Our Residents

PGY-1

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Abby Blake, DO

Abby Blake, DO

Medical school: University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine

About me: I was born and raised in Lynn, Massachusetts, which is a city just north of Boston. I received my BS in Exercise Science with a minor in Spanish from Elon University in North Carolina. Upon graduation I returned to Massachusetts and worked as a cardiac stress lab technician for a couple years. During this time, my passion for working with patients and in a team setting continued to grow. I then attended the University Of New England College Of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine for medical school. Although I traveled south for undergrad, New England is home and I knew I wanted to be in the area for residency. During my interview day at Dartmouth, I found a place that felt like a family. Everyone was extremely passionate about their work, welcoming, and supportive. The beautiful Upper Valley combined with the amazing people and training opportunities at such a well-respected medical center assured me that Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center's Emergency Medicine was the perfect fit for me! Outside of work, my hobbies and interests include Irish Step Dancing, Boston sports, spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and spending time at the beach.

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Gavin Clark, MD

Gavin Clark, MD

Medical school: Georgetown University School of Medicine

About me: I grew up in sunny and warm Santa Cruz, California where I never really learned to surf, but I developed a deep love for the outdoors – mountain biking, skiing, hiking, backpacking, picnics, you name it. I then traveled north to UC Davis for my undergrad in microbiology. Life took a different path than expected and I began a career as a professional bartender, participating in competitions and working at some very shwanky locales (and no, I don’t call myself a “Mixologist”) for a few years. Eventually, I decided that I wanted to focus on a career in medicine so I moved to DC and enrolled in the Special Master’s Program at Georgetown University where I got my Master’s Degree in physiology and biophysics. To avoid another move, I stayed on for medical school before coming to join the Dartmouth Emergency Medicine family! My choice to come to Dartmouth was heavily influenced by the amazing people I met while interviewing, and the fact that they all focused on having a “life outside of medicine”, to quote our program director. When not working or studying I’m mountain biking, exploring the rivers and mountains with my dog Otis and partner Emma, baking too much bread, or just enjoying one of the many local festivals with my friends. Life is good in the mountains.

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Amelia Gilliland, DO

Amelia Gilliland, DO

Medical school: Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine & Surgery

About me: I am from the last frontier, the great state of Alaska! As the second oldest of 7 kids, there was no shortage of activity around our house growing up! Love for faith, family, and others were values written indelibly on our hearts and minds. Hard work, teamwork, and service characterized much of our activities – from subsistence fishing as a family to local and international volunteer endeavors. And if we worked hard, we played just as hard: hiking, camping, kayaking, ski racing, you name it! Our idea of family vacation was bicycling and camping our way across the Denali Highway or backpacking the Klondike Gold Rush’s historic Chilkoot Trail. Although I didn’t love school, I always found myself drawn toward health and the sciences. I completed my undergraduate with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. During nursing school, I started contemplating the idea of medical school. It took time for the idea to really take root, but shortly after finishing nursing school I was fully vested in the pursuit of becoming a doctor. While working as a vascular surgery nurse, I returned to university to complete my medical school prerequisites. I then moved to Iowa for medical school at Des Moines University. When I started looking at residency programs, I was drawn to Dartmouth for main 2 reasons. First, I knew the opportunity to train at an academic medical center in a rural area (with mountains!) was the ideal combination for me. Second, I felt that at Dartmouth I would receive excellent training in an environment that would also support my individual goals and values both academically and personally. I was thrilled to match here, and I continue to be grateful for the privilege to complete my medical training at Dartmouth Health.

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Keith Hansz, MD

Keith Hansz, MD

Medical school: University of Toledo College of Medicine

About me: I was born and raised in Leroy, Ohio, a rural town a little east of Cleveland. I attended Ohio State University to study Neuroscience and spent most of my free time with the Cross Country/Track and Field club team. I moved to Toledo, Ohio for medical school where I met my amazing wife. During medical school I began to really appreciate the fast pace and variety of emergency medicine as well as the amazing laid-back personalities of the people who work in the emergency department. I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center because of my interest in both rural medicine and wilderness medicine. It is one of the few places in the country where you have all the amazing training of an academic hospital with the wilderness right at your fingertips. I had always wanted to see more of the country, and this felt like a great fit. I spend my free time trail running, hiking the mountains, and still find time to play the occasional videogames with friends. I am partial to punk rock, emo, and heavy metal music and you can usually catch me with the volume up in my car on the way to the hospital.

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E Makar, MD

E Makar, MD

Medical school: University of Maryland School of Medicine

About me: I go by E, (like the letter!) I'm queer and genderfluid, and proud to be part of the LGBTQ+ community in medicine. I grew up in Columbia, Maryland, a suburb of Baltimore. I got my bachelor's in public health and biology from Tulane University where I fell in love with New Orleans. I bopped around town picking up any job that sounded fun- I worked at an urban farm, a food truck selling arepas, a music and arts elementary school, a grassroots L3C making bars of soap, and the varsity women's basketball team. I also started playing rugby (who dat said they gonna beat the wave!) I took my classroom learning in public health and applied it to projects in hygiene and sanitation, nutrition, epidemic response, and diabetes coaching. However, I wanted to keep learning about the human experience to work at the point of care with vulnerable populations. In medical school, I immersed myself in learning about queer and Latinx health. I traveled to Peru and trained midwives and doctors to use a portable ultrasound for first trimester scans. I soon found out that emergency medicine was the best fit for me- it can align my interests in global health, social justice, and also keep up with my active lifestyle. Whenever I can, I like to get out and rock climb, trail run, scramble, backpack, basically anything that gets me into the alpine! Some favorite outdoors areas: el Potrero Chico, Pitumarca, the Red, Leavenworth, Jackson, Lander, Tensleep... well, let's just say the whole state of Wyoming. At home, I drink coffee, read novels, play board games, and act as VP of social networking for my 7-year-old pitbull Alba. At Dartmouth, I love that I can pursue my interests and still feel valued as an individual. See ya on the trails!

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Tori Valdes, DO

Tori Valdes, DO

Medical school: Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine

About me: I was born and raised in the hot southern California deserts. Although becoming a physician was always my goal, working as a paramedic directly after high school gave me real world experience and opened the doors for me to begin traveling, an interest that has since morphed into a passion (obsession?). I began taking paramedic jobs and volunteer positions overseas, which afforded me the opportunity to see healthcare in a variety of cultural settings. After working in Sri Lanka’s government hospitals, Haiti’s trauma center, and Iraq’s refugee camps— I realized it was time to finally begin my pursuit of medicine and start down the path of meaningful long-term service in international disaster medicine. I attended University of California, Irvine where I was involved in numerous international ultrasound studies and received my Public Health BS. During this time, I founded a non-profit that installed and tested water wells in rural northern Cambodia after discovering an acute water shortage on a solo cross-country motorcycling trip. After graduating from UCI, I moved to gorgeous Colorado to attend medical school at Rocky Vista University where I was part of the Global Medicine Track and worked in mobile clinics in rural Kenya and rotated in sports medicine in Zanzibar (obviously a theme emerging here). In my free time I enjoy sneaking away to go winter camping, lurking around national parks, globetrotting with my fiancé, and hanging out with our 3 cats. I’m excited to be living and training at Dartmouth in the beautiful Upper Valley where I can live out my outdoor dreams.

PGY-2

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Alissa Bates, MD

Alissa Bates, MD

Medical school: Creighton University School of Medicine

About me: I was born and raised in a small town in the south Puget Sound area of Washington State and got my BS in Biology from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA. Having initially thought a career in field ecology was the path for me and discovering in my final semester that I wasn’t so fond of it as I thought, I moved back home to figure out my next move and got a job working as an emergency department scribe. 2 years, 5 hospitals, thousands of hours typing notes, and a few great mentors later, I knew medicine, especially emergency medicine, was the path for me. Having lived in Washington for 23 years, I figured a change was in order, so I packed my bags and moved to the heartland for medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. It was there I met my boyfriend, Kevin, who taught me that the stereotype “Nebraska nice” is a real thing, it wouldn’t be so cold in the Midwest if it weren’t for the wind, and there is much more to the state of Nebraska than just cornfields and cows. Outside of work I can be found baking, listening to obscure music, exploring new places, or at the dog park with my French Bulldog, Louis. I am so excited for this new adventure in the Upper Valley and to be joining the Dartmouth family! Why Dartmouth Hitchcock Emergency Medicine? Like many, I was initially drawn to Dartmouth Hitchcock by the location– I couldn't imagine a more perfect setting in which to practice emergency medicine. The more I looked at what the program had to offer, the more I liked what I found– a well-rounded and challenging curriculum, sub-specialty tracks, fellowship opportunities, and a small program size with accessible faculty and mentorship opportunities. What made Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center shoot to the top of my rank list, though, was the people. Even though interviews were virtual, I felt so welcome and at ease during my interview day. I have always wanted to be a part of a program where the people take the medicine extremely seriously, but not themselves, and that is exactly what I felt on my interview day. I think there is a preconceived notion that Ivy League programs are self-important or uptight, but I found that the culture was extremely friendly and down-to-earth. I couldn't be happier with my match!

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Nick Casler, MD

Nick Casler, MD

Medical school: Florida State University College of Medicine

About me: Born and raised in Central Florida—I was a gymnast through high school, competing in world championships and the Pan-American Games before moving to Florida State University for college, where I performed in the circus and was captain of the coed cheerleading team. I studied exercise physiology and Spanish in college, then stayed in Tallahassee for medical school at FSU. As a medical student, I spent a year working on the development of a multicenter pediatric cervical spine research database before discovering my passion for emergency medicine. When I’m not working or studying, you’ll find me riding my bike, building and restoring furniture in my workshop, or spending time with my dingo-shepherd puppy, Mila. I chose Dartmouth EM for the people! I felt that everyone I interviewed with shared my passion for being the best emergency medicine physician you can be while also making time to hike some mountains and care for each other.

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Joshua Cole, MD

Joshua Cole, MD

Medical school: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

About me: Born and raised in a 1 stoplight town in Michigan, I spent all of my time in the woods and lakes around me. I received a degree in Mathematics at Michigan State University and moved into the healthcare software field working on systems integration and data analysis. During my programming career, I lived both on the West coast and East coast. I found that I was missing more human interaction in my life and wanted to do more to help people, so I went back to medical school. I have a passion for wilderness and austere medicine and I spend the majority of my free time outside. Together with my partner Kristin, I run, bike (road and mountain), ski (x-country and downhill), hike, camp, fish and spend time wandering the woods with our three dogs, Logan, Charlie, and Zeus. When I'm inside, I spend my time playing computer games or reading sci-fi or fantasy. I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center for the amazing faculty and staff in the program, the chance to serve Lebanon and its surrounding communities, and to enjoy all that the area has to offer. I'm very excited to be moving to the Upper Valley and am thrilled to be able to continue to learn Emergency Medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

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Nathan James, MD

Nathan James, MD

Medical school: University of California, Irvine, College of Medicine

About me: I was born and raised in a rural county in Northern California, at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. This incredible environment allowed me to spend most of my time outdoors, whether backpacking, canoeing, skiing, or hiking in Yosemite. My wife and I moved to Los Angeles, California, where she attended a theatre academy, and I continued to cultivate an interest in medicine and serving my community. I transferred to UC Irvine, where I completed my undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences. During my gap year I worked in a breast cancer biology research laboratory. I then completed medical school at UCI. While in medical school, I enjoyed every rotation. I realized that emergency medicine combined the best parts of each specialty and would allow me to serve a diverse patient population and improve my community. For me, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center combines the best possible training opportunities– the ability to train with diverse presentations, a variety of training locations, and a strong sense of community. I am incredibly excited to begin my residency at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.

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Nicholas Poole, MD

Nicholas Poole, MD

Medical school: Drexel University College of Medicine

About me: I grew up in Silver Run, Maryland, a small town just south of the Pennsylvania border by Gettysburg. I left home and attended Penn State University, studying kinesiology and becoming a coxswain for the rowing team. After graduation, I moved on to Drexel University in Philadelphia for medical school where I fell in love with the diverse patient presentations of emergency medicine. I chose Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center EM after completing an away rotation here during my 4th year of medical school. The attending physicians and residents were welcoming and knowledgeable, I loved the access to the outdoors, and I felt at home both personally and professionally. Having spent almost all my life in Maryland and Pennsylvania, I’m happy to train with the incredible team at Dartmouth and explore New England. I like to use my free time to ride my bicycle, listen to the Grateful Dead, and spend time with friends and family I love. I am also looking forward finally learning to ski and getting the full experience of life in the Upper Valley.

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Kalle Weiler, DO

Kailee Weiler, DO

Medical school: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine at New Mexico State University

About me: I was born and raised in sunny Phoenix, Arizona. Prior to college, I found my passion for medicine after my time in Panama as a Medical Missionary with Global Brigades. I learned what the doctor-patient relationship truly signified, humility and compassion. Upon arriving in the rural village of Platanilla, we were challenged with the task of setting up our medical clinic in an open-air concrete school amongst wild dogs and chickens, and a short distance from armed militia. During that time, I met patients who had walked hours or rode horseback just to see a physician. This left an impact on me as I realized I wanted to continue to serve and help those with limited access to healthcare. At University of Puget Sound I studied Biology and Neuroscience. I also found a love for research which I was able to pursue for 2 years following graduation, ultimately leading to a dream come true of being published in an academic journal. In addition, during this time, I was privileged enough to serve as a volunteer at the Cancer Resource Center and hospice. It was an honor to be a part of these incredible people’s lives and journeys, during a very vulnerable and emotional time. My goal was to help improve the quality of life of my patients even when medicine could not cure. Medical school then brought me back to the Southwest and the town of Roswell, NM for clinical rotations. Yes, for those wondering, Roswell is the UFO capital of the world. Serving in a small rural community that was absolutely inundated during the COVID pandemic motivated me to become an Emergency Medicine Physician. The diversity of the patient population, wide range of clinical cases along with the high acuity of medical need, coupled with the fast pace of the department fueled my desire to pursue EM. During residency interviews I knew Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center was the program for me because it felt like home. The residents and staff extended a sense of family amongst a top-notch academic center, not an easy task given the on-line interview process. I cannot begin to express how excited I am to continue my training at DHMC. The Upper Valley has so much to offer, and my fiancé William and I are looking forward to exploring it further. In my free time, you can find me baking goodies for my friends, painting watercolors, kickboxing, hiking, or kayaking.

PGY-3

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Michael Drake, MD

Michael Drake, MD

Medical School: Chicago Medical School

About me: I was born and raised in Helena, Montana and studied French literature at Montana State University. During my summers at Montana State, I worked with Engineers without Borders in rural Kenya to develop clean water delivery systems. My time in Kenya sparked an interest in living and working abroad and I decided to move to France to improve my French language skills. I studied at the University of Montpellier, did some research in neuroscience, and had plenty of good red wine. After gorging myself on European culture, I moved to the island of Bohol in the Philippines where I volunteered with the International Deaf Education Association. After finally returning to the US, I ended up in Chicago for medical school and decided that EM would be the best way for me to further my interest in international health. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending time at my cabin near Glacier Park, reading speculative fiction, playing the occasional video game, or trying to learn new languages. I’m very excited to start residency at DHMC!

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Kalle Fjeld, MD

Kalle Fjeld, MD

Medical School: University of Vermont College of Medicine

About me: I grew up in charming Brandon, VT and studied globalization and French at UVM. Before deciding to go to medical school I worked as a teacher in France and as a pastry chef in Vermont and Massachusetts. I returned to UVM for a post-bac and discovered my love for the ED while working as a scribe in Rutland. I attended UVM (surprise!) for medical school. I'm thrilled to be training in the Upper Valley where I can spend time doing all my favorite things: learning to be an ED doc, riding my horse, cooking, baking, sewing, gardening, and spending time with my family.

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Samantha Hunt, MD

Samantha Hunt, MD

Medical School: University of Vermont College of Medicine

About me: I was born in a zero-stoplight town in Vermont and stuck around the Green Mountain State for college at University of Vermont, where I studied biology and played club soccer. After undergrad, I immediately got my first dog and I worked for a few years, splitting my time between being a surgical pathology grossing tech in the basement of University of Vermont Medical Center, and more excitingly (to me, at least), as a crew chief on a local ambulance, which definitely paved the way for the rest of my life. I quickly realized emergency medicine was the path for me, but Colchester Rescue is also where met the love of my life, Chris, a Vermont State Trooper, on a random 911 call at a gas station parking lot (incredibly romantic, I know). Soon after beginning medical school at the University of Vermont, Chris and I decided to rent out our house on AirBnB, which quickly became semi-VIP lodging in our small ski town, which displaced us to the living full-time in our RV for about 18 months with our dogs. We finally bought our dream house in Cambridge, Vermont which is also where we got married during my last year of medical school. We now have three dogs (Meeka, Reiko, and Loki) who control most parts of my life, and I love every minute of it. Outside of doing anything “dog”, you can find me hiking (especially in the winter), skiing, running, traveling to new places with big, beautiful mountains, or RVing with my husband. I am over the moon and so incredibly excited to continue my training at Dartmouth for the next 3 years, which really does have the trifecta of an awesome location, a top-notch program, and amazing people.

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Natalie Robertson, MD

Natalie Robertson, MD

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

About me: I was born and raised in a big family outside of Phoenix, AZ. After 18 long years in the desert, I decided to head east in search of seasons and big cities. I attended Boston University where I studied health science/public health. While at BU I was a varsity rower. After graduation, I worked as an orthopedic tech in the DC area and later as a research assistant back in Boston. I spent five years working, running a few marathons and generally figuring out life before attending medical school at Drexel University. During my third year clerkships I realized I was happiest while seeing ED consults and eventually fell in love with Emergency Medicine during fourth year. Outside of work I can be found baking, cake decorating, salsa making and taste testing my fiancé’s bread recipes. To compensate for my foodie ways, I also enjoy running, kettle belling and swimming. Me and my new puppy Maggie are very excited to explore the Upper Valley and are thrilled to be joining the Dartmouth EM family!

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Anant Shukla, MD

Anant Shukla, MD

Medical School: Uniformed Services UHS FE Hebert School of Medicine

About me: I grew up just outside of Boston and went to Boston University for my undergraduate degree, majoring in International Relations and Biochemistry and Molecular Biology. After graduating, I spent my first gap year doing some clinical research in Boston while advising a fraternity, then I spent a second gap year working as an AmeriCorps middle-school math teacher in the Baltimore City Public School system. During that period of time I lived in a convent with Catholic nuns which was not too much of a change from living in a fraternity house (just kidding). By some miracle I got into medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and was commissioned into the US Army. Following graduation from medical school I initially matched into a urology residency; however, after completing my second year of training, and speaking to many of my mentors, I decided that surgery was not the right fit. Soon after completing the flight surgeon course at Ft Rucker, AL, I became the primary care physician for an assault helicopter battalion in Ft Bliss TX. A few months later, I had the honor of deploying to Afghanistan for 9 months in 2019 as the sole physician for Task Force Apocalypse and Forward Operating Base Dahlke (Logar Province). In addition, I would also be the CASEVAC provider for a variety of highly skilled operational teams in one of the most violent areas of the country. My deployment to Afghanistan was career altering and changed me forever. Those intense experiences, in conjunction with volunteering at a local Emergency Room during the COVID 19 pandemic, led me to pursue a career in Emergency Medicine. I am very much looking forward to returning to beautiful New England and being close to my family. My sister and brother-in-law are both military physicians currently at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, and both of my parents are immigrants. In my spare time I enjoy hiking, writing, reading, meditating, yoga and personal fitness.