Samuel Melville, M.D. he/him

Medical School: University of Southern California Keck SOM

Sam grew up in Palo Alto, CA and attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate. There, he studied Economics, completing research in health insurance and maternal health disparities, suffered through several losing seasons of Cal football as a radio commentator and worked as an EMT on an ambulance in Oakland. Before medical school, Sam worked as an analyst at a litigation consulting firm in London and a venture capital firm in Silicon Valley before deciding to dedicate his life to medicine and decreasing the gender inequities in healthcare and the workplace. While attending the Keck School of Medicine at USC, Sam served as a Gehr Healthcare Innovation Fellow and president of several healthcare policy and reproductive rights advocacy groups. Sam is a strong advocate for patients' right to choice and the fair distribution of healthcare resources. His current research interests involve new infertility treatments, preventing obstetric complications and cost analysis of surgical care. Beyond medicine, Sam enjoys backpacking trips, planting Bonsai trees, cooking for friends, listening to history podcasts, watching basketball and registering new voters!

Erica Qiao, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of Washington SOM

Erica graduated with honors in Biology and Chemistry from the University of Washington. After graduation, she served in the AmeriCorps, focusing on reducing health barriers in rural communities. During this time, she also co-founded a pipeline program aimed to connect junior high and high school students with mentors and hands-on workshops within healthcare. Throughout medical school, she chose to train in rural and underserved hospitals, where she discovered her physician philosophy and passion for women's health, surgery, and improving access to care while caring for patients in these communities. She was elected as Class Vice President and actively participated in medical education, community service, and various research fields, including Cardiac MR Imaging, COVID-19, Palliative Care, and Surgical Outcomes. After graduation, she was elected into the Gold Humanism Honor Society by her classmates and received the Service Award. Erica is proud and ecstatic to continue her medical training in the PNW with the incredible OHSU and Oregon community! Outside of medicine, Erica finds joy in cooking and draws inspiration from Gordon Ramsey's passion for food and teaching. She enjoys spending time with her family, immersing herself in DIY projects, admiring the ocean, and all the wonders Oregon has to offer.

Caroline Braun, M.D. she/her

Medical School: Emory University SOM

Cally grew up in Charlotte, Vermont and stayed close to her Green Mountain home to attend Dartmouth College. There, she skied for the NCAA Division I Cross Country Ski Team and studied anthropology, bioethics, and global health. She developed her interested in reproductive justice through volunteering with Planned Parenthood during her time at Dartmouth. After college, she then traded summits for skylines, moving to New York City to work under a state grant to increase breastfeeding accessibility and then to Atlanta to attend Emory University School of Medicine. At Emory, Cally was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism honor societies and connected her lifelong interest in environmentalism with health by researching the impact of climate change on pregnancy outcomes. Outside of the hospital, Cally loves to do anything outside, especially cross-country (Nordic) or alpine skiing and already feels right at home in Oregon.

Katherine Bolten, M.D. she/her

Medical School: Northwestern University, Feinberg SOM

Kate was born in Michigan and grew up in both West Virginia and the greater Philadelphia area. She grew up moving several times and can confirm that home is where the heart (and friends and family) are! She studied bioengineering and Spanish at Temple University before moving to Chicago to study at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. During medical school, her research efforts were directed towards medical education in OBGYN and assisted reproductive technology. Kate received a Nezhat Family Foundation Endometriosis Grant to create a surgical simulation for OBGYN trainees to practice retroperitoneal dissection techniques for stage 4 endometriosis resection and is excited to continue her work in medical education at OHSU. Kate is looking forward to exploring Portland’s cycling community, chowing down on some Tillamook, throwing dinner parties for her new co-residents, and checking out the PNW hiking scene. Kate, her partner Gavin, and her cheese-loving mini Australian shepherd are so excited to live in Portland and to join the OHSU community!

Leda Espinoza, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill SOM

Leda grew up in Emerald Hills, CA and moved to the east coast to attend Dartmouth College, where she studied Biology. After graduating, she spent a month hiking the John Muir Trail before moving to Boston, MA to join a research group that studies the long-term psychosocial outcomes of burn survivors. She attended medical school at the University of North Carolina, completing her third year rotations in the western part of the state at UNC’s branch campus in Asheville. As a medical student, she worked as a peer tutor, volunteer Spanish interpreter, and volunteer coordinator at UNC’s student-run free clinic. She hopes to be a generalist, providing inclusive and full-spectrum reproductive healthcare for folks through all different walks of life. Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking, backpacking, climbing, baking sourdough bread, crossword puzzling with her partner, chatting up vendors at her local farmers market, and reading. She couldn’t be more excited to be joining the OHSU community!

Sara Grundy, M.D., M.P.H. she/her

Medical School: Duke University SOM

Sara grew up in Montpelier, Vermont before attending Wesleyan University where she majored in Neuroscience. During her gap years, she lived in Boston and worked in global health where she developed an interest community engagement and health policy, and developed an appreciation for the impact they can have on health outcomes of the most marginalized. Then after spending her entire life in New England, she moved to North Carolina to attend Duke for medical school. While there, she became interested in the intersection between incarceration and health after caring for many patients admitted from the local prison. She was moved by the connection to trauma, especially for incarcerated women, and founded an organization that provides health navigation and financial assistance to formerly incarcerated women in the Raleigh-Durham area. She also worked on research projects on shackling policies, lactation access in NC jails, and the prison system response to COVID-19. In her free time, she loves cooking, playing board games, trying new restaurants, live music, spending time with her husband and cats, and anything that gets her outside. She can’t wait to explore all the beautiful nature in and around Portland, take full advantage of the amazing food scene in the city, and join the community at OHSU!

Geffan Pearlson, M.D., M.S. she/her

Medical School: University of California, San Francisco SOM

Originally from Eugene, Oregon, Geffan is thrilled to return to the PNW for residency at OHSU. She attended Stanford University where she studied Human Biology with a minor in Modern Languages (Spanish and Arabic) and met her husband, JR. After college, she worked in family planning and abortion research in San Francisco while completing post-baccalaureate classes. She stayed in the Bay Area for medical school at the UC Berkeley-UCSF Joint Medical Program, and carried her passion for family planning into her master’s thesis research examining provider responses to patients requesting IUD removal. Geffan has a strong interest in medical education and participated in the Health Professionals Pathway. In her free time, Geffan enjoys living room dance parties with JR and their two kids and spending time outside. She also loves snuggling their cat, Jupiter (who does not enjoy the living room dance parties).

Carter Scott, M.D. he/they

Medical School: Washington University SOM, St Louis, Missouri

Carter was born in Mississippi and raised in Alabama. He studied public health at Tulane University in New Orleans, where he was heavily involved in sexual health promotion, sexual violence prevention, and peer health education. He also assisted with national HIV behavioral health research and counseling. It was at Tulane that they learned about the field of LGBTQ health, an area in which they hope to specialize. Carter then worked as a public health consultant in New Hampshire, where he specialized in clinical quality improvement and health systems emergency preparedness. He attended medical school at Washington University in St. Louis, where he continued research he began as an undergraduate in LGBTQ health, implicit bias, and medical curricular development. He also led a group facilitating health workshops for adolescents who are incarcerated. Carter is fulfilled by developing connections and strengthening their community, which they have done through LGBTQ organizing, mentoring premedical students, and founding an organization to support medical students with partners and families. He loves to cook, especially making nutritious food taste great.

Annalise Panthofer, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of Wisconsin, School of Medicine

Annalise grew up in Stoughton, WI and attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison for undergrad. She majored in Biology and Spanish, and earned a Global Health certificate, studying social determinants of teen pregnancy in Argentina. Following graduation, she served AmeriCorps at Sixteenth Street Community Health Centers in Milwaukee, WI, where she coordinated care and resources for pregnant patients and launched a bilingual L&D crash course for expectant parents. Between her third and fourth year of medical school, Annalise pursued the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research-Shapiro Yearlong Fellowship, studying anatomic predictors of adverse surgical outcomes with her vascular surgery mentor of 8+ years. Her current interests involve assessing racial disparities in time-to-vital signs in OB triage, improving access to family planning exposure for medical students, and expanding racial and socioeconomic diversity of the medical field. Outside of medicine, Annalise enjoys any excuse to get outside, move her body, cook, and spend quality time with her family, friends, partner, and cat.

Jallanie Negussie , M.D. she/her 

Jallanie grew up in Vancouver, WA, in a tight knit Ethiopian community. They inspired her to spend over the last decade working with a nonprofit organization to help bring clinics and eventually a hospital to rural Ethiopia. She continued to serve this community throughout her undergraduate years at Washington State University and in medical school at the University of Washington. After graduation she spent a preliminary general surgery year at OHSU and is incredibly excited to remain at OHSU for OBGYN. Her clinical interests include global reproductive health, URiM mentorship, operating, and teaching. Outside of the hospital she can be found immersed in game nights, watching anything made by Shonda Rhimes, or perfecting her peanut butter cookie recipe.

Kelly Shriver, M.D., M.Div. she/her

Medical School: Kaiser Permanente School of Medicine

Kelly was born in Spokane, WA and came to medicine via an unexpected path. After receiving a BA in Comparative Religion from the University of Washington she pursued a Master of Divinity at Princeton and was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA). She has served the church as a pastor for congregations in Michigan, Oregon, and California, where she also pursued her medical degree at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, as a member of the inaugural class. Kelly is deeply passionate about serving the wholistic healing needs of her community, be they spiritual, psychological, or physical. She is involved with several community organizing efforts as both a pastor and a physician promoting safe and healthy sex work, death acceptance and education, and reproductive justice and access for all individuals. When she's not doctoring or pastoring, you can often find her hiking with her three children and partner, teaching those same three kids how to bake and quilt, or reading by herself.

Veronica Hutchison, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Veronica grew up in New Mexico, ranging from Santa Fe to living on the border of the Cochiti reservation. Later, volunteering for the Native Health Initiative (NHI) non-profit shaped her value for diversity and dedication to work towards health equity. She received two undergraduate degrees at the University of New Mexico where she majored in Psychology with a minor in Chemistry and majored in Biology with a minor in Health Medicine and Human Values. She continued onto medical school at the University of New Mexico as part of the Combined BA/MD program. Understanding how financial struggles impact access to care, she worked to restart and coordinate a monthly women's health clinic to provide free essential health services for uninsured and undocumented patients. Her research centered around teenagers' reproductive life plans and attitudes towards contraception. She expanded this research to incorporate a trauma-informed care approach within the local youth detention center. Her commitment for advocating for women's reproductive rights drove her to write a policy and medical proposal to allow medication abortions for her school's student health center. When she isn’t at the hospital, you can find her trying out a new recipe, trail running, mountain biking, rock-climbing, and swing dancing! Coming from the desert, she is especially excited to explore Oregon, with its luscious and rainy weather and quick access to both the ocean and mountains!

Vincent Moore, M.D., M.P.H. he/him

Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine

Vincent spent his early life in Morgantown Pennsylvania and then was the first in his family to attend college. He went University of South Florida where he studied Biomedical Sciences and Public health. After graduating from undergrad, he spent several years working at Boston University School of Medicine and the BMC Center for Transgender Medicine and Surgery. He then moved to New Orleans, LA to attend Tulane University where he completed a dual degree in medicine (MD) and public health and tropical medicine (MPH&TM). Vincent hopes to continue being a mentor and teacher, ultimately in academic medicine, throughout his career in Ob/Gyn. He is excited to explore pain management options for in-office procedures and ways to improve the experience for transgender and non-binary patients in the Ob/Gyn's office. Outside of medicine, Vincent spends time with his dog, cat, and friends, he loves to garden, kayak, hike, aquascape, cook and bake.

Amy Kelleher, M.D. she/her

Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University

Amy grew up in Oakland, California before moving to Boston to attend Northeastern University. During her undergraduate years, she studied Health Science and Theater, spending her weekends acting in and directing Shakespearean plays and working as a Newborn Hearing Screener. Amy then moved to New York City for medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. At Einstein, she served on the board for Einstein PRIDE, volunteered as a women's health patient advocate at a student-run free clinic, researched the impact of community-based pap smears in the Bronx, and worked as a peer tutor and mentor. Amy was awarded the Excellence in Obstetrics and Gynecology & Women’s Health Award for her commitment to medical education and mentorship after developing and leading Einstein's OBGYN Peer Advisor Leaders program. In her free time, Amy loves trying new recipes and hosting dinner parties for her friends and family. She is happiest in a park with her fiancé and their dog, ideally in a hammock. She looks forward to exploring the Pacific Northwest with all her new friends at OHSU and to trying as many restaurants as possible!

Katrina Rapp, M.D. she/her

Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University

Katrina grew up in Portland, Oregon, and earned a bachelor’s degree in Biology from Pitzer College. Prior to medical school, Katrina pursued several years of bench research at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where she investigated the reprogramming of fibroblasts into hematopoietic stem cells for transplantation in the context of hematologic malignancy. She also spent several months working in a maternity ward in Cusco, Peru, an experience that solidified her commitment to a career in reproductive health. Katrina returned to Portland for her medical education at OHSU and has maintained a steadfast commitment to both bench and clinical research, seeking to address barriers to reproductive autonomy. Her research endeavors have encompassed investigating the development of a non-hormonal birth control method, exploring patient agency in contraceptive counseling, and leading workshops that teach medical students how to integrate illustration into patient education to enhance health literacy. Outside the hospital, Katrina finds fulfillment in dancing, enjoying live music, discovering new swimming spots outside the city, and indulging in leisurely picnics with loved ones in Laurelhurst Park.

Aleksei Dingel, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine

Aleksei grew up in Boise, ID and studied Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at the University of Washington where she completed her undergraduate and medical school training. As an undergrad, she pole vaulted for UW’s Track & Field team. Prior to medical school, Aleksei was a Clinical Research Coordinator both at Stanford Hospital and St. Luke’s (Boise) where she was the Site Manager of several multicenter prospective cohort and quality improvement studies. Additionally, she was the Cadaveric Lab Director for a pediatric orthopedic research group. During these research opportunities, she realized her passion for clinical research. In medical school, she helped revise UWSOM’s medical student curriculum assessment tool creating a more equitable and transparent clinical assessment system for medical students. After the Dobbs decision, Aleksei began advocating for legislative policy by drafting resolution proposals for a state medical association to protect patients, improve their accessibility to care and to protect physicians’ right to treat patients with the standard of care. She plans to continue her patient and physician advocacy work as an Ob/GYN resident. In her free time, Aleksei enjoys outdoor adventures such as bike packing, hiking, and wake surfing, and looks forward to exploring Oregon’s outdoor adventures.

Megha Arora, M.D., M.P.H. she/her

Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University

Megha grew up in Austin, TX and studied at Juniata College in Pennsylvania for her undergraduate degree in Public Health and Spanish/Hispanic Cultures. During and after college, she gained public health experience in community, state health department, and global health contexts. Be it Texas, rural Pennsylvania, or Latin America, access to reproductive health was an ongoing and often contentious conversation which sparked her interest in the field. She followed her family, now based in Seattle, west for medical school, and spent five years at Oregon Health & Science University earning her MD-MPH dual degree. At OHSU she was avidly involved in medical education, teaching medical students weekly using a novel visual teaching format which she developed. She also conducted epidemiologic research, including a now published study on cannabis use and fertility, and cost effectiveness studies, such as a project on the cost effectiveness of different syphilis screening algorithms in pregnancy. She looks forward to furthering her love for observational research and statistical modeling in her resident research. Outside the hospital she loves to cook, dance, paddle board, and enjoy Portland’s vibrant food scene.

Elizabeth Cedars, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

Eliza grew up in a small town outside of Minneapolis, Minnesota and later attended Luther College in Iowa. During the COVID-19 pandemic she served with AmeriCorps at a Federally Qualified Health Center in rural Wisconsin where she performed various quality improvement projects and coordinated a dental outreach program. She later attended medical school at University of Minnesota-Duluth Campus. While in medical school Eliza co-led research on barriers to maternity care for patients with limited English proficiency in rural Minnesota and spent her third year in the Rural Physicians Associate Program (RPAP), a nine-month longitudinal clerkship in Wadena, Minnesota. During RPAP Eliza had the privilege of following obstetric patients throughout their pregnancies and deliveries, motivating her to pursue ObGyn. Towards the end of medical school Eliza developed a podcast with her wife called the “Docs are Out” sharing the experiences of queer medical trainees. Eliza’s professional interests include improving access to obstetric care in rural communities, substance use in pregnancy, narrative medicine, and gender affirming care. In her time outside of medicine she enjoys being outdoors, journaling, trying new recipes, and spending time with her wife and two cats.

Jane Duncan, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine

Jane grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah, and attended high school in New Hampshire. She graduated cum laude from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, with a degree in Chemistry. During college, she spent her summers leading backcountry canoe trips at an all-girls camp in Maine. Before medical school, Jane worked in various clinical roles at Planned Parenthood and as a research assistant in the University of Utah’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, where she worked on studies examining the impacts of COVID-19 in pregnancy and the dosing of prophylactic low molecular weight heparin after cesarean delivery. While at the University of Utah School of Medicine, Jane remained active in reproductive health, working PRN at Planned Parenthood, leading her campus chapter of Medical Students for Choice, and engaging in advocacy through the Utah Medical Association and ACOG. Her current research interests include patient experience during IUD placement and pregnancy impacts of prenatal GLP-1 use. Outside of medicine, Jane enjoys cycling, trail running with her dog Lily, reading novels, and baking chocolate chip cookies.

Erin Howard, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine

Erin was born and raised in New Orleans, where her vibrant hometown sparked her passion for the arts, including music, dance, and theater. She studied Neuroscience and Anthropology at the University of Arizona in Tucson, where she researched spatial memory in rats and discovered her love of education through a job teaching computer programming. After college, she spent several years working in an OB/GYN clinic and fell in love with the opportunities for education and advocacy in the field. Erin then moved to Phoenix for medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, where she served her community through a volunteer program teaching pregnancy classes to local teens and provided prenatal care at a night clinic for medically underserved patients. After seeing the impact of abortion restrictions on Arizona patients, she worked with Medical Students for Choice to increase community engagement in reproductive advocacy work. She also developed research projects at the interface of obstetrics and neurosurgery, aiming to improve perinatal care for patients with neurological conditions. She is particularly passionate about medical education and reproductive justice and is interested in a career in academic medicine. Outside of the hospital, Erin enjoys spending time with her husband and two cats, trying new restaurants, and seeing independent movies. She loves spending time in nature and is excited to explore the beautiful Pacific Northwest after spending over a decade in the Arizona desert!

Marilyn Mathew, M.D., Ph.D. she/her

Medical School: Texas Tech University Hsc, School of Medicine

Marilyn grew up in Austin, Texas. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Cell and Molecular Biology from Texas Tech University, where she also completed a STEM MBA while working at the Office of Research Commercialization.  She went on to pursue a combined MD/PhD program at Texas Tech, earning her doctorate in Biochemistry. Her research focused on amino acid transporter-based therapeutics for triple-negative breast cancer, developing an insulin-resistant mouse model to study polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), and exploring low-insulin diets as a clinical strategy for managing PCOS progression.  During her time in medical school, Marilyn served as president of Medical Students for Choice at Texas Tech and later joined the Board of Directors for Planned Parenthood of Lubbock, serving as Chair in her final year.  She is passionate about family planning, advancing women’s health research, and providing trauma-informed care.

Helena Reising, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine

Helena grew up in central Wisconsin as the fourth of five children. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, where she studied cultural anthropology. Her first research experience involved leading a case study on the lived experiences of medically underserved mothers in the Twin Cities.  Before medical school, Helena worked at an endocrinology clinic in Fargo, North Dakota, where she was first introduced to rural gender-affirming care. During medical school, she focused on addressing the resurgence of syphilis in Wisconsin, developing accredited online continuing medical education to retrain clinicians in diagnosis and treatment.  Helena has a broad range of clinical interests including pediatric and adolescent gynecology, gender-affirming care, and sexual health/pleasure.  Outside of medicine, she enjoys skiing, kitesurfing, and running with her cattle dog, Snowball.

Ana Tomlinson, M.D., M.S. she/her

Medical School: University of Miami LM Miller School of Medicine

Ana was born in Rancagua, Chile, and grew up in Brooklyn, NY and Miami, FL. She completed a B.S. in biology and interdisciplinary sciences at Florida International University, and a Master of Science in medical genetics and genomics at Tulane University. She attended medical school at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she was deeply involved in medical student education as an anatomy TA, physical exam maneuver trainer, and step 1 and 2 peer coach. She also developed coursework on contraception which was adopted into her medical school's core curriculum for first-year medical students. She entered medical school with a hope to start an initiative in menstrual health education outreach, and did so as her scholarly pathway project, where she partnered the University of Miami with a national organization "Period Education Project," forming an organization of students who teach seminars on menstrual health to children and adolescents in the local community. Upon graduation, she received the J. Milton Award for outstanding achievement in service of the field of obstetrics & gynecology. Her research has been related to menstrual health knowledge gaps in U.S. college students, supplements used by assisted reproduction patients, and vulvar pruritus. Her hobbies include pickleball, trivia, going to the movie theatre, Texas hold 'em poker, traveling, and cuddling with her sweet calico kitty, Winnie.

Jessie Walter, M.D., M.P.H. she/her

Medical School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill School of Medicine

Jessie Walter grew up in northern Illinois and pursued a chemistry major at Davidson College, where she developed an interest in global health. After graduation, she moved to Tanzania to work in the field, gaining firsthand experience in international health initiatives. Upon returning to the U.S., Jessie transitioned to education, teaching high school physics and integrated science in Baltimore for three years, where she honed her communication and curriculum development skills. She then attended the University of North Carolina, earning both a medical degree and a Master of Public Health. During her time at UNC, Jessie discovered a passion for gender-affirming care and advocacy, focusing on how medical education can better prepare students to be advocates at individual, community, and systemic levels. She is excited to continue this work during her residency and throughout her career. Alongside her career in medicine, Jessie enjoys playing ultimate frisbee, training for races with friends, forest bathing, and playing bass.

Sydney Sheffield, M.D. she/her

Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine

Sydney grew up in the Silicon Valley and studied Public Health and Chinese at Tulane University, where she discovered an interest in qualitative research while interviewing students about their experience with sexuality, sexual health, and sexual violence on campus. During her gap year, she came home to the Bay Area to work as a medical assistant for Planned Parenthood, solidifying her interest in reproductive health care. While at Duke University for medical school, she spent much of her free time educating about and advocating for reproductive freedom, serving as chapter president of Medical Students for Choice, interning with SisterSong Women of Color Reproductive Justice Collective, working as a teaching assistant for an abortion provider oral histories project, and volunteering as a clinic escort for the local Planned Parenthood. She also designed a mixed methods study investigating contraceptive decision-making during molar pregnancy monitoring. She is passionate about reproductive care access and destigmatization, sexual health/pleasure, and storytelling. Outside of the hospital, Sydney loves being outside, running, and reading and is determined to explore all 80 miles of Forest Park’s trails!

Mary Dyrland, M.D. she/her

Medical School: Rush Medical College

Mary grew up in Bellingham, Washington where she developed a love for the mountains and outdoors. She attended Seattle University, graduating with honors in Biology. After graduation, she worked at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center in Seattle, Washington as a research coordinator on several Parkinson’s research studies. During this time, she also volunteered as a girl’s soccer coach, working with newly immigrated youth. Mary moved to Chicago to attend Rush University for medical school. There, she held multiple leadership roles, including leading Rush Students for Choice and founding HERS, an organization that provides community sexual health education and operates a free monthly gynecology clinic for underserved populations. She also participated in medical education and research focused on breastfeeding, health disparities, and contraception, and was elected to the Gold Humanism Honor Society by her classmates. Her interests include health disparities, gynecologic oncology, reproductive freedom, and medical education. Outside of medicine, Mary enjoys hiking and backpacking throughout the PNW, walking her dog Bernie with her husband Matthew, embroidery, biking, skiing, and traveling. She is excited to return to the Pacific Northwest and join the OHSU community!

Kate Muldoon Weis, M.D., M.P.H. she/her

Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School

Kate grew up in Denver, Colorado and attended the University of Kansas for her undergraduate degree in biochemistry. After graduating from KU, she went to the University of Minnesota to pursue a master’s degree in public health, where she developed interests in health equity, harm reduction for people who use substances, and violence prevention. During the time she earned her  master’s degree, Kate’s research focused on expanding cancer care to underserved communities in both rural and urban areas. Kate continued at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities to receive her medical degree. During medical school, Kate continued working in the harm reduction and violence prevention spaces and published research encouraging physicians to engage in firearm safety counseling with their patients. Additionally, she helped lead the Addiction Medicine and Scrubs Addressing the Firearm Epidemic student organizations. Kate looks forward to continuing her research in violence prevention and harm reduction through the obstetric-care perspective while at OHSU. Outside of medicine, Kate enjoys spending time outdoors, reading, and hosting dinner parties for her friends and family.

Annie Ferguson, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine

Annie Ferguson is an enrolled member of the Native Village of Ouzinkie, Alaska. She grew up in Snohomish, Washington, spending her summers in Ouzinkie with her grandmother and extended family. Annie earned her Bachelor of Science in Microbiology with a concentration in Environmental Health and a minor in Global Health from Montana State University. Before medical school, she worked with the International Association on Indigenous Aging, where she helped create culturally appropriate materials promoting healthy aging and contributed to the development of Dementia Friends for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities. Passionate about health equity and Indigenous health, Annie conducted research to inform policy decisions regarding Medicare and Medicaid coverage of traditional health practices. She looks forward to continuing this work throughout her residency. Outside of medicine, Annie enjoys camping, running, and spending time outdoors. Following in her father’s footsteps, she is also a certified whitewater raft guide!

Emma Weisner, M.D. she/her

Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine

Emma grew up in Minnesota and graduated from Tulane University with a degree in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. After college, she spent several years working as an outdoor educator with Outward Bound and NOLS, leading backpacking and canoeing expeditions in Alaska, Florida, and Wyoming. Hoping to put her EMT training to use during the COVID-19 pandemic, Emma began working for a Montana county health department, helping rural community members access telehealth services. Through this work, Emma became interested in the ways healthcare access shapes individual and community well-being, ultimately inspiring her to pursue medicine. She attended medical school at the University of North Dakota, where she participated in a rural training track and completed her third year rotations at a rural critical access hospital. During medical school, Emma founded her school’s chapter of Medical Students for Choice and advocated for laws protecting abortion access in North Dakota. As a fourth year medical student, Emma was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and received the UND Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology Senior Award. Outside of medicine, Emma enjoys canoeing and backpacking, running, celebrity gossip, and going on adventures with her partner and their two dogs.

Carolyn Green, M.D. she/her

Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University

Carolyn grew up in Southwest Washington and completed her undergraduate studies at the University of Notre Dame, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design. Before medical school, she worked as a professional writer and clinical researcher, experiences that sparked her curiosity about patients’ stories and the systems that shape their lives. She completed a post-baccalaureate at Northwestern University before returning to the Pacific Northwest for medical school at OHSU. At OHSU, Carolyn served as Class President and held leadership roles in several student organizations focused on mentorship, career development, and narrative medicine. She was elected to both the Alpha Omega Alpha and Gold Humanism Honor Societies and received the Edward S. Hayes Gold-Headed Cane Medical Student Award for compassionate patient care. She was also an AHEC Scholar, reflecting her commitment to rural and underserved communities across Oregon. Carolyn’s academic interests include maternal-fetal medicine, palliative care, and chronic illness. She is especially interested in how clinicians can better understand and support patients’ lived experiences. Carolyn became a mom during medical school and loves connecting with patients about the unique journey of parenting. She is thrilled to continue building her community in Portland while exploring all the beauty and adventure that Oregon has to offer!

Elisa Padron, M.D., M.P.H. she/ella

Medical School: Stanford University School of Medicine

Elisa Padron grew up near Dallas, Texas. She earned a Bachelor of Science and Arts in Biochemistry and Health Inequalities from The University of Texas at Austin, where she conducted mixed-methods research on self-managed abortion in the United States, Ireland, and Northern Ireland. After graduation, she joined Teach for America in the Seattle area, teaching middle school math. She then attended Stanford School of Medicine, where she led a research project examining the postpartum experiences of patients with heart disease. During medical school, she was active in the Latino Medical Student Association, contributing to student recruitment and fostering mentorship among preclinical students. Prior to graduating, she completed a Master of Public Health in Maternal, Child, and Adolescent Health, with a thesis focused on polycystic ovarian syndrome and its impact on breastfeeding outcomes. In her free time, she enjoys browsing bookstores, trying new pastries, hiking with her partner, and teaching tricks to her two cats.

Fiona Stefanik, M.D. she/her

Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University

Fiona grew up in San Pedro, CA and Vancouver, WA. She attended the University of Washington in Seattle for her undergraduate studies, where she completed B.A. degrees with Honors in Medical Anthropology and French Studies, as well as a minor in Global Health. During college, she conducted ethnographic research to study the effects of pregnancy and birth on postpartum body image and mental health. Prior to medical school, Fiona was a birth doula, an abortion support volunteer at Planned Parenthood, and a Gynecologic Teaching Associate at OHSU where she taught medical students how to perform trauma-informed gynecologic exams. She also worked for the City of Portland for five years as a project manager for population-based wellness programming. She then completed medical school at OHSU, followed by a year of residency in general surgery, before starting her training in Obstetrics and Gynecology. During medical school, Fiona continued to teach medical students how to perform speculum exams and studied the effectiveness of introducing these skills to pre-clinical students using simulation. She also created an elective with several of her peers that taught pre-clinical medical students the skills needed for success in surgical clerkships. Her professional interests include urogynecology, gynecologic surgery, palliative care, serious illness communication, climate change and sustainability in healthcare, and medical education. Outside of medicine, Fiona finds joy in movement in the outdoors, especially skiing, hiking, and gardening. She prioritizes doing these activities with her loved ones and long-haired dachshund, Sunrise.