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The Department of Family Medicine at Carolinas Medical Center joins with community leaders in Monroe, N.C. at Union Family Medicine Practice to provide residents with an opportunity to practice in a small town environment, in our community apprentice model.

We accept three residents per year within our Union Track with the first year based at Carolinas Medical Center (CMC) in Charlotte, NC and the next two years based at Atrium Health Union in Monroe, NC. approximately 20 miles from CMC. The curriculum for the second and third years is specifically focused on training residents who wish to eventually practice in a small town environment.

The Union Track is designed based on the "Community Apprenticeship" model in which residents train one-on-one with preceptors in a private practice setting. The patient population is diverse, with patients ranging from farmers and poultry workers to banking executives and hospital employees. This "real world" setting ultimately prepares residents to care for patients in a variety of environments, including small town, suburban and underserved areas.

For more information regarding the Union Track, please contact:

Megan Davis
Residency Coordinator
Atrium Health Union Family Practice
704-667-9772
Megan.Davis@AtriumHealth.org

Atrium Health Union Family Medicine Faculty

Allison K. Bickett, PhD
Director of Behavioral Medicine Education

Dr. Allison Bickett received her PhD in Clinical Health Psychology at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte and a master’s degree in Applied Cognition and Neuroscience from the University of Texas at Dallas. She presently serves as the Director of Behavioral Medicine Education in the Department of Family Medicine. She is responsible for Behavioral Health Integration programs at the three family medicine residency sites, supporting patient care in the inpatient and outpatient setting, as well as diabetes and HIV clinics. Allison assists in developing and teaching the Longitudinal Behavioral Medicine curriculum, supporting and evaluating residents in the advancement of their mental health knowledge and clinical interviewing skills. Core facets of the behavioral medicine curriculum include motivational interviewing, active listening and the outpatient management of mental health issues commonly seen in primary care. Allison’s research interests include the relationship between mental health and chronic illness, behavioral health integration and mental health screening in the community.

Allison serves on several committees and taskforces to address physician well-being and one of her passions in this area is the intersection of medicine and the humanities. She co-facilitates the Art of Medicine program, a unique collaboration between Atrium Health and the Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, which allows physicians and advanced practice providers to explore important works of art and process the challenging emotions that arise from the practice of medicine.

Matthew Findlay

Matthew Findlay, MD
Clinical Faculty

Dr. Findlay is board certified in family medicine. He received his medical degree at New York Medical College and completed residency at Atrium Health’s Carolinas Medical Center.

Lindsey Johnson, MD
Medical Director

Lindsey Johnson, MD,attended medical school at Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed her family medicine residency at Atrium Health Union. Her professional interests include obesity medicine and women's health. She is married and enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons. Her husband is a football coach and she enjoys going to his team's games in her free time.

Joseph Milner, MD
Clinical Faculty

Joseph Milner, MD, attended Albany Medical College. He completed his family medicine residency at Albany Medical Center. His professional interests include women’s health and minor surgeries. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, running and playing music.

Patil Shekar

Shekhar Y. Patil, MD
Clinical Faculty

Skekhar Y. Patil, MD, attended Duke University for medical school and completed his family medicine residency at Pitt County Memorial Hospital, in Greenville, NC. He is married and enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

Benjamin F. Simmons III, MD
Core Faculty

Benjamin F. Simmons, III, MDAtrium HealthUnion Family Medicine Site Director, grew up in Manassas and Hampton, Va. He received his undergraduate education at Longwood University in Farmville, VA and attended medical school at Howard University in Washington, DC.After completing his residency training at Carolinas Healthcare System Department of Family Medicine he was the lead physician at CHS Urgent Care in Salisbury, NC. During his time with the Division of Urgent Care he served as Physician Champion for Patient Experience andMedical Director of the Urgent Care ACP Fellowship. He currently serves on the board of the North Carolina Academy of Family Physicians.His interests include performing and teaching procedures and healthcare and patient advocacy. Dr. Simmons enjoys going to art museums, salsa dancing and traveling.

Holly Stegall, MD
Family Medicine Residency Program Union Site Director

Holly Stegall, MD grew up locally in Polkton, North Carolina. She received her undergraduate education at Wingate University and attended medical school at the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University. After the completion of her residency training at Cabarrus Family Medicine, Dr. Stegall practiced in Anson County for a short while, honing her skills in rural and underserved care. Dr. Stegall joined the Department of Family Medicine in 2016. Her medical interests include performing and teaching procedures, maternity care, women’s health, pediatrics, inpatient medicine and travel medicine. In her free time, she enjoys running, traveling and spending time with her husband, son and extended family.

Valencia Tellis, MD

Valencia Tellis, MD
Clinical Faculty

Valencia Tellis, MD, went to medical school at Michigan State University and did her residency at Genesys Regional Medical Center. In her free time she enjoys spending time with her husband and daughter.

Vieau

Christopher Vieau, MD
Clinical Faculty

Christopher Vieau, MD, attended Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, as part of its charter class. Completed Family Medicine residency at Atrium Health in Charlotte, NC. Professional interests include adult general medicine, preventative health and advance care planning. In his free time, he is an avid golfer and enjoys watching Syracuse University sports.

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