Current Residents

Brittany Bear, MD

Hometown: Bonney Lake, WA
Undergrad: University of Washington
Medical School: Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Clinical/Research Interests: Gyn surgery

I was born and raised in the South Sound region of Washington State. My first exposure to Swedish Medical Center was as a volunteer in their Health Scholars program. I was attracted to this program because of my volunteer experience, Swedish’s impeccable reputation, and the opportunity to train in my community.

In my free time, I am an avid runner. I enjoy crafts, reading, travel, and tending to my plants. I am also a lucky dog mom to a longhaired Dachshund, Mister Bandito. I am passionate about medical education, advocacy, reproductive justice, and health equity. I am excited to continue working in these areas as I progress through my training at Swedish.

Dominique Dixon, MD

Hometown: Houston, TX
Undergrad: Alabama State University
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
Clinical/Research Interests: Complex family planning, gender-affirming care, birth control access

What drew me to Swedish is the liberal abortion laws in Washington and the opportunities for me to learn how to be a great abortion provider for my future patients. When I interviewed here, everyone was so welcoming and supportive of the work I wanted to do and the person I am outside of the hospital. It was an easy decision.

I love reading and hanging out with my cat Leo, thrifting, playing board games, and hiking. I am new to Seattle and loved going on the Seattle Underground tour! I am a big fan of historical tours and this tour is super informative about the history of Seattle and you get to walk underground and see remnants of the old downtown before the Great Seattle Fire of 1889.

Ashley Lynes, MD

Hometown: Chimacum, WA
Undergrad: Western Washington University
Medical School: University of Washington
Clinical/Research Interests: Rural generalist

I grew up in a small town on the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, where my family owns a diner. I studied fine art in college until I decided to pursue medicine, and have found similar joys in performing surgery as I get the same satisfaction in working with my hands.

I live here in South Seattle with my husband, Eric, and my anxious rescue dog, Jackson. We like exploring the woods with our pup, getting brunch around Seattle with friends, and recently started going to Renaissance fairs.

Jill McDonnell, MD

Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Undergrad: University of Pittsburgh
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh
Clinical/Research Interests: MIGS, family planning, social media in medicine

When I heard about the new Swedish program, I left my beloved Pittsburgh Heinz ketchup and fries on salads to hang out with the illustrious Suzanne Peterson. I loved the tracking option, the emphasis on social justice, and the ability to help shape a new program. I immediately sensed that the faculty and program leaders care so much about our well-being and success. I could live in the OR and plan on doing a MIGS fellowship. I’m also super passionate about family planning, reproductive health education, ergonomics in surgery, and social media in medicine. Finally, I get the pleasure of running our program’s Instagram, where I can subject others to my puns and 3am meme ideas.

Outside of the hospital, I love to travel, take big naps, try new breweries, and talk about Taylor Swift or my cat, Puff.

Haley Schroeder, MD

Hometown: Centennial, CO
Undergrad: Colorado College
Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University School of Medicine
Clinical/Research Interests: Generalist OB/GYN, Gender-affirming care

I fell in love with the Pacific Northwest while in medical school in Oregon, and I am thrilled to stay in the region as part of the inaugural class of OB/GYN residents at Swedish! I am passionate about working with underserved populations and plan to practice as a generalist with a focus on gender-affirming care.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy hiking, reading, watching Netflix, and playing with my two cats, Addy and Piper.

Joey Wu, MD

Hometown: Shanghai, China/Indianapolis, IN
Undergrad: Case Western Reserve University
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Clinical/Research Interests: MFM

I was born in Shanghai and moved to San Diego when I was 13. I went to high school in Carmel, IN and did the rest of my training in the Midwest.

During my free time, I like to run to different parks in the Seattle area, along the piers, and up to Kerry Park for that classic Grey’s Anatomy view of Seattle. I also really enjoy eating and there are just so many places to try in the city. I also enjoy dog-watching since I don’t have a pet, and there are lots of cute dogs in the city to meet.

Kate Fox, MD

Hometown: Seattle, WA (born at Swedish!)
Undergrad: University of Washington
Medical School: University of Washington
Swedish Surgery Residency Intern Year
Clinical/Research Interests: Gyn surgery

 I was born at Swedish and love Seattle so much that I’ve done all of my medical training here. I have a background in bioengineering and love coming up with new ideas to make our awesome program even better like our Back-pap for performing inpatient Pap smears (trademark pending). When I’m not jamming to music in the operating room or making Epic templates, you can find me taking my springer spaniel Huckleberry on adventures around Kirkland and Seattle.

Ben Galen, MD

Hometown: Battlecreek, MI
Undergrad: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Clinical/Research Interests: Gyn Surgery, Gender Affirming Care

I’m a Midwesterner from Michigan. I’m so excited to live here in the Pacific Northwest. I’m a huge fan of being active, running long distances in the warmer months, and doing hot yoga when the weather turns cold. I’m a road trip fanatic when I have time, with my longest being 50 days in the car and 23 national parks. My favorites were Banff, Yellowstone, and Yosemite. I also love cooking and was a private chef for a little stint. I’m excited to enjoy all of the food, nature, and adventures that Seattle has to offer.

Jason Gosschalk, MD, MSc

Hometown: Alpine, CA
Undergrad & Graduate School: University of California Los Angeles
Medical school: Cooper Medical School of Rowan University
Clinical/research interests: Gynecologic oncology, pelvic pain, molecular mechanisms of disease pathogenesis, improving equity in healthcare, patient empowerment.

Growing plants inside and outside; supporting the land we live on by building gardens that support native species of plants, insects, and animals; building and fixing things; avoiding laundry; watching the Real Housewives (New York, Beverly Hills, Salt Lake City); fav late night snack is popcorn with nutritional yeast on top and Haribo gummy bears; petting every single one of my pets all at the same time, reading long-form essays, yoga, cycling, cooking.

Emily Huebner, MD, MSc

Hometown: Waterford, VA
Undergrad: University of Washington
Graduate: Boston University
Medical School: University of Washington
Clinical/Research Interests: Academic generalist, clinical research

Moving to Seattle for college from rural Virginia, I saw unparalleled opportunities to explore the world of science and medicine in a socioeconomically diverse community. It was here in Seattle that I found my passion for working with underserved communities and conducting clinical research, both of which I’m grateful to continue as a resident at Swedish!

Outside of work, I can usually be found at a brewery with my family, trail running while listening to a true crime podcast, or watching Harry Potter with my husband and our cats.

Aishwarya Karlapudi, MD

Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Undergrad: University of Arizona
Medical School: University of California Los Angeles
Clinical/Research Interests: MFM, reproductive justice, abortion education and training

Prior to medical school, I worked for a year as a fourth-grade Instructional Aide at a Title 1 school in South Tucson. I chose to pursue a residency in obstetrics and gynecology for many reasons – the most meaningful being the humanism practiced in the field. I am particularly interested in reproductive justice and abortion access for patients, as well as abortion education and training access for medical students and residents.

On a free weekend, you can find me playing with my clinically anxious cat, working on crosswords and puzzles, and searching for good tacos al pastor. My husband and I love discussing and dissecting thematic elements of good TV and film, enjoy practicing my family recipes, and dream about adopting a dog once we move to a larger space!

Chloe Koski, MD

Hometown: Gig Harbor, WA
Undergrad: University of Washington
Medical School: University of Washington
Ob/Gyn Intern Year: University of Maryland
Clinical/Research Interests: Urogynecology, generalist, GYN surgery, advocacy

After completing my intern year at the University of Maryland I am so excited to return back to the PNW to complete my residency training. The Swedish program is unique in that it allows you to individualize your training, I also cannot say enough about the people and supportive culture at Swedish.

Outside of the hospital I enjoy spending time with my husband, 2 dogs, and horse! I’ve owned horses much of my life and Hank may be one of the best travelled senior horses after following me to medical school in Spokane and to Maryland and back for residency.

Catherine Ingbar, MD

Hometown: Carson City, NV
Undergrad: Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Medical School: The University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix
Clinical/Research Interests: Generalist, public health

Before medical school, I worked as a product engineer at a golf company. After realizing that I wanted to solve problems for people, I left the sunny beaches of San Diego to embark on my journey to medicine. Along the way, I discovered a love for patient advocacy and education, and I saw this reflected in the values at Swedish. I’m so excited to join this group of passionate, kind people.

I love being outdoors, whether camping, mountain biking, or hiking with my partner and dog, cooking and eating, and arranging flowers (shout out to Rebloom nonprofit!!).

Nadia Johnson, MD

Hometown: Montreal, Canada
Undergrad: McGill University
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine

I have a long-standing interest in reproductive justice and women’s health, but starting medical school, I was unsure whether I would pursue OB/GYN. Upon completing my third-year rotation, I knew I had found my specialty. I am particularly interested in family planning and REI, but I have yet to decide whether or not I will pursue a fellowship or be a generalist. Outside of medicine, I love to travel and am passionate about the outdoors and athletics. In my fourth year of medical school, I took advantage of my additional free time to travel to Turkey and Costa Rica for our honeymoon. I was a university-level rowing athlete at McGill, and now I am passionate about running and enjoy the half-marathon distance.

Christina Kraus, MD

Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergrad: Santa Clara University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Clinical/Research Interest: Generalist OB/GYN, pelvic pain, substance use in pregnancy/postpartum, adolescent gyn

I am so excited to be a part of a residency committed to our individualized & comprehensive training, social and reproductive justice, and community engagement. A huge bonus that I get to be in the PNW and explore all the beautiful nature it offers!

I enjoy activities that get me outside like hiking with Bean (my pup), swimming in Lake Washington, and scuba diving. I also enjoy yoga, reading/exploring book stores, crochet, dancing, film photography, and love learning new hobbies! Currently learning linocut print making and (attempting) to teach myself piano.

Ashley Lyttle, MD

Hometown: Clermont, FL
Undergrad: University of Florida (Go Gators!)
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
Interest: MFM, blood disorders in pregnancy

I’m so excited to be at Swedish! The people here are like a warm hug and I’m so happy to be here. The commitment to equitable care and cultural awareness for the diverse patient population was a huge draw for me. I also love the community setting, which has plenty of opportunities for research.

Outside the hospital, I love running, cooking, reading, and playing with my pets. Much to the dismay of my bank account, I also love to shop, especially for books and interesting ingredients for recipes. I’m an avid traveler and aspire to visit every country in the world!

Klay Noto, MD, MS

Hometown: New Orleans, LA
Undergrad: Loyola New Orleans (BS Biology Honors)
Medical School: Tulane School of Medicine (with MS in ethics)
Career interests: thinking I’ll be a generalist focused on gender-affirming primary care, LGBTQ+ services, and surgery

I am a proud trans person looking to provide exceptional OBGYN care to sexual and gender-diverse patients, including gender-affirming surgery and primary care. I also aim to use my bioethics and medical humanities degrees to bridge the gaps in patient care, have hard conversations, and counsel families on relevant clinical ethical decisions. I love longitudinal and intimate patient relationships, and I look forward to the tools and services I can provide as an OBGYN.

Kaitlyn Whitesitt, MD

Hometown: Rathdrum, ID
Undergrad: Idaho State University
Medical School: University of Utah School of Medicine
Career interests: Generalist/MIGS with an emphasis on the intersection of mental health and women’s healthcare, improving health justice and equity through family planning and IPV-based research, advocacy, and education

My original desire to pursue medicine and women’s health stems from my experience growing up in a rural town and volunteering as a sexual assault survivor advocate at a local non-profit there. I saw so many opportunities for women’s health improvement, and I wanted to be a part of that in my community. Because of all the strong, intelligent, and capable women who paved the road before me, I was inspired to set my sights high and work toward becoming an OBGYN. I am so grateful and excited to be training at Swedish Medical Center, where I can continue my educational pursuits in the community that made me who I am.
 
When I am not catering to my two orange fur children, in my free time, you can find me escaping the hospital to the outdoors either on the ski slopes, a hiking/biking trail, sand volleyball court, campground, or anything in between. I also enjoy discovering new brunch places, breweries, live music venues, and thrifting for that perfect find you didn’t know you actually needed. My guilty pleasure will always be binge-watching Grey’s Anatomy, and I’m convinced there is nothing better in life than a cold beverage at the peak of a mountain with good company.

Emilee Bergl, MD

Hometown: Durango, CO
Undergrad: University of Washington
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Career interests: Health equity and reproductive justice, complex family planning and ultrasound/MFM 

Early on in medical school I decided I wanted to work in a space and position that supports and advocates for reproductive justice. When the Dobbs decision was announced, I knew I wanted my training to come from an institution that valued abortion access and all inclusive reproductive healthcare without hesitation. Swedish does all that and more plus we get to live in the beautiful PNW.
 
Outside of medicine my hobbies are endless and flow with the seasons. In the winter I love to ski and am excited to ski the mountains of the PNW! In the nicer weather I enjoy playing volleyball, running, river tripping, and hanging out at the various lakeside parks in Seattle with my partner and friends. All year round I love to watch reality TV, ~Love Island and Bravo in particular~ read, hang out with my dog Char and eat good food!!  

Paige Carson, MD

Hometown: Denver, CO 
Undergrad: Haverford College 
Medical School: University at Buffalo 
Clinical interests: Generalist, reproductive justice, family planning 

Swedish is a very special place and I’m so excited to be here! I was drawn to the unique tracking electives that allow for more individualized training, the kind and passionate people, its strong commitment to reproductive justice, and its location in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.  

In my free time, you can usually find me chilling with my partner and our cat, Ned Stark! We love traveling/exploring, hiking, coming up with fun new recipes, going to movies, and hosting game nights/dinners. My defining personality trait is being a thrifter of all things (clothes, furniture, art, cameras, downtrodden animals, etc). 

Madeline Larkin, MD

Hometown: Mercer Island, WA
Undergrad: Pomona College
Medical school: University of Minnesota
Clinical interests: generalist, family planning

I am so excited to be home in the Seattle area and at Swedish! I landed as an OBGYN for the combination of longitudinal care, surgery, L&D, and advocacy. I am grateful to be at a program with a warm and welcoming environment and clear commitment to reproductive justice.

Outside of the hospital you can find me splashing in a lake, walking up a mountain, eating a great doughnut, arguing with my cat, or supporting various Seattle sports teams.

Stephanie Matsuura, MD

Hometown: Hilo, Hawaii
Undergrad: Willamette University
Medical school: University of Hawaii, JABSOM 
Clinical interests: rural generalist, private practice 

I was drawn to Swedish because I liked the opportunity to shape my own education through the tracking system. I also did a sub-I here and felt very welcomed by the residents and faculty during my rotation. Unpopular opinion but I missed the PNW “seasons”.. and Trader Joe’s. 

When I’m not sleeping, I enjoy eating out, catching up on trash reality tv, attempting to grow something in my “garden”, getting my monthly dose of fresh air on a hike, stalking the Seattle Humane Society IG for my next four-legged child, pickleball, retail therapy, and going back home to Hawaii to visit my family. 

Leah O’Toole, MD

Hometown: Saratoga Springs, NY
Undergrad: Dartmouth College
Medical School: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Clinical/Research Interests: MFM, public health

Before medical school, I worked as a scuba diving instructor and traveled all over the world, so when I started residency, I knew that I wanted to be somewhere new and exciting. Swedish has an amazing and supportive culture, a strong commitment to individualized resident education, and a great group of physicians who care deeply about our patients and community. Our location in Seattle is also perfect for enjoying the outdoors – I love living in a place where I can be in the mountains or by the sea in just a couple of hours. When I’m not working, I try to spend most of my time outside – my husband and I love hiking, camping, backpacking, and sailing!

Meghal Sheth, MD

Hometown: Camas, WA
Undergrad: Washington University in St. Louis
Med School: University of Washington School of Medicine 
Clinical interests: abortion care, trauma informed care, substance use in pregnancy, IPV advocacy

I am thrilled to be staying close to home and training at Swedish! The people, culture, social justice focus, early surgical experiences, and diverse subspecialty exposure made Swedish my top choice for residency. Having the opportunity to train in the very community where I began to learn medicine is such a privilege. 

When I’m not at the hospital, I enjoy cooking with my spouse who’s pretty much a professional chef, painting nails and doing fun designs, traveling, trying new restaurants in Seattle, and binging reality TV when I just need to brain rot 🙂