Springfield Family Medicine Residency program welcomes 2023 chief residents

The SIU Family Medicine Residency Program in Springfield announced Karie Schwertman and Ashay Vaidya as their chief residents for the 2023-2024 academic year. 

Chief residents are selected by their co-residents and considered leaders of the group. The term they will serve is one year during their final year as residents. They are considered the point of contact for insight into the program and education and the liaison between the residents and the program director. Among their duties, the chief residents plan the fall and spring retreats and graduations for the program. They also create and oversee the schedule for second-year residents on call, approve days off for their co-residents depending on coverage and hold business meetings with other residents to address any concerns/questions.

Karie Schwertman grew up in Edwardsville, Il, and attended SIU Edwardsville for a teaching degree. She taught elementary school before returning to school to become a physician. She studied at Washington University in St. Louis for her post-baccalaureate program and then attended SIU School of Medicine. 

Her spare time is spent with her husband, three children, and three dogs. She enjoys crafts and making quilts. She enjoys the camaraderie between fellow residents, attendings, and the wonderful nursing staff most about her time in the Family Medicine Residency Program.

“I love knowing we provide excellent care to our patients and have access to so many resources for them.”

Karie looks forward to working with all the residents, faculty, and administration in continuing a vibrant and strong program. This will enable her to serve our community as our new chief resident. 

Ashay Vaidya grew up in Bloomington, Il, and attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign before 

coming to SIU for medical school. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, writing short stories, and watching movies. 

When asked what he enjoys about the residency program, he said, “The SIU Family Medicine program is a gem. The faculty are brilliant, the nurses are supportive, and the residents all act like family. Most of all, SIU Family Medicine truly focuses on its core mission as an access point for patients in Springfield and surrounding Central Illinois communities.”

As the new chief resident, he wants to continue the tradition of offering strong support and teaching experience to the incoming PGY-1s and PGY-2s. Overall, his goal is to be a reliable chief resident who can work with all residents, faculty, and administration. This will enable him to carry forward the rich tradition of service and success that the SIU Family and Community Medicine program has had since 1972.