GME Family Medicine Faculty

Department Chairman

Grant Hoekzema, MD

I spent my younger years growing up in Seattle and then the Washington D.C. metro area, and still have family in both those locations, but have lived in St. Louis for 35 years now and consider it home. Family Medicine is the most rewarding and intellectually challenging specialty I could imagine, and the breadth of knowledge needed, and variety of relationships forged were what drew me to it. Despite having no Family Medicine department or clerkship at medical school (Washington Univ. in STL), I became committed to family medicine as a career through the influence of the local FMIG and a summer spent in the  US Public Health Service. I have been actively involved at a national level with Family Medicine Residency leadership for most of my career in various roles, most recently as Chair of the Review Committee for Family Medicine at the ACGME, because I believe every patient deserves a well-trained Family Physician. I love most sports but particularly soccer. Our family is passionate Liverpool fans and eager to get on board with St. Louis City SC! We also love the outdoors and traveling, with a definite affinity for our national parks and East Africa. Our family of five kids and our daughter-in-law and one grand-daughter and large extended families give us great joy. I have spent my entire career at Mercy Family Medicine in St. Louis and as its Department Chair, I am committed to pushing us to lead with our serve and be better than we once were! 

Program Director

Sarah Cole, DO

Medical School: ATSU Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

Osteopathic Internship: Illinois Masonic Medical Center

Residency: Mercy Family Medicine

Hobbies/Passions: In the clinic, my favorite activities are pediatric visits and procedures. I am passionate about medical advocacy, education, and leadership. To that end, I am currently on the Board of Directors for the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors and working on my doctorate in health professions education. Outside the clinic, my favorite activities are backpacking, hiking, and swimming. I’m always up for an adventure, but my best adventure has been raising two adult daughters with my husband, Matt.

What does Family Medicine mean to you?

To me, Family Medicine means ensuring your neighbors have access to the medical care they need.  Everyone deserves a family physician!

Associate Program Director

Stefanie White, MD

"Every patient will be seen eventually!" I remember when my seasoned senior resident told me this as a frazzled intern, and the philosophy of taking each patient one at a time stuck with me. I became a family physician because I love the relationships and trust we have the opportunity to form over time. My favorite clinic days are filled with well-baby exams, teaching colposcopy, managing chronic conditions, working on our clinic's quality improvement projects - and of course, teaching and mentoring residents. 

I'm St. Louis born-and-raised, having gone to SLU for medical school, leaving for residency in Kansas, and finally returning to Missouri to join Mercy Family Medicine as faculty in 2017. I have also completed UNC's Faculty Development Fellowship before becoming Associate Program Director in 2020.

I'd probably be voted "most likely to still be in a good mood while running behind". I may also be nominated for: Most likely to be listening to Spotify in the supervisor room, most likely to be seen with a cup of coffee in hand, and most excited about the physiology of the menstrual cycle!

Name: Peter Danis, MD
Medical School: St Louis University
Undergrad: Georgetown University
Hometown: St Louis
Hobbies/Passion: Practice Management and Quality Improvement.  Coaching and mentoring students and residents in the office.  Medical mission work in El Salvador.  Helping women with gynecologic and reproductive issues with NaProTECHNOLOGY.
When not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife, gardening, tennis, being a grandfather, and growing in my spiritual faith.
Why Family Medicine: Everyone thought that I was going to be a pediatrician, but I loved the rest of the family too much to limit myself to just the kids!

Name: Serin Phruttitum M.D.
Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Undergrad: University of Missouri-Kansas City
Hometown: Jesup, Iowa
Hobbies/Passions: I enjoy spending time with my family – hiking, golfing, playing tennis, traveling, and exploring various St. Louis cuisines. My wife, two sons, two cats, and a pet turtle keep me happy and grounded during this COVID-19 pandemic. I am a big Kansas City Chiefs and Iowa Hawkeyes fan. During my free time, I spend many hours watching movies in my giant home theater and listening to jazz music on my ridiculously large stereo system.
Why Family Medicine: I spent my early childhood in Thailand and then in a small town in Iowa where my father served as both the town family doctor and general surgeon. Growing up in a medical family, I was expected to pursue a medical career, so naturally I gravitated toward engineering. Fortunately, I was accepted to a combined BA/MD 6-year medical school during my senior year of high school and grudgingly, I accepted this career path. I chose family medicine over general surgery when I realized that I can help heal the whole person/family rather than performing a quick "cure" of a disease process as a surgeon. Due to my two years of general surgery training prior to transitioning to family medicine, I acquired skills to perform and teach many types of clinic based surgical procedures. I really value the opportunity to use all my family medicine/surgical training to provide comprehensive obstetrics care, pediatric care, and adult medical care.  It is great to be a family medicine specialist to provide care for ALL instead of being a partialist (specialist).

Elizabeth Verna, DO

I grew up in Syracuse, NY and completed my education in NY with my undergrad at Hartwick College and medical school at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (now NYIT-COM). Growing up I never imagined living anywhere else but I have always appreciated traveling and learning about new cultures and people. My husband grew up in California and has similar nomadic tendencies. This led to us moving through NY, Mississippi and finally settling down in St. Louis. I love family medicine because it gives me similar opportunity for diversity in the patient populations I take care of. My interests include women’s health, pediatrics and hospital medicine and family medicine allows me to incorporate all of these into my practice. 

Christian Verry, MD, CAQSM

I chose medicine because I wanted to know everything. I chose Family Medicine because I wanted to do everything: After graduating with my degree in physical therapy and working for a brief stint as a therapist I returned to medical school. Great mentoring and a desire to be able to care for all patients lead me to Family Medicine. A passion for physical activity and sports then saw me pursuing a Sports Medicine fellowship. When I'm not seeing patients in my primary care and sports medicine clinics, you'll find me riding my bike or trying to keep up with the energy of my three young boys who love to run circles around me and my wife.  

Lauren Wilfling, DO

Greetings! My home in Family Medicine and here at Mercy is in large part due to my inability (or unwillingness?!) to exclude parts of medicine I love from my practice; I couldn't imagine not being able to see kids or adults or pregnant people and the only field that affords me the luxury of that variety is in Family Medicine. After doing all my medical school, residency, and OB fellowship in Kansas City, I returned home to St Louis to start my practice and grow my own family. Being faculty at Mercy makes it possible to practice both outpatient and inpatient medicine while sharing my love of pregnancy and post-partum care with the next generation of family medicine physicians. When I'm not doctoring, I'm checking out good restaurants, sneaking in a quick getaway trip, or watching kids sports with my husband and two young children. 

Jason Maddox, DO

Medical School: Midwestern University - Glendale

Residency: Mercy Family Medicine St. Louis

Hobbies/Passions: I was born and raised in St. Louis and have spent nearly my whole life here with the exception of a few years for medical school (during which I spent my time trying to return to the city I love!).  My clinical interests include geriatrics, end-of-life care, dermatology, weight loss management, diabetes management, and osteopathic manipulative therapy. I have also found a passion in academic medicine and resident education. Beyond medicine, I enjoy board games with friends and family, movie marathons, and searching for the greatest spot for breakfast/brunch in St. Louis, as well as spending time at Creve Coeur Park or taking a quick trip to the Ozarks. When I can get tickets, you can also find me supporting any of our local sports teams.​ I also love to learn about new hobbies and activities from my patients, so send some my way!

What does Family Medicine mean to you?

Nobody cares how much you know until they know how much you care" was the philosophy my mother taught me and the philosophy I try to base my practice on. To me, that is exactly what Family Medicine is: caring about your fellow community members. Our role as family physicians is to support our patients at every stage of their journey—from newborn to end-of life, from diagnosis to recovery. As a family medicine physician, I am grateful to hear my patient's stories and support them on their journey however I can.

Whitney Kaefring, MD

Medical School: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine

Undergrad: Coe College

Hometown: Solon, Iowa

Hobbies/Passions: Well, hot pink, obviously. But also reading, spending time outside (but NOT camping!), going to Broadway shows at The Fox and The Muny. Going to classical music concerts. Learning something new every day!

Why Family Medicine: I couldn’t decide between OB and Peds. So, I decided on Family Medicine. I was also drawn to the longitudinal care I could provide for patients. I wanted to know my patients and their stories. My initial dream when I started pursuing medicine was to be The Doctor in a small town in Iowa. While my dreams have changed over time, I’m still very passionate about whole family care.

Erica Crannage, PharmD

I'm a proud pharmacy nerd! I love everything about medications from selecting the right drug for the right patient to discussing mechanisms of action and exploring the unique history of drug development.  When I'm not in the clinic caring for patients, you'll find me teaching at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy at UHSP.  I'm a Midwest girl through and though. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, but following my completion of my pharmacy training in Iowa, decided to transplant to St. Louis.  After spending over a decade here I have decided to make it my new hometown; however, I will never understand the area's obsession with where people went to high school.  I've very active within the Missouri Pharmacist Associate and American College of Clinical Pharmacy (ACCP), having recently finished my term as the Chair of the ACCP Education and Training Practice Research Network.  Outside of work, I'm busy caring for my two young children with my inpatient pharmacist husband and attempting to hone my baking and cooking skills.

Kathryn Storm, PharmD

Medical School: University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Pharmacy

Where did you complete residency? PGY1 St. Louis VA – Pharmacy Practice, emphasis on ambulatory care.

PGY2 St. Louis VA – Pain Management and Palliative Care, emphasis on substance use disorders.

Hobbies/Passions: I am originally from St. Louis, MO and am happy to have returned home to join the team here at Mercy in 2023 following completion of my education and residency training. I have a passion for helping patients who struggle with substance use disorders, pain, and mental health issues, and appreciate the approach this team takes to treating the patient as a whole. Outside of my career, I fill my life spending time with the people (and dogs) I love and enjoying a variety of hobbies, most of which involve being outdoors or traveling.

What does Family Medicine mean to you? Family medicine providers are able to offer care to patients at every stage of life. By utilizing an interdisciplinary team, care can be individualized to support each patient based on their unique needs, preferences, and goals.

Margaret Cornell, Psy.D. 

Medical School:  I attended Adler University- Chicago which is a PsyD program/Doctoral program for Clinical Psychology 

Where you completed Residency? Internship/Post-Doctoral Fellowship- Talbert House, Cincinnati Ohio 

Hobbies/Passions: I am a major advocate of integrated care and wellness.  I try to practice what I preach through listening to audiobooks, spending time outside, and singing in my car.  I am also a mother of twins and a major advocate of their interests such as swimming, cooking, coloring, Optimus Prime, and Captain Underpants.  

What does Family Medicine mean to you? 

Collaborating and providing high quality care and guidance to patients throughout their lifespan- At their birth and death, during their major life transitions such as puberty, moving, marriage, parenthood, divorce, career change, grief, etc.