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| Home > Services and Specialties > Mercy Family Medicine |
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The Faculty
Individual Biographies
Projects, Research
List of Faculty & Office Management:
Department Chairman: Peter G. Danis M.D.
Residency Director: Grant S. Hoekzema, M.D.
Behavioral Sciences: Patrick
Openlander, Ph.D. and Rosalyn Young, Ph.D.
Office Administrator: Donna Hammon
Faculty:
L. Virgil Das, M.D.
James Deckert, M.D.
Thomas A. Johnson Jr., M.D.
Sandra Kitson, MD
James Lord, M.D.
Marsha Mertens, M.D.
Gloria
Rizkallah, Pharm.D.
Terry Seaton, Pharm.D.
Biographies:
THE FACULTY
DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE, ST. JOHN'S MERCY MEDICAL CENTER
The faculty of the Family Medicine Residency Program
includes eight family physicians, one obstetrician/gynecologist, two behavioral
scientists, and a clinical pharmacist. In addition, the size and scope of the
Medical Center enable residents to learn from a variety of faculty from other
outstanding departments.
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PETER G. DANIS, III,
M.D.
CHAIRMAN OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FAMILY MEDICINE
Dr. Danis received his undergraduate degree
from Georgetown University in 1977 and his medical degree from St. Louis
University in 1981. After completion of his residency in family medicine
at St. John's Mercy, he spent nearly seven years as Medical Director of
a community health center in South Carolina.
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| His special interests in family
medicine include obstetrics, natural family planning, health promotion/disease
prevention, and medical student education. In 1994 he became certified as
a medical consultant in natural family planning. He served as Residency
Director from 1992 to 1999 and became Chairman in 1997. In addition to his
work he enjoys spending time with his family, playing tennis, gardening,
singing, and following the St. Louis Cardinals! |
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L.
VIRGIL DAS, MD
Dr. Das completed
his Masters work at Southern University in Edwardsville in 1985. He
graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in 1989
and then completed a Family Medicine residency at St. John's Mercy Medical
Center in 1992.
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| After residency
he practiced for ten years at Family Care Health Centers an organization
devoted to providing health care for the underserved. His professional interests
include obstetrics, pediatrics, and health care for underserved people.
He enjoys spending time with his family, active church involvement, running
and photography. |
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GRANT S. HOEKZEMA,
M.D.
RESIDENCY DIRECTOR
Dr. Hoekzema graduated from Washington University
School of Medicine in 1992 and completed his residency in family medicine
at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center in 1995 where he was Chief Resident
during his third year. He then joined the faculty full time. He became
Residency Director in 1999 after completing a fellowship through the National
Institute for Program Director Development in 1998.
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His special interests include prenatal care,
pediatrics, computers in medicine, evidence based medicine, and practice
based research. He is responsible for the creation and maintenance of
our residency’s Web site, and encourages resident participation in
this endeavor. Outside of the office, he enjoys spending time with his
wife and five children, playing volleyball, coaching soccer, and keeping
active in church activities.
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THOMAS A. JOHNSON,
JR., M.D.
A 1968 graduate of St. Louis University School
of Medicine, Dr. Johnson completed his medical internship at Brown University
and his family medicine residency at the University of Nebraska. He practiced
for three years in a rural Nebraska community and served as a faculty
member at the University of Nebraska. Dr. Johnson joined the Department
of Family Medicine at St. John's Mercy in 1976 and served as Residency
Director from 1981-92.
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| He completed the Duke Faculty
Development Workshop Series in 1981. He has a special interest in geriatrics
and health maintenance and serves as an associate editor of Family Medicine:
Principles and Practice, Fourth edition. He holds a Certificate of Added
Qualification in Geriatrics. Dr. Johnson served as Chairman of the Department
of Family Medicine from 1990 until 1997. Outside of work he enjoys reading,
flying, hiking and family time (grandfathering). |
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SANDRA
KITSON, M.D.
Dr. Sandra Kitson
graduated from the Medical College of Wisconsin in 1995, she completed
her Family Practice residency at an affiliated hospital in 1998. Sandra
was a nontraditional medical student having worked as an X-ray Technician
for 17 years before beginning medical school.
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| After residency
Dr Kitson worked in private practice with a large multi-specialty group
in Wisconsin as well as serving as volunteer clinical faculty with Columbia
Family Medicine residency. She feels that this diverse background gives
her a wealth of experiences that compliments well with her teaching style.
Areas of particular interest are Nursing Home based care, colposcopy and
low risk OB. In her off time Dr Kitson is an avid golfer and gardener. |
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JAMES L. LORD, M.D.
Dr. Lord received both his medical school
education and family medicine residency training at the University of
Missouri. After his residency, he spent nine years in private practice.
In 1986 he joined the Department of Family Medicine at St. John's Mercy.
He has developed the curriculum in practice management and in sports medicine.
In 1994 he received a Certificate of Added Qualification in Sports Medicine.
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| Dr. Lord also coordinates the
Quality Improvement Program for the department. He serves as team physician
for the DeSmet Jesuit High School varsity lacrosse team and coaches a little
girl's select soccer team. |
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MARSHA K. MERTENS,
M.D.
Dr. Mertens was raised in a Navy family and
therefore traveled to many countries including Morocco, France, and Japan
while growing up. She feels this has given her a better understanding
of different people from different backgrounds. She received her undergraduate
degree from William Jewell College and her medical degree from the University
of Missouri-Columbia.
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| She is the coordinator of the
gynecology rotation and curriculum and chairs the residency QI committee.
Her interests include colposcopy and women's health. She enjoys biking,
fishing, and volleyball in her spare time, as well as living on the far
outskirts of the St. Louis metropolitan area. |
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JAMES J. DECKERT,
M.D.
Dr. Deckert graduated from the University
of Missouri School of Medicine in 1975 and completed his family medicine
residency training in 1978 at St. Joseph's Hospital in Flint, Michigan.
He was in solo practice for one year and then he joined the staff of the
family medicine residency at Lutheran Medical Center in St. Louis in 1979.
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| In 1980, he completed a fellowship
in medical education in the Department of Family Medicine at Southern Illinois
University. He joined the Department of Family Medicine at St. John's Mercy
Medical Center in 1983. His special interests include epidemiology, geriatrics,
and sports medicine. Dr. Deckert has received the Certificate of Added Qualification
in Geriatrics. He enjoys running, is an avid chess player, and an amateur
astronomer. |
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GLORIA
RIZKALLAH, PHARM.D.
Dr. Rizkallah is
a licensed pharmacist who received her Pharm.D. from the University
of Maryland in 2002. She completed a specialty residency in family medicine/primary
care at Mercy Family Medicine in 2003 and has recently joined the practice
as faculty in addition to her faculty position at St. Louis College
of Pharmacy. Her responsibilities include pharmacotherapy education
to physicians and
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| students,
optimizing drug therapy for patients, and conducting clinical research.
Her interests include dyslipidemia, diabetes and women's health. In her
spare time, she enjoys singing in various local venues, international travel
and tennis. |
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ROSALYN A. YOUNG,
PH.D.
Dr. Young is a licensed psychologist who
received her Ph.D. from St. Louis University in 1984. In her teaching
and clinical practice, she emphasizes collaborative care. Special areas
of interest include chronic illness/pain, cancer, and visual imagery with
a focus on mind/body/spirit well-being.
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| Her work also encompasses families,
parenting issues, adolescents, and couples. She devotes some of her professional
time to qualitative research relating to illness/health issues. She focuses
on her own well-being by enjoying her family, hiking, backpacking, canoeing,
and travel. On a regular basis she meditates and jogs. |
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PATRICK OPENLANDER,
PH.D.
Dr. Openlander is a licensed psychologist
and received his doctorate from St. Louis University in 1981. He has published
in professional journals on topics related to short term therapy and the
creative process in psychotherapy. His areas of interest include marriage
and family therapy, anxiety disorders, and the connection between stress
and illness.
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| Dr. Openlander enjoys spending
time with his wife and two teenage sons. He is an avid gardener, road bicyclist,
and very amateur tennis player. He also uses meditation and weight training
to manage stress. |
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TERRY L. SEATON,
PHARM.D., BCPS
CLINICAL PHARMACIST FACULTY
Dr. Seaton graduated in 1986 with a B.S.
degree in pharmacy from the University of Colorado. He earned a Doctor
of Pharmacy degree and completed a general residency at the University
of Washington in 1990. After completing an advanced residency in family
medicine and primary care in 1991, he joined the faculty at the St. Louis
College of Pharmacy.
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| He is a board-certified pharmacotherapy
specialist. Responsibilities at St. John's Mercy Medical Center include
teaching drug therapy, participating in patient care, and conducting clinical
research. Terry enjoys baseball, cooking, playing guitar, and fishing. He
and his wife Jenny have two daughters, Stephanie and Whitney. |
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DONNA
HAMMON
OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR
Donna Hammon joined Family Medicine in August 2002 as the Office Administrator.
She has a bachelor degree from Fontbonne College
in Business Administration and Health Administration.
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| She has
over twelve years of experience working in the Health field in a variety
of areas, including six years managing medical offices. Donna lives in Troy,
MO with her husband of 15 years and two children. |
Faculty Research and Projects
There are several faculty involved in research and writing on various levels
in the program. The Residency is a member of FPIN (Family Practice Inquiries
Network), a collaborative national network dedicated to answering clinical questions
using the best evidence. Multiple faculty members present at national meetings
each year including NAPCRG, STFM, RAP and the AFPRD meeting. The program is
an active member of two faculty development consortiums, one based in St. Louis
and one in Missouri (JOCOMO). Journal writing also is a regular accomplishment
with recent articles by our faculty in the JFP POEMs section, Family Medicine,
and American Family Physician. In addition Dr. Johnson is an associate editor
of Taylor's Family Medicine, 4th ed. The department strives to include residents
in research if there is an interest expressed in this area.
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