Meet Our Residents

Catherine Emerson, MD
Chief Resident, Dermatology PGY-4

Medical School:  Rush Medical College of Rush University Medical Center

Hometown: Wilmette, IL

Undergraduate Institution: University of Illinois in Champaign

Intern Year: Presence Resurrection Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Hobbies: Working out, spending time with friends and family (and my two cats!), watching the Blackhawks, cooking, trying new restaurants in Chicago

Ryan Kelm, MD 
Chief Resident, Dermatology PGY-4

Medical School:  University of Oklahoma College of Medicine

Hometown: Honolulu, HI

Undergraduate Institution: The University of Oklahoma

Intern Year: Presence St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago, IL

Hobbies: Exercising, saltwater aquarium, tech, synthetic biology, AI, and eating Chipotle

Julie Bittar, MD
Dermatology PGY-3

Medical School:  Indiana University School of Medicine

Hometown: Terre Haute, IN

Undergraduate Institution: University of Pennsylvania

Intern Year: Presence St. Vincent Ascension Health, Indianapolis, IN

Hobbies: Paddle boarding, traveling, chess

Morgan Decker, MD
Dermatology PGY-3

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine

Hometown: Grosse Pointe Shores, MI

Undergraduate Institution: University of Notre Dame

Intern Year: Kettering Medical Center, Kettering, OH

Hobbies: Outdoor runs and walks, tennis, gardening, interior design, boating and Notre Dame football

Elise Brunsgaard, MD
Dermatology PGY-2

Medical School: Rush Medical College

Hometown: Boulder, CO

Undergraduate Institution: University of Colorado, Boulder, CO

Intern Year: University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

Hobbies: Running, climbing, hiking, skiing, trying new restaurants or breweries and spending quality time with friends and family

Rachel Lefferdink, MD
Dermatology PGY-2

Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

Hometown: Midland, MI

Undergraduate Institution: University of Michigan

Intern Year: University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital

Hobbies: Cooking and entertaining, reading, playing cardio tennis, cheering for University of Michigan sports and spending time with my husband and two children

Emily Medhus, DO
Dermatology PGY-2

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine

Hometown:  Minneapolis, MN

Undergraduate Institution: College of Charleston, SC

Intern Year: Tufts Medical Center

Hobbies: Walking my Aussiedoodle Teddy, traveling, interior design, pottery