Faculty
Elizabeth Keegan-Garrett, M.D.
Program director
Elizabeth Keegan Garrett, M.D., is the program director of Saint Louis University Family Medicine Residency and assistant professor of Family & Community Medicine. Keegan Garrett earned a B.A. in Biology from Mount Holyoke College (1998). She completed a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Harvard University (2003), earned her medical degree from Oregon Health & Science University (2005) and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Missouri (2008). Before joining SLU Family Medicine Residency in 2017, she worked for eight years at Family Care Health Center in St. Louis, where she continues to maintain a full scope clinical practice, including maternity care. She is passionate about women’s health, maternity care, working with underserved patients and loves teaching. She is happiest when spending time with her husband, Kelly and sons, Silas and Sam. She loves time outdoors, cooking, travel, reading and digging in the dirt (even when only weeds grow).
Jay Brieler, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Jay Brieler, M.D., serves as the associate program director and associate professor of Family and Community Medicine. Brieler received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (1994) and his Doctor of Medicine from Southern Illinois University (1999). He completed residency at Ramsey Family and Community Medicine in St. Paul, Minnesota (2003), with an emphasis on counseling and mental health. His research interests center on the delivery of behavioral health by primary care physicians and integrated behavioral health. He spends most of his free time with his wife Michele and daughters Isabel and Sophie, who will both be away at college in the fall. He recently retired from a long run as a scholastic chess coach but still plays guitar in several local bands. He loves the water, kayaking and is adding bicycling to his fitness routine.
Theresa Drallmeier, M.D.
Director of Curriculum
Theresa Drallmeier, M.D., is the director of curriculum and scholarship for the SLU Family Medicine Residency and associate professor of Family and Community Medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Missouri (2014) and completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of New Mexico (2017). She joined the SLU Family Medicine Residency in 2018. Her passions include working with the Latinx population, addiction medicine, and providing inclusive primary care to a gender-diverse patient panel. She can’t believe her luck at finding a place (Family Care Health Center!) where she gets to work with these disparate populations daily. She is the course director for the Medicine and Society course at SLU’s School of Medicine, which introduces M1s and M2s to concepts around health equity and social determinants of health. She happily spends her free time with her wife, Julie, their two sons Teddy and Alden, and their golden retriever, Maple. Her favorite pastimes include reading, exploring the 50 states and beyond, and anything that takes her outdoors, including hiking, jogging, and stroller walks through the neighborhood.
Ashley Meyr, M.D.
Core faculty
Ashley Meyr, M.D., is the clinical director of the SSM Health Saint Louis University Family Medicine Residency and assistant professor of Family and Community Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Saint Louis University (2016). She completed her Family Medicine residency at our own program here at SLU, where she was chief resident. After graduating, she joined SLU Family Medicine as core faculty in 2019. She is originally from the St. Louis area and is so happy to be serving the community. Her passions include women’s health, pediatrics and teaching. She loves spending time with her husband, Alex, and daughters, Madelyn and Molly. In her free time, she enjoys exploring the city with her daughters — the St. Louis Zoo, Grant’s Farm, Magic House, and local parks are some of their current favorites.
Katherine "Katie" Kellow
Katherine Kellow is the program manager of the SSM Health Saint Louis University Family Medicine Residency. She earned her bachelor's degree in history from the University of Missouri and then went to earn her bachelor's degree in nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing. After graduating, she was an registered nurse in both labor and delivery and pediatrics. She is from the St. Louid Metro-East area and is passionate about serving the community. She enjoys spending time with her husband Patrick and their two golden retrievers, Otis and Birdie.
Jacquelyn Cattage, Ph.D.
Behavioral health faculty
Jacquelyn Cattage, Ph.D., is adjunct behavioral science faculty for the SLU Family Medicine Residency. She received a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Saint Louis University (2012) and completed her postdoctoral training at Family Care Health Centers (2014). After completion of the postdoctoral fellowship, she accepted a full-time position at Family Care Health Centers and continues as a valued member of the integrated behavioral health team with a clinical focus in pediatric behavioral health disorders and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Cattage joined the SLU Family Medicine Residency as part-time faculty in July 2018. The assessment and diagnosis of autism spectrum disorders piques her intellectual interests as does team-based primary care and workforce development. Cattage is a wife and mother of three young children. She enjoys reading, listening to music and singing, and game night with her family.
Caroline Kebbe
Caroline Kebbe is a licensed clinical social worker. She earned her master’s degree in social work in 2018 from Saint Louis University.
John Heafner, M.D.
John Heafner, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician. Heafner earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine in May 2018. He completed his residency at Saint Louis University Family Medicine Residency in June 2021. He joined the staff in 2021.
Darryl Zinck, M.D.
Darryl Zinck, M.D., is a board-certified family medicine physician. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Missouri. He completed his residency at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and his OB fellowship at Rockford Memorial Hospital in Rockford, Illinois. Zinck’s interests include obstetrics, homelessness and addiction.
Abbe Sudvarg, M.D.
Abbe Sudvarg, M.D., is a board-certified family physician. Sudvarg attended medical school at the University of Missouri and completed her family practice residency training at Family and Community Medicine in Columbia, Missouri. She joined the staff in 1994.
Sarah Gebauer, M.D.,
Sarah Gebauer, M.D., is an assistant professor and has been a clinical scientist faculty member since 2017. She completed medical school at Saint Louis University School of Medicine, her family medicine residency at Saint Louis University’s Southwestern Illinois Program in 2015, SLU’s Academic Family Medicine Fellowship in 2017 and her M.S.P.H. in epidemiology in 2018. She sees patients at St. Louis County’s South County Health Center and is the course director for epidemiology and biostatistics at the School of Medicine. Her research interests are centered in the social determinants of health, particularly neighborhood characteristics and chronic pain.
Fred Rottnek, M.D.
Addiction medicine fellowship program director
Fred Rottnek, M.D., is a professor and the director of Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the program director of the Saint Louis University Addiction Medicine Fellowship. He completed his medical degree at Saint Louis University, his residency at Family Medicine of St. Louis, and the faculty development fellowship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His clinical practices include addiction medicine and correctional healthcare. He teaches in the School of Medicine, the physician assistant program, the Center for Interprofessional Education and Research, and the School of Law. Board-certified in family medicine and addiction medicine, he is the medical director for the Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA) and Juvenile Detention in Family Court for the City of St. Louis. He serves on the boards of the Saint Louis Regional Health Commission, the ARCHway Institute, and Alive and Well Communities.
Jennifer Bello-Kottenstette, M.D.
Addiction medicine fellowship core faculty
Jennifer Bello-Kottenstette, M.D., is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and has been associate director of Saint Louis University's Health Criminology Research Consortium since 2016 and core faculty in the Addiction Medicine Fellowship since 2021. She is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, West Suburban Family Medicine Residency, and University of Chicago Primary Care Research and Ethics fellowships. Bello-Kottenstette's clinical practice is focused on addiction medicine at Assisted Recovery Centers of America, Midwest (ARCA) and her research is focused on understanding and addressing the unique reproductive health needs of men and women with substance-use disorders.
Kento Sonoda, M.D
Addiction medicine fellowship faculty
Kenoto Sonoda, M.D., is an assistant professor at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He serves as the Family Medicine Clerkship instructor and the Addiction Medicine Fellowship faculty. He received his medical degree from the National Defense Medical Center in Japan, completed his Family Medicine residency (HIV Primary Care track) at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), and the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at UPMC. He also completed the Medical Education Faculty Development Program at the University of Pittsburgh. He provides a full scope of practice with a special focus on addiction medicine and HIV. He serves as the AAFP Primary Care Leadership Collaborative Trainer, the co-chair of STFM Minority and Multicultural Health Collaborative Steering Committee, and the assessment author/editor for the Aquifer Family Medicine course.
Jamil Neme, M.D.
Jamil Neme, M.D., has been an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine since 2018. He is a graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine, Family Medicine Residency at the University of Nebraska, and a Sports Medicine fellowship at Saint Vincent-Allegheny Health. He is board-certified in family medicine and sports medicine. Neme practices at SLUCare Family Medicine, is director of the SLUCare Concussion Clinic and a team physician for Saint Louis University, Harris-Stowe State University, Fontbonne University and area high schools. He trains medical students and residents and collaborates in regional sports medicine recommendations. He will be the program director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship. His passion is improving the overall physical and mental well-being of the area. Exercise is medicine!
Jina McAtee, M.D.
Jina McAtee, M.D. is a board-certified pediatrician who earned her medical degree from Saint Louis University School of Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at Saint Louis University-Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. McAtee joined the staff in 2008.
Miquia Henderson, M.D.
Miquia Henderson, M.D., is a board-certified pediatrician who earned her medical degree from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. She completed her pediatric internship and residency at Washington University School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics – St. Louis Children’s Hospital – Barnes Jewish Hospital Consortium. Henderson joined the staff in March 2023.
Christine Jacobs, M.D.
Vice president for Medical Affairs and dean of the School of Medicine
Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine
Christine Jacobs, M.D., is professor and chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine since 2017. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Brown University Family Medicine Residency. She was founding program director of the SLU Family Medicine Residency from 2011 through 2018. Jacobs has over 30 years of experience in medical education and is board-certified in family medicine and geriatrics. She is passionate about training future family physicians and working to achieve health equity in our region. She is an avid bicyclist and gardener.