Independence Health System to Welcome 16 Family Medicine Residents July 1

GREENSBURG, Pa., April 23, 2026 ─ Independence Health System will welcome 16 new residents to its family medicine residency programs in Clarion, Butler and Latrobe on July 1. Program facilitators and fourth-year medical students learned where they will complete their training on Match Day, a highly anticipated event held each March.

During the Match Day process, fourthyear medical students apply to residency programs, which extend interview invitations based on applicants’ qualifications. Both students and programs then rank their preferences, and the National Residency Matching Program uses a computerized algorithm to determine placements, which are revealed on Match Day.

“We look forward to welcoming our newest family medicine residents in Clarion, Butler and Latrobe,” said Chief Medical Officer Dr. Michael Fiorina. “As physician shortages grow and our population ages, these programs are vital to training and retaining community-focused physicians who will strengthen our health care system for generations to come.”

Independence Health System is pleased to announce its newest cohort of residents, who will begin their training on July 1, 2026:

Butler Family Medicine Residency Program

• Nisha Mittal, MD, MPharm, MScBR, St. George's University, from Wolverhampton, United Kingdom

• Odera Yvonne Nwankwo, MD, St. George’s University, from Lagos, Nigeria 

• Youstina Seliman, DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, from Mars, PA 

• Anton Skeie, MD, St. George's University, from Boise, ID

Clarion Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program

• Sei Cole, DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, from New Castle, PA

• Puja Desai, DO, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine, from Cleveland, OH; Philadelphia, PA; and Pittsburgh, PA

• Yuliia Oliinyk, MD, Odessa National Medical University, from Odesa, Ukraine

• Monique Setiantiningrum, MD, Maranatha Christian University School of Medicine, from Manila, Philippines; Camp Hill, PA; and Waipahu, HI

Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program

• Mitchell Cashmer, DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, from Weedville, PA

• Dre' Marcus Ferrell, MD, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, from Youngstown, Ohio  

• Bailey Gaston, DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, from New Alexandria, PA

• Magen Polczynski, DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, from North Huntington, PA 

• Joshua Prokopec, DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, from Manor, PA

• Olamide Sanya, MD, American University of Antigua College of Medicine, from Brooklyn, NY

• Thomas Starr, MD, Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, from Leechburg, PA

• Joseph Theiss, DO, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, from Erie, PA

The Clarion Hospital Family Medicine Residency program was established more than 40 years ago, accepting four new residents each year and graduating 88 physicians since its inception. The Butler Family Medicine Residency program, while still in its infancy, welcomed its first class of residents in 2025. Currently, the program accepts four new residents each year, with plans to grow to eight in the future. The Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency program was founded over 50 years ago and has graduated more than 250 physicians since its inception. The program accepts eight new residents annually and supports 24 physicians at different stages of their training.

“The Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency (LHFMR) program has a rich history of training and retaining the next generation of healthcare professionals,” said Dr. Mike Semelka, program director of the LHFMR. “We are proud to welcome our newest cohort of residents across Independence Health System and look forward to supporting and mentoring them as they grow into skilled, compassionate physicians—enhancing the lives of our patients and strengthening expert care, here, in our communities.”

Training alongside seasoned physicians in various specialties, residents gain exposure to inpatient and outpatient care settings, including ambulatory family medicine, hospitalist medicine, obstetrics, women’s health, pediatrics, cardiology, intensive care, and more. Additionally, residents engage in numerous community programs, fostering a well-rounded educational experience. The programs aim to equip residents with the tools necessary to succeed in a collaborative, interdisciplinary model of healthcare.

To learn more about the residency programs at Independence Health System, visit www.independence.health/careers. 

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Nationally recognized for quality care, Independence Health System comprises Butler Memorial, Clarion, Frick, Latrobe and Westmoreland Hospitals with a combined bed count of 925. With more than 1,000 physicians and advanced practice providers and nearly 7,000 employees, the System is the third largest in western Pennsylvania serving a population base of 750,000 in a footprint spanning a multi-county region. 

The System includes tertiary programs rated among America’s best for cardiac care and surgery, earning accolades from a number of prestigious outlets and organizations. Locally owned and locally controlled, Independence Health System offers its patients low-cost, high-quality care across the care spectrum in such specialties as cardiology, cardiovascular and thoracic surgery, orthopedics and sports medicine, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, women’s health and obstetrics, emergency medicine, behavioral health and primary care. Its network of outpatient centers sees more than 1.2 million visits annually. The homecare division further supports patients at all stages of life with home health and hospice services. Learn more at www.independence.health.