Hello! My name is Garrett Bastin and I was born and raised right here in Fort Wayne. I grew up on the southwest side of town and graduated from Homestead High School in 2011, where I played basketball for four years. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from Indiana University in Bloomington in 2015, while also minoring in Chemistry, Biology, and Spanish. I achieved my Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2021, where I developed my passion for Family Medicine and all it encompasses. It has been my dream to come back to Fort Wayne and serve my friends and neighbors as a family medicine physician, and I hope to do so by building relationships with my patients, promote overall health and wellbeing, and provide helpful resources tailored to each of my patients’ needs.

The Fort Wayne Medical Education Program was my top choice for residency training; not only because of its excellent reputation as a strong Family Medicine residency program, but because it offers all the aspects of training I was looking for. It provides a challenging environment that will allow me to become the best physician I can be, and for its wonderful and welcoming staff. I was fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the residents for a month as a medical student, and that experience even further solidified this program as my top choice.

Joining me in my move back to Fort Wayne is my wife Morgan (who is an IPFW alum), and our new son, Kenton, who was born in February 2021. Morgan has earned her Master’s degree in School Counseling from IUPUI, and worked as a school counselor for 5 years while we lived in Indianapolis. She is excited to continue her work and help students here in Fort Wayne. I was fortunate enough to have plenty of time at home with our new son during the tail end of my medical school years, and I cannot wait to continue watching him grow up!

Outside of medicine, I enjoy being active in any way that I can, whether it be running, weightlifting, or playing basketball. My family and I also enjoy being up at the lake house in the summer, playing board games, finding new Netflix shows to watch, and spending time with our families (both of our families live in Fort Wayne or a surrounding area). I also look forward to learning home improvement projects with my wife in our new home that we purchased. I am proud to be back in my hometown and serve the great people of Fort Wayne.

Hello! My name is Sam Brinson. I was born in Georgetown, Ohio, though I've spent the great majority of my life near the small Southern Indiana town of Cross Plains. I come from a blue-collar family and have spent several years of my life working as a Shift Manager at McDonald's. In 2013, after a series of events in my personal life, I decided to strive to make something more of my life and pursue what had once been my childhood dream of becoming a doctor.

In 2017, I graduated from the University of Southern Indiana with a degree in Biology. Later that year, I began school at A. T. Still University - Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, the first osteopathic medical school. I decided to become an osteopathic physician in part due to their unique philosophy, as well having the ability to treat conditions via physical manipulation when indicated. Towards the end of my second year of medical school, I was fortunate enough to have placed with the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program for my clinical rotations in 3rd and 4th year.

Since coming to Fort Wayne, I've been very impressed with their residency program, as well as with the city itself. So, when it became time to think about where to apply for residency, I naturally opted to apply to the same place that I had enjoyed the past couple of years. I am very happy to have matched here, and I look forward to taking the next step forward with the program.

In my spare time, I have a wide array of interests. I enjoy hiking and spending time outdoors, working on computers (huge Apple fan), working on cars, reading, spending time with family, and I love to travel.

Hi, I’m Carter Chase and I am thrilled to be here at the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program. I was born and raised in Auburn, Indiana, just a few miles north of Fort Wayne. I studied Computer Science at IPFW (now Purdue Fort Wayne) and worked as a software engineer my Junior and Senior years. After college, I completed all four years of medical school here at the Fort Wayne campus of the Indiana University School of Medicine.

FWMEP was my top choice primarily due to their history of success and their commitment to full-spectrum care. I was first exposed to the program through several of my physician mentors who trained here. I had the privilege of rotating with the program for 2 months of medical school and I was struck by the excellent teaching and hands-on learning opportunities. I have a passion for rural medicine and hope to practice at one of the small hospitals in any of the little towns surrounding Fort Wayne. I especially appreciate the opportunity to network and learn from the doctors who will be my future colleagues and partners once I graduate.

Apart from medicine, I am a husband to my wife, Kate, and a father to our 2 children: Enzo (2019) and Addie (2021). When I have time, I am also an avid “do-it-yourselfer” and an amateur car mechanic (my current vehicle has just over 300,000 miles)!

Hello! I'm Leah, a Midwesterner born and raised. I grew up in a small farming town in Southern Illinois. I spent my undergraduate years at Southern Illinois University studying biology and psychology. When matriculating to medical school I spent my M1 year in Champaign, Illinois before finishing out my medical education in Rockford, Illinois.

I was drawn to Fort Wayne initially because one of my preceptors trained there, but I quickly fell in love with the city and the people. The program met all of the essential criteria that I was looking for: it is unopposed, has a strong OB curriculum, and a great learning environment.

Outside of medicine, I love spending my time outdoors. I enjoy hiking, kayaking, horseback riding, and camping with my German Shepherd. You can also find me at the gym or a hot yoga class in my spare time.

Hello! My name is Morgan. I am originally from the small town of Denmark, WI about 20 minutes south of Green Bay. For undergrad, I attended Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO, majoring in biology. I then moved to Omaha, NE for medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. It was here that I fell in love with family medicine during a two-month family medicine rotation in small-town rural Nebraska.

Family medicine offers the opportunity to do a little bit of everything which I love, as my interests lie in full-spectrum family medicine. The ability to truly get to know our patients through continuity of care is an invaluable component of primary care. Fort Wayne Medical Education Program was an easy choice for me. The strong curriculum offers a wide variety of areas to learn from. More importantly, the faculty and residents truly offer a supportive and welcoming environment with an obvious love for their program and surrounding community.

When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my husband. We love spending time outdoors, exploring local shops and restaurants, watching movies, and spending time with other family and friends. Our Sundays during the fall are always filled with football and cheering on the Green Bay Packers. I especially enjoy biking, lifting weights, playing piano, and cooking (with a special love for Indian food). I am excited to move to Fort Wayne and explore all the city has to offer!

Hello! My name is Melvin Susanto. I’m excited and honored for the opportunity to do my residency training in Fort Wayne. While I’m originally from Indonesia, I grew up in Fort Wayne and graduated from Carroll High School. For undergrad, I attended Taylor University in Upland, IN where I received my BA in Biology and minored in Chemistry and Spanish. It was also at Taylor University where I met my lovely wife, Lauren. I had a wonderful opportunity to study abroad in Ecuador for a semester where I continued to learn Spanish and deepened my love for medicine at the local hospitals there. Following graduation, I worked as a pharmacy technician before attending medical school at Saba University.

I feel blessed and excited to complete my residency training at the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program. I thoroughly enjoyed my medical school rotation at FWMEP— the residents and faculty were all friendly, eager to teach, and welcoming. I was also impressed with the strength of FWMEP as it offered an unopposed, community-based program with many great training opportunities.

Outside of medicine, my wife and I enjoy spending time with family and friends, reading, traveling, and drinking coffee together. We are currently trying to fine-tune our espresso recipe! I’m a big Indianapolis Colts and FC Barcelona fan and enjoy watching their games whenever possible. Additionally, I love cooking, hiking, watching movies, and going on new adventures.

Hello! My name is Vijay Veerula and I am so thankful to move back to my hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana, to continue my medical education. My path to medicine has been unique as I practiced as an attorney before deciding to go to medical school. I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and attended Canterbury. I completed my undergraduate studies at The Ohio State University, then graduated from Capital University Law School in Columbus, Ohio. Working as an attorney, I knew something was missing in the work I was doing. Collaborating with individuals to reach their own health goals is why I decided to pursue family medicine. Before applying to medical school, I knew the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program would be a perfect fit. Continuing my medical training in my hometown and being able to train as a full-scope family medicine physician is important to me. I am privileged to join the same profession as my Father, Brother, and Sister who all practice here in Fort Wayne.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy gardening, cooking, and spending as much time as I can with my family. My wife and I are excited to join the FWMEP family. We have two kids, Nathaniel, born in 2018, and Meera, born in 2021!

Hi there! My name is Dean Williams and I am honored to join FWMEP to become the family doctor I have always wanted to be! My education began in Mishawaka, IN and continued at Butler University in 1995. I tragically lost my parents my junior year and left without my degree, but after many years of working in various fields, I returned to Butler University in 2014 to complete a dual major in Music and Chemistry. The Indiana University School of Medicine became my home for the following 4 years where I completed the majority of my medical degree in Muncie, IN.

As someone with a lot of experience in living and growing, I knew that I wanted to be an advocate and educator for families. Being trained in the full spectrum of family medicine while providing dermatologic and endoscopic procedures for my patients was my dream. The FWMEP program had everything I could ever hope for! My passion for family medicine matches my passion for making a difference in the lives of everyone around me. I am also committed to being a lifelong learner and always practicing the humility that serves my profession, staff, and patients.

I am a classically trained violinist and orchestral conductor who still plays occasionally for family and friends. I love to backpack and hike and take in the awe inspiring beauty of the outdoors. I am an avid, amateur photographer, a food adventurer, and enjoy the shooting sports. I am also an ally for the LGBTQ+ community, an advocate for social justice and gender equality, and am committed to bridging the divide between those on either side of the political spectrum. I believe we are all more alike than we are different and we should celebrate our humanity every chance we get.

Hey there! My name is Daniel, and I'm extremely eager to continue my training at FWMEP! Though not originally a Hoosier (born and raised in Tampa, FL), I have come to absolutely love the Midwest and Indiana, specifically. After receiving my bachelor's degree in Natural Sciences from Pensacola Christian College, I had the privilege to attend Indiana University for medical school.

During medical school, I found myself loving every single rotation during my 3rd and 4th years. Each one had aspects that were so fascinating to me that I couldn't imagine choosing a specialty that limited me to just one area of medicine. Hence, family medicine seemed like the perfect fit. From performing simple procedures in the clinic to taking care of more complex patients in the hospital, family medicine is the optimal blend of medical disciplines. I am confident that my time at FWMEP will equip me with the tools I'll need throughout my career to treat a wide range of patients of all ages right here in Indiana.

Apart from my passion for medicine, I also love watching and playing sports, especially basketball. I am an avid disc golf fan and love tackling a challenging course on a sunny day, preferably with friends. My wife Lauren and I both love trying new cuisines, and we're excited to explore the wealth of culinary options present in Fort Wayne. Overall, we are both so optimistic and grateful to begin a new chapter of our lives in this great city!

My name is Kristopher Bosi. I was born and raised on the Chicago South Side. I enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 2008 and served with 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, out of Camp Pendleton. In 2017 I graduated from the University of Illinois with a major concentration in molecular and cellular biology and a minor concentration in chemistry. A significant portion of my time at the University was spent studying Host-Pathogen interactions, as a research fellow for the American Society for Microbiology and the University’s Microbiology Department. From 2017 to 2018, I worked as a Research Fellow at the National Institutes of Health, continuing my study of Host-Pathogen interactions. In 2018, the lottery system at Indiana University School of Medicine placed me in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

The medical training I received in Fort Wayne was top notch, my experiences with FWMEP were superb, and being that my family enjoys living in Fort Wayne so much that I decided to stay and complete my medical residency here.

Outside of Medicine, I enjoy spending time with my wife and three children. We enjoy planting and harvesting fruits and vegetables in our backyard garden, hiking through prairies and forest, cultivating mushrooms in our greenhouse, and developing both our body and spirit.

Hi everyone! My name is Shelby Doades. I was born and raised in southern Indiana in a small farming town called Bruceville, Indiana. I attended Indiana State University for my undergraduate education as an Athletic Training major. After undergrad, I travelled to Indianapolis to complete a Master of Science at Marian University where I later attended and graduated from Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Growing up in southern Indiana, I developed a passion for rural medicine and serving underserved populations. Family Medicine offers an opportunity to be immersed in the community, which can benefit patients in their physical, mental, and social health! Family Medicine also provides the fantastic opportunity to continue serving your patients throughout their lives. It’s incredibly special to be able to grow with the patients in your practice and support them as their lives change. I feel very blessed and excited to continue my medical education at the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program and continue serving my fellow Hoosiers!

Outside of medicine, I enjoy discovering new restaurants, spending time with family and friends, reading fiction novels, traveling, and getting my sweat on at the gym! I’ve always been an avid sports fanatic, so you can catch me at any and all of the local sporting events around Fort Wayne! I am proud to be a resident at a strong program, and I can’t wait to see what the next 3 years will bring!

Hello, my name is Kendra Hollenbeck! I was born in Bloomington, Minnesota (home of the Mall of America) and lived there until my Junior year of undergraduate when I moved to Upland, Indiana to attend Taylor University and finish out my Bachelor’s degree in Biology. After graduating I moved back to Minneapolis and worked for two years as an EMT and then a Paramedic. However, having known that I wanted to be a Physician since I was seven years old it was not long before I started looking to return to school for my medical degree. This search led me back to Indiana to attend the Fort Wayne campus of IUSM.

After living in Fort Wayne for four years, I knew FWMEP would be a great fit for me. Beyond the location, I knew I wanted a program that teaches full-scope family medicine and is community focused, to provide plenty of opportunities for learning inside and outside of the hospital. The more I learned about FWMEP the more I knew it was exactly the program I was looking for. I am truly blessed to be able to pursue my dreams – serving and learning here in Fort Wayne!

Outside of medicine, I enjoy hanging out with my (newlywed) husband; hosting game nights, cooking dinner, going to local parks, hiking, biking, and hammocking whenever we get the chance. We also have the incredible opportunity to work on restoring houses from the early 1900s to their former glory, which has been an amazing chance to learn more about being a handy-woman!

Hi everyone! My name is Kim! I was born and raised in LaGrange, Indiana which is about an hour north of Fort Wayne. My husband, our children, and I moved to Fort Wayne about eight years ago and have lived here ever since. I went to IPFW (now Purdue Fort Wayne) for college where I majored in biology and chemistry and minored in psychology. For medical school, I attended Indiana University School of Medicine at the Fort Wayne campus.

After graduating from college, I worked as a medical scribe for a family medicine doctor in town, which is where I first discovered my passion for family medicine. Shortly after deciding that was what I wanted to do, I discovered FWMEP. Many of my preceptors highly recommended the program and I was able to set up a few rotations with them throughout medical school. Every resident, attending, nurse, and staff member I encountered along the way was so friendly and supportive, and the curriculum encompassed everything I wanted to learn while in residency. I immediately knew that this was where I wanted to end up.

My husband and I have three children, my oldest is 12 and we have twin 7-year-olds. We also have two non-human children, Abu and Peanut (the cutest pups you will ever see, but of course I may be a little biased). In my free time, I enjoy baking, crocheting, hiking, painting, doing puzzles, reading, watching movies, playing video games with my children, and gardening. I am currently learning how to play piano which has been something I have wanted to learn for many years.

Hello, my name is Sanjana and I’m excited to be a part of the FWMEP family! I was born in Bengaluru, Karnataka in India, and lived there for ten years with my grandparents. Our neighborhood was filled with physicians of many specialties, and I would often inadvertently shadow them. In 2007, my mom and I moved to Fort Wayne, IN where I had the biggest culture shock. I attended Haverhill Elementary School, Summit and Woodside Middle School, and Homestead High School, until moving away to Evansville, IN to study toward my Biology degree at the University of Evansville. In Evansville, I worked as a scribe in the St. Vincent Emergency Department, where I got a taste for medicine. I continued to shadow several physicians until I realized that I thrived in the outpatient setting; early on, I knew I loved forming relationships with patients!

I attended the Indiana University School of Medicine in Evansville and decided to schedule all my rotations there. I loved the one-on-one teaching opportunities I received from several attendings and learned to work in a team with wonderful residents. I fell in love with Family Medicine in Lynnville, IN where my preceptor was the kind of doctor everyone trusted. His practice was incredibly varied, he formed life-long relationships with his patients, and every day held a surprise. All these experiences pointed me to the clear path of Family Medicine. I was so impressed with how the Fort Wayne Medical Education Program is full-spectrum, unopposed, and offered several educational opportunities. Moreover, all the faculty and residents I met during my interviews were genuinely welcoming and kind. I am confident that I will receive a comprehensive Family Medicine education that will allow me to be a strong and well-rounded physician. My professional interests include women’s health, obstetrics, and palliative care.

Outside of medicine, my husband and I are always planning our next big adventure, going on nature walks, and exploring new restaurants. I spend my free time crocheting clothes for my family, watching bad horror movies, and enjoying a good book. We look forward to calling Fort Wayne home for the next several years.

Hello, I’m Luke, a Hoosier through and through. I was born in South Bend, grew up in Portage, and completed all of my education here in Indiana. I attended IU Bloomington for undergrad where I studied Biology, and then went to IU for my medical degree.

I am excited to start my family medicine residency training here in Fort Wayne, especially since FWMEP is an unopposed program with ample opportunities to work closely with faculty and gain hands-on experience. I was drawn to FWMEP by the friendly and welcoming atmosphere of the faculty and residents, where the care and passion they have for the program and one another is palpable.

Outside of medicine I enjoy playing pickup basketball, chess, video games, and anime. I love listening to music and will occasionally dabble in playing it myself. I also recently started playing pickleball, which I would recommend to everyone.

Hello, My name is Rahima. I moved to the USA in 1998 and grew up in Akron, Ohio. I went to the University of Akron where I received my bachelor’s in biology. After that I spent a few years in Health Care working in the Emergency Department and Step-Down Unit where I wore many hats. After, I entered medical school at Medical University of the Americas (St. Kitts & Nevis). I received my clinical training in NYC during the pandemic and Ohio.  I always knew that I wanted to stay in the Midwest and am happy to be training at Fort Wayne for residency!

I have always been interested in Family Medicine as I really appreciate the full scope training. as well interacting and building relationships with my patients. I believe the bond a physician and patient form can make a huge impact on their health.  

I am excited to begin my training at Fort Wayne Medical Education Program. During my research, I was attracted to the program initially due to its unopposed status, strong OB foundation. Meeting FWMEP at the AAFP conference, I had a chance to speak to several faculty and resident members who spoke very highly of the program, which further intrigued my interest. After the interview process and second look, I knew it was my top choice for residency.

Outside of medicine, my fiancé and I love the outdoors; hiking and kayaking.  I enjoy going to the gym, watching anime, cooking, listening to music, and smothering my cat Moose with love. I love, love cats!