Family Medicine Faculty

Faculty

The faculty of the Department of Family and Community Health are a diverse group of young and experienced physicians who despite their varied backgrounds are united by their great interest in improving the state of primary care in small communities. The department enjoys what we believe is an unusual warmth and camaraderie that adds a special dimension to the residency experience.

W. Mitchel Shaver, M.D., is a life-long resident of Cabell County, WV, Dr. Mitch Shaver joined the Marshall University School of Medicine in July 1993. He is a professor in the Department of Family and Community Health and Director of the Family Practice Residency Program. He received his undergraduate, graduate and medical degrees from Marshall University and completed his Family Practice residency at Marshall in June 1993 where he was twice voted Resident of the Year. Dr. Shaver has a CAQ in Sports Medicine and is the team physician for the Marshall Thundering Herd men's basketball team. He is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine.

Robert B. Walker, M.D., is professor and chairman of Family and Community Health at Marshall University School of Medicine and dean of Clinical Affairs. He completed his M.D. from the University of Florida College of Medicine and has received further training from Bowman-Gray School of Medicine. He is board certified in family practice, holds a masters degree in community health, a certificate of added qualification in geriatrics, and is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Fraternity. Dr. Walker was named "West Virginia Professor of the Year" in 1989 and was recognized as a "Distinguished West Virginian" by Governor Caperton in 1996. He has served as an advisor to the U.S. Congress in rural health and has won numerous awards for teaching and community service. Dr. Walker has authored many journal articles and book chapters. He has special interests in rural health, medical zoology and parasitology and epidemiology.

Stephen Petrany, M.D., is a professor of Family and Community Health at the Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine. He is presently Associate Chairman for Medical Education in the department and the Medical Director of the Marshall Family Medicine Center. Dr. Petrany received his M.D. with honors from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. and completed his residency training at the Medical College of Virginia Family Practice Program at Fairfax, Va. Prior to joining the Marshall faculty, Dr. Petrany was involved in private practice and teaching in Chesapeake, Ohio, and Ridgefield, Conn. He then served as the Marshall University family medicine residency director for 15 years. Dr. Petrany is also the Medical Director of the Ebenezer Medical Outreach Center which provides free health care to the uninsured. He has been honored with several awards for teaching excellence and is certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. When he is not playing with his six children, Dr. Petrany enjoys turning up the volume on his guitar amp, drawing cartoons and sports of all types except soccer.

John B. Walden, M.D., is a third generation family physician from rural Lincoln County , WV . He is currently professor and associate chairman of the Department of Family and Community Health and associate dean of medical school admissions and development. In addition, he directs the International Health Track and co-directs the Wilderness Medicine Track of our Family Practice Residency Program. Dr. Walden earned his undergraduate degree at the University of Virginia and received his M.D. from West Virginia University School of Medicine. Following a rotating internship at the U.S. Public Health Hospital in the Canal Zone , Dr. Walden pursued studies in clinical tropical medicine at Gorgas Memorial Laboratory in the Republic of Panama , Walter Reed Army Institute of Research and the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in Liverpool , England . He has thirty-eight years experience living and working with tribal societies in rain forest areas of South and Central America . Dr. Walden is certified by the American Board of Family Practice.

Charles C. McCormick, M.D., is an associate professor of Family and Community Health at Marshall University School of Medicine. Dr. McCormick received his undergraduate and doctor of medicine degrees from Marshall University . He completed his family medicine residency at West Virginia University , CAMC Division at Charleston , WV . He has earned his Certificate of Added Qualification in Geriatrics, and is the certified medical director at two regional nursing facilities.

Linda M. Savory, M.D., is currently a professor in the Department of Family and Community Health. She graduated with honors from the University of Michigan medical School and completed residency training in family practice at Marshall University after practicing in the rural West Virginia Public Health Service. She currently is medical director of University Women's and Family Care, which offers comprehensive women's care services in the Tri-State region. Dr. Savory has received several teaching awards and has been published in American Journal of Cardiology. Dr. Savory is the past President of American Academy of Family Practice and is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice. She received the 2004 Family Doc Award from the WV AAFP.

Cynthia A. Winger, M.D., is professor in the Department of Family and Community Health at Marshall University School of Medicine. She received her undergraduate degree and M.D. from West Virginia University before completing her Family Practice Residency in Charleston, WV, at the Kanawha Valley Family Practice Center in affiliation with Charleston Area Medical Center and Thomas Memorial Hospital. At Cabell Huntington Hospital, she is Medical Director of the Transitional Care Unit; Medical Director of Home Health; and Medical Director of Rehabilitation Services; and a member of the Physician Advisory Board, Senior Services. She has served as residency coordinator and is certified by the American Board of Family Practice. She has a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Geriatrics and is the coordinator of the geriatric residency experience. Dr. Winger currently sees patients in Hanshaw Geriatric Center. She is director of the Office of Research Integrity at Marshall University and is a member of the Academic Standards Committee at Marshall University Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine.

Ross M. Patton, M.D., a native of West Virginia, is a professor of Family and Community Health at Marshall University School of Medicine. He received his medical degree from the West Virginia University School of Medicine. He completed graduate training at Mount Carmel Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio and the Department of Family and Community Health at Marshall University. He has been on faculty since 1987 following ten years of medical practice in rural West Virginia. Dr. Patton served in the National Health Service Corps and was awarded the Corp's commendation medal. He is the chief of the Division of Sports Medicine, serving as team physician to Marshall University and director of the Sports medicine Fellowship. He is the medical director of Student Health Services for the University. He has special interest in obstetrics and serves as residency coordinator of obstetrical experiences. Since coming to Marshall, he has become involved in international medicine and has worked at Hospital Vozandes in Shell, Ecuador. Dr. Patton is certified by the American Board of Family Practice and holds a CAQ in Sports Medicine.

Kathleen M. O'Hanlon, M.D., Professor of Family & Community Health, initially served as medical director and full-time clinician in an affiliated practice setting, but more recently has joined the residency-based family practice center. She has an extensive clinical practice offering comprehensive care services for the entire family. Her special interest in office procedural medicine prompted her, in the year 2000, to raise grant funds, seek out some of the best instructors nationwide and pursue in-dept out-of-state training in this field. She has since developed “procedural medicine days” in the family practice center and devotes much of her time to the clinical delivery and teaching of procedural medicine. Other accomplishments include the development of aesthetic medicine/laser services, publication of a chapter on hair removal in the 2 nd edition of “Procedures for Primary Care Physicians,” and she serves as Editor-In-Chief of Prodedural Medicine and does active clinical review for First Consult.com, a subscription web-site for health care providers. She also speaks annually for the AAFP on selected topics in procedural medicine. Beginning in the Fall, she has also been one of the AAFP’s procedural medicine speakers. Raised in Tucson, Arizona, she moved to WV in 1978 after 3 years in Washington, DC. She is a magna cum laude graduate of Marshall University and then attended the Marshall University School of Medicine, where she was inducted into the medical honorary Alpha Omega Alpha. She completed her family practice residency at Marshall, where she served as Chief Resident and received the “Outstanding Third Year Resident” award. She has been board certified by the American Board of Family Practice since 1989.

John Parker, M.D.,joined the faculty of Marshall University School of Medicine in August of 2005. He received both his undergraduate (1974) and his medical (1978) degrees from the University of Virginia. Following his graduation from medical school, Dr. Parker served 12 years in the Medical Corps of the United States Army. During that time he received his training in Family Medicine from Eisenhower Army Medical Center at Fort Gordon, GA (graduated 1981), and also obtained a Master of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences at Bethesda, MD (graduated 1987). He also served on the faculty of the Family Medicine Residency at Martin Army Hospital, Ft. Benning, GA. After leaving the Army in August of 1990, Dr. Parker and his family left for the mission field in April of 1991. He spent the next 12 years as a medical missionary with World Radio Missionary Fellowship, including terms both at Hospital Vozandes del Oriente on the edge of the Amazon rain forest and at Hospital Vozandes Quito in the capital of Ecuador. At Hospital Vozandes Dr. Parker served on the faculty of the Family Medicine Residency. From September of 2003 until August of 2005 he practiced at Tug River Health Association in McDowell County, West Virginia. Dr. Parker has been board certified by the American Board of Family Practice since July of 1981, and is a member of both the American Academy of Family Physicians and the Christian Medical and Dental Associations. His professional interests include both rural and international medicine.

Mohammed I. Ranavaya, MD, MS, FRCPI, FFOM, FACPM, CIME is a Professor of occupational and environmental medicine at the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine at Marshall University in West Virginia. He is Board Certified specialist in occupational and environmental medicine and currently serves as the Chief of the Division of Disability and Occupational & Environmental Medicine at Dept of FCH. Dr. Ranavaya’s main interest is the interface of Medicine and Law, particularly the physician’s role as expert witness and providing scientific testimony as independent medical examiners in the disputed claims. Dr. Ranavaya is an internationally recognized expert on AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment and has taught globally over ten thousand physicians skills for performing independent medical evaluations. Dr. Ranavaya has authored several chapters in various books on Disability Medicine and numerous articles regarding AMA Guides, disability guidelines and independent medical evaluations, etc. Dr. Ranavaya served as the chair of the editorial board of the Medical Disability Advisor and is section editor for the upcoming AMA Guides 6th edition. He is Editor in chief of the journal Disability Medicine and serves on editorial board of the AMA Guides newsletter. Dr. Ranavaya is the past President of the American Academy of Disability Evaluating Physicians. He is one of the founding fathers of the American Board of Independent Medical Examiners (ABIME) and has helped develop the certifying exam for physicians seeking credentials as certified independent medical examiners.

Travis Hansbarger, M.D., is a clinical associate professor of Famly and Communty Health. He has been a faculty member since completing medical school and residency at Marshall University. He is a full time clinician at the university affiliated 5th Avenue Family Practice where he is also associate medical director. He is a member of the Board for Ebenezer Medical Outreach, Inc. which provides free health care to uninsured patients from the Huntington and surrounding community. He also acts as clinical coordinator for Ebenezer's special Women's Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening Clinic. Dr. Hansbarger enjoys exploring with his wife the great outdoors across America.

James Becker, M.D.,is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Health. He received his M.D. degree from Marshall University and entered the family practice residency program as one of the first participants in the Accelerated Program. He serves as chief of the Division of Industrial Occupational and Environmental Medicine. In addition to his primary care interests, Dr. Becker has special interests in occupational medicine issues specifically relating to toxicology problems, work related lung disease, worker's compensation, repetitive strain injury, musculoskeletal injuries, and ergonomic issues. Dr. Becker is certified by the American Board of Family Practice and is a member of the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. He is a Certified Medical Review Officer.

Rabah Boukhemis, M.D.,is currently a professor at Marshall University in the Department of Family and Community Health. He received his M.D. from Constantine University Medical School in Algeria in 1977. He was certified in sports medicine, sports traumatology and physical medicine and rehabilitation in Paris, France in 1978 and 1982 respectively. He completed three years of training in family practice and adult fitness at the Marshall University Medical School in 1990. He is presently director of rehab at HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital. He is also clinical instructor with West Virginia University, Department of Family Practice. He is team physician for Marshall University Men Soccer and has board certification in Sports Medicine with the AAPS.

Richard Crespo, Ph.D., is professor of community health. Dr. Crespo is involved in community health in West Virginia and overseas. He directs the community medicine rotation for all family practice residents, teachers international track residents and advises them in selecting international assignments. Additionally he teaches community medicine to second year medical students. Internationally, he consults overseas three to five times a year in Latin America, Africa and Asia. The areas in which he works internationally are program design, disease surveillance, training trainers and evaluation. In West Virginia Dr. Crespo directs numerous grants in chronic disease management, diabetes control, school health and children’s mental health. Most of these grants involve rural health centers throughout the state and link them with community-based initiatives.

Kenneth J. Devlin, M.A., is a licensed clinical psychologist and instructor for the Department of Family and Community Health and coordinates behavioral training for the residency. He is active in the wilderness (dive medicine), sports and occupational medicine program divisions. He is the team psychologist for Cabell Huntington Hospital’s Regional Pain Program. Originally from Philadelphia, he has over 25 years experience in rural settings where he developed novel programs integrating psychologists into primary care practices and services to county jails. Other past experience has included employee assistance programs, services to corrections, specialized pediatric/adolescent programs, and coordinating WV’s drug treatment programs. Clinical interests include: diving, sports, sleep, wilderness, and occupational medicine and the adaption of psychology to primary medical practices. Personal interests include racquetball, guitar, and glass as well as activities related to clinical interests.

Dilip Nair, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Health. He received his undergraduate training in Massachusetts and medical training at the University of Connecticut . While his ethnicity is of the Indian sub-continent, his accent occasionally reveals his affinity for the people of Appalachia, in whose culture he finds remarkable resemblance to both Indian culture and the culture of his boyhood home of Zambia, Africa. Motivated by Christian faith, he delights in teaching; exploring ideas with anyone who will listen. Since he divides his teaching time between both students and residents, his current positions of Associate Residency Program Director and Associate Clerkship Director suit him very well. He possesses particular interest in community health and development and has had experience with this both internationally and in the coalfields of rural southwestern West Virginia. He also enjoys being a family doctor and finds caring for underserved groups such as homebound patients particularly fulfilling.

Jose Ricard, M.D.,is a professor with the Department of Family and Community Health. Dr. Ricard was born in Havana, Cuba where he was active in sports medicine and was the team physician for the Cuban Olympian Team in 1962-1963. He came to the United States from Cuba in 1964 following a courageous escape from Castro’s communist regime, and was soon settled in the Huntington, WV area. Dr. Ricard is a full-time clinician at University Family Practice. He is board certified in sports medicine and is active in our sports medicine division.

Kevin McCann, M.D., is a graduate of Marshall University School of Medicine in 1995 and Family Practice Residency Program in 1997 where he received the Resident Teacher Award in 1997. He also received the Upjohn Achievement Award for Outstanding Graduate. He is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Health. He is the Health Officer for the Wayne County Health Department and Medical Director for Lavalette, WV, EMS. His work involves regular office-based primary care, home visits, oversight of personal care homes, regional threat preparedness work and development of better EMS delivery. Research includes field fluid resuscitation and lipid treatment. His personal interests are his Church, family and farming.

Charles Clements, M.D., an assistant professor, received his undergraduate degree from the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York in 1972. He served several tours of duty with the Army in Europe, Korea, and various locations in the United States. He retired from the Army in 1993 to attend medical school at Marshall University. He completed his residency with Marshall Family Practice and received the Mead-Johnson Award for Graduate Education in Family Practice in 1998. Chuck joined the National Ski Patrol in 1980, has patrolled in Colorado, Europe and West Virginia, and is currently patrolling with the Winterplace (WV) Ski Patrol. His special interests include Wilderness Medicine and Sports Medicine.

Adam Franks, M.D. After foregoing his childhood dream of being a trainer at Sea World and swimming with Shamu, at age 13 Adam Franks decided to work toward a new goal - that of becoming a doctor. After graduating medical school at Marshall University as a Yeager Scholar, he took full advantage of medical school by participating in the Marshall Primary Care Curriculum and Accelerated Residency programs. A near life-long West Virginian, Adam is the departments acknowledged “procedure hawk.” After graduating residency, as a 3-time resident of the year, he completed a fellowship in Advanced Maternal Care & Surgical Obstetrics at the University of Tennessee , Memphis . There the family medicine residents voted him the Attending of the Year. Professionally, his goal is to expand the boundaries of family medicine. Now, when Adam is not performing a Cesarean delivery or managing a ventilator patient, he enjoys spending time with his family. Adam is an avid reader and enjoys all sports (especially soccer). He lives with his wife Emily, their two sons Bradley and Colin, and their daughter Maggie Kayt.

Brian J. Loshbough, RN, MS, FNP, CDE, coordinates patient education services at the Family Practice Center, works with FP residents on patient education-related issues, and provides primary care and nursing home services. He also sees patients for weight loss, cholesterol education, diabetes and other patient teaching needs. Mr. Loshbough is a nationally certified family nurse practitioner and a certified diabetes educator. He is also employed by the Brickstreet Insurance, a workers' compensation mutual in West Virginia part-time; no rest for the diversified. Two fine young men have been his “Little Brothers” for more than 10 years, and he still keeps an eye on them. He enjoys hiking, logging, running, watching football, and taking interesting trips for adventure and for work. "My best trips recently were to make a movie in Congo, and backpacking in the Wind River Range of Wyoming with 3 guys even older than me."

Tammy Bannister, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Health. A native West Virginian, Tammy originates from a small community in rural West Virginia. She received both a nursing degree and her M.D. degree from Marshall University and entered the Family Medicine Residency Program as an accelerated resident. Her medical areas of interest include women's health, geriatrics, and aesthetic medicine.

Nikki Cole, M.D., is assistant professor in the Department of Family and Comminity Health. Dr. Cole is a graduate of the Marshall University Joan C.Edwards School of Medicine and the Marshall University Family Medicine Residency Program.

Michael W. Gibbs, M.D., is an associate professor in the Department of Family and Community Health and has been a lifelong resident of West Virginia , completing undergraduate and medical degrees from Marshall University . Postgraduate training was also completed with the Department of Family and Community Health where he was voted outstanding teaching resident. Presently he serves as associate residency director of the rural residency at Lincoln Primary Care Center in Hamlin , WV . Additional interests include sports medicine and adult fitness, cardiovascular medicine, and aviation/occupational medicine. He and his wife, Judy, enjoy active involvement in their church and youth sporting events with their sons.

Michael Krasnow, D.O., Ph.D., is a professor of ophthalmology and family practice at Marshall University School of Medicine. Dr. Krasnow earned his undergraduate degree, a B.A., and Ph.D., from the University of Massachusetts, and his D.O. from the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Pomona, CA. He completed his residency in ophthalmology in Tulsa, OK, and a glaucoma fellowship at the University of Iowa. Dr. Krasnow is board certified by the Osteopathic Board of Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology, and Head and Neck Surgery and is a Fellow with the International College of Surgeons. Dr. Krasnow is medical director of University Eye Surgeons, a University-affiliated medical practice. He is a member of the American Glaucoma Society and American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery. His main work is in cataract and glaucoma surgery. Additional interests include plastic and reconstructive surgery and the medicine of diving. Dr. Krasnow serves as a consultant for Express Scripts and serves as President of the Cabell County Medical Society and Cabell Huntington Surgery Center. Dr. Krasnow was an osteopathic health policy fellow in 2003-2004.

Scott Mitchell, M.D., is assistant professor in the Department of Family and Comminity Health. Dr. Mitchell is a graduate of the Marshall University Joan C.Edwards School of Medicine and the Marshall University Family Medicine Residency Program.

Erica Harris , M.D., grew up in South Charleston, WV. She earned a biology degree from Wheeling Jesuit University and her medical degree from Marshall University School of Medicine. She married her high school sweetheart, Dr. Nick Chongswatdi (a current MU family medicine resident) in 2002. She has 2 young children who are the reason she cose to wark part-time with the Department of Family and Community Health, enjoying a nice balance between family and career primarily as a clinician at a satellite office in Barboursville. Erika enjoys exercising, scrapbooking, and reading.

Glen Harper, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Health. Dr. Harper was born in Huntington, WV and grew up in the small rural town of Prichard, WV. He obtained his undergraduate and medical degree from Marshall University before completing his family practice residency at the Marshall University Department of Family and Community Health. He has practiced in eastern Kentucky for a period of three years before returning to the Family Practice Department to open a rural clinic in Ceredo, WV. His personal interests are motorcycle riding, hunting and college football.

Gary Cremeans, M.D.

Jeff McCormick, D.O., is assistant professor in the Department of Family and Comminity Health. Dr. McCormick is the Director of Medical Education and Family Medicine Program Director for the affiliated osteopathic graduate medcial education programs. He is a graduate of the the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine and the West Virginia University Family Medicine Residency Program at Charleston, WV.

Amy Albrecht , M.D.