(July 1, 2025 – DuBois, PA) Penn Highlands Healthcare is pleased to announce the graduation of its Graduate Medical Education Residents in Family Medicine and Psychiatry and Fellow in Sports Medicine. Of the 10 graduates, five will remain with Penn Highlands Healthcare as psychiatrists and Family Medicine physicians in the Northwest, Central and Southwest regions.
Evan DeFalco, DO, a Family Medicine resident who graduated from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, will be working at a Family Medicine practice at Penn Highlands Mon Valley.
Mitch Kovacs, MD, a Family Practice resident who received their Doctor of Medicine degree from George Washington University School of Medicine in Washington, D.C., will practice outpatient Family Medicine at Penn Highlands State College.
Joshua David Lowery, MD, M.Ed, a Psychiatry resident who received his Medical degree and Master of Education degree from the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, PA, will be an attending psychiatrist on the inpatient adult unit and see outpatients at the Penn Highlands Stern Center for Behavioral Health in DuBois.
Dylan Ricker, DO, a Family Medicine resident who graduated from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine at Seton Hill University, will be a hospitalist at Penn Highlands DuBois.
Jessie W. Zhang, MD, a Psychiatry resident who received her Medical degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, will be an attending psychiatrist on the inpatient adult unit and see outpatients at the Penn Highlands Stern Center for Behavioral Health in DuBois.
Dawit B. Ayalew, MD, a Family Medicine resident who obtained his Doctor in Medicine degree from the Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine, is looking forward to returning to VCU to complete a Sports Medicine fellowship at his alma mater.
Mohammad Azim, DO, a Family Medicine resident who attended medical school at Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine in Henderson, NV, plans a career in Outpatient Family Medicine.
Drushti Mehta, DO, who was the Sports Medicine Fellow at Penn Highlands Orthopedics and Sports Medicine and Penn Highlands Family Medicine Residency Clinic, is excited for a career in a combination of Sports and Family Medicine.
Rahul Patel, DO, a Family Medicine resident who received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine in Davie, FL, is planning a career as a hospitalist.
Erica Schmidt, MD, a Psychiatry resident who received her Medical degree from Trinity School of Medicine, Ribishi, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, is leaning toward working at an outpatient facility or a dual-diagnosis residential treatment facility.
Penn Highlands Healthcare offers Graduate Medical Education (GME) opportunities in Family Medicine and Psychiatry. The health system also offers a fellowship in Sports Medicine. The programs are designed to develop competent and caring physicians that deliver high-quality and compassionate care to patients. Penn Highlands offers a broad range of training experiences with exemplary physicians engaged in the practice of evidence-based empathetic medical care for patients.
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Penn Highlands Healthcare was officially formed in 2011 and is comprised of nine hospitals. Penn Highlands Brookville, Penn Highlands Clearfield, Penn Highlands Connellsville, Penn Highlands DuBois, Penn Highlands Elk, Penn Highlands Huntingdon, Penn Highlands Mon Valley, Penn Highlands Tyrone have served area communities for the past 100+ years. Penn Highlands State College is a new state-of-the-art hospital that opened in 2024. The health system’s business continuum also includes a home care agency, long-term care facilities and residential senior living communities, as well as durable medical equipment companies and retail pharmacies.
Penn Highlands Healthcare has evolved into an organization with approximately 6,200 employees in 150+ locations throughout 26 counties in Pennsylvania that include community medical buildings, outpatient facilities, surgery centers and physician practices. The facilities have a total of 1,396 inpatient, skilled nursing and personal care beds. The system, which has 849 physicians and 427 advanced practice providers on staff, offers a wide range of care and treatments with specialty units for cancer, cardiovascular/thoracic, neurosurgery, pulmonology, neonatal and high-risk pregnancy patients. Being focused on what is important – patients and families – makes Penn Highlands Healthcare a great choice for healthcare in the region.