Current Housestaff Overview

We are proud to have a diverse group of housestaff from a wide range of medical schools represented in our residency class. Our residents are our greatest asset and the key to our success.

Resident Spotlight - Summer 2008

Jen Stichman- University of Washington School of Medicine. I'm a west coast girl, born and raised. Portland area to Berkeley to Seattle, with a brief unfortunate year in Eastern Washington, I thought I would spend the rest of my life - and at least complete residency - out west. But then I came to Colorado - and it was sunny in November. I returned in February to make sure this was not a fluke - not only was it sunny, but people were climbing in Boulder Canyon. In February. At that point, I was sold on this great rectangular state. Besides the climbing (even though it's really about the climbing), I snowboard, hike when it's possible, read novels, and check out the museums around town. I'm single, without pets or kids, and coming to Colorado is my current small adventure. I'm renting an awesome apartment, with a view of the mountains, for less than my freeway-view apartment back in Seattle. I am in the primary care track, which is the highlight of this program, and the primary reason I considered this residency. Having completed 2 months of intern year, I cannot imagine a more wonderful group of colleagues. Following residency, my current plan is to do a geriatrics fellowship, likely in Colorado, and work at a large VA (my favorite medical setting).

Leighton Satterfield grew up amidst the natural beauty of western Arkansas and after graduating from medical school in Little Rock I decided it was time to pack my bags, trace the Arkansas River back to its source in the Rockies and "swim" upstream to Colorado for a change of scenery. The Denver area is a great place to continue my hobbies, some of which include distance running, cycling, hiking, indie movies, live music, and listening to "Car Talk" on NPR. I am also currently unmarried and enjoy going out with friends to sample the restaurants & other venues the city has to offer. I've recently discovered an interest in public health/health policy and after residency I plan to pursue fellowship training in a specialty that will allow me to incorporate that interest.

Jess Campbell- was born in Austin Texas. I majored in Biology and got a master's degree in Education at Stanford University and then stayed in the bay area for medical school at UCSF. After graduating I worked at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical medicine. I am the proud mother of Austin, 3, and Chloe, 6 months. We've found Denver to be a great place to raise a family and UCD to be a very supportive environment for residents with children. We moved to Colorado because we love being outdoors and we could afford to buy a house. Our family spends as much time as possible in the mountains, hiking mountain biking and snowboarding. In my spare time I practice yoga, take pictures and oil paint.

Blair Fennimore- I'm a proud southerner from the great state of North Carolina.  Born and raised in Charlotte, I went to undergrad at UNC Chapel Hill before heading down the road to the fellow ACC school of Wake Forest for medical school (make no mistake - I'm a Tar Heel).  Growing up and going to school in North Carolina, I thought I would venture out into the world for residency - Colorado's where I landed.  I enjoy snowboarding, biking, running, and hiking, and I don't miss the "ice bumps" I learned to board on back home at all.  I'm currently in my third year of residency and have thoroughly enjoyed living and working in Denver.  Next year I will stay here to begin a fellowship in gastroenterology.

Laura Donigan is originally a native of Nebraska, and therefore required to be a Cornhuskers fan!  She attended medical school at University of Nebraska Medical Center, but did live in New York City studying acting and dance prior to deciding to attend medical school.  She continues to keep up her artistic interests by attending theater, and art openings here in Denver.  She is married to an artist who hopes to pursue an advanced degree in Art Therapy at Naropa in Boulder.  She and her husband have 2 furry children, their dogs - Finnegan and Keelin, who were resuced from animal shelters.  They love to spend time in Estes Park, hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park and Roosevelt Forest, as well as horsebackriding and just enjoying the mountains.  Both Daemon and Laura have fallen in love with Colorado and the mountains and plan to make this their home.  Laura is hoping to spend time in a rural setting as a primary care physician after residency through the Colorado Health Foundation's Loan Repayment program.

Sasan Mirfakhraee- I learned at a young age that I couldn't make a career out of waterskiing. My early years were spent in the bayou state, where I passed much of the time boating in the many rivers and lakes. Never having conquered my fear of the alligator, I left to get a degree in economics from Emory University. Then, I returned to Louisiana for medical school. In choosing a residency, the program's emphasis on its residents' education and future, plus the amicability between the housestaff, are what ultimately drew me to Colorado. There are plenty of occasions to hang out with the other residents at the sporting events, parks, bars, and ethnic eateries around town. Having had the opportunity to travel multiple times to Central and South America, I really enjoy the Hispanic culture that is such a pervasive part of this city. My Spanish is better than ever! Though I'm not a fan of hiking or climbing, I do enjoy skateboarding and spending time at the driving range. Also, I have a strange fondness for the zoo and botanical gardens in town. As a third year resident, I have some free time on my hands and recently started an aquarium in my apartment, though I can't seem to get any of my aquatic plants to grow. I'm also learning to play the guitar and have almost mastered my first song, "Boogie in G." If I don't make it as a jazz guitarist, I aspire to a fellowship in endocrine after completing residency.

Danielle Loeb-I am a third year Primary Care resident and graduate of SUNY Downstate Medical School. My first passion in life was politics and I majored in Government at Cornell University. After college, I became an activist in Philadelphia working on issues of homelessness and GLBT rights. I also taught literacy to developmentally delayed adults and GED classes in Philadelphia. Then, after starting a career as an Iyengar Yoga Instructor and being exposed to therapeutic yoga, I became interested in medicine. As a primary care resident at UC Denver, I have been able to integrate my interests in government/policy and in medicine/healing into my research. I have worked with members of the General Internal Medicine faculty on research projects focused on insurance issues and on resident education. I received a grant from the Department of General Internal Medicine to conduct a teaching intervention and chart review on Resident Sexual History-Taking. I plan to pursue a career in General Internal Medicine research and primary care. In my first western adventure I enjoy hiking, running, biking, and doing just about everything possible in the mountains with my partner, Toni, and two dogs, Emma and Mischa (the dogs haven't learned to bike yet).

Mike Mohning grew up in the booming metropolis of Salix, Iowa (pop. 389).  Since that time his addresses have grown in population and elevation.  After receiving his degree in economics from the University of Iowa (go Hawkeyes!), he went on to attend medical school at the University of Minnesota, where he was able to hone his ice-scraping skills.  Then, despite only skiing a couple times in his life, he made the move out to Colorado.  As an intern this year, he has taken in a lot of things Colorado has to offer; he enjoys hiking, golfing (poorly), and getting together with his new colleagues for drinks, barbecues, or baseball games.  He has found the University of Colorado to be a great fit, and has been impressed with all the people in the program.  He has enjoyed his time on the medicine wards so far, and someday hopes to finally pick a career path.

Swati Patel was born and raised in Littleton, Colorado.  I went to upstate New York for both college and medical school as a part of the Leadership in Medicine program through Union College and Albany Medical College.  I studied French as an undergraduate, received a Master’s in Health Systems Administration and graduated AOA from Albany Medical College.  I held leadership positions in the student organizations Physicians for Human Rights and the American Medical Students Association, with a focus on global health.  I am a second year categorical track resident.  I would like to pursue a career in academic medicine and am applying for Gastroenterology fellowship.  My extracurricular interests include Sub-Saharan African culture and politics, having spent extended periods of time in Cameroon both as an undergraduate and as a medical student.  I enjoy Indian literature, music and films.  I love being back in my home state and spending my free time with family hiking, camping and snowboarding.

Jason McCarl I’m a Denver native who is now a third year resident in the Internal Medicine residency program.  I actually began my residency in Psychiatry, but after a year in Psychiatry, I decided, for many reasons, that it wasn’t for me.  I eventually concluded that medicine was a better fit.  At 31 years of age, I have many friends who are now married and starting families - and alas, I am still a bachelor.  Without kids or a family, it gives me plenty of time for hobbies such as playing guitar, reading, spending time with friends and family (they all live here), mountain biking, camping, hiking and snowboarding.  It’s also nice to catch up with the other residents at the occasional “happy-hour” somewhere to share - or vent - the trials and tribulations of residency.  Colorado is a beautiful place with beautiful weather and a nice pace of life.  I suppose that is why I have stuck around for so long.

Rev 9/4/08