Miller Balley, MD

Denver Health Track  

Education: BA University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, MD University of Minnesota Medical School 

Hometown: St. Paul, MN 

Hi! I’m Miller (she/her) and I am extremely excited to be at CUFMR. I have spent my whole life in the Twin Cities and thought I didn’t have a Minnesota accent until I moved here.  

During college, I studied Biology, Society, and the Environment and was a member of the BA/MD program. Through this program, I was introduced to medical topics at weekly seminars led by Family Medicine doctors. They first inspired me to pursue Family Medicine after they shared about their connections to their community and patients, full spectrum care they can deliver, and the ways they advocate on small and large scales for their patients.  

While in medical school at the University of Minnesota, I was able to complete a 9-month clerkship at a Family Medicine clinic in St. Paul. The clinic served a mostly refugee and immigrant population and I experienced the power that primary care has to address health inequities. I was also involved in a cascading mentorship program for youth historically underrepresented in medicine created by one of the doctors who led my undergrad seminars. I watched as many started college and medical school after developing relationships with healthcare professionals in our community. 

I chose the Denver Health track at CUFMR because I am passionate about primary care and excited to work with diverse populations. I am so excited to work with residents and faculty who are as excited about Family Medicine as I am! Outside of medicine I love to be in the sun, hike, crochet, bake and dance.

Lisa Estevez-Celi, DO

University Track  

Education: BA, Saint Louis University; DO, A. T. Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hometown: St. Louis, Missouri 

Hey there! My name is Lisa (she/her), and I grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, where I stayed to complete my Biology degree at Saint Louis University (Go Cards, and roll Bills!). After completing undergraduate, I moved to Kirksville, Missouri, where I lived for my first two years of medical school at A. T. Still University. Between my second and third year of medical school, I completed a Pre-Doctoral Fellowship in Medical Education where I had the chance to foster my love of teaching, POCUS, curricular development, human patient simulation, and advocacy. After my fellowship year, I completed my third year of clinical rotations in Phoenix, Arizona, before moving to Denver to finish my last year of medical school.  

I had always loved the idea of being a community doctor and creating lasting relationships with my patients, but I fell in love with Family Medicine while working closely with curricular development for my medical school’s Intellectual and Developmental Disability (IDD) Education Elective. Family Medicine is so unique in its position to care for patients from birth to death in both the inpatient and outpatient setting, and my goal is to create a more inclusive healthcare environment for folks with IDD. I am so excited to be here in CUFMR on the University track where I can work on my advocacy goals on both a community and academic level. 

My other medical interests include gender affirming care, medical education, ultrasound, gynecology, and hospitalist medicine. My non-medical interests include rock climbing, reading, biking, hiking, occasionally judging collegiate acappella competitions, and snuggling with my shiba inu, Oso. Fun fact: my partner is also in the program and is on the Denver Health track! 

Lily Hale, MD

University Track  

Education: Undergrad in University of North Carolina; MD University of North Carolina  

Hometown:  North Carolina  

Hi y’all! I was born and raised in North Carolina and am thrilled to be here in Colorado for residency. As an undergraduate nutrition and public health student at the University of North Carolina, I discovered my excitement for health education through teaching cooking classes to elementary school students. After college, I worked as a medical assistant at a small family practice where I quickly fell in love with the constant learning, daily variety, and continuity of care that Family Medicine offered. I saw firsthand the impact Family Medicine physicians have on the health of a community by focusing on health education and disease prevention, all of which perfectly aligned with my vision of the doctor I wanted to become.  

During medical school at UNC, I enjoyed tutoring junior medical students, researching diabetes care delivery during the pandemic, serving as an editor for the student-run medical journal, and volunteering as a primary care provider at the free student-run clinic. As I completed my clinical rotations, I loved learning from each specialty but continually found myself returning to the thought of how a particular disease could have been prevented. I knew then that Family Medicine was the right place for me! Within Family Medicine, I am especially interested in chronic disease management, obesity medicine, office-based procedures, and advocating for increased investment in primary care. 

I chose CUFMR because it was clear the faculty were passionate about developing the future of Family Medicine. I was particularly drawn to the education around health policy and advocacy, as well as the flexibility the curriculum provides to pursue individual interests. Outside of work, I‘m looking forward to cycling with my husband, hiking with my 9-year-old Foxhound Daisy, and exploring all the food, art, and culture that Denver has to offer! 

Jenna Kanner, MD

Denver Health Track  

Education: BS, University of Wisconsin, Madison; MD, University of Maryland School of Medicine 

Hometown: Takoma Park, MD 

Hi everyone! I’m Jenna and am so excited to join CUFMR! I grew up in Takoma Park and Silver Spring, Maryland and then attended the University of Wisconsin, Madison where I majored in Neuroscience and Psychology. After college, I moved back to the east coast to research the intersection of environmental factors and pregnancy outcomes at the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Volunteering at women’s health and sexual health clinics showed me the profound role community support, advocacy, and longitudinal care play in health outcomes!  

In medical school, I had the privilege of helping to develop a free intra-graduate school community clinic and to work with a team of peers from NIH to advocate for improved health outcomes for incarcerated populations. Partnering with patients and community members with diverse life experiences was incredibly rewarding and provided perspective as to the hurdles individuals go through to access care. I loved different parts of all of my rotations and chose family medicine because I was drawn to the intersection of advocacy and longitudinal care, and loved every FM doc I worked with! 

I’m passionate about reproductive justice, LGBTQ+ and gender-affirming care, medical education and mentorship, and procedural training. I chose UCFMR because of the supportive community, ability to explore full-scope FM, and for the opportunity to learn alongside and serve a FQHC population. It doesn’t hurt that my co-residents are absolutely incredible!  

Outside of medicine you can find me hiking to (and plunging in!) an alpine lake, baking or cooking TikTok recipes my friends sent me, hosting dinner parties, running, reading, or attempting to make dinnerware on the pottery wheel. 

Hannah Kimmel Supron, MD

University Track  

Education: BA, MPH, Brown University; MD, University of Michigan Medical School 

Hometown: Grand Junction, Colorado 

Hello! I’m Hannah (she/her), and I’m thrilled to be back in Colorado to join CUFMR! I grew up on the Western Slope of Colorado and after many years of schooling and working on the East Coast and Midwest, I am excited to return home. I studied linguistics and French in college before earning an MPH with a focus in epidemiology. During my MPH, my research focused on mindfulness-based interventions and cardiovascular health. I then worked full-time in evidence-based medicine, collaborating on meta-analyses, before completing the premedical postbac program at the University of Michigan. 

I’ve always I wanted to be a family physician. I love building long-term relationships with patients, coaching and educating, practicing full-scope medicine, and advocating in the community. Selected as a National Health Service Corps Scholar, I am also committed to health equity and serving underserved communities. My other professional interests include POCUS, integrative medicine, dyadic care, obstetrics, and reproductive care.  

I cherish spending time with my husband, our energetic toddler, and our sweet dog. You can also find me on Peloton, hiking/camping, and hosting gatherings. I love to read and listen to audiobooks and plan an outing specifically around a cup of coffee. CUFMR is my dream program for many reasons - the quality of training, health policy opportunities, and, above all, the people. As a resident who is also a parent, finding a program that offered support and could become a second family was crucial…and CUFMR is certainly that! 

Ashley Mai, MD

Denver Health Track  

Education: BS, Southern Methodist University; MD, Long School of Medicine 

Hometown: Richardson, TX 

Hi everyone! I grew up in the suburbs of North Dallas and attended undergrad at SMU (Pony Up!) I then ventured to the far depths of San Antonio to attend medical school at the Long School of Medicine, which is where I met my husband! During my time there, I became deeply involved with the Texas Academy of Family Physicians and developed a passion for organized medicine's transformative potential. Now joining CUFMR, I'm eager to further refine my leadership skills as a family medicine doc and look forward to becoming an integral part of the community I serve. Outside of medicine, I love spending time with my husband and our two dogs, Bear and Roxie. I also love baking sweet treats, exploring new restaurants, and I'm excited to take advantage of the nearby mountains for hiking and learning how to ski! 

Laura Meimari, MD

University Track  

Education: BE, McGill University Montreal, Quebec, Canada; MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine   

Hometown: Stouffville, Ontario 

Hi there! I’m Laura (she/her), and I am so excited to be joining UCFMR for residency! I was born and raised in Montreal and Toronto, Canada before attending McGill University in Montreal to study chemical engineering. After graduating, I began a career in the mining industry, which brought me all over the world and allowed me to have some incredible experiences, including working for over two years at a remote gold mine in the Sahara. Ultimately, after landing in Denver, I realized that my passion lay in work that was people-focused, and I decided to make the leap to pursue medicine instead. It was the best decision I’ve ever made. I completed a post-baccalaureate program and then medical school, both at the University of Colorado. During school, my research was focused on quality improvement in hospital medicine, and I served on the Student Professionalism Committee and co-founded the Physicians in Leadership Interest Group. I also volunteered with the DAWN Clinic as a care coordinator, which solidified my interest in primary care. What a privilege it is to have the opportunity to form longitudinal relationships with patients, help them navigate their healthcare, and care for them as whole persons. 

Within family medicine, my interests are women’s and reproductive health, obstetrics, QI, and medical education, but I look forward to exploring the field further through the excellent training at UCFMR. Outside of medicine, I love baking, solving any problem with a spreadsheet, and spending time with my family. 

Michael Persinger, Jr., MD

University Track  

Education: BA, University of Colorado - Boulder; MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine 

Hometown: Highlands Ranch, CO 

Hello all! I'm Michael Persinger (he/him). I grew up in Colorado, specifically the Highlands Ranch area. I went to the University of Colorado at Boulder for my BA, where I majored in Integrative Physiology and minored in Sociology with a Certificate in Public Health. During my undergraduate studies, I spent time volunteering in local emergency rooms, which sparked my interest in a career in medicine.  

As a member of the University of Colorado School of Medicine's Rural Program, I spent my entire third year of school in La Junta, CO. While there, I saw firsthand how family medicine physicians could impact their community both in and outside the clinic. It was in La Junta where I worked closely with the clinic outreach team to learn more about the social and economic barriers the local migrant workers face and how the clinic would be able to be more amenable to these patients. This experience solidified my decision to pursue family medicine so I may plug into my community and dedicate my career to making healthcare more accessible and equitable for all.  

I chose CUFMR because I had the fortune of rotating at A.F. WIlliams as a medical student and saw firsthand that the training UCMFR provides would shape me into the type of family medicine physician I aspire to be. The program's dedication to caring for the underserved and the community was immensely appealing. My other medical interests include geriatric care, healthcare leadership, and surgical obstetrics.  

Outside of medicine, I enjoy cheering on the Buffs, reading, exercising, and spending time with my wife, friends, and family. 

Ha Rio, MD

Rural Training Track

Education: BA, Reed College; MPH, Oregon Health & Science University; DO, Touro University California

Hometown: Hanoi, Vietnam/Portland, OR

Before med school, I worked in biomedical research, data analysis, and child welfare performance management. After earning my medical degree, I completed an internship year in General Surgery at the Valley Health System in Las Vegas, NV, before joining CUFMR. I’m a nomad but have lived in Denver on and off for many years, and I’m excited to move back to make it a more permanent home.

I love operating, skateboarding, snowboarding, playing the guitar, road-tripping, and being outside in the mountains with my dog.

Brinda Sarathy, MD

Denver Health Track  

Education: BS, East Carolina University; MD, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 

Hometown: Charlotte, North Carolina 

Hello! My name is Brinda (she/her/hers), and I’m excited to join the CUFMR family. Though I was born in Colorado, I grew up and spent most of my life in North Carolina. I studied Public Health and Nutrition at East Carolina University as an undergraduate. While in college, I volunteered at a few free clinics with primarily underserved populations and began to learn about the effects of the social determinants of health and the benefits of preventive healthcare. 

I attended medical school at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill, where I was involved with Medical Students for Choice and UNC’s student-run gender-affirming care clinic. During medical school, I also helped lead workshops about the relationship between race and art and developed an advocacy curriculum for UNC clinical medical students. While living in the mountains of Western North Carolina during my longitudinal clinical rotations, I solidified my path of becoming a primary care family medicine doctor. I admired the meaningful relationships my preceptors developed with their patients across the lifespan and knew I wanted a similarly diverse practice. 

CURM felt like the perfect environment to continue my interests in advocating for underserved populations, training in LGBTQ+ care, and engaging in social justice and medical humanities while surrounded by equally passionate peers and mentors. And, it helps that I still get to be around beautiful mountains! 

When I'm not at work, you can find me running in a park, cooking a New York Times recipe, hiking, writing, or trying out new hobbies (most recently aerial arts and rock climbing!) 

Jane Song, MD

University Track  

Education: BS, University of Colorado -Boulder; MD, University of Colorado School of Medicine  

Hometown: Aurora, CO 

Hello! I’m Jane (she/her), and I am beyond excited to continue my training with CUFMR. I grew up in Aurora, CO, and then went to the University of Colorado Boulder (sko buffs!) to study Chemical & Biological Engineering. In between undergrad and medical school, I worked as an executive assistant at CU Boulder for three years, gaining valuable experience in the professional world. I attended medical school at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. I was part of the research track, where I worked to characterize pediatric ependymomas on MRI. I also researched adolescent behavioral health and enjoyed the intersection of pediatric medicine with mental health. Furthermore, I was fortunate to be able to perform some advocacy work in substance abuse, co-authoring a citizen’s petition to the FDA. I fell in love with family medicine during my clinical clerkships, particularly for the inclusivity of all patients and all aspects of their health, and for the relationships and continuity. I knew that a family-centered, holistic approach to patients was exactly what I wanted from a career in medicine. 

During residency, I hope to continue to explore my interests and cultivate my growth as a full-scope family physician. I have several interests, including addiction medicine, adolescent medicine, LGBTQ care, procedural medicine, and several more. I am particularly passionate about academic medicine, teaching, and medical education. I am very grateful to continue my growth as a physician within my community and with such a supportive program. 

Outside of medicine, I love spending time walking with & cuddling my dog Lenny, a pug mix who carries my whole heart in his little paws! I also am an avid knitter & crocheter, barre lover, and book worm!   

Julia Swarthout, MD

Denver Health Track  

Education: BS, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburg PA; MD, Tufts University 

Hometown: Boston, MA  

Hi! I am Julia (she/her) and I grew up just outside of Boston before attending University of Pittsburgh for undergrad where I studied Biology with a chemistry minor. There, I realized my passion for science, mentorship, and teaching, all of which pointed me towards medical school. I then returned to home Boston and attended medical school at Tufts University (go Jumbos!!). While in school, I noticed that my most favorite interactions with patients were the ones where we got to discuss the intricacies of their lives, and how environmental and systemic factors affected their health so that we could work together to address those barriers. I also loved working with patients of all ages, and I realized there was no patient population that I was prepared to give up for the rest of my career, making family medicine the perfect choice for me. CUFMR stood out to me because of the passionate faculty, the uniquely rewarding patient population at Denver Health, and the emphasis on community involvement. Plus, it helps to be in such a beautiful and thriving city! 

When I’m not at work, I’m usually either watching whatever reality dating show is on at the moment, hiking, cooking an elaborate meal, or napping (*usually napping).

Lexie Wulf, MD

Rural Training Track  

Education: BS Oregon State University; MD Oregon Health and Science University  

Hometown: Portland, Oregon 

Hi y’all, I’m Lexie. I grew up in Portland, OR and initially attended the University of San Francisco for undergrad, where I played on the women’s soccer team, before transferring to Oregon State University to finish up my degree in kinesiology. During and after undergrad, I worked as a medical scribe trainer, where I worked in numerous different specialties, but always had a passion for family medicine. 

I attended Oregon Health and Science University for medical school, where I organized student involvement at a free health clinic in Vancouver, WA for uninsured patients, helped lead an auction where we raised over $20,000 for free medical, dental, and wound care clinics for under-resourced populations in Portland, OR, and researched disparities in mental health management between children of color and whites in the pediatric emergency room at OHSU. 

I chose rural family medicine, because I want to continue working with under-resourced communities and partner with them to improve their overall health and wellbeing. I selected CUFMR, because I believe they will provide me with a robust, well-rounded training that not only makes me a competent physician, but also a compassionate human being. 

In my spare time I enjoy hiking with my three dogs (2 mini dachshunds and 1 chihuahua), running, riding horses and being around animals, photography, and cooking.