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 Department of Pediatrics Resident Physicians |  2018 - 2019

 Rachel Lindsey, MD | PGY-3, Chief Resident

I grew up in a small town in Southwest Virginia, about an hour and a half from Johnson City, and after completing medical school at ETSU, I knew I wanted to stay here for residency! I love the close-knit feel of the program and the supportive learning environment we have here. My passion is serving under-served populations, globally and locally. At ETSU, I get to serve those who otherwise would have to travel long distances for the care of a children's hospital. After residency, I definitely plan on spending part of my time doing medical missions. When I'm not working, my husband and I can probably be found at Disney World, spending time with family and our dog, or exploring places we've never been!

Undergraduate: University of Virginia's College at Wise
Medical School: James H. Quillen College of Medicine (ETSU) 

 Lexie Selzer, DO | PGY-3, Chief Resident

I grew up on a farm in a tiny town outside of Chattanooga Tennessee called Rising Fawn Georgia.  After getting my undergraduate education at the University of South Carolina, I moved to Pikeville Kentucky for medical school. In the fall of my fourth year, I did a visiting rotation in Pediatric Hematology/Oncology here at ETSU. I was instantly welcomed as part of the team and I knew that this is where I wanted to continue my training.  From the positive learning environment to the incredible teaching staff and the family feel of the residency program, I couldn't imagine a better place to spend the next 3 years.  I am excited to explore local restaurants and nearby hiking trails. I also enjoy cooking, spending time at the lake, and hanging out with my cat Tullulah Mulan!

Undergraduate: University of South Carolina 
Medical School: Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Stephanie Albracht, DO | PGY-3

I grew up in Dayton, OH and completed undergraduate at the University of Kentucky. During my college summers, I worked at my hometown park district to help run outdoor recreational and nature programming for kids -- it was a blast! While I loved working for the park district, my calling was in healthcare. For medical school, I headed east to UP-KYCOM in Pikeville, Kentucky. I fell in love with the Appalachian scenery and culture during my time there, and after seeing the healthcare needs in the area, I developed a passion for rural medicine. I knew in my heart I wanted to complete my residency at ETSU not only because of its location, but also because of the excellent didactics, fantastic people, and educational experiences I had while rotating here! In my free time I play my viola, weightlift, yoga, and geek out with my wonderful pharmacist fiancé!

Undergraduate: University of Kentucky 
Medical School: Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Alex Boley, DO | PGY-3

Johnson City and ETSU met all of the requirements that my husband and I were looking for in a home and for my Pediatrics training.  After a childhood filled with moving from Arizona to Michigan to Pennsylvania I was looking for a place to call home. I have spent the last nine years in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.  There, I attended a small catholic liberal arts school for my undergrad degree (Seton Hill) and spent another four years at a local branch campus of Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine.  I was ready for a new adventure somewhere else. East Tennessee offers all of the outdoor activities that my husband and I enjoy. We were also able to buy a home that has given us space that we needed to raise our ever growing family of dogs, cats, ducks, and goats. Most importantly, I have enjoyed the support of the ETSU pediatrics department. I will never forget my first day of Orientation, which happened to fall on my 25th birthday, my brand new residency family had brought a cake to share and a heartfelt welcoming card. Their focus on harboring an extended education to the residents in a nurturing fashion and a positive environment is exactly what I had envisioned for my residency program. With the support and expertise of the faculty, staff and fellow residents I know that I will be prepared to be a valued general pediatrician in a rural area setting after my stay here at ETSU. 

Undergraduate: Seton Hall University
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Angelica Johnson, MD | PGY-3

I was born in Missouri and lived most of my life in a very small town in southern Illinois.  Then I moved to Philadelphia for undergrad and medical school.  In medical school, I had the opportunity to work at a couple of children's hospitals and I fell in love with pediatrics.  I chose ETSU because of the family atmosphere and great learning.  The residents here just seemed so happy and I really wanted that too.  Plus the view outside the hospital isn't bad either.  In my spare time, I love football, basketball, movies, and singing loudly and off key.  I am very excited to start my career here and can't wait to see what the future holds!!!

Undergraduate: University of the Sciences in Philadelphia 
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

 Rachel Miller, MD | PGY-3

My home is in southwest Virginia, about an hour from Johnson City. I went to Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond for both my undergraduate and medical school training. After 9 years in the city, I wanted to move closer to home for residency so I could be near my family and friends. Although I grew up nearby, much more attracted me to ETSU for residency. I appreciate the close-knit feel of our program. It is amazing to have the opportunity to work directly with the attending physicians. For fun, I enjoy cooking and hiking. My favorite local places to hike are the Grayson Highlands and the Channels which are both in Virginia. A few of my favorite things are famous Internet cats and memes, as well as my 6-year-old rescue tabby cat named Gabby.

Undergraduate: Virginia Commonwealth University 
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine 

 Michelle Payne, MD | PGY-3

I spent most of my life in GA but fell in love with the East Tennessee mountains and program here at ETSU. My husband stays at home with our 8 month old son (definitely the harder job). We are currently renovating our second home and enjoy all things related to home improvement projects (and love HGTV). Right now I am thinking about general pediatrics but have always had a love for NICU.

Undergraduate: Berry College 
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine

 Brittany Anibal, DO | PGY-2

I was born in Burkburnett, Texas- a little boomtown on the outskirts of Dallas. My Dad climbed the corporate ladder during my childhood so we lived in a variety of places including Alabama, Florida, and New Hampshire. I met my husband during my undergraduate years at the University of New Hampshire when I was earning my bachelor's degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences. I went to medical school at the University of Pikeville KY College of Osteopathic Medicine. We fell in love with the Appalachian area and were thrilled when we found out we got to stay in the area for residency. This area offers amazing outdoor activities my husband and I love as well as a strong Christian background to raise our son Brayden. When I'm not working, you will find us out on the lake or hiking in the mountains with our Goldendoodle Boone.

Undergraduate: University of New Hampshire
Medical School: University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Amanda Gutwein | PGY-2

When looking at different residency programs, I wanted a place with a strong sense of community, awesome colleagues, and plenty of mentors. I am from Dayton, Ohio and I came down south because I found all that I was looking for at ETSU. It has been a great privilege to start my career surrounded by such a wonderful group of people and I am excited about the years ahead. After residency, I plan to volunteer with Timmy Global Health and pursue a fellowship in pulmonology.

Undergraduate: University of Dayton
Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Cristian Quizhpi, MD | PGY-2

I moved to the Nashville, TN to attend Vanderbilt University from the Bronx, NY, and what I thought would be four temporary years in the south has turned into a fourteen year adventure! When applying to residency I hoped to continue my life in the Southeast, specially in a place as great as Johnson city, where you are surrounded by the beauty of the mountains. I search for a program that put a strong emphasis on educating its residents and developing strong leaders equipped to make a difference in the communities of the children they serve. Additionally, I looked for a program with a strong support system, as my wife and I were once again moving to a new area that we knew very little about. These are the driving factors that lead me to Niswonger and these are values that are continuously demonstrated and practiced at our hospital. I am very excited meet the challenges of these next three years with this awesome group of people.

Undergraduate:  Vanderbilt University 
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia at Augusta

 Katie Silva, MD | PGY-2

I was born in Los Angeles, CA but grew up in Florida. I have always played competitive soccer, which brought me to Lipscomb University in Nashville, TN when I got a scholarship to play Division I Athletics. At Lipscomb, I majored in Psychology and had a blast traveling around with my team. I met my husband, who lived in Nashville, after my sophomore year. From Lipscomb I was accepted in the University of Florida College of Medicine where I began my medical training. However, I did not like being long distance from the love of my life, so I transferred to Meharry Medical College in Nashville for the 3rd and 4th year of my medical school training. After completing medical school I decided to continue my training in Pediatrics, a life-long dream of mine, and was accepted into residency at ETSU. I love children and babies and I speak Spanish and Portuguese. I love spending time with my family: my husband and, soon to be, three kids. I chose ETSU because it is in a beautiful location and in an undeserved region where Niswonger's Children's Hospital is making an important impact. My dream is to be a high quality general pediatrician that works hard for my patients and gives God the glory!

Undergraduate: Lipscomb University 
Medical School: Meharry Medical College

 Victor Smith, MD | PGY-2

I grew up not too far from ETSU in Maryville, TN. I have spent almost my entire life in the East Tennessee area. The beautiful surroundings and wonderful people make it an excellent place to live. I attended medical school at Quillen COM and after rotating through the pediatrics program here I knew it was where I wanted to be. The support and sense of teamwork that is fostered in ETSU pediatrics is truly something that I wanted to be a part of. The residents are a close knit group who ensure everyone is able to feel confident in their ability to serve patients. The encouragement I have received from fellow residents and faculty has allowed me to foster my knowledge and confidently address patient needs. I also greatly enjoy my time away from work as Johnson City is such a scenic place to live. In my free time I get outside for some exercise by playing in an ultimate Frisbee league, running, and rock climbing at the ETSU gym. If I am wanting to spend the day inside then I enjoy playing board games and making ceramics.

Undergraduate:  University of Tennessee 
Medical School:  James H. Quillen College of Medicine (ETSU)

 Justin Widner, DO | PGY-2

I grew up in New Tazewell TN, a small town about one and a half hours from Johnson City. I attended LMU for my undergraduate degree and LMU-DCOM for medical school. Growing up as a small town guy in East Tennessee, ETSU was the perfect match when searching for programs. When I interviewed here, the program it felt like a nice warm hug. Everyone is supportive and the learning environment is excellent. Having grown up in rural Appalachia, I have a passion for treating patients in the underserved in the region. I wanted a program with a strong emphasis in training rural pediatricians and ETSU was that program. After residency, I hope to practice outpatient pediatrics in a rural underserved area. In my free time I enjoy hiking, kayaking, and being involved with my youth group at church. 

Undergraduate: Lincoln Memorial University  
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University - DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

 Kayla Wienczkowski, MD | PGY-2

I grew up in Nashville, TN and attended college at Lipscomb University. I fell in love with ETSU during my medical school interviews, and knew that it was the place for me. After four years in the beautiful East Tennessee Mountains, I wasn’t ready to move away just yet! As a medical student, I loved the residents, faculty, and supportive environment at ETSU. As a learner, I have always thrived in a close-knit, family atmosphere, and found that here in the Pediatric Department. My husband loved the Family Medicine residency program in Kingsport, and we couldn’t pass up two great programs in a location that we love. In our spare time, we enjoy hiking, kayaking, and taking our dog to the dog park.

Undergraduate: Lipscomb University 
Medical School: James H. Quillen College of Medicine (ETSU)

 Candelaria Deimundo Roura, MD | PGY-1

I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina but spent most of my childhood traveling abroad. I went to medical school at the "Universidad de Buenos Aires," and spent my summers off in Colorado where I met my husband. Naturally in Colorado, outdoor activities became a central part of our lives and that is why ETSU was initially so appealing. Once I got to know more about the program, I realized that it fit all of my major criteria, both in academics and personal preferences. The friendliness and the tight-knit group was exactly what I was looking for in a program, not mention living in a beautiful area. I am so excited to continue this next step in my path to becoming a Pediatrician at ETSU. 

Medical School: Universidad de Buenos Aires Facultad de Medicina, Argentina

Travis Johnson, MD | PGY-1

I grew up in Jackson, a small town in southeastern Kentucky. I completed both undergraduate and medical school at the University of Kentucky. After spending 8 years in Lexington, I was more than ready to move back to the mountains. After my interview at ETSU, my wife and I knew that’s where we wanted to spend the next three years. It had everything I was looking for in a program, and everything we were looking for in a town to raise our three daughters. I have a deep love for southeastern Kentucky, and my ultimate goal is to move back and practice as a general pediatrician. I have no doubt that the program here at ETSU will more than prepare me for that, and I’m very grateful that God has brought me here. I’m also a board game enthusiast, have about 100 games in my collection, and am always willing to play a game or two.

Undergraduate: University of Kentucky
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Sarah Nichols, DO | PGY-1

I grew up in the small town of Norris, Tennessee not that far from Johnson City. I have always loved East Tennessee and chose to pursue my college education in another small town at Lincoln Memorial University. I knew going into college that medicine was my career goal and receiving my medical education at DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine at Lincoln Memorial University was a perfect fit for me. Once I realized that my heart was set on the specialty of pediatrics, I hoped to stay in the area to stay close to my family. ETSU’s Pediatric Residency Program felt immediately like the “perfect fit” as soon as I arrived for my interview and I am so grateful to have been matched with ETSU’s Department of Pediatrics for my residency training. My little family of my husband and two dogs are loving our new home in Johnson City and happy to be within a day trip of both our families. We can’t wait to keep exploring the beautiful area. My hobbies include arts and crafts projects of all varieties like pottery and painting, home DIY activities, cooking, spending time with my husband and two dogs and finding time to read books for fun!

Undergraduate:  Lincoln Memorial University
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University – DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine

Amy Parker, MD | PGY-1

I’m from a farm in Darke County, Ohio on the Ohio/Indiana border. Staying close to home for undergrad & medical school, I was looking to explore a new portion of the US while staying relatively close to home, since my husband is not in the medical field. When looking at residencies, I wanted a small program that had access to majority of the specialties in a stand-alone facility that would help grow my passion for rural medicine. All of this I found along with such an amazing close-knit program where the attendings are truly invested & interested in each resident. In my spare time, my husband & I love spoiling our two dogs, and look forward to exploring the breath-taking views around Johnson City.

Undergraduate: Wright State University
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine

Amanda Shoubaki, DO | PGY-1

I was born in Germany and lived in 4 states during my father’s military service. I love the south and the outdoors and always knew I wanted to live somewhere where I could get out and enjoy nature. My family settled in Hattiesburg, MS and I went to the University of Mississippi for my undergraduate degree before moving back to Hattiesburg for medical school. I attended medical school at William Carey College of Osteopathic Medicine. My family is fairly centrally located to the area, so going too far away for residency was a bit concerning. When I interviewed at ETSU; however, I felt instantly welcomed and at home. The town and the people are so inviting, and the mountains surrounding Johnson City and Niswonger are absolutely breathtaking. My husband and I already love the city and we look forward to spending the next several years in Johnson City and becoming part of the ETSU family! In my free time my husband and I love hiking, fishing, and enjoying nature.

Undergraduate: University of Mississippi
Medical School: William Carey University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Sukhvir Singh, MD | PGY-1

Hi everyone! I was raised in San Jose, did my undergrad at San Francisco State, and then completed med school at Des Moines University in Iowa. I enjoy exploring the outdoors, building coffee tables to de-stress, and spending quality time with my friends and family. When searching for programs I knew I wanted to go to a place that allowed me the autonomy to do a lot and that was small enough so it felt like more of a family. During my interview here I felt like I easily got along with the residents and could be myself. And without competition from fellows, it was nice to know that I wouldn’t have to compete for educational or procedural opportunities. I like the area because the mountains feel like my Californian home minus the traffic and ridiculous rent. And there’s plenty to do around the area if you like good food (especially BBQ) and camping/hiking. 

Undergraduate: San Francisco State
Medical School: Des Moines University, Iowa

 Meredith St. Clair, DO | PGY-1

I grew up in central Virginia and headed to rural North Carolina for college at Campbell University.  After four years in Buies Creek, NC I was not ready to leave, and I stayed at CUSOM for medical school.  While attending CUSOM I realized my passion for loving "the least of these," and knew I wanted to train and practice in a rural area and serve the underserved.   When I interviewed at ETSU, I knew it was the perfect fit for me.  I loved the emphasis on primary care as well as the well-rounded curriculum that would provide me the skills to serve in rural areas at home or abroad.  The faculty and staff were warm and made me feel immediately welcomed into their family.  In my free time I love being outside running, hiking or biking.  I am so excited to be living in Johnson City and explore of the great natural wonders that are in my new backyard! 

Undergraduate:  Campbell University
Medical School: Campbell University, Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine