2012-2013 Peds Housestaff PGY-3

Kelsey Alexander, M.D.

Medical College of Georgia
Dr. Alexander was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia and graduated from Marist High School. She earned a BS in Nutrition Science from the University of Georgia in 2006. Kelsey attended medical school at the Medical College of Georgia, where she met her husband, Thomas, who is currently a second year orthopedic surgery resident in Memphis. Together they enjoy the outdoors, traveling, cooking, playing with their black lab named Cash, cheering for the Georgia Bulldogs and spending time with friends and family. Kelsey also likes playing volleyball, running, art, and photography.

Erin Amini, M.D.

University of Missouri-Kansas City
Dr. Amini was raised in Camdenton, Missouri, otherwise known as Lake of the Ozarks. She attended University of Missouri – Kansas City where she received a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and her medical degree. This is also where Erin met her husband, Michael, who is now in Orthopedic Surgery. They have two “children”, a Great Dane named Sade and a kitten named Sylas. Together they love to ski, play tennis, cook, travel, entertain, try new Memphis restaurants, and spend time with friends and family.

Callie Barnwell, M.D.

Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Dr. Barnwell was born and raised in Athens, Georgia where she graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Animal Science. Callie and her husband, Courtney, moved to Charleston, SC seven years ago where she attended the Medical University of South Carolina. Callie and Courtney are excited to make Memphis their new home. Susie Mae is their adorable speckled dog that loves to visit Shelby Farms. Callie values time with family most of all during down moments. She enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music, traveling, and playing the piano.

Jennifer Berger, M.D.

The University of Tennessee School of Medicine
Dr. Berger was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. She left Memphis to attend the University of Virginia in Charlottesville (one of the most beautiful places on earth)for undergrad. Afterward she returned to Memphis to work at the Church Health Center for a year where she met her amazing and charming husband, Jonathan, a radiology resident at Baptist. Jennifer then attended medical school at UT. She is a new puppy owner of a precious Goldendoodle – Triscuit. Most importantly, she is a master guacamole chef. Jennifer enjoys running, cooking, movies, traveling, wine and cheese, and hanging out with friends and family.

Kristen Bettin, M.D.

Ohio State University School of Medicine
Dr. Bettin was born in Lake Charles, LA and raised in Mars, PA (a small town north of Pittsburgh). Kristen graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Biochemistry. She loved Ohio State so much that she stayed for medical school, where she met her handsome husband, Clayton, an Orthopaedic Surgery resident. Kristen and Clayton are proud parents to Wally (cat) and Woody (parrot). Kristen enjoys cooking, wine, traveling, reading, and learning to play golf in her spare time.

Anna Chandler, M.D.

The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Dr. Chandler was raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee with her three younger siblings. She attended Birmingham-Southern College for undergraduate where majored in Biology and minored in French. She then moved to Memphis for medical school at The University of Tennessee. While in Memphis Anna fell in love with Le Bonheur and UT’s pediatrics program. She is thrilled to stay in town to continue her training. Anna loves to run especially along the river on Mud Island and being involved in her church. She also enjoys traveling and everywhere, frolicking outdoors, hanging out with friends and thrives on coffee, good wine and chocolate.

Catherine Donnellan, M.D.

Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Dr. Donnellan was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida, studied Classics (Latin and Greek, i.e., nerd stuff) at the beautiful and glorious University of Virginia, and med schooled it up at Saint Louis University. She has two adorable nieces whom she'd love to show you their pictures. Catherine wants to be a pediatric pulmonologist and beekeeper when she grows up. She enjoys singing and dancing, trivia, cooking delicious foods, exercising, being crafty, language, writing, fashion, good deals, meeting dashingly handsome and classy gentlemen, and reading other residents' bios. Broadway is her back-up plan.

Jennifer Feldman, M.D.

Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Dr. Jennifer Nichole Feldman was born on a warm summer day, August 1983, in Cincinnati, Ohio, the little sister to three older brothers. She graduated from Mt. Notre Dame High School in 2002, and went into the honors program at The University of South Carolina. In 2006 she graduated from USC with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics. She went on to the Boonshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Jennifer is a fan of the Reds, Bengals, Gamecocks and Buckeyes. In her spare time she puts on the premiere same day build and race regatta in southwest Ohio, and makes movies with her brothers. Knowing her brothers as well as she does, she felt it was in the best interest of her nieces and nephews to go into pediatrics.

Cara Gradney, M.D.

Louisiana State University School of Medicine in Shreveport
Dr. Gradney was born and raised in Louisiana. Cara loves her LSU Tigers, is an avid runner and enjoys anything outdoors. She knows she will miss home in Louisiana, but excited to start a new chapter in her life! Cara is excited to be a newly wed to Eric Fontenot, an Internal Medicine resident and to start her 2nd year!

Melissa Hines-Thomas, M.D.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Dr. Hines-Thomas was born and raised in Memphis Tennessee. She is married to a very handsome guy (if I she says so herself), Cameron. In true southern style she met when she was 17 at Steak N Shake. She really believes Midtown is Memphis. Melissa has a Mini Cooper named Mrs. Fortesure and is crazy about her two greyhounds, Kyross and Aurora. Yes, they are fast. And yes, she has had chase them before. Melissa loves to read. Her latest obsession is the Sookie Stackhouse novels. The funniest movie she has seen in the last five years is definitely Pineapple Express. She is excited to be at Le Bonheur where the peeps are awesome and everyday is different.

Jessica Hysmith, M.D.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Dr. Hysmith was born and raised in Chattanooga, Tennessee where she graduated from Red Bank High school. She then received a BA in Anthropology from The University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 2005 before attending the University of Tennessee School of Medicine in Memphis. There she met and married fellow pediatric resident Nick Hysmith. Nick and Jessica have loved living in Memphis so far and are excited to stay for residency! They enjoy road trips and spending time in the country or anywhere outdoors. Jessica enjoys arts and crafts of all kinds and spending time with family and friends.

Nicholas Hysmith, M.D.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Dr. Hysmith grew up in the very small town of Henderson, Tennessee (not Hendersonville). He attended The University of Tennessee first for undergraduate education where he majored in Biology, and secondly for medical school where he met his wife, Jessica, also a peds resident. He enjoys UT sports, particularly football and basketball. He also likes being outdoors as much as possible, especially at his grandfather’s farm in Henderson. Nick also enjoys deer hunting, travel and hiking.

Rana Khaznadar, M.D.

University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Dr. Khaznadar is no stranger to moving around. She was born in Saudi Arabia, lived in Syria, and then moved to the Texas Panhandle where she lived in Amarillo. She even lived in Memphis…..Memphis, Texas! She became a Longhorn at the University of Texas at Austin before moving again to get her MD at The University of Texas at Houston. There Rana met the love of her life, Michael Perez, also a Pediatric Resident and adopted her baby Joey “Jojo” Perez-Khaznadar, a beautiful yellow lab. Downtime for this resident includes reading Wikipedia, watching movies, and trying out new restaurants with Michael. She enjoys traveling, making new friends and is excited about attending a different UT to become a great pediatrician!

Liz Lewis, M.D.

University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Dr. Lewis was born and raised in Greenville, South Carolina. She first travelled to Memphis to attend Rhodes College where she met her husband, Paul. Returning to her home state, Liz completed medical school at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine. She was then eager to return to Memphis for some blues, barbeque and a brand new Le Bonheur! In her free time, Liz enjoys running, shopping, travelling and trying new restaurants. Her husband, Paul, is a student in the UT college of Dentistry.

Emily Miller, D.O.

Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Miller was raised in Columbus, Ohio. She graduated from Michigan State University where she received her BS in Physiology with a specialization in Bioethics. She attended Ohio College of Osteopathic Medicine and is excited to finally live somewhere warm! Emily enjoys playing volleyball, reading fun books, music as long as its not country or death metal), and traveling to Central/South America. She also spends her free time with her fiancé/better-half, Lance and functionally three-legged dog-child, Carmen.

Lauren Mutter, M.D.

Louisiana State University School of Medicine at New Orleans
Dr. Mutter is born and raised a “New Orleans lady”. She chased a life long dream and attended the University of Notre Dame. After graduating in 2006 with a degree in History, she moved back home to New Orleans to attend medical school and to be part of the “New” New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina. It was in medical school during a required project second year that Lauren met her husband, Matt. After completing an away rotation in Memphis together fourth year, they were hooked! Lauren enjoys cooking, all things outdoors, hanging with her dog Abita, spilling coffee on everything she owns, and always cheering on the Irish and Saints!

Michael Perez, M.D.

University of Texas Medical School at Houston
Dr. Perez was born and raised in Dallas Texas. He attended Southern Methodist University where he received his undergraduate degrees in Biology and Spanish. He graduated from the University of Texas Medical School at Houston where he met his lovely fiancée, Rana Khaznadar. Their passion for pediatrics brought them to Memphis. Michael enjoys spending time with family, watching movies, dancing, traveling and chasing after his disobedient pooch. His vices include football and exploring local cuisine!

Sarah Pettigrew, M.D.

University of Alabama School of Medicine
Dr Pettigrew was born and raised in Huntsville, Alabama. She received her undergrad degree from UAB and liked Birmingham so much that she stayed for medical school. In her spare time Sarah likes to travel, cook, spend time with family and boyfriend, Lee, and play with pug, Lucy. She is excited to live out of the state of Alabama for the first time in her life, and can’t wait to explore Memphis!

Steven Schulenborg, M.D.

University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Dr. Schulenborg attained his Bachelor’s degree in Interdisciplinary Neuroscience at Vanderbilt University prior to attending the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine. Steve’s favorite activities still include watching Vanderbilt football, basketball, and baseball (two of which usually leave him smiling). Steve is an avid traveler and counts himself blessed to have had the opportunity to travel extensively through Europe and participate on a medical mission trip to Africa. In addition to traveling and being an enthusiastic sports fan, Steve is also a coffee connoisseur, soccer player, a voracious reader, and an avid fan of many of the outdoor festivals in Memphis.

Stefanie Stachura, M.D.

Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Dr. Stachura grew up in Livonia, MI, a suburb just northwest of Detroit. Stefanie graduated from the University of Michigan and majored in Cellular and Molecular Biology. She took a year off after college to do research, and was lucky enough to meet her fiancé James during that time. Though a wolverine at heart, she crossed over “to the other side” and went to Michigan State for Medical School. Stefanie and James are so happy to make the move to Tennessee and leave the Michigan winters behind! She is a huge college football fan and in my free time I also enjoy working out, watching movies, hanging out with friends and her five-year-old parakeet, Oscar!

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Contact Us

University of Tennessee
Pediatric Residency Program
Box 57, 50 N. Dunlap St.
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 901-287-6756

Resident Coordinator

Karen Ariemma
Phone: 901-287-6210
Toll Free: 800-733-6371
Email: kariemma@uthsc.edu