Emergency Medicine & Critical Care

Providing care to patients of all ages at Valleywise Health Medical Center in Phoenix and Valleywise Health Emergency Care Center in Maryvale and working with physician colleagues across medical specialties, District Medical Group (DMG) includes emergency medicine and critical care specialists including:

Board certified physicians
Nurse practitioners
Physician assistants

DMG emergency medicine and critical care physicians stabilize and treat patients who are experiencing acute health problems or traumatic injuries. Depending on the severity of condition, illness or injury, the patient may be treated and released from the emergency room or be admitted to the hospital for additional care by appropriate medical specialists.

Education Programs

As part of the Creighton University Arizona Health Education Alliance and in partnership with Valleywise Health, DMG offers the following residency program supporting emergency medicine:

Emergency Medicine Residency

In addition, DMG offers an undergraduate medical clerkship and/or rotation for students in emergency medicine:

Emergency Medicine Rotation

For more information on DMG’s commitment to educating Arizona’s future healthcare professionals, click here.

Locations

Meet Our Emergency Medicine & Critical Care Providers

Leadership

Jeff Stowell, MD

Jeff Stowell, MD

Department Chairman, Medical Director, APP Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Carah Maronay - Phoenix AZ

Carah Maronay

Division Administrator

Andres Borja Alvarez, MD

Andres Borja Alvarez, MD

Physician
Chief, Pulmonary Section

Medical Specialty: Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine

Medical School: Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador - Quito

Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine

Geoff Comp

Geoff Comp, DO

Associate Program Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery - Missouri

Certification: American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine

Patrick David, MD

Patrick Harry David, MD

Vice Chair, Anesthesiology

Medical Specialty: Critical Care Medicine, Anesthesiology

Medical School: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences - Bethesda, Maryland

Certification: Critical Care Medicine - American Board of Anesthesiology

Timothy Davie MD

Timothy Davie, MD

Director of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of California San Diego - La Jolla

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Michael Epter, DO

Program Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Bruce Horwood, MD, FACEP

Bruce Horwood, MD, FACEP

Associate Director of Trauma Services
Pre-Hospital Medical Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine - Seattle

Certification: Emergency Medicine

Frank LoVecchio, DO, MPH, FACEP

Frank LoVecchio, DO, MPH, FACEP

Vice Chair for Research

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine - Old Westbury

Certification: Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology, Forensic Examiners

Carl Mitchell, MD

Carl Mitchell, MD

Ultrasound Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Arkansas College of Medicine - Little Rock

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Paul Pugsley

Paul Pugsley, MD

Quality Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Albany Medical College - New York

Dany Quan, DO, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT

Dany Quan, DO, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT

Director of Medical Toxicology, Interim Research Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Certification: American Osteopathic Board Emergency Medicine (Sub: Medical Toxicology)

Amrita Vempati, MD

Associate Program Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Thomas Wertin, MD, FACS

Thomas Wertin, MD, FACS

Medical Director and Chief of the Division of Trauma
Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery

Medical Specialty: Surgery - Trauma
Surgical Critical Care

Medical School: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences - Bethesda, Maryland

Certification: Surgery
Surgical Critical Care

Thomas Whiting

Thomas Whiting, DO

Clerkship Director, Attending Physician

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Critical Care

Andres Borja Alvarez, MD

Andres Borja Alvarez, MD

Physician
Chief, Pulmonary Section

Medical Specialty: Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine, Internal Medicine

Medical School: Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador - Quito

Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine

Richard Carlson MD PHD

Richard Carlson, MD, PhD

Medical Specialty: Critical Care Medicine
General Internal Medicine

Medical School: University of Southern California - Los Angeles

Certification: Critical Care - American Board of Internal Medicine

Justin Chandler

Justin Chandler, MD

Physician

Medical Specialty: Surgery - Trauma
Surgical Critical Care

Ahmad Chebbo, MD

Ahmad Chebbo, MD

Physician

Medical Specialty: Critical Care Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Internal Medicine

Medical School: Lebanese University School of Medicine - Beirut, Lebanon

Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease and Critical Care Medicine

Patrick David, MD

Patrick Harry David, MD

Vice Chair, Anesthesiology

Medical Specialty: Critical Care Medicine, Anesthesiology

Medical School: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences - Bethesda, Maryland

Certification: Critical Care Medicine - American Board of Anesthesiology

Karole Davis, MD

Karole Davis, MD

Medical Specialty: Surgery - Trauma
Surgical Critical Care

Kevin Foster, MD, MBA, FACS

Kevin Foster, MD, MBA, FACS

Medical Director, Burn Center / Program Director, General Surgery

Medical Specialty: Burn Surgery
General Surgery

Medical School: Medical College of Ohio - Toledo

Certification: General Surgery - American Board of Surgery

Katherine Gross, MD

Katherine Gross, MD

Physician

Medical Specialty: Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine

Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine - Dutch Caribbean

Certification: Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine

Alexzandra Hollingworth

Alexzandra Hollingworth, MD, FACS

Attending

Medical Specialty: Surgery - Trauma
Surgical Critical Care
Acute Care Surgery

Hristo Hristov, MD

Medical Specialty: Internal Medicine

Medical School: Semmelweis Medical University , Budapest - Hungary

Certification: Internal Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine
Pulmonary Disease - American Board of Internal Medicine
Critical Care Medicine - American Board of Internal Medicine

Norlalak Jiramethee

Norlalak Jiramethee, MD

Physician

Medical Specialty: Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine

Medical School: College of Medicine, Rangsit University - Thailand

Certification: Internal Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine

Marc Matthews, MD, MS, FACS

Marc Matthews, MD, MS, FACS

Respiratory Services

Medical Specialty: Burn Surgery
Trauma
Surgical Critical Care

Medical School: University of California School of Medicine - Los Angeles

Certification: General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Michael Peck, MD, SCD, FACS

Michael Peck, MD, SCD, FACS

Director of Ambulatory and International Outreach Programs
Arizona Burn Center at Valleywise Health Medical Center

Medical Specialty: Burn Surgery
Surgical Critical Care

Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine - Denver

Certification: General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Paola Pieri, MD, FACS

Paola Pieri, MD, FACS

Medical Specialty: Surgery - Trauma
Surgical Critical Care

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine - Detroit, Michigan

Certification: General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care

Pedro Quiroga, MD

Pedro Quiroga, MD

Medical Specialty: Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine

Medical School: Universidad Automoma De Guadalajara - Mexico

Certification: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine

Sydney Vail, MD

Sydney Vail, MD

Chair of the Surgery Department

Medical Specialty: Surgery - Trauma
Surgical Critical Care

Thomas Wertin, MD, FACS

Thomas Wertin, MD, FACS

Medical Director and Chief of the Division of Trauma
Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery

Medical Specialty: Surgery - Trauma
Surgical Critical Care

Medical School: Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences - Bethesda, Maryland

Certification: Surgery
Surgical Critical Care

Syed Zaidi, MD

Syed Zaidi, MD

Medical Specialty: Critical Care Medicine
Pulmonary Medicine

Medical School: Osmania Medical College, Osmania University - Hyderabad, India

Certification: Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Disease, Critical Care Medicine

Emergency Medicine

Patricia Bayless, MD, FACEP

Patricia Bayless, MD, FACEP

Physician
Chief Wellness Officer

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Tucson

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

David Bell, MD

David Bell, MD

Physician

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Illinois at Chicago - Urbana

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Paul Blackburn, DO, FACOEP, FACEP

Paul Blackburn, DO, FACOEP, FACEP

Physician

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine - Kirksville, Missouri

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Geoff Comp

Geoff Comp, DO

Associate Program Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Kansas City College of Osteopathy and Surgery - Missouri

Certification: American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine

Timothy Davie MD

Timothy Davie, MD

Director of Quality Improvement and Patient Safety

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of California San Diego - La Jolla

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Michael Epter, DO

Program Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Levi Filler

Levi Filler, DO

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Kara Geren

Kara Geren, MD

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Cincinnati - Ohio

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Bruce Horwood, MD, FACEP

Bruce Horwood, MD, FACEP

Associate Director of Trauma Services
Pre-Hospital Medical Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine - Seattle

Certification: Emergency Medicine

Brant Jaouen, MD

Brant Jaouen, MD

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Saint Louis University - St. Louis, Missouri

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Brendan Leach, DO

Brendan Leach, DO

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Touro University - Vallejo, CA

Certification: Emergency Medicine

Frank LoVecchio, DO, MPH, FACEP

Frank LoVecchio, DO, MPH, FACEP

Vice Chair for Research

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine - Old Westbury

Certification: Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology, Forensic Examiners

Ashkon Mahmoudi, MD

Ashkon Mahmoudi, MD

Physician

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Arizona College of Medicine - Phoenix

Megan McElhinny, MD

Megan McElhinny, MD

Physician

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Carl Mitchell, MD

Carl Mitchell, MD

Ultrasound Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Arkansas College of Medicine - Little Rock

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Jack Palmer, MD

Jack Palmer, MD

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine - Attending Physician

Medical School: State University of New York Upstate Medical University - Syracuse

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Paul Pugsley

Paul Pugsley, MD

Quality Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Albany Medical College - New York

Dany Quan, DO, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT

Dany Quan, DO, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT

Director of Medical Toxicology, Interim Research Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Certification: American Osteopathic Board Emergency Medicine (Sub: Medical Toxicology)

Jamie Ropacki MD

Jamie Ropacki, MD

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: New York Medical College - Valhalla

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Jennifer Roper, MD

Jennifer Roper, MD

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine - University Park

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Shirley Shao, MD

Shirley Shao, MD

Physician

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: State University of New York Downstate Medical Center - Brooklyn

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

William John "Corey" Steinbrecher, MD

MD

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Medical School: University of Arizona - Tucson, AZ

Certification: Emergency Medicine - American Board of Emergency Medicine

Jeff Stowell, MD

Jeff Stowell, MD

Department Chairman, Medical Director, APP Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Amrita Vempati, MD

Associate Program Director

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Certification: American Board of Emergency Medicine

Thomas Whiting

Thomas Whiting, DO

Clerkship Director, Attending Physician

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Mid-Level Providers

Krista Autuori, PA-C

Krista Autuori, PA-C

Lead Advanced Practice Provider

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Education: Philadelphia University - Pennsylvania

Whitney A. Benard, PA-C

Whitney Benard, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Education: Midwestern University - Glendale, Arizona

Danielle Borgerding, PA-C

Danielle Borgerding, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine - Advanced Practice Provider

Education: Central Michigan University - Mt Pleasant

Robert H. De Villiers, PA-C

Robert De Villiers, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Education: Samuel Merritt College - Oakland, California

Rebecca Dodd PA-C

Rebecca Dodd, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Education: Midwestern University - Glendale, Arizona

Amanda Horton, FNP

Amanda Horton, FNP

Nurse Practitioner

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Education: Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, Arizona

Certification: American Association of Nurse Practitioners

Chelsea Johnson, FNP

Chelsea Johnson, FNP

Nurse Practitioner

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine - Advanced Practice Provider

Education: Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, Arizona

Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Amber McDaniel, FNP

Amber McDaniel, FNP

Nurse Practitioner

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine - Advanced Practice Provider

Education: Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, Arizona

Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Kathleen McDonald, PA-C

Kathleen McDonald, PA-C

Physician Assistant

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Education: Midwestern University - Glendale, Arizona

Edward Vidal, FNP

Edward Vidal, FNP

Nurse Practitioner

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine - Advanced Practice Provider

Education: Arizona State University - Phoenix

Certification: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners

Richard A. White, PA

Richard White, PA

Physician Assistant

Medical Specialty: Emergency Medicine

Education: A.T. Still University Arizona School of Health Sciences - Mesa