Current Residents
First-Year Residents
Andrea Fjelstul-Bonert, MD
Andrea is from Hopkinton, IA, a small town in Northeast Iowa. She attended the University of Iowa for her undergraduate studies, where she majored in Biomedical Engineering. She completed a master's degree in Biomedical Science at Iowa State University, and then went on to complete her medical training at the University of Iowa. In her free time, Andrea enjoys spending time with her family, farming with her husband, reading, cooking, and working out.
Nicholas Howard, MD
Nick grew up in Rushville, IL, a small town in western Illinois. He completed his undergraduate education at Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville and attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Rockford. During his free time, he enjoys spending time with family, reading fantasy novels, working out, trying new restaurants, and playing board games.
Madison Purvis, MD
Madi is from Prophetstown, IL, a small town in Northwestern Illinois. She attended the University of Iowa for her undergraduate education and then moved to Rockford to go to medical school at the University of Illinois where she was a part of the Rural Medical Education Program. She enjoys boating, walking with her dog, pilates, and spending time with friends.
Wendell Shepard, DO
Wendell grew up in Los Angeles and Santa Ynez, California. He completed his undergraduate education at Santa Clara University and moved to Iowa for medical school at Des Moines University. During his free time, he enjoys woodworking, reading, visiting historical sites, and cooking.
Brooke Turek, DO
Brooke is from Plymouth, Wisconsin. She went to Bethel University in St. Paul, Minnesota for her undergraduate degree in Biology and studied at Des Moines University for medical school. She enjoys cooking, fishing in the Boundary Waters, playing cribbage, and hiking with her husband.
Ceara Van Buskirk, DO
Ceara is from Kansas City, MO. She attended Rockhurst University as an undergraduate, earning degrees in both biomedical physics and Spanish. She graduated medical school from Kansas City University with a dual DO/MBA degree. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.
Second-Year Residents
Nasihudeen Azizz, MD
Nash is originally from Ghana, but has been living in Chicago, IL. He graduated from University of Illinois in Chicago with a major in Biology. He attended medical school at Windsor University School of Medicine in Saint Kitts. In his free free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife and his 3-year-old daughter. He enjoys hiking, playing soccer, travelling, watching sports and taking his daughter to the library.
Ross Burandt, DO
Ross is originally from Winfield, IL. He graduated from Illinois Wesleyan University with a major in biochemistry and a minor in healthcare administration. Ross attended medical school at Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine and during that time he founded Med Ed Materials — a non-profit organization dedicated to improving health literacy. He spends his free time going on runs with his wife and dog, 3D printing, playing music, gardening, and working on home projects.
Adrienne Fouts, MD
Adrienne grew up in Girard, Illinois. She went to Augustana College for her undergraduate education and completed medical school at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford where she was part of the Rural Medical Program. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, hiking, playing board games with friends, exploring new restaurants, and reading fiction books.
Stephanie McMillan, DO
Stephanie McMillan is from Independence, IA. She attended Iowa state University for her undergraduate degree and Des Moines University for medical school. She enjoys reading, cooking, swimming, spending time with her friends and family.
Morgan Powers, MD
Morgan is from Shelbyville, Il, a small town in Central Illinois. She moved northwest to attend Millikin University for her undergraduate degree, and then moved northwest again to attend the University of Illinois College of Medicine in Peoria. Her most recent move northwest has placed her here in the Quad-Cities. Morgan enjoys hunting and fishing with her fiancé. She also enjoys working on projects at her farm, going to the gym, spending time with her cats, and listening to crime podcasts.
Allison Stein, MD
Allison grew up in Iowa City and is a 2024 graduate of the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. She attended the University of Northern Iowa for undergrad, where she met her husband. Together they have a daughter. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, watching Iowa Hawkeye athletics, and enjoying new restaurants.
Third-Year Residents
Ali Ilahi, MD
Ali grew up overseas in Saudi Arabia. He received his undergraduate degree from Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and he attended medical school at the University of Medicine and Health Sciences in Saint Kitts. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, reading, learning about chess, as well as playing and following basketball.
Blain Samuelson, MD
Blain grew up in Davenport, IA. He graduated from North High school and played basketball at St. Ambrose University. He then completed medical school at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. He and his wife have a son and love to spend time with family. He enjoys golfing, playing basketball, working out, cooking, and trying new restaurants.
Jacob Staudt, DO
Jake grew up in Forest City, IA. He attended Buena Vista University in Storm Lake, IA where he played football and majored in biology. Jake continued his education at Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school. Jake enjoys running, the outdoors, watching nearly any sport, and spending time with his wife and son.
Eric Stevens, MD
Eric grew up in Galesburg, IL. He went to Knox College for undergrad and attended the University of Illinois College of Medicine Rockford for medical school. He lives in the Quad Cities with his wife. Together, they enjoy watching St. Louis Cardinals baseball, being outdoors, and spending time with family.
Dr. Stevens also serves as one of our co-chief residents.
John Whitney, DO
John grew up in Portage, IN and graduated from Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2023. He enjoys cooking a variety of foods, going outdoors, playing board games, reading, and working out.
Dr. Whitney also serves as one of our co-chief residents.
Anna Wilcox, MD
Anna grew up in Marcus IA, a small town in Northwest Iowa. She attended Iowa State University for undergrad and the University of Iowa for medical school. She enjoys spending time with her partner and two cats, reading romance novels, baking, and spending time outside hiking and biking.
