HomeNewsArticle Display


Redirecting...

Newest Air Force military medical residents graduate

  • Published
  • By Derek Kaufman
  • 88th Air Base Wing Public Affairs
WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --  More than 100 military officers marked the completion of their residency training when they were awarded graduate medical education diplomas May 26 at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.

The annual graduation ceremony recognized officers completing one of 11 accredited resident and internship programs at Wright-Patterson Medical Center. Five programs are for non-physicians, including psychology, dental, nurse anesthesia, social work and physician assistant. Six physician residency programs are fully integrated with Wright State University's Boonshoft School of Medicine including general surgery, emergency medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, internal medicine, psychiatry, and pediatrics. The residency programs vary in duration from one to five years, depending on specialty.

The officers will now be assigned to Air Force bases around the world to provide medical care for Airmen, joint warfighters, eligible family members and military retirees.

Presiding at the ceremony were Col. Kimberly Slawinski, 88th Medical Group and Wright-Patterson Medical Center commander, Col. Dominic DeFrancis, Medical Corps director, Office of the Air Force Surgeon General and Dr. Albert Painter, Assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine.

"We are blessed to have great community partnerships which allow our military residents to train with many civilian hospitals in the region," said Col. Erik Nelson, Medical Education director at Wright-Patterson Medical Center. "The clinical rotations and educational experience makes them well-prepared for their future assignments in the Air Force."

Colonel Slawinski called Wright-Patterson Medical Center a "major training platform" and congratulated the graduates on their decision to join the Air Force and provide medical care to service members and their families. She challenged them to always provide "care with compassion."

"Take the time to talk to some of your patients, beyond their medical problems. Learn about your Air Force heritage," Colonel Slawinski said.

Echoing the sentiments of both the importance of service and "the importance of your humanity," Colonel DeFrancis noted only about one percent of all Americans serve in the U.S. military. He acknowledged that about 17 percent of all Air Force officers are medical officers.

"Whether you choose to separate after your initial service commitment is over, or whether you choose a career, the fact is that you've chosen to serve our country and that is huge," Colonel DeFrancis said.

"Wherever you go, you need to focus on being the absolute best clinician you can be," Colonel DeFrancis, a flight surgeon and pediatric physician, said to the graduates. "Be someone to emulate.

"Everyone in this room has excellent training and you have a very, very special privilege: The privilege to listen; the privilege to counsel; the privilege to console; and the privilege to heal. Exercise that privilege every chance you can and you will be the best clinician you can imagine. And this will be the best Air Force you can imagine."

Capt. Matthew Willerick of Kalamazoo, Mich. culminated nearly eleven years of undergraduate and graduate education completing a one-year residency in clinical psychology at Wright-Patterson Medical Center.

Motivated by the "opportunity to serve my country and great training opportunities that are second to none" as well as travel, Captain Willerick said he was sold right off the bat on the Air Force Medical Service.

"It was the best decision of my life," he said of his decision to join. Capt. Willerick will be assigned to Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane, Washington.

Dr. Albert Painter, assistant Dean for Faculty Affairs, Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine said called the university's relationship with the Air Force "a great partnership."

Annually about 100 military medical, surgical and other residents train alongside civilian residents at hospitals throughout the Dayton region.

"They make a huge contribution and we are so fortunate to have them," Dr. Painter said.

Wright-Patterson Medical Center offers outstanding applicants accredited resident internship opportunities in a variety of medical disciplines. For more information on professional medical careers as an Air Force officer and training at one of the Air Force's premier medical centers, contact a local Air Force health professions recruiter or visit http://www.airforce.com/opportunities/healthcare/.

The graduating residents and their bases of assignment are:

General Surgery
Maj. Bruce M. Palmer, Luke AFB, Airz.
Maj. Scott A. Zakaluzny, Fellowship, Los Angeles, Calif.
Capt. Winfred B. Abrams, Nellis AFB, Nev.
Capt. Francis E. Janes, Barksdale AFB, La.

Obstetrics & Gynecology
Maj. William B. Newman, Travis AFB, Calif.
Capt. Kristin J. Daniel, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
Capt. Jennifer L. Zaveckas, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

Pediatrics
Capt. Patrick M. Basile, Offutt AFB, Neb.
Capt. Erin N. Brack, Hurlburt Field, Fla.
Capt. Katie A. Ellgass, Misawa AB, Japan
Capt. Steven D. McCaig, Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
Capt. Tanisha K. Morton, Fairchild AFB, Wash.
Capt. Adam W. Powell Pediatrics, Chief Resident, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
Capt. Tiffany R. Simpson, MacDill AFB, Fla.
Capt. Michael J. Slogic, McConnell AFB, Kan.
Capt. James T. Tschudy III, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho

Psychiatry
Lt. Col. Robert M. Shideler, Maxwell AFB, Ala.
Maj. Sarah J. Stringer, Cannon AFB, N.M.
Capt. William B. Leasure, Offutt AFB, Neb.
Capt. Christopher T. Manetta, Kirtland AFB, N.M.
Capt. Michelle A. McKinlay, Edwards AFB, Calif.

Psychology
Capt. Jonathan F. Doti, Minot AFB, N.D.
Capt. Anna Fedotova, Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Kristin L. Galloway, Seymour-Johnson AFB, N.C.
Capt. Jeffrey D. Geddes, Hill AFB, Utah
Cpat. Joel M. Hartong, McConnell AFB, Kan.
Capt. Matthew S. Willerick, Fairchild AFB, Wash.

Social Work
1st Lt. Alicia M. Dudley, USAF Academy, Colo.
1st Lt. Ingrid Y. Gittens, Lackland AFB, Texas
1st Lt. Eric J. Kirwan, Hill AFB, Utah
1st Lt. Julianna M. Petrone, Keesler AFB, Miss.

Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA follow-on assignments to be announced this fall)
Maj. William N. Clark, Capt. Cassidy J. Boyer
Capt. Adam C. Faltersack
Capt. Christopher G. Kelley
Capt. Joshua J. Lindquist
Capt. Annette R. Patton
Capt. Teresa R. Sellers

Dental
Capt. Matthew T. Eggenberger, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
Capt. Jared D. Mason, Peterson AFB, Colo.
Capt. Christina A. Pflipsen, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany
Capt. Patrick J. Reilly, Tyndall AFB, Fla.
Capt. Jonathan J. Schubert, Hill AFB, Utah
Capt. Matthew G. Setliff, Little Rock AFB, Ark.
Capt. Wesley S. Shute, Mountain Home AFB, Idaho
Capt. Gregory S. Zilinski, Little Rock AFB, Ark.

Emergency Medicine
Lt. Col. Tony S. Kim, Osan Air Base, Korea
Maj. John R. Dorsch, Pope AFB, N.C.
Maj. Aaron M. Rubi,n Pope AFB, N.C.
Maj. Mark E. Shepherd, Jr., Elmendorf AFB, Alaska
Capt. Benjamin D. Barlow, Langley AFB, Va.
Capt. Roderick W. Fontenette, Fellowship, Indiana University
Capt. Jennifer L. Pease, Lackland AFB, Texas

Physician Assistant Fellowship in Emergency Medicine
Capt. Matthew G. Adkins, PA-C, Eglin AFB, Fla.

Internal Medicine
Maj. Pamela P. Ward-Demo, Fellowship Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Homayoun R. Ahmadian, Fellowship Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Ross W. Dodge, Fellowship Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Blake E. Elkins, Fellowship Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Joshua A. Hamilton, Internal Medicine Chief Resident, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
Capt. Adam N. Hertlein, Eglin AFB, Fla.
Capt. Erica M. Hill, Fellowship Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Emily E. Link, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio
Capt. Anjeli K. Nayar, Fellowship Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Inkyung Santiago, Kadena Air Base, Japan
Capt. Andrew J. Skabelund, Fellowship Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Lisa M. Skabelund, Lackland AFB, Texas
Capt. Andria L. Smith, Keesler AFB, Miss.
Capt. Stuart T. Wood, Keesler AFB, Miss.
Capt. Joe Zhang, Yokota Air Base, Japan

The first post-graduate year residents are:

General Surgery
Capt. Winfred B. Abrams
Capt. Jason A. Babcock
Capt. Howard E. Bowers
Capt. Francis E. Janes
Capt. Mary F. Stuever

Pediatrics
Capt. Ryan C. Gottfredson
Capt. Mark R. Peterson
Capt. Sarah M. Reynolds
Capt. Jaime L. Robey
Capt. Joshua M. Smalley
Capt. Sofia M. Szari
Capt. Laura B. Wolfe

Internal Medicine
Maj. Florin A. Andreca
Capt. Prentice Bowman
Capt. Stuart K. Brigham
Capt. Laura M. Bridge
Capt. Jason M. Edwards
Capt. Mary Anne Q. Eisma
Capt. Sabrina M. Felton
Capt. Anne M. Rose
Capt. Frank D. Russo
Capt. Melinda M. Schlenk
Capt. Joshua N. Scott
Capt John R. Untisz

Obstetrics & Gynecology
Capt. Patrick C. Beeman
Capt. Daniel S. Micsunescu
Capt. Halei K. Wong
Emergency Medicine
Capt. Deann M. Allbee
Capt. Paul E. Butts
Capt. Meaghan P. Keville
Capt. Michael E. Mack
Capt. Brian M. Penningrton
Capt. Katherine H. Racicot

Psychiatry
Maj. Franco Alvarez, III
Capt. Matthew J. Baker
Capt. Jeffrey P. Guina
Capt. Jennifer L. Landucci
Capt. Jennifer D. Lorenz
Capt. Kelly N. Mebust
Capt. Stacy A. Solheim