Class of 2009

(select each resident to read their bio)

Almojera

B.Almojera,MD

Almojera
Bev Almojera
, MD

Far Eastern University, Philippines

University of S. FL, Tampa

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? Excellent facility with approachable faculty

What is it like being a resident? At first stressful and overwhelming, but with the help of fellow residents and faculty

What are you going to do after your residency? Hopefully private practice

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Keep an open mind and remember every experience is a LEARNING EXPERIENCE

What interested you about Family medicine? I wanted to provide medical care to all ages

What are your goals and interests? Attain more self esteem and confidence to be a great team leader

When did you decide to become a doctor? During childhood when I was first exposed to it.

Badami

M.Badami,MD

Badami Maria Badami, MD

University of Health Sciences (Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences)

University of Nebraska College of Medicine, Omaha

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? My focus was on the educational diversity, interpersonal relations, and post-graduate opportunities that pertained to each program. I found the UMKC Family Practice program to provide a broad range of educational experiences in both the public and private sectors, as well as in rural and urban settings.
UMKC family practice residency is an unopposed highly respected program that is university based and community associated. I also was able to choose to have my clinic off site on the plaza in a private practice type office set up. I was looking for a program that would allow me to gain the skills that I would need in my future practice.

What is it like being a resident? Challenging and rewarding

What are you going to do after your residency? I am not totally decided on my plans. I do know that I enjoy outpatient clinic medicine, but also enjoy the challenge of inpatient medicine.

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? When choosing a residency you should choose a place that will offer you training in the skills that you are going to need in your future practice.

What interested you about Family medicine? I knew I wanted to do Family Medicine before going to medical school. It is a field that is unlimited on the possibilities for the future. Family medicine contains a little bit of everything. You also get to follow a patient through the long haul or even an entire family for that matter. It felt like home.

What are your goals and interests? Practicing, Helping and giving back to society in the area of family medicine.

When did you decide to become a doctor? At a very young age.

Cashman

T.Cashman,DO

Cashman Ted Cashman, DO

Kansas City Unversity of Medicine and Biosciences

Rockhurst College, Kansas City, MO

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? I wanted to stay in Kansas City. The TMC Lakewood program offered me the chance to stay here in a great porgram with outstanding new facilities.

What is it like being a resident? It is very busy being a resident, but at the same time very rewarding. You work long hours, but meet lots of good people and have lots of fun along the way.

What are you going to do after your residency? Practicing in Kansas City. My family and friends are here, and we call KC home and plan on making it stay that way.

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Take a vacation before you start, be ready to hit the ground running. Don't hesitate to ask lots of questions. Have fun.

What interested you about Family medicine? Family Medicine gives you an extremely diverse patient population with a variety of medical problems. I get bored easily so the diversity seen in Family Medicine is perfect for keeping my interest level high and my mind sharp.

What are your goals and interests? My short term goals are to finish residency, while at the same timme spending as much time as possible with my children.

When did you decide to become a doctor? I decided later in life after spending 11 years in the business world, I was tired of being behind a desk all day long, and wanted to be more involved with people.

Gidwani

M.Gidwani,MD

Gidwani Mona Gidwani, MD

Windsor University, St. Kitts & Nevis

University of California, San Diego

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? Unopposed program, really friendly people, great facility

What is it like being a resident? It feels really great when you've truly helped someone. It is also great when you get to know your panel patients and they are happy to let you into their lives

What are you going to do after your residency? Not totally sure yet, but I'd like to do Adult + Peds, maybe some OB. Work with a practice.

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Take every opportunity to use every situation to learn. Know that you may make mistakes, but always ask when you don't know or are unsure of what to do.

What interested you about Family medicine? The breadth of knowledge we will have. The continuity of care

What are your goals and interests? Adult & Pediatric Medicine. Goal - group practice. Clinic and inpatient hospital medicine. Work with medical students / residents to continue my education and theirs.

When did you decide to become a doctor? I've wanted to be a doctor since I was a kid, about 12/13 years old.

Harrall

J.Harrall,DO

Harrall Jarrod Harrall, DO

Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Oklahoma State University - Stillwater OK

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? The people and attitude towards residents.

What is it like being a resident? Rewarding and trying.

What are you going to do after your residency? Sports Medicine fellowship

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Remember why you are doing it.

What interested you about Family medicine? Diversity of patient problems.

What are your goals and interests? Complete residency and obtain sports medicine fellowship.

When did you decide to become a doctor? In college

John

M.John,MD

John Matt John, MD

University of Columbia School of Medicine

University of Missouri - Columbia

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? Great faculty, complex cases, comprehensive education

What is it like being a resident? No end to spectrum of adjectives: painful, rewarding, busy, worth it

What are you going to do after your residency? Not sure

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Make time for yourself

What interested you about Family medicine? Comprehensive care and chance to do office procedures

What are your goals and interests? Goals: Be a good physician and raise decent children
Interests: Running, weight lifting, fly fishing, Dii, reading, plays, gardening, beer sampling

When did you decide to become a doctor? As an undergraduate at MU

Lawrenzi

J.Lawrenzi,DO

Lawrenzi James Lawrenzi, DO

University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine, KC MO

Drury University, Springfield, MO

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? Great Attendings, "Family" atmosphere, Residents are close

What is it like being a resident? AIt is the greatest job in the world! It makes all of those years of studying worthwhile!

What are you going to do after your residency? Stay locally, possibly urgent care

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Continue to read, learn something from every patient

What interested you about Family medicine? Broad scope, variety, lots of procedures

What are your goals and interests? Urgent Care / E.D.

When did you decide to become a doctor? 1995 ~ while flying with a fellow pilot who was a doctor. He allowed me to shadow him. That changed my life forever!

Lott

E.Lott,MD

Lott Emily Lott, MD

University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

University of Missouri, Kansas City

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? Location and friendly people.

What is it like being a resident? Hard work and lots of learning but fun working with my fellow residents.

What are you going to do after your residency? Retire provided my soon-to-be husband wins enough in the lottery.  The alternative, if I have to I suppose, is to stick around the Kansas City area and find a niche where I can do a lot of procedures or perhaps do mostly Urgent Care or ER.

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Get lots of sleep now while you can.

What interested you about Family medicine? Diversity and ability to learn a lot and then be able to focus on what you like and later tailor what you do to that.

What are your goals and interests? Goals: 1. Finish residency.  2. Have family. 3. Be happy.
Interests: Reading, learning, lots of procedures.

When did you decide to become a doctor? When I was five, my youngest brother was born.  Every time my mom fed him, he would throw up. It took many doctors telling my mom he was fine and not coming up with a diagnosis, until finally one doctor diagnosed him with a malrotated colon and another doctor fixed him. As a five year old, that was amazing to me. I wanted to go into medicine. At age eight, I discovered that girls could be doctors too, and I was sold. P.S. My brother is now a very healthy, smart and successful 23 year old stock broker living in NYC.

Santos

J.Santos,MD

Santos Jamil Santos, MD

University of the East, Philippines

College of Allied Medical Professions, University of the Philippines

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? Unopposed program, Beautiful hospital, Great Faculty.

What is it like being a resident? Learning curve is steep initially, but then you get to be more confident on managing patients on your own. Hard but very rewarding. 

What are you going to do after your residency? Do a fellowship in either Geriatrics or Sports Medicine.

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Be a sponge. Absorb everything you can. Don’t be discouraged with mistakes and learn from them. Every patient is a learning experience. Adapt your own style and system.

What interested you about Family medicine? The continuity of care and being able to follow your patients thru all their life stages.

What are your goals and interests? Join a group practice at first and maybe set up my own practice. My interests are many and varied, from bonsai to photography, mountain biking, fishing,  badminton, cooking and trying out different foods.    

When did you decide to become a doctor? I wanted to become a doctor since I was a kid. I grew up with asthma and was always at the hospital. In spite of the gravity of the situation, my doctor never failed to make visits fun and enjoyable. He’s been my role model ever since.

 

Simons

R.Simons,DO

Simons Rhonda Simons, DO

Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

University of Missouri - Kansas City

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency?

1.  My sister went through this program, and turned out to be a very competent and compassionate physician.

2.  TMC-Lakewood is only 7 miles from my house.

3.  I like the idea of having a Family Medicine-run hospital. You get the benefits of a rural hospital (with the responsibility), but the backup of specialists if needed. 

What is it like being a resident?

That depends on the rotation one is in. First year is very busy, and if you thought medical school was like drinking out of the fire hose, watch out! However, you really do grow in your knowledge base and skill base quicker than you expect.

What are you going to do after your residency?

I’m going to go in with my sister (described above), and we will have our very happy practice, with our wonderfully happy nurses, and see 16-20 patients per day and give excellent patient care.

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies?

Have a significant other with a real job (if you have kid logistics to work out). It is even better if he/she likes to cook and clean, and be the kid taxi.

Don’t panic!

There are no stupid questions. Ask the residents, or the attendings…they are here to help.

What interested you about Family Medicine?

The variety of patients and complaints. Being able to form a relationship with people that lasts at least until they change insurance companies. Taking care of all ages. Being able to address all of the problems they have (if I have the time). And…of course, eventually getting to work with my little sister.  (Just don’t tell her I said that.)

Wilkerson

B.Wilkerson,MD

Wilkerson Ben Wilkerson, MD

UMKC School of Medicine

University of Missouri, Kansas City

Why did you choose UMKC for your residency? The UMKC Family Medicine Residency program is great. First of all because we are pretty much the only residents in the entire hospital allowing plenty of patients and procedures to be spread among the FM residents. Second, the Faculty is frankly amazing. They are all very dedicated educators and wonderful physicians. Third, and most important to me, the residents themselves are fun and dedicated as well. But most of all the residents themselves are kind and supportive of one another.

What is it like being a resident? We all strive to continue to learn and provide the best medical care for our patients. On top of that, we all try to encourage and teach each other without being intimidating or rude. We are all in this together and together we help each other to excellence.

What are you going to do after your residency? I'm looking to work in an outpatient clinic seeing both Adults and Pediatrics. I also have an interest in Adolescent medicine as well as Sports Medicine.

What advice would you give to physicians starting their residencies? Be patient, you will gain confidence. Don't stop asking questions.

What interested you about Family medicine? Variety of fields of medicine for my future practice.

What are your goals and interests? I play a lot of Ultimate Frisbee and I'm slowly developing a golf game. I watch a lot of movies and enjoy any kind of game (board, video, card, etc.)

When did you decide to become a doctor? I liked doctoring as a child, but my final decision did not come about until the senior year of high school.