group of faculty and peers.

Alexandra Rakestraw, DO
Rocky Vista University

Hello to all! I am a Colorado native and grew up in Longmont. I went out of state for my undergraduate education in Texas where I majored in Biology, then returned to beautiful Colorado for medical school at Rocky Vista University. While there, I added an extra year to my training as an Osteopathic Fellow where I delved deeper into osteopathic manipulative medicine and had the opportunity to teach underclassmen. I also participated in the Global Medicine Track and did rotations in Ecuador and Hargeisa, Somaliland. My medical school experiences confirmed that I want to be a family medicine physician so I can see a wide range of patients and partner with them to maintain or improve their health over time.

I am thrilled to be staying close to home to train at St. Joe’s for the next three years! I know that I will receive excellent training here while also being supported and encouraged by our amazing team of providers and staff. In addition to our curriculum, I am most excited about the patient population that St. Joe’s serves and the ability to pursue my personal interests within family medicine. In the future, I hope to primarily work with immigrant and refugee patient populations to improve equitable access to high-quality healthcare. I have spent several months in Uruguay and Guatemala and continue to work towards fluency for my Spanish-speaking patients. Maternal health and integrative medicine are two of my biggest interests within medicine, and I specifically want to find better ways to bring integrative medicine and cultural medicine practices to underserved patient populations.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy being in my garden or tending to my houseplants. I also love spending time in the sun on a hike, while rock climbing, or enjoying a park around Denver.

Christine Seawell, DO
Rocky Vista University

Hi Everyone! I am excited to return to Colorado to practice medicine in my home state! I was born and raised in Littleton, CO and then attended Eastern University, in Philadelphia, where I studied Biochemistry. During my time at Eastern I participated in several international medical trips through which I got to experience a variety of different cultures and learn how to practice medicine in areas with limited access to medical resources. I discovered that I enjoy developing relationships with patients in a primary care setting and learning about the ways that individuals with different cultural backgrounds than myself approach medical care.

I entered medical school at Rocky Vista and continued on my path toward better understanding how to help bring health to those of various backgrounds. During the clinical years of my medical school training I also spent an extra year pursing my passion for Osteopathic Manipulative treatment (OMT) as a Pre-Doctoral Teaching Fellow. During this fellowship year I spent time studying OMT, teaching OMT labs for other medical students, and treating patients in clinic using OMT. I am excited to use the skills that I learned to help patients at St. Joseph Hospital and the Bruner Family Medicine Clinic.

Other aspects of life that I enjoy include spending time with my husband, hosting gatherings at our apartment, dancing, practicing yoga, playing volleyball, skiing, hiking, trying new foods, and traveling.

I am so excited that I get to be part of the St Joe’s Family!

Marisa Wickerath, MD
University of Washington School of Medicine

Hello! I’m originally from Washington state where I grew up in a small farming town called Ellensburg. Unlike Seattle, Ellensburg is on the eastern side of the Cascade Range, so I grew up with lots of sunshine and I followed it here to Denver! Growing up I kept busy with lots of activities, but my favorites included showing horses through 4-H, participating in the local fair and rodeo, and running cross country.
I moved to the “big city” of Seattle for college where I majored in neurobiology at the University of Washington. After graduating, I decided to fulfill my dream of living abroad, so I found a job teaching English in Catalunya, Spain. I learned to speak conversational Spanish there, and I am excited to keep using and improving my Spanish here at St Joe’s!
After Spain I moved to another sunny city – Bend, Oregon where I worked as an AmeriCorps volunteer for a Head Start program. It was here that I discovered my passion for addressing early childhood trauma, also known as Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).

In medical school at the University of Washington, I combined my love for rural areas with my passion for serving underserved populations through the UW’s rural track. I also continued to work on projects related to ACEs and hope to continue this work in residency. But the best part of medical school by far was meeting my fiancé Benjamin, who is now an internal medicine resident at the University of Colorado.

As you can probably tell from above, my main interests in medicine include full-spectrum family practice including obstetrics, serving rural and Spanish-speaking populations, and working to address ACEs and other social determinants of health.

Outside of medicine I enjoy hiking, road biking, attempting to grow a garden for the first time, and visiting my horse Louie in Cheyenne, Wyoming where he currently lives with my sister! Ben and I also love exploring all of the amazing places to eat in Denver and are always looking for recommendations. I’m excited to be here and it’s an honor to call myself a Family Medicine Resident at St Joe’s!

Class of 2023

Nicholas Arlas, MD
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Greetings everyone! I grew up in Larkspur, California and lived in San Francisco before making my way to Denver for medical school at the University of Colorado.

After completing my degree in Global Studies at UC Santa Barbara I worked for four years in the real estate industry before switching careers and pursuing medicine. During my career change I worked as a medical assistant, volunteered in harm reduction as a HIV/HCV counselor, and completed a post-baccalaureate program at San Francisco State University. I met my wife Jenn while living and working in SF, and I was so grateful when she made the move to Colorado after my first year of med school. We are thrilled to stay here for residency at St. Joe's.

During medical school I discovered my love for Family Medicine while volunteering at the DAWN Student Run Free Clinic for uninsured adults in Aurora. DAWN also provided the opportunity to mentor premedical students. As a 4th year student my team and I created and led an initiative called the DAWN Pre-Health Collaboration, which focused on supporting students pursuing medicine and increasing diversity in the healthcare field.

After a rotation as a 4th year at St. Joe’s, I realized the impact a full-spectrum family physician can have while working with vulnerable populations across the inpatient, outpatient, and obstetrical settings. I was inspired by the great work of all the staff, faculty, and residents at SJH, and was awestruck by the learning environment. Everyone was committed to service, kindness, and providing the best patient-centered care.

Outside of medicine I enjoy reading, walks with our dog, and culinary adventures. If you are considering our program and would like to connect or send over questions, please reach out. My email is nicholas.arlas@sclhealth.org, I look forward to meeting you!

Quinn Doyle, MD
West Virginia University School of Medicine

Howdy! I was born and raised in West Virginia and completed a Biology B.A. at WVU. I loved the sense of community and mission to help underserved regions and decided to stay for medical school. This is the first time I have lived outside of WV, and while I will always love WV, I’m excited to start work at St. Joes and explore Colorado! I was drawn to Family Medicine because of the vast diversity experienced each day in clinic and the hospital. I am particularly interested in wilderness medicine, integrative medicine, procedures, pediatrics, and international/rural medicine.

St. Joes was my first-choice residency as I saw parallels with my medical school and its diverse curriculum/faculty, focus programs (such as integrative medicine), Spanish speaking population and the close-knit community feeling I sensed the first time I met everyone. The wonderful access to mountains and longtime friends definitely contributed too! I know that St. Joes will prepare me to be an excellent family medicine doctor anywhere that life takes me, and I look forward to the next 3 years with all the wonderful residents and staff!

Outside of medicine, you will likely find me mountain biking, skiing, or backpacking in the mountains of Colorado. On rest days, I love hanging out with friends, grilling yummy food, making mead, and tending to my garden.

Sophia Gill, MD
Boston University School of Medicine

Hey everyone! I moved to Denver from Boston, where I attended Boston University School of Medicine. I’m originally from Los Olivos, California. After majoring in public health at UC Berkeley, I moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas, where I spent a year of service with FoodCorps cooking and growing food with middle schoolers to motivate them to try healthier foods. Seeing kids excited to make healthy choices was one of the things that prompted my desire to work directly with under-resourced families at the frontlines of healthcare, so I applied to a pre-medical post-baccalaureate program. While completing this coursework in Oakland, California, I volunteered in Bolivia to increase rural access to medical care and immerse myself in the Spanish language. It was there that I started to realize how much language and communication affect the quality of care. Over the years, I sought out several opportunities to hone my Spanish, motivated to become a better collaborator and advocate for this population. In addition to my interest in improving cross-cultural communication, I’ve become enthusiastic about promoting healthy team dynamics. During medical school, I joined a program designed to foster inter-professional teamwork, which strengthened my desire to work in an interdisciplinary clinic as a future PCP.

Outside of medicine, I do acroyoga and vinyasa yoga. I enjoy cooking and baking my own sourdough bread. I love international travel, spending time in nature, riding my bicycle, and exploring city neighborhoods through food and parks. I’m interested in the effects of meditation on health and improving my social dancing skills. I’m so excited to be joining the St. Joe’s community here in sunny Denver.

Mario Giovacchini, MD
Georgetown University School of Medicine

Mario grew up by the Pacific Ocean in Santa Cruz, California, and studied Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at UCSC there after switching majors from Literature & Computer Science. He went on to work in biotechnology and genome sequencing in the Monterey and San Francisco Bay Areas and later moved to Stockholm to work as a bioinformatician. He played a lot of music and stopped getting regular haircuts in 2009. He misguidedly learned Swedish instead of Spanish, but remains optimistic he might still get a handle on Española in Denver.

Mario completed a postbac master’s program at Georgetown University and then matriculated to that medical school in 2016. He completed a master’s degree in Systems Medicine there during M1 year and did research in proteomics and coronavirus during medical school. He first saw awesome Family Medicine physicians in action while in a longitudinal primary care program in Baltimore during M3 year, and joined the rogue band of Georgetown students determined to enter primary care.

Mario thinks Denver seems like a beautiful place with great people and wishes vaguely that it had an ocean nearby but otherwise can think of very few ways it could be improved. He loves how caring, smart, friendly, and positive the residents and attending are, loves the energy, mission, and history of St. Joseph’s, and is elated to have joined the team to help care for the people of this city. He would like to one day practice full-spectrum family medicine, and is interested in underserved care, addiction medicine, palliative care, and hopes to become sufficiently competent in women's health / OB to confidently practice these after residency as well.

Kristina Hulen, MD
University of Colorado School of Medicine

Hello! I grew up exploring the great outdoors of Colorado and have stayed local ever since. I traveled a great distance from my hometown in Denver to Boulder to study at the University of Colorado. I quickly plunged into the world of biology and medicine (while also taking substantial time to "study" the "physics" of a pair of wood boards over crystalized ice). After finishing my undergraduate degree, I took a year to work alongside some incredible scientists in a lab studying preclinical stress physiology. There, I gained invaluable knowledge about evidence-based medicine and how to critically appraise research.

I then made another great journey from Boulder to Aurora. I was fortunate to stay in my home state and start my career in medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. While exploring the many fields in medicine, I traveled to Cape Town, South Africa for two months to train in an Emergency Department. I will forever carry the lessons I learned about providing care in a resource-limited setting and addressing the socioeconomic barriers that patients face when accessing healthcare.

When I returned to Colorado, I dedicated my time to volunteering with the local community, participating in public health research, and building strong patient-physician relationships. My commitment to community health and patient-centered care drove my decision to choose Family Medicine. It was clear that I had found my new family when I interviewed with Saint Joseph's program. I am excited to work with the excellent team here and pursue my interests in community medicine, underserved care, global health, and palliative medicine.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy visiting local breweries, skiing, climbing, mountain biking, and getting outdoors with my fiancé and our cat.

Douglas Mayeda, MD
Drexel University College of Medicine

Hi everyone! First and foremost, I am beyond grateful and excited to join the Saint Joseph Family Medicine Residency Program!

As a fourth-generation Coloradan, I am proud to call the Centennial State home. After attending

Cherry Creek High School, I studied business and played tennis at the University of Oregon. It was during this time that I found medicine to be my true calling. My next stage in life took place in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for medical school. It was in the “City of Brotherly Love” that I became passionate about caring for underserved populations and promoting healthy lifestyles. The opportunity to develop relationships with patients and serve individuals of all ages made family medicine the perfect choice. My hope is to partner with patients and to do everything possible to help them reach their personal health goals.

Outside of medicine, you will probably find me hiking a 14er, biking, or skiing. Oh, and I forgot to mention that I am a huge Colorado sports fan. GO BRONCOS!

Saint Joseph Hospital has a particularly special place in my heart because my parents met here back in 1979. Naturally, I applied to and was fortunate to have been able to do a rotation with St. Joe’s during medical school. From the very welcoming culture to the mission to care for vulnerable individuals, I absolutely fell in love with the program. It is truly an honor to become a part of a team of such amazing and inspiring individuals!

Joseph Murphy, DO
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Hey there! I am Joey Murphy, I was born and raised in central North Carolina. I attended North Carolina State University where I received a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology. After undergrad, I spent a couple of years working in a neurology clinic in Raleigh as a medical scribe. I was fortunate enough to be accepted into Campbell University School of Osteopathic medicine along with my wife Justyne (who you can find somewhere on this page as well). We are both starting our residency at St. Joe’s after couples matching into the Family Medicine program! We were both able to spend a month with the program during our fourth year of medical school. I immediately felt at home and knew that St. Joseph’s would be a wonderful place to train for the next three years. During my interview day and rotation here, I could tell everyone was truly passionate about serving the local community. I felt a strong connection with the mission of the program and what I hope to accomplish in a career dedicated to medicine.

I have always loved the mountains and Denver could not be a more perfect location. Justyne and I love skiing, kayaking, and hiking with our dogs (Apollo and Tasha) whenever possible! We are both huge Colorado Avalanche fans and are excited to get out to the Pepsi Center once it’s safe to do so again. We are also looking forward to familiarizing ourselves with all the phenomenal restaurants, coffee shops, and breweries Denver has to offer.

Justyne Murphy, DO
Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine

Hi there! My name is Justyne and I am from Dahlonega, Georgia located in the beautiful North Georgia mountains. After high school, I attended North Carolina State University in Raleigh, North Carolina. I received bachelor degrees in both Biochemistry and Biological Sciences with a minor in Microbiology. Following graduation, I worked as a medical scribe at Raleigh Neurology for two years where I met my husband Joey (who is also a first-year family medicine resident at St. Joe’s!). We were married shortly before starting medical school at Campbell University School of Osteopathic Medicine. Campbell is located in the rural sandhills of North Carolina where much emphasis was placed on giving back to our local community. During my first two years at Campbell, I was fortunate enough to serve as the clinic director for Campbell’s student-run free clinic providing primary care services to those in need in our area. It was truly one of the most rewarding experiences in my life as it highlighted the impact primary care can have on a person and family and the importance of giving back to my community. It played a major role in guiding me to become a family physician. Joey and I are so excited and grateful to both be trained at St. Joe’s and cannot wait to see what the future holds in this phenomenal program.

Outside the clinic and hospital, Joey and I live with our two dogs, Tasha and Apollo. We love Colorado and enjoy the outdoor lifestyle it allows. We love to hike and ski and we plan to do as much as possible in our free time. Joey and I fancy ourselves coffee connoisseurs and foodies so you can often find us enjoying coffee on lazy Saturday mornings or enjoying great food out in the city on date nights.

I am very excited and honored to be joining the team at St. Joe’s. I know my training here will help me be the best physician and version of myself!

Alia Roberts, MD
University of Maryland School of Medicine

Hi everyone! I’ve lived up and down the East Coast my whole life, so I’m excited to be a transplant out West. My first career was in dance and choreography, all arts all day for high school and beyond college. I then made the switch to the science world, getting my post-bacc and volunteering to get my feet under me, and figuring out where I wanted to go. Turns out, becoming a doctor won, and I went back to my hometown of Baltimore to go to the University of Maryland School of Medicine. I caught the family medicine bug the second I started the rotation in third year. I loved the breadth of practice, the consideration of the health of the whole person and their circumstances, and the ability to leap in any direction if you so choose. I am particularly interested in women’s health, global health, integrative medicine, and I’m sure more will pop up as these years fly by.

When I’m not working, you are bound to find me baking, drinking coffee, eating cheese, doing yoga, trying some new art (which is probably going terribly, but it’s all about the joy), and continuing to use the oxford comma (like Pluto, I’m a forever fan). I’m very excited for this continuation of my journey in medicine here, where all the people are supportive delights and the sun is never far away.