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Shawn Morehead

Associate Director

I grew up in Miami, Florida which I consider to be my first, and most important, cross-cultural life experience. Little did I know how much being raised in such diversity would inform the rest of my life. I always wanted to be a doctor, learning a love for medicine and teaching from my parents, my mother a nurse educator and my father a middle school teacher/counselor. This calling was solidified after almost losing my life in a car accident at age 19. In medical school, I found Family Medicine challenging due to its breadth, but also incredibly satisfying with its ongoing relationships and whole person focus. With the unequivocal support of my family, I graduated with my medical degree from the University of Miami, a place that remains dear to my heart (The U, Go Hurricanes!). I then left the city I love to pursue residency at St Vincent’s East in Birmingham, the city that would become my home. Residency at SVE was one of the most rewarding, maturing, and joyful times of my life as I was encouraged and mentored to become the physician I wanted to be.

Three months after graduating from residency, I went on my first medical service trip to Romania, coaxed by my brother (also a physician) despite my protests. During those weeks, God revealed to me my real purpose in medicine: to be used for His glory and to bring others to relationship with Him through serving, teaching, healing and mentoring. Fifty countries and twenty years later, my passion and calling for serving God has crystallized into the advancement of Family Medicine through medical and residency education in the hard places of the world. There is no greater joy than seeing others learn, grow, and fulfill God’s purposes for their lives. Being a small part of that process is both priceless and humbling. During these years of personal, professional, and spiritual development, I have had the strong and enduring support from the SVE administration, faculty partners, peers, residents, family and friends. My goal has been, and remains, to bring glory to God through my life, my work, and my relationships wherever He may lead. It is, and always has been, a joy to be part of the SVE family.

English Gonzalez, MD, MPH, ABFP

Associate Director

Dr. Gonzalez, also nick-named “Sonshine” around the residency, would likely be the first to offer a joyful smile and a welcoming word if you visited our program. She attended medical school and completed her master's in public health at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. There she served as the family medicine clerkship director and the FMIG president. She was awarded membership into AOA & earned the Pisacano Leadership Foundation scholarship. From Birmingham she headed to Washington DC to complete her residency training at Georgetown University. During her time in training she served as the resident member on the Board of Directors of the American Academy of Family Physicians and was awarded the community service outreach award at her residency program.

After completing residency training, she moved back to “sweet home Alabama” to start the job of her dreams as a faculty member at the St. Vincent’s East family medicine residency program. During her first year as faculty, she also served as the family physician for the rural town of Vincent, Alabama and completed a fellowship in academic family medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Dr. Gonzalez continues to thank the Lord every day for the privilege of teaching and equipping those God has chosen to be family physicians. In 2019, the residents chose her as the “Preceptor of the Year.” Having now achieved this highest award to her personal and professional heart, her sole desire is to encourage, lift up, and mentor young family physicians. “Encourage one another” from Hebrews 10:25 is her guiding life verse and summarizes her teaching approach.

Dr. Gonzalez is passionate about resident wellness and resilience, physician leadership, scholarly activity, and curriculum innovation. Her academic interests include community medicine, public and population health, dermatology, and geriatric and palliative medicine. She also serves as a medical director for Encompass Home Health and Hospice. Additionally, she is an item writer for the American Board of Family Medicine and regularly consults for various law firms and research entities.

While all of these roles are a blessing and privilege, her most humbling role is that of a mother to a very special young lady, her daughter Talia Grace. On any given day, they might be found dancing and singing to praise music, showing miniature Hereford cows, making crafts, serving at Church of the Highlands, or praying for the residents. While Dr. Gonzalez only has one biological child, she is delighted that most of the residents invite her to be their “work mama” :-)

Rebecca Newton, MD

Core Faculty

The STVE Family Medicine Residency Program and Christ Health Center are blessed to have Dr. Rebecca Newton as a faculty member and medical provider. Dr. Newton spent seven years as a missionary kid in Australia, but to simplify things, she now considers herself from Auburn, Alabama.

She graduated from Auburn University and then attended UAB School of Medicine for medical school. Before joining Christ Heath as faculty in late 2019, she spent 4 years in family medicine residency and then FMOB fellowship at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. She is enthusiastic about providing compassionate care to women, and gets especially excited about pregnant mothers. She is excited and challenged to be teaching not only OB but also clinic and inpatient medicine. She particularly enjoys seeing residents grow in knowledge and confidence doing OB and GYN related procedures and ultrasounds. She has a particular interest in immigrant populations and speaks fluent Spanish.

Her favorite verse is in Lamentations 3: "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness". Her smile lights up the room, and her patients sense the peace of the Lord in her heart.

Robert Record, MD

Core Faculty

Dr. Robert Rex Record is a native of Breezy Hill Farm located somewhere near Clinton, LA. With a heart for ministry and an overactive imagination, he attended Rhodes College in Memphis, TN. There he majored in Business Administration, ran track, and met the love of his life, Leland Caley. He also joined a congregation in a transitional neighborhood and developed a clearer vision for serving those facing socio-economic struggles. Though seemingly far from his desire to attend seminary, providence led him to LSU medical school in New Orleans. There he also continued studying community development through work with Desire Street Ministries.

Residency brought him to Birmingham, AL for the faith-based Family Medicine residency at the current St. Vincent’s East Hospital. During training, he and his wife joined a very small congregation called Church of the Highlands as members and, ultimately, pastoral staff. This little church plant has now grown to become one of the largest in the nation.

Dr. Record's love for the City of Birmingham grew alongside his vision of starting a clinic that would catalyze community transformation in his adopted hometown. In 2009, he realized this long-developed dream with the opening of The Birmingham Dream Center and Christ Health Center in Woodlawn. Dr. Record served five years as Director of The Birmingham Dream Center and continues to work with that team at the intersection of ministry and community development. Now he spends most of his days serving as both CEO and Residency Faculty with Christ Health Center. The growing ministry of Christ Health provides over 50,000 visits a year, primarily to uninsured and underinsured neighbors. More than just a clinic, Christ Health is investing in leaders from around the country to see them replicate this work in their hometowns.

Dr. Record and Leland have 4 children, Tate, Caley, Mimi, and June. The latter two are adopted from China, and the Record family collectively believes adoption may be their greatest call to date. When he’s not running around with work or chasing children, Dr. Record enjoys running, golf, 80’s movies, the occasional good book, and almost anything that makes him laugh.

Valerie Prince, Pharm.D., BCPS, FAPhA

Pharmacy Faculty

Coming soon...

Barney Sims, MD, ABFP, FAAFP

Residency Director

After 27 years of directing the STVE Family Medicine Residency Program at Christ Health Center, Dr. Marion "Barney" Sims has learned a thing or two about medical education. Growing up in rural Alabama, he watched his physician father slowly succumb to advanced polio as a young child. The Lord brought him through this tragedy and many more. He has become the patriarch of the residency and his bedrock is his faith in Christ. His humble leadership and faith in the Lord bring peace into any storm we face together as a family.

After graduating medical school at UAB School of Medicine, he began his General Surgery residency at Lloyd Noland Hospital to become a missionary surgeon overseas. After investing three years in becoming a surgeon, he switched to family medicine after the surgery residency was suddenly closed. He then completed a family medicine residency at the program he now directs. He and his wife Regina have nine children and numerous grandchildren. He serves as an elder at Briarwood Presbyterian Church and has academic interests, including medical education, resident mentoring and, ambulatory medicine. In his spare time, Dr. Sims goes on missions trips to Haiti, disciples young believers, spends time with his family, hikes with Regina, cheers on the Crimson Tide, and cooks delicious pancakes.

Charles Davis, MD

Adult Mental Health Faculty

Hello. I am graduate of the Medical University of South Carolina and completed my General Psychiatric Residency at UAB in June 2018. I am very excited to be working at Christ Health Center where we are all taking a holistic, full person, Christ centered approach approach to healthcare. Psychiatry has been a fascinating field to study and I have a desire to help break down the stigma and misperceptions about psychiatric care that are so pervasive in our community. The mind and the body are not separate entities; instead we should look at ourselves as unified beings. One of my hopes is that we will be not just treating symptoms but helping people to have holistic health that overflows into their physical health, their spiritual health, and the health of their family members, and the community they live in.

Jessica Skelley, Pharm.D., BCACP

Pharmacy Faculty

Jessica W. Skelley is an Associate Professor of Pharmacy Practice at McWhorter School of Pharmacy and a clinical pharmacist at Christ Health Center (CHC) in Birmingham, Alabama, where she holds a dual faculty appointment with the family medicine residency program. She received her Doctor of Pharmacy from Samford University, McWhorter School of Pharmacy, and completed a PGY-1 residency in Birmingham, Alabama. In 2011, Dr. Skelley joined the faculty at Samford University, where she teaches in various courses while maintaining an active family medicine rotation site at CHC for fourth-year pharmacy students, pharmacy residents, and medical residents. She specializes in cardiometabolic disorders and has a specific interest in advanced collaborative care models, clinical interprofessional education, and quality.

Dr. Skelley currently serves the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists as Chair of the Executive Committee of the Section of Ambulatory Care Practitioners, and previously served as Director at Large and Chair of the Compensation and Practice Sustainability Advisory Group. She also maintains active memberships in AACP, AlSHP, and the Phi Lambda Sigma Pharmacy Leadership Honor Society. Dr. Skelley is an item writer for the Ambulatory Care Board Certification Exam (BCACP), has published in and reviews for various peer-reviewed journals, and serves nationally on the American Diabetes Association’s Therapeutic Inertia Research Task Force.

Her peers and students consistently recognize Dr. Skelley for her excellence and leadership in education. In 2013, she received the Margaret Self Propst Pharmacy Teacher of the Year Award, elected by the pharmacy student body for best exemplifying exceptional teaching and mentoring. In 2015, she received the Pharmacy Practice Faculty Member of the Year Award. In 2018, both the School of Pharmacy and the St. Vincent's East Family Medicine Residency Program awarded Dr. Skelley Preceptor of the Year. In 2019, she earned the Emerging Teaching Scholar Award from the AACP.

She and her husband have three young daughters at home (ages 3, 5, and 8) who keep them busy with dance parties and golf lessons. Their favorite ways to spend time with each other are traveling, hiking, visiting the lake, and having family movie nights.

Angela Cope, MD

Pediatric Faculty

Dr. Cope graduated from the Lincoln Memorial University-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and continued her medical education at the University of Mississippi Medical Center where she completed a residency in pediatrics. Dr. Cope provides compassionate, Christ-centered healthcare to children and partners with parents to ensure each child has an opportunity to reach their God-given potential.

Cleon Rogers, MD

Core Faculty

Dr. Cleon was born in 1984 in Dallas, Texas. His life was turned upside down at eight years old when his family moved to Germany to become missionaries. He developed a love for science and the lost during his time overseas, where he met Damaris, his high school sweetheart, with whom he now has five children (4 biological and 1 adopted).

After completing a biology degree at Bryan College in Tennessee, he moved to Birmingham where he attended UAB for medical school and Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency. At UAB, he was the founding president of Equal Access Birmingham and inducted into the Gold Humanism and AOA honor societies.

The Lord’s calling on his life is to speak truth in hard places. The gospel and disciple-making are at the center of his medical practice and everything he does. He is a committed primary care physician who strives to bring quality specialty level care to even his most vulnerable and under-resourced patients. He has a particular academic interest in community medicine, psychiatric disorders, cirrhosis, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, HIV PREP and rheumatoid arthritis. He speaks fluent Spanish and also serves as Christ Health Center's international engagement director. His wife and five kids live, go to school, play sports and attend church in the community where they serve.

Bryana Lewis, MD

Pediatric Faculty

Dr. Lewis received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee Health Science Center College of Medicine in 2010. She completed her Pediatrics residency and served as a chief resident at UAB. She enthusiastically believes in the worship of God through service to others and hopes to develop lasting relationships with pediatric patients and their families.

Gavin Brunsvold, MD

Pediatric Mental Health Faculty

Dr. Brunsvold is the Director of Psychiatry for Christ Health Center’s Live Oaks Clinic located in Woodlawn, AL. He is helping to create an innovative and integrated health care model to address the mental health crisis in Alabama. In 2008, Dr. Brunsvold founded Christian Psychiatry and Associates, an outpatient private practice located in Vestavia Hills, AL, which merged into The Live Oaks Clinic in 2019. Dr. Brunsvold has been published in The Psychiatric Times and spoken across the southeast on topics including ADHD and Comorbid Conditions. He has been happily married for 25 years with two surprisingly well-adjusted children, despite the fact that their father is a psychiatrist.

David Villanueva, MD

Core Faculty

David grew up in rural North Carolina. He studied biology at Bryan College in TN, where he also played soccer and met his wife Jana. He studied medicine at VCOM in Blacksburg, VA and graduated in 2014. He completed family medicine training at Wake Forest School of Medicine in NC while Jana completed PA school. After residency, David worked for two years in urgent care while praying about next steps and investing in time with his family.

The Villanueva family moved to AL in the summer of 2019 to join the Christ Health family in serving the underserved through faith-based primary care at their Woodlawn clinic in inner-city Birmingham. He completed a faculty development fellowship at UAB and joined the St. Vincent’s East Family Residency faculty in 2020. David has a special interest in sports medicine, osteopathic manipulative therapy, exercise and nutrition, outpatient procedures, faith in medicine, and medical missions. He is passionate about helping others live out their God-given design as they discover how their gifts and passions meet the world’s significant needs.

David’s favorite scripture passage is the sermon on the mount in Matthew 5-7 which reminds him that the Kingdom of God is central to who we are and all we do in this life. His favorite verse is Jesus’ opening line “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

David and Jana enjoy playing with their 3 rambunctious boys and doing anything active in the outdoors. Some of his favorite activities include trail running, mountain biking, triathlons, soccer, backpacking and just being in the woods.

Nathan Shepard, MD

Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis

Current Practice: I currently work as a Hospitalist in a rural regional hospital in Lindsay, Ontario, Canada.

Why I’m Glad I Chose SVEFMR: St Vincent’s East Family Medicine Residency profoundly impacted my life in almost every way possible. Not only did I receive excellent training to do the things that I loved most about medicine, but I was mentored and grew as a person more than any other time in my life. It is not an exaggeration to say that my family and I will continue to be blessed by those three years for all of eternity.

Jarod E. Speer, MD

Medical School: University of Alabama Birmingham

Current Practice: I have been in a private practice, outpatient only setting in Childersburg, AL since graduating from residency in 2008. Now, I experience those same challenges, rewards, highs and lows that I saw as a child, and I love it.

Why I’m Glad I Chose SVEFMR: I chose to do my family residency at St. Vincent’s East for two reasons. First, I was confident that the faculty and 3rd-year residents would provide me with the education I needed to prepare for a career in family medicine. Second, there was a closeness among the faculty and residents that I had not seen in other programs. The St. Vincent's East Family Medicine Residency surrounded me with kindness and support during these critical years of training and allowed me to develop meaningful friendships and relationships.

Jarod E. Speer, MD

Medical School: Pikeville University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville, Kentucky

Current Practice: Colleen currently practices in Birmingham, AL. Her practice includes management of diabetes as well as thyroid conditions. Patient care is a whole person approach trying to not only manage their high blood pressure and diabetes but also nutrition and physical activity. Favorite aspect is preventive care and establishing a relationship with the patient. We usually see the entire family and that is so rewarding and exciting.

Why I’m Glad I Chose SVEFMR: II still draw on my time at St Vincent's East. I was a hospital physician and clinic physician for the first three years of practice. I felt so comfortable with patient care after graduating from the St Vincent's East Family Medicine Residency. The residency prepared me for all aspects of medicine: treating patients, managing a practice, and understanding how to balance both. The residents and attendings have outstanding communication as well as a similar mindset of work ethic and support.

Colleen Tobe-Donohue, MD

Medical School: Pikeville University School of Osteopathic Medicine in Pikeville, Kentucky

Current Practice: Colleen currently practices in Birmingham, AL. Her practice includes management of diabetes as well as thyroid conditions. Patient care is a whole person approach trying to not only manage their high blood pressure and diabetes but also nutrition and physical activity. Favorite aspect is preventive care and establishing a relationship with the patient. We usually see the entire family and that is so rewarding and exciting.

Why I’m Glad I Chose SVEFMR: II still draw on my time at St Vincent's East. I was a hospital physician and clinic physician for the first three years of practice. I felt so comfortable with patient care after graduating from the St Vincent's East Family Medicine Residency. The residency prepared me for all aspects of medicine: treating patients, managing a practice, and understanding how to balance both. The residents and attendings have outstanding communication as well as a similar mindset of work ethic and support.

Brandon Slagley, MD

Hometown

Greenville, AL

Practice Location

Traditional Inpatient/Outpatient with procedures Endoscopy and GXT/Nursing home Medical Director
Greenville, AL

Mission Trips

• Honduras
• Dominican Republic (medical school and residency)

St. Vincent East FP Residency was the perfect place for me to train for my current practice setting. High outpatient and inpatient volume throughout training prepared me to jump into a very busy solo practice including lots of ICU/critical care. I used my elective time to learn extra procedures like Colonoscopy and Stress Tests that are valuable skills to offer in the small town setting and have been in high demand. More important than the medical knowledge was the professional, personal and spiritual growth during my three years. I wouldn't trade this for training anywhere in the country.

Dr. Ankrehah Trimble Johnson, DO

Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences

Current Practice: Dr.Johnson works in direct primary care as sole owner of Brownstone Healthcare and Aesthetics in Trussville, AL. She is in the 2020 Class of The Birmingham Business Journal’s Top 40 under 40. She has earned the titles of B- Metro Magazine Top Doctors in Medicine, B- Metro Magazine Top Women in Medicine, and Trademark Women of Distinction Honors for her dedication to answering questions about common medical conditions and bringing awareness to the importance of healthy lifestyles.

I’m Glad I Chose SVEFMR Because: The St. Vincent’s East Family Medicine Residency is deeply rooted in Christian and family ties. The program is unopposed, which allowed us to first assist on all surgeries and even deliver babies. St. Vincent's East prepared me for the real world in a great way!

Brooke Uptagrafft, MD

Hometown

Huntsville, AL

Practice Location

Gleneagles Family Medicine, Ambulatory/Inpatient FM
Huntsville, AL

Mission Trips

• Honduras
• Dominican Republic (medical school and residency)

St Vincent's East is a one of a kind residency! Throughout residency I was able to develop my own style of being a physician with the guidance of a diverse and excellent group of attending physicians. I was prepared academically for exceptional patient care. I had the opportunity to be trained by experts on any procedure I wanted to be able to offer in my private practice. I was able to balance my family and spiritual life with my medical career. But, what I take with me most every day in my work is the Christ-like attitude displayed consistently by the physicians I trained with. My fellow residents, faculty physicians and specialists that I rotated with were a unique group of people that I am forever thankful. Quality mentorship is one of the MOST important aspects of any resident’s training with this program ensuring it is provided daily in a meaningful way.

Meredith Pickett, DO

Medical School: West Virginia Osteopathic Medicine

Current Practice: I serve as a palliative medicine consultant at Northeast Georgia Medical Center where I assist medical and surgical services with symptom management, goals of care discussions, and transitions to hospice care. I enjoy teaching residents, and I take particular interest in the fields of delirium and pain management.

I’m Glad I Chose SVEFMR Because: Rather than challenging residents to compete against each other, St. Vincent's East Family Medicine Residency program taught me the value of teamwork and encouraging others. More than spoon-feeding facts, they taught me how to search out answers to my own questions and how to apply that new information to the patients in front of me. I was pleased to learn the flexibility family medicine physicians can have (even years after graduation), and I feel the faculty made extra effort to connect residents with established providers with similar interests and practice goals.

Dr. Kimberly F. Owens, MD

Medical School: University of Alabama School of Medicine

Current Practice: Auburn University Medical Clinic - we are a community-based outpatient practice located on the campus of Auburn University. We provide student health services as well as general primary care services to faculty and staff members of Auburn University and the surrounding community.

I’m Glad I Chose SVEFMR Because: I am thankful for attending St. Vincent's East Family Medicine Residency for personal and professional reasons. The faculty helped me grow in my walk with the Lord and develop my skills as a Christian physician. The education was outstanding, and I felt extremely prepared and qualified to practice inpatient and outpatient medicine, including ICU care, in the small rural community in which I practiced for six years following residency.