Welcome New Madison and Baraboo Residents

On June 13, we welcomed new residents to our Madison Residency and Baraboo Rural Training Track programs. We proudly introduce these accomplished 16 new first-year residents and two second-year residents.

In our first year Madison and Baraboo class we welcome:

Aristides Avgeris, MD, MS
Originally from the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale, Aristides earned a B.A. in Comparative Religion from Connecticut's Wesleyan University in 1993. As an undergraduate Charles had the opportunity to study abroad in Greece. It was there that he first developed an interest in medicine. Following two years of pre-med study in Vermont, Aristides entered the University of Wales of the UK where he completed his B.S. in Phytotherapy. He then traveled to Grenada where he began his formal medical education at St. George's University, earning an M.S. in Microbiology in addition to his M.D. In medical school, he received recognition for excellence in earning the Morris P. Alpert Scholarship and the Golden Stethoscope Future Physician Award. He also did research on the medicinal uses of local plants. Outside of medicine he devotes much of his time to horticulture with an emphasis on organic gardening.

Deborah Dreyfus, MD
A native of New York City, Deborah received her B.A. in English from Cornell University in Ithaca in 2001. Following graduation, she spent a year teaching in an Americorps program in Oregon. She then entered the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey where, among her many activities, she helped establish and co-edited the school's Murmurs Literary Magazine, a compilation of short stories, prose and poems. Deb was selected to be a member of the Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism Society at UMDNJ. She has a strong interest in serving people with developmental disabilities. In her spare time, Deb enjoys writing essays, long distance running and spending time with her family and friends.

Sarah Francois, MD

Born in Belleville, WI, Sarah and her family have been long time patients at our Belleville clinic. Sarah completed her B.S. in Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2002 before moving to Milwaukee to attend the Medical College of Wisconsin. While a student at MCW, she volunteered at the Saturday Clinic for the Uninsured. She was also active in the school's admissions process. Sarah's interest in Family Medicine includes particularly a focus on sports medicine and women's health. Sarah knows St. Mary's hospital well, having worked as a physical therapy aide at the hospital for several months prior to entering medical school. She has a close relationship with her family who still live in Belleville. She is an accomplished athlete who, among other things, enjoys running and training for marathons.

Sarah Gerl, MD -- (Baraboo Rural Training Track)
Originally from the Madison area, Sarah received her B.S. in Zoology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in May 2002. For a semester in 2000, Sarah had the opportunity to study abroad in Krakow, Poland. After graduation, Sarah elected to remain in Madison to receive her medical education at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She was president of the medical school's Family Medicine Interest Group. Sarah has a particular interest in rural medicine which developed during her longitudinal clinical rotations in Mauston, WI. She also has a strong interest in international health and spent time in both Belize and Ecuador on health projects during medical school. Outside of medicine her interests include hiking and camping, backpacking, biking and nature photography.

Christian Kastman, MD

Hailing from the Badger state, Chris grew up in Kenosha, WI where in high school he decided that practicing medicine was his calling. Following an undergraduate career in Madison, where Chris earned a B.S. in Medical Microbiology/Immunology and Bacteriology, he made the decision to stay in Madison and attend the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, a great location for an avid Badger and Packer fan. While in medical school, he volunteered at the Grace Episcopal Drop-In Shelter clinic. Chris comes from a large family consisting of seven brothers and sisters. His family stretches the globe from China to Arizona. His wife Katie works in product improvement with Oscar Meyer Foods. Chris' interests include films, music, poker, golf and books covering naval warfare during the Napoleonic Era.

Alisha Ketterer, MD -- (Baraboo Rural Training Track)
Alisha comes to us from Mayville, WI, a town just shy of 5,000 people near the Horicon Marsh. Alisha earned her B.S. in Biology from Fond du Lac's Marian College and her MD from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. As an undergraduate Alisha worked as a CNA at the Aurora Medical Center in Hartford, WI and at the Mayville Nursing and Rehabilitation Center during her breaks from school. Alisha was a member of the Family Medicine Interest Group and Dr. Mom, a support group for fellow medical student mothers and their families. In the future, Alisha sees herself practicing in a town similar to Mayville. In addition to her talents in medicine, Alisha is a musician, having played the drums in college and in her family's own rock band.

Kari Kindschi, MD
A lifelong Madison resident, Kari completed her B.A. in Political Science and Spanish from University of Wisconsin - Madison before earning her M.D. at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in May. Last year, Kari received the Bjorn Lund Scholar award which enabled her to participate in a month of clinical study in geriatrics in Oslo, Norway. During medical school, Kari was involved in the Moms and Maternity Support (MoMS) group as a member and co-leader. She served as the liaison between the Family Medicine Interest Group (FMIG) and the American Academy of Family Physicians while a second year medical student. Kari also volunteered her services to MEDIC, a group that provided health care to Madison's underserved community. Kari's outside interests include biking, hiking, soccer, swimming and travel.

Greta Kuphal, MD

Originally from rural Hartford, WI Greta grew up with seven brothers and sisters and a variety of household companions including rabbits, sheep and a goat. She completed her B.S. at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2000 after spending two years at the Green Bay campus. She then did a year of service through the AmeriCorps program at a clinic for the homeless in Casper, Wyoming. She entered medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health in 2002 where she was selected to be a LOCUS fellow. As her project, she helped develop a documentary comparing the United States and Canadian health care systems. Her areas of interest include increased access to healthcare among all populations, serving the underserved and integrative medicine. She and her husband, Larry, are the proud parents of a baby girl born in March of this year.

Leila Midelfort, MD
A Madison native, Leila completed her undergraduate degree at the University of Minnesota where she was co-captain of the women's varsity rowing team. She then entered the Peace Corps and lived in Honduras for two years doing ecological preservation work. She subsequently returned to Madison and spent a semester earning a degree as a Basic Emergency Medical Technician. Leila then entered medical school at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She was involved in the MEDIC free clinics and was treasurer of the Family Medicine Interest Group. During medical school Leila volunteered at a small clinic in rural Ecuador and traveled with fellow students to Cuba to study their health care system. She enjoys canoeing, kayaking, backpacking, volunteer work and rowing.

Andrew Oleszkowicz, MD
Andrew comes to us from Detroit where he completed his M.D. at Wayne State University School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, Andrew completed his B.S. in Exercise and Health Science at Alma College in Alma, MI. During his undergraduate career he volunteered at the Michigan Masonic Retirement Home where he taught low-impact resistance exercises to the elderly residents. At Wayne State, Andrew made a major commitment to the school's co-curricular Fabric of Society program doing a variety of service activities. Outside of medical school, Andrew also volunteered his time as a youth day camp counselor and as a youth mentor. Andrew's wife Mariah is a high school teacher who will be teaching in Madison this coming fall.

Emily Porter, MD
A Madison native, Emily finished her B.S. in Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin - Madison before heading to the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee for her M.D. where she was elected to the AOA medical honor society. Prior to entering medical school Emily received her certification as an athletic trainer. Emily has a very strong interest in sports medicine, having had the opportunity to serve as medical staff for several Badger sporting events including the 2000 Final Four appearance as well as the 2000 Rose Bowl. She is a talented figure skater, who has competed and instructed for years. She also enjoys soccer, reading, watching sporting events, running, and relaxing at a family cabin in northern Wisconsin.

Kate Schueller, MD

Originally from Sheboygan, WI, Kate completed a year of study at Miami University of Ohio before transferring to University of Wisconsin - Madison to finish her degree in Art History in 1995. This led Kate to Europe where she had the chance to see first hand many of the works she had studied for so long. Kate then entered the University of Alberta to work on her secondary education degree which she earned in 1999. Her next journey led her to Yamaguchi, Japan where she and her husband taught English. Kate then returned to Wisconsin to begin medical school at the Medical College of Wisconsin where she was a leader in the Family Practice Student Association and a volunteer at the Saturday Free Clinic. She was elected to the AOA medical honor society. Kate's interests include art, furniture painting, travel, and activities with her six nieces.

Joe Skariah, DO

Joe comes to us from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. He attended DePaul University and earned a B.A. in political science in 1999. He was elected President of the Student Government Association at DePaul. He then completed a Masters of Public Health at the Northwest Ohio Consortium for Public Health in Toledo where he was also a leader, serving as President of the Graduate Student Senate. A Chicago native, he returned there for medical school and has been active in the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians (IAFP) advocating for health care justice, tort reform and tobacco regulation as well as authoring a white paper for the IAFP's Rural Health Task Force. In addition, Joe has competed in several marathons and enjoys playing the saxophone.

Stephanie Skladzien, MD

Originally from the west Chicago suburb of Kildeer, IL, Stephanie completed her undergraduate education at St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN where she earned a B.A. in Chemistry. Stephanie was very active in athletics while at St. Olaf having competed in swimming, cross-country (M.I.A.C. conference champions) and as a 4-time member of the All-Conference water polo team. She then moved back to familiar ground to begin her medical education at the Rosalind Franklin University/Chicago Medical School. She served on her medical school's admissions committee and was a leader in two local running clubs. Stephanie remains an active triathlete with roughly 20 triathlons under her belt.

Amanda Swenson, MD

Amanda is a graduate of the University of Missouri, where she earned a B.S. in Medicinal Chemistry and her M.D. at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine. Her interest in medicine was inspired by her experiences as a teen volunteer at a children's hospital in Kansas City, her hometown. Amanda was a leader in medical school having served as class president in both her third and fourth years and as a participant on numerous committees. She was awarded the Claude K. Leeper Memorial Scholarship for outstanding academic performance and special sensitivity in the practice of medicine. An avid reader, Amanda enjoys works of both fiction and non-fiction, especially books pertaining to history or archeology. She is also a proud Kansas City Chiefs fan and enjoys swimming, hiking and collecting antique jewelry.

Michael Weber, MD
Michael comes to Madison by way of The University of Virginia School of Medicine. This past summer Michael received UVA's Gold Humanism Award for demonstrated excellence in clinical care, leadership and dedication to service. He was treasurer of his medical school class and sang bass in UVA's a cappella group, the Spinal Chords. Originally from Augusta, GA, Michael began his undergraduate education at Virginia Tech where he studied Forestry. From here he moved out west and began studies in Santa Barbara before moving on to Cal Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, CA where he received a B.A. in Architecture. Michael had ten years of experience as an architect before redirecting his career into the healing arts. His interests include meditation, yoga, Appalachian music, bicycling, and metal fabrication.

We extend a warm welcome also, to our new PG-2 resident colleagues:

Sonia Espinoza, MD
Having completed her intern year at Trover Foundation Family Practice Residency in Madisonville, KY, Sonia transferred to our Madison residency program to further her training. A native of Managua, Nicaragua, she spent most of her childhood in Kenosha, WI. Nearing the end of her high school education, Sonia moved back to Nicaragua where she later would attend the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Nicaragua-Leon. Throughout medical school, Sonia researched various factors associated with students infected with HIV/AIDS. While in medical school, Sonia organized activities for high risk teens and provided primary care for the rural population in Buenos Aires, Rivas on the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. In the future she would like to return to rural Nicaragua to practice medicine. Sonia is fluent in Spanish, and in her free time she enjoys reading, swimming, running and dancing.

Long Wong, MD, PhD
Long will be joining the Madison residency after completing his first year at the former Regions Family and Community Medicine Residency in St. Paul, MN. Originally from Harbin, China, Long attended medical school at Norman Bethune University of Medical Sciences in China where he graduated in 1990. Following medical school, Long entered a two-year residency training program in Internal Medicine in Xiamen, China. Here, as lead researcher, he helped conduct a clinical study on gastric hemorrhage. In 1992, he immigrated to the U.S. to attend the University of Minnesota to work on his PhD in Pharmacology, which he earned in 1999. For the next four years, Long worked for two post-doctoral associate training programs sponsored by NIH. He is a skilled table tennis player as well.