Our Physicians

Christine Cardona, DO

Russell Dodson, PA-C

James J. Dearing, DO

Elizabeth Shapiro, FNP

Jason J. Meleth, MD

Dr. Cardona graduated from the Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific in Pomona, California in 2003 and completed her residency in family medicine at Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona in 2006.

Dr. Cardona practiced medicine within a large medical group in Southern California for three years before she and her husband decided to return to the Phoenix area.

Dr. Cardona is board certified by the American Board of Family Practice. Her professional memberships include American Academy of Family Physicians, American Osteopathic Association and American College of Osteopathic Physicians.

Dr. Cardona's special interests are women's health and preventive medicine. She looks forward to helping her patients meet their health goals.

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Dr. Dearing is a 1977 graduate of Arizona State University and a 1984 graduate of the College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific.

Twice board-certified, Dr. Dearing completed fellowships and continues to hold several prestigious positions for nationally recognized medical associations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Osteopathic Association and the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians.

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Dr. Meleth is a 2004 graduate of Ross University, Dominica, West Indies. He completed his residency in 2008 at the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

Dr. Meleth is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Medical Association. His professional interest is providing continuity of care, with a focus on disease prevention.

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Degree: P.A., 1975, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Physician Assistant Program, Baltimore, Md.

Additional training: Family practice and surgery, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine

Board certification: Took the first National Certification Boards given for physician assistants.

Clinical interests: Skin lesion removal, biopsies and wound repairs. "I remove skin lesions and skin cancer. I was taught by one of the top surgeons at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine."

Philosophy of care: "Take care of the entire family and whole patient. Refer to specialist that 'I would go to.'"

Hobbies and personal interests: "I like to race Porsches on the track when I get the chance. We have no children, just two large white dogs. They are Great Pyenees and are like children, but never ask to borrow the car."

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Ms. Shapiro is licensed registered nurse, advanced practitioner and became a board-certified family nurse practitioner (FNP) in 2007.

Her professional interests include primary care services for patients, including wellness screenings and health promotion through primary prevention, acute and chronic disease diagnosis, and coordination of care with other health care providers and services. She joined Dearing Family Medicine in June 2011.

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