Meet Our People
Our people are the heart of this program. From our program director, our faculty, and current residents, we look forward to venturing forward on this journey together.
Sarah Taylor, DO
Program Director
We are so pleased that you’re considering applying to our growing Family Medicine Residency Program. Established in 2018, with our first graduating class in June 2022, I’m incredibly proud to share that we currently hold a 100% first-time board pass rate in family medicine.
As you explore our program, I want to highlight the foundation of our philosophy, what we call the three Cs: Competency, Commitment, and Collaboration.
Competency is the cornerstone of everything we do. Our goal is to provide excellence in education that results in confident, board-certified family medicine providers. We emphasize outpatient family medicine while also equipping residents to support patients across the full continuum of care—whether in the hospital, clinic, nursing home, or other settings. Our residents are trained to deliver whole-person care that can extend across generations of families within our community.
Commitment is about purpose beyond the walls of our clinics. We promote healthy living and preventive care by encouraging resident involvement in programs that address chronic conditions, underserved populations, and social determinants of health. We’re proud to offer additional training in lifestyle medicine, empowering our residents to create lasting change in the communities they serve.
And of course—Collaboration. While teamwork is often expected in healthcare, we make it intentional. We foster a safe, inclusive learning environment rooted in resident-faculty communication, continuous process improvement, and wellness support. We celebrate diverse backgrounds and perspectives, and we remain focused on promoting positive team dynamics and lifelong peer connections.
We’re honored to train the next generation of physicians and leaders who will make a difference not only in patient care, but in the communities they call home.
Our Core Faculty
Caitlyn Santer, DO
“It was exciting to return to the Mid-Ohio Valley following residency and care for entire families in my practice, from newborns to grandparents.”
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine; Lewisburg, West Virginia
Residency: Shenandoah Valley Family Practice Center; Front Royal, Virginia
Laura Burkett, MD
“I love caring for whole families and advocating for my patients to have safe, compassionate, affirming care that enriches their lives. There is nothing more satisfying than knowing that I connected with my patient and that our relationship improved their health. It has become one of my highest commitments to teach this same approach to family medicine to the next generation of family doctors.”
Medical School: Aureus University, School of Medicine; Oranjestad, Aruba
Residency: Memorial Health System; Marietta, Ohio
Daniele Geras-Fuhrich, MD
“As a primary care and lifestyle medicine physician, I love that I can build a lifelong relationship with my patients. I want to empower my patients to take their health into their own hands by changing lifestyle habits.”
Medical School: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS) Faculdade de Medicina
Residency: Family Medicine, Memorial Health System; Marietta, Ohio
Chad Bigony, DO
“Family medicine is full of opportunities to impact the health of those in your community. Health care, education, and advocacy are all part of family medicine and it is one of the few specialties where you can impact people at all stages of their lives.”
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine; Athens, Ohio
Residency: Doctors Hospital; Columbus, Ohio





