Dr. Donald Swikert
Program Director and Second Year Coordinator
As director of the St. Elizabeth Residency in Family Medicine program since 1997, I have been fortunate to work with, teach, and learn from many talented resident physicians. Our dedicated teaching faculty and support staff have created an outstanding residency program, which has graduated more than 200 family medicine physicians since its inception in 1974. It’s a comprehensive program that emphasizes both personal and professional development of each resident physician - a philosophy I wholeheartedly support.

As a Northern Kentucky native, I have deep roots in the Bluegrass State. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Kentucky, followed by medical school at the University of Louisville.

My wife, Nancy, and I graduated from the University of Louisville School of Medicine and completed our residencies here, at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. We then practiced together for 18 years in Northern Kentucky, during which time, we were blessed with our children, Kevin and Montine.

Kevin is now pursuing a history degree at the University of Kentucky. Montine graduated with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Washington and completed her graduate work at Cambridge University in England.

I've served as president of the St. Luke Hospitals medical staff, the Northern Kentucky Medical Society, Primary Care Associates, the Kentucky Academy of Family Physicians and the Kentucky Medical Association. I currently am Vice Chair of the Kentucky Medical Association Legislative Quick Action Committee and as such am active in the legislative process affecting all physicians.
I look forward to many more rewarding years with the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency - teaching and learning from talented resident physicians.

Dr. Mark Boyd
Associate Program Director and First Year Coordinator
I have the greatest job in the world!

I enjoy the diversity and the challenge. The opportunity to work with an outstanding group of resident physicians is very rewarding.

I began working with the residency program in 1994 and have served as associate director since 1997. Prior to this, I received my bachelor’s degree (in zoology and psychology, with a business minor) from DePauw University and my medical degree from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.

I completed my residency in family medicine at the Jacksonville Naval Hospital in Florida and served several U.S. Navy deployments to Jacksonville, Fla., Memphis, Tenn., and Okinawa, Japan.

I grew up in Cincinnati and greatly enjoy living and teaching in Northern Kentucky. My wife, Stephanie, and I have four sons - Chris, Ian, Graham, and JD. Stephanie and I are very active in our boys’ schools and church.

My boys keep me very active, and I jog and play tennis regularly. Music is also one of my passions: I play guitar and piano and have been known to sing. (No CDs hitting the charts yet though)

Professionally I’m particularly interested in women’s health, travel medicine, patient education, procedural medicine and public health. In fact, I serve on the executive board of the Northern Kentucky Independent District Health Department.

I am active in the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and the American Academy of Family Practice, where I serve on various committees and the speakers bureau.

I am excited that you are considering our program and I hope you’ll come visit us to experience our family atmosphere and unique educational programs firsthand in the truly exceptional learning environment that is St. Elizabeth Healthcare.

Dr. Mary Ann Barnes
Assistant Director
I graduated from Thomas More College and University of Louisville Medical School before completing my residency at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Since joining the faculty of the residency program in 1989, I have been able to share with residents ongoing experiences at the local homeless clinic, teaching domestic violence in Ukraine, and doing medical mission work with the Mestizo and Mayan people of Belize.

In addition to these interests in public health and social justice, I am also especially interested in women's health and complementary medicine. In fact, I have additional training as a medical acupuncturist and in Chinese herbal medicine.

I have been blessed by my time with the residents, medical students, faculty, and staff at St. Elizabeth.

Our residents are wonderful people, who are eager to learn and teach. I’ve found that the rewards of working here with these awesome people far exceed those that we, as faculty, give. Working with the residents and faculty has been fun. Watch our videos on YouTube—look up St Elizabeth Antibiotic Blues and Antibiotic Generations.

In counting my blessings, I have to include my husband, Tim Boyle, and children, Bryan, Shannon, Lauren and Mark. They have all offered me lots of laughter, love and support.

My ongoing interests in nutrition and obesity research culminated in a book, Fat Cells, Beauty and You! An Exploration of the Physical, Emotional and Spiritual Dimensions of Weight Management for a Lifetime. Check out my web-sites, www.maryannbarnes.com and www.healthyfoodie.com for nutrition information and healthful recipes.

Dr. Allana Oak
Assistant Director and Director of Obstetric Fellowship
I grew up in Kenova, West Virginia and am still a big fan of the Thundering Herd of Marshall University. I earned my undergraduate degree from Georgetown College and my medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. I completed my residency and OB fellowship at St Elizabeth Healthcare.

After a couple of years in private practice in rural eastern Kentucky, I was thrilled to return to St Elizabeth’s residency program as a faculty member. I love teaching family medicine concepts, especially obstetrics including surgical OB.
A favorite aspect of my position is being on-call with residents and covering the OB unit. I've also enjoyed serving as president of the Kentucky Perinatal Association and have a special interest in the prevention of pre-term birth.
My husband, David, and I have two daughters—Lindsey and Kennedy, and a son Wyatt. We are very active in their school, as well as church and community activities. We also love water sports, and spend lots of time at our Northern Kentucky lake house.

Even though I've spent more of my life in Kentucky, my southern West Virginia accent is still with me. I'm a huge Cincinnati Bengals fan, even through the worst of times. Other personal hobbies include photography, scrap booking and computers.

Dr. Karl Schmitt
Assistant Director and Third Year Coordinator
Medicine is truly a calling. And, it is wonderfully rewarding to practice medicine while helping to develop our residents at St. Elizabeth. In fact, the excitement and creativity of the continuous learning and teaching I experience here has brought me full-circle.

I graduated from Kenyon College and the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed my family medicine residency here at St. Elizabeth in 1993. Then, while practicing family medicine full-time, I found that I was increasingly interested in the residency training program.

I’m so excited that I have the opportunity to pursue this interest. St. Elizabeth’s program offers outstanding training in the fundamentals of family medicine. But, the program also manages to be dynamic and ever-evolving. For instance, as part of our multi-faceted curriculum I have been closely involved in our public health project in Corozal, Belize.

Presently I serve as president of the medical staff of St. Elizabeth Healthcare. I also chair the Best Practices Committee of Patient First Physician Group, one of the largest in the area. I greatly enjoy the opportunity to work with Family Medicine Center Business Manager John Stewart to develop the residency's family medicine practice management curriculum, where we engage local law firms to deliver aspects of medico-legal education to the third year residents.
My wife, Kelly, and I have two children, Elizabeth and Alex. When I am not at work, I can often be found coaching or playing soccer with my family and the residency's indoor co-ed team. I invite you to join us. It's an all-around rewarding experience.

Dr. William L. Stafford, Jr.
I graduated from the University of Virginia School of Medicine in 1981 and completed my family medicine residency at Roanoke Memorial Hospitals in Virginia. I joined the St. Elizabeth faculty in 2001. Prior to that, I practiced in Covington and was grateful that many of my patients moved with me to my Edgewood office.

Up until that point, my practice experience occurred at community health centers in a rural Appalachia and the inner city. I have a certificate of added qualifications in geriatrics, my particular field of interest. I also serve as medical director at several local nursing homes.

Aside from geriatrics, I strive to learn more about pain management, medical ethical issues, terminal care, and the physician-patient relationship. My personal interests outside of medicine include building and modifying home computers, computer gaming, science fiction, cooking, and racquetball.

Dr. John Morrison
Director of Pediatrics
I have been affiliated with the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency since 1992, as facilitator for newborn and pediatric teaching. I earned my medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham and completed my pediatric residency training at Portsmouth Naval Hospital.

I encourage family medicine residents to combine the best approaches of pediatrics and family medicine to become comfortable with, and advocates for infants, children, and adolescents. I continue to be encouraged that many of the best and brightest medical students choose a career in family medicine.

I know that it’s a demanding and rewarding specialty. But I also know that it’s a specialty that can engender the very best qualities in a physician. That’s why it’s so rewarding to see St. Elizabeth graduates prosper as physicians.

I am glad to entertain questions about the pediatrics rotations at St. Elizabeth. You can contact me via e-mail at jdmorris@fuse.net.

Dr. Ward Rice
Director of Neonatology
I graduated from the University of Chicago medical school and completed my pediatric residency at Duke University. My neonatal fellowship training was at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Childrens' Hospital Medical Center.
I have been actively involved with St. Elizabeth’s residency program for many years. I enjoy teaching and I’m able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with residents, covering newborn care.

I work with three other Neonatologists from Cincinnati Childrens' Hospital Medical Center to manage St. Elizabeth’s special care nursery for premature and ill-term infants. Here – with the full support of St. Elizabeth’s neonatal staff - residents care for babies who range in size from 1000- 5000 grams. Residents also manage care for normal-term infants on the OB unit.

I am excited to be working with St Elizabeth Healthcare to develop a Level III nursery at the Edgewood campus.

Karen Ward
Residency Program Coordinator
I became the residency program coordinator several years ago after seven years with the program. I have a bachelor’s degree in information systems technology from Northern Kentucky University and an associate’s degree in office administration.

I work with Administrative Assistant and Scheduling Specialist Arin Brann and Residency Program Secretary Linda Hamilton to keep the program running smoothly. Our team strives to assist our resident physicians throughout training in a positive, supportive environment.

My husband, John, and I enjoy playing with our two granchildren. We have two wonderful sons and two daughters-in-law and we love travel.

John Stewart
Residency Program Business Manager
I grew up in Washington, Pennsylvania - a small town about 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and a graduate degree from the University of Louisville. Between these two degrees, I also attended the Center for Theological Studies in southern California.

I joined the residency program in 1998, after working for 18 years in medical management in Greater Cincinnati. I spent 16 years as a primary care medical group practice administrator in charge of 12 offices in rural southwestern Ohio. I also spent two years working on the health insurance side with a newly formed medical management company.

I welcomed the opportunity to join the residency program at St. Elizabeth where we strive to train graduates to become highly successful in all aspects of family medicine, including clinical knowledge, patient service and financial return.
I am a member of the American College of Medical Practice Executives, where I have achieved fellow status. I also participate in local, state and national Medical Group Management Associations.

I’ve found Northern Kentucky to be a great area to live, work and play. My wife, three sons and I enjoy sporting events, water sports and all that Cincinnati and the Ohio river have to offer.

Please feel free to contact me at any time with your questions, via e-mail at john.stewart@stelizabeth.com

Mary Kay Montgomery
Clinical Office Manager
As clinical office manager, I oversee the clinical staff and the daily operations of the clinical area. My nursing career spans more than 30 years in areas of patient care and management.

I graduated from Good Samaritan Nursing School and immediately began work in the labor and delivery department. After starting a family and a stint as a full-time mom, I returned to work. I have worked in pediatric offices, and spent seven years managing a seven-doctor OB/GYN group in Cincinnati. I worked briefly for an insurance company in the QI department before joining St. Elizabeth in 1996.

I have enjoyed the challenges of my position and I continue to learn in a warm and stimulating environment. My goal is to retire from here in about 30 years!

I am a native of Cincinnati’s east side and grew up about a mile from where I now live with my husband, Bill. We have three grown children and enjoy traveling, bridge, reading, golf, jewelry designing and gardening.