Thank A Resident Day is a special occasion to honor the dedication of medical residents nationwide. OSU Medical Center, one of the largest osteopathic teaching hospitals in the country, takes pride in training over 280 future physicians who are sharpening their skills alongside top doctors in the state. With such a talented group, we have many residents to appreciate! Here, we showcase a few of these outstanding individuals.

Ali Sharp, DO

Fifth-year General Surgery resident, Ali Sharp, DO, is from Tahlequah, Oklahoma. She completed her undergraduate studies at Northeastern State University and attended OSU-CHS after being admitted through the early admissions program.

Sharp’s father was influential in her decision to pursue a medical degree. “He’s a family medicine physician, and seeing his positive impact on our rural community through care and relationship-building inspired me.”

Sharp considers surgery highly rewarding because of its immediate effect on a patient’s quality of life. “I believe it’s unique how rapidly we can impact a patient’s treatment,” she said. “Being able to identify a specific issue and act immediately to provide relief or a solution is a very fulfilling aspect of acute general surgery care.”

Balancing work and personal life can be difficult, but Sharp and her husband prioritize family, spending time with their 1 ½-year-old daughter whenever possible. Together, they hike, fish and travel to explore new places.

Micah Kee, DO

Micah Kee, DO, is a third-year Internal Medicine resident who grew up on a cattle ranch in Woodward, Oklahoma. His small-town background fostered a sports-oriented mindset, leading him to initially pursue athletics in football and track. He completed his undergraduate degree in biology at Oklahoma State University. Over time, Kee recognized his interests were shifting from sports toward a career dedicated to service and caring for others.

Kee was raised observing his mother, an OB nurse who frequently worked with doctors. He was lucky to have mentors who recognized his potential to become a physician. “I applied to OSU-CHS and got accepted for medical school. Those four amazing years of learning also led me to meet my wife and form lasting friendships.”

Choosing to pursue internal medicine after med school felt like a natural continuation of Kee’s training. “OSU Medical Center offers some of the most rigorous and robust clinical training for internal medicine in the country. The choice was easy,” said Kee. “I’ve greatly enjoyed my time at OSU, and I can truly say I bleed orange.”

Kee still enjoys sports, often watching football with his wife or playing golf during his free time. “Residency is challenging, but also incredibly rewarding. I couldn’t do it without the support of my family, friends and mentors.”

Alexandra Koontz, DO

Fourth-year ENT resident Alexandra Koontz, DO, is from Eaton, Colorado, and studied medicine at Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Parker, Colorado.

Her passion for medicine began at fourteen, when she traveled to the Democratic Republic of the Congo and saw children with unmet medical needs. “Over time, I recognized that my interest in medicine stemmed from the ongoing need I observed,” said Koontz, “Which inspired me to pursue a career in medicine.”

Contributing to a team, developing skills and seeing her own progress in clearly explaining diagnoses, procedures and treatment options are among the most rewarding aspects of her residency. Regarding challenges, Koontz noted the importance of summoning courage and grit to take on unfamiliar tasks and maintaining motivation to practice repeatedly until she improves.

Despite the demands of residency, Koontz makes time for family. Taking time to celebrate and staying connected with her husband keeps her grounded beyond work. In her free time, she loves camping in their SUV’s rooftop tent and jumping in the middle of any lakes.

Danoush Paborji, DO

Third-year Family Medicine resident and Academic Chief, Danoush Paborji, DO, was born in Lawrence, Kansas, raised in Syracuse, New York, and Princeton, New Jersey, and has called the San Francisco Bay Area home since 2001. He attended UC San Diego for undergrad, majoring in economics and art history.

After working in private equity, he switched to medicine, attending post-baccalaureate classes at San Francisco State University before entering medical school at Midwestern University in Arizona. Paborji explained, “I changed careers because I was unhappy with finance. I shadowed my boss’s husband, a surgeon in San Diego, and it became clear to me that medicine was both fulfilling and rewarding.”

Taking a non-traditional path to medicine helped Paborji appreciate the privilege of being a physician. As a family medicine doctor, he values building relationships with patients and treating them like family.

Paborji balances residency with his personal life by spending time with his fiancée and their two dogs. “I grew up racing in motorsports, and I still do that today when I have time off,” he added. “Racing requires attention to detail, something that I apply to residency every day.”

Regarding his time at OSUMC, Paborji said, “I am indebted to OSU and the patients I’ve had the privilege of caring for. I will forever cherish my residency as the best three years of my life so far.”

Corey Hembree, DO

Third-year Family Medicine resident Corey Hembree, DO, is from Shawnee, Oklahoma, where he plans to return to practice after completing his residency.

Hembree’s interest in medicine began in high school while watching the TV show Lost. “Jack Shepherd, whose character was a physician, inspired me, and I decided to volunteer at a local hospital and shadow,” he said. “I realized I loved medicine and decided then that I wanted to be a doctor.” Hembree has bled orange since he was little, attending OSU for undergrad, OSU-COM for medical school, and OSUMC for residency.

For Hembree, the camaraderie of his residency program, rotating through other specialties and meeting new people have been highlights of his experience so far. He’s built meaningful relationships with his patients over the last three years. “I’ll be sad when it’s time to pass them on to another resident,” he said, “but I am excited to build a new patient panel after residency.”

Hembree has learned the importance of being efficient to avoid taking work home. “I have a beautiful wife and two toddler boys, so most of my free time is spent hanging out with them,” he said. Hembree also enjoys playing pickleball, reading books and listening to audiobooks when he has time.