Residents
Second Year Residents
Shelby Koch, MD
Shelby Koch, MD
Medical Resident
Where are you originally from?
I was raised in the small town of Ephrata, Washington. It’s located in central Washington, east of the Cascades.
Undergraduate College:
Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. I attended the University of Oklahoma in Norman, OK for my Master’s in Native American Studies.
Where did you attend Medical School?
Washington State University Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine
Why did you choose PTHA?
PTHA’s emphasis on community and Indigenous health makes me proud to be a part of this program. I am passionate about tribal health and broad-spectrum family medicine. I feel that PTHA fosters a very supportive atmosphere between residents and faculty, as well as between the different residency programs in the area with shared didactic sessions. Being in the Tacoma area also allows easy access to the outdoors and I’ll be close to friends and family
What are your interests?
Professionally, I am passionate about harm reduction and medication for opioid use disorder, reproductive medicine, and gender-affirming care. Personally, I am interested in transportation equity – making it safer to walk, bike, and roll around cities; birdwatching; cooking and baking; and reading. I also like to rock climb – both indoor gym climbing and outdoors.
What are some fun facts about you?
I summitted Loowit (Mt. St. Helens) and Koma Kulshan (Mt. Baker) on skis. I have broken my wrists three separate times (left wrist twice and right wrist once) – hopefully never again! I’m learning Japanese and Choctaw. I swam competitively for 13 years and my best stroke was the butterfly.
Alec Joshongeva-Petersen, MD
Alec Joshongeva-Petersen, MD
Medical Resident
Where are you originally from?
I consider Pinedale, a small town of ~500 people in Arizona, to be my hometown. A good portion of my Petersen side still live in the White Mtns and my Hopi side is from the village Mishognovi.
Undergraduate College:
University of Arizona
Where did you attend Medical School?
University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago
Why did you choose PTHA?
After expressing an interest in Family Medicine to a mentor they highly encouraged me to look into PTHA. I’m really glad I did as I then had the opportunity to shadow for a day. I loved the vibe, faculty, and patients I met. One of which expressed hoping to see me there as a resident. I loved being surrounded by Native providers and patients, and knew that I needed that to flourish as a newly minted physician. It was easy to see that PTHA was where I wanted and needed to be.
What are your interests?
Medical wise my interests mostly lay in Indigenous healthcare, health disparities, primary care, public health, and health justice. I’m interested in moving medicine and healthcare towards a more equitable form based on the concepts of mutual aid, collective healthcare, horizontal organizing, and traditional healing. Outside of medicine my eclectic interests include playing the guitar, singing shapenote music, diy, going down Wikipedia/youtube rabbit holes, learning tradition, and sharing good food with good people.
What are some fun facts about you?
I have TWO CATS that make up most of my partner’s and my personality nowadays. They are the sweetest, though also mischievous and crazy, little guys!
Alexandria McLearen, MD
Alexandria McLearen, MD
Medical Resident
Where are you originally from?
I am from Anchorage, Alaska. My family is from the Native Village of Chevak, Alaska, and I am an enrolled member of the Qissunamiut Tribe.
Undergraduate College:
University of Alaska Anchorage
Where did you attend Medical School?
University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks, ND.
Why did you choose PTHA?
As a girl, my grandma told me our native people need native doctors who understand our culture and interconnectedness to heal the root cause of our illnesses. I chose PTHA because the mission “health and wellness in a culturally appropriate manner” is my mission and purpose in medicine.
What are your interests?
My interests in medicine are vast, while my special interests are in women’s health, including obstetrics, as well as addiction medicine and obesity medicine. Ultimately, I chose family medicine because I enjoy truly connecting with people to find mutual understanding of their whole-person health and wellbeing in all areas of medicine! Outside of medicine, I am a through and through Alaskan girl, I love fishing, hiking, and camping. When not outdoors with my doggo, I like to play video games on my Nintendo switch, and watch movies with my husband.
What are some fun facts about you?
My favorite color is purple. I have broken 5 bones in my life and all of them happened because I’m helplessly clumsy. Usually, in a setting where I’m asked to give a fun fact, my fun fact is that I’m from Alaska.
Third Year Residents
Hannah Fadenrecht, DO
Hannah Fadenrecht, DO
Medical Resident
Where are you originally from?
I was born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, but my family is now all based in Northern California.
Undergraduate College:
Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA
Where did you attend Medical School?
Western University of the Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, CA
Why did you choose PTHA?
Upon a strong recommendation from a classmate, I rotated at PTHA to experience firsthand “the best kept secret in family medicine.” I couldn’t dispute his claim, and fortunately went on to interview and match here. The largest draw for me to PTHA was the spirit factor. It is becoming easier to find places where the mind-body connection is acknowledged and leveraged, but to find a place that aligned with my spirit was special. PTHA is family and community-oriented, and values diversity and growth. I am excited to return to the Pacific Northwest to learn from and serve the Indigenous communities here.
What are your interests?
My favorite area within osteopathic family medicine is perinatal care–caring for the whole family before, during, and after a birth. I’m also interested in working with elder and LGBTQ populations, and coaching patients through big changes in their lives. I spent an extra year in medical school teaching osteopathic manipulative medicine, and incorporate this modality frequently. Outside of medicine, I seek creative outlets and ways to connect with people and the natural world. These might include singing, dancing, writing, cooking, travel, hiking, studying mysticism and attending farmers markets and communal rituals.
What are some fun facts about you?
Prior to residency I went on a month-long solo backpacking trip around Europe. Prior to medical school, I went on a month-long solo road trip across the western half of the US. Following college, I spent three months living in Hanoi, Vietnam–where I studied for the MCAT and took online physics (and had my own rental scooter to get around). I played rugby (fullback) in college until I had too many concussions. I’ve been stung seven times by scorpions (and am still not scared of them).
Brittany Boyd, DO
Brittany Boyd, DO
Medical Resident
Where are you originally from?
San Diego, California
Undergraduate College:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Where did you attend Medical School?
Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you choose PTHA?
During my interview day I felt like I genuinely clicked with the community and am so excited I found my people at PTHA.
What are your interests?
My interests in medicine include nutrition and lifestyle medicine, full spectrum family medicine including OB, breastfeeding medicine and working with underserved communities.
What are some fun facts about you?
When I’m not at work, I love spending time with my husband, 1.5 year old daughter, and my 3 rescues (2 dogs, 1 cat). I love trail running, rock climbing, mountain biking, making sourdough bread and drinking kombucha.
Paige Almond, DO
Paige Almond, DO
Medical Resident
Where are you originally from?
Kenmore, WA
Undergraduate College:
University of Washington
Where did you attend Medical School?
Pacific Northwest University
Why did you choose PTHA?
Being a smaller program, PTHA has a close-knit family feel that I was searching for. I love the Tacoma area and am very thankful to be able to stay near my family and friends during residency. I want to become a rural full-spectrum family medicine doctor so I am excited for the diverse learning settings PTHA provides.
What are your interests?
I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy cooking (especially soup or pasta), playing card games, reading mystery novels, exploring the outdoors, catching up on my favorite crime shows or cheesy sit-coms, doing simple arts and crafts, and trying new foods and drinks.
What are some fun facts about you?
I am the oldest of 4 siblings. I was a synchronized swimmer for many years and competed nationally. I am the proud aunt of 2 nieces and 1 nephew. I have been to 22 of the 63 national parks and hope to visit all of them one day.
Frances Sebastian, DO
Frances Sebastian, DO
Medical Resident
Where are you originally from?
I was born in Cebu City, Philippines, and moved to Indiana at age 6.
Undergraduate College:
Indiana University Bloomington
Where did you attend Medical School?
Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why did you choose PTHA?
I got the chance to rotate with PTHA in my fourth year of medical school and I loved my experience working with the staff, residents, and attendings. As a student, I felt seen, valued, and considered as a member of the team and I knew I wanted to be part of that. I am also passionate about working with underserved communities, and I wanted to be in a residency which provided the resources and the support to pursue this endeavor. Lastly, I chose PTHA because it is a full-spectrum unopposed program, and I believe I will be trained well and to my fullest potential here.
What are your interests?
Professionally, my interests include lifestyle and preventative medicine, women’s health, and behavioral health including addiction medicine and managing chronic pain with alternatives to pharmacological treatment. Outside of medicine, my interests include reading (historical romance for fiction, natural history for nonfiction), crafting, crocheting, hiking, taking fun exercise classes, climbing, trying out new restaurants and coffee shops, thrifting, finding new music, watching YouTube videos on tiny homes and interior design, and spending time with friends and family.
What are some fun facts about you?
My favorite color is pink, my favorite fruit to eat is mangos (honorable mentions: coconuts, watermelons, cotton candy grapes), I can still speak my native dialect, I have a huge sweet tooth, and I once swam with whale sharks.