St. John's Residents

Emily Bergstedt, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Lifestyle medicine, pediatrics, geriatrics, obstetrics, and rural medicine.
Personal interests: Gardening, singing in choir, road tripping, snowboarding, reading classic literature, hiking, and spending time with my husband, family, and friends.

Why St. John's: I chose St. John's for its strong training in full-spectrum family medicine and for its friendly, supportive, and fun-loving community of residents and faculty. During my interview day and rotations as a medical student at St. John's, it was clear to me that the residents encourage one another to become the best physician they can be while supporting each other's work-life balance and having a lot of fun together in and outside of work. I am grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community!

Career goals: I plan to practice full-spectrum family medicine somewhere along the shores of Lake Superior.

Alex Fredrickson, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine and sports medicine.

Personal interests: Running, cycling, hiking, and most things outdoors.

Why St. John's: The faculty and residents I interacted with as a medical student and during the interview/application process were all so incredibly kind and welcoming. It was clear to me that everyone at St. John's had a great working and personal relationship, and that the workplace culture as well as quality of medical training fit with what I was looking for in a residency.

Career goals: Practicing family medicine in our great community here in Minnesota! I am still exploring a few career paths including hospitalist work, sports medicine, as well as focusing on full-spectrum family medicine.

Mitchell Moe, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Rural medicine, LGBTQ health, family planning, mental health, and procedural medicine.

Personal interests: Hiking/backpacking, running, cooking, daily coffee runs, and walking and playing with our new corgi puppy Gwilym.

Why St. John's: I knew I wanted to stay in Minnesota for family medicine residency, and after months of closely analyzing all the programs across the state through our collective interview and rotation experiences, my friends and I decided St. John's was the best option for the quality of teaching, work-life balance, and full-spectrum training.

Career goals: My fiancé Michael and I lived in Seattle for 10 months during my final year of medical school, and we loved it so much that we plan to return to a rural community in the Pacific Northwest where I can practice full-spectrum care while we also enjoy the mountains, forests, and islands. I also hope to become a preceptor for medical students and eventually run for public office to advocate for my future patients through policy.

Asila Osman, MD

Medical school: International University of Africa Faculty of Medicine & Health Sciences

Medical interests: I am interested in preventative care, communities that are underserved by health care, child and adolescent care, and mental health.

Personal interests: I enjoy reading, sketching, cooking, and trying out different recipes. I also enjoy going outdoors and exploring nature with my family.

Why St. John's: I was searching for an unopposed residency program with well-rounded training that will prepare me to practice full-spectrum family medicine. During my interview I was pleasantly surprised by how welcoming and warm the faculty and residents were, and that was what drew me the most. As soon as I was done with my interview, I knew St. John's was the right place for me, and I also felt that I would receive the training and guidance I needed for my future in family medicine.

Career goals: I plan to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a rural community and hope to get involved in global health work.

Sarah Rajala, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, women's health, pediatric medicine, procedures, nutrition, and lifestyle medicine.

Personal interests: Cooking and baking, hosting gatherings with friends and family, yoga, being outside, and spending time with my husband and two dogs.

Why St. John's: Each and every person I interacted with on interview day was exceptionally kind and personable. It was clear that resident wellbeing is highly prioritized and that the residents feel they can pursue the things that make them whole and human outside of medicine. St. John's was exactly what I was looking for!

Career goals: I hope to practice full-spectrum medicine (location TBD!) and dream of incorporating my love of cooking, food, and nutrition into my future career.

Kelly Thao, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, sports medicine, ultrasound, and global and community health.

Personal interests: I love sports (particularly soccer and football), refereeing, karaoke, and spending time with family and friends.

Why St. John's: My family has been going to St. John's for years, ever since I was a small child. The quality of care and the connections they created with patients always had a positive influence on how I perceived the hospital as a whole. They were always committed to accommodate cultural, spiritual, physical, and mental needs of patients, no matter what. Additionally, St. John's has always been active in the Hmong community. So, naturally, when choosing a program, St. John's was an easy choice. I couldn't be happier to be a part of a program that offers high-quality training for every aspect of family medicine!

Career goals: I hope to pursue a sports medicine fellowship and ultrasound procedures to provide a safe, consistent space for populations that are underserved by health care in the Twin Cities to get quality care. I would also love to work with a professional sports team to learn top-quality musculoskeletal and physiotherapy care and give back to the community.

Rachel Bachman, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, geriatrics, palliative and hospice care, women's health, mental health, ultrasound, and procedures.

Personal interests: Spending time with family and friends, my black lab puppy, hiking, fishing, slalom water skiing, playing the piano and organ, painting, road
trips, and eating pizza.

Why St. John’s: I completed a sub-internship at St. John's during my fourth year of medical school, and I remember leaving the rotation with a renewed sense of love and passion for the practice of medicine. I immediately felt welcomed and a part of the St. John's team as a medical student. It was easy to see that this program excelled in full-spectrum family medicine training with exceptional teaching, commitment to quality patient care, and cultivating a meaningful community among the staff, faculty, and residents. I know that St. John's will allow me to explore my various interests within medicine while preparing me to be a well-rounded family medicine physician. I am excited to call St. John's home for the next three years.

Career goals: I hope to practice full-spectrum family medicine.

Hannah Jenson, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical Interests: Full-spectrum with OB, MAT, preventative health, and mental health.

Personal interests: I love watching and participating in sports (Go, Twins! SKOL, Vikes!). I have a goldendoodle who I enjoy taking for walks. My husband and I love traveling, camping and exploring local restaurants and breweries!

Why St. John’s: I chose St. John's for the amazing people! When I rotated here for my sub-internship, everyone was extremely welcoming, not only the residents but faculty and clinic staff as well. I immediately felt connected to everyone. In addition to the people, I chose St. John's for the training. With wanting full-spectrum OB and MAT, I felt I would receive the training I needed to have the career I hoped for in my future. Lastly, the location is awesome. I love the Twin Cities and can't wait to continue my training here.

Career goals: I hope to be practicing in a suburb or rural community practicing full spectrum with OB and MAT.

Christopher Little, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, rural medicine, emergency medicine, and ultrasound.

Personal interests: Spending time with family and friends, fishing, hunting, playing hockey and softball, and watercolor painting.

Why St. John's: I chose St. John's because of its strong reputation for training full-spectrum family physicians who are well equipped to practice in a rural setting. Since St. John's is an unopposed program, it was apparent that I would have the opportunity to work closely with faculty to improve my clinical and procedural skills. I was also attracted to the supportive, close-knit community that St. John's offers. All of the residents appeared genuinely happy and excited to be there.

Career goals: I plan to practice full-spectrum family medicine in northern Minnesota, likely in my hometown of International Falls.

Nirmal Lumpkin, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical Interests: Integrative medicine and obstetrics/women's health.

Personal interests: Swing dancing, hiking, yoga, and meditation.

Why St. John’s: I love the truly full-spectrum training offered at St. John's and the pride residents and faculty take in the rigor of the program while still supporting overall wellness and balance in their lives. The faculty are all thoughtful and skilled teachers as well as practitioners and the population of patients we serve is broad and diverse.

Career goals: Full-spectrum family medicine, with an OB and integrative medicine focus in a private practice or as faculty at a residency program.

Kimberly Lundeen, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine with women's health and obstetrics, palliative care, and caring for underserved populations.

Personal interests: Spending time with my husband and two-year-old, Josie, fixing up our 100-year-old house, and walking around Lake Como.

Why St. John's: I was fortunate enough to rotate at St. John's for a sub-internship and felt right at home. I observed the numerous ways that St. John's supports its residents' varying clinical interests as well as their lives outside of the clinic/hospital. I ultimately knew that this was the program that would best train me for a career in full-spectrum family medicine.

Career goals: My goal is to practice full-spectrum family medicine in the Twin Cities.

Lauren Lussenhop, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Preventative care, women's health, pediatrics, palliative care, and medical education.

Personal interests: Reading, boating and water sports, travel, cooking and trying new restaurants, and going on walks with my brittany spaniel named Archie!

Why St. John's: I was lucky enough to have a rotation at St. John's as a fourth-year medical student, and after I got to experience the supportive and friendly culture firsthand, it made my residency choice easy. The faculty encourages an independent approach to learning, yet balances it with plenty of one-on-one interaction that makes everyone feel well supported. The residents made me feel welcome and treated me as a member of their team, which makes me excited to now get to join it as a permanent member.

Career goals: My goal is to live and work in a small community in Minnesota. I grew up in Alexandria, Minnesota, as the daughter of a family medicine physician and always admired the connection and dedication my dad had with so many members of the community, and I will strive to create those relationships in my future practice. I chose family medicine because I enjoy taking care of all ages, especially children and geriatrics. I am passionate about preventative care, and I cannot wait to practice it in the many years to come!

Andrew Dahl, MD

Medical school: Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center

Medical interests: Sports medicine, ultrasound, and preventative medicine.

Personal interests: Nature walks/hiking, being out on the lake, bow and rifle hunting, watching football (go, Cowboys!), making a mean pot of chili, finding new restaurants, and spending time with my wife and our two cats. 

Why St. John’s: Growing up near the Twin Cities and going to medical school in Chicago, it was my desire to return to the Twin Cities area for residency. I met the St. John's crew at the AAFP conference and immediately felt at home with the people and program. During my interview day, all the residents and faculty simply seemed to gel so well together. Additionally, the program allowed for flexibility and exploration within the curriculum. Altogether, I knew St. John's would be a great fit for my personality and career goals.

Career goals: Somewhat undecided overall, but I am considering delving deeper into sports medicine. I want to stay in the Minnesota/Wisconsin area and be in a somewhat rural atmosphere. I would also like to work with local youth sports.

Angeline David, MD

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin

Medical interests: I am interested in global health, procedures, and full-spectrum family medicine.

Personal interests/hobbies: I love spending time with my family and friends, my dogs, and all things art-related. I have been a pianist for more than 20 years now and also love to paint. I also enjoy traveling, especially internationally.

Why St. John's:  I came from three years of general surgery residency. During 2020, I was able to reflect on my goals and expectations coming out of medical school. I wanted to be a physician who connected with my patients and walked with them through their health journey. I decided to change career directions and found a home at UMN St. John's, where I can learn how to be the physician I always wanted to be. I felt welcomed by the residents and faculty at St. John's, which I haven't felt elsewhere.

Career goals: Full-spectrum family medicine with devoted time for procedure.

Eric DeMaris, DO

Medical school: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical Interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, obstetrics, sports medicine, and geriatrics.

Personal interests: I enjoy playing guitar, going to concerts, running, rowing, hiking, watching Washington State Cougar football, and exploring the natural beauty of Minnesota with my wife. 

Why St. John’s: I felt like St. John’s could provide everything I needed to succeed in family medicine. The program, while having resources from the University of Minnesota, is unopposed, which provides excellent opportunities to learn and develop skills. During my interview day, the faculty were welcoming and down to earth, and their passion for teaching was palpable. Finally, the residents all seemed happy to be where they were, and it was clear that they worked well together and thrived as part of a team. 

Career goals: I plan to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a small community, possibly with OB, either here in Minnesota where my wife grew up or the Pacific Northwest where I am originally from.

Torb Morkeberg, DO

Medical school: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical interests: Broad-spectrum family medicine, sports/musculoskeletal medicine, and preventative medicine. Also procedures, such as ultrasound-guided aspiration/injection and osteopathic manual therapy.

Personal interests: Spending quality time with my wife and family, any kind of athletic event (especially soccer and running), watching my favorite soccer teams Liverpool and Minnesota United, outdoor activities like hiking and kayaking, and taking time to just relax/recharge.

Why St. John's: St. John’s is right for me both professionally and personally. Professionally, I know St. John’s will provide a strong general foundation for the rest of my family medicine career. On the inpatient side, the program’s unopposed, community-based nature excites me. It prides itself on developing autonomous decision-makers, which appeals to my style. On the outpatient side, I am motivated by the diversity of the patient population with a high number of pediatric and geriatric patients. Additionally, I am eager to partake in the fantastic sports medicine opportunities, as I am interested in pursuing a sports medicine fellowship. On a personal level, I simply had an overall positive gut feel at St. John’s. From breakfast with Dr. Smithson to the resident tour to the learning activity at lunch, I smiled during my whole interview day. I truly felt like I connected with all of the faculty and residents. On top of that, everyone just seemed happy. These factors go beyond intellectual goals and speak to goodness of fit. I am thrilled to call St. John’s home!  

Career goals: My goal is to practice both broad-spectrum care and musculoskeletal-specific care in a semi-rural setting. To this end, I hope to pursue a sports medicine fellowship. Eventually, I see myself in a number of roles/settings, including but not limited to a general outpatient family medicine group, an orthopedic-type practice doing urgent care and/or needle-based procedures, a team physician, an academic position, a combination of these options, or perhaps something else yet to be discovered.

Sam Renier, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical Interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, care for underserved and minorities, sports medicine, and cycling medicine.

Personal interests: Cycling, rock climbing/bouldering, waterskiing, snowboarding, woodworking, and home-brewing.

Why St. John’s: The residents and faculty at St. John’s were so welcoming and happy to have me there during a rotation in medical school, and the residents were such a tight-knit group that actually hangs out together even outside of work - which isn’t always the case. The program just made me feel at home, and I knew that would be a huge aide during the tough times of residency. 

Career goals: My dream job is to be a team doctor for a professional cycling team, traveling with the team some of the time and working in either an underserved family medicine clinic or a sports medicine clinic when not working in cycling.

Mary Soderlund, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Mental health, full-spectrum family medicine, rural family medicine, and ultrasound.

Personal interests: I enjoy spending time outdoors with my husband, kayaking and hiking, reading, cooking, and baking. We also love spending time at the lake with our family. 

Why St. John's: I knew I wanted to train at St. John's after doing a rotation at the hospital. It was clear that the faculty, residents, and staff were committed to excellent patient care, medical education, and building strong relationships with patients and with one another. I know St. John's will provide me with all the experiences I need to grow into an exceptional physician. 

Career goals: I hope to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a rural community with an emphasis on mental health.

Erica Swenson, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, rural medicine, obstetrics, women’s health, and palliative care.

Personal interests: Spending quality time with friends and family, going to local restaurants, bakeries, breweries, ice cream shops, and farmer’s markets, baking, cooking, reading, hiking, canoeing, and watching Minnesota Twins baseball.

Why St. John's: Every interaction I had with St. John’s throughout my search lifted up their emphasis on full-spectrum family medicine. Having an interest in rural medicine, my residency search was largely focused on finding a program that would equip me with a broad, competent skillset to serve rural communities. I was also after a program that highlighted work-life balance, with many opportunities to connect with faculty, staff, and co-residents in a setting outside of medicine. As a family practitioner, I wanted to practice holistic medicine both within the clinic and beyond the clinic walls. I chose St John’s because this was exemplified throughout every part of the program. 

Career goals: I plan to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a rural community.