PGY1 Residents
Houston Earnest, M.D.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY1 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.
PGY2 Residents
Matthew Adams, M.D.
PGY2 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.
PGY2 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.
PGY2 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.
PGY2 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.
PGY2 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.
PGY2 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.
PGY2 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.
PGY2 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.
PGY2 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!
PGY3 Residents
Zachary “Zach” Grey, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Fort Mill, SC
Undergrad: North Greenville University
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina
Personal Note
I grew up in Fort Mill, SC and am proud to call myself a South Carolina native. After college, I took a small detour from the traditional path to medicine and did lab research for a few years before coming to my senses. Through research, I found that I really craved having a broad set of skills to address the needs of others. That made Family Medicine an obvious choice for me and I couldn’t have been happier to have matched at Self Regional (particularly since I’m married to one of the chiefs!).
I have pretty diverse hobby interests, which again is part of the appeal of Family Medicine! In my free time, I love being outside, fly fishing, hiking, biking, and traveling, all with my wife. But we also love the inside and enjoy a good Netflix binge sesh. My wife and I have come to absolutely love Greenwood, SC and are so thankful to call the people who are a part this residency family and the program home!
Boyd Guttery, M.D.
Chief Resident – PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Alpharetta, GA
Undergrad: University of Georgia
Medical School: Medical College of Georgia
Personal Note
I was born in Alpharetta, GA, and raised there and in Saint Augustine, FL. I went to UGA [Go Dawgs!] for undergrad and then Augusta University for my MSN/RN [Go Jags!]. I ran cross country/track and field while at AU and met the love of my life Liv. I worked as a nurse and decided to apply back to medical school. Fortunately, Liv was crazy enough to support the dream and even agreed to marry me despite it. We married during M1 and had our first baby boy Nathaniel during M4.
I was fortunate to do an away rotation at Self during M4 right before interview season began. I was blown away at how friendly and caring everyone is towards each other and to their patients. My time in medical school was great, but I had yet to experience a place where people do extremely strong medicine in a relaxed and welcoming learning environment. Furthermore, I had not seen a program equally focused on supporting each other and their families outside of the hospital. Clint Pride, the SM fellow at the time, said something that really stuck with me as I entered interview season. He told me that there are very few full spectrum FM residencies that work as hard as Self does while making the experience incredible. This and the feeling he had during his interview with Self were things he could never shake during the rest of the interview season. Sure enough, his words stuck with me, and I couldn’t shake those feelings. We are so excited to live and raise Nathaniel in Greenwood while I get to experience some of the best training in the field of family medicine. God has blessed me beyond measure in giving me my support system in Liv and my family/friends. He has also been beyond good taking care of us thus far and I look forward to serving Him with all that I have while at Self and beyond. Matthew 25:40 / 1 Corinthians 10:31.
Ronni Hughes, M.D.
Chief Resident – PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Monroe, LA
Undergrad: Louisiana Tech University
Medical School: LSU Health- Shreveport
Personal Note
I was raised in north Louisiana and attended college at Louisiana Tech University. There I met my husband, Jonathan, and we got married after my first year of medical school. We have two sweet dogs and enjoy spending time outdoors. We also enjoy coffee dates, hanging out with friends, being involved in our church, traveling, and watching sports.
I’ve known I wanted to do family medicine since my first year of medical school.
I love the full-scope aspect of it and how it gives you the ability to serve your community in such an impactful way. Self stood out as a program that could help mold and train me to become the physician I’ve always wanted to be. I wanted a program that provided robust, full-scope training in a close community and that’s exactly what Self does. In the future, I hope to practice full-scope family medicine in a rural or underserved area.
My husband and I both fell in love with the program and Greenwood during the interview process. The residents and faculty were great every step of the way and made us feel apart of the family. We are both looking forward to our time here in Greenwood!
Landon Lingenfelter, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Pollock, Louisiana
Undergrad: Louisiana College
Medical School: LSU Health – Shreveport
Personal Note
I was born and raised in central Louisiana, where I also attended Louisiana College for undergrad. There I met my wonderful wife, Anna, and we got married after my first semester of medical school. We enjoy spending time together with friends, drinking good coffee, and being involved at our local church.
Choosing Self was an easy decision for us after witnessing the quality of people and the caliber of training that were present here. We were looking for a program that would provide robust, full-spectrum training and we found that at Self. Anna and I intend to go overseas to do mission work after residency and I know the training I will receive at Self will equip me to serve the underserved in any context. We couldn’t be more excited to spend three years in Greenwood!
Hannah Lorenzen, D.O.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Undergrad: Auburn University
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus
Personal Note
I was born and raised in Greenville, SC. I grew up a big sports and outdoors girl (as I still am today!), and spent my summers in the mountains of South and North Carolina and on Lake Keowee. I ventured down to Auburn, Alabama for my undergraduate years where I majored in Biomedical Sciences with a minor in Psychology. While at Auburn University, this is where I first learned about osteopathic medicine and VCOM. During college, I spent my summers working as a medical aid at summer camp in Colorado, traveling, hiking, on the lake or taking classes. Following college, I worked in Greenville, SC for a year as a scribe for an internal medicine office. I familiarized myself with electronic medical records, general medical and pharmacologic terminology, and witnessed first-hand the challenges and joys of outpatient continuity care! I attended VCOM in Spartanburg, SC where I was afforded great opportunities to get involved with local as well as international communities! Following my second year of school I attended a mission trip to Honduras where our group tended to a broad scope of patient diagnoses and I loved my time spent with the different communities. I invested the rest of my free time to work with the local free clinics and community organizations in Spartanburg, and found my passion and path for medicine was in Family Medicine!
I had the privilege to do an audition rotation with Self Regional during my fourth year of medical school. I was able to see firsthand how all the residents worked so well together, provided helpful feedback during rounds, supported each other with the work load, and that the faculty and staff were eager and available to answer questions. The family medicine residents are also the only residents in the Self Regional Hospital system which provides ample opportunity to tend to a wide variety of cases and procedures. When it came time to choose a residency, I interviewed all over the country, but ultimately chose Self Regional for the commitment and compassion with which the residency program serves Greenwood and the surrounding counties. The program is invested in making sure you as a resident are supported throughout the three years and leave prepared to work in any community and environment. You truly are able to learn and practice broad-scope family practice, all while working with a supportive, genuine group of residents, faculty and staff!
Jacob “J. D.” Morgan, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Louisville, KY
Undergrad: Centre College (Danville, KY)
Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Personal Note
My wife, Emma, and I came to Self from Lexington, Ky. We chose Self because of the remarkable and rigorous training I’ll receive, as indicated by the programs’s impressive ABFM exam pass rate and board scores. Emma and I were both also blown away by the family-like feel we got during our visits to Greenwood and how well spouses and families were incorporated into the program.
My loose future plans for medicine are to practice outpatient primary care in a rural setting, providing care to an underserved patient population.
In my free time, I enjoy working out and doing outdoor activities with my wife, playing any sport available, feeding my addiction of watching organized sports, and gathering together with friends to enjoy Jackbox party games (or any other game for that matter.) Emma and I have greatly appreciated our local church in Lexington and look forward to the opportunity of plugging into a fantastic community in Greenwood.
Austin Nichols, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Martinsburg, WV
Undergrad: West Virginia University
Medical school: Marshall University Joan C Edwards School of Medicine
Personal Note
Personal Note: I was born and raised in Martinsburg, WV. I attended West Virginia University where I studied Exercise Physiology with an emphasis in aquatic therapy. From there I went to Marshall University in Huntington, WV for medical school. I was fortunate enough to marry my high school sweetheart during my first year of medical school, without her support during the long nights of studying for exams and the panic that set in right before a grade was released I wouldn’t be here today. We have two dogs Hunter and Harlie who we rescued from the local animal shelter. In my spare time I like to be outdoors hiking with the dogs, kayaking, or snow skiing. I also have a love for classic cars and enjoy taking my 1966 Ford Mustang for a drive on a sunny day.
Growing up in a small town in WV and then attending medical school in a small rural town I have seen first hand the importance of family medicine in a community. Throughout medical school I became very involved in rural and underserved medicine which is one of the major reasons I was drawn to Self to complete my residency. I couldn’t be happier to be here in Greenwood all the way from WV and I am very excited to have the opportunity to continue my training with everyone here at Self.
Benjamin Smith, D.O.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Denver, Colorado
Undergrad: Oral Roberts University
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Personal Note
I am originally from Denver, Colorado, home to the Rocky Mountains. I moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma to attend college at Oral Roberts University, where I earned a biology degree while also playing on the soccer team. I attended medical school at Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, where I also picked up surfing. Some of my favorite hobbies include spending time with friends and family, hiking, camping, skiing, snorkeling, disc golf, and board games. I am also very passionate about medical missions, as I have been on 6 different mission trips with my church as well as both my undergraduate and graduate schools.
When it came to choosing the right residency program, I wanted somewhere that had great broad-spectrum training, a good culture, and focused on sports, international, and underserved medicine. I knew that once I visited Self Regional, it was the place for me. The proximity to the mountains and the beach was definitely a bonus! After finishing residency, I hope to do international medicine with a church or organization, with some emphasis on sports medicine.
Bradley Tatko, D.O.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Greenwood, SC
Undergrad: Clemson University
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Carolinas Campus
Personal Note
I grew up right here in Greenwood South Carolina and am happy to have the opportunity to complete my medical training back here. I originally left Greenwood to attend Clemson University for my undergraduate studies where I received a B.S in biological sciences with a minor in Chemistry. After I graduated from Clemson I moved to Blacksburg Virginia where I spent a year at Virginia Tech for graduate studies in biomedical sciences. After my year in Blacksburg, I returned to South Carolina where I attended VCOM in the Spartanburg/Greenville area. During my time at VCOM I met my fiancé Hannah Lorenzen who is also joining me as a new resident here at Self Regional.
I am an avid football fan and was a part of the Clemson football team during my time there 2013-2016 and was a senior on the 2016 National Championship team. Since graduating undergrad I still love watching college football as well as the NFL. Since finishing my football career I have turned my attention to playing golf and tennis. Both of which I love and welcome any opportunity I have to get outdoors.
I am overjoyed to be joining the faculty at Self Regional and learning how to practice as a full spectrum family medicine physician. Choosing Self and returning home to Greenwood was an easy decision and one that I know will benefit me moving forward. My long term goal is to pursue a fellowship in sports medicine following completion of my residency and then just seeing what opportunities are available to me after that.
Dalton Tidwell, M.D.
PGY3 Resident
Hometown: Sherman, TX
Undergrad: Texas Tech University
Medical School: Tech Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
Personal Note
I was born and raised in Sherman, Texas. I attended Texas Tech University to study animal science and enjoyed the dusty South Plains so much that I stayed for medical school. I enjoy spending my free time outdoors. It does not matter to me if outdoors means hiking, hunting, or sitting on the back porch smoking a brisket. I especially enjoy the back porch option if any sort of sporting event is on.
I chose to leave the great state of Texas to come to Self for many reasons. I am confident that the training here is top notch and will prepare me to be an excellent physician. I want to practice in a rural community and I know that I will leave Self fully prepared to do so. The major deciding factor for me to choose Self was the people here. I could tell during interviews that there was a great group of residents and faculty here and they were the type of people that I wanted to spend the next few years with.
