The family medicine faculty is diverse and well trained. All faculty members hold academic appointments in the Department of Family Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical University. In addition, they have active private practices. Ten of the physician faculty members practice obstetrics. Each member of the family medicine faculty has an area of expertise, which helps create a robust training environment for residents. There are also a number of adjunct faculty members from the community and Upstate Medical University who lend their time and experience for precepting residents in the Family Medicine Center. All faculty members are board certified in family medicine, and many serve on hospital committees and/or participate in state and national family medicine professional associations.
James B. Tucker, MD
Residency Director
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Residency: Wright Patterson Air Force Hospital
Special Interests: Sports medicine
Pamela Horst, MD
Associate Director, Emeritus
Medical School: Pennsylvania State University
Residency: Shadyside Hospital (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
Special Interests: Palliative/hospice care, ethics, geriatrics
Dawn Brink-Cymerman, MD
Medical School: Ross University
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Rural medicine, developmental pediatrics
DeAnn Cummings, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Hospitalist medicine, patient education
Gerry Edwards, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Integrative medicine, preventive medicine, orthopedics, patient education, information technology in health care
Stephen Hoag, MD
Medical School: Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
Residency: Naval Hospital Jacksonville
Special Interests: Full scope, office procedures
Lynne Humphrey, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical Center
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Full scope, adolescent medicine, preventive medicine
Michael Kernan, MD
Associate Residency Director
Medical School: Universidad de Navarra (Pamplona, Spain)
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Sports medicine, adolescent medicine
David Kolva, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Practice management, medicolegal topics, evidence-based medicine
Chris LaBounty, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: University of Rochester
Special Interests: Teaching internal medicine
Jennifer McCaul, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Maternity care, women's health, adolescent care
Gerald McMahon, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: University of Michigan Hospitals (Ann Arbor, MI)
Special Interests: Hospitalist medicine
Kristen McNamara, MD
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Women's health, adolescent medicine
Elizabeth McNany, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Full scope, residency education
John O'Brien, MD
Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Preventive medicine and adolescent medicine
Matthew Picone, MD
Transitional Year Program Director
Medical School: New York Medical College
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Graduate medical education, medical student clinical skills development
Bobby Pohar, MD
Medical School:Medical School: Government Medical College, India
Residency: St. Elizabeth Medical Center (Youngstown, Ohio)
Special Interests: Care of the adult patient, reducing medical errors, communication skills
Ajaz Shawl, MD
Medical School: University of Kashmir, India
Residency: SUNY at Buffalo
Special Interests: Hospitalist medicine, preventive medicine
Sandra Sulik, MD
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
Residency: St. Joseph's Hospital Health Center Family Medicine Residency
Special Interests: Obstetrics and women's health
Melissa Arthur, PhD, LMFT
Director of Behavioral Science
Graduate Education: Syracuse University, MSW and MA in marriage and family therapy
Special Interests: Integration of biopsychosocial mode
Mary Studdiford, MSW, MPA
Social Work Coordinator
Graduate Education: Syracuse University, MSW and MPA
Special Interests: Child abuse, (child abuse coordinator for St. Joseph's Hospital), family violence