2009-2010 Peds Housestaff PGY-2
David Algea, M.D.
The University of Tennessee College of Medicine
Dr. Algea was born in Memphis and grew up just north of the city in beautiful Shelby Forest, Tennessee. He graduated from The University of Memphis
with degrees in Performance Theatre and Biology. Although he loved acting, David found his calling while on several medical mission trips to South
America. He enjoys watching Memphis Tiger basketball, disc golf, snow skiing, camping and fishing.
Jim Atherton, M.D.
Louisiana State University, Shreveport
Dr. Atherton was born and raised in Tampa, Florida. He attended a small school called Florida College for the first part of his undergraduate work and
then graduated from the University of South Florida with a BS in Chemical Engineering. Jim attended medical school at Shreveport, Louisiana with his
brother, who is doing Pathology in Birmingham. One reason Jim is excited to be at UT Memphis is because of the vast opportunity it offers for primary
care and subspecialties. He likes to read and play sports in his free time.
Jami Carver, M.D.
University of Mississippi School of Medicine
Dr. Carver is a native Mississippian. She graduated from Southaven High School in 2000 and four years later received her BS in Chemistry from
Mississippi College in Clinton. Jami then attended the University Medical Center in Jackson, Mississippi. While in Jackson, she met her husband,
Rodney. They were married July 7, 2007. Jami is excited about moving back to and working in the Memphis area. In her free time, Jami enjoys ballroom
dance, watching sports, and spending time with family.
Michael Gleason, M.D.
Texas Tech University School of Medicine
Dr. Gleason grew up in a suburb of Houston, Texas. He attended Vanderbilt University and majored in Molecular and Cellular Biology. For two years he
managed to fill up his free time cheering on the Commodores as the Mascot. After undergrad he moved back to Texas for medical school at Texas Tech.
During his free time Michael enjoys playing soccer and Texas Hold ‘Em. Michael is a self-proclaimed fountain of worthless information and trivia.
Meisha Graham, M.D.
Tulane University School of Medicine
Dr. Graham was born and raised in Hollywood, a South Florida suburb of Miami. She received a BS in Biology from Xavier where she was a member of the
Women’s Volleyball Team. She attended Tulane University School of Medicine where she received her medical degree and a Master’s in Public Health.
Meisha will miss the New Orleans cuisine, culture, and a laid back lifestyle, but is excited to move to Memphis and be closer to two of her closest
college friends. Her hobbies include playing all sports (including football), watching reality TV, and spending time with family and friends.
Justin Gregory, M.D.
The University of Tennessee College of Medicine
Justin was born and raised in beautiful East Tennessee, which he frequently refers to as “God’s Country.” Pursuing his dream of becoming a fighter
pilot, he left Kingsport to attend the U.S. Air Force Academy. After two years he was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and transferred to the
University of Tennessee, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. Sensing these events providential, he increasingly felt called to medicine. Justin
is an avid cyclist, competing in regional road races. He also enjoys traveling, hiking, snow skiing, meeting beautiful women and cheering on the
Big Orange.
Astrid Gutierrez-Zepeda, M.D.
Tulane University School of Medicine
Dr. Gutierrez-Zepeda was born and raised in Honduras, with Spanish as her first language. Astrid learned English throughout elementary and high school.
While in high school, she worked as a translator during the summer with medical teams coming to Honduras from the U.S. After high school, she moved
to Hattiesburg, MS where she attended college (Southern Mississippi) and worked at a research lab for two years. Afterwards, she moved to New Orleans
to start medical school at Tulane. After Katrina, the entire school moved to Houston for a year, which proved to be an amazing and challenging
experience for all. Astrid is learning French and how to play the guitar. Astrid says hopefully some day she’ll be able to play a song without having
to read it from a book. Astrid also enjoys reading and jogging.
Lauren Haddad, M.D.
Tulane University School of Medicine
Dr. Haddad was born and raised in New Orleans, LA. She graduated from the University of Richmond with a major in Biology and a minor in Business.
Lauren completed medical school at Tulane University, which is a family tradition, she’s number 6. Her hobbies include cooking, exercising,
traveling, and most importantly shopping.
Susan Halverson, M.D.
Southern Illinois University College of Medicine
Dr. Halverson grew up in Iowa and Quincy, Illinois. She attended Illinois Wesleyan University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Biology.
Susie went on to Southern Illinois University for medical school. Susie and husband, Will, were married in May 2008. The newlyweds are very excited
about their move to Memphis! In her spare time, Susie enjoys baking, reading, running, and spending time with family and friends.
Rebecca Hook, M.D.
Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Dr. Hook grew up in the small town of Abington, Illinois. She attended Millikin University and graduated with a bachelor degree in Biology. Becca went
to Southern Illinois University School of Medicine in Springfield, Illinois and was involved with the Medical Students as Teachers Program as well
as Student Assembly. Becca enjoys cooking, working out, and watching sporting events (especially the Chicago Bears and Cubs) in her free time.
Mindy Labac, M.D.
Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Born and raised in Lancaster, Ohio, Dr. Labac is a “buckeye” at heart. She went to Xavier University for undergrad where she met her new hubby, Nick.
They moved to Dayton, Ohio where she attended Wright State for medical school. Mindy was able to travel to Swaziland and Cambodia through their
school’s global health program. Nick and Mindy are thrilled to be in Memphis with their first new house and close to his parents who live in
Germantown.
Andrew Nearn, M.D.
The University of Tennessee College of Medicine
Dr. Nearn, a native Memphian, is a “second-career” doctor, having explored the business world for nine years before feeling drawn to medicine.
After graduating from Auburn University with a BS in Biomedical Science and marrying an Alabama girl, he and his wife moved to Colorado where he
earned a Masters in Accounting from the University of Denver. Andrew worked in accounting four years before returning home to Memphis to work in
the hotel business. Never regretting for one minute his career change, Dr. Nearn feels right at home in pediatrics, thanks in part to his own
private practice composed of two sons and daughter.
Amanda Carmean, M.D.
Marshall University School of Medicine
Dr. Carmean grew up in the rolling hills of northern West Virginia, a place where deer are more plentiful than people. After venturing out to the
urban jungle of Chicago for college, she returned to West Virginia to attend Marshall University School of Medicine. You would only be familiar
with Marshall if you have seen the movie “We are Marshall” starring Matthew McConaughey, who caused quite a stir while in town. In her spare time
Amanda enjoys spending time with her partner in crime, Craig, and walking their dogs, Oliver and Winston. Baseball and soccer are the essence of
life and she enjoys watching the Pittsburgh Pirates lose any opportunity she gets.
Wesley Rainbolt, M.D.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
Dr. Rainbolt was born in Conroe, Texas and lived in Houston until the age of two when he moved to Arkansas. He grew up in a small town about 45
minutes north of Little Rock. Wesley is single, still looking for Ms. Right, and someone able to put up with his ways. He is an avid outdoorsman.
Wesley would rather spend his time fishing, duck hunting, or playing ball than doing anything else. He enjoys working out and running to keep in
shape in order to bring in those big fish. He is highly devoted to his friends and family and tries to spend time with them as much as possible.
Wesley is looking forward to his time in Memphis and says it will be quite the transition from the country to the big city, but can’t wait to
explore the country and find new places to fish.
Andrea Reynolds, M.D., Ph.D.
University of Illinois College of Medicine
Dr. Reynolds was born in Springfield, Illinois but was eight years old when the family moved to Meridian, Mississippi. She attended
Birmingham-Southern College in Alabama and graduated with a BS in Biological Chemistry. She decided that she missed seeing snow, so she enrolled
in the MD/PhD. program at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In 2006 Andrea completed her Ph.D. in Chemistry after working on DNA-based
biosensors for environmental toxins such as uranium. She has been interested in pediatrics since starting medical school and is looking forward
to coming back to the South for residency. Andrea has seen more than enough snow now. She married an electrical engineer in 2005. They have a
golden retriever named Chewey (as in Chewbacca), a mixed-breed dog named Nikki, a cat name Shade, and a gecko named Critter.
Audra Rouster, M.D.
Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Dr. Rouster was born and raised in Canton, OH. She attended the University of Rio Grande where she met her future husband and played varsity softball.
She later received a MS in Anatomy from Wright State University. She remained at Wright State for medical school. In November of 2005 she married
Doug. They have 2 cats, Tom and Lilly. Audra enjoys games of all types (board games, cards, outdoor games) and finding a good bargain while Doug
loves to fish. Together they enjoy co-ed softball, boating, camping, having friends over, and watching movies on the couch. Living outside of Ohio
will be a first for both of them but they're ready for some good BBQ.
Lauren Stennes, M.D.
Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Dr. Stennes grew up in Littleton, Colorado before attending Washington University in Saint Louis, where she majored in Biology. Following her
undergraduate career, she spent a year studying fetal hemoglobin at the NIH. She attended Saint Louis University School of Medicine where she
met her husband, Corey, a General Surgery resident. Lauren has a twin sister who is a pediatric resident in Ohio. She enjoys cooking, spending
time with family and friends, movies and scuba diving.
Quick Links
Contact Us
University of Tennessee
Pediatric Residency Program
50 N Dunlap St.
Memphis, TN 38103
Phone: 1-800-733-6371
