KU School of Medicine-Wichita Department of Family & Community Medicine

05/28/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Rohrberg on being recognized by NBME for her service as an MSS forms and pool reviewer in 2025. We’re proud to see her expertise and dedication helping shape high-quality medical education and assessment on a national level!

We're pleased to share the National Board of Medical Examiners has recognized two of our faculty members for their service.

Robert Wittler, M.D., professor, Pediatrics, was recognized by NBME for service on the United States Medical Licensing Examination Committee in the USMLE Forms Review Group. Members review examination forms to ensure each form is balanced in terms of content and also demonstrates breadth across content. Individuals selected to participate in this activity are veteran committee members with previous item writing or case authoring experience. Dr. Wittler also participated in the Step 2 Forms Review and on the USMLE Interdisciplinary Review Committee.

Tessa Rohrberg, M.D., associate professor, Family & Community Medicine, was recognized by NBME for service during 2025 on the Medical School Services Subject Examination Test Material Development Committee as an MSS forms and pool reviewer. Form and pool reviewers are responsible for reviewing items within the Medical School Services portfolio to ensure individual items are accurate and current, and the finalized exam forms are balanced in terms of content breadth and depth.

Congratulations to Dr. Wittler and Dr. Rohrberg!

05/20/2026

Thank you to all of the residents who participated in yesterday’s Transition to Residency afternoon for our rising M4 students! The event was a great success, and students especially appreciated hearing residents’ perspectives during the panel discussion and patient handoff activity.

Family Medicine residents included KUSM-W Wesley residents Aaron Holt, M.D., and Candice Metzinger, M.D., as well as KUSM-W Via Christi resident Jason Gilchrist, M.D.

05/14/2026

Proud to see two graduates of KU School of Medicine-Wichita and KUSM-W Family Medicine Smoky Hill Residency Program, now serving as community faculty/preceptors, highlighted for their commitment to rural medicine and mentoring the next generation of physicians. Their dedication to caring for Kansans and serving communities like Minneola reflects the heart of Family & Community Medicine. 💙🌾 Read their story here:

KU School of Medicine-Wichita graduates continue their medical journey on a shared path in rural Kansas.

05/11/2026

Welcome class of 2028!

Third-year medical students recently received their splendid, new white coats. Join us in welcoming the Class of 2028 to Wichita! 🩺

As part of the Transition to Clerkship, students who attended KU School of Medicine-Wichita for their first two years of medical school are joined by those who are finishing their final two years in Wichita.

05/01/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Cecilia Hinton, graduate of KU School of Medicine-Wichita FM Residency at Ascension Via Christi, on receiving a Rising Star Award from the Hutch Chamber. It's great to see our graduates making a difference across Kansas!

A big 🎉CONGRATULATONS to all our winners from last night's Awards Night event! Be watching for our highlighted posts for each winner throughout the month! 🌟

Pictured from left to right:
Marcy Weingartner, Vice President of Membership
Richard Westphal, Legacy Award - Individual
Kitty Keazer, Ambassador of the Year
Taylor Morris, Six20 Strength - Veteran Owned/Supporting Business
Dr. Cecilia Hinton, Rising Star
Dannielle Stiffler, Gentiva Hospice - Veteran Supporting Business
Luis Gutierrez, Redemption Ink Tattoo - Minority/Women Owned Business
Joe Hedrick and Aryn Hedrick, Hedrick Exotic Animal Farm - Small Business of the Year
Debra Teufel, President & CEO

not pictured - Sunflower Electric Supply, Legacy Award - Business


📷Credit: Sara McMillian Photographer

04/30/2026

Fresh air + furry friends = a great day 🐶☀️
Thanks to KU School of Medicine-Wichita for hosting and to Love on a Leash for bringing the joy.

04/29/2026

We’re excited to see Sheryl Beard, MD, FAAFP, featured as a mainstage speaker at Fam Med Forward 2026! Dr. Beard is faculty with the KU School of Medicine-Wichita FM Residency at Ascension Via Christi.

Dr. Beard brings incredible insight and leadership to everything she does, and we know her session on medical staff governance will be both practical and impactful for family physicians across the state.

If you’re attending, don’t miss this one, it’s going to be a great session.

We are excited to welcome Sheryl Beard, MD, FAAFP, CMO Ascension Via Christi Hospitals Kansas, as a mainstage speaker at Fam Med Forward 2026! KAFP’s annual conference will return to Wichita on June 5, offering Kansas family physicians a full day of high-impact CME, practical insights, and connection.

Dr. Beard will present “Medical Staff Governance for the Family Physician” from 8:30-9:30 a.m. During this session, learners will:
• Interpret medical staff bylaws, rules and regulations to clarify the relationship between the governing body, medical staff leadership and individual practitioners.
• Describe essential credentialing, privilege and ongoing professional practice evaluation processes required to ensure regulatory compliance and high-quality patient care.
• Implement effective, evidence-based peer review mechanisms that foster a culture of safety and address physician performance.

Thank you, Dr. Beard for sharing your expertise! Learn more about Fam Med Forward 2026, and register at kafponline.org/fam-med-forward-2026

04/29/2026

There's still time left to make an impact on , with plenty of opportunities to make your dollar stretch even further. We're pleased to share these challenges:

🔵 Dr. Matt & Mrs. Katie Macaluso will generously contribute $2,000 when 20 donors make a gift of any amount in support of student research at KU School of Medicine-Wichita!

🔵 Dr. Lynn Fisher will generously contribute $1,000 when 25 donors make a gift of any amount in support of the Simulation: Immersive Learning Support Fund!

Will you help us unlock these generous contributions? https://bit.ly/1D1KU2026

Thank you for your support!

04/28/2026

We’re proud of our residents who volunteered at the Mexican Consulate wellness event in Wichita this past weekend!

They spent their time providing blood pressure and glucose screenings, connecting with community members, and helping make care more accessible. It was a meaningful opportunity to learn, serve, and build relationships beyond the clinic walls.

Thank you to this incredible group for showing up and making a difference. 💙

04/28/2026

One Day One KU, KU's 24 hours of giving, is happening now and we've got BIG news to share! This year, your impact can go even further ... All One Day One KU donations to our department will be matched, dollar for dollar up to $100,000, thanks to an anonymous donor! Don't miss this exciting opportunity to give to your passion: https://bit.ly/4t4tbmN

Thank you for your support! We are deeply grateful for the longtime support of our many graduates, partners and friends. Your contribution helps us dream beyond our budgets and invest in the students, residents and faculty who embody our department’s mission.