The following family medicine residents were selected for their exemplary patient care, their interpersonal relationships with patients, physicians and faculty, and their demonstrated leadership and community involvement. These 12 men and women are truly health care leaders.
RESIDENCY
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Family Medicine Residency Program at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold, New Jersey
MEDICAL SCHOOL
St. George's University School of Medicine, Grenada, West Indies
Dr. Asselstine counts receiving the AAFP Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education as one of her top professional accomplishments to date. She also takes pride in being elected by faculty and peers in her residency program to serve as co-chief resident. Professionally, her areas of interest include fostering youth literacy and designing outreach programs for adolescents to promote a healthy, active lifestyle. She is also interested in pursuing additional certifications in alternative pain management options, such as medical acupuncture. A lifelong athlete, she is especially passionate about hockey and golf. Other favorite pastimes include cooking, spending time with family and friends, reading, and writing short stories. Following residency, Dr. Asselstine plans to complete a primary care sports medicine fellowship to complement her family medicine training. She hopes to stay active in her community and continue her involvement in teaching and advocacy throughout her career.
RESIDENCY
South Baldwin Regional Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program, Foley, Alabama
MEDICAL SCHOOL
Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Auburn, Alabama
Deploying to Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan and flying aeromedical evacuation (MEDEVAC) missions in support of Operation Enduring Freedom X-XI are Dr. Brisson’s most important professional accomplishments to date. Currently serving in the Alabama Air National Guard, he strives to maintain his technical and tactical proficiency as a pilot in command and an aeromedical evacuation officer. He also has particular interest in Helicopter Emergency Medical Services (HEMS)/air ambulance safety of flight. Other professional interests include supporting and developing public health and patient safety concepts, particularly regarding the management of childhood and adolescent obesity. When he is off duty, Dr. Brisson likes to run half-marathons and marathons and enjoys spending time with his wife and two children. His family is actively involved in after-school activities that include Cub Scouts, baseball, flag football, and STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) projects. Following residency, he plans to pursue a practice that combines family medicine with aviation/aerospace medicine.
RESIDENCY
McLaren Oakland Family Medicine Residency, Pontiac, Michigan
MEDICAL SCHOOL
International American University College of Medicine, Vieux Fort, St. Lucia
Dr. Chopra’s greatest professional accomplishments to date include being chosen as chief resident for McLaren Oakland Family Medicine Residency, serving as the resident member of the Michigan Academy of Family Physicians Board of Directors, and receiving the AAFP Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education. She is also proud of her work on the “Kick COVID to the Curb” initiative that helped schools in Pontiac, Michigan, reopen safely during the pandemic. In addition to her involvement in implementing community health education and awareness programs, she is interested in physician advocacy and preventive health. During her free time, Dr. Chopra enjoys traveling and immersing herself in different cultures. She loves fitness and dogs, so her plans include running a marathon this year and adopting a Samoyed and Malamute puppy. After completing residency, she hopes to join—and eventually own—a private practice and continue working with the AAFP and the Michigan AFP. Because she considers teaching an ideal way to stay current in the ever-changing field of medicine, she would like to teach residents and students at an academic center in the future.
RESIDENCY
Family Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
MEDICAL SCHOOL
Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan
Matching at the Family Medicine Residency at Mayo Clinic and being nominated by her peers to be chief resident are two of Dr. Clapp’s greatest professional accomplishments to date. Other notable accomplishments include being nominated for induction into the Gold Humanism Honor Society and receiving the AAFP Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education. She enjoys participating in global health initiatives and has been accepted to present at the WONCA World Conference of Family Doctors 2021. Her professional interests also include building expertise in primary health care for women and staying involved in academic medicine (e.g., research projects, publications). Away from work, Dr. Clapp maintains a healthy, active lifestyle with special interest in snowboarding, running, hiking, and field lacrosse. She is an avid international traveler who has visited more than 40 countries across six continents and enjoys learning about the culture, history, language, and cuisine of each place she visits. Following residency, she hopes to join a family medicine outpatient clinic where she can work with other family physicians and continue caring for patients of all ages. She would also like to teach medical students and residents.
RESIDENCY
St. Mark's Family Medicine Residency, Salt Lake City, Utah
MEDICAL SCHOOL
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine
Dr. Dance’s greatest professional accomplishment to date is earning her Master of Public Health degree from the University of California, Berkeley. She subsequently started a program to screen for and address social determinants of health in her residency’s patient population. Other professional interests include medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder and medical education for students and residents. Dr. Dance loves to spend time with her husband and three children, and she especially enjoys family vacations. She also likes reading and gardening. After completing residency, she plans to stay in Salt Lake City, Utah, and continue to care for underserved populations. In addition, she hopes to work with residents and pursue academic medicine opportunities in both inpatient and outpatient settings.
RESIDENCY
Scripps Mercy Family Medicine Residency Program, Chula Vista, California
MEDICAL SCHOOL
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA PRIME, Los Angeles, California
Dr. Estrada’s greatest professional accomplishment to date is founding a nonprofit organization called Comunidad de Apoyo San Diego (CASD) with a co-resident and two of her patients. The organization’s mission is to increase health care access for uninsured and historically marginalized patients by providing financial support and navigation services; facilitating community support groups; and increasing awareness among health care professionals. Another professional interest is the monthly newsletter she launched in 2021 to highlight the latest immigration news and policy and provide key information for clinicians caring for patients who are immigrants. A passionate advocate, she has also worked within her residency program and hospital to protect the rights of undocumented and detained patients and provide financial support for needed care, and she plans to continue this work with local hospitals following residency. Away from work, Dr. Estrada enjoys spending time with her husband and family, reading frivolous fiction novels, and watercolor painting. She also designs and assembles self-care boxes for women physicians to support patients who are immigrants. After completing residency, she hopes to practice full-spectrum outpatient family medicine in a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving the California/Mexico border community in Chula Vista. She also plans to continue advocating for immigrant health justice and health care access for undocumented and uninsured patients by working with CASD, writing her newsletter, and meeting with local community organizations and local and state lawmakers.
RESIDENCY
Family Medicine Residency Program at Mayagüez Medical Center, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
MEDICAL SCHOOL
University of Montemorelos, Montemorelos, Nuevo León, Mexico
Dr. Lindsay De Gracia’s most important professional accomplishments to date are being honored with the AAFP Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education, serving as a resident delegate at the 2021 AAFP National Conference of Family Medicine Residents and Medical Students, and receiving the Resident Award for Scholarship from the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD) and the North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG). His professional interests include pursuing opportunities in leadership, fellowship training, and academic medicine, and he would like to complete an advanced degree with a focus on health care quality, patient safety, leadership, and clinical research. In his personal life, he prioritizes spending quality time with his family and focusing on his own wellness. He also enjoys studying music and playing the cello. Following residency, Dr. Lindsay De Gracia plans to practice broad-spectrum family medicine and find ways to improve medical services for underserved patients in Texas. He also hopes to teach and mentor medical students and family medicine residents.
RESIDENCY
Brown University/Kent Hospital Family Medicine Residency, Providence, Rhode Island
MEDICAL SCHOOL
Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island
Being elected as one of her residency program’s family medicine obstetrics (FM/OB) chief residents is among Dr. Neel’s greatest professional accomplishments to date. She also takes pride in having published original research during medical school and sharing that work at national and international conferences to highlight the importance of interprofessional collaboration and the role of doulas in labor and delivery. In addition to research, her professional interests include issues of reproductive justice and health care for LGBTQ+ individuals. She is also focused on addressing health disparities, especially in obstetrics and early childhood. Her favorite pastimes include reading long-form journalism, attending theater and dance performances, learning new languages, and helping plants grow. She also enjoys spending time with her family, especially going to West African dance class or riding bikes to the library together. Following residency, Dr. Neel plans to complete an FM/OB fellowship program and go into practice as a full-spectrum family medicine obstetrician.
RESIDENCY
Dignity Health Methodist Hospital of Sacramento Family Medicine Residency Program, California
MEDICAL SCHOOL
West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, West Virginia
Dr. Rubin’s most important professional accomplishment to date has been volunteering as a physician at a rural community hospital in Africa. While there, she worked with local community members to develop sustainable programs that continue to thrive and support the hospital and the community. In addition to her time in Africa, she has volunteered in more than 35 countries to pursue her passion for global public health. Her professional interests also include practicing full-spectrum family medicine with an underserved patient population and continuing to work in primary care and hospital settings in the United States and abroad. Away from work, she enjoys playing the guitar and participating in a variety of outdoor activities, such as surfing, skateboarding, snowboarding, and golf. As a volunteer for the Salvation Army, she works with underserved youth, individuals who are homeless, and people who are searching for more in life. Following residency, Dr. Rubin will be the first family medicine obstetrics fellow at her hospital. She was part of a Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) grant writing team that was awarded a grant to establish this fellowship at her residency program, and she is currently developing the fellowship’s curriculum.
RESIDENCY
University of Alabama at Birmingham Huntsville Family Medicine Residency Program
MEDICAL SCHOOL
University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine
Dr. Stisher’s greatest professional accomplishment to date is serving on the AAFP Board of Directors as a fourth-year medical student. His professional interests include organized medicine and advocacy, point-of-care ultrasound, and academic family medicine. A self-described “foodie,” he likes to cook and currently specializes in making homemade pasta. He also enjoys coffee and loves to travel with his wife, especially on cruise ships. After completing residency, Dr. Stisher plans to become a faculty member in the family medicine department of a residency program so that he can teach and mentor medical students and residents. One of his future goals is to become a family medicine residency program director.
RESIDENCY
Stanford-O’Connor Family Medicine Residency Program, San Jose, California
MEDICAL SCHOOL
Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Providing care for patients as a frontline physician during the COVID-19 pandemic has been Dr. Sung’s greatest professional accomplishment to date. Mental health, addiction treatment, and health care for homeless individuals are also among his professional interests. In his personal life, he likes to spend time exploring and supporting local farmers markets, baking, and cooking, and he especially enjoys developing recipes for his patients and for the restaurant he hopes to open in the future, which will specialize in farm-to-table Korean fusion cuisine with a healthy twist. Other favorite pastimes include traveling and learning about new cultures, reading, and doing high-intensity interval training (HIIT) workouts. Following residency, Dr. Sung plans to join a clinic in an underserved urban setting where he can integrate his passions for culinary medicine, addiction treatment, mental health, and health care for LGBTQ+ patients. He would also like to be involved with a residency program so he can contribute to training the next generation of physician leaders.
RESIDENCY
The University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School Family Medicine Residency
MEDICAL SCHOOL
Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Receiving the AAFP Award for Excellence in Graduate Medical Education is Dr. Wilhelmi’s most important professional accomplishment to date because it represents national recognition among his peers in family medicine. His interests as a family physician include leadership, teaching, and mentorship within the specialty and caring for patient populations that historically have been underserved. Away from work, Dr. Wilhelmi likes to spend time with his Goldendoodle, travel, and explore the great outdoors by hiking, mountain biking, and kayaking. In keeping with his professional interest in sports medicine, he also enjoys playing, watching, and providing medical coverage for almost any sport. Following residency, he plans to complete a primary care sports medicine fellowship and pursue a sports medicine faculty position in a family medicine residency program that is affiliated with a federally qualified health center (FQHC). He would also like to seek local and national leadership opportunities so that he can continue building a future of excellence for family medicine.