Our Residents
Class of 2023
Class of 2024
Michelle Beetler, MD
Brett Bonynge, MD
Carolina Gusciara, DO
Rachel Kempisty, MD
Trent Ledbetter, DO
Robert Lopez, DO
Jennifer Main, MD
Connor Medberry, MD
James Morgan, DO
Abigail Rapp, MD
Samuel Schimke, MD
Sarah Schuh, MD
Jeremy Storck, DO
Mitchel Wagner, DO
Class of 2025

Jeremiah Bean, DO

Lauren Casey, DO

Christian Eck, DO

Brooke Heibel, MD

Talya Jeffrey, DO

Saad Kothawala, MD

Annalise Laaker, MD

Darren Li, MD

Daniel Mitchell, DO

Jacob Reshetar, MD

Carson Russell, DO

Emily Stapleton, DO

Isaac Tudor, DO

Evan Zeddies, MD
Incoming Residents
Hala Ashraf, DO
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia Campus
Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh
Hometown: Fairfax, Virginia
Special Interests: EMS, Wilderness med, tactical med, critical care
Research: Sex Distribution of Editorial Board Members Among Emergency Medicine Journals
Office Emergency and Disaster Readiness among Pediatricians
Hobbies: Powerlifting, hiking, playing with other people’s dogs
Fun Fact: I was co-captain of Pitt’s Club Quidditch Team my senior year of college!
Gary Bhagat, MD
Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University
Hometown: Chicago, IL
Special Interests: Medical education and ultrasound
Research: Spontaneous Thyroid Hemorrhage from LMA Case Report
Hobbies: Running, reading, time with the wife, and learning how to operate power tools and keep all my digits intact
Fun Fact: I’m COVID-19 negative (I think)
Carl Bohm, DO
Medical School: A.T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Hometown: Schaumburg, Illinois
Research: Virtual reality for medical student education
Hobbies: Mixology, Cycling, Soccer, Woodworking
Fun Fact: I spend all my time off at Costco
Jacob Brugger, MD
Medical School: Western Michigan University Homer Stryker MD School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Brigham Young University – Idaho
Hometown: Orlando, Florida
Special Interests: Medical Spanish, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Tactical Emergency Medicine
Hobbies: Family time, music, food, camping/backpacking
Fun Fact: I used to be a professional piano accompanist.
Matt DeGroot, DO
Meet Dr. Matt Degroot, PGY-3! Matt is from Grayslake, IL and went to CCOM for medical school. Matt's professional interests include rural medicine. In his free time he enjoys hockey, golf, his dogs and traveling! Fun fact about Matt, he built his own bed! pic.twitter.com/5ThsgMgrcC
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) October 8, 2020
Joseph Devito, MD
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin – Platteville
Hometown: Crystal Lake, IL
Special Interests: Resuscitation, Sepsis, Reductions, Procedural Sedations
Research:
Sepsis – SOFA scores
Prostate cancer – developing novel treatments for advanced stage prostate cancer
Lung cancer – developing novel treatments for receptor resistant lung cancer
Hobbies: Fly fishing, archery, shooting, hunting, working on my mustang
Fun Fact: I like all things outdoors
Charlie Heinzmann, MD
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Jenna Lizzo, MD
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Hometown: Oak Lawn, IL
Special Interests: Critical Care
Research: Adult Diabetic Ketoacidosis, Brain Trauma, Pediatric Asthma, Posterior Myocardial Infarction
Hobbies: Traveling, baking, board games, yoga
Fun Fact: I used to teach English in Italy.
Dustin Whelan, MD
Meet Dr. Dustin Whelan, PGY-3 and one of our Chief Residents!
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) August 20, 2020
From Richland, Washington.
Med school: St. George's University
Medical Interests: Cardiology, Ultrasound, Hyponatremia
Hobbies: Skiing, Scuba, Video Games
Fun Fact: I played soccer and "pro" warcraft 3 in college pic.twitter.com/dtU2KRyOMY
Andrew Wylie, DO
Meet Dr Andrew Wylie PGY 3
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) August 5, 2020
From Bloomington, IL
Med School A.T. Still, Kirksville MO
Medical Interests:Community medicine, Critical care
Hobbies: Biking, Water Skiing, My dogs, Cooking
Fun Fact: trying to grow cucumbers this summer to make pickles. pic.twitter.com/RdhCAOzTzg
Nathaniel Baker, MD
Undergraduate: Rockford University
Hometown: Rochelle, IL
Special Interests: Ultrasound, resuscitation, critical care
Research: Interest in QI projects, but haven’t picked one yet.
Hobbies: Video games, board games, bike riding, fantasy novels
Fun Fact: I have jumped out of 20 perfectly good airplanes while in flight.
Joel Dennison, MD
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria
Undergraduate: Northern Illinois University
Hometown: South Elgin, Illinois
Special Interests: Tactical Medicine, Wilderness Medicine, EMS
Hobbies: Woodworking/carving, antique tool restoration, fishing
Fun Fact: I used to compete in national woodcarving competitions
Alexis Gazda, MD
Medical School: Southern Illinois School of Medicine
Undergrad: Bradley University, Peoria IL
Hometown: Springfield, IL
Research: In college, I did research in genetics/antibiotic resistance and worked in a lab trying to make a vaccine to prevent certain cancers.
Hobbies: Wedding planning, training my German Shepherd, horseback riding, planning my next vacation
Fun fact: My last name means “Boss” in Hungarian. Ask Dr. Hevesy if you don’t believe me. I’m getting married in October 2020 (COVID willing).
Katie Lafans, DO
Medical School: A.T. Still University, School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona
Undergraduate: University of Minnesota
Hometown: Eagan, Minnesota
Special Interests: Critical care, EMS, disaster medicine, procedures, orthopedics
Hobbies: Backyard grilling, bonfires, kayaking, tennis, movies, quilting, hanging out with my cats
Fun Fact: One of my cats is a fourth generation Savannah cat
A.J. Meyer, MD
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Morgan Ricci, DO
Dr. Morgan Ricci, PGY2 from Henderson, NV.
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) August 11, 2020
Med School Western University of Health Sciences
Interests: pediatrics, procedures, and critical care.
Hobbies: cooking, painting, knitting, hiking, horseback riding
Fun fact: Friends and Harry Potter knowledge afficianado pic.twitter.com/K8aD5C0YIH
Caitlin Rodeghier, DO
Meet Dr. Caitlin Rodeghier, PGY-2! She grew up in New Lenox, IL and graduated from Midwestern University in Chicago. Her special interests include resus med, crit care, US and MedEd. She enjoys gardening, hiking, pre-covid concerts and foraging for mushrooms in her free time 🙂 pic.twitter.com/uQAcJW4r6f
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) September 17, 2020
Jordan A. Rosenberg, DO, MS
Meet Dr. Jordan Rosenberg, PGY-2! Jordan is from Highland Park, IL and graduated from AT Still COM. He's interested in MedED, trauma, US and HEMS (can't you tell?) His research involves Cook County Gun Homicide review. J-Rose enjoys biking, watch Cubs games, and playing b-ball! pic.twitter.com/HrzvoCPR1V
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) October 12, 2020
Justin Theleman, MD
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Kansas State University
Hometown: Natoma, Kansas
Special Interests: Rural/community medicine
Research: Facts Behind the Fumes: Understanding the Dangers of E-cigarettes Use: Saajidha Rizvydeen, DO1, Justin Theleman, MD2, Amira Alfil, MD, MPH3 1Pediatrics Residency Program, 2Emergency Medicine Residency Program, 3Department of Pediatrics 1,2,3University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria
Hobbies: Exercising with my wife. Woodworking. Gardening. Wake boarding. Snowboarding
Fun Fact: I started a trenching/backhoe business with my 2 brothers and father.
Brian Bottke, DO, MPH
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Northern Iowa
Hometown: Cedar Falls, IA
Special Interests: Health care quality, Access to care
Hobbies: Woodworking, running, cycling, playing music, camping
Fun Fact: I have been in both a heavy metal band and a bluegrass band. Would still join either if anyone is looking.
Owen Brewer, MD
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford
Undergraduate: University of Colorado at Boulder
Hometown: Boulder, Colorado
Special Interests: Pediatric emergency medicine, sepsis and infectious disease, wilderness medicine
Hobbies: Travel, Backpacking, Skiing, Scuba diving, Skydiving, Violin
Fun Fact: I love playing Swedish Fiddle Music and I’ve traveled to Sweden twice to play with world famous musicians.
Andrew Friederich, MD
Meet Dr. Andrew Friederich, PGY-1! Andrew is from Davenport, IA and graduated med school from University of Iowa. His special interests include admin, US. Fun fact: he had to have his right big toe reattached in HS and was running track 3 weeks later! pic.twitter.com/qNEYre93ct
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) September 7, 2020
Brett Fulleylove-Krause, MD
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
Hometown: New Holstein, Wisconsin
Special Interests: Toxicology, global health, critical care, psychiatric emergencies
Research: Medical School Honors in Research Topic: Increasing NAD levels in an induced pluripotent stem cell model of Parkinson’s Disease
Hobbies: Reading, weightlifting, video games, snowboarding/wakeboarding
Fun Fact: I grew up on a hobby farm and showed horses until middle school.
Jessica Graves, MD
Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
Hometown: Paducah, Kentucky
Special Interests: Rural emergency medicine, point of care ultrasound
Hobbies: Watching true crime shows, weightlifting, and tending to my houseplants
Fun Fact: I had spinal fusion surgery when I was 17 and woke up over an inch taller.
Emily Griffith, DO
Medical School: A.T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Oklahoma
Hometown: Lee’s Summit, Missouri
Special Interests: Social emergency medicine, international medicine, critical care
Hobbies: Building and reading through my own personal library, finding good hikes, watching Sooner football, and translating for kiva.org
Fun Fact: Was in college marching band, tripped and fell on the field for the first time ever at my senior bowl game in front of 70,000 people.
Cameron Justice, DO
Medical School: Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: New York University
Hometown: Yakima, WA
Special Interests: EMS, Flight Medicine, Tactical Medicine, Ultrasound, Critical Care, Education.
Hobbies: Spending time with my wife and dogs (fur children), cooking, fly fishing, hunting, photography, hiking, skiing, swimming, travel, scuba diving, video games, building Legos.
Fun Fact: I am currently completing training and flight hours for my private pilot’s license.
Jeremy Owens, DO
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Iowa
Hometown: Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Special Interests: EMS
Hobbies: Running, snowboarding
Fun Fact: I like to sing in the shower
Trevor Parr, MD
Medical School: Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Bradley University
Hometown: Alton, Illinois
Special Interests: Ultrasound, Sports Medicine
Research: Medical Student’s Reflections on Surgical Educators’ Professionalism
Hobbies: Lifting weights and staying small, video games, playing with my dogs
Fun Fact: I’ve never seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Brittni Peach, DO
Meet Dr. Brittini Peach
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) July 30, 2020
From: Beloit, WI
Med School: Nova Southeastern University
Interests: EMS, flight medicine, wilderness med
Hobbies: long distance running, Mystery novels, hanging with my two cats, chocolate chip pancakes
Fun Fact: I've fostered 6 kittens and counting! pic.twitter.com/w3QdxUmiSx
Tyler Veling, DO
Meet Dr. Tyler Veling, PGY-1! Tyler grew up in Brookfield, WI and is a graduate of Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is interested in resus and EMS and in his free time enjoys golfing, hunting, fishing and water skiing! pic.twitter.com/ZfQTy3DESC
— UICOMPEM (@UICOMPEM) September 27, 2020
Zachary Rambo, MD
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University
Undergraduate: Illinois College
Hometown: Argenta, IL
Special Interests: resuscitation, sports medicine
Hobbies: spending time with my wife and our two pups, playing basketball, golfing, fishing, watching/attending Chicago Cubs baseball and University of Illinois basketball games
Fun Fact: I played basketball in college.