Emergency Medicine Residency Program Leadership
Program Director
Gregory Christiansen, DO
Hometown: Aston, PA
Undergrad School: Delaware Valley University (College of Science & Agriculture)
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Albert Einstein Medical Center
What drew me to Emergency Medicine: The opportunity to make a difference for someone in their time of need.
What do I like to do in my free time: I enjoy doing anything that is fun, especially if I haven’t tried it before.
Assistant Program Director
Lindsay C MacConaghy, MD
Hometown: Baldwinsville, NY
Undergrad School: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry
Residency: Alpert Warren School of Medicine – Brown Emergency Medicine
What drew me to Emergency Medicine: I love rising to the challenge of a busy shift as a member of an amazing team of hard-working people who take on this awesome job because we care about our patients, our community and each other. No two shifts are the same and there is so much to learn every day. But it all really comes down to the people we work with and the people we care for in some of the scariest and most important moments of their lives.
What do I like to do in my free time: Spend time with my husband, two young boys and my two dogs. We love to spend time outside and try new foods…. whether cooking or eating out.
Program Coordinator
Mariah Hall, AS
Hometown: Athens, PA
Undergrad School: Corning CCC & SUNY Albany
What drew me to Emergency Medicine: Our incredible team! We consistently work together to accomplish our goals and enhance life in the residency. I enjoy putting together our wellness events and helping each resident as they grow and develop into confident physicians.
What do I like to do in my free time: I spend most of my free time with pets. I am an artist and local mural painter. I enjoy swimming, kayaking, gardening, and DIY home projects.
Administrative Assistant
Clint Wandell
Hometown: Athens, PA
Undergrad School: B.S. in Bible and Business Admin., Clarks Summit University
A.S. Liberal Arts and Science, Broome Community College
What drew me to GME: Having worked in a doctor's office before, I already had an appreciation for the medical field and assisting doctors in patients’ wellbeing. This opportunity presented a different challenge in assisting the resident doctors in their educational success and their wellbeing.
What do I like to do in my free time: In this stage of life, my free time is mostly (and happily) devoted to my family and my faith. Dad of two girls makes for lots of play and pretend time; needless to say, my wife and I enjoy our downtime, talking about life or watching movies. We enjoy learning and fellowshipping with our church family a couple times a week. I find a respite in getting up before everyone to exercise and on the weekends playing some video games after everyone has gone to bed.
Core Faculty
Director of Simulation
Phillip Lunsford, MD
Hometown: Marietta, GA
Undergrad School: Kennesaw State University (Kennesaw, GA)
Medical School: Mercer University School of Medicine (Savannah, GA)
Residency: Carolinas Medical Center (Charlotte, NC)
What drew me to Emergency Medicine: I like the unknown, the chaos, and the shiftwork. I also hate insurance companies.
What do I like to do in my free time: I mainly tote my kids around to sporting events which have taken us all the way to Texas, Florida, and everywhere in between. I also enjoy home improvement projects, boating, hiking, and riding ATVs.
Director of Student Affairs
Zachary Dewar, MD
Hometown: Halifax, NS, Canada
Undergrad School: Dalhousie University
Medical School: Dalhousie University
Residency: Guthrie (FM & EM)
What drew me to Emergency Medicine: The complex mix of humanities, technical skills and knowledge base required to care for any patient, any time.
What do I like to do in my free time: I enjoy spending time with my wife and two little boys, spending time in the woods and volunteering in the community.
Director of EMS
Christopher Berry, MD
Undergrad School: Penn State University
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Residency: Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, PA
Fellowship: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
Director of Research
Jon Rittenberger, MD, MS
Hometown: Blairsville, PA
Undergrad School: Penn State University
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh
Residency: University of Pittsburgh
What drew me to Emergency Medicine: TThe ability to take care of people on the worst day of their lives is a unique privilege. As Emergency Physicians we see anyone, at any time, and at any phase of illness. Since we never know what may happen, Emergency Physicians must keep learning and evolving. That is one of the best parts of the job!
What do I like to do in my free time: Run/hike, spend time with family, and travel.
Director of Ultrasound
Jackie Jian, DO, FPD-AEMUS
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Undergrad School: Fordham University
Medical School: NYIT – College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: SBH Health System, Bronx, NY
Fellowship: New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, Brooklyn, NY (Emergency Ultrasound)
What drew me to Emergency Medicine: Variety of patients, the high acuity and the satisfaction of handling emergencies and resuscitative efforts.
What do I like to do in my free time: Videogames (I swear it helps with bedside ultrasound!), cooking, & working out.
Chiefs
Michael Gergel, DO
Hometown: Shavertown, PA
Undergrad School: King's College
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
What do I like to do in my free time: Going to the gym, playing with my dogs, and skiing in the winter. I also enjoy watching some football, specifically Penn State or the Green Bay Packers.
Kaitlyn Thomas, DO
Hometown: Horseheads, NY/Johnstown, PA
Undergrad School: Saint Vincent College
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
What drew me to Emergency Medicine:: Emergency Medicine provides critical access to healthcare to patients for underserved populations and allows for a significant intersection of medicine and health policy advocacy. I also enjoy being able to provide a sense of relief to patients when they are not in an acute emergency and providing assistance to those who are. The variety of intellectual and "hands-on" medicine was really intriguing to me and I felt like the environment suited me best.
What do I like to do in my free time: I enjoy spending time with friends - whether its enjoying a trivia night, finding the best chicken wings in town or hiking. I also enjoy reading, cooking, exercising, and watching the latest streaming show.