Our Residents

John Anderson, DO

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine, rural medicine.
Personal interests: Minnesota sports, playing and listening to music, trying new restaurants with my wife, cooking, playing board games, disc golf, and fishing.
Why St. Cloud: After spending time with the program as a medical student, I knew that St. Cloud would be a great fit for me personally and professionally. I was impressed by the passion and clinical experience of the faculty, and I felt welcomed by the residents and supported by the clinic and hospital staff. Being interested in full spectrum rural medicine myself, I am excited to learn from faculty with a wide range of interests and experience and to have the opportunity to tailor my training to fit my future practice goals. I am happy to consider myself part of a team that is so passionate about teaching, learning, and providing excellent care to the community of St. Cloud.

Blake Chapman, DO

Medical interests: Broad-spectrum family medicine, including: emergency medicine, any procedure I can get my hands on, hospitalist, OB, chronic pain management, and OMT.
Personal interests: Sports (Go Twins, Vikings, Wild, UMD Bulldogs), music, video games, anything outdoors or that I can do at my family cabin, running, animals (especially my two pups), board games, and skiing/snowboarding.
Why St. Cloud: I wanted to go somewhere that would train me to be a great broad-spectrum family medicine physician and also had a positive, non-toxic atmosphere. This fits the St. Cloud program to a T. You can adjust your training to fit your personal interests while still being well-rounded and ready for anything. The faculty, residents, nursing team, and staff are all amazing, and the facilities where we practice are state-of-the-art. It’s just an all-around great place to learn, and, as a native Minnesotan, it was great to get back. For me, it was an easy choice, and I honestly couldn’t be happier that I’m here.

Eric Christensen, MD

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine, particularly rural medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, and palliative care.
Personal interests: Spending time with my wife and two young boys, reading, and board games.
Why St. Cloud: The faculty and residents were very welcoming, genuine, and supportive during my interview. I knew it would be a place where I could grow and flourish as a family physician, and that has absolutely been the case. I couldn't be happier to be a part of our residency community. As far as living here goes, since I went to St. John's University near St. Cloud, I was already quite familiar with the area, and having my sister and brother-in-law and their kids in nearby St. Joseph has been the icing on the cake.

Tyler Lewandowski, MD

Medical interests: Rural medicine.
Personal interests: Fishing, hunting, movies, sports, and fantasy sports.
Why St. Cloud: I am from the area originally so I knew that I loved the community. When I relocated here during medical school I was able to see how caring and supportive the faculty were, and that really sold it for me.

Michael Symanietz, MD

Medical interests: Preventive medicine, pediatrics, cardiology, dermatology, and community medicine.
Personal interests: Swimming, hiking, reading, drawing, and spending time with friends and family.
Why St. Cloud: For me, the St. Cloud area is home. It’s an honor to practice medicine and serve the community where I grew up. The excellent faculty, staff, and residents paired with the unique curriculum also make St. Cloud a great place to live and learn.

Paola Terán, MD

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine, emergency medicine, disaster medicine, international medicine, and hospital medicine.
Personal interests: Sports, traveling, cycling, and camping/hiking.
Why St. Cloud: It’s an unopposed program at a large tertiary care center with staff and faculty dedicated to providing the best possible learning environment.

Marlen Midthune, MD

Medical interests: Behavioral health in primary care, geriatrics, preventive care, and women’s health.
Personal interests: Being outdoors (walking, hiking, bike riding, etc.) in beautiful Minnesota. Baking, family, and lake time.
Why St. Cloud: St. Cloud is a unique program, where the residency team truly cares about their residents – professionally and personally.

Daniel O’Connor, MD

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine. I had trouble choosing between specialties, but I liked parts of them all. So, family medicine will allow me to tailor my practice.
Personal interests: Singing, hunting, fishing, reading, cooking, theater, and spending time with family and friends.
Why St. Cloud: I grew up in Cold Spring and, before I left for medical school, I had heard about the family medicine residency in St. Cloud and it was always in the back of my mind. So, in my fourth year of medical school, I decided to do a rotation in St. Cloud and was very impressed by how much the faculty and residents loved teaching and learning from each other. Everyone was very nice. I knew this would be the perfect place because they are focused on training rural family medicine physicians. It also didn't hurt that it is so close to home.

Adei Shaqra, DO

Medical interests: Full spectrum medicine including geriatrics, emergency medicine, palliative care, pediatrics, hospitalist, transgender health, and sports medicine.
Personal interests: I enjoy basketball, music, cooking, reading, travel, outdoor sports, and spending time with my family.
Why St. Cloud: The program’s focus on full spectrum care and dedication to the success of its residents. The community is a welcoming, diverse one, close to both rural outdoor and big city attractions, close to lakes and the Twin Cities, so every weekend can be something new.

Siri Shaqra, DO

Medical interests: Full spectrum family medicine with specific interests in women's health, pediatrics, and emergency medicine.
Personal interests: Running, hiking, spending time outdoors (especially canoeing or any lake activities), cooking, traveling, playing board games, and spending time with friends and family.
Why St. Cloud: The family medicine program in St. Cloud clearly stood out to me as the ideal place to train. The residents are a cohesive team and the faculty are passionate teachers, committed to developing excellent family physicians. I was surprised by how large the hospital is; there is certainly no shortage of great learning experiences, especially since we are the only residents at the hospital. Being located in Central Minnesota makes it an ideal place to learn how to care for rural communities as well. I am confident that whatever route I choose in family medicine, this residency program will leave me well-prepared.

Zareen Zaka, MBBS

Medical interests: Full spectrum family practice, immigrant health, global medicine, and integrative medicine.
Personal interests: Spending time with family, calligraphy, traveling, and cooking.
Why St. Cloud: During my rotation at St. Cloud Hospital, I experienced firsthand the exposure to a variety of disciplines in primary care and immigrant health. Additionally, welcoming and supportive faculty and residents who encourage questions and enjoy teaching the evidence-based practices, brought CentraCare to the top of my favorite training sites. I chose St. Cloud Family Medicine residency to be trained not only in an unopposed residency setting but also to serve a diverse community. I am thrilled to be part of a skilled medical professionals team that focuses on providing patient care with compassion and excellence.