PGY I

Paul Denna, M.D.

Paul moved from Brush Prairie, WA to Wyoming for his residency training.  Before Paul's medical career he did a two-year mission in Ireland and served in the US Army as an Airborne Ranger.  He served 8 years as a Non-Commissioned officer, and while serving, he was awarded the Service Medal, Defense Medal, Army Commendations Medal, Campaign Expeditionary Force Medal, and Meritorious Service Medal.  His career plans are to serve in rural underserved areas and doing medical missionary work in the future.  Paul's hobbies and interests are mixed martial arts, power weightlifting, hiking and travel.

Jennifer Pimentel Jahns, M.D.
Born in Califonia, Jenn spent most of her life in the Pacific Northwest.  Jenn attended Seattle University, where she earned her BS.  At Ross University she served as the Women's Health Coordinator, was an indoor cycling instructor, Webmaster/Newsletter editor and choir director for the Catholic Student Association.  She was a member of a volunteer group for clean-up efforts after hurricane Katrina.  Jennifer's husband is an organic farmer.  Any outdoor activities, such as hiking, gardenting, bike riding, and fly-fishing are things Jenn enjoys in her free time.  She also enjoys reading fictional perieod novels, and most recently has discovered an interest in reading accounts of the early American experience.

Afzal Khan, M.D.
Afzal completed his undergraduate education at Arizona State University, and his MBA from Davenport University in Grand Rapids, MI.  He has been described as hard working, well motivated and responsible with good leadership qualities.  His desire to serve those most in need is evidenced by his volunteerism with the under privileged.  Spending time with family and friends, basketball, football, running and travel are Afzal's interests outside of medicine.

Tammy Koop, M. D.
Tammy received her BA from Northwest University, Kirkland, WA and initially pursued a career in business.  She applied to medical school when she decided that she wanted something different-something challenging and meaningful.  Continuity of care, including medical missions is what drew her to Family Medicine.  Outside of medicine Tammy plays tennis, golf, and enjoys outdoor recreation and is a beginner pianist.  Owning a FKC vitamin store keeps her involved in the business world.

Thanh-Thao Le, M.D.
TT was born in Saigon, Viet Nam, and immigrated from Vietnam with her family as teen.  Overcoming language and cultural barriers, her family settled in Houston, TX.  She attended Davenport University in Grand Rapids, MI where she received both her BS and MBA.  TT serves as a Vietnamese interpreter for Language Line Services, which is an international company that translates for 911 emergency calls, hospital and doctor's offices, insurance companies, Medicaid and Medicare services, the police department and banks. Family is an important part of her life, but she also like spending spare time reading mysteries and writing, watching medical dramas and documentaries, listenting to music, traveling and learning about cultures.  She is learning new cuisines and perfecting her Vietnamese cooking.

Maharaj (Alex) Tomar, M.D.
Alex was born in La Paz, Bolivia and lived in Venezuela before his family moved to the US when he was 6 years old.  He received his undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  Alex is fluent in Spanish.  Running is a part of his daily routine and he enjoys playing soccer on the week-ends.  His other interests include, developing his own photographic prints, cooking for friends and family, and is an avid music collector and attends live music concerts when he has the opportunity.

PGYII

Nima Azarbehi, D.O.
Nima attended Southern Oregon University for his undergraduate degree, before enrolling at Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine.  He has worked as a professional ski patroller in Colorado, California and Oregon.  He has many sports interest, including skiing, soccer, volleyball, cycling and rafting.  Nima also enjoys piano, guitar and road trips.  Nima was the Soccer Club president at Touro.  While in medical school he served as the on-campus Kaplan representative, and was a member of a group of assistants researching the use of osteopathic manipulative treatments to improve patient lung functions.

Jeffrey "Jake" Behringer, M.D.
Jake earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina with a degree in Geology, but feeling the urge to provide relief to the less fortunate, he joined the Peace Corps, which in turn led to his path to medical school.  He received his MD degree from Ross University School of Medicine.  Jake participated in the couple's match with his wife Kristina.  Being active is an important component in his life and he loves to build and restore furniture and surfboards.  He enjoys being outdoors doing almost anything, especially surfing, camping and cycling.  He feels lucky to have a family that enjoys being active with him.  His other interests includes music (playing guitar and saxophone.) 

Kristina Behringer, M.D.
Kristina's undergraduate degree was completed at the University of Colorado and she earned her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine.  While at Ross Kristina was a member of the Wilderness Medical Society.  Kristina was part of a couples match with Jake Behringer.  They have a daughter and together they enjoy hiking with their dogs, and she and her daughter share the love of horses.  Kristina's hobbies include horses:  jumping, training, trail riding, jewelery making, furniture upholstering, sewing and knitting.  Her future plans are to work within a rural setting.

Robert Oravec, M.D.
Originally from Illinois, Robert earned a BS degree from Benedictine University in Lisle, IL and his MD from Ross University School of Medicine.  Prior to medical school Robert's career included varied business experiences.  He started his career as an engineer, and became the owner of a manufacturing company, providing metal fabrication services as well as complete building maintenance services.  He was also Vice President of a nursing education company.  He developed a fascination with the medical arts at an early age, and was further inspired by his extensive volunteer work in hospitals and medically underserved communities.  He enjoys outdoor sports, especially mountain biking, hiking and camping.  Robert also likes foreign travel and gardening.

Yusuf Ruhullah, M.D.
Although Yusuf attended high school in the U.S. he opted to attend medical school in India and received his medical degree from Kamineni Institute of Medical Sciences.  He enjoys swimming, hiking, camping, hunting and bush craft, reading classic and contemporary American literature, watching wild-life and science documentaries, theoretical physics and electroplating.  He is impressed with Family Medicine because he feels that it requires detailed knowledge of all specialties to be efficient.

Aaron Wilson, M.D.
Aaron, a native of Indiana, completed his undergraduate studies at Southern Adventist University, Collegedale, TN.  He earned his MD from the American University of the Caribbean.  In his spare time, Aaron enjoys all kinds of team sports, hiking, SCUBA, golf, snow skiing, traveling, cars, computers, learning Spanish, learning history, some movies and fixing things.  He has traveled extensively throughout the world, doing both missionary work and while doing his clinical training during medical school.

PGYIII

Katie Fife, M.D.
Katie left a small town in Utah to attend George Washington University in DC, on academic and diving scholarships.  She received her B.S. degree in biology and attended three years of medical school at George Washington University School of Medicine.  She finished her medical degree with Ross University.  Her lifelong dream has been to serve others as a caring physician.  She is thrilled to have matched with the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency Program at Cheyenne.  She enjoys running, biking, cooking, playing Scrabble, frozen custard, the color red and a good hair day.

Cara Johnson, D.O.
Cara's experience with health care, first started as a home health aide several years ago, which inspired her to go on to medical school.  Family Medicine was an easy choice for her to make, as it combined the opportunity to work with patients of all ages with the challenges of utilizing a wide knowledge base.  It has always been her hope that once finished with her education that she would be able to return to Wyoming and resume caring for its' residents in a greater capacity as a Family Medicine physician.  A self-professed science junkie, Cara enjoys astronomy, computer science, and botany, as well as spending time with her husband, little boy and two dogs.

Derek Nevins, M.D.
Derek, a native of Wyoming attended the University of Wyoming, where he received a BS degree in Zoology and Physiology.  As a WWAMI medical student he attended the University of Washington where he received his medical degree and completed one year of residency at the University of Washington Department of Surgery.  In going forward with his medical career, Derek joined the University of Wyoming Family Medicine Residency Program at Cheyenne.  When time permits Derek enjoys sports of all kind, including:  golf, tennis, basketball and football.  He also enjoys spending time with his wife, baby boy and traveling.

Joanna Plonska, M.D.
Joanna spent her formative years in Poland where her mother worked as a nurse.  She immigrated to the U.S. when she was sixteen.  Although nervous, she was excited about the opportunities that would arise with this life-changing experience.  Joanna enrolled in Rutgers, where her mentors encouraged her to pursue options in medicine, and where she received a BA degree.  After completing a clerkship at the UW Family Medicine Residency Program at Cheyenne, Joanna was convinced that the Program would provide the kind of training she would need to become an excellent physician.  Traveling and exploring new places and spending time outdoors are some of the interests Joanna enjoys, away from medicine

Sandra Plybon, M.D.
Sandra is from Slovakia, which was under communist control, until she was eight.  She met her husband, an American, while in medical school.  Now living in the U.S. she has immersed herself in the U.S. healthcare system.  It is the opportunity for long-term interactions with families that still exists in the practice of Family Medicine that drew her to this specialty.  The idea of whole and complete wellness is where her focus lies, and her aim is for her patients to have healthy life experiences.  Having traveled extensively throughout Europe and the U.S. she has enjoyed many different cultures.  She intends to travel to Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia next.  She enjoys hiking both in her homeland and in the Rocky Mountains.  She jogs most days and swims often.

Maida Sehgal, M.D.
Maida's interest in medicine started with the enjoyment of science and motivation from her mother, who happens to be a physician, which further stimulated her curiosity and fascination with medicine.  She grew up in one of the largest cities in Pakistan, where she graduated from medical school.  Maida spent time after graduation from medical school doing critical care research at a Chicago medical school and had the honor of making an oral presentation of her work at the American Heart Association's scientific sessions.  She also gained clinical experience in the U.S. by doing sub-internships at Yale New Haven Hospitals as well as Mayo Clinic.  Maida believes that her enthusiasm to learn and dedication to her career will help her become a good family physician.  Working out, cooking, traveling and spending precious time with her daughter and husband is what fills Maida's free time.

2011 Graduates

David Dansie, D.O.  
David was able to utilize and hone his Osteopathic skills in a program that recognizes and appreciates the skills that an Osteopathic physician can bring to the team. A native of Utah he chose to complete his medical education in Missouri, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. When David is not spending time with his wife Jen and son and daughter, he enjoys his fencing club, jet skiing and history.  David has moved to Idaho to join a Family Medicine physician group.

Shannon Evans, D.O.
Shannon is a native of Wyoming. She is a graduate of KCUMB. Shannon's work experience included working as a CNA and as a research assistant, which didn't seem to be nearly as interesting as her volunteer work, where she cleaned walls and lockers of an inner city high school, acted as a patient for different scenarios for mine rescue teams, and allowed students with the AAO to practice manipulation on her. Outside of medicine Shannon runs two to three miles about four times a week, and enjoys hiking, and photography.  Shannon has joined a Family Medicine group in Big Piney, WY.

Anureet Gill, M.D.
Anureet was living in Massachusetts while her husband completed his education.  Her family moved to the US right before her graduation from Sri Guru Ram Das Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Amritsar. She came to find that health-care conditions that she had seen in India are a stark contrast to the ones in the US. Her interests include listening to music, community activities, cooking, and traveling. Anureet felt that moving to Cheyenne would be welcome change from big city life.  She has joined her husband in NY while he finishes his residency and she will be working as a hospitalist.

Robin Hallman, M.D.
Robin graduated with her M.D. from the American University of the Caribbean and received her Bachelor of Arts in psychology from the University of Massachusetts. She did the majority of her clerkships with Harvard affiliated hospitals in Framingham and Cape Cod. Two other clerkships were completed in a third world hospital on the island of Curacao. She has lived in many places around the world and looks enjoyed serving the rural communities of Wyoming. She is married to husband, Steve and has a son, Joshua, who is a student at The University of Florida. She likes playing with her three Japanese Chins, Deoshee, Hilo and Tychew. Robin spends her free time with family and enjoys figure skating, for which she has won numerous medals.  Robin has joined a physicians group in Kuai, Hawaii.

Sharon King, M.D.
Sharon is from Burns, Oregon and a graduate of Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar. Her work experience has included everything from being a life guard, ranch hand (driving tractors), mailroom assistant, to research intern, developing high and medium molecular weight polymers for use in paint emulsification and as a research assistant, studying the DNA of T. Gondi, an organism that has many similarities to malaria. Sharon enjoys camping, hiking, cooking, reading, competitive swimming, traveling, and participating in community events and outreaches. These were some of the very reasons she chose to join the UW Family Medicine Program in Cheyenne.  Sharon has returned to serve the rural community of Burns.

 Shahla Mousavi, M.D.
Born in Iran, Shahla moved to Boulder, CO to join her husband where he was a Ph.D. candidate. She discovered our program while working with several of our residents while they were at Denver Children's Hospital doing a Peadiatric rotation. Shahla feels that despite cultural differences, it is clear that as a health care professional, improving the health status of our respective communities is a common interest. Shahla has many medical interests, but in her free time she enjoys biking, hiking, cross country skiing, reading, Persian poetry and traveling.  Shahla has returned to Boulder to work in a FM practice.