About Dr. Nayee Anish H. Nayee, MD, is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Molecular Biology. He also earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt. At the Indiana University Medical Center, he completed his general surgery internship as well as his urology residency. He has been professionally affiliated with numerous hospitals and surgery centers in... Read More about Anish Nayee, MD - Beacon Medical Group Urology Elkhart

About Dr. Fretz Peter C. Fretz, MD, is a graduate of Iowa State University, Ames, IA, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemisty. He earned his medical degree at University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA. At the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Department of Surgery, he completed his surgery internship as well as his urology residency. He has... Read More about Peter Fretz, MD - Beacon Medical Group Urology Elkhart

About Dr. Hochstetler Jerald A. Hochstetler, MD, graduated from Goshen College, Goshen Indiana with a Bachelor of Arts degree. He earned his medical degree at Indiana University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in the urology department at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, IA. He has been professionally affiliated with numerous hospitals and surgery centers... Read More about Jerald Hochstetler, MD - Beacon Medical Group Urology Elkhart

About Dr. Yuen From an early age, Dr. Sonia Yuen was impacted by her father’s passion for medicine. “It was contagious,” she says. “I tried to keep an open mind about future careers during college, but medicine was the perfect career to combine my love for helping people, learning science, performing art through surgery and teaching.” Sonia actually comes from... Read More about Sonia Yuen, MD - Beacon Medical Group ENT and Audiology Elkhart

About Angela As early as kindergarten, Angela knew she wanted to be a nurse. By high school, she had developed a passion for biology, anatomy, and physiology, and made the final decision to pursue a career in medicine – the first in her family to do so. At Beacon, Angela gets the opportunity to serve a broad range of patient... Read More about Angela Wright, PA

About Dr. Rapciak Dr. Maria Rapciak’s philosophy of care is based on making her patients feel heard. “I take great pride in providing patient-centered care as I work with my patients to decide on a treatment plan tailored to their needs and goals.” Dr. Rapciak said, “Patient empowerment, compassion, and education are crucial to a trusting healthcare partnership and successful... Read More about Maria Rapciak, DO - Beacon Medical Group Surgical Services Elkhart

About Dr. Miller Nicholas Miller, MD, began his working career as a commercial photographer. After he suffered the loss of a friend through a tragic car accident, he began to rethink his calling. “Through the time spent in the hospital with [my friend] and his family, I felt the calling to pursue a career in medicine, and ultimately in surgery,”... Read More about Nicholas Miller, MD - Beacon Medical Group Surgical Services Elkhart

About Margaret Lammering Compassion is one of the most important lessons Margaret (Maggie) Libbey, PA-C, says she learned on the path to becoming a provider for women’s health care needs. “Often times having someone to listen, to talk to, and to know they care is the best medicine you can give,” she says. Always fascinated by the sciences, the decision... Read More about Margaret Lammering, PA - Beacon Medical Group OBGYN River Oaks

About Dr. Wierman Meredith K. Wierman, D.O., grew up in a family of medical providers. Her mother and grandmother were nurses and her father a physician. When she was a child, her family moved to Rwanda where her parents ran a small hospital and they lived on the hospital grounds. Later, her father had a pretty large private practice in... Read More about Meredith Wierman Schmidt, DO - Beacon Medical Group Pulmonology and General Surgery

Our General Surgery providers see patients with a variety of surgical needs including hernias, gallbladder disease, diverticular disease, breast and other cancers. We use the da Vinci robotic surgical system for some of these procedures to improve recovery time.

About Julie Paston A career in medicine was clear to Julie Paston when, in 1998, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. She says being a science nerd along with a true passion to help others, coupled with her mother's cancer plight, helped determine her career trajectory. As a nurse practitioner, Julie specializes in gastroenterology, which allows her to incorporate... Read More about Julie Paston, NP

Dr. Jamie O’Rear always knew she wanted a career in health and biology, but it wasn’t until her medical mission in Quito, Ecuador during college that she decided she wanted to be a doctor. “I was touched by the ability to connect with patients every single day,” Jamie says. “That desire to interact with people is what steered me to... Read More about Jamie O'Rear, MD - Beacon Medical Group Surgical Services Elkhart

About Melissa Melissa Turner was inspired to become a nurse because of her relatives, but she was inspired to become a physician assistant because of her experiences. “My mom and several of my aunts are nurses,” she says. “I went to school to become a labor and delivery nurse, but ended up working in the ICU instead.” This is where she collaborated with cardiothoracic physician assistants... Read More about Melissa Turner, PA - Beacon Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery Elkhart

During her time as an exercise physiologist, Rebecca Zimmerman realized she wanted to be even more involved in the care and treatment of patients. "That’s when I decided to go back to school to become a Physician Assistant." Rebecca works with patients to diagnose illness, develop and manage treatment plans, prescribe medications and assist with procedures while working collaboratively with... Read More about Rebecca Zimmerman, PA - Beacon Medical Group Advanced Cardiovascular Specialists RiverPointe

About Tanner Pearson  With a fascination about how the human body functioned, coupled with a desire to improve the lives of others, a career in medicine was a clear choice for Tanner Pearson, PA. “As I was growing up, I liked being able to help others through community service and volunteerism. When I was in high school, I set myself... Read More about Tanner Pearson, PA - Beacon Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery Elkhart

Dr. Omer Toor learned a valuable lesson from his mentors in medical school that he applies in his practice daily. "I treat patients, not the disease", said Dr. Toor, who is a native of Pakistan. "I support and comfort families while patients are battling the toughest experience of their lives. Cancer effects them physically as well as emotionally, and my... Read More about Omer Toor, MD - Beacon Medical Group Oncology Elkhart

About Dr. Koenig Justin Koenig has dedicated his life to serving his country and his patients. The U.S. Air Force Major helped lead surgical teams at home and abroad in his years of military service. He was even deployed to North Africa to help establish trauma care services in developing regions. While stationed at the U.S. Air Force Academy in... Read More about Justin Koenig, DO - Beacon Medical Group Surgical Services Elkhart

When Dr. Abuzafar Arif is donning his white coat, he has a laser focus on his patients and their well-being. That's the way it has been for the three decades Dr. Arif has worked as a physician and gastroenterologist. "I've seen a broad spectrum of patients and pathology," Dr. Arif said about his years practicing medicine in Elkhart and South... Read More about Abuzafar Arif, MD - Beacon Medical Group GI and Interventional Radiology

Dr. Erin Kevern knew early on that she wanted to go into the medical field. She credits her high school AP biology class for sparking a love of science and understanding of how the human body works. In medical school, she determined that otolaryngology was the best fit for her. Healing problems of the ear, nose, and throat was something... Read More about Erin Kevern, DO

Dr. Lauren Das received her medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her residency training in radiation oncology at the University of Chicago, Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology. During her residency training, she served as a chief resident and completed... Read More about Lauren Das, MD - Beacon Medical Group Oncology Elkhart

Dr. Johnson received his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed his radiation oncology residency at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. A board-certified radiation oncologist, Dr. Johnson worked previously at Elkhart General Hospital as its first medical director, also providing coverage at Memorial Hospital of South Bend. Before returning to Elkhart, Dr. Johnson had... Read More about Russell Johnson, MD - Beacon Medical Group Oncology Elkhart

Dr. Annan received his medical degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. He completed his internal medicine residency at Saint Barnabas Medicine Center in Livingston, New Jersey, and his pulmonary and critical care fellowship at Beth Israel Medical Center, located in New York City. He is a member of the American College of Chest Physicians,... Read More about Edwin Annan, MD - Beacon Medical Group Pulmonology and General Surgery

Dr. Onunkwo received his medical degree at the College of Medicine, University of Nigeria and completed his internships in internal medicine, pediatrics, OBGYN and surgery at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital. He completed his internal medicine residency at Mt. Sinai School of Medicine, Jersey City, New Jersey and his fellowship in infectious disease at the Medical College of Wisconsin,... Read More about Chiedu Onunkwo, MD - Beacon Medical Group Pulmonology and General Surgery

Dr. Hanberg is Board Certified in Internal Medicine. He earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois College of Medicine and completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Loyola University Medical Center.