Faculty Family Medicine Residency About our Program About Our Region Alumni How to Apply Meet the Faculty Meet the Residents First Year Residents Second Year Residents Third Year Residents Karl Schmitt, MD Director of Family Medicine Residency Dr. Karl Schmitt serves as Program Director for St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. He is a Board-Certified Family Physician and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. A graduate of Kenyon College, where he played soccer, Dr. Schmitt attended University of Cincinnati College of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at St. Elizabeth in 1993. Upon completion of his residency, Dr. Schmitt practiced full time in a broad-spectrum Family Medicine practice in Northern Kentucky before transitioning over time into residency training. He has played and coached soccer for more than 25 years, and has been significantly involved in Sports Medicine. He also has interest and is active in international medical mission work with the residency. Away from the office, when he is not watching soccer, he often can be found using tips from the Hogwarts School of Chemistry to re-invent healthier versions of his favorite desserts. Dr. Schmitt has served as President of the Medical Staff of St. Elizabeth Healthcare and Assistant Vice President of Clinical Transformation for St. Elizabeth Physicians – a 500+ physician multi-specialty group serving Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati. In 2016, he obtained his MBA and returned to full-time faculty at the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency, bringing a level of expertise in value-based care and changing models of healthcare reimbursement to the program. Mary Ann Barnes, MD Assistant Director & Third Year Coordinator Dr. Mary Ann Barnes serves as Assistant Director and Third Year Coordinator for St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. A graduate of Thomas More College and the University of Louisville Medical School, she completed her residency at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Since joining the faculty of the residency program in 1989, Dr. Barnes has been privileged to share medical mission trips, community oriented primary care and research opportunities with residents. In addition to public health and social justice, Dr. Barnes is especially interested in women's health and complementary medicine. She also has additional training in medical acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine. Dr. Barnes considers some of her greatest blessings in life to be her husband, their four children, and eight beautiful grandchildren. Shannon Bentley, MD Assistant Director Dr. Shannon Bentley serves as Assistant Director for the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency Program. A graduate of Bethany College in West Virginia and Wright State University School of Medicine in Ohio, she completed her Family Medicine Residency through Wright State at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Following residency, she completed an Obstetrics Fellowship in Austin, Texas. Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Bentley has practiced from coast to coast. Following her Obstetrics Fellowship, she worked as an emergency department staff physician and was in a rural private Family Medicine/Obstetrical practice in Central California. She then moved on to become Family Medicine Faculty in West Virginia before finally returning to her home area, joining the St. Elizabeth family of healthcare and medical education in 2016. Dr. Bentley is very proud of her Appalachian heritage and feels blessed to contribute to the healthcare of people in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, her father’s birthplace. Patients and Family Medicine Residents inspire her to try to become a better physician and person each day. Her medical interests include Obstetrics and Women’s Health, ultrasound, LGBT Healthcare, faculty development and physician wellness. Personal interests include a newly found passion for kayaking, outdoor activities, studio art and wood working. She is the proud pet parent of a black Labrador Retriever named Jett. Holly Danneman, MD Assistant Director Dr. Holly Graziani Danneman serves as Assistant Director for St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. She is a Board Certified Family Physician and Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Danneman is a life-long resident of Northern Kentucky, having graduated high school from Notre Dame Academy in 1992. From there she attended Xavier University in Cincinnati, graduating magna cum laude in 1996 with a BS in Natural Science. She attended medical school at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, graduating with distinction in 2000. Upon completion of medical school, she returned to Northern Kentucky to complete her training at St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. Dr. Danneman proceeded to work in the St Elizabeth Emergency Department for 14 years, and then as a hospitalist for 2 years before transitioning to academic medicine. While practicing hospitalist medicine, she was named “Top Doc” in Cincinnati magazine in 2018 and 2019. In 2019, Dr. Danneman joined our faculty as assistant director. She was awarded the Faculty Teaching Award for the 2019-2020 academic year. She has a true passion for teaching residents and medical students. Also in 2019, Dr. Danneman was appointed adjunct assistant professor at the UK College of Medicine’s Northern Kentucky campus, where she teaches first medical students the introduction to clinical medicine course (ICM) and advanced clinical medicine (ACM) to second year medical students. Her areas of interest include inpatient medicine, critical care and emergency medicine as it pertains to the primary care physician. Dr. Danneman and her husband, Jim, are the parents of six children. She has a true passion for the fight against childhood hunger and food insecurity in our area. She serves on the board of GO Pantry and spends much of her free time advocating for children whose access to food is scarce. In March of 2020, Dr. Danneman was honored by her high school alma mater with the prestigious “Women Making a Difference award.” This award recognizes NDA alumnae who have made significant contributions to their families and their community through service, professional and and philanthropic efforts. Nick Messinger, PharmD, BCPS, BCACP, CDE Director of Pharmacy Education Dr. Nick Messinger serves as the Director of Pharmacy Education for the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency and provides direct patient care at the St. Elizabeth Family Practice Center. He is an assistant professor of pharmacy practice and administrative sciences at the University of Cincinnati Winkle College of Pharmacy. He received his bachelor of science in biochemistry/biology at Mount St. Joseph University in 2008 and subsequently received his doctor of pharmacy from the University of Cincinnati Winkle College of Pharmacy in 2012. Dr. Messinger completed a PGY1 Pharmacy Residency at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center in 2013 and a PGY2 Ambulatory Care Pharmacy Residency at the Five Rivers Health Centers in Dayton, Ohio in 2014. He is a Board Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS), Board Certified Ambulatory Care Pharmacist (BCACP) and a Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). Dr. Messinger's areas of interest are ambulatory care pharmacy practice, diabetes care, wellness and preventive care, and pharmacy education. He serves on the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) New Practitioners Forum Executive Committee. Allana Oak, DO Director of Obstetric Fellowship Dr. Allana Oak serves as Director of Obstetric Fellowship for St. Elizabeth Healthcare. She earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown College and her medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her residency and OB fellowship at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. She grew up in Kenova, West Virginia and is still a big fan of the Thundering Herd of Marshall University. After a couple of years in private practice in rural eastern Kentucky, Dr. Oak returned to St. Elizabeth’s residency program as a faculty member. She has also served as president of the Kentucky Perinatal Association and has a special interest in the prevention of pre-term birth. She considers being on-call with residents and covering the OB unit one of her favorite aspects of her position. Dr. Oak and her husband, David, have two daughters, Lindsey and Kennedy, and a son Wyatt. They are very active in their children’s school, as well as church and community activities. She is a huge Cincinnati Bengals fan – even through the worst of times. Outside of medicine, she also loves water sports, photography, scrap booking and computers. Ward Rice, MD Medical Director of Newborn Services Dr. Ward Rice serves as Director of Neonatology for St. Elizabeth Healthcare. He is a graduate of the University of Chicago, Medical School. He completed his pediatric residency at Duke University and his neonatal fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Dr. Ward has been actively involved with St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency for many years. He considers teaching and being able to spend a lot of one-on-one time with residents, covering newborn care some of his favorite aspects of his position. Dr. Ward works with three other Neonatologists from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center to manage St. Elizabeth’s Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Here – with the full support of St. Elizabeth’s neonatal staff – residents care for babies who range in size from 1,000 – 5,000 grams. Residents also manage care for normal-term infants on the OB unit. Robert Tracy, MD Assistant Director Dr. Robert Tracy joined the Family Medicine Residency this year as a part time faculty member. He has been in private practice for 30 years with St. Elizabeth, currently in Highland Heights, Kentucky, where he remains on a part-time basis, serving as Lead Physician there for 12 years. Rob was also Chairman of the Board for St. Elizabeth Physicians from 2010 to 2012, Compensation Committee Chairman from 2013-2019, and continues to serve as Medical Director of Quality for St. Elizabeth Physicians. He is looking forward to sharing his love of clinical medicine as well as his administrative experience with the Residents. His clinical interests include office procedures as well as preventative medicine, having recently worked to create a comprehensive approach to St Elizabeth Physician’s vaccine and cancer screening protocols. Rob is originally from Cleveland, Ohio and graduated from Clemson University in 1984, where he ran cross country. He is a 1988 graduate of the Booneshoft School of Medicine at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio. Rob is a 1991 graduate of the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. He continues to be an avid runner, Clemson football fan, and landscaper in his free time, but may be happiest driving his pontoon around Elk Lake. He is married to Dr. Randi Callahan, also a family physician with St Elizabeth. They have two children, a daughter who is a 3rd year Family Medicine Resident, and their son who is completing his PhD in Environmental Engineering. Rob has traveled to Honduras, Guatemala, Haiti, and Appalachia for mission trips over the years, and hopes to continue that outreach with the residents. He feels that the Residency Program’s long history in Northern Kentucky has created an amazing environment to practice primary care and is looking forward to being part of that tradition. Donald Swikert, MD Assistant Director & Second Year Coordinator Dr. Donald Swikert served as director of the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency program from 1997 to June 2014. He currently serves as the Second Year Coordinator. A native of Northern Kentucky, he earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Kentucky and his medical degree from the University of Louisville, School of Medicine. He completed his residency at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Previously, Dr. Swikert has 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. He currently serves as Vice Chair of the Kentucky Medical Association Legislative Quick Action Committee and as such he is active in the legislative process affecting all physicians. Over the course of his career, Dr. Swikert has been fortunate to work with, teach, and learn from many talented resident physicians. He appreciates that St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency is a comprehensive program that emphasizes both personal and professional development of each resident physician – a philosophy he wholeheartedly supports. Dr. Swikert and his wife, Nancy, have two grown children, Kevin and Montine. He looks forward to more rewarding years with the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency – teaching and learning from talented resident physicians. Kimberly A. Vormbrock, MD Assistant Director Dr. Kimberly A. Vormbrock serves as part-time faculty for St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine where she earned her medical degree. Following a transitional internship served at St. Mary’s Health Services in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dr. Vormbrock completed her family medicine residency at St. Elizabeth Healthcare. Following residency, Dr. Vormbrock completed the OB fellowship at St. Elizabeth Healthcare and then entered full time practice. She has a family medicine practice in Edgewood and also provides OB care one day each week at the Family Practice Center. Chris Zowtiak, MD Assistant Director & First Year Coordinator Dr. Chris Zowtiak serves as an Assistant Director for St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency and the Medical Student Clerkship Director. She is a graduate of Dartmouth College, where she obtained her undergraduate degree in psychology. While at college, Dr. Zowtiak also pursued studies in cultural anthropology. This interest took her to Papua New Guinea in 1998 to study Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in the setting of natural disasters. She subsequently became interested in social justice, cultural competence and ethics in medicine and completed her MD from Georgetown University in Washington, DC. Dr. Zowtiak completed her rural residency training at Oregon Health & Science University/Cascades East Family Medicine Residency Program in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Following residency, she practiced full-spectrum family medicine (including hospitalist work and non-operative obstetrics) and also served as an adjunct professor of family medicine at the Cascades East Family Medicine Center for three years. Dr. Zowtiak is originally from the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky area, and returned to Northern Kentucky in 2014 with her husband and four little boys to join the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency team, where she is thrilled to be teaching future generations of family physicians and caring for her home community. Dr. Zowtiak brings with her an enduring passion for maternal-child health, including non-operative obstetrics, reproductive health, mental health, social justice, health policy and advocacy, and working with medical students and residents. John Stewart Administrative Director John Stewart is the Administrative Director for St. Elizabeth Family Practice Center and the Residency Program. He grew up in Washington, Pennsylvania, a town about 25 miles southwest of Pittsburgh, and earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his graduate degree from the University of Louisville. He and his wife live in northern Kentucky where they raised their three sons. Prior to joining the residency program, John worked for several years in medical group management in Greater Cincinnati serving as a primary care group practice administrator. He also spent time working on the health insurance side with a medical management subsidiary of Anthem. John enjoys discussing practice management matters with residents and assisting them in evaluating practice opportunities after graduation. John is a member of the American College of Medical Practice Executives, where he has achieved fellow status. He participates in local and national Medical Group Management Associations, St Elizabeth System committees and manages an employer sponsored near site primary care clinic. Cindy Loney Residency Program Coordinator Cindy Loney serves as the Residency Program Coordinator for St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. She is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati where she earned her bachelor of arts in German Studies. Her academic career included multiple study abroad opportunities. In the role of Program Coordinator, Cindy assists the Program Director with the day-to-day administration of the program requirements, and tracking and reporting program data to governing graduate medical education entities. She is also responsible for program recruitment and the oversight of medical student rotations. Cindy has worked in both the public and private sectors throughout her career. Prior to joining the St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency program, she worked for St. Elizabeth Physicians as a credentialing coordinator. Kay Sauter Clinical Coordinator Kay Sauter serves as Clinical Coordinator for St. Elizabeth Family Medicine Residency. She is a registered nurse who started her career at Children's Hospital Medical Center. A caregiver at heart, she was drawn to nursing and its variety of patient care settings. She has worked with all ages throughout her career. She is passionate about teamwork and enjoys seeing the residents grow as physicians.