Leigh Eck, M.D.

Internal Medicine Residency Program Director
Professor of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine
Vice Chair of Graduate Medical Education, Department of Internal Medicine
The University of Kansas Health System

Thank you for your interest in our program, and congratulations on nearing the completion of your undergraduate medical education. This is a great time to choose a career in internal medicine, and it is a great time to choose The University of Kansas Health System as your Internal Medicine residency training site.

I have had the opportunity to be involved in medical education since 2005 - initially as a chief resident and then subsequently joining the Internal Medicine residency leadership team in 2008 as an Associate Program Director. I became our Program Director in 2014; a role that I cherish given the work that I am able to do to support our resident physicians. As our program director, I have the opportunity to guide an outstanding group of physicians. We have a strong leadership team made up of talented Associate Program Directors, motivated and inspired chief residents, creative and enthusiastic Core Faculty, and dependable and involved Site Directors. Our leadership team works day in and day out to optimize the training experience for our resident physicians.

Continue reading Dr. Eck's welcome message

Marie Brubacher, M.D.

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program
The University of Kansas Hospital, Quality Improvement/Patient Safety, Global Health

I graduated from Yale School of Medicine working two years in Haiti at a preventive health clinic.  After completing medical school, I trained at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Harvard teaching hospital, in internal medicine and completed a chief year at the Boston VA.  

My primary professional interests are engaging medical students and residents in the joys and challenges of practicing clinical medicine, tackling tough questions, and finding happiness in their professional and personal lives.  I joined KU in 2016 as a primary care physician.  I spend much of my time in the simulation community at KUMC, working with the Ziel Simulation Center designing the nation's first interprofessional longitudinal simulation curriculum for medical students and working on a simulation-based curriculum for internal medicine residents and hospital staff in Code Blue.  I additionally enjoy time developing our Population Health Pathway for internal medicine residents interested in global and community health.

My husband and I live in Prairie Village and are raising our three children here. We are proud to be a part of the University of Kansas Medical Center community that we believe provides excellence in clinical training that is routed in a collaborative and productive spirit!  We love our city, which is home to a friendly community, affordable living, an array of sports teams, cultural attractions and good eating!

Mike Rouse, D.O.

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

I graduated from Kansas City University school of Osteopathic Medicine and completed Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Kansas. Following a chief year, I remained at KU to continue interests in medical education, both within the School of Medicine and Internal Medicine residency program.

My professional interests include simulation-based training, debriefing, interprofessional collaboration, point-of-care ultrasound, and IT-integrated quality improvement projects. I also enjoy working on projects to improve systems-based practice.

As part of the Internal Medicine residency program, I am most excited to be part of a culture of collaboration. The program has a growth-mindset and continuously promotes innovation and adaptive strategies to meet the evolving expectations and needs of our graduates. 

Most importantly, it is a privilege to work with our resident physicians who provide outstanding and comprehensive care for very complex patients. It is a privilege to see their personal and professional growth as they develop their clinical identity and become future colleagues.

Stephanie Slimmer, M.D.

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program

I graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2018. I completed my Internal Medicine residency training at the University of Kansas, which was followed by a chief year in 2021-2022. This sparked my love for medical education and mentoring. I am a practicing hospitalist and have continued to be involved with the residency program as Core Faculty, Co-Director of the Hospital Medicine Pathway for residents interested in a hospitalist job and Director of the Clinician Educator Pathway for residents interested in a career in academic medicine.  I became an Associate Program Director in 2024.  I am ecstatic to be able work with an amazing group of resident physicians, each who bring their own talents and strengths to our team. The culture here at KU will allow you to rise to your highest potential as a physician with challenging clinical cases, never-ending support and mentorship, and being surrounded by amazing colleagues who will be inspiring you along the way.

Outside of the hospital you can find me cheering on the Kansas State Wildcats, trying the multitude of new restaurants KC continuously offers, and staying active in various ways – running, workout classes, and walks with friends.  

Laura Thomas, M.D.

Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency Program
The University of Kansas Hospital, Curriculum and Simulation

I graduated from the University of Kansas School of Medicine in 2009. After completing my Internal Medicine residency and tenure as a chief resident, I also completed Pulmonary and Critical Care fellowship training at the University of Kansas Medical Center and joined the faculty here in 2016. My professional interests include general outpatient pulmonary medicine, critical care medicine, and medical education.

I have great interest in providing residents with more educational experiences outside the daily practice in the wards and clinic, which will help them to achieve a mastery of practicing Internal Medicine. We have been working to develop a simulation-based curriculum for the residents that includes procedural training, assessment of decompensating patients and interdisciplinary emergency team training. Our program has also been making changes to shift didactic conferences to more interactive sessions through the development of workshops during +1 weeks and more faculty involvement in case conferences.

The residency program here at KU was an amazing place for me to train, as I made lifelong friends and learned from excellent physicians. I saw a large variety of patients and disease processes, which helped prepare me for my career.

My husband and I have three children. Kansas City is a wonderful home for our family: affordable, welcoming, and with plenty of things to do for fun.

Mark Quinn, M.D.

Kansas City VA Medical Center, Site Director; Hospital Medicine

After graduating from medical school at the University of Kansas, I interviewed for residency programs across the country. It quickly became clear that the supportive and collegial atmosphere at KU was exceptional—something to be cherished and sought after. I decided to join the KU team, and I've never looked back. After completing my Internal Medicine Residency at KU, I took on a chief year at the Kansas City VA before transitioning to a private hospitalist role at The University of Kansas Health System and Olathe Medical Center. Although my time in that position was brief, it was an invaluable experience. The following year, I returned to academia as the Residency Site Director for the Kansas City VA.

While in residency, I developed a deep appreciation for the Kansas City Veterans Hospital. It was during my rotations at the VA that I gained the skills needed to become a confident and independent physician. The environment at the VA is distinctive and at times can be challenging, but the opportunity to grow and care for our veterans far outweighs these obstacles. I aspire to provide others with a training experience similar to my own, and create an atmosphere that encourages growth, learning, and success for our trainees.

I have always prioritized teamwork, emphasizing the importance of collegiality and collaboration. In medicine, we often push our limits to care for others, but it's easy to overlook our own well-being and that of our colleagues. I believe that it is essential to support one another as passionately as we care for our patients. KU fosters this spirit of camaraderie, with our leadership, Chief residents, and trainees embodying a sense of togetherness that forms the heartbeat of our program at both KU and the VA.

My wife and I live in Fairway, KS, close to Kansas City Joe’s BBQ, a must-visit for anyone in the area. We have a son and daughter who both joined our family during residency—I can certainly relate to the challenges of parenthood while in training. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my family, arm wrestling (challenges always welcome), and reading fiction. I’m excited about the time we’ll spend together and the chance to share the highlights of our incredible program with you.

Molly Van Petten, M.D.

Leavenworth VA Medical Center, Site Director

Jane T. Broxterman, M.D.
Associate Professor, General & Hospital Medicine
Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency - Olathe

I have been a practicing internist since 2006. Throughout my tenure in medicine, I have been a primary care physician, hospitalist, and palliative care consultant.  I am passionate about primary care and the care of the complex adult over time. I greatly enjoy teaching residents both the art and science of clinical medicine, while also focusing on prioritizing well-being in the clinical learning environment. Precepting resident clinic has been one of my greatest joys in medicine. I am ecstatic to start the Olathe Internal Medicine Residency Program, uniting academic medicine with community practice. With my combined experience in clinical medicine and medical education, I have the expertise to cultivate the ideal residency program to meet each resident’s individual goals. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and 4 kids. In our free time, you will find us traveling and exploring national parks, as well as supporting our kids in their extracurricular activities - whether it is theater, musicals, volleyball, or tennis.

Debra K. Altenhofen, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, General & Hospital Medicine
Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency - Olathe

As a practicing primary care physician with previous roles as a hospitalist and an occupational therapist, I bring a background rich in clinical experience to my role as associate program director at the University of Kansas Internal Medicine Residency Program-Olathe. Having completed both medical school and residency at the University of Kansas, I can attest that residency training was one of the most formative and rewarding experiences of my life. I cherish the profound impact of the supportive community that surrounded me during residency. From fellow residents to attending physicians and dedicated support staff, it was the people who truly elevated the program. I am eager to cultivate the same sense of camaraderie and support for our residents. Whether it's academic guidance, career advice or simply a friendly ear, know that my door is always open. I am deeply honored to serve as your associate program director and am enthusiastic about embarking on this transformative journey together. On a personal note, my husband and I live in the Overland Park area with our three children. They’re my greatest joy and make life an adventure. When I’m not chauffeuring kids to sporting events or volunteering at lunch duty, I enjoy running and listening to audiobooks and podcasts.

Natalia Roldan, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, General & Hospital Medicine
Associate Program Director, Internal Medicine Residency - Olathe

Welcome to the Olathe IM residency program! I am a practicing hospitalist who spends time as both academic and private faculty to continue to hone my clinical expertise and teaching skills. As a clinician and educator, I am passionate about Point-of-Care-Ultrasound, bedside procedures as well as medical education. I did a combined BA/MD six-year program at University of Missouri-Kansas City before going on to complete my internal medicine residency with a focus on hospital medicine at University of Colorado-Denver. I stayed on as chief medical resident before taking a job at the Denver VAMC as an academic physician with the added role as core faculty for the IM residency program at UC-Denver. My experience with multiple residency programs has contributed to many ideas on continued growth for both myself as an educator and for our brand-new residency! I returned home to KC to be close to family in 2019 and have been at The University of Kansas Health System since that time. I am beyond ecstatic to get to work alongside outstanding colleagues with a shared mentality to create this very intentional training program and even more excited to work with our first resident class! Outside of work, I am a Kansas City native who enjoys eating at ALL of KC’s new and popular restaurants, spending time with my husband, twin children and 2 dogs as well as going to Chiefs games. Go CHIEFS!!!

Jennifer M. Capra, D.O.
Clinical Associate Professor, General & Hospital Medicine

I am a dedicated internal medicine physician with a passion for medical education and mentorship. As an associate clinical professor and ABIM certified internist, I bring clinical experience and expertise to the Internal Medicine Residency Program-Olathe. With a focus on hospital medicine, I have been actively involved in patient care and teaching on the medical wards since 2020. As a former internal medicine chief resident in KU's Internal Medicine Residency Program, I gained invaluable leadership skills and a deep understanding of the intricacies of residency training. I am a Kansas City native and completed medical education at the Kansas City University. Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling internationally & domestically, staying active, and exploring the vibrant culinary scene in Kansas City. I am dedicated to fostering the next generation of health care leaders and am thrilled to be a part of the Olathe residency program community.

I am an ABIM certified internist with a deep commitment to medical education and research. Originally from India, I trained in a community hospital setting, which provided me with a strong foundation in patient care. Since 2019, I have been actively involved in teaching, sharing my clinical knowledge and experience with residents and medical students. As an assistant clinical professor at the University of Kansas Internal Medicine Residency Program-Olathe, I am dedicated to mentoring the next generation of health care professionals. In addition to my teaching responsibilities, I am involved in retrospective research, focusing on improving patient outcomes and advancing medical knowledge. Outside of medicine, I have recently picked up woodworking, finding joy in crafting and creating with my hands. I am also a cartoonist, enjoying the creativity and humor that drawing brings to my life. I am excited to be a part of the Olathe residency program community, where I can continue to inspire and educate future health care leaders.

Gregory Hildebrand, M.D.
Clinical Assistant Professor, General & Hospital Medicine

I am an ABIM certified internist specializing in hospital medicine, and my journey has been defined by a commitment to excellence in patient care. Hailing from a small town in Kansas and honing my skills at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, followed by a rigorous residency at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, I bring a diverse perspective to the University of Kansas Internal Medicine Residency Program-Olathe. Beyond clinical expertise, I am passionate for enhancing patient interaction at the bedside and am deeply invested in shaping the next generation of healthcare professionals through education. Outside of the hospital, you'll find me cheering on the Kansas State University football and basketball teams, rooting for the Kansas City Chiefs and cherishing time spent with my wife, son and two golden retrievers.

Ryan Kubat, D.O.
Assistant Professor, Infectious Diseases

After spending the first 26 years of my life in Oklahoma and completing medical school at Oklahoma State University, I moved to Kansas City in 2015 for my internal medicine residency training at the University of Kansas. I stayed for my infectious diseases fellowship training and have remained here since. In addition to practicing as an infectious diseases consultant both inpatient and outpatient, I have stayed engaged with education of medical students, internal medicine residents and infectious diseases fellows both in the wards/clinic and with lectures. I am very excited to be a part of this new University of Kansas Internal Medicine Residency Program in Olathe and to help guide our residents to become excellent clinicians and to achieve their personal goals and career aspirations. Outside of medicine, I enjoy watching sports (OSU Cowboys, Atlanta Braves, OKC Thunder, KC Chiefs) and spending time with my wife and daughter (and 2 cats).

Christopher Pyle
Program Manager
cpyle2@kumc.edu

Olathe Internal Medicine Residency
OlatheIMres@kumc.edu