Med-Peds faculty members

 

Leadership

 

Heather Bartz, DO
Heather Bartz, DO

Associate Program Director
Clinical Associate Professor

Medical School: Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Combined Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Adolescent medicine, transition of care/handoffs, wellness
Personal Interests: Orangetheory fitness, hiking and outdoor adventures, watching kids (three boys) play sports and watching any type of sports with the family, wine tasting, listening to podcasts about updates in medicine, medical education and wellness

Bethany Eiseler
Bethany Eiseler, MD

Chief resident 

Undergraduate: University of Arizona
Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Residency: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Career Interests: Right now, I would like to pursue both inpatient and outpatient medicine with an even mixture of children and adults vs. adult congenital heart disease. Time will ultimately tell!

Michelle Huddleston, MD
Michelle B. Huddleston, MD

Program Director
Clinical Assistant Professor

Medical School: East Carolina School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Adolescent medicine, transition care, bedside teaching
Personal Interests: Cooking and trying new recipes, travel, paper crafting and spending time with family and our dog Charlie.

Brief Program Overview from the Director (PPT)

Carson Morley
Carson Morley, MD

Chief resident

Undergraduate: University of Utah
Medical School: University of Utah
Career Interests: Intensive care, palliative care
Personal Interests: Hiking, kayaking, skiing, AZ day trips — Sedona, Tucson, Jerome and, of course, the Grand Canyon are some of my favorites — board games, good food and drinks, and spending time with my amazing co-residents!
Why UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix: I am originally from Utah, and I love the Southwest. Having grown up with family in the Phoenix area, I always loved spending time enjoying all that Arizona has to offer. I love national parks, hiking and being outdoors, so finding a residency with those opportunities was very important to me. The College of Medicine – Phoenix has provided me with a lot of opportunities to continue exploring these interests during my free time. Phoenix itself has a lot of activities, and we are merely a few hours drive from multiple national parks, mountains, skiing and even the ocean! Not to mention having an international airport 10 minutes from the hospital is super convenient. Our leadership and faculty are amazing, but I especially love all of my co-residents. I could feel the collegiality between the residents on my interview day and now being a part of the program myself I can attest to it personally!

Andrea Morley, MD
Andrea Morley, MD

Chief resident of Academic Affairs

Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago
Residency: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Internal Medicine/Pediatrics
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Career Interests: Sports medicine, primary care, prevention through lifestyle management
Personal Interests: Any form of physical activity (usually Peloton), cooking, farmers markets, traveling, anything involving being on the water!
Why UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix: On my interview day I loved the family feel that the residency program faculty and residents had. It was obvious the program genuinely cared for and advocated for its residents. The diverse clinical rotation sites allows you to truly create a residency experience that is educational, personal toward your interests, and overall enjoyable

 

Jennifer Nelson, DO
Jennifer Nelson, DO

Associate Program Director
Clinical Assistant Professor

Undergraduate: Clark University
Medical School: Western University of  Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Residency: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Combined Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Adolescent patients, cystic fibrosis, academic medicine and clinical reasoning
Personal Interests: Spending time with family, trying new foods/restaurants, hiking and Peloton

Cheryl O'Malley, MD

Cheryl O'Malley, MD

DIO of Graduate Medical Education, Banner – University Medical Center of Phoenix

Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Residency: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Program innovation, mentorship

Miriam Robin
Miriam Robin, MD

Chief resident of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Undergraduate: Florida State University
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine
Career Interests: Hospitalist work, social justice/health disparities, medical education, LGBTQIA care, bioethics
Personal Interests: Rock climbing, hiking, adventuring, snacking, and social justice
Why UArizona College of Medicine – Phoenix: I feel supported, heard and respected! The Med-Peds program shares my interests inside and outside of the hospital. Dr. Huddleston helped tailor the program to my unique career goals. The residents here are happy! On top of that, Phoenix is a big city that offers something for everyone whether you want to spend your time hiking every mountain, drinking bubble tea in nearby Mesa, grabbing a beer at a female-owned brewery or catching live music at First Fridays. Never seen a Saguaro cactus up close? You're missing out!

 

Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix Faculty

Jason Brown, MD

Jason Brown, MD

Chief Medical Officer of Banner Health Transfer Services, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: The University of Missouri Kansas City School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program

Julia G Faber, MD

Julia G Faber, MD

Ambulatory Internal Medicine & Pediatrics, Banner Health, Greenway

Medical School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program

Maria Martin, MD

Maria Martin, MD

Chief resident
Ambulatory Internal Medicine & Pediatrics with Banner Health, Maricopa, AZ

Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Residency: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Combined Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Adolescent medicine, underserved patient populations, wellness, mentorship
Personal Interests: Hiking, yoga, spending time outdoors, dancing, trying new recipes, mindfulness and meditation

Jordan Merz, MD

Jordan Merz, MD

Division of Hospital Medicine, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix, POCUS Faculty
Clinical Assistant Professor

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix/Phoenix Children's Hospital Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: High-value care, point-of-care ultrasound, beta-lactam allergies

 

Lori Porter, DO
Lori Porter, DO

Division of Hospital Medicine, Banner – University Medical Center Phoenix,
Clinical Assistant Professor

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: VTE prevention and management, quality improvement

 

Lauren Washatka, MD
Lauren Washatka, MD

Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix
Residency: the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Combine Med-Peds Program

 

Phoenix Children's Faculty

Sarah Beaumont, MD

Sarah Beaumont, MD

Medical Director of Homeless Youth Outreach (HYO) Program
Director Pediatric Chronic Pain Program, Division of Adolescent Medicine Phoenix Children's Hospital,
Clinical Assistant Professor

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Adolescent medicine, homeless youth, integrative medicine, complex and chronic pain

Vishal Gunnala, MD

Vishal Gunnala, MD

Division of Pediatric Critical Care, Phoenix Children's Hospital,
Clinical Assistant Professor

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Residency: Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine
Fellowship: Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine
Areas of Interest: Sepsis, TBI research, simulation education

Ashley Higashi, MD

Ashley Higashi, MD

Division of Hospital Medicine, Med-Peds Hospitalist, Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Medical School: Chicago Medical School, Rosalin Franklin University
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Medical education, exam preparedness, pediatric hospital medicine, resident wellness

Gerald Gong, MD

Gerald Gong, MD

Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, Director
Cystic Fibrosis Program Phoenix Children's Hospital

Medical School: Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Fellowship: ​Pediatric Pulmonology, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Areas of Interest: Pediatric asthma, cystic fibrosis, pediatric bronchoscopy 

Meg Groom, MD

Meg Groom, MD

Med-Peds Hospitalist, Phoenix Children's Hospital and Dignity Medical Group
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Transitions of care, hospital medicine, medical education

Kaleo Ede, MD

Kaleo Ede, MD

Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Phoenix Children's Hospital,
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Fellowship: Pediatric Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Areas of Interest: Systemic lupus erythematosus, pediatric vasculitis, transition care, anti-phospholipid syndrome

Da-Wei Liao, MD

Da-Wei Liao, MD

Cystic Fibrosis Program at Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Medical School: Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Residency: Albany Medical College in New York
Fellowship: National Institute of Health, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine
Areas of Interest: Cystic fibrosis, diagnostic and therapies in bronchoscopy 

Amanda Mihalik, MD

Amanda Mihalik, MD

Division of Pediatric Palliative Care Medicine, Phoenix Children's Hospital,
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Fellowship: The Mayo Clinic Arizona, Palliative Care
Areas of Interest: Transition care, medical education

Noreen Ruane, DO

Noreen Ruane, DO

Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Phoenix Children's Hospital,
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Pediatric hospital medicine, medical education

Christine Rukasin, MD

Christine Rukasin, MD

Allergist Immunologist

Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Residency: University of California San Diego
Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Areas of Interest: Drug allergies, medical education, coaching, physical activity
 

Teresa Shaw, MD

Teresa Shaw, MD

Director of Palliative Medicine at Phoenix Children's Hospital,
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Palliative medicine/end of life care for children, resident and fellow education

Trevor Smith
Trevor Smith, MD

Pediatric Chief Resident

Undergraduate: Brigham Young University
Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine
Best Thing About Our Program: A great group of residents to work with, the diverse patient population and supportive faculty!
Career Interests: Med/Peds Hospitalist and medical education 

Paul Tafoya, MD

Paul Tafoya, MD

Clinical Director for Telemedicine, Phoenix Children's Hospital, Division of PICU,
Clinical Assistant Professor

Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Fellowship: Pediatric Critical Care, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
Areas of Interest: Telemedicine, medical education

Raegan Vanderput, MD

Raegan Vanderput, MD

Division of Pediatric Hospital Medicine, Phoenix Children's Hospital,
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: Saint Louis University College of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Areas of Interest: Transition care, medical education

Elizabeth Zorn, MD

Elizabeth Zorn, MD

Division of Pediatric Critical Care at Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Medical School: The University of South Dakota School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Fellowship: Pediatric Critical Care LeBonheur Children's Hospital, University of Tennessee
Areas of Interest: Pediatric critical care, quality improvement efforts, institutional contact for Donor Network of AZ, past president of the Phoenix Children's Hospital Medical Staff 

 

Phoenix VA Medical Center Faculty

Julie Crawford, MD

Julie Crawford, MD

Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program, core Med-Peds Program Faculty
Division of Hospital Medicine, Phoenix Veterans Affairs Health Care System,
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine 
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program
Area of Interest: Hospital medicine

Robert Martinez, MD

Robert Martinez, MD

Division of Hospital Medicine, VA Medical Center
Clinical Assistant Professor 

Medical School: University of Southern California  Keck School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program

 

Rural Health Faculty

V. Sanoe Harrison, MD

V. Sanoe Harrison, MD

Med-Peds, Pediatric Endocrinologist
Lead Hospitalist, SEARHC Wrangell Medical Center – Wrangell Alaska

Medical School: University of Southern California  Keck School of Medicine
Residency: The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix Med-Peds Program

Judith Hunt, MD

Judith Hunt, MD

Rural Health Med-Peds Preceptor in Payson, AZ
Regional Site Director, Ponderosa Family Care

Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson
Residency: Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and Phoenix Children’s Hospital Med-Peds Residency Program

Kent Johnson, MD

Kent Johnson, MD

Ambulatory Med-Peds Practice
Preceptor with Village Medical in Goodyear, AZ

Medical School: Michigan State University
Residency: Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and Phoenix Children’s Hospital Med-Peds Residency Program