St. John's Residents

First Year: Class of 2027

Austin Fowler, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Rural medicine, sports medicine, procedures, preventive care.

Personal interests: Golf, fishing, hunting, camping, cheering on Minnesota sports teams, and hiking with my girlfriend and our dog, Lou.

Why St. John's: I met a number of St. John’s residency graduates throughout my medical journey, all of whom were fantastic physicians and spoke highly of their training experience. I then had a rotation at St. John’s as a medical student and was able to spend time with current residents and faculty, learning more about the culture of the program. I felt welcome from my first day on the rotation and decided it would be a great place to work and learn for the next few years.

Career goals: After residency, I hope to move to a smaller town in greater Minnesota and develop an outpatient primary care practice.

Ryan Johnson, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Hospice and palliative medicine, public health, global health, and medical procedures.

Personal interests: Generally, being outside makes me happy! I love hiking and camping with my wife and our dog, Thor. I play hockey and hurling (an Irish field sport), and I am working to improve my musical skills as a ukulele and mandolin player. I also really enjoy traveling and exploring new places!

Why St. John's: I rotated at St. John's during my fourth year of medical school, and I had a wonderful experience that made me want to return for my residency training. Everybody I worked with was incredibly kind and welcoming—I truly felt like a team member. The residents and faculty went above and beyond as teachers, and I enjoyed the terrific balance of autonomy and supervision that helped promote learning. In addition, my wife and I were excited about staying in St. Paul and being close to our network of family and friends!

Career goals: I am looking forward to practicing family medicine most likely in Minnesota, but I am not sure where quite yet! I am also strongly interested in pursuing a hospice and palliative medicine fellowship after residency to help care for patients with serious illnesses, and I hope to integrate this into my future family medicine practice.

Kathryn Messelt, DO

Medical school: Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical interests: Women’s health, LGBTQ+ health, procedural medicine, community health, and health education.

Personal interests: Hiking, reading, cooking, skiing, playing board games, drinking coffee, collecting plants, and walking my dog Finn.

Why St. John's: I grew up in Minnesota and have always felt a deep connection to the people and the state, so I knew I wanted to return here to complete my residency training. I am also excited to be closer to my family and friends who live in the Twin Cities metro. I was drawn to St. John’s Hospital Family Medicine Residency in particular because I felt that the program was very community-oriented, which closely aligned with my personal values. I also know that there are opportunities at St. John’s to explore my individual medical interests and develop valuable skills that I will use going forward in my career.

Career goals: I hope to someday practice outpatient family medicine in Minnesota and provide an open, welcoming environment for patients of all personal backgrounds. It is also my desire to someday become involved in medical education, community health education, and outreach.

Amanda Petersen, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine with women's health/obstetrics, pediatrics, preventative care, and palliative and hospice care.

Personal interests: Watching Minnesota sports, playing volleyball, exploring new restaurants or breweries, going on walks with my puppy Loki, and enjoying a good cup of coffee.

Why St. John's: I rotated at St. John's/Phalen Clinic during my fourth year of medical school and loved the environment and the people. All of the residents, faculty, and hospital staff were so welcoming and supportive. I looked forward to coming in every day to learn something new. Additionally, I value how St. John's prepares its residents to practice high-quality full-spectrum family medicine. As a bonus, my partner grew up just down the road from St. John's, so we were thrilled to be able to stay near family and friends.

Career goals: I hope to practice full-spectrum family medicine in a suburban or rural area in Minnesota.

Kristofer Setterstrom, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, sports medicine/orthopedics, and rural medicine.

Personal interests: Spending time with family, staying active, playing sports (basketball, golf, and volleyball, among others), outdoor activities in general, and trying new breweries.

Why St. John's: Because it is widely regarded as a program with a strong reputation for producing well-rounded family medicine physicians while maintaining a supportive/respectful environment amongst the residents and faculty. Faculty with a diverse background of specific interests within the medical field, including specialists in sports medicine as that is an area of interest for me. The program is close to home, so I can stay in touch with family and friends.

Career goals: Full-spectrum family medicine +/- sports medicine in a community I can call home for many years.

Kaitlin Thiel (Rinke), MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, preventative medicine, women’s health, obstetrics, pediatric medicine, and sports medicine.

My personal interests include spending time with my husband, family, and friends, cuddling with our pug, Winston, watching sports, traveling, and reading.

Why St. John's: I had the opportunity to rotate at St. John’s as a fourth-year medical student. I really enjoyed the supportive and friendly culture. St. John’s has a strong reputation for training full-spectrum family medicine physicians, which is something I was looking for in a residency program. I am so grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this community!

Career goals: I hope to practice full-spectrum family medicine in Minnesota!

Second Year: Class of 2026

Ryan Bjerke, MD

Medical school: University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences

Medical interests: Sports medicine, mental health, procedures, geriatrics, and full-spectrum family medicine.

Personal interests: Music production, soccer, weight-lifting, golf, basketball, investing, watching Minnesota sports teams (Skol Vikings), and going to concerts.

Why St. John's: St. John's had the best people of all the places I interviewed and I felt so welcomed! I shared many common professional and personal interests with the faculty and residents. My significant other and I wanted to move to the Twin Cities for a long time and St. John's was the perfect fit for us. I believe St. John's will train me to be the best family physician I can become!

Career goals: I want to pursue a fellowship in Sports Medicine upon graduation and someday eventually own and operate my own private practice sports medicine and full-spectrum family medicine clinic!

Cameron Holmes, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Sports Medicine, Rural Medicine, Nutrition and Exercise Medicine.

Personal interests: Hiking, camping, weight-lifting, lake walks with my wife and goldendoodle Sully, and DJ'ing.

Why St. John's: I chose St. John's because of the incredible experience I had rotating there as a medical student. It was abundantly clear that the faculty, support staff, and residents were truly passionate about their program and their patients and I immediately felt at home. Additionally, St. John's has an exceptional sports medicine curriculum and I knew I would well-equipped to pursue a sports medicine fellowship after residency.

Career goals: I plan to practice a combination of family medicine and sports medicine somewhere in Minnesota (hopefully in a rural community with plenty of lakes). Another passion of mine is coaching, so I would love to be able to blend my passion for sports medicine and exercise with a volunteer coaching position.

Samuel Olson, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: I am interested in partnering with my patients to provide compassionate, full spectrum care. I have specific interests in addiction medicine, sports medicine, prenatal OB care and medical education.

Personal interests: I am passionate about watching sports, especially any Minnesota team. I enjoy staying active by playing basketball and golf whenever possible or getting to the gym. I am a budding cook and just stepped into bread-making as well. I stay connected with friends through playing video games on my custom built PC or going out to a brewery and getting a drink. I enjoy getting outside no matter the season, but my favorite outdoor activity is deep sea fishing in the Caribbean.

Why St. John's: I chose St. John's based on its reputation for preparing FM residents for full spectrum care as well as its strong hospitalist and sports medicine training. In addition, the close knit nature and camaraderie of the residents was a large draw as I could see myself thriving along side them.

Career goals: Beyond outpatient family medicine, I want to explore my many medical interests and possibly pursue hospitalist work, sports medicine, prenatal care, and medical/surgical abortions. I have always loved teaching, so participating in some form of medical education is also something I could see myself pursuing.

Emily Rock, DO

Medical school: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine

Medical interests: Full-spectrum family medicine, sports medicine, rural medicine.

Personal interests: I love spending time with my family and friends. I love all things athletics (lately jumped on the pickleball bandwagon)! My husband and I enjoy traveling and exploring new restaurants. I love playing different instruments, especially my ukulele.

Why St. John's: My husband and I wanted to return to the beautiful state of Minnesota to be closer to our family. Throughout the interview process, the faculty and residents at St. John's were all so kind and welcoming. I was drawn to the culture and team dynamics that are present at St. John's as well as the quality of teaching that is provided.

Career goals: My goal is to practice full spectrum family medicine in a suburb or rural community.

Honoree Thor, MD

Medical school: University of Minnesota Medical School

Medical interests: Broad-spectrum family medicine, preventative medicine, immigrant/refugee health, healthcare for inner city populations and minorities, urgent care, mental health, adolescent medicine, ultrasound, procedures.

Personal interests: Tennis, running, dance, movies, music, spending time with family and friends.

Why St. John's: When searching for a residency program, there were three main factors that I took into consideration: (1) diverse patient population, (2) a robust and balanced curriculum between inpatient and outpatient, and (3) emphasis on physician wellness/mindfulness. I had the privilege of rotating at St. John's during medical school and from my first week here, it was evident to me that these three characteristics were fundamental to the program in providing excellent patient care and creating a conducive teaching environment. In addition, East Saint Paul is a socially and culturally diverse community; having the privilege to work with and learn from this population excites me. The close comradery between residents, faculty, and even other clinic staff is another aspect that I knew I wanted in my training to get through the
difficult parts of residency. St. John's was a place I felt I could call home while getting world-class training in becoming a well-rounded family physician.

Career goals: As of right now, I am undecided as there are so many opportunities to pursue in family medicine and my interests are scattered. Ultimately, I aspire to be a family physician working with a diverse urban community and providing patient-centered care. Growing up in a marginalized community in Saint Paul and experiencing/witnessing health disparities due to various barriers, I am motivated to bridge the gap between each unique patient from groups like my own and the healthcare system, and further create a welcoming environment where they are satisfied with themselves, their health, and their care.

Not pictured:

Thane Swisse, MD

Third Year: Class of 2025

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: I have signed on to practice inpatient and outpatient primary care up at the gateway to the Boundary Waters in Ely, Minnesota! 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.

Graduates

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