William “Bill” Calawerts, MD

University Health Track

Education: BS, University of Wisconsin-Madison; MD, Albany Medical College

Hometown: Brookfield, WI

Hey, there! I was born in Fargo, North Dakota but mainly grew up near Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I went to the University of Wisconsin (Go Bucky!) where I studied Kinesiology. My education and research focused on the physical and mental benefits of exercise, which laid the foundation for my interest in primary care.

After graduating, I spent one year working as a caregiver and coaching baseball. I then moved to upstate New York for medical school. Outside of being a student, I helped lead the Capital District Asylum Collaborative, a student run organization focused on organizing and providing free psychiatric and physical evaluations for asylum seekers to aid in their applications for legal status. Additionally, I worked at the New York State Department of Health by researching hospitals' practices and policies regarding use of donor human milk and assisted in the process of helping secure legislation change to provide Medicaid funding for donor milk.

These experiences helped shape my interest in family medicine, and I ultimately chose it as a specialty because of its focus on preventive medicine and community health. I am thrilled to be in my residency at UCFMR – a program with a strong commitment to their community, opportunities for work in public health and patient advocacy, and faculty and residents with a wide range of interests. 

Outside of medicine, I enjoy any outdoor activity (which makes Denver an ideal place to live), basketball, cooking, traveling with my fiancée, Madeleine, and hanging out with my cat.

Jennifer Camello, MD

Denver Health Track

Education: BA, University of Southern California; MD, Rush Medical College

Hometown: Vernon Hills, IL

Hi, everyone! I grew up in the ‘burbs of Chicago and moved to Los Angeles to complete my undergraduate degree in Anthropology at USC. In college, I conducted ethnographic research focused on local activism within the homeless population on Skid Row. After realizing I actually missed having seasons (who knew you could get tired of going to the beach in January), I moved back to my home city and did a gap year with the AmeriCorps program, City Year. I mentored and tutored 5th graders at a school in Englewood, a neighborhood on the South Side of Chicago. I went to Rush for medical school where I fell in love with family medicine through Rush’s unique Family Medicine Leadership Program (FMLP). During med school, I was able to stay connected with the Englewood community via continuity clinic and pursue my interests in research on climate change’s impact on the health of the homeless population.

I’m thrilled to be at UCFMR because of its broad-spectrum training, focus on community engagement and advocacy, and dedication to vulnerable populations especially at Denver Health. Within medicine, I’m interested in providing quality healthcare for vulnerable populations, climate change and health, and OB. Outside of medicine, I spend my time going on adventures with my fiancé and dog, curling up with a good book (mainly fantasy/sci-fi), cooking, and trying to keep my plants alive.

Jennifer Cogburn, MD

University Health Track

Education: BS, Eastern Washington University; MD, University of Washington

Hometown: Graham, WA

 Hey! If you are reading this, then you’re probably choosing a career in family medicine, which is the best decision you will ever make! I am originally from Graham, WA but spent my med school years traveling all over the state of Washington before finishing out my 4th year in Seattle.

I have never lived outside of Washington state and was nervous to take the plunge but am so glad I chose University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency (UCFMR). The faculty and residents have been nothing but welcoming and supportive in not only my career transition but life transition living in a new place.

I am a former Division 1 collegiate basketball player and ultimate frisbee national champion. I am very interested in sports medicine and LGBTQ healthcare and this residency has plentiful learning opportunities for those and many other fields of interest. Denver is a beautiful city with great food and breweries, and if you love the outdoors like me, it will not disappoint you. The mountain views are never ending. A quick hike or weekend camping trip is only an hour away at most. If you're looking for a place to become the most well-rounded doctor you can be while maintaining your love for adventure, then UCFMR is perfect for you!

Elana Curry, MD

Denver Health Track

Education: BS, The Ohio State University; MD, The Ohio State University College of Medicine

Hometown: Shaker Heights, Ohio

Hello! I grew up in Shaker Heights, Ohio. I went to Ohio State for undergrad, where I majored in Public Health and minored in Statistics.

As an undergraduate, I co-founded and led an organization that connects underserved community members to resources that are critical to their health and wellbeing. Through this work, I became passionate about working at the intersection of public health and medicine to address social determinants of health and improve our healthcare system. Luckily, around this time I discovered family medicine and knew that this was my calling!

I stayed at Ohio State for medical school and become very involved in our Family Medicine Interest Group and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP). I loved serving as the AAFP delegate to the American Medical Association for two years, and then as the student member of the AAFP Commission on Federal and State Policy. I also started a free ear acupuncture clinic at our student-run free clinic.

I fell in love with University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency because of their dedication to primary care innovation, community engagement, caring for underserved communities, and physician wellness. Plus, they were the most happy, fun, and supportive residents and faculty I met on the interview trail! My interests within family medicine include integrative medicine, women’s health, reproductive health, community engagement, advocacy and health policy. Outside of medicine, I love to run, bike, hike, climb, and cook.

Matthew “Matt” Dunn, MD

University Health Track

Education:  BA, Vanderbilt University 2016; MD, University of Pittsburgh 2020

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA

Hey there! Welcome to the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency (UCFMR) site… You’re now on track to finding the perfect residency or provider. I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and was excited to trade in the mosquitos, humidity and rain for the beautiful sun-drenched Colorado mountains. I was also looking for a university where Family Medicine is well revered and established, and have surely found one. The city is amazing, and the people are equally great.

I am excited to progress through my training as a family physician and continue to develop my interests in behavioral health and addiction medicine. At the same time, I hope to hike, ski, and explore whenever I am free. I am certain that I made the right choice with the UCFMR program and have an enjoyable three years of training ahead of me!

Kathryn “Kate” Garner, MD, MPH

Denver Health Track

Education: BA, Georgetown University; MD, MPH, University of North Carolina

Hometown: Charlotte, NC

Hey, y’all!  My name is Kate Garner. I was born and raised in North Carolina, and prior to moving out to Denver, had spent my entire life over on the East Coast. I am so excited to be in Colorado to enjoy all that the Rocky Mountains, Denver, and University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency (UCFMR) have to offer! 

While in undergrad at Georgetown University, I majored in Spanish with a minor in biology. After taking a few years off to work, I ended up at University of North Carolina (UNC) for medical school. While at UNC, I participated in a longitudinal integrated curriculum in Western North Carolina and discovered that I loved the breadth and adaptability of family medicine!  I also ran a women’s health clinic in rural Honduras. During my MPH year, I focused on health care and the underserved.

My interests in medicine include maternal and child health, women’s health and family planning, care of Spanish-speaking communities, and new models of care for the underserved. Outside of medicine, I cherish time with my partner, Andrew, and our two rambunctious mutts, Koda and Charlie. We love exploring the craft beer scene, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, hiking, skiing, and spending time with my awesome co-residents!

Catherine “Cat” Gilligan, MD

University Health Track

Education: BS, Montana State University; MD, Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Hometown: Great Falls, Montana

I am beyond thrilled to be at University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency (UCFMR) in Denver!! I have wanted to live in Denver basically since moving to the Midwest for medical school.

I come originally from Great Falls which is a lovely town in central Montana and I went to college in Bozeman. I spent time after college in Philadelphia volunteering with AmeriCorps and also meeting my partner, Brian, at a museum (it’s a cute story). My time with AmeriCorps was incredible and helped me understand the public health and social side of medicine. I was lucky to get a scholarship to attend medical school at Oakland University William Beaumont SOM in Rochester, Michigan (near Detroit) where I learned how awesome family medicine is and was able to cultivate my passions for reproductive health, LGBTQ+ healthcare, and addiction medicine. I helped start my school’s chapters of Medical Students for Choice and Happy Period and made some fantastic and brilliant friends. 

I am so grateful that I get to become a family medicine doctor at UCFMR. I chose this program for its wonderful and welcoming faculty and residents, diverse training opportunities, and cutting-edge primary care practice at A.F. Williams. I live with my partner, Brian, and we love to hike, backpack, camp, road bike, play tennis, do trivia, and drink beer. We’re also learning to swing dance via YouTube videos. On my own, I love to read, make candles, do puzzles, and watch bad reality TV shows.

Daniel Hake, DO

University Health Track

Education: BA, Goshen College; DO, Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hometown: Iowa City, IA

Hello everyone! I was born and raised in Iowa, attended undergrad in Indiana, and ultimately ended up in medical school in Illinois. Between undergrad and medical school, I spent a lot of time doing clinical research and had a significant stint in Nicaragua working in a rural clinic where I first developed my love of primary care.

I am super excited to join the family medicine team at the University of Colorado and enjoy the mountains! I was looking for a program with high academic goals that also fostered a great culture of acceptance and teamwork. This program more than delivers on all my check boxes!

Also, my interests in correctional and addiction medicine are perfectly aligned with the patient population of University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency.

Outside of medicine, I am excited to hike, mountain bike, and snowboard during my time off in the Rocky Mountains!

BreAnna Houss, MD

Rural Training Track

Education: BS, Dartmouth College; Post-baccalaureate, University of Iowa; MD, University of Minnesota Medical School - Duluth campus

Hometowns: Garfield, WA and Lewiston, ID

Ta'c meeywi! (Good morning!) I may be new to Denver, but I grew up in the mountain west and am happy to be within driving distance of the Rockies again. I am originally from the Palouse region of the Northwest, which is pretty rural and home to several Native nations including my own (Nez Perce).

I attended Dartmouth College for undergrad, where I double majored in Biology and Native American Studies. I moved to Iowa with my partner after he was accepted to medical school there. While there, I worked as an EMT and finished my pre-med requirements. I attended the Duluth campus of the University of Minnesota Medical School because of their focus on rural and Native healthcare. I was active in my school's ANAMS chapter and did a 9 month longitudinal rural clerkship in Redwood Falls and Willmar, MN, where I was able to work with the Lower Sioux Community Clinic as well as the many diverse communities within the area, including Somali and Karen refugees and Spanish-speaking populations.

If you haven't guessed by now, my interests in medicine include Native and rural health. I am also passionate about addiction medicine, refugee health, LGBTQ+ care, and correctional care.

Lindsay Koerperich, MD

University Health Track

Education: BS, Missouri University of Science and Technology; MD, University of Missouri - Columbia

Hometown: Kansas City, MO

Hello! I was born and raised in Kansas City, MO and stayed in Missouri for undergrad and medical school, so I am very excited to be coming to the beautiful state of Colorado for my residency (and beyond!).

The University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency stuck out to me as a program because of their commitment to resident wellness, a strong academic background, and the wonderful faculty and residents I met on my interview. I am excited to get involved in the many community engagement opportunities and looking forward to serving the diverse community here in Denver.

Ariana Nestler, MD

Denver Health Track

Education: BS, Tufts University; MD, Tufts University School of Medicine

Hometown: West Hartford, CT

Hey everyone! I’m originally from West Hartford, CT but spent the last nine years in Boston where I completed my BS in Biopsychology at Tufts and MD at, you guessed it, Tufts (Go ‘Bos!).

Between undergrad and medical school, I spent a year with the AmeriCorps/Community HealthCorps program on the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (BHCHP). There I served as a Care Coordinator on the Family Team where I did case management in homeless shelters and hotels/motels where homeless families stay. It is during this year that I figured out what type of physician I really wanted to be and fell in love with the fields of homeless healthcare, addiction medicine, adolescent medicine, and women’s health.

In medical school, I found my place amongst the family medicine folks and continued to pursue some of these interests while staying connected with BHCHP. When the time came to find a residency program, the University of Colorado Family Medicine Residency was the best fit for me: it is a social justice-focused and academically inclined program where I can continue pursuing all of my interests with the support of incredible faculty. Not to mention, the mountains!! I am so excited to finally live outside the Northeast and explore all that Colorado has to offer.

Wesley Ng, MD

Denver Health Track

Education: BS, BA, College of William and Mary; MD, George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Hometowns: Hershey, PA, and Washington, DC

As a life-long East Coaster, I’m thrilled to have finally made it to Colorado! I grew up in Pennsylvania and attended college in Virginia, where I planned to become a clinical psychologist. However, after graduation, I joined the Peace Corps and served as a health volunteer in Cameroon, West Africa, for two years. There, I surprised myself with my interest in medicine and realized I had many more years of schooling to complete. Upon returning to the US, I spent 2 months on a solo, cross-country-and-back road trip, where I visited as many national parks as I could (and visited Colorado for the first time and resolved to live there one day!) before settling in Washington, D.C.

Before starting medical school at George Washington (GW), I completed a post-bac and also worked at National Geographic and a policy think tank. At GW, I was in the Community and Urban Health track and enjoyed working with underserved and international populations.

I chose the University of Colorado and the Denver Health track because of the uniquely diverse refugee population and amazing faculty and residents! I am excited to have the opportunity to train at both an academic hospital as well as a safety-net hospital that provides high-quality care. I hope to hone my skills as a full-spectrum family medicine doctor, while also following my passions in geriatrics and women’s health.

Ryan Richmond, MD

Rural Training Track

Education: BA, University of Michigan; MD, Central Michigan University

Hometown: Eaton Rapids, MI

I was born in Eaton Rapids, MI, a small rural town of 5,000 people. I got my undergraduate degree in biochemistry at the University of Michigan and attended Central Michigan University for medical school.

I am beyond excited to be joining the team here in Colorado. This is the first time I have lived outside of Michigan and everyone has made me feel so welcome and at home.