Ted Epperly, MD

President and CEO

Dr. Ted Epperly is the President and CEO of the Full Circle Health, a large Federally Qualified Teaching Health Center comprised of nine FQHC clinics, four ACGME family medicine residency programs, and five fellowships. He received an undergraduate degree in Biology and Anthropology from Utah State University in 1976. He Graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 1980.  Dr. Epperly completed his residency in Family Medicine at Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, Washington in 1983. He completed a faculty development fellowship at the University of North Carolina in 1986 and achieved an additional CAQ in Geriatrics.

Dr. Epperly retired July 2001 as Colonel after serving 21 years in the United States Army.  Dr. Epperly served as the past President and Board Chair of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).  He is a past member of the ACGME Board of Directors that has responsibility of all residency and fellowship training for over 125,000 residents and fellows of all specialties in the United States and currently is the vice-chair of the ACGME Policy Committee.  He currently serves as the Co-Chairman of the Board for the Healthcare Transformation Council of Idaho that is in charge of helping transform healthcare for the State of Idaho.  Dr. Epperly is the Graduate Medical Education Coordinator for the State of Idaho and the author of the State of Idaho’s Ten Year GME Plan to build a vibrant and robust GME system for Idaho.

Dr. Epperly is a member of multiple other Boards of Directors and the President of several non-profit organizations.  He has published over 50 articles and book chapters and he is a staunch supporter of Family Medicine education, research, and both rural and underserved health care. His award-winning book Fractured: America’s Broken Health Care System and What Must Be Done to Heal It provides excellent insight to the U.S healthcare system and can be found on Amazon.com.

He and his wife Lindy celebrated their 46th wedding anniversary in September 2020 and have two sons. Outside of medicine, his interests include golf, skiing, fly-fishing, reading and sports memorabilia.

Perry Brown, MD

Pediatrics Residency Program Director

Dr. Brown graduated from the University of California at San Francisco (UCSF) School of Medicine in 1995. He completed his Pediatric Residency at the Children’s Hospital/University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO in 1998. After completing residency Dr. Brown was a general pediatrician for six years at the Saltzer Medical Group in Nampa and Meridian, ID. Additionally, he has served as Co-Director of the St. Luke’s Cystic Fibrosis Center of Idaho since January, 2001. He has served as the Medical Director for Children’s Specialty Research for St. Luke’s Health System since 2014. 

Dr. Brown joined the faculty of Full Circle Health in May of 2004. During his time on the faculty, he made continuous improvement of Full Circle Health’s Pediatric curriculum for family medicine residents his highest professional goal.  In 2021, he transitioned his role to become the founding Program Director of the Pediatrics Residency of Idaho, developing and coordinating Idaho’s first pediatrics residency.  He is active in public advocacy for children’s health and serves on several Idaho Medicaid committees and state commissions.  He also serves in several national roles for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.  In his free time, he loves to be in the outdoors fly fishing, hiking, and skiing, and enjoying time with family and friends.

Savarra Mantzor, MD

Pediatrics Residency Associate Program Director

Dr. Savarra Mantzor will be joining Full Circle Health in July 2022 as the Pediatric Residency of Idaho’s Associate Program Director.

Dr. Mantzor joins us from the southern region of Idaho where she has practiced as pediatric hospitalist at St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center from 2020-2022. Prior, she was faculty with Baylor College of Medicine and worked as a pediatrician in the Texas Children’s Global Hematology Oncology Pediatric Excellence (HOPE) Program in Botswana (2017-20). She completed her Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Pincus Global Health Fellowship Program in Botswana from 2015-17. She completed a Chief Resident year (2014-15) and her pediatric residency (2011-14) at Our Lady of the Lake Pediatric Residency Program in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She obtained her medical degree (M.D.) from the Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in collaboration with Columbia University, New York (2007-11). She graduated with honors, magna cum laude from Seattle University, Washington with a Bachelor of Science in General Science and a Minor in Political Science.

Dr. Mantzor’s dual passions are 1) the advancement of medical education for learners and teachers, and 2) improving access to care in areas of limited resources, such as rural and global health settings. She is currently obtaining her PhD in Health Professional Education from the University of Cape Town. Through these activities she hopes to facilitate improvement in common healthcare challenges faced in rural and globally diverse settings, as well as to aid in the optimization of pediatric clinical teaching for medical students and residents.

She enjoys traveling, baking, swimming, skiing, horse riding, running, and board games, but mostly spending endless hours of play and fun with her four children and husband.

Susan Bradford, MD

Pediatrics Faculty

Dr. Susan Bradford grew up in Alabama and worked as a chemist in Kalamazoo, MI, prior to deciding she preferred people to test tubes. She then attended Medical School at University of Alabama at Birmingham. Dr. Bradford completed her residency at Seattle Children’s Hospital at University of Washington, where she played an active role in the WWAMI Program and spent two months at the Pocatello Children’s Clinic as part of her residency. After residency, Dr. Bradford returned back to Alabama to be close to family.  However, she missed the West and returned to Pocatello for 12 years prior to relocating to Boise to work with Meridian Pediatrics in 2010. 

Soon after arriving in Pocatello, Dr. Bradford became disheartened by the number of women who used substances during pregnancy and saddened by the fact that there was little treatment available to these women even when they wanted it.  Through an AAP CATCH grant, she was able to work with other concerned members of the community to investigate the scope of the problem. As a result of this community effort, a day treatment program for parenting women was developed in Pocatello. Many of these women shared that their drug abuse resulted from sexual abuse that occurred in their childhood or adolescence. As a result, Dr. Bradford became interested in doing what she could to break the cycle of this very pervasive problem in pediatric patients.  She was fortunate to be able to spend sabbatical time with the Safe and Healthy Families Team at Primary Children’s Medical Center in Salt Lake City, learning how to evaluate and treat children who have been victimized by sexual and physical abuse.

While she enjoys all aspects of pediatric practice, working with abused children was an arena that allowed her to feel that she made a difference by helping healing to occur in a child’s life. Dr. Bradford was Idaho Pediatrician of the Year for 2006. She currently serves as a board member for the Idaho Perinatal Project and is on the Governor’s Children At Risk Task Force and Idaho’s Child Fatality Review Team. 

Dr. Bradford enjoys hiking, cycling, cross country skiing and just being outdoors in the beautiful state of Idaho. She also enjoys gardening and when she has time she likes to read and decorate cakes and cookies.

Asma Butt, MD

Pediatrics Faculty, Boise Pediatrics Clinic Director

Dr. Butt was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and earned an Honors BSc. degree in Psychology and Human Biology from the University of Toronto. In 2012, she graduated from St. George’s University in Grenada. Prior to beginning her residency training, she returned to Grenada as a Research Fellow in the Department of Anatomical Sciences. As a fellow, Dr. Butt held a faculty position facilitating small group sessions and orienting students to ultrasound techniques. She was also able to publish her work in various medical journals.

Dr. Butt completed her Pediatric Residency at the University of Mississippi Medical Center/Childrens’ of Mississippi in 2016. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Following residency, Dr. Butt joined a Federally Qualified Health Center in Jackson, MS, where she worked for 2 years while her husband completed his PhD in Cancer Biology. In 2018, they relocated to Dallas, where she worked as a private practice Pediatrician. She moved to Idaho with her husband and 4 children in the summer of 2021 and is excited to begin her faculty role at Full Circle Health and the upcoming Pediatrics Residency of Idaho.  In her free time, Dr. Butt enjoys spending time with her husband and four children. She also has a passion for cooking and quilting/crafting.

Jessie Duvall, MD

Pediatrics Faculty

Dr. Duvall (she/her/hers) was raised in Idaho and California. She graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2011, during which time she took a year to work on environmental justice issues. She completed residency at the University of California San Francisco Pediatric Leaders Advancing Health Equity (PLUS) Program, where she was trained to recognize and address structural causes of health inequity. She returned home to Idaho a few years ago and is thrilled to be a part of the Full Circle Health faculty.

Dr. Duvall is most passionate about social justice and health equity and sees advocacy as integral to her clinical practice and educational philosophy. She cares deeply about addressing racism and bias in medicine and is a founding member of the Idaho Health Equity Collective. She loves being an educator and co-directs the Advocacy 101 Course for physician trainees in Idaho. She believes all justice work must be rooted in community and is very involved in a variety of public advocacy activities including efforts to protect gender affirming care and reproductive health in Idaho.

As a provider, Dr. Duvall enjoys caring for young people of all ages, from newborn to young adult. Her clinical interests include adolescent medicine, behavioral health, whole person care, gender affirming care, and mind body medicine (MBM). She respects and honors all chosen identities of her patients and strives to incorporate social and environmental determinants of health into care plans. She meets patients and families where they are and partners with them to get the care that works best for them. Dr. Duvall volunteers as the medical director for programs focused on getting youth outside and has helped run MBM retreats for teens with chronic illness. Her past clinical experiences include faculty in the UCSF Transitional Care unit, outpatient pediatrics at an FQHC with a focus on Adverse Childhood Experiences, pediatric hospital medicine, and pediatric palliative care.

Thrilled to be back in Idaho, Dr. Duvall relishes spending long days with her community, petting all animals she comes across, making a mess in the kitchen, playing board games with her partner, and chasing her little one around. She loves being outside in any way possible – especially backpacking, backcountry skiing, and exploring the rivers.

Zachary Fox, MD

Pediatrics Faculty

Dr. Zachary Fox (he/him/his) grew up in Tokyo, Taipei, and Zurich before finding his way to Idaho and graduating from Boise High School. He attended Bowdoin College and the University of Michigan Medical School before completing his pediatrics residency at Children’s National Hospital in Washington D.C. During his residency, he received awards for his strong procedural skills and his commitment to medical student education.

Dr. Fox enjoys caring for young people of all ages, from birth through adolescence, and he has a special interest in providing care to children with complex medical conditions, including congenital cardiac disease and post-NICU and PICU care. He is passionate about ensuring families are an integral part of their child’s care team and aims to provide evidenced-based, individualized care that align with family’s values, beliefs, and goals. 

Dr. Fox splits his clinical time between Full Circle Health in Boise and Valor Health in Emmett, where he helps bring additional pediatric expertise and services to Gem County. In his free time, Dr. Fox can be found either outside (rock climbing, biking, or skiing with his wife) or in the kitchen (baking).

Julie Kikuchi, MD

Pediatrics Faculty

Graduated from the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2001, Dr. Julie Kikuchi completed her Pediatric Residency at the University of New Mexico in 2004. She subsequently worked in the Pediatric Urgent Care Clinic of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, prior to joining the Full Circle Health faculty in October 2005 as a part-time Pediatric clinic attending.

Lisa Labor, MD

Pediatrics Faculty

Dr. Labor is a general pediatrician who cares for children from birth through 18 years of age.  She earned her bachelor’s degree at the University of Portland and went to medical school at the University of Washington. She completed her internship and residency at the University of New Mexico, where she was recognized as an exceptional intern teacher.

Dr. Labor has practiced medicine in the Treasure Valley since 2013. She is passionate about ensuring there is shared decision making with her patients and their parents. She provides reasonable options so families can decide which approach will work best for their lifestyles and schedules.  Dr. Labor is married with two daughters. Her hobbies include sewing, playing with her energetic children, and spending time outdoors.

Tom Patterson, MD

Pediatrics Faculty

Dr. Patterson grew up in Arizona and attended the University of Arizona for Undergraduate, Medical School and Pediatric Residency. He decided on Pediatrics early in his fourth year of medical school as he kept being pulled towards the care of children. He met his wife, who was from Idaho, while she attended college in Tucson. On completion of his residency, the two returned to Idaho and he started private practice at Medical Center Physicians where his wife was a pediatric patient growing up. 

Dr. Patterson held many leadership roles in his 18 years at Saltzer. He started teaching for the University of Washington School of Medicine in 2009 and this proved to be a passion he wanted to develop. Moving to the Full Circle Health faculty allowed him to enjoy the mix of seeing his own patients as well as teaching the next generation of doctors.

Dr. Patterson has served both the local and national chapters of the American Academy of Pediatrics, where he has held several leadership roles throughout his tenure. He thrives in caring for the underserved and has a longstanding passion for the interface of mental illness and pediatrics.  His efforts around immunization improvement have provided tremendous benefits to many Idahoans. Dr. Patterson was previously the Medical Director of the St Luke’s Children’s Performance Improvement Workgroup and has served on the Idaho Immunization Coalition (which he co-founded in 2009). He is now currently involved with work surrounding Adverse Childhood Experiences and Resilience as well as 2CKidsSucceed, the Idaho Children’s Trust Fund, and the Idaho Resilience Project. 

He enjoys weight training/fitness, hiking, swimming and the outdoors and is happiest when he is spending time with his wife and three boys

Kelly Showalter, MD

Pediatrics Faculty

Dr. Showalter completed her medical school training at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas, TX,  in 1988.   She then completed a pediatric residency at Primary Children’s Hospital/University of Utah in Salt Lake City, UT, in June 1991.   After completing residency, she worked at West Valley Pediatrics in Salt Lake City for 2 years.  She then moved to Atlanta, GA for one year and worked in the pediatric emergency room at Grady Memorial Hospital. 

Dr. Showalter later moved to Boise, ID, and worked for Pediatric Associates in general pediatrics for 3 years.  She then joined the pediatric staff of Family Practice Residency of Idaho in 1998. She has worked in this teaching position for 23 years and has been honored to participate in teaching new residents.  Dr. Showalter loves spending time with her family and enjoying the outdoor experiences of Idaho.

Jean Bender, MD

Curricular Lead, Pediatric Nephrology

Jean Bender, MD specializes in pediatric nephrology with a broad range of interests. This includes: high blood pressure, acute kidney injury, and chronic kidney disease including all types of dialysis and kidney transplants.

Dr. Bender believes managing chronic diseases needs to be done through a team approach involving the medical team, patient, and patient’s family. She believes that education regarding the disease process helps families better understand and make decisions related to their children’s health care.

Dr. Bender received a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Duke University, where she also competed on the cross country and track teams. She earned her medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center and completed her internship in internal medicine and pediatrics at The Ohio State University and Columbus Children’s Hospital. She then completed her internal medicine/pediatrics residency at University of Texas Health Science where she also completed a combined nephrology/pediatric nephrology fellowship. During her fellowship she earned a master’s degree in public health and was involved in several research studies involving pediatric hypertension.

In her free time, Dr. Bender enjoys spending time outside with her husband and children.

Tyler Burpee, MD

Curricular Lead, Pediatric Gastroenterology

Tyler Burpee, MD specializes in the management of both common and complex childhood digestive conditions. He is the medical director of St. Luke’s intestinal rehabilitation program that cares for children with short bowel syndrome and intestinal failure. He also has a special interest in celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease, including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

Dr. Burpee is passionate about child advocacy and currently serves as president of the Idaho Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He has published multiple research papers and book chapters regarding inflammatory bowel disease, infectious diarrhea, and autoimmune liver disease.

Originally from Boise, Dr. Burpee earned a bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Dartmouth College, graduating with honors. While at Dartmouth, he was a member of the varsity crew team. After medical school and pediatrics residency training at the University of Washington School of Medicine, Dr. Burpee worked as a general pediatrician for two years with the Indian Health Service on the Navajo reservation in Chinle, Arizona. Next, he trained under world-renowned experts in pediatric gastroenterology during his fellowship at Boston Children’s Hospital/Harvard School of Medicine. He also served as an attending physician at Seattle Children’s Hospital before moving back to Boise.

In his free time, Dr. Burpee enjoys skiing, running, mountain biking, and adventuring with his wife and two children.

Amy Francis, DO, FAAP

Curricular Lead, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics

Amy Francis, DO, FAAP specializes in the comprehensive care of children with neurodevelopmental differences. Her primary clinical activities involve the evaluation and care of children with autism spectrum disorder, developmental delays, intellectual disability, speech and language disorders, learning disabilities, ADHD, and behavioral concerns. She has a special interest in early identification and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder in toddlers.

Dr. Francis enjoys practicing medicine in a multidisciplinary setting where providers, nurses, and therapists work together as a team to optimize care and help children with special health care needs thrive. She is also committed to teaching medical students and residents to ensure they receive an appropriate education in pediatric development.

While serving as a developmental and behavioral pediatrician at Advocate Children’s Hospital, Dr. Francis was appointed as the site director for resident and fellow education in developmental pediatrics. She has received awards for excellence in teaching and mentorship. She also serves on the Education Committee for the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.

Allison Gauthier, MD

Curricular Lead, Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Allison Gauthier, MD cares for both adults and pediatric patients in St. Luke’s emergency departments (EDs) across the Treasure Valley. She currently serves as the pediatric ED director and pediatric ED trauma director for St. Luke’s, helping coordinate system changes for pediatric trauma patients, pediatric sepsis and pediatric ED care. Dr. Gauthier also trains family medicine and pediatric residents in emergency department care. She is passionate about preventing pediatric injuries and frequently educates families and the general community on helmet safety, seat belt safety, and non-accidental trauma. She has previously served as medical director of the emergency department at St. Luke’s Elmore.

In her free time, Dr. Gauthier enjoys spending time with her family and dog. Together, they enjoy hiking, camping, and biking. She also loves Halloween and always plans her spooky celebrations early to fully enjoy the fall, her favorite time of year.

John W. Hanks, DO, FAAP

Curricular Lead, Adolescent Medicine

John W. Hanks, DO, FAAP is a pediatrician with professional interests in eating disorders and adolescent medicine. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Truman State University. He went to medical school at A.T. Still University of Osteopathic Medicine and completed a fellowship in adolescent medicine at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center. He is accepting newborns and new patients on a limited basis.

Dr. Hanks is married with four sons, two daughters and two grandchildren. His hobbies include hiking, camping, and skiing.

Joseph Hilinski, MD

Curricular Lead, Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Dr. Hilinski is an attending physician in the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases.  He obtained his medical degree from the SUNY-Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY in 1997.  He then completed his general pediatric residency training at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta GA in 2000.  Following residency training Dr. Hilinski completed his fellowship in Pediatric Infectious Diseases also at Emory University in 2003. 

Dr. Hilinski was a faculty member in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Emory University from 2003-2017, during which time he held multiple positions including being Peds ID Fellowship Program Director, Pediatric Residency Associate Program Director, and a Medical School Small Group Faculty teacher for the Osler Society.  While at Emory University he was a recipient of the Subspecialty Teacher of the Year Award for Pediatrics, School of Medicine Dean’s Teaching Award, and selected as one of Atlanta Magazine’s top doctors for numerous years.  Dr. Hilinski is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Washington.  He was a recipient of a UW Medicine Excellence in Teaching Award in 2020.  Dr. Hilinski’s clinical interests include infections in immunocompromised hosts, periodic fever syndromes, and pediatric urinary tract infections.  He is involved with ongoing pediatric antimicrobial stewardship efforts at St. Luke’s.

Dr. Hilinski grew up in Philadelphia and New York State and then lived in Atlanta for 20 years prior to moving to Boise to work at St. Luke’s in 2017.  His hobbies include skiing, fishing, reading (particularly Fantasy/Science Fiction), and video games.  He enjoys spending time on outdoor activities in the beautiful state of Idaho with his wife and two daughters.

Yukiko Miura, MD

Curricular Lead, Neonatology

Yukiko Miura, MD is an attending neonatologist who provides care for critically ill neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital. She is a fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics and a clinical assistant professor in the department of pediatrics at the University of Washington.

Dr. Miura provides family-centered care with the goal of optimizing long-term outcomes for each patient. She focuses on the positive impact family members and caretakers can have on a child, and strives to provide an experience and education that helps the family as the child transitions from a newborn to an infant. She also enjoys teaching residents and other providers and is a certified instructor of Neonatal Resuscitation Program.

Dr. Miura is involved in several multidisciplinary quality improvement efforts in the NICU, including reduction of antibiotic usage, standardization of pain assessment and management, and prevention of unplanned extubation among critically ill neonates. Her research interests include the effects of maternal nutrition on fetal/neonatal health, in particular via the changes in gut microbiome. She presented her work at Eastern Society of Pediatric Research and Pediatric Academic Society, and received a Travel Award in 2018. She is also a recipient of the Bradford Fellowship Award from the University of Rochester.

In her free time, Dr. Miura enjoys relaxing outdoors with her husband, three children, and two dogs. She’s also grateful for the modern technology that helps her reconnect with friends and family in Japan.

Dr. Miura cares for babies in the NICU at St. Luke’s Boise, Magic Valley, Meridian, and Nampa.

Martha Pacheco, MD

Curricular Lead, Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Dr. Martha Pacheco graduated from Lewiston High School in 1995.  She received her undergraduate degree at Rice University in Houston before attending medical school at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. She remained at UTSW for both pediatrics residency and pediatric hematology/oncology fellowship and then joined the faculty in 2009. While at UTSW she was the pediatric heme/onc division’s director of education for medical students and residents. Her clinical and research interests include leukemia and lymphoma and she served as the Director of the Lymphoma Program at UTSW until 2022 when she moved to Boise. She now lives in Boise with her husband, twin sons and their dog Sloane. She is enjoying being near family and taking advantage of all Idaho has to offer.

Erin Powell, MD

Curricular Lead, Pediatric Intensive Care Medicine

Erin Powell, MD is an attending pediatric intensivist who provides care for critically ill infants and children in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.

Dr. Powell earned her medical degree from the Carver College of Medicine at the University of Iowa. Following residency and fellowship training at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, Dr. Powell was an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Kentucky where she was also an associate director for the pediatric residency program, the advanced development director for pediatrics, and medical director of pediatric resuscitation.

Dr. Powell received the American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Critical Care Small Grants Award for Young Investigators in 2015 and the American Thoracic Society Section on Medical Education Research Grant in 2021 for her work in medical education. She has received numerous teaching awards and participates in committee work for several national organizations.

Outside of work, Dr. Powell enjoys spending time outside being active with her husband and daughter.

Diana Green, DO

Class of 2026

Dr. Diana Green was born and raised in Idaho as a fourth generation Idahoan. Attending Boise State University, she received her Bachelor of Science in biology with minors in chemistry and German. Dr. Green worked in a pediatric emergency department in Tacoma, Washington for three years. She returned back to Idaho to complete her medical education as a member of the second class at the new Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Outside of medicine, she loves to play classical piano, sport climb, ski, bake, garden, and learning through books and podcasts. More than anything else, she loves to spend time with her family, friends, and cat. Her nephew in particular has her wrapped around his finger. She also has a small army of fish and cherry shrimp that tolerate her in exchange for food. Additionally, she is excited to welcome her first son of her own.

As someone with deep roots in the Treasure Valley and Idaho as a whole, she is over the moon to be completing her residency training in pediatrics in Boise. Dr. Green looking forward to giving back to the community that has invested so much in her over the years. She loves working with children and their families and is delighted to have the opportunity to partner with families to help create healthier, happier lives for the children of Idaho.

Nate Hannay, DO

Class of 2026

Nate grew up in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the youngest of four children, and the first in his family to go to medical school. Nate grew up playing sports and hanging out with his family and friends. He loves to travel and enjoys photography. He also loves working with his hands and is always looking for a new woodworking or house project. 

After graduating from high school, Nate had the opportunity to live in Argentina for two years as part of a mission trip for his church. This allowed him to become fluent in Spanish, which is a skill that has become incredibly useful for him in his practice. He graduated from Utah Valley University with a degree in Biology, and shortly after moved to Fort Worth, Texas for medical school. 

Nate lives with his wonderful wife, Shea, and together they are expecting their first child in September of 2023. He loves working with children and is beyond excited to finally have one of his own. He also has a big, fluffy golden doodle who loves going for walks and running around outside.  Nate is so excited to be in Boise, and is looking forward to working with, and learning from his colleagues and patients.

Sivani Kuruvada, MD

Class of 2026

Dr. Sivani Kuruvada was born in India. When just six months old, she and her family immigrated to Mason, Ohio in the US. She lived there for a decade before moving back to Hyderabad, India. Hyderabad became her home for the next 15 years. It was here where Dr. Kuruvada completed her secondary schooling and went to medical school at the Apollo Institute of Medical Sciences and Research. Hyderabad is also where she met her husband, they were married in December of 2021 in a typical Indian-style week-long wedding celebration. Dr. Kuruvada is multi-lingual and can fluently converse in English, Telugu, Hindi, and Kannada.

Professional Indian Classical Dancer

Sivani is also a professionally trained Indian classical dancer in the South Indian dance form of ‘Kuchipudi’. She has been dancing since she was three years old. Her mother was her first teacher when she lived in the US. After moving back to India, she was under the coaching of renowned teachers Dr’s. Raja and Radha Reddy. She performed at several events around the world and gave her solo debut performance in 2018. Sivani set up her own dance school in 2018 where she taught young children. She also worked closely with an organization called ‘Make a Difference’. They focused on providing equitable outcomes for children in need of care and protection.

Her passion for teaching and working with children coupled with her interest in medicine strengthened her love for Pediatrics. Dr. Kuruvada knew she wanted to be a pediatrician ever since she was young. She has never lived or even visited the Northwest and is very excited to be moving to Boise, Idaho to be a part of the Pediatrics residency program. She is passionate about nature and the outdoors so she is looking forward to exploring Idaho! Apart from this, her interests include writing and singing. She loves traveling and has visited 24 countries so far!

Megan Marstaeller, MD

Class of 2026

Dr. Megan Marstaeller was born and raised in the small Montana town of Whitefish. She attended Carroll College in Helena, MT where she received bachelor’s degrees in Chemistry and Philosophy. For medical school, she attended the University of Washington School of Medicine through the WWAMI program. She set out on her medical school journey wanting to be a pediatrician. The experiences of her clinical rotations only strengthened this dedication.

Not only does she enjoy being able to interact with kids at all different developmental stages but she also has a passion for being a resource and advocate for patients and families alike. She is extremely excited to be a resident of PRI and to help kick start the new program. Some of the aspects that drew her to the program include: the unique training opportunities in rural medicine, advocacy training and the knowledgeable and personable staff, as well as the incredible location.

After residency she hopes to practice in a rural setting in the region.  Her favorite activities are basically anything that allows her and her husband to be outdoors. Running, skiing, archery, hiking, camping, and hot springing in undeveloped pools are just a few of her favorites. They are also proud dog parents of a very large rescue pup, Jocko, who participates with them in everything he possibly can but especially enjoys running.