UP Health System – Marquette Family Medicine Program Welcomes New Faculty, Resident Class

The UP Health System – Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program (MFMRP) is pleased to welcome two new faculty members and six residents, beginning July 1, 2023. The residency program is community-based through UP Health System – Marquette, affiliated with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine.

New Faculty

Raquel Clary-Lantis, DO, is the newest faculty member of the MFMRP team, specializing in family medicine, geriatrics, and hospice and palliative care. She earned her Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Pikeville – Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed residency training in family medicine at Florida Hospital-East Orlando. Following residency, she completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine at the University of Michigan (Michigan Medicine) in Ann Arbor, MI.

“Dr. Clary-Lantis brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in medical education and patient care,” said Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program Director Brian Waite, MD. “She will be a tremendous asset in our residents' training and the expansion of our hospice and palliative care services for the patients of the Upper Peninsula.”

Prior to joining UP Health System, Dr. Clary-Lantis served in multiple roles, including most recently as the medical director, fellowship director, and attending physician in hospice and palliative medicine at Trinity Health IHA, formerly known as St. Joseph Mercy Health System in Ann Arbor, MI. Additionally, she completed comprehensive training and served on numerous committees focused on medical education and improving healthcare quality and processes.

“My husband and I have relocated to the Upper Peninsula to be closer to family in Houghton and Negaunee, including our first grandchild,” said Dr. Clary-Lantis. “Visiting and traveling in the Upper Peninsula was my favorite childhood memory, I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to work and be a part of this community.”

In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Dr. Clary-Lantis will also help open a palliative care clinic within the UP Health System – Marquette Cancer Center, to help support patients and families diagnosed with serious illnesses.

Ashley Parent, MD, is the second faculty member to join the MFMRP team. Board-certified in internal medicine, Dr. Parent earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Michigan University and attended Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in East Lansing, MI. She spent the last two years of medical school in the Rural Physicians Program at the Upper Peninsula campus in Marquette, after which time she attended the Internal Medicine Residency at Spectrum Health in Grand Rapids, MI, graduating from the program in June of 2021.

“We are all very excited to add Dr. Parent as a faculty member,” said Dr. Waite. “Being from the Upper Peninsula, she understands our patients and their needs, but coming from an internal medicine program, she brings experience and training we wouldn’t otherwise be able to provide our residents. We look forward to seeing all the great things she can bring to us.”

Dr. Parent grew up in Marquette, graduating from Marquette Senior High School in 2008. Being able to return to the Upper Peninsula as a primary care provider and a member of the community amongst family and friends has been fulfilling to her.

"I look forward to working with the family medicine residents during their training while continuing to provide primary care services to our community," said Dr. Parent. She will see patients at UP Medical Group Family Medicine, located at 1414 W. Fair Ave., Ste. 36.

New Residency Class

The accredited MFMRP trains resident physicians for three years in a community-based setting, incorporating inpatient and outpatient medicine experiences as well as rotations in rural areas within Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. During the fourth year of medical school, students begin the interview process with residency programs. Based on mutual rankings, a National Resident Matching Program computer algorithm calculates the match. The matches are revealed nationally on the third Friday of March.

“Our new class of residents have arrived, and are enthusiastically going through their orientation,” said Dr. Waite. “We’re looking forward to a great three years with them.”

The six new Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program residents include (from left to right above):

Mark Romano, DO
Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Prashanth Patil, MD
University of Debrecen Medical School and Health Science Centre

Angela Robertson, MD
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

Shelby Peters, MD
Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, UP Campus

Ajay Eapen, MD
St. George’s University School of Medicine

Abraham Lee, MD
Loma Linda University School of Medicine

To learn more about the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program, please visit UPHealthSystem.com/Marquette/Family-Medicine-Residency.

About the Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program

The UP Health System – Marquette Family Medicine Residency Program works in conjunction with the MSU College of Human Medicine UP Education Corporation to coordinate the training of family medicine residents and Michigan State University College of Human Medicine medical students. Since its inception in 1974, 210 resident physicians and 310 medical students have graduated from the two programs. Approximately 39 percent of family medicine resident graduates and 30 percent of the students who graduated from MSU College of Human Medicine UPEC are practicing across the Upper Peninsula.