Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency

07/24/2026

Great article! We're proud of our Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency physicians for bringing compassionate care to underserved communities in rural Honduras through a Global Medicine Program. Their dedication to service and learning continues to make a difference both abroad and here at home. 🌎❤️

Medical treatment in rural Honduras has little in common with American healthcare. Babies often do not see a doctor until they are several months old. Tylenol and muscle relaxers are

07/10/2026

🎉 Welcome to the residency family! 🎉

Please join us in welcoming our new interns to the Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency family! We are excited to have them join us as they begin their Family Medicine residency training. You will see them working throughout our hospitals and residency clinic locations, including Latrobe Family Medicine at The Square, Frick Family Medicine, and Saltsburg Family Medicine.

Meet Our New Interns

Mitchell Cashmer, DO – Latrobe Family Medicine at The Square
Dre'Marcus Ferrell, MD – Frick Family Medicine
Bailey Gaston, DO – Latrobe Family Medicine at The Square
Magen Mason, DO – Frick Family Medicine
Joshua Prokopec, DO – Frick Family Medicine
Olamide Sanya, MD – Latrobe Family Medicine at The Square
Thomas Starr, MD – Saltsburg Family Medicine
Joseph Theiss, DO – Latrobe Family Medicine at The Square

We are thrilled to welcome this outstanding group of physicians and look forward to supporting them as they grow and serve our communities. Please help us make them feel at home by offering a warm welcome! 🎉

07/07/2026

Congratulations to Our 2026 Graduating Class!

On Friday June 26, 2026, we celebrated the graduation of our Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency class:

Pictured standing from left to right are Dr. Lauren Nord, Dr. Luke Egan, Dr. Joshua Sokolowski, Dr. Gabrielle Beck, Dr. Allison Silber, Dr. Taylor Matlas, and Dr. Joshua Loucks.

Congratulations on this remarkable achievement! We are proud of all you have accomplished and grateful for the contributions you have made throughout your time with us.

We wish each of you continued success, fulfillment, and happiness in the next chapter of your careers.

Best wishes for a bright and rewarding future! 🎓✨

06/26/2026

🌍 Global Medicine Elective: Honduras Mission Trip

In May 2026, members of the Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program participated in a Global Medicine elective in Honduras, providing much-needed care to underserved communities.

Over the course of a week, the team traveled to five remote mountain communities, delivering medical care to patients with little to no access to healthcare services. This immersive experience not only allowed them to address immediate health needs but also deepened their understanding of global health disparities and the importance of compassionate, community-based care.

Participating resident physicians included Drs. Gabbi Beck, Allison Silber, and Richaela Denllinger. They were joined by attending physicians Dr. Mike Dinger, faculty member of the residency program, and Dr. Alexander Porter, a Sports Medicine attending and proud graduate of the program.

We are incredibly proud of their commitment to service and their dedication to making a meaningful impact beyond our local community.

06/26/2026

And the Resident of the Quarter is..........

June-July 2026

Joshua Loucks, MD

Dr. Loucks has received recognition over the last quarter for going above and beyond. He has received praise from Faculty, Residents, and Staff.

Here are a few of his nominator’s comments:

Goes above and beyond for his patients. Always helpful and kind to his co-residents.

Always willing to lend a hand, or a joke!

Great doctor! Explain things to patients to help them understand.

Makes everyone feel like a part of his team.

You treat every patient with great compassion.

Helped by seeing patients at the last minute-when another provider was off.

Strong patient advocate!

Will help when needed-no questions are asked.

05/14/2026

The Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine third-year residents and Psychology Intern participated in the 11th Annual Heritage Valley Research Day this morning and were once again very successful.

Dr. Josh Sokolowski won Best Overall Project for his work titled “Doc Trust: Does Physician Attire Influence Patient Confidence?”

Dr. Lauren Nord received Second Place in the Best Project category for her project, “Improving Gonorrhea and Chlamydia Screening in Females 16–24 Years Old.”

Congratulations to Dr. Sokolowski and Dr. Nord on these outstanding achievements!

We also extend congratulations to our Psychology Intern and all of our third-year Family Medicine Residents who participated. Every project was very well done, and we are proud of the excellent work and dedication demonstrated by our residents.

04/17/2026

✨The April 2026 Resident of the Quarter is........... ✨

Allison Silber, DO

Dr. Silber has received recognition over the last quarter for going above and beyond. She has received praise from Faculty, Residents, and Staff.

Here are a few of her nominator’s comments:

Dr. Silber is always willing to help with tasks and answer questions.
She consistently goes above and beyond for her patients.
A great team player who is supportive and dependable.
She is always kind and truly cares about her patients.
One of the friendliest and most approachable people I know-she truly brightens the office.
Dr. Silber is always eager to help, assisting with tasks, and answering questions with a positive attitude.

Congratulations, Dr. Silber!
Well deserved!

04/13/2026

Match Party 2026 at Aroma Italiano was such a great time that I forgot to grab a group photo! We loved welcoming our incoming interns for a meet & greet on Friday, April 10th. Here are a few action shots I managed to capture during the fun.

03/24/2026

Please join us in warmly welcoming the 2026–2027 PGY‑1 class of the Latrobe Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. We are excited to have each of these outstanding physicians begin their training with us.

Top Row
Magen Polczynski – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Joshua Prokopec – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Olamide Sanya – American University of Antigua College of Medicine

Second Row
Dre'marcus Ferrell – Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

Mitchell Cashmer – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Third Row
Joseph Theiss – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Bailey Gaston – Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Thomas Starr – Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University

We are delighted to welcome you to our residency family!

01/26/2026

‼️ Weather Update ‼️

All Outpatient locations will be fully operational and operating on normal schedules on Tuesday, January 27.

Independence Health System Hospitals remain open and are fully operational after the snowstorm, including Clarion Hospital, Butler Memorial Hospital, Frick Hospital, Latrobe Hospital and Westmoreland Hospital.

Patients scheduled for procedures or office visits should confirm their appointments before traveling. If you have not already heard form your provider’s office about your upcoming appointment or visit this week, please call your provider or 833-602-CARE (2273) to confirm, cancel, or reschedule your appointment. In some cases, you may be able to schedule a virtual visit.

If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

With the remaining snow and cold temperatures expected this week, please, stay safe.

For updates, please continue to check our social media or the weather page on our website: https://www.independence.health/weather-alert/.