Idaho State University Welcomes Seven Family Medicine Residency Interns

POCATELLO – Each year, the Idaho State University Family Medicine Residency Program graduates seven Family Medicine Physicians, and each year welcomes seven new interns to take their place.

This is a three-year program, with 21 residents at any given time. Seven newly-matched interns from around the United States are currently finishing their fourth year of medical school and will join ISU on Monday, June 18, to begin their two-week residency orientation.

One of the primary goals in attracting residency interns to ISU is that it often means retaining these new physicians to practice medicine in Idaho.

"Location of residency education after medical school is a strong predictor of where physicians will ultimately practice after graduation,” said Dr. William Woodhouse, director of external relations for the ISU Family Medicine Residency program. “Training these seven excellent young physicians, four of whom are from Idaho, here in Pocatello, makes it much more likely that they will stay to practice in Idaho."

Scott Bontrager is from East Tennessee State University Medical School. He is an alumnus of Idaho State University, having earned his physician’s assistant degree in 2009. He was awarded the “Sullivan County’s Most Beloved Provider” award in 2013. He is excited to return to Pocatello to continue his medical education, this time as a physician. In his free time he enjoys a variety of outdoor activities, watching sports and having fun with his family.

Chance Christensen is from the University of Utah Medical School. He hails from the Idaho Falls area, and after residency hopes to return there to serve that community. He would like to practice rural, full-spectrum Family Medicine, including obstetrics. In his free time he enjoys road cycling, cooking, is a technology enthusiast, and enjoys playing card and board games with his family.

Cameron MacInnis is from the University of North Dakota Medical School. He hails from Santa Rosa, California. After residency, he would like to practice rural Family Medicine. During medical school he received the Gold Humanism Award. He has varied interests to fill his free time, including team sports, outdoor sports, reading and music, participating in collegiate marching band for the University of New Mexico.

Scott Nagao comes to ISU from Midwestern University, Arizona Medical School. He hails from Ogden, Utah. After residency, he would like to practice Family Medicine in a rural setting. During medical school he received the Silver Touch Award for greater than 50 hours of community service in one year. During his free time he enjoys running, fly fishing, camping, hunting and competitive shooting.

Daniel Sterner is from Touro University, Nevada Medical School. He hails from Pocatello and attended ISU for his undergraduate degree in physics. After residency he hopes to practice full-spectrum Family Medicine with special interest in the Spanish-speaking community. In his free time he enjoys playing several musical instruments (violin in the symphony) and is an avid hiker.

TJ (Tyler) Tolman comes from Des Moines University Medical School. He hails from Boise, Idaho. After residency he would like to practice full-spectrum rural Family Medicine in the Mountain West, including pediatrics and obstetrics. In his free time he enjoys a variety of sports, including running. He holds the Boise State University 4 x 100 school record. He also enjoys movies, reading, and outdoor activities with his family.

Steven Webster is from Liberty University Medical School. He hails from rural Utah and grew up on a dairy farm. After residency he hopes to practice family medicine in a rural setting. In his free time he enjoys fly fishing, tying his own flies and getting to the river as often as he can. He also enjoys watching and playing a variety of sports.