Third-Year Residents

Dawid Gerlach, DO

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Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine, Lewisburg, WV

Undergraduate: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

During my month-long rotation with the Latrobe Family Medicine Residency as a fourth-year medical student, I knew that this was the place I wanted to complete my residency. I was able to see first-hand the effort put into the program to foster a caring and inviting environment for learning, even for a visiting student.

The camaraderie between residents and faculty went above and beyond and directly translated to excellent patient care. This welcoming learning environment supported by attendings and residents striving for excellence in patient care was exactly what I was looking for in a residency program. Along with the friendly environment, the rural population that is served greatly interested me within this unopposed program. And as a bonus, the resident housing that is offered relieved the stress of having to search for an apartment and provides an easy morning commute to the hospital.

Indiana Judy, DO

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Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

I first heard about the Latrobe Family Medicine Residency when I was a third-year medical student just getting my bearings on the real world. I had worked two months back-to-back with two different attendings who had both completed the residency in Latrobe and they both spoke so highly of the program. When I finally met the faculty, residents, and staff on my interview day I truly understood what they meant. Everyone is so compassionate and wants you to succeed. When choosing where to finalize your training there is a lot to consider, but one of the most important things is becoming a good doctor. The Latrobe Family Medicine Residency is committed to not only making you a good doctor, but making sure your training remains positive and fruitful during each step of the process.

I am from a small town and my passion is rural family medicine; because Latrobe is an unopposed residency with multiple clinic options, I am able to experience my passion during my training. I love having the opportunity to give back to a community that reminds me so much of home, as it will be mine over the next few years. I have the luxury of living in the wonderful subsidized housing they have for residents while being 10 minutes from nearly everything. There are very few places like Latrobe Family Medicine Residency, and I could not be more happy to be here.

Gabrielle Scherer, DO

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Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Seton Hill, Greensburg, PA

Undergraduate: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

During my interview with the Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency, the staff and faculty were genuinely welcoming, approachable, and knowledgeable. I then started meeting residents who were hardworking and happy, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of this team for my family medicine training. The residency program here will push me to become the best caretaker for my patients which is so important to me.

I am glad that I am training not far away from where I call home, north of Pittsburgh and staying in the residency housing a short distance from the hospital is convenient. I am thankful to be part of a program that feels like another supportive family.

Matthew McAlister, DO

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Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Seton Hill, Greensburg, PA

Undergraduate: University of Maryland, College Park, MD

On paper, the Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program possesses many qualities I desire in a residency program. Its unopposed nature allows for many hands-on opportunities which greatly facilitates learning. There is also the opportunity to work at many different sites each with their own diverse patient populations. The program also strikes a great balance between inpatient and outpatient education which I feel will best prepare me for my career.

Most importantly, I truly feel like part of family here at this program. While I was a student, all of the residents, attendings, and staff treated me as a valued member of the healthcare team and were genuinely interested in me as a human being. When choosing where I wanted to end up for residency, Independence Health System became a clear top contender for me. Not only did I feel secure in the fact that I would be provided with a quality, focused education that, but I wanted a place where it felt like I was going to a second home. I honestly feel very lucky to have found a program that could check off all the boxes for me. I look forward to making many memories during my time here.

Anna Gorman, MD

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Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD

Undergraduate: Bucknell University, Lewisburg, PA

When considering residency programs, one question was at the top of my mind: where can I become the best family physician I can be?

From the day of my interview, the Family Medicine Residency at Latrobe Hospital stood out as a program in which I could serve my patients and my colleagues in an effective, deeply fulfilling way while learning and growing as a physician.

The faculty recognizes that family medicine is a quintessentially human specialty. To take responsibility for patients’ health and provide exceptional continuing care requires forging bonds with them based on mutual respect and trust. It requires learning about them and their lives to understand the critical subtleties and details of their individual situations. Independence Health System is a place where young doctors are encouraged to do just that.

Being an excellent family physician also requires the ability to identify, understand, and address any health issue a patient might have. This unopposed program gives residents the flexibility to train in all the areas necessary to achieve this capability, and to do it in high quality facilities under faculty who are engaged educators and who care about residents’ goals. I am grateful and excited for the opportunity to learn here.

Ashley Hildebrand, DO

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Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA

Undergraduate: Saint Francis University, Loretto, PA

I knew from the first day I spent at Latrobe Hospital, that this was where I wanted to do my family medicine training. The sense of camaraderie within the residency group stood out to me on my interview day. All of the faculty were extremely welcoming and truly invested in the well being and future of the residents. They made me feel comfortable from day one and made an effort to get to know me on a personal level. Additionally, I grew up in a small town roughly an hour outside of Latrobe, and coming to a program that echoed that compassion, welcoming, hometown feel was important to me.

I was impressed with the residents that I got to know during my fourth year of medical school, and I knew that accomplishing my career goals would be possible with Independence Health System. The strong track record of residents matching into Sports Medicine and Obstetrics fellowships was also something that drew me to the program. Jake (my dog) and I are excited to start a new chapter of our life, and I look forward to my next three years here at the Latrobe Family Medicine Residency.

C. Corbin Drescher, MD

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Medical School: Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton, PA

Undergraduate: Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA

My path in medicine has been a little longer and involved more winding roads that most resident physicians. I graduated from Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine in 2014. I then spent the next eight years serving in the US Army. While serving, I trained in Emergency Medicine at Fort Hood, TX and later moved to Fairbanks, AK to serve as the primary care physician for approximately 700 soldiers in the 3-21 Infantry Regiment. The time I spent providing soldiers with full spectrum primary care gave me a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that led me to Family Medicine.

Choosing the Latrobe Family Medicine Residency Program was an easy decision for three reasons. First, as a Pennsylvania native this program brought me closer to home after a very long time working in remote locations. Second, from the first moment I had contact with the program I felt they had a genuine interest in me not only as a professional but as a person. Third, everyone from the office staff, faculty, and residents were welcoming and friendly. The residents were clearly happy, knowledgeable, and eager to learn. I was overjoyed when I matched here and I am looking forward to furthering my career with everyone within the Independence Health System.

Adam Burke, DO

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Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine - Seton Hill, Greensburg, PA

Graduate: Youngstown State University, Master of Business Administration, Youngstown, OH

Undergraduate: Seton Hill University, Greensburg, PA

I am a lifelong resident of a small rural town located in Western PA. I attended LECOM-Seton Hill and was exposed to Independence Health System early in my medical career after I received the prestigious Bagby Scholarship. I knew from the moment I drove into Latrobe and observed the mountains and rural terrain that Independence Health System was going to provide a superb location for my residency.

During a rotation at Frick Hospital, I found the physicians and staff to be very welcoming on day one and they truly treated the entire medical team as if they were a large family. The less hierarchical structure provided greater opportunities for hands-on teaching and enhanced clinical knowledge. Every resident gave wonderful reviews about the inpatient and outpatient curriculum supporting strong patient advocacy, while also encouraging a healthy work-life balance.

As an active EMT at a local fire department, I enjoy working in rural communities and helping the great people who live there. Medicine to me is more than simply treating patients; it is being a part of their lives and their neighborhoods. I believe in joint decision making between patient and physician when discussing their treatment goals.

As I begin my residency, I will also utilize my recently attained Master of Business Administration degree to be an effective family physician who is compassionate, a strong leader, and fiscally responsible.

I humbly thank everyone for the opportunity to be a Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Physician and allowing me to be a part of your lives and community. I look forward to building relationships with all of you!