PGY1 Residents
Faith Brown, D.O.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Johnstown, Colorado
Undergrad: Grove City College
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine- Bradenton, FL Campus
Personal Note
I grew up in Johnstown, Colorado, a small, rural town in Northern Colorado. Being that we were close to the mountains, I loved being constantly outside biking, hiking, skiing, and playing sports. My parents instilled an appreciation for God’s creation and our local community. After moving to Grove City, Pennsylvania for college, I found great mentorship, life-long friends, and my husband, Josh. During college, I went to the Global Missions Health Conference and completed the Perspectives missions course. These things, in addition with God’s leading, revealed that Josh and I have been called to international missions, and we intend to follow that leading after residency.
I then moved to Bradenton, Florida to complete medical school, which was a special time to enjoy the ocean, beach volleyball, and play pickleball. After moving all around during my schooling, I realized that residency was going to be more than just medical training for me- these people would also be my family. Being a little ambitious during my 4th year, I completed 7 different sub-I’s at different family medicine programs, and I couldn’t help but compare every program to the training I saw at Self. There was nowhere else that met the high standards for full-scope family medicine while also providing amazing support from faculty and fellow residents. I knew I was going to be valued and appreciated here, and I knew that I would have an abundance of learning opportunities inpatient, in OB, with procedures, and more. The Lord has truly blessed me and my husband by bringing us to this program, and I know I will continue to grow into a strong, competent physician through my time in residency.
Chip Chambers, M.D.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Watkinsville, GA
Undergrad: University of Georgia
Graduate School: Wharton School of Business (MBA)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
Personal Note
Hey y’all! I grew up outside Athens, GA and have been a dawg fan my whole life. It was a dream to get to go to UGA while rooting on the dawgs, which is also where I fell in love with medicine and felt God calling me into it. After studying biology, economics, and public health at Georgia, I got a dual MD/MBA at UPenn in Philadelphia (go birds) with a concentration in healthcare management. My dream is to help design excellent healthcare systems that deliver high-value patient care, improve population health, lower healthcare costs, and are a joy to work in.
I applied to full-spectrum Family Med programs all over the nation, and I simply couldn’t find anywhere with better training or better people. The clinical experience we get here, from medicine to OB to Peds to procedures, absolutely blew me away, but the people clinched it for me. A mentor told me to look for programs where you look at the attendings and think “I want to be like them, not just medically, but as people” because you will inevitably become like those who train you. When I looked at the faculty and upper level residents at Self, I thought “yep that’s here.”
Brittany Michelle Combs, M.D.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Lyman, SC
Undergrad: USC Upstate, Spartanburg SC
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean
Personal Note
Personal Note: I was born and raised in Upstate South Carolina. I attended University of South Carolina- Upstate in Spartanburg South Carolina, where I majored in biology and minored in psychology. I ventured to the beautiful island of Sint Marteen for medical school, where I attended American University of the Caribbean. Outside of medicine, I am a solar powered human! I find sanctuary in nature and enjoy spending my free time out in the wilderness. My favorite activities are fishing, hiking, and chasing waterfalls.
Growing up in rural South Carolina exposed me to the disparities in rural communities and sparked my interest in full spectrum Family Medicine. After my interview with Self Regional Healthcare, I was inspired by the palpable passion of the residents and the programs supportive family atmosphere. I felt this program offered an unmatched opportunity in full spectrum training and I couldn’t be more excited to be a part of the Self family!
Tyler Engle, D.O.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Barbourville KY
Undergrad: University of the Cumberlands
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University- DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Note
I grew up in Southeastern Kentucky in a small town called Barbourville. I majored in Biology at the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky, and went on to attend medical school at LMU-DCOM. During an elective rotation, I met my now-wife, Bailey, who recently started as a Physician Assistant at the Self Regional ENT office. In my free time, I enjoy playing golf, going to the gym, spending time with Bailey and our goldendoodle, Solo, and cheering on Boston sports teams.
Self-Regional first came onto my radar through a friend who recently graduated from the program and spoke highly of his experience. He is now a strong, well-rounded family physician. When we visited Greenwood for interviews, we were impressed by the town, the residents, and the faculty. Ultimately, Self Regional offered the rigorous, community-based training environment I was looking for.
Emma Harrison, M.D.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Staunton, Virginia
Undergrad: University of Virginia
Medical School: University of Virginia
Personal Note
I am so excited for the opportunity to train at Self Regional Family Medicine Residency! I am from Staunton, Virginia, a small town nestled in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. I completed both my undergraduate and medical school at UVA, just 30 minutes from my hometown. I can’t think of a better place to be or with a more supportive group of people than here in Greenwood! I chose this program because of the genuine kindness, deep commitment to serving their community, and the clear joy in their work that radiated from each person I met on my interview day. This program’s incredible people and exceptional full-spectrum family medicine training with an emphasis on rural healthcare made it clear that Self Regional was where I wanted to be for residency. I am especially interested in women’s health and obstetrics for the underserved and I am excited to continue learning and growing in those areas during residency training.
Outside of work, I love to spend time doing anything active and in the sunshine, whether that be running, hiking, walking, yoga, or trying to figure out how to keep both my flowers and my two sassy cats alive and well. I also enjoy a good meal out on the town, the occasional trashy reality tv show, and precious time with friends and family!
Kaitlyn Hull, M.D.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Newtown, CT
Undergrad: Clemson University
Med school: MUSC- AnMed campus
Personal Note
Growing up in CT, I never quite got used to the long, brutal winters – despite how pretty every fall was. My family often vacationed in North Myrtle Beach, and I knew early on that I wanted to end up somewhere in that area. When I toured Clemson University, I immediately fell in love with the campus and the energy of the student body. Although I wasn’t sure exactly what career I wanted to pursue at first, I’d always known I wanted a career in STEM. I majored in Genetics and Psychology at Clemson. By the end of my sophomore year, I realized I wanted to become a physician.
It didn’t take long for me to discover that primary care was the perfect fit. I love the variety, continuity, and community-focus of family medicine. During undergrad, I spent a summer interning at the Greenwood Genetic Center. When I learned about the fantastic full-scope family medicine residency program at Self Regional in Greenwood, it felt like everything had come full circle. From my first interaction with the residents and attendings, I could tell that this was a place where people truly support one another—both professionally and personally.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my dog (Bella!), reading, cooking, and anything crafty.
Spencer Gibbs, M.D.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Ranburne, AL
Undergrad: Auburn University
Medical School: UAB Heersink School of Medicine
Personal Note
I grew up in a small, close-knit town in Alabama. I went on to attend Auburn University for my undergraduate degree, where I majored in Poultry Science. It was at Auburn that I met my wife, Brooke, who is my better half in every way. After a brief time working in the agriculture industry, I headed to UAB School of Medicine in Birmingham, AL. I was fortunate enough to complete most of my clinical experiences in Huntsville, AL as part of the rural medicine program. It was a combination of my background and outstanding family medicine preceptors that made family medicine the clear choice. I enjoy being outdoors, fly fishing, reading, cooking and spending time with family.
When looking for programs, I was focused on finding an unopposed program that would prepare me for rural family medicine. A friend of mine recommended looking at Self. Self stood out during the interview season due to their ability to train extremely competent physicians for any career path in a welcoming, enjoyable environment. The sports medicine curriculum was another strong point. The program made my wife and I feel welcomed from the start. The support of the faculty, staff, and co-residents both professional and personally is one the many selling points of the program. We are blessed with the opportunity to call Greenwood and Self Regional home for the next three years.
Kelly Goforth, D.O.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Riverview, FL
Undergrad: Pensacola Christian College
Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine (LUCOM)
Personal Note
I was born in Columbia, SC, but spent most of my growing up years in Riverview, FL, just outside of Tampa, with my parents and four sisters. Medicine was never on my radar growing up, but somehow I ended up trading the Florida beaches for the Blue Ridge mountains, landing in Lynchburg, VA, for medical school. At my church in VA, I met and quickly fell in love with my husband, Malachi. Together, we enjoy serving together in our local church, hiking, volleyball, basketball, coffee dates, cooking, escape rooms and board games. Malachi currently serves as a chaplain at Self Regional, so now we get the privilege of randomly seeing each other throughout our busy days!
We are both thrilled to call Greenwood home. Choosing Self was an easy decision—the training is excellent, and the community welcomed us both from day one. One of my greatest desires in choosing a program was that both Malachi and I would be supported in life, not just medicine; and God gave us so much more than we could have ever asked for! Self is one of the few full-spectrum Family Medicine residencies that combines such demanding training with an incredible overall experience.
My long-term goal is to practice outpatient family medicine with a focus on caring for underserved populations, whether here in the U.S. or abroad.
In my free time, I enjoy music, playing guitar, long naps on the couch, and just about any recreational sport. And outside of family medicine, some of my greatest joys are my family, being called “Aunt Kelley,” and fruit roll-ups.
Jessica Lewis, M.D.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Columbus, GA
Undergrad: The University of Georgia
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine
Personal Note
I am originally from Columbus, Georgia, and studied Exercise and Sport Science at The University of Georgia. I spent a lot of my free time in Athens serving as a YoungLife leader and cheering on the dawgs. After graduation, I worked as a medical assistant in Atlanta, which confirmed my desire to become a family physician. I also met my husband during that time and eventually we returned home to Columbus for medical school.
We chose Self Regional for many reasons, but what stood out the most was the training. During interview season it was obvious to me that the residents here were confident, capable, and genuinely seemed to enjoy their time. It felt like the kind of environment where I could grow into the physician I have always hoped to be. Outside of medicine, I love being outdoors, whether that’s playing tennis or pickleball, walking my dog at the park, or just spending time with family and friends. Recently we have loved spending days off at Lake Greenwood!
Payton Phillips, M.D.
PGY1 Resident
Hometown: Winterville, GA
Undergrad: University of Georgia
Medical school: Mercer University School of Medicine
Personal Note
I grew up on a cattle and horse farm in a small rural area outside of Winterville, GA. I am an identical triplet. I am very passionate about my Christian faith and going to church. My hobbies include rescuing miniature ponies (I have 3 –Rocky, Penny, and Beulah Belle), spending time with my dog, Mollie, cooking, and baking. I love listening to music from different kinds of decades, genres, countries, and formats. I also love watching movies, especially 80s and 90s thrillers. I knew from the beginning that I was going to use my career as a physician to serve rural, underserved communities. From the second I interviewed here, I knew Self Regional would help me accomplish that goal! I also chose Self Regional because this program is full of good-hearted people with kind souls and selfless mindsets. They support one another while pushing you to become your best.
PGY2 Residents
Houston Earnest, M.D.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Cumming, GA
Undergrad: UGA
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia – Athens Campus
Personal Note
I grew up in Cumming, GA which is in the suburbs just north of Atlanta. I went to undergrad at UGA and immediately fell in love with Athens, GA. While in college, I majored in Biology and Psychology and spent most of my time outside of the classroom serving as a Young Life leader. For medical school, I went to the Medical College of Georgia, electing to stay in Athens at the AU/UGA Medical Partnership. While at UGA, I met and fell in love with my now wife, Anna. She is a school counselor and in her free time loves reading and planning our next big trip! We also just added a new puppy, Benny, to our family. In my free time I enjoy playing disc golf, running, and any recreational sport.
We chose Self Regional for a number of reasons. The full-spectrum, unopposed training is truly second to none. The graduates of this program are equipped to do anything in the wide realm of family medicine. Additionally, all the residents and faculty went above and beyond to make both me and Anna feel like family. I know that at Self I will become an incredibly competent physician, while also being encouraged to be a better man, husband, and neighbor. We are thrilled to join the incredible community in Greenwood!
Grace Flanagan, M.D.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Cecilia, KY
Undergrad: Furman University
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Personal Note
I grew up near Elizabethtown, KY before heading down to South Carolina for the first time to attend Furman University where I majored in Chemistry. I quickly fell in love with the area and knew it was a place I’d want to return to one day. I moved back to Kentucky at the beginning of the pandemic right before starting medical school. I’ve been living in Lexington for the past four years where I’ve enjoyed going to Keeneland horse racing, playing pickleball and golf, and visiting local restaurants and coffee shops.
When applying for residency, I was looking for a close community with a rigorous curriculum to learn broad-spectrum family medicine. Self Regional appeared on my radar after hearing multiple endorsements from friends who have rotated here during their medical school journeys. I quickly came to realize that this program had everything that I’m looking for and would be the perfect fit for me to continue my medical education.
William “Will” Kelly, M.D.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Concord, NC
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Columbia
Personal Note
I was born and raised in Concord, NC before heading to Clemson University for undergrad (Go Tigers). I always knew I wanted to become a doctor, and was fortunate to have multiple doctors in the family who all set a great example for me growing up. At Clemson I met my future wife Virginia, the woman who is my better half in every way. During medical school at USC in Columbia, I found an amazing Christian community and built friendships for life. I am highly interested in the role of nutrition and exercise in healthcare. I love being outdoors and playing sports.
Self stood out for us during the interview season, with the level of detail being above and beyond at every turn. Physicians in the community all across the state talked about how great the training was, and how prepared graduates of the program were for all kinds of practice. The people at Self were so genuine at every step, making us feel as home from the start. We feel blessed to join this amazing team.
Galatians 6:14
Kirsten Pesayanavin, M.D.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Walkertown, NC
Undergrad: North Greenville University
Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine – Greenville
Personal Note
I was born and raised in Walkertown, NC, just outside of Winston-Salem. Early on, I knew I wanted to pursue a career in medicine. This pursuit took me to North Greenville University, and I decided to stay in South Carolina for medical school in Greenville. Outside of medicine, I enjoy reading, hiking, playing soccer and volleyball, practicing Brazilian jiu jitsu, and hanging out with my cat, Twitter. I also enjoy teaching women’s self defense and jiu jitsu classes.
Growing up, I always had an interest in Global health and medical missions. Then, during a volunteer trip to West Virginia, I developed a passion for rural health and community medicine. Throughout various volunteer trips, I learned the value, especially as a family physician, of working alongside individuals to create sustainable healthy lifestyle choices. When choosing a residency program, I desired a rigorous program that also emphasized rural and global health. Additionally, I was interested in a program with a robust sports medicine program as I participated in several sports growing up and would assist my dad, an athletic trainer, on the sidelines.
During my family medicine rotation at Self Regional, I felt that this residency program embodied everything I could ask for in a program and more. I thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone at Self Regional, and I am excited to be a part of the Self Regional Family!
Clayton “Clay” Ream, D.O.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Wentzville, MO
Undergrad: North Dakota State University
Medical School: Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas
Personal Note
I grew up in Wentzville, MO, just outside of St. Louis, with my parents and two older brothers. My wrestling career took me to North Dakota State University where I received my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. While in North Dakota, I married my high school sweetheart, Meghan. Meghan had career opportunities in Asheville, NC, and we moved to the southeast. From there I went to medical school in Spartanburg, SC. Outside of medicine, I like to disc golf, go to the beach, and play video games and board games.
The reason I decided to go into Family Medicine was the connections you get to make with the community. I am excited to be part of the Self Regional residency program. I had the opportunity to spend a month during my 3rd year at the program, and I was blown away by the ability of all the residents, and the community the program had. The program also has an amazing sports medicine curriculum with fellowship exposure. Looking forward to being a part of the Self Regional team and learning a lot!
Lindsey Richardson, D.O.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Little Mountain, South Carolina
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical School: VCOM – Carolinas
Personal Note
I was born and raised in South Carolina with my parents and younger sister. I attended college at Clemson University where I received my B.S. in Biological Sciences with a minor in Psychology. After graduation, I took a gap year working as a TA at Clemson before attending medical school at VCOM – Carolinas in Spartanburg, SC. It was here that I met my fiancé and best friend, Ash Singh, who I couples matched into this program with.
During my third year of medical school, I spent my family medicine rotation working in a rural, full spectrum clinic located about 15 minutes from the house I grew up in. This experience solidified my desire to practice full spectrum medicine. Self Regional’s reputation of providing unopposed, comprehensive training is what initially led me to apply for an acting internship during my 4th year. Throughout the month, I learned that the residents were not only extremely competent physicians, but welcoming and down-to-earth individuals as well.
In my free time you can find me spending time with my family/friends, sitting in a rocking chair with my cat (George), reading a book on my e-reader, or watching a true crime documentary on Netflix.
Katie Sahlstrom, D.O.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Tulsa, OK
Undergrad: University of Oklahoma
Medical School: Oklahoma State University COM at Cherokee Nation
Personal Note
I was born in Chengdu, China and grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Growing up, I knew that I wanted to be a physician and pursue a medical degree. I am currently interested in working with a geriatric population and helping people age well. I would also love to offer palliative services in my future practice. When thinking about future specialties and residencies, I knew that a full scope, unopposed family medicine program would provide the foundation I need to become the best physician I could and accomplish my goals.
When I did a rotation at Self Regional during my fourth year, the training I saw their residents undergo and the amazing community the faculty and residents had with each other made me feel that this program would be a perfect fit for me. I look forward to seeing what all the Lord has for me at Self Regional and cannot wait to grow more as a budding physician.
Kaitlyn Shillinglaw, D.O.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Darlington, SC
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical School: VCOM – Carolinas Campus
Personal Note
I was born and raised in Darlington, South Carolina, and grew to love the small-town life. I went to college at Clemson University (another small town, but probably more familiar to some) where I graduated with my B.S. in Microbiology. I’ve always known I wanted to pursue a career in the medical field, but it wasn’t until I took a clinical application course at Clemson that I knew I wanted to become a physician. I then attended medical school at Edward via College of Osteopathic Medicine at the Carolinas Campus in Spartanburg, SC where I met some of the most amazing people, 3 of whom matched here as well and I now get to call co-residents!
In my fourth year of medical school, I actually had the opportunity to complete a rotation at Self Regional. This is when I fell in love with the program and all the people who made it so wonderful. Self Regional’s commitment to a comprehensive education in broad-scope family medicine stood out to me from my very first day, and I knew I wanted to be a part of this program.
Outside of school; I am a lover of all things small-town South Carolina, I love spending time with my friends and family (especially my dog, named Sushi), going to the beach, reading, and traveling. I do consider myself quite the foodie and love traveling to new places and trying different food!
Ashmeet “Ash” Singh, D.O.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Undergrad: Rhodes College
Medical School: VCOM-Carolinas
Personal Note
Hey everyone, I’m Ash! Although I claim Memphis as my hometown, I’ve moved around every four years of my life, living in places like New York City, Little Rock, and Jackson. I went to Rhodes College for undergrad where I graduated with a BS in biology with a minor in Spanish. Most recently, I was in Spartanburg, SC for medical school where I had the incredible luck of meeting Lindsey – my fiancée, co-resident, and much smarter half.
Choosing Greenwood for residency was a no-brainer for us, especially since the Self family embraced us as one of their own during our rotations there. In my free time, you’ll ll often find me playing video games, tinkering on the guitar or
piano and, of course, hiking.
Hal “Hil” Tanner, M.D.
PGY2 Resident
Hometown: Goldsboro, NC
Undergrad: Wake Forest University
Grad School: UNC-Greensboro
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Personal Note
I grew up in Goldsboro, NC with my parents and three sisters. I graduated from Wake Forest University, where I was lucky enough to meet my amazing wife Corey. I spent several years working as an EMT for Forsyth County, NC before heading off to medical school at St. George’s University. My wife gave birth to our son, Henry, during my third year of medical school while completing my clinical rotations in Toledo, OH. I love spending time with my wife, son, and family, as well as pretty much anything to do with hunting, fishing, and sports.
We didn’t know much about Self Regional or Greenwood when I applied, but after my interview we had no doubt that it was the perfect fit for our family. I knew that this program would challenge me and provide comprehensive training that would prepare me for any career path, but I also came to appreciate that the faculty, residents, and staff have a genuine interest in the residents and their families that goes beyond medicine. We are thankful to be a part of such a special place.
PGY3 Residents
Matthew Adams, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Personal Note
I was born in Lawrenceville, GA and grew up on the banks of the Chattahoochee River in Columbus, GA. I attended undergraduate at Georgia Tech where I obtained a Bachelors of Science in Biomedical Engineering with a minor in chemistry. I then moved to Athens, GA to attend the AU/UGA Medical Partnership campus of the Medical College of Georgia. During medical school, I met my wonderful wife, Victoria. She is Canadian and works as a social worker! She is an avid reader and enjoys going hiking and spending time outside. We got married and two weeks later added our sweet pug, Angus, to the family! In my spare time, I enjoy doing woodworking, playing board or video games, reading about theology, and spending time at church.
The family medicine program at Self Regional stood out to us and was our #1 pick for residency for several reasons. The training is unparalleled. They provide robust, full spectrum care in a rural setting with an OB track, which is exactly what we were looking for in a residency program. I know that I will be well prepared to practice family medicine in the manner of my choosing when I graduate. Beyond this, the sense of community surrounding the program was unmatched. The residents are truly close and even their significant others have a strong sense of community, which was a big desire of ours when looking at programs. We are truly blessed to be spending the next 3 years at Self!
Ephesians 2:1-10
Danielle “Dani” Fuller-Sincock, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Personal Note
I grew up in Big Flats, NY with my parents and older brother. After graduating from Horseheads High School, I attended Binghamton University in Binghamton, NY where I graduated with a major in Cell and Molecular Biological Sciences and a minor in Health and Wellness Studies. I went straight into medical school at Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. In medical school, I participated in the Rural Medical Scholars Program, where I was able to learn more about rural medicine and participate in many interesting lectures, discussions, and poster presentations. Outside of medicine, I have a range of hobbies including playing with my dogs, reading, baking, running, soccer, lacrosse, biking and pretty much anything that gets me outdoors with friends.
In family medicine, I am interested in rural medicine, pediatrics, and sports medicine. After medical school, I was excited to move away from NY and find a residency to help me reach all of my professional goals. I chose Self Regional because the people I met were amazing, the residency is so supportive to its residents, and it would give me the opportunity to learn full-scope family medicine with an excellent sports medicine curriculum. Greenwood is a lot like my hometown, and I loved that I found someplace that felt like home from my first visit.
Gavin Grieb, D.O.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Undergrad: University of Miami
Grad School: University of Miami
Medical School: Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Note
I’m a born and raised Houstonian, but a desire to explore new states brought me to the University of Miami for my undergraduate and graduate studies in biomedical engineering. For medical school I attended the Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine in Fort Worth, Texas. In medical school, my involvement with the Rural Osteopathic Medical Education (ROME) scholars program cemented my desire to pursue full-spectrum rural family medicine. Within medicine, some of my areas of interest include obstetrics, population health related to nutrition and gardening, and Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT). Outside of medicine my passions include intensive cottage-style gardening, hiking national parks, thrifting and reselling furniture/antiques, working on DIY house projects with my wife, and spending time with our daughter and puppy dog.
My family and I praise God for the opportunity to call Self Regional our home for the next three years. Not only does the residency program provide a robust and comprehensive training program that will allow me to practice full-scope medicine in any setting, but it provides support for me and my family that made us feel part of a larger family on day 1.
Courtney Lee, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Kenai, Alaska
Undergrad: Linfield University
Medical school: University of Washington School of Medicine
Personal Note
I was born and raised in a small fishing town in Alaska. I fell in love with the idea of practicing full spectrum, rural family medicine as I grew up watching and learning from the incredible doctors in my community. My dream is to return to rural Alaska after residency and provide full spectrum care to my community where access to specialists is very limited. I am also very passionate about women’s healthcare and hope to incorporate advocacy & education for women into my practice.
Living in Alaska my whole life, I’ve developed a love for the outdoors year round. I enjoy hiking, skiing, biking, and camping with my husband Mac and our dogs (Boswell & Tutka).
I can’t wait to move to South Carolina and continue my medical education at Self Regional!
Michael Piotrowski, II, D.O.
PGY3 Resident
Chief Resident
Hometown: Greer, South Carolina
Undergrad: North Greenville University (Tigerville, South Carolina) – BS Biology
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine—Carolinas Campus
Personal Note
South Carolina has been home from the very beginning. I grew up in a small, rural community north of Greer called “Blue Ridge.” I grew up playing and loving sports of all kinds from Tae Kwon Do and soccer to football and golf. I also graduated from North Greenville University with an amazing girlfriend, and now wife, Mattie. Mattie and I love taking the Jeep to explore the mountains, small towns, and other local attractions. We also enjoy spending time with family and friends, trying new coffee shops, watching sports (Clemson football and Formula 1 racing), going to the lake, and traveling.
I was fortunate enough to visit Self twice, once during my 3rd year as an elective and again as an official audition rotation during my 4th year. I knew immediately after my first rotation that Self was home, making the decision to choose the program for the next 3 years an exciting one. Self was a program that stood out for a multitude of reasons. A commitment to caring for the community of Greenwood and the Lakelands, its academic prowess, and the truly genuine and wonderful people drew me to the program. Being interested in sports medicine, I also feel this program has an amazing sports medicine curriculum with fellowship exposure during residency. They also have the opportunity to do medical missions, which is something I plan to do part time in the future. You truly feel welcome and supported by everyone around, while also being trained to be a competent and skilled physician to best care for your patients. Here broad-scope, procedurally adept, and clinically sound physicians leave fully prepared to serve those in any setting, in any community. We are so fortunate to be spending the next chapter of life here at Self Regional!
Hebrews 12:1-2
Luke Saunders, D.O.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: South Jordan, UT
Undergrad: Brigham Young University
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus
Personal Note
I’m a Utah native and did my undergrad at Brigham Young University, studying Neuroscience and Spanish Studies. Halfway through college, I took a couple of years off to do some mission work in Peru, where I learned Spanish, did some service and generally just had a blast. College was great, but the best part by far was meeting a gorgeous girl from Georgia and agreeing to a crazy plan to move to the South for medical school. We landed in Spartanburg, South Carolina where, in a beautiful moment of insanity, we had three kids in four years. My boys are absolutely fun, and we’re loving our adventure here.
I spend most of my free time these days wrestling with my kids, but I love the great outdoors and on a perfect weekend you’ll find me as far away from civilization as possible with a pack on my back and a crazy grin on my face.
I love family medicine because of the breadth of the specialty. There’s no other field of medicine that would let me deliver babies, work in an outpatient clinic, take care of people in the hospital, and maybe even pick up the occasional ER shift—I guess I just love the idea of being an old-fashioned country doctor who can really do it all. I chose Self because I was confident that it would give me the best full-spectrum family medicine training available. Looking forward to the next few years of training here!
William “Hood” Souter, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Montezuma, GA
Undergrad: Georgia Southern University
Medical school: Medical College of Georgia
Personal Note
I grew up in the small town of Montezuma, Georgia where I enjoyed hunting, fishing on the Flint River, and working outdoors. During my time at Georgia Southern I met my beautiful wife Caroline. We now have a son and two dogs.
Self Regional and the city of Greenwood felt like a perfect fit for myself and my family. The residents seemed tight-knit and happy to host medical students. The program has a great reputation and was highly recommended to me by many people.
Samuel “Sam” Taylor, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Colyell, Louisiana
Undergrad: Southeastern Louisiana University
Med School: LSU Health—Shreveport
Personal Note
I grew up in Colyell, Louisiana, a small rural community in southeast Louisiana. I majored in Biology in undergrad at SELU before moving to North Louisiana for medical school. Medical school was busy, but I found that there was still time for the things that were a priority. For me that was maintaining relationships with friends and family, being active in my local church, and finding time to do some of the things I enjoy. Frequent hobbies of mine are weight lifting, cooking, reading, hiking, and hunting.
Through some friends, I heard about Self’s residency program in time to schedule an away rotation during my 4th year. I was looking for solid, unopposed training that would prepare me for whatever direction I choose to go with my future practice. I finished that away rotation confident that Self would provide not only the kind of superb training that I was looking for, but that I would also be welcomed here by supportive co-residents and great faculty that care about your life both inside and outside of the hospital.
Kendall Wilson, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Chief Resident
Hometown: Cordele, GA
Undergrad: Georgia Southern University
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Personal Note
I was born and raised in small, rural Cordele, GA where everyone knows everybody. I loved growing up in a small town where everyone feels like family. I have always enjoyed being outside, whether that means being on the lake, at the beach, in the mountains, or in the garden.
During medical school I found myself conflicted with which specialty to choose because I found everything interesting! That’s what makes family medicine is the most attractive specialty for me because I will be able to help my patients in all aspects of their health. I am especially passionate about going back to a rural, medically underserved area to practice.
When I was on the interview trail I applied to most unopposed residencies in the southeastern region of the US. I did not know what to expect when interviewing at Self, but after leaving my interview I had this gut feeling that Self was where I belonged! The residents and faculty were so welcoming and fun to be around. I loved how the whole program seemed like a family. I look forward to spending the next 3 years in Greenwood and learning from the best of the best!
