Meet the OB-GYN Team

Bethany Berry

Senior Certified Nurse Midwife

Bethany Berry, CNM, MSN, is a senior nurse midwife at Southcentral Foundation. Bethany previously resided in North Carolina and Connecticut and has lived in Alaska for more than 10 years. A midwife since 1996, she received her nursing and midwifery training at Johns Hopkins University and Yale University. Bethany enjoys working with Indigenous women and families of all ages, in Alaska and the Navajo and Lakota Nations. Getting to know individuals and their families, supporting their reproductive health journeys and choices are her passions. She enjoys sharing story while being a midwife. In addition, she enjoys camping, fishing, hiking, sailing, and berry picking with her family and friends.

Dr. Tricia Capo

Physician

Dr. Tricia Capo, MD, FACOG, received her undergraduate degree from North Dakota State University and her medical degree from Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine. She completed her residency at the Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education and University of South Carolina, Greenville. Dr. Capo and her husband moved to Anchorage, Dena’ina land, in 2015. Since starting at Southcentral Foundation, they have had two children under the care and guidance of the OB-GYN departments’ physicians, midwives, and nurses. Being a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe and growing up on the White Earth Indian Reservation has fueled Dr. Capo’s passion to ensure Indigenous women receive excellent health care. In her spare time, she loves knitting, baking, and outdoor activities.

Dr. Tirza Cannon

Physician

Tirza Cannon attended medical school at the University of California, Davis. She obtained a Master of Public Health from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and completed her OB-GYN residency at the University of Washington. As a child she moved frequently, living on the East Coast, in the South, in Eastern Africa, and finally, Northern California. Dr. Cannon strives to listen to the unique needs of each customer-owner and is dedicated to providing quality care with shared decision making. When she is not working, she enjoys being outside with her family and dogs.

Dr. Julie Castle

Physician

Dr. Julie Castle graduated from the University of New Mexico School of Medicine in 2005. She completed her internship at the University of Texas School of Medicine at San Antonio and completed her OB-GYN residency at University of New Mexico in 2009. Dr. Castle became board certified at Fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. In 2009, she joined Southcentral Foundation. She enjoys the SCF mission and vision, and goals of shared responsibility, commitment to quality, and family wellness. Dr. Castle is trained in robot assisted laparoscopy and offers surgery for customer-owners using the Alaska Native Medical Center’s DaVinci robot.

Margaret Olin Hoffman David

Certified Nurse Midwife

Margaret Olin Hoffman David is Koyukon Athabascan from Ruby. She realized her pathway to midwifery through 15 years of working in Tribal and rural communities promoting health, experiencing the potential to heal through the transformation of childbirth, and volunteering as a birth helper. Margaret completed midwifery school at Seattle University in 2017 and began working at the Alaska Native Medical Center to serve her community. She is also a founding member of the National Indigenous Midwifery Alliance and the Alaska Native Birthworkers Community. Margaret lives on Dena’ina land in Anchorage with her partner and four children.

Dr. Stephanie Eklund

Senior Physician

Dr. Stephanie Eklund, MD, FACOG, graduated from medical school in Tucson, Arizona. She completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Kaiser Permanente in San Francisco, California. At Southcentral Foundation, Dr. Eklund sees customer-owners in the OB-GYN clinic, covers labor and delivery, and performs gynecological surgeries. She has worked at the Alaska Native Medical Center for 28 years. Dr. Eklund is married, has two grown children, and two cats. Her hobbies are reading, gardening, crafts, and light hiking. She is active in her church in Eagle River. During the pandemic, Dr. Eklund learned to sew, but not very well!

Janet Froeschle

Certified Nurse Midwife

Janet Froeschle has been at the Alaska Native Medical Center and Southcentral Foundation since 1990. She completed nursing at Loma Linda University before working as an intensive care unit nurse. Janet worked in relief and development in Thailand and Ethiopia before earning her Master’s in Public Health at Johns Hopkins University. These experiences led her to maternal child health, and she trained as a midwife at the University of Southern California. She firmly believes in supporting birth as a natural process, and supports appropriate medical care for complicated or high-risk pregnancies.

Dr. Benjamin A. Garnett

Physician

Dr. Benjamin A. Garnett, MD, FACOG, attended the University of Virginia Medical School. He completed his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Michigan. Dr. Garnett began working at the Alaska Native Medical Center in 1992. His areas of interest include minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, female pelvic medicine, reconstructive surgery, and urogynecology. When not at work, he enjoys whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, winter riding, skiing, hiking, and fishing.

Dr. Reinou S. Groen

Physician

Dr. Reinou S. Groen, MD, MIH, PhD, trained in obstetrics and gynecology at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She is board certified by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology. She is originally from the Netherlands where she completed a residency in tropical medicine. Dr. Groen worked with Doctors Without Borders in several African countries. She received her master’s in international health and her PhD in surgical epidemiology from the University of Amsterdam. In Dr. Groen’s role as an OB-GYN, she covers clinic, labor and delivery, and gynecological surgeries. Alaska has been her home since 2016. Dr. Groen is married, has two sons, and her household has a retired sled dog, rescue cat, and four chickens. Her hobbies include outdoor activities with family and friends, making coffee, and playing the harp.

Dr. Leanne Komorowski

Medical Director

Dr. Leanne Komorowski was born and raised in New Mexico. She attended medical school at Stanford School of Medicine and then returned to New Mexico for obstetrics and gynecology training. Dr. Komorowski moved to Anchorage in 2013 and began work at Southcentral Foundation as a full scope obstetrician gynecologist. She enjoys all parts of her job. Dr. Komorowski became one of the department medical directors in 2019. She is passionate about upholding the highest quality of care in the OB-GYN department. Dr. Komorowski also teaches Advanced Life Support in obstetrics throughout Alaska. She loves the Anchorage winters and is happy this is her new home.

Anjali Madeira

Certified Nurse Midwife

Anjali Madeira graduated from Johns Hopkins University with a Master’s in Public Health and received her Doctor of Nursing Practice from Midwifery School at the University of Minnesota. While living and working in many rural areas abroad, she learned similarities in the successes and challenges of Alaska. The joy she feels providing compassionate and high-quality care to Alaska Native communities is an honor. Anjali has three kids, 10 chickens, a cat and dog. She enjoys her greenhouse, doing woodwork, finding new backpack adventures, and playing ultimate frisbee.

Misty Miranda

Registered Dietitian

Misty Miranda originally from upstate New York, grew up in Anchorage. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English in 2011 and a Bachelor of Science in dietetics in 2017 from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Misty lives in Anchorage with her husband, toddler son, and black lab. They are an active family who enjoys mountain biking, camping, fishing, and hiking, regardless of the weather. They try to live by the motto, “You don’t change your plans… you change your clothes.” Misty also enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

Dr. Robin Molsberry

Physician

Dr. Robin Molsberry has passion and love for taking care of Indigenous women. She spent seven years in Gallup, New Mexico providing care for women of the Navajo Nation and various other Tribes. She is a skilled surgeon trained by the nation’s premier hospitals for OB-GYN. Dr. Molsberry spent over 20 years with Southcentral Foundation, and still strives for improvement. She deeply cares for customer-owners, colleagues, and her diligent work and positive energy is admired. She fiercely loves her three sons, her furry animals, and hockey.

Dr. Kathryn Murphy

Physician

Dr. Kathryn Murphy received a Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of Northern Iowa. She graduated from Des Moines University Doctor of Podiatric Medicine with a doctor of osteopathy. She attended OB-GYN residency at Botsford Hospital in Farmington Hills, Michigan. In her fourth year of medical school, she met her husband from Michigan. She graduated from residency in 2010 and began work at Southcentral Foundation in 2012. She has four daughters, enjoys being with family, knitting, and reading. Dr. Murphy loves collaborating with the Alaska women in the Native Community.

Dr. Neil Murphy

Senior Physician

Dr. Neil Murphy, MD, Diplomate ABOG and ABFM, was trained in obstetrics and gynecology at St. Luke’s Hospital in Kansas City, Missouri. He graduated from the University of Alaska Fairbanks and the University of Washington as part of the WWAMI program. He has worked in OB-GYN at the Alaska Native Medical Center for 28 years. Dr. Murphy worked for five years in family medicine in Bethel and Sitka. He provides care in clinic, labor and delivery, and gynecological surgeries. He is married and has three grown children. He has a pandemic rescue dog and occasionally works in Africa.

Cristy Murray

Nurse Practitioner Specialty

Cristy Murray is an advanced nurse practitioner and has worked with Alaska Native people since 2011. Her medical career began as a U.S. Army medic, and she eventually earned her Master of Science in nursing from Simmons University, in Massachusetts. She is educated in neurosurgery, general surgery, and has immersed herself in holistic and functional medicine. In 2020, Cristy joined Southcentral Foundation to continue her passion in serving women’s health and women experiencing infertility. Cristy relaxes by tending to her garden, traveling with her husband, and creating amazing memories with her family and two active boys.

Amy Riley

Community Resource Specialist

Amy Riley is Yup’ik Eskimo from Bethel. She worked for the Bethel School District before starting at Southcentral Foundation in 2002. Amy worked at Dena A Coy as a chemical dependency counselor before transferring to Willa’s Way where she supported customer-owners by providing intensive case management and life skills. She also advocated with the State of Alaska Office of Children’s Services, helping customer-owners reunite with their children. Amy is a community resource specialist with OB-GYN, providing resource options counseling for customer-owners. She has nine siblings, four children, and six grandchildren.

Dr. Shiloh Small

Physician

Dr. Shiloh Small, MD, joined Southcentral Foundation in 2012. Dr. Small is an SCF customer-owner and is a member of the Northern Cheyenne Tribe. She was raised on the Northern Cheyenne Indian reservation in southeast Montana. Dr. Small earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Montana in Missoula, a medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine, and completed her residency in OB-GYN at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. She has a personal commitment to working with and advocating for Native women. Dr. Small is a member of the Association of American Indian Physicians, and the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. She resides in Anchorage with her three children, Sydney, Blaine, and Victoria.

Sarah Taygan

Certified Nurse Midwife

Sarah Taygan, CNM, APRN, has worked for Southcentral Foundation as a nurse midwife since 2004. She has a Bachelor of Arts in women’s studies from the University of Minnesota and both a bachelor’s and master’s in nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Sarah was raised in Minnesota and led canoe trips with adolescents in the Boundary Waters Wilderness. She teaches sexuality education with Our Whole Lives program. Sarah is an instructor and faculty for the Advanced Life Skills in Obstetrics program and facilitates the obstetrics simulation program. She facilitates these classes around Alaska at many Tribal hospitals.

Autumn Tinajero

Certified Nurse Midwife

Autumn Tinajero graduated from the University of Washington and has been practicing as a certified nurse midwife since 2018. She enjoys empowering women to make informed decisions about their medical care, pregnancy, labor, and birth. She strongly believes that labor and birth are a natural part of life and loves to educate customer-owners about physiologic labor and birth practices. Autumn enjoys family time, hiking, camping, bike riding, and spending time outside. It is important to set a good example of health, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual wellness.

Dr. Melissa Tondre

Medical Director

Dr. Melissa Tondre, MD, FACOG is a board-certified physician in obstetrics and gynecology and trained at University of California-San Francisco. Dr. Tondre was born and raised in Japan with her brothers and sisters until the age of 10, before moving to a small town in Michigan where some of her family still resides. She has called Alaska her home since 2015 with her husband and children. Dr. Tondre enjoys homesteading activities with her family like gardening, beekeeping, and chicken raising. She has been the outpatient medical director for the OB-GYN department since 2021.

Dr. Sarah Truitt

Physician

Dr. Sarah Truitt, MD, FACOG, is a board-certified specialist in obstetrics and gynecology and is originally from Denver, Colorado where she completed her training at the University of Colorado. Alaska has been her home since 2011 when she moved here with her family to work at the Alaska Native Medical Center. In addition to providing OB-GYN care at ANMC, Dr. Truitt participates in quality improvement initiatives. Previously, she has served as medical director in OB-GYN. Dr. Truitt’s husband is from Homer, and they have two children and two rescue dogs. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her family, exploring Alaska, knitting, and traveling to visit her husband’s family in Homer and her family in Denver.

Michelle Tschida

Certified Nurse Midwife

Michelle Tschida, CNM, IBCLC, graduated from midwifery school at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee. Originally from the Seattle area, she has called Anchorage home since 2010. Currently she provides remote care to women in rural communities and performs colposcopies. She also has experience at Southcentral Foundation as a lactation consultant and providing labor and delivery care. Michelle has three children and a dog. Her hobbies include running, hiking, weightlifting, reading, and traveling.

Valerie Unrein

Certified Nurse Midwife

Valerie Unrein, certified nurse midwife, moved to Alaska over 10 years ago and began as an oncology nurse working with families dealing with a cancer diagnosis. She later worked in the OB-GYN clinic before going back to school to become a midwife. Valerie has always enjoyed working with families both from Anchorage and from around the state. Her biggest reward is the journey she gets to take with her customer-owners as they become a family. She enjoys spending time with her husband and two children.

Mallory Wetherington

Behavioral Health Consultant

Mallory Wetherington graduated from Alaska Pacific University’s Master of Science in counseling psychology program. She has worked for Southcentral Foundation since 2018 and is a licensed professional counselor. Her background is in non-pharmacological pain management, and she is enthusiastic about women’s health. She provides support to women experiencing pregnancy loss, perinatal mood disorders, grief, challenges associated with gynecological cancer treatment, infertility, changes, or challenges with sexual health, and more. Mallory values working together with customer-owners to promote overall physical, mental, and spiritual wellness, and help them live their best lives.

Dr. Mendy Southard

Physician

Dr. Mendy Southard, went to University of California, Berkeley for their undergraduate and Western University of Health Sciences for medical school. She completed her residency at both Kaiser Permanente-Oakland and University of Texas Health-San Antonio. Dr. Southard joined Southcentral Foundation where she practices as a full scope obstetrician and gynecologist in clinic, labor and delivery, and gynecologic surgeries to share her passion for providing equitable and compassionate women’s healthcare. In her free time, she enjoys soccer, backpacking, mountain biking, and climbing with her husband and two border collies.

Dr. Corrie Poelman

Physician

Dr. Corrie L. Poelman, MD, grew up in Michigan and attended medical school at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York. She completed her residency in Denver, Colorado at St. Joseph Hospital and then moved to Anchorage to work with Southcentral Foundation in 2022. Dr. Poelman has an interest in partnering with Native communities to promote holistic health and wellness and values the insights she gains from interactions with customer-owners. In her free time, she enjoys all types of outdoor recreation, cooking, reading, practicing yoga, and playing piano.

Dr. James Underwood

Physician

Dr. James Underwood, MD, grew up in a rural community in Washington in the San Juan Islands. He earned his bachelor’s degree in environmental studies with a concentration in human and environmental health from Yale University and attended medical school at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Dr. Underwood completed his residency training in gynecologic surgery and obstetrics at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center as a member of the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps. A full-scope OB-GYN, he has a particular interest in minimally invasive gynecologic surgery. Dr. Underwood lives in Anchorage with his wife and two cats and is grateful for the warm welcome to Alaska.