Caleb Brackett, MD
Pronouns: He/Him/His
University of Washington School of Medicine
Caleb Brackett grew up in rural Wyoming with his 2 brothers. He discovered early on that the medical field was where he needed to be in life, maybe it was the Boy Scouts, lifeguarding, or clinic shadowing in high school. Regardless, he grew to understand that this was a field where he could combine his passion for science, medical knowledge, and service toward others.
Caleb studied microbiology at the University of Wyoming and went to medical school at the University of Washington School of Medicine (WWAMI-WY). Volunteering with Hospice of Laramie, the Downtown Clinic, and Interfaith food pantry filled his free time when he wasn’t studying. He is passionate about rural medicine and has special interests in emergency medicine, wound care, and community needs.
Caleb wants to someday raise a family in a rural community that he can call his forever home. Outside of medicine, he enjoys making his way through IMDb’s Top 250 must watch movies list, videogames, trying to find the best tacos/food in town, hiking, or playing disc golf.
George Austin Brown, MD
Pronouns: He/Him/His
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine
Austin is from a small ranching/gold-mining town in Northeastern Nevada called Spring Creek. Here he spent his formative years largely outside, with a house nestled at the base of the criminally underrated Ruby Mountains. After high school he spent a few years working manual labor in the mining industry, but after a while felt like there might be more out there for him. So, he and his high school sweetheart-turned-wife moved to Fayetteville, Arkansas to go to college.
At the University of Arkansas, Austin discovered a love of learning, graduating with degrees in Physics, Chemical Engineering, and Biology. His first inkling that medicine was the path he would take was a research job in a biophysics lab studying antibiotic resistance. Although being a researcher was intellectually gratifying, it became clear to him that working with people, not lab equipment, was the kind of work he found meaningful. So, he and his wife moved to Little Rock, AR where he attended medical school at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences.
Once in medical school, choosing Family Medicine was a no-brainer given the challenging breadth of the field. Further, Austin was driven by the experiences of his own family and those around him seeking healthcare in rural Nevada. The opportunity to form unique relationships with patients and help them navigate a healthcare system complicated by rural isolation is the focus of his career. He comes to Klamath Falls with his wife, Shayne, their German Shepherd, Labradoodle, and Piper the black cat.
In his free time, Austin loves to read, hunt, work outside, hike, travel, play guitar, run, work with horses, spend time with family…his personal life tends to reflect his professional life, where he finds enjoyment in a breadth of activity and the spontaneity of whatever the day brings. Austin and Shayne are confident that Klamath Falls is the place they are supposed to be and are looking forward to continuing their journey back in the West.
Madison Egan Kearns, MD
Pronouns: She/Her
Oregon Health & Science University
Madi grew up in the Willamette Valley and spent most of her childhood outside, camping with her family and playing sports. She developed an early appreciation for community building from her parents, who often included her in political activism and volunteering. Madi’s path to medicine started early when she received a first-aid kit for her 5th birthday. Patching up her friends slowly developed into an interest in medicine, and after moving to Portland, she spent her junior high and high school years fostering this interest through science classes and volunteering.
At University of Arizona, Madi studied Nutrition and Biology. Combining her interest in science with community-based education and patient-centered care felt like a perfect combination. She loved talking with patients about food and figuring out how their particular tastes fit into their lifestyle. It was also in college that she was first exposed to rural medicine. The physicians she worked with near the border of Arizona reinforced the importance of adapting to patients’ needs. After spending a year in St. Louis becoming a registered dietitian at the VA hospital, she was excited to return home to Oregon for medical school at OHSU.
With her previous experiences in mind, Madi entered medical school with a suspicion that she would end up in primary care. She stayed connected to her passion for nutrition working on food security at OHSU and thoroughly enjoyed all of her rotations, especially rural family medicine. During her last year of medical school, Madi and her husband, Phil, moved to Klamath Falls to be part of the Oregon FIRST program and they are thrilled to continue to be part of the Cascades East family for residency. Outside of medicine, Madi enjoys paddleboarding with her husband, chipping away at house projects, hiking with friends, and exploring trails with her two very energetic dogs.
Kyle Haggerty, MD
Pronouns: She/Her
Oregon Health & Science University
Kyle grew up in Canby, Oregon. As a kid, she was constantly playing doctor with her sisters and classmates - she even competed in elementary school science fairs with presentations on ear mechanics and osteoporosis! She completed her undergraduate degree in biology at University of Oregon followed by medical school at Oregon Health & Science University. In her journey into medicine she has explored a number of specialties including neurology, rheumatology, pathology, and orthopedics - always finding her way back to family medicine. Kyle chose family medicine as her specialty because of the broad scope of practice, opportunities to teach others, and the joy she finds in interacting with patients longitudinally. She is thrilled to be living out her childhood dream at Cascades East Family Medicine Residency. In her spare time, she enjoys reading novels, taking long walks, and exploring new places with her husband (Austin) and mini australian shepherd (Nyx).
Damon Lerma, MD
Pronouns: He/Him/His
Oregon Health & Science University
Damon Lerma was born in Riverside, CA but spent the majority of his formative years right here in the Klamath Basin in Chiloquin; the place he calls home. His path to medicine was quite non-traditional, but in true family medicine “jack of all trades” fashion, was rife with various experiences. He had spent a few years in the resort dining industry, cooking on the fine dining hotline on the Oregon Coast and in Sunrviver, Oregon. Despite the enjoyment he had with these experiences, he had a gnawing desire to go back to school and be the first in his family to graduate from college; he just didn't know what route to go. He realized his heart remained in the Klamath Basin and decided to move back to take some general courses while working for the United States Forest Service as a wildland firefighter where he spent summers across the Western states fighting fire. While fighting fire, Damon attended Oregon Tech where he quickly fell in love with human physiology and decided to pursue a degree in Biology Health Sciences. It was here where he developed a love and interest for the beautiful relationship between science and human connection that encompasses medicine and made the leap to attend medical school at Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) in Portland, OR.
His idea of a physician was shaped by the rural doctors that served Chiloquin and Klamath Falls practicing full spectrum family medicine who were integral pieces of patients' lives throughout their health journey. He was inspired by this with the care for his grandparents as well as family physicians he shadowed in undergrad. He simply wanted to be a part of patients' health journey coaching them in becoming the healthiest and strongest version of themselves and felt family medicine was the best avenue for this.
While in medical school Damon learned that he enjoyed all aspects and specialties of medicine and could not just choose one. Furthermore, he felt that his most meaningful interactions were with family medicine experiences in his early clinical years. He had the opportunity to spend his 4th year of medical school in Klamath Falls at Cascade East as an Oregon First student where he was immersed in rural medicine which solidified his desire to become a rural family physician.
He loves all things family medicine and is excited to spend the next three years learning how to be a great physician in his hometown at a phenomenal program. When not at the hospital/clinic, Damon loves going on walks and spending as much time as he can with his lovely wife Erika, six month old son Cruz, and golden retriever Churro. He also enjoys running, weightlifting, golfing, cooking “boujee” food, and watching Raider football.
Emily Mountz, DO
Pronouns: She/Her
Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Emily grew up in a small town in northern New Mexico where her parents introduced her to, and instilled in her, a love for the great outdoors. At 14, she was offered a scholarship to attend a ski academy in Colorado where she participated in community service and wilderness education. After graduation and several post-grad years on the US Ski Team, she completed a BA in Geology from Colby College in Waterville, Maine.
In the years to follow, Emily traveled across the globe while holding a number of unique careers that complement her passions: non-profit co-founder, AmeriCorps volunteer, Pilates instructor, ski coach, and high school teacher. During this time and after the death of her father, she became very involved with hospice as well as her local Buddhist Center, both of which sparked the thought of medical school.
In 2015, Emily sustained a major head injury, which led her to meeting an Osteopathic Family Physician whose practice focused on Cranial Osteopathy. This experience not only solidified her desire to pursue medicine, but also inspired exploration of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and a Doctorate in Osteopathy (DO). Emily intentionally sought out a DO school in a location with extensive rural healthcare needs. She was accepted at Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine and enjoyed four years learning about a region of the country and cultural practices different from those she grew up with. However, the mountains and cooler climates were calling to her.
From the moment she laid eyes on the website, Emily knew that CEFM was everything she was looking for. She moved to Klamath Falls with her husband, Luke, and their two dogs, Lily and Trudy. From the remote setting and lake views to the backcountry skiing opportunities and epic mountain bike trails, there is nowhere else they would rather be! But, in Emily’s words, “What makes this place so remarkable is the unbelievable people… people who genuinely care about one another… both in- and outside of the residency itself.” The four of them truly feel as though they have landed their dream life, they are so proud to have become Oregonians, and they can’t wait to explore the greater Klamath Falls area and all the community has to offer in the years to come!
Jacob Rogers, MD
Pronouns: He/His/Him
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine
Jacob was born and raised in Greeley, Colorado, a town whose heavy agricultural influences combined with the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains to help build a love for outdoor and rural spaces. Here he received his early introduction to medicine, albeit veterinary, as he frequently accompanied his mother on cattle feed yard rounds and studies.
He later attended the University of Oklahoma for his undergraduate years, studying biochemistry and meeting his wife, Rachel, through the Pride of Oklahoma marching band program. Jacob entered medical school at the University of Oklahoma believing that he wanted to pursue primary care. This was ultimately confirmed through his experiences at a local free clinic, where he learned how to focus on the patient in their entirety and develop practical treatment plans for under-served populations.
Jacob enjoys woodworking, reading, and various outdoor exploits such as hiking, kayaking, and paddle boarding, when not working. He and Rachel are incredibly eager to continue their adventures in southern Oregon, along with their newly rescued Swiss mountain dog, Finn.
John Utley, DO
Pronouns: He/His/Him
A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine
John grew up in Saint George, Utah, where he spent his childhood hiking, climbing, fly fishing, and enjoying the beautiful red rock southern Utah. While attempting to beat the desert heat he found a love for competitive swimming, which occupied his spare time during high school. It was also during that time that he discovered his passion for biology and medicine. Following high school, he served a 2-year mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Leon, Mexico where lived and served, learned Spanish, and had significant exposure to low resource and underserved medical communities.
After completing his mission, he attended Dixie State University (in St. George, UT) where he majored biology and minored in chemistry. During college he worked as a mentor for youth in group therapy programs and coached both high school and club swimming. It was through coaching that he met his wife Morgan, who has been his greatest support and cheerleader throughout medical training. John completed medical school at A.T. Still University in Kirksville, Missouri. Attending medical school in a small town reinforced his love for rural communities and rural medicine.
John feels extremely fortunate to have joined CEFM and continue his training rural community. His interests in medicine include rural/underserved medicine, emergency medicine, and sports medicine. In his free time John enjoys hiking, fishing, reading fantasy novels, and spending time with his wife four boys, Jackson, James, Eddie and Sam.