Duluth Residents

First Year: Class of 2028

Sam Hise, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota - Duluth

Medical interests: Rural family medicine, sports medicine.

Personal interests: Mountain biking, snowboarding, landscaping, fishing, hiking, camping, learning new skills.

Why Duluth: I feel a sense of belonging along the shores of Lake Superior. Having attended medical school at the Duluth campus, I was familiar with the excellent training opportunities provided by the U of M, Essentia, and Aspirus. Above all else, the people at the Duluth residency sealed my decision. The residents and attendings are welcoming, genuine, and hard working. They have created a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and mutual respect that I want to be a part of.

Jacqueline Louderman-Roll, DO, MBS

Medical school: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine at Arkansas State

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine with an emphasis on reproductive health and obstetrics.

Personal interests: I enjoy spending time at home with my cats and senior lab, crocheting, reading, and playing board games with my wife, Kaitlin.

Why Duluth: I was drawn in by the full-spectrum emphasis of this program, including the opportunities to learn and master procedures and counseling in reproductive healthcare and obstetrics. The location of the program is second to none, and I knew my family would be happy up north in Duluth!

Career goals: I plan to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a rural community, caring for my patients during all stages of their life, from pediatrics to adolescent health to obstetrics and geriatrics!

Woman smiling wearing white top below a black blazer.

Ellie Mallek, MD

Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin - Central Wisconsin

Medical interests: Full-scope family medicine, obstetrics and reproductive health, geriatrics, and inpatient hospital medicine.

Personal interests: I enjoy running, hiking, waterskiing, spending time with family, and attending concerts.

Why Duluth: Duluth Family Medicine Residency provides me with an awesome opportunity to focus on my medical interests. This program will teach me how to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a rural health setting and will enhance my knowledge of women's health and inpatient hospital medicine. Additionally, the culture of this program drew me to Duluth. The residents seem to have a strong work-life balance, and they appear to be well-supported by faculty. Lastly, the city of Duluth was a significant draw, as it offers everything that I would want in a mid-sized city.

Career goals: To practice full-spectrum family medicine in rural Wisconsin.

Kate Minke, DO, MS

Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine with surgical obstetrics, parent-baby dyad care, chronic disease management, pulmonology, academic medicine and medical education, as well as health professional leadership development.

Personal interests: In my free time, I enjoy creating opportunities for family and friends to come together—often around a home-cooked meal. Singing and theater has always been a meaningful part of my life; I was even a member of an a cappella group during medical school! I stay active through cycling and Pilates, and I find peace near the water, whether relaxing on the shore or out on the nearest body of water. I also have a soft spot for theme parks, a good cup of coffee, and getting lost in a great book.

Why Duluth: Growing up on the shores of Lake Superior, I’ve always known Duluth was a uniquely special place. The Duluth Family Medicine Residency, in turn, produces exceptional physicians—clinically skilled, compassionate, and deeply committed to patient-centered care. After spending time on the East Coast, I knew I wanted to return to a program that offered both robust inpatient training and surgical obstetrics in an unopposed, community-based setting. I also valued strong academic connections—something Minnesota, and the University of Minnesota in particular, does exceptionally well. After working with the faculty and residents, it was clear that Duluth Family Medicine Residency offered everything I was looking for, along with the supportive environment I need to continue growing into the kind of physician I hope to become.

Career goals: I hope to practice full spectrum family medicine with surgical obstetrics as well as work some way in medical education, helping to strengthen the community in which I live.

Woman smiling wearing gray hijab and dark gray sweater.

Buruj Mohammed, MD

Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin - Milwaukee

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine, surgical OB, emergency medicine, inpatient medicine, medical education, and advocacy.

Personal interests: Travel, reading, true crime, and baking.

Why Duluth: I was drawn to the Duluth Family Medicine Program because I was looking for a program that offers comprehensive, full-spectrum training in family medicine. The ability to be trained in C-sections was particularly important to me and played a key role in my decision. I also value autonomy, the ability to shape my training based on my individual interests and care goals, which the program strongly supports. Additionally, being part of the University of Minnesota means having access to all the resources and support of a large academic institution.

Career goals: Rural, community-based full-spectrum family medicine with global health.

Mark Nyhus, DO

Medical school: VCOM Carolinas

Medical interests: Womb to tomb full-spectrum, rural family medicine.

Personal interests: I love spending my free time with family and friends. My favorite hobbies include hunting, fishing, and snowboarding. In the future, I hope to become a more avid reader, as well as learn Spanish.

Why Duluth: The Duluth Family Medicine Residency is an excellent program that will prepare me for a career in full-spectrum family medicine. It's also located in a wonderful area and offers access to amenities and activities that I enjoy.

Career goals: My plan is to practice full-spectrum, rural family medicine.

Sydney Patterson, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota

Medical interests: Rural medicine, diagnostic and procedural ultrasound, women's health, sports medicine, wilderness medicine.

Personal interests: I enjoy being outside any way I can! I love nordic skiing, running, and mountain/gravel biking, especially when I am exploring with my husband and friends. I also love crafting, saunas, reading, traveling, and sharing a cup of coffee/tea in the morning.

Why Duluth: I chose the Duluth Family Medicine Residency program for its robust unopposed family medicine training, its fantastic group of people, and the ability to improve healthcare access in Northern Minnesota. I particularly enjoy being in Duluth, a city vibrant with outdoor opportunities and its proximity to my family.

Career goals: My goal is to practice full-spectrum family with an emphasis on musculoskeletal medicine and procedures. I am excited to continue my training in the whole range of skills family medicine physicians excel in.

Kristy Rudberg-Post, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Broad-spectrum family medicine (particularly OB and EM), the fascial distortion model (FDM), osteopathic manual medicine (OMM) for MDs, women's health, 2SLGBTQIA+ health, addiction medicine.

Personal interests: I love spending quality time with friends and family. My wife and I love getting outside, especially skiing, camping in the BWCA, hiking, mountain biking, and swimming.

Why Duluth: I chose Duluth because I knew it would prepare me well to practice broad-scope family medicine in rural northern Minnesota. I also love being close to my family, beautiful Lake Superior, and the vast network of trails and parks in the city!

Career goals: To practice broad-spectrum family medicine in northern Minnesota with my wife. I am also considering doing an Osteopathic Manual Medicine (OMM) Fellowship year for MDs after residency.

Second year: Class of 2027

Patrick Barthman, DO (he/his)

Medical school: Rock Vista University - Southern Utah

Medical interests: Addiction medicine, gender-affirming care, PEP/PrEP, women's health, chronic disease management, sports medicine, full-spectrum medical care

Personal interests: rock climbing (particularly bouldering), running, video games, hiking, horror movies

Why Duluth: I chose UMN Duluth for residency as I was looking for strong training in all aspects of family medicine. Duluth offers robust, unopposed experiences, both inpatient and outpatient, all while being nestled in a city that has a need for exceptional generalists - what more could you want? Beyond that, the area has mountain biking, climbing, hiking, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and so much more, plus incredible views while partaking. Taken all together, it's hard to beat northern Minnesota for training and living!

Career goals: to invest my energy in all aspects of the health of the community in which I practice.

Graham Hegstad, MD (he/his)

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Rural full-spectrum family medicine, preventative health, and sports medicine

Personal interests: Building computers, riding motorcycles, hiking, and playing basketball and tennis

Why Duluth: I wanted a strong training program that would prepare me to practice full spectrum care in a rural setting. I also went to medical school in Duluth and love the area.

Career goals: To practice full-spectrum family medicine in rural Minnesota

Autumn Hurd, MD (she/her)

Medical school: University of South Dakota Sanford School of Medicine

Medical interests: Obstetrics, reproductive and women's health, full spectrum rural family medicine, community and undeserved medicine, procedures

Personal interests: I enjoy baking, crafting, reading, running, and traveling (road trips are always welcome, and I'm excited to keep seeing new countries). I also love to be around family and friends while eating good food or having a fun movie night.

Why Duluth: Duluth Family Medicine Residency has a reputation for its strength in full-spectrum family medicine and well-rounded training, and I was excited to get to be a part of it. I was looking for a program that allowed me to focus on my interests in rural health, obstetrics, and the full spectrum, and Duluth fits in perfectly with that. It was also nice to see how the current/past residents spoke so highly of the program and the training they had received, and the town of Duluth itself. I mean, how could you get better than the beautiful view of Lake Superior and so many trees!

Kaila Long Voelkner, MD, MPH (she/her)

Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin

Medical interests: Full-spectrum rural family medicine with particular interests in women's health, obstetrics, preventative care and procedures

Personal interests: I enjoy anything that gets me outdoors including hiking, wilderness canoeing, camping, paddleboarding, etc. I also enjoy reading, crocheting, playing card/board games, and spending time with family and friends!

Why Duluth: Duluth has every opportunity to train in the areas of medicine, I am most interested in, particularly full-spectrum rural medicine, obstetrics, and women's health, and procedures. The current residents and faculty members' supportive and welcoming nature during the interview process solidified my choice. Having the opportunity to train in the region where I grew up and hope to eventually practice is invaluable, not to mention that Duluth is a beautiful, diverse place to live!

Career goals: My goal is to practice full-spectrum rural family medicine, incorporating obstetric care. I also hope to be involved in public health organizations.

Abby Munsterteiger, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine with OB, nutrition, and restorative reproductive health.

Personal interests: enjoying the great outdoors, regenerative agriculture and sustainable farming, card games, enjoying cup of coffee as the sun comes up, reading, spending quality time with my family and friends.

Why Duluth: This program is known to produce rural family medicine physicians, which I aspire to be. The curriculum is robust with opportunities to gain experiences specific to your interests. All of my interactions with the residents and faculty were warm and welcoming. The location offers ample outdoor recreational activities, and the view of Lake Superior can't be beat!

Career goals: I aspire to practice full-spectrum family medicine with obstetrics in rural Minnesota.

Laura Rudberg-Post, DO (she/her)

Medical school: Des Moines University

Medical interests: Osteopathic manual manipulation (OMM), the Fascial Distortion Model (FDM), full-spectrum family medicine, FM+OB, surgical OB, office procedures, women's health, reproductive health, addiction medicine, LGBTQIA+ health

Personal interests: My wife and I love downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, paddling in the BWCA, camping, hiking, backpacking, mountain biking, spending time at the cabin, fishing, and really anything else outdoors!

Why Duluth: I felt Duluth's mission would best prepare me to practice full-spectrum family medicine and OB in northern Minnesota. I felt right at home rotating in Duluth and the endless parks and trails for outdoor recreation are unbeatable!

Career goals: To practice full-spectrum family medicine in northern Minnesota with emphasis on osteopathic manipulation and OB.

Alexander Stamm, MD (he/his)

Medical school: Michigan State College of Human Medicine, Marquette

Medical interests: rural medicine, wilderness medicine, full-spectrum care, women's health

Personal interests: I enjoy the outdoors, kayaking, and camping. I enjoy board games and table top games. I also enjoy spending time with my four cats Litten, Olivander, Nymphadorable tonks, and Crookshanks

Why Duluth: Being right next to the Great Lakes was a goal when applying to residency, and Duluth's unique blend of location and learning opportunities made it the ideal residency.

Career goals: To practice full spectrum family-medicine in the northern Midwest.

Jacqueline Wille, MD, MPH (she/they)

Medical school: University of Minnesota

Medical interests: I am interested in providing full-spectrum family medicine, including preventative care, chronic disease management, obstetrics, sexual and reproductive health services, and LGBTQIA+ care.

Personal interests: I enjoy a good balance of indoor and outdoor hobbies, including biking, running, sewing, crocheting, and embroidery. I am also deeply committed to advancing social justice and recognize the responsibility of public health and medicine to help build more equitable and healthier communities.

Why Duluth: I chose Duluth Family Medicine Residency because of the excellent training opportunities it offers residents who plan to serve rural communities in the upper Midwest. After spending several years on the East Coast and abroad, I am also happy to stay in Minnesota, close to family and friends.

Career goals: I hope to practice full-spectrum family medicine, including advanced obstetrics, in rural Minnesota and to contribute to public health work across the state.

Third year: Class of 2026

Hannah Castillo, MD (she/her)

Medical school: University of Michigan Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, expanding access to reproductive healthcare, adolescent medicine, and palliative care.

Personal interests: Hiking, camping, walking along Lake Superior, crocheting, reading sci fi and mysteries with a good cup of tea, taking cooking classes while traveling to explore new places.

Why Duluth: Duluth offers exceptional education in my primary areas of interest, which include women's health, obstetrics, medical education, and rural medicine. I am thrilled to be part of a residency program that is welcoming and encouraging, overall creating an incredible environment to train to be a well-rounded family physician with the ability to adapt to the needs of my community.

Mikayla Hong, MD (she/her)

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum rural family medicine, obstetrics, preventive care and procedures.

Personal interests: I really enjoy pretty much any crafty activity I can get my hands on - I love crochet, cross-stitch, ceramics, and am always excited to try a new craft. I also love spending time outdoors hiking and camping with my husband.

Why Duluth: I absolutely love the north shore and am interested in full-spectrum rural family medicine and so was excited about getting to continue my training so close to my favorite places to visit. I've been super impressed with my prior eight years of University of Minnesota education so far and excited to have 11 years total after residency!

Kylie Kraft, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum rural family medicine, women's health, care for groups that have been historically economically/socially marginalized, preventative care and mental health.

Personal interests: I enjoy spending time in the outdoors with my husband and our dog Ozzy. I also love to read, cook, listen to live music, and watch UND hockey.

Why Duluth: I completed medical school at the University of Minnesota Medical School-Duluth Campus and instantly felt a sense of belonging to the community while I was here. After residency I plan to work as a rural family medicine physician for the Indian Health Service, and the Duluth program is well known for training outstanding rural family medicine doctors. Not to mention the endless outdoor activities Duluth has to offer and the unbeatable views of Lake Superior.

Liesl (Larson) Swearingen, MD

Medical school: University of Missouri, Kansas City School of Medicine

Medical interests: I enjoy the whole breadth of family medicine, but in particular I like women's health, global health, and rural medicine.

Personal interests: I really enjoy baking bread and desserts, finding new books to read, trying out new recipes for my partner and I, discovering new restaurants and breweries, and exploring the wonderful local parks and trails.

Why Duluth: I chose Duluth Family Medicine Residency for the excellent full-spectrum training that they have a reputation for providing. I also wanted to be closer to home after spending the last six years in Kansas City, and I am very excited to only be two hours away from family and to get to visit my nieces and nephews far more often. Lastly, I love the natural beauty of the North Shore and am excited to be living somewhere with such excellent parks, fishing, and hiking.

Thomas Marcroft, MD (he/him)

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: I love having a broad practice where I can see everything from routine well checks to chronic disease management to emergency and acute care. I have special interests in addiction medicine, gender care, sexual health and reproductive justice, care for unhoused patients, and point-of-care ultrasound.

Personal interests: I like to hike and camp and am excited to live in an area that allows access to so much natural beauty. I try to keep active with weightlifting, running, biking, and yoga. I love to cook and am always on the lookout for a new recipe to try.

Why Duluth: Growing up, Duluth was always my family’s vacation city, and the area has always had a special place in my heart. Prior to medical school I worked as an addiction and mental health therapist with a focus on care for groups that have been historically economically/socially marginalized including people who are transgender and/or are without stable housing. I wanted a program that could give me a full-spectrum education while also allowing me to continue to work with the underserved communities I’m passionate about. Duluth’s program provides the comprehensive training of a rural-focused program while also offering extensive experiences in addiction medicine, gender care, and reproductive health.

Joe Metzger, DO (he/him)

Medical school: Des Moines University

Medical interests: Family medicine

Personal interests: Coaching high school mock trial, creative writing, and playing board games!

Why Duluth: Because Duluth is the coolest place on the planet! Almost literally!

Emily Ruba, MD (she/her)

Medical school: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine with an emphasis on women's health, mental health, pediatrics, and LGBTQ+ health. I am also passionate about care for groups that have been historically economically/socially marginalized.

Personal interests: I enjoy spending time with family and friends, cooking, reading, thrift shopping, painting, swimming, and hiking.

Why Duluth: The University of Minnesota has an exceptional reputation for providing full-spectrum training in family medicine and community health, and the Duluth program in particular offers the best of both worlds in allowing for training in a community-based but academically-oriented setting. When I interviewed, I was impressed by the faculty and residents and knew immediately that this was a community where I would thrive. The obstetrics training and community health opportunities are unparalleled, and I know this is a program that will set me up for success in achieving my personal and professional goals.

Sarah Steffen, MD, MMP (she/her)

Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, obstetrics and reproductive health, pediatrics, community and underserved medicine, maternal-child health, procedures, global health, and care for groups that have been historically economically/socially marginalized.

Personal interests: Spending time with family and friends, traveling around the world, baking, crocheting, adding to my plant family, cheering on the Green Bay Packers and the US Women’s National Soccer Team.

Why Duluth: I chose Duluth Family Medicine Residency for its strength in full-spectrum training, including its emphasis on obstetrics. I knew this program would provide me with the experience necessary to confidently care for patients of all ages and in all settings, while also being able to support me in my individual training goals. In addition to its reputation for strong, well-rounded training, I also chose Duluth for its welcoming and down-to-earth residents, faculty, and staff. During my interview and "second look" day, it was evident that the residents were part of a genuine and thoughtful community in which they were cared for and respected. Residency is rigorous and to know that I would be supported both in my education and as a person was important to me. I am beyond excited to the join the Duluth Family Medicine Residency and look forward to exploring and living in such a beautiful, scenic area!

Graduates

Below are our graduates of the last few years, including their current practice site.