Current Residents
John C. Lincoln's Family Practice Residency Program includes 12 residents who are supervised by attending physicians and a program director. Meet our residents here:
Loretta Belden, DO
Dr. Belden is a native of Arizona and grew up in Phoenix. She graduated from Arizona State University with a degree in Spanish and remains an avid Sun Devil football fan! When she is not working, she enjoys ballroom dancing, fishing and watching hockey with her husband Jason. After residency she plans to join her father's practice in South Phoenix.
Debra Bement, DO
Dr. Bement graduated with honors in Cellular and Molecular Biology from San Diego State University. She and her husband left their native San Diego so she could attend medical school in Arizona. Upon graduation she chose John C. Lincoln Family Medicine residency program due to the superior quality of physicians trained in the program. Dr. Bement previously spent 19 years in the dental field and is very excited to be following her dream, serving a diverse population of patients in medicine. She and her husband are the parents of five children, ranging in age from 4 to 22, and spend any available time in Southern California with family, friends, and at the beach.
Susan Benz, DO
Dr. Benz graduated from Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Glendale. She received her undergraduate degree in exercise science from the University of Arizona. Prior to attending medical school, she worked as a certified athletic trainer for seven years at a high school and specialty health club in Tucson. She chose family medicine because she wants to care for patients of all ages, treating a variety of health concerns. In her spare time, she is an avid reader and enjoys watching movies, hiking, watching and playing sports and spending time with her family and friends. After completing her residency, she plans return to practice in an underserved area in southern Arizona.
Michael Brown, DO
Dr. Mike Brown is a graduate of Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale. He is originally from the Midwest but now calls the Valley home with his wife, Dr. Ann Marie Sun. They are expecting their first child in December 2007.
Mike's career path has given him perspective from different medical backgrounds. He began his career as a respiratory therapist and then moved into pharmaceutical sales. He has taken the skills learned in these fields and applied them to become the best family practice doctor possible.
Dr. Brown is an accomplished Ironman triathlete (2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike, 26.2 mile run) three times over. His interest in fitness stems from his desire to treat the body as a temple as stated in 1 Corinthians 6:19. Exercise and a healthy diet are his keys to a happy, healthy and energetic life.
Now, as a resident at JCL, he has come full circle and plans to apply the same type faith-fueled passion he gives when he swims, bikes or runs to Family Medicine.
Bethany Chernich, DO
Dr. Chernich was raised in a small town in rural Michigan. As a child, she loved to play outside, ride horses and take vacations with her family. Several years have passed, but she still enjoys the hobbies of her childhood. Some of her new hobbies include bird watching, cooking and watching foreign movies.
She attended the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where she earned her Bachelor's of Science in Biology. After completing her undergraduate degree, she worked in a laboratory at the University of Michigan's School of Public Health. While working in the lab, applying for medical school, she simultaneously applied for a humanitarian mission for her church and accepted a mission calling to Brussels, Belgium. There she learned to speak French fluently. It was during her mission that she felt compelled to prepare, again, for medical school. After two years of being a medical assistant in a DO family practitioner's office, she began attending Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri. She completed her clinical training in St. Louis, Missouri.
Dr. Bethany is married to Joseph Chernich, a high school chemistry, physics and math teacher. In the future, they plan on raising a family and serving as missionaries for their church.
Paul Gawelko, DO
Dr. Gawelko is a graduate of Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale, Arizona. His undergraduate training includes a BS in biology from Arizona State University and a degree in physical therapy from Saint Louis University. Dr. Gawelko enjoys traveling with his family, as well as playing basketball, golf and baseball with his wife, a family practice physician and their three children: Stanley, Elena and Nathaniel. Dr. Gawelko chose John C. Lincoln for its diverse patient population and the variety of learning opportunities that the health network presents.
Chrystal LeMaster, DO
Dr. LeMaster attended medical school at Midwestern University, Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale. She completed her undergraduate degree in microbiology at Arizona State University in Tempe. Dr. LeMaster chose to pursue a career in family medicine because it allows her to interact with people of all ages and backgrounds. She is a firm believer in the importance of preventative medicine.
In her spare time, she enjoys reading, bowling, spending time with friends and family and chasing after her young son. She is also a huge sports fan and especially enjoys college basketball. Dr. LeMaster has lived in Phoenix for most of her life and plans on practicing in the area after completing residency.
Becca Rodriguez, DO
From Pink Power Ranger and Paula Abdul dancer to a physician, it has been an interesting and adventurous road to enter the field of medicine for Dr. Rodriguez! As a bilingual (English and Spanish) native of Phoenix, she is honored to return to the Valley of the Sun for her residency training. Dr. Rodriguez is a graduate of Grand Canyon University, with a major in biochemistry. She completed her medical school training in Kirksville, Missouri, at the Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her goals include completing a fellowship in sports medicine and becoming the team physician for a professional ballet company or sports team.
Erica Rotondo, DO
Dr. Rotondo is a graduate of Midwestern University’s Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine in Glendale. She is a Wisconsin native, graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in women’s studies and African languages and literature. She has traveled through many places, including Africa, the Middle East, Central and South America; she would like to include international work in her medical career. Eventually she would like to practice in the southwestern United States.
Dr. Rotondo's hobbies include hiking, spending time with rescued greyhounds, volunteering with various community organizations, and spending time with her friends. She chose John C. Lincoln’s Family Medicine program for the high quality of training and the diverse population.
Christine Tymczyna, DO
Dr. Tymczyna, having grown up in the Valley, is now very excited to give back to her community. She attended Sunnyslope High School, received her bachelor's degree with honors in Biomedical Sciences from the College of Health Sciences at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, and earned her medical degree from the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, also in Glendale.
Since providing care to underserved populations is important to her, Dr. Tymczyna works with DOCARE International, a not-for-profit medical outreach society that provides medical care to underserved regions in the third world. Her service has taken her to places like Guatemala and Mexico. Only time will tell where her next service trip will take her. Dr. Tymczyna is also an active member of the Wilderness Medical Society.
While not caring for patients, you may find Dr. Tymczyna scaling a 150-foot cliff—her other passion is rock climbing, which she has traveled the world to pursue. She also enjoys hiking, mountain biking, backpacking, canyoneering, traveling, dancing and spending time with friends and family.
Meg Zakarewicz, DO
Dr. Zakarewicz is from Philadelphia Pennsylvania. She completed her undergraduate training in biology and medical studies at DeSales University in Pennsylvania, where she went on to receive a master's degree in physician assistant studies. She practiced as a physician assistant for a short time before going on to obtain her medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. She enjoys time with her family and friends, playing sports and traveling.