Class notes: 2010s
James Waymack, MD ’10, has been named Chair of the Department of Emergency Medicine at SIU SOM. Dr. Waymack completed medical school and residency training in emergency medicine at the SIU School of Medicine, and has served the School with distinction in roles as Assistant Professor and Associate Professor of Emergency Medicine since 2013. Within the Department, he has served as residency program director, chief of the division of education, and interim chair. He holds an MBA degree from SIU-Edwardsville, and has developed significant local and national expertise in tactical law enforcement medicine and disaster preparedness and response. (pictured right)
Ian Ridge, MD ’18, joins the University of Michigan Health-Sparrow Orthopedics as an orthopedic surgeon offering comprehensive care for hand and upper extremity orthopedic issues, including the treatment of fractures, tendon and ligament injuries, carpal tunnel, cubital tunnel, and other conditions from the hand to the shoulder. Ridge is an active member of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and a candidate member of the American Society for Surgery of the Hand. Read more here.
Alexandra Barger, MD ’18, (from CDC press officer, Nick Spinelli) “Alexandra Barger currently serves as a CDC Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer assigned to the Kentucky Department for Public Health. In this role, she works in rural health with a focus on the opioid epidemic in the area. EIS officers like Alex, better known as CDC's "disease detectives," serve as CDC's first responders when disease outbreaks or other public health threats emerge. They deploy all over the country and beyond to investigate health threats, identify the causes, rapidly implement control measures, and collect evidence to recommend preventive actions. What's also interesting about Alex is that in her spare time, she's become an avid cave explorer and runner, and is also submitting a project to the state fair crocheting competition."
Mary Sterrett, MD ’11, “I left my University of Washington academic position in 2023, taking two months to travel abroad and volunteer. I fell in with an NGO called MedGlobal, who does education and relief work internationally. I was brought in to teach point of care ultrasound in Cox’s Bazaar and Dhaka (Bangladesh) in the refugee camps, which has altered my trajectory in my off hours from Maternal Fetal Medicine. I now volunteer and teach with the Global Ultrasound Institute (GUSI), and work on AI in obstetric imaging in Southern California. I’m a full time clinically practicing perinatologist, and otherwise enjoy cycling with my exceptional husband through the canyons and coasts.” (pictured right)
Liridon Zendeli, MD ’19, “Completed internship in Internal Medicine at University of Florida Health, residency in PM&R at Marianjoy Rehab Hospital/Northwestern Medicine, and fellowship in Brain Injury Medicine at Harvard/Spaulding Rehab Hospital. Working towards obtaining certification in Electrodiagnostic Medicine (and eventually Aesthetic Medicine).”
Victoria Johnson, MD, MPH, '10, had a Perspective published in the 6/29/24 issue of "The New England Journal of Medicine". Entitled "To Forgive, Divine," it chronicles an act that triggered a flood of doubt and the route she found towards healing. Abstract: "When a resident misses a contraindication and makes a potentially serious error, her attending consoles her with the story of an early mistake of his own. Such healing conversations are still too rare." (pictured left)
Drs. Evyn Neumeister, MD ’17 and Austin Beason, MD ’17, "We just welcomed our second child, Vera, to the world on May 31st! We are currently living in Gainesville, Florida where my husband, Austin is finishing orthopedic fellowship in hand & upper extremity surgery. We are moving to Philadelphia in July where I will be completing my pediatric plastic surgery fellowship at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia before we make our way back to Springfield, Illinois to begin practice at SIU!"
Clare Zimmerman, MD ’15, has made the Springfield Business Journal's Forty Under 40 List for 2024!! (See list right)
Michael Sinha, MD ’12, Professor Michael Sinha, JD, MD, MPH co-authored an article entitled “Four Decades of the Orphan Drug Act and Priorities for the Future,” published in the July, 11, 2024 issue of the prestigious New England Journal of Medicine. The article was written in conjunction with Professors Ariel Stern, PhD of the Hasso Plattner Institute and Arti Rai, JD of Duke Law. (pictured right)
Emma Eubanks, MD ’13, "Our family welcomed our second daughter, Evie Claire, on 5/11/24. In addition to a full-time OBGYN practice, Emma serves as her hospital's chairperson of the peer review committee and the medical Executive Committee Secretary and Treasurer."
Michael Kottwitz, MD ’13 & Kate Kottwitz (McKenna), MD ’14, welcomed the newest (perfect!) addition to their family with the birth of daughter, Martha Jacqueline, on April 4, 2024. (pictured left)
Kelly Roth, MD ’19, organized and cohosted the ATS 2024 international conference in May. Dr. Roth gave a presentation, “Interpretation of Pulmonary Function Testing in People who are Transgender or Non-binary,” during the conference.
Clare Zimmerman, MD ’15, welcomed son, Leo Edward Atlas, on November 24, 2023. Additionally, she was appointed as Chair of the Institutional Review Board at SIU Medicine for a one-year term starting in May 2024. (pictured right)
Rachel Ade Koziczkowski, MD ’10, “Started first ever dermatology department for UnityPoint Health in Nov 2023. Currently practicing in hometown of Moline, IL in dual internal medicine/dermatology practice with Dr. David Ade (father) who is also an alumnus of SIU SOM with the class of 1980.”
Amanda Velazquez, MD ’13, was featured as an expert panelist on weight loss on Oprah TV special Shame, Blame and the Weight Loss Revolution. Read about it here. Watch it on Hulu here.
Kevin Simon, MD ’15, presented his lecture, Safeguarding the Mental Health of a City, during the Theodore R. LeBlang Distinguished Lecture on the Springfield Siu-SOM campus on March 6, 2024. Dr. Kevin Simon is the Chief Behavioral Health Officer for the City of Boston, a Pediatric Addiction Medicine Psychiatrist for Boston Children’s Hospital and an Instructor of Psychiatry for Harvard Medical School.
Jaleen Sims, MD, MPH ’15, You can keep up to date with Dr. Sims by following her educational social media page (LivingWellWithDrJay) here.
Torie Johnson, MD '10, shares her views on the culture of medicine and professional identity formation and how she correlates it to the new Barbie movie. Take a few moments to read Doctor is Me- Women in Medicine
Kimberly Bannon, MD '11, "Hi there! I started a new job at UW Madison on June 15. Excited to be back in the academic world, working with students and residents. I am enjoying exploring Madison and the outdoors of Wisconsin with my husband, kids, and dog Rosie." Read here about Dr. Bannon's new job as a member of the Division of Academic Specialists in Ob-Gyn faculty of the University of Wisconsin.
Carl Ruthman, MD ’11, “I have accepted the position of Program Director for the Pulmonary & Critical Care Fellowship at Naples Community Hospital in Naples, FL."
Mary Sterrett, MD ’11, “Recent work in Bangladesh through an NGO called MedGlobal while I am between academic practice at UW-Seattle and Kaiser San Diego. I focused on point of care ultrasound teaching in refuge camps and in conferences.” (pictured below)
Jeremy Kulacz, MD ’14, Congratulations to Dr. Jeremy Kulacz, assistant professor of neurology, who has been selected for the 2024 Golden Apple Award. Each year, the graduating class at SIU School of Medicine bestows the honor to a faculty member for providing the most outstanding education during their training.
Dr. Kulacz earned his undergraduate degree at Illinois State University and his doctorate at SIU School of Medicine. He pursued a residency in adult neurology at Brown University Warren Alpert Medical School in Providence, RI, and completed a fellowship in vascular neurology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. In addition to teaching, Dr. Kulacz sees patients at SIU Neurology in Springfield.
Kate McKenna Kottwitz, MD '14, Congratulations to Dr. Kottwitz as she has just become the CEO and Plastic Surgeon for Amelia Aesthetics Evansville! (pictured right)
Specialty: Board-Certified Plastic Surgeon
Interests: Blending technical precision with artistic insight, empowering individuals to rediscover confidence through personalized aesthetic transformations.
Patient Testimonial: "She's very warm. She listened to me and my concerns. I could tell she was passionate about what she did. She makes you feel safe and confident."
Anita Ahuja, MD '15, "We completed our family with the addition of Maya this summer, born May 23, 2023." (pictured left)
Dakota and Molly Gilbert, MDs ’18, welcomed child, Jackson Gilbert, in January of 2023. They also both ranked top 1% nationally for patient experience, based on scores from the "Care Provider Overall" question on surveys completed with Press Ganey.
Stephanie Gadbois, MD ’12, is the new family medicine provider at Clarinda Regional Health Center in Clarinda, IA.
Joshua Billington, MD ’13, is a family physician at Springfield Clinic Hillsboro. He ranks in the top 1% nationally in-patient experience, based on scores from the "Care Provider Overall" question on Press Ganey surveys.
Stephen Holland, MD ’13, “graduated residency at Loyola University in Maywood in 2017. Joined Springfield Clinic and have been in practice since then.”
Natasha Kyte, MD ’13, A top professional in the field of internal medicine, Dr. Kyte is affiliated with Sutter Health, tending to patients at both Main Clinic Modesto Urgent Care and Tracy Care Center Urgent Care. Read more here
Thomas Selby, MD ’13, “completed family medicine residency in 2016. Worked at Wabash General Hospital Primary Care and served as hospital chief of staff in 2019. Graduated from Wright State University Dermatology residency in 2023. Starting at Deaconess Clinic Dermatology, Evansville, IN in August of 2023.”
James Feimster, MD ’16, Returns to SIU Medicine after completing a laparoscopic bariatric and advanced gastrointestinal surgery fellowship in Charlotte at the Carolinas Medical Center - Atrium Health. Dr. Feimster specializes in metabolic and bariatric surgery, foregut and minimally invasive gastrointestinal surgery, as well as acute care surgery and endoscopy. He is part of a multidisciplinary team at the Memorial Wellness Center.
Aileen Portugal, MD ’19, “I just finished OB/GYN Residency at UCSF in San Francisco, Ca. and now moving to St. Louis for fellowship at WashU in REI. (Pictured left with wife Elizabeth Portugal, Class of 2026)
These class notes were updated with the latest content from 2023 through January 2025. Submit YOUR updates by using this Share Your News Form.