May Hong received her Doctor of Medicine from the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed her Family Medicine residency at Austin Medical Education Program in Austin, Texas. May has worked as a primary care physician in Texas and New York. In addition to running the residency program, she also sees her own patients at the Redwood Community Health Center. Her son is away in college but her twin daughters are still at home. In her spare time, she plays the piano and cello.
Simon Stampe attended SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY. He completed his family medicine training at the University of Colorado's Swedish Family Medicine Residency and served as chief resident. He then completed a fellowship in advanced obstetrics at Swedish First Hill in Seattle. He supervises residents in clinic and on Labor and Delivery. Outside of work he enjoys sailing and spending time in the mountains with his wife Meg and his dog George.
Kevin Henry went to medical school at the University of New Mexico where he also completed a residency in family and community medicine. He has spent the last ten years as an assistant professor at UNM working teaching and precepting medical students and residents in addition to seeing patients at his clinic in Rio Rancho New Mexico. He is excited to help teach the talented hard working residents at the resident's clinic as well as caring for patients. When he is not working he enjoys running, reading and spending time with his wife and daughter.
Melissa Wilcox attended medical school at the University of California, San Diego. She completed residency at Sutter Health’s Family Medicine residency program in Sacramento/Davis and served as chief resident. Following residency, she moved to Peoria, Illinois to complete a fellowship in advance obstetrics/women’s health at the University of Illinois. Glad to come back to California, she practiced full spectrum FM with OB at Sutter Health in Sacramento for 2 years prior to moving up to Humboldt. She supervises residents in clinic and on labor and delivery. Outside of medicine, she enjoys playing volleyball (preferably beach), hiking, cooking and playing with her dog (Maggie).
Dr. Hunter attended medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles and completed his Family Medicine residency at University of California, Davis. He served as the medical director of Redwoods Rural Health Center in Redway for 20 years, before becoming Open Door’s Chief Medical Officer. In 2020 Bill transitioned his role at Open Door to CMO Emeritus, but continues to attend residents at the Redwood Community Health Center. He is known for his energy, passion and his beautiful singing voice.
Dr. McGraw is from Indianapolis and earned her medical degree as well as a Masters degree in Integrative and Cellular Physiology at the Indiana University School of Medicine. She completed a Family Medicine residency at the Mountain Area Health Education Center in Asheville NC followed by a Surgical Obstetrics fellowship at the University of Rochester. She is excited to teach residents, practice full service OB and work at a FQHC. When not working she enjoys, running, hiking, baking, reading, art and listening to podcasts.
Dr. Alston has been a family practitioner at the Open Door NorthCountry Clinic since 1998. He earned his Doctor of Medicine in 1991 at the State University of New York at Stony Brook and completed his family practice residency at the Providence Medical Center in Seattle. Prior to coming to Humboldt County, he practiced at the Zuni Indian Hospital in New Mexico for several years. His interests include guitar, bicycling, soccer, hiking, and spending time with his family.
Dr. Yost received his medical degree from he University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed training in Family Medicine at Cascades East Family Medicine OHSU rural campus in Klamath Falls Oregon where he also served as Chief Resident. In addition to working at a local Emergency room, he has worked for the Open Door Community Health Centers since 2018 and is the point of care ultrasound (POCUS) champion of the residency. Outside of work he enjoys raising his two young kids, spending as much time as possible outside with his family, and getting dirty in his garden.
Kit has worked for Open Door Community Health Centers for nearly 10 years in prenatal care and assists the residency program as a Behavioral Health Clinician. She is the Clinic Manager for Prenatal Services where residents get their outpatient obstetric training. She has a Master’s of Education in Higher Education Administration from The University of Southern Mississippi and is a Licensed Marriage, Family and Child Therapist as well as a Board Certified Lactation Consultant. When not working she enjoys trail running and mothering teenagers.
Dr. Han obtained her medical degree from Xi’an Medical School in China prior to receiving a PhD in Molecular Biology from Ohio State University. She then completed a Family Medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin. She is the Medical Director of the Skilled Nursing Facilities in Humboldt County and supervises residents with their Nursing Home patients and on their inpatient hospital rotations. When not working she enjoys gardening, good food, watching movies in the theater and is trying to learn to play the violin.
Dr. Martinez supervises residents on their rotation at United Indian Health Services of Humboldt County. She attended the University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences through the INMED (Indians Into Medicine) Program. She completed a residency in Family Medicine at the University of California Davis, and went on to 3 years of OB/GYN residency as well. Dr. Martinez is Chumash Indian and is a member of the CMA JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) Committee and the Association of American Indian Physicians. Antoinette loves riding her horses, spending time with family and friends, and participating in cultural and traditional ceremonies.
Kelvin Vu received his medical degree from Western University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency training in Family Medicine at University of California Davis Medical Center, where he also served as Chief Resident. Since 2020 he has been the Open Door Community Health Center’s Chief Medical Officer. He supervises residents at the Redwood Community Health Center. When not working, Kelvin enjoys travelling the world with his wife and two sons, watching movies and playing sports.
Dr. Carroll is a retired family physician who began work in Humboldt County in late 1982. Prior to medical school he received a Doctorate in Mathematics from Harvard University. He retired from clinical practice in 2016 but has continued working with the residency program as the director of research, supervising residents with their research projects. His main interest is in advancing the potential for medical research in the county, with results to be applied to our local population. He is married with two grown sons. Joe describes himself as someone who runs slowly, practices Shotokan karate disappointingly, and does mathematics reasonably well.
Dr. Kessler received his MD from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and completed an Internal Medicine residency at the Stanford University Hospital. He practiced primary care internal medicine in Humboldt County for over 40 years prior to retiring from his outpatient practice in 2018. In 2020 he served as the Interim Designated Official of the residency program, but he continues to attend on the Resident's Inpatient Teaching Service. When not practicing medicine, he enjoys visiting his 5 grandchildren, birdwatching, hunting mushrooms and going on long distance bicycle trips with his wife of 50 years.
Karen Wilson joined the residency team in August, 2019. She has over 15 years of experience working in the health field in Humboldt County. Karen graduated from Sacramento State with her Bachelor’s in Communications. She was born and raised in Humboldt County and lives in Fortuna with her greatest joy kids Chandler and Courtney. She enjoys travel, backgammon and spending time at Ruth Lake.
Kristi joined the Family Medicine Residency program as an Administrative Assistant in November of 2022. Prior to joining the team, she managed a dermatology office in Oregon and also assisted the MOHS surgeons in her facility. She prefers to be outdoors as much as possible with her 2 kids, hiking, kayaking, rock hounding and exploring the beaches, lakes and rivers.
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Sarah Ross oversees medical and dental health services for Open Door Community Health Centers in Eureka, Fortuna, and Ferndale. In this role, She is responsible for all residency operations within Open Door and enjoys the successful partnership with Saint Joseph Hospital in this endeavor. Born and raised in Southern Humboldt, Sarah graduated from UC Berkeley and worked with various health care organizations in the Bay Area before returning to Humboldt County in 2015. Sarah enjoys raising her two kids in the redwoods and playing music with her husband.
Michelle is a southern California native who was raised in the Imperial Valley desert. She fell in love with Humboldt County and its beautiful green climate while attending Humboldt State University. She has worked in the medical field for over 15 years in various positions and started working at Open Door Community Heath Centers in 2013. In 2019 she became the Program Coordinator at Redwood Community Health Center where the Family Medicine residents have their continuity clinic. She loves spending time with her husband and her dachshund, Ginger and enjoys cooking, baking, and doing arts and crafts.
Every year the California Medical Association awards The Frederick Plessner
Memorial Award to the one physician in the state who best exemplifies
the practice and ethics of a rural practitioner. This is often called
the “Country Doctor Award.” Our program is unique and proud
to have three physicians on our faculty who have received this award.
Willard Hunter is a Family Physician who has practiced in Humboldt County for 40 years. He is a member of the core faculty for our residency program.
Ellen Mahoney is a surgeon who specializes in Breast Cancer surgery. She is the chair of the hospital Cancer Committee and coordinates the second year rotation in Cancer Care.
Robert Soper is a psychiatrist who has practiced in Humboldt County for over 25 years. He works with residents on the first year rotation in Behavioral Health.
