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Get to know our residents
Our residents are a diverse group that come from a variety of backgrounds and have unique experiences and interests. We look forward to getting to know you as well!
Class of 2025
Alexander Clegg, MD
Hometown: Ada, MI
Medical school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because of the general family feel the residency program had. From the virtual social hour, through the first 4 months of residency, this program clearly has authentic faculty and residents. It's an excellent 3-year program in my hometown and close to Lake Michigan - one of my favorite spots!
What are your clinical interests? I mostly enjoy the day-to-day work, but I also enjoy Clinical Informatics.
Hobbies: I enjoy getting outside, hiking, skiing, sports, sailing, exploring different restaurants and coffee shops, and enjoy all the four seasons that Michigan has to offer!
Andrew Coleman, DO
Hometown: Spokane, WA
Medical school: Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I rotated at Spectrum as a medical student which reaffirmed that I wanted to train at Spectrum for residency. It is the perfect blend of high volume and acuity with very strong pediatric exposure, given the tertiary pediatric hospital that we rotate through every EM block. Every program says their residents and faculty are the best; that holds true here, but more than that, even the non-core faculty are engaged in teaching and developing you to be the best EM physician possible.
What are your clinical interests? Medical education, medical resuscitation and critical care medicine.
Hobbies: All things outdoors. You can find me running, biking and exploring the beautiful trails and scenery that Grand Rapids has to offer.
A. Mandy Dean, DO
Hometown: Clinton Township, MI
Medical school: Oklahoma State University
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I knew I would be challenged and see a lot of critical patients. After training here for three years, I knew I would be very well prepared to handle anything I may see as an attending. It was an added bonus to be closer to my family too.
What are your clinical interests? Emergency medicine.
Hobbies: Cooking, volleyball, hiking and spending time with my husband and dog.
Nathan DeBruine, MD
Hometown: Greenville, MI
Medical school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I worked here as a medical scribe during undergrad and really enjoyed working with all the providers. I also loved my rotations here during medical school because all the residents and attendings were super friendly and invested in teaching. It really felt like home and just happened to have everything I was looking for in a program, being community-based, but university-affiliated with a level 1 trauma center, plenty of high acuity patients, and a culture that supports work-life balance. Plus, I get the bonus of living in an awesome city close to friends and family!
What are your clinical interests? I am particularly interested in international medicine, ultrasound and medical education.
Hobbies: I love running, biking, playing soccer and volleyball and even heading down under for some scuba diving! You'll always find me with my camera too. If I'm not outside, I'm playing piano, organ or trying to learn my guitar.
M. Jared Foster, DO
Hometown: Mesa, AZ
Medical school: Des Moines University
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I was lucky enough to rotate at Spectrum Health for a month. While I was here, I was welcomed as one of their own and immediately felt at home. In addition to that, being able to work in both a Level 1 adult and pediatric trauma center as much as we do is a great way to get tons of exposure to a variety of patients.
What are your clinical interests? Currently, I am most interested in Emergency Medical Services. Other fellowships that I am interested in learning about are Toxicology and Sports Medicine.
Hobbies: I have two kids, so my hobbies definitely revolve around spending time with them and finding fun activities to do. Once my kids go to bed however, I enjoy playing video games, basketball, pickleball, and spending time with my wife.
Mason Gay, MD
Hometown: Vincennes, IN
Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for a number of reasons including high patient volume, strong clinical exposure to both adults and pediatrics, established program with a great reputation and good vibes from all the faculty and residents I interacted with on interview day.
What are your clinical interests? I'm interested in practicing in rural or community emergency medicine.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending my free time running, lifting, playing basketball, following my favorite sports teams, watching movies/tv and going to coffee shops.
Jessica Jawahir, MD
Hometown: Holland, MI
Medical school: Michigan State College of Human Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because it is important to me to be able to continue to learn and care for the community I was raised in. The program here made it clear it is a priority to support their residents wellness during such a demanding time in our training. I knew the high volume, diverse pathology and longitudinal pediatric exposure would facilitate significant learning opportunities and prepare me for my future career. The program supports exploration of niche interests in emergency medicine and is excited to help connect you to opportunities within those interests.
What are your clinical interests? I am interested in public health and advocacy as well as medical education. I am excited to explore my opportunities to increase my exposure to these topics during residency.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending my free time playing with my dog, Pizza (and yes, Pizza loves to eat pizza). My husband and I enjoy traveling, hiking and cooking together. When not cooking together, we enjoy eating out and exploring Grand Rapids - there is always new spots to discover!
Michael Melbardis, DO
Hometown: Fishers, IN
Medical school: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I had great interactions with faculty and residents during my interview day and it was evident the residents worked well together. The program has lots to offer, including working in a busy level 1 trauma center, a longitudinal approach to pediatrics and a supportive faculty dedicated to resident education and well-being.
What are your clinical interests? My clinical interests include community medicine and critical care.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing and listening to music. I was actually a music major in college with a focus on jazz piano. I am also trying to improve my golf game.
Class of 2024
Farjana Alam, MD
Hometown: Hamtramck, MI
Medical school: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I was very impressed by the vast list of resources and expertise all in one institution. Spectrum Health is home to immense research and advanced technology that serves as vital assets to a resident's education.
What are your clinical interests? I am interested critical care, women's health and obstetrical emergencies.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my family, visiting state parks, True Crime documentaries and Crime shows, Henna Art, eating ethnic Bengali food and Bollywood music.
Mark Brombacher, MD
Hometown: Jamestown, NY
Medical school: New York Medical College
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? Spectrum Health was on my radar from the beginning since my wife's family lives in the area. I was so excited on interview day when it became apparent that this was my place. It was immediately clear how much the program director cared about residents, how close they all were and what a world class organization Spectrum Health is. The perfect blend of training in an environment that I felt matched my core values, I'm so excited to be at Spectrum Health!
What are your clinical interests? My clinical interests revolve around department administration/operations, critical care and ultrasound.
Hobbies: Since the birth of my son, my hobbies tend to take a back seat. However, he's been a great subject for my photography and my wife and I enjoy taking him out to explore the many parks and restaurants that Grand Rapids has to offer!
Elexus-Ember Carroll, DO
Hometown: Merrillville, IN
Medical school: Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I really love the hybrid feel of the program; it's a perfect mix of community and academic settings. I was drawn to the high volume and complexity of patients. More importantly, during my rotation, every attending physician made me feel valued as a student making it one of my top choices for training.
What are your clinical interests? My main clinical interests are preventative medicine and pain management but critical care, undersea/hyperbaric and event medicine are cool too.
Hobbies: On a typical day, I usually enjoy reading comics or cooking new recipes. If I have extra time off I enjoy reading romance books, sewing, learning about medicinal herbs, exploring new museums and going to the beach.
Bradley Emmerich, MD
Hometown: Madison, WI
Medical School: University of Missouri School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for the combined focus of providing great training and intentionality toward resident well-being. The high acuity and volume provide a robust clinical exposure while the schedule allows ample opportunity for decompression. Very few programs execute this balance well and it is evident we are well-supported by our leadership
What are your clinical interests? My clinical interests are emergency medical services, wilderness medicine and critical care.
Hobbies: I enjoy camping, hiking, fishing, road trips, DIY projects and trying local restaurants.
Padideh Ghorbani, MD
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
Medical school: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? Spectrum Health checked off all the features I was looking for in a program that would provide top-level training in emergency medicine. They also have amazing respect for their community and their peers. Not to mention, the program director, Dr. Jason Seamon, takes incredible care of his residents. It feels like home before you even step foot in the hospital.
What are your clinical interests? Just starting off my journey in emergency medicine, I am still not entirely sure where it will take me. But part of what drew me to this field was the opportunity to manage a wide range of patient care, particularly in the setting of high acuity trauma.
Hobbies: I enjoy cooking, horseback riding, meditation, yoga, travel and reading.
Mary Gipson, MD
Hometown: Belmont, MI
Medical school: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I am excited to be at a Level 1 Trauma Center with a large patient flow and diverse cases. I love that Spectrum Health specifically offers a strong pediatrics curriculum and prioritizes educational opportunities throughout residency. I was born and raised in the greater Grand Rapids area and am excited to be back in the area!
What are your clinical interests? My clinical passions include managing mental health crises and health care disparities.
Hobbies: I love outdoor adventures, especially beach days with abundant sunscreen (Lake Michigan is unbeatable!). I am passionate about playing basketball, crafting and drinking coffee, and I enjoy spending lots of time with my nieces and nephews!
Jamie Katuna, DO, MPH
Hometown: Longmont, CO
Medical school: Touro University California College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I did a rotation here during MS4 year and almost immediately knew this is where I wanted to be. The 1:1 teaching from each attending, the encouraging and awesome residents and the overall culture of the program were all truly amazing. Plus, Grand Rapids has so much to offer! The whole experience made me want to come here.
What are your clinical interests? In the emergency medicine realm, I'm interested in clinical research and toxicology. With a public health degree, I'm also interested in preventive medicine–particularly using nutrition to combat chronic metabolic diseases.
Hobbies: I enjoy trail running, reading, horseback-riding and hanging out with my German shorthaired pointer.
Ryan Pitney, MD
Hometown: Green Bay, WI
Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health for its excellent reputation in the clinical training of emergency medicine physicians and to work with the amazing people I met during my interviews. Plus, Grand Rapids is a great city and there are some awesome outdoor spaces to explore along Lake Michigan.
What are your clinical interests? My interests within emergency medicine include critical care and EMS.
Hobbies: I enjoy a casual round of golf, basketball, hiking, camping and watching sports, among other things. By the end of my training, I hope to try every sushi restaurant in town!
Julie J. Vanderberg, MD
Hometown: Grand Haven, MI
Medical school: University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? Having grown up in West Michigan, returning to the area was a big draw for me. I also appreciate that the emergency medicine program is well-established with professional and kind leadership and residents.
What are your clinical interests? I am particularly interested in premedical education. I also enjoy taking care of pediatric patients.
Hobbies: I enjoy rollerblading, reading, watching movies, playing music and spending time with family!
Jason Wanamaker, MD
Hometown: Toledo, OH
Medical school: The University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I really enjoyed everyone I spoke with about the program and Grand Rapids seemed like the perfect place to start the next part of my life!
What are your clinical interests? I am drawn to analyzing socioeconomic disparities in healthcare and how care for individuals belonging to marginalized populations can be improved.
Hobbies: I love to stay active in any way that I can, especially playing basketball! I enjoy watching movies (especially Marvel), listening to audiobooks and learning new things.
Class of 2023
Oluwatosin Ayotunde, MD
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum Health/Michigan State University because of the intensive focus to wellness and development of the residents. There is also an emphasis on academic excellence with the program consistently having one of the highest average in-training exam scores in the country.
What do you like most about your program? The program boasts a huge catchment area and has a high acuity. This naturally leads to a high diversity of problems and a well rounded training program. The ultrasound training at Spectrum Health/Michigan State rivals any program in the country, which is a vital aspect to being successful as an emergency medicine physician.
Clinical Interests: My clinical interest included trauma resuscitation, ultrasound diagnostics, psychiatric illness managing, sports medicine and emergency procedures.
Living in West Michigan: Grand Rapids is about 30 minutes from the lakeshore and also has several ski areas. There are very few places where you can snorkel and ski without having to travel far. The cost of living is also very reasonable, especially for a medical resident.
Hobbies: My hobbies are exercising, bike riding, rec league sports, music producing, and watching sports.
John Elenbaas, MD
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? While rotating here as an away student I immediately was included by residents and staff who often sought me out during shifts if there was a laceration to sew, an incoming patient to intubate, or just to see an interesting case. Everyone (nurses, aides, other residents) were incredibly kind. It is clear the EM residents are well supported and expertly trained.
What do you like most about your program? I love the camaraderie between fellow residents, nurses, and all other hospital staff. Additionally, the emphasis within the program on learning what you need to know to become an effective EM doctor, and the way the department is triaged to maximize your time at the hospital, really set this place apart.
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests are wilderness medicine and critical care
Living in West Michigan: I think Grand Rapids is an ideal sized city. It's not too big to be overwhelming but large enough to have anything you might be interested in, whether that's great food, festivals, sporting events, or parks to explore. The local beer and breweries are tough to beat, and world-class beaches are half an hour away. Lastly, I love the four seasons you get in West Michigan. Though it would be great if autumn were a little longer; it always ends too soon.
Hobbies: Backpacking/camping, drinking coffee, reading, triathlons, playing soccer, and spending time with family/being an uncle.
Dalton Grimm, MD
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I rotated here as a medical student and loved everything about it. The residents, the faculty, the patients—I knew this was a great fit for me!
What do you like most about your program? The department sees a great variety of patients in terms of acuity and complexity, routing the higher end of these to resident teams to maximize learning opportunities. The faculty are invested in resident education and offer ample support while also allowing residents to take initiative and learn through their own experiences. The pediatrics exposure here is top notch with integrated longitudinal experience at Helen Devos Children’s Hospital.
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests are critical care, toxicology and wilderness medicine.
Living in West Michigan: GR has tons of great restaurants and breweries, huge concerts at Van Andel, Art Prize in the summer, ice skating at Rosa Parks Circle in the winter...the list of activities and festivals goes on and on! It basically offers everything a larger metropolitan area could offer while having less traffic, a lower cost of living, and less crime. It’s proximity to Lake Michigan and various parks also offers ample opportunity for water activities, hiking, and camping.
Hobbies: Road trips, backpacking, camping, and anything sports related.
Steven Ilko, MD
Medical School: University of Iowa: Carver College of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum Health because of the supportive and outgoing people, it's location, and it's prioritization of resident education without sacrificing resident wellness.
What do you like most about your program? It was clear that this was a program with a proven track record of producing highly capable emergency physicians in a safe and fun environment that prioritizes the learning and well-being of it's residents.
Clinical Interests: Clinical interests include ultrasound and critical care.
Living in West Michigan: Grand Rapids is a vibrant city of young professionals with a strong food/brewery scene as well as highly accessible outdoor activities like kayaking, hiking and on-road/off-road cycling.
Hobbies: I like doing triathlon, going kayaking, brewing and DIY projects
Micah Larsen, MD
Medical School: University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I found the pediatrics exposure, resident camaraderie, and the city of Grand Rapids to be everything I wanted in a program when I interviewed here. It was my first interview of the season, and I kept finding myself thinking back to how much I enjoyed the experience.
What do you like most about your program? Supportive leadership and a great sense of camaraderie among the residents. The amount of integrated pediatrics shifts, the overall patient volume, and the city of Grand Rapids all drew me to Spectrum Health.
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests are EMS, wilderness medicine and pediatric EM.
Living in West Michigan: Grand Rapids is a beautiful city with so much to do. I especially love the food/beer culture, the proximity to state parks, and the beautiful seasons.
Hobbies: Running half marathons, brewing coffee, climbing, reading books, and spending time with my amazing wife.
Yeoshina Pillay, MD
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I chose Spectrum Health/Michigan State University emergency medicine because of the camaraderie amongst residents, longitudinal pediatric EM exposure, research opportunities, and experienced faculty that genuinely care about the residents.
What do you like most about your program? I love this program because of the broad scope of clinical experiences as well as the incredible residents, attendings, and staff that create a positive learning environment.
Clinical Interests: Clinical interests are disaster medicine and international EM.
Living in West Michigan: There’s always something to do in and around Grand Rapids! The food and brewery scene is world class and there’s easy access to outdoor activities.
Hobbies: I enjoy baking, cooking, hot yoga, reading, hiking, traveling, reality tv, going to Costco
Joel Poliskey, MD
Medical School: University of Michigan
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? I choose this program over all the other programs because of the people I met and the location. When I left after my interview I knew that this was a place where I could succeed personally and professionally. I also absolutely love Michigan and knew I wanted to stay in the state for residency.
What do you like most about your program? I had heard good things about Spectrum Health and I enjoy Grand Rapids and the surrounding area. I was looking for a 3-year program that still provided a breadth of experiences, and I felt that Spectrum Health provided everything I needed.
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests are wilderness medicine and rural medicine.
Living in West Michigan: I love the fact that Grand Rapids is a smaller city, but still has the population base needed to provide a diverse patient population. It’s important to me to have access to safe biking roads, gravel roads, and good mountain biking trails. Grand Rapids checked off all these boxes.
Hobbies: I enjoy cycling, (Mountain biking, road biking, gravel riding, cyclocross, fat biking) theology, camping, backpacking, hiking, reading, spending time with my family.
Daniel Romine, MD
Medical School: University of Missouri - Columbia
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? The genuine sense of openness, acceptance, and family, balanced by a strong drive for excellence in academics and patient care, was something I didn't see in any other program. I could sense that this was a program where I would have the support needed to become a superb physician.
What do you like most about your program? I love the camaraderie seen here - the way people get along and support each other. I love how each of us is encouraged and pushed to succeed, all while keeping wellness and mental health at the forefront of our minds.
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests are EM and ultrasound.
Living in West Michigan: Grand Rapids is an awesome place to be! With great spots for hiking, biking, climbing, and swimming, the outdoor opportunities are endless! There are plenty of bars, breweries, and coffee shops, and certainly no shortage of events or concerts either! Anything you enjoy, you can find in Grand Rapids.
Hobbies: Wilderness Camping/Backpacking, Scuba Diving, Climbing, Distance Running, Guitar, Reading/Writing, Brewing, Coffee Roasting, Traveling, DIY Projects, Cooking, Wood Carving, Music, Horsemanship, Gardening, Candle Making
Kyle Sherwin, DO
Medical School: Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? The relationships I experienced on interview day and the attention to detail that the core faculty showed throughout the process made me feel like a unique individual. This program has a great culture of a family dynamic, hard work and providing the best medical training for residents.
What do you like most about your program? I love the culture here at Spectrum where all level of residents have a strong relationships with one another. We are immersed in a large range of clinical pathology that provides us with ample opportunities for unique medical cases and procedures. I also enjoy the fact the EM program provides us with pediatric longitudinal training.
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests are medical education and addiction medicine.
Living in West Michigan: Grand Rapids offers the best of both worlds, whether you love the city or the great outdoors there is something for everyone. Downtown Grand Rapids offers plenty of amazing dining options and fantastic breweries. There are plenty of outdoor activities just outside the city and about 30 min West you can be on the beach enjoying Lake Michigan.
Hobbies: Playing basketball, weight lifting, trying new restaurants, enjoying the breweries, video games and watching stand up comedy
Drew Wechsler, MD
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Why did you choose Spectrum Health? Spectrum Health/Michigan State University was one of my first interviews and they blew me away! As I went through the rest of my interviews, I compared each one to Spectrum and none of them measured up. When speaking with family and friends, they could all tell how excited I was about this program. It was an easy choice and would rank it #1 again!
What do you like most about your program? Spectrum Health has a very large and diverse patient population with one of the busiest emergency departments in the nation. The program values resident wellness and during my interview, all of the residents loved it. Everyone made it easy to feel like I would fit in well here.
Clinical Interests: My main clinical interests are emergency medicine, sports medicine
Living in West Michigan: Grand Rapids is an easy place to live. There is an abundance of craft beers and a lively food scene. We also have easy access (30 minutes) to a beach!
Hobbies: My hobbies are Cooking, running, guitar, and Lakers basketball