OurMedicalStaff

							                           MEDICAL PROVIDERS
                         Sukh Pannu, M.D.
                         Dr. Pannu immigrated to the USA in late 1992 after completing
                         medical school and one year of internship in India. He completed
                         his internship and Internal Medicine residency at University
                         Medical Center, University of Nevada School of Medicine, Las
                         Vegas. In addition to his many practice roles as a hospitalist, Dr.
                         Pannu has served on QI committees, most recently as the
                         Chairman of the QI committee at Banner Churchill Community
                         Hospital. Dr. Pannu serves presently as the Chief Medical
Officer for Banner Churchill Medical Center and Medical Director of Hospitalist
Programs at rural facilities, as well as the Medical Director at Advanced Care Hospital of
Montana. Dr. Pannu is married and has two young daughters.


                         Dave Vansomphone, M.D.
                         Dr. Vansomphone (“Dr. Dave”) received his medical degree
                         and completed his Internal Medicine residency at University of
                         Nevada School of Medicine in Reno, NV. During his career,
                         Dr. Dave has practiced in outpatient settings, as well as a
                         hospitalist for the Banner Health and Rural Physicians Group.
                         During his free time, Dr. Dave enjoys traveling, supporting S.
                         E. Asian orphanages and spending time with his wife and
                         twins.




                     Tim Hockenberry, M.D.
                     Dr. Hockenberry was born in Grand Forks, ND and received both
                     his B.S. in Biology/Medicine and M.D. from University of South
                     Dakota. He completed his Family Practice residency in Grand
                     Forks, ND. In addition to multiple Medical Director roles,
                     including over one of the larger land-based ambulance networks
                     in the world, Dr. Hockenberry has operated a successful Family
                     Medicine practice.          Dr. Hockenberry holds a staff
                     physician/hospitalist role in the Banner Churchill Community
                     Hospital, where he co-founded the Hospitalist program.           Dr.
Hockenberry enjoys spending time with his wife, of 29 years, and their four children.
                          Zulfiqar Shah, M.D.
                          Dr. Shah received his undergraduate training from the
                          University of New York at Stony Brook. He attended medical
                          school in Roseau, Dominican Republic at the Ross University
                          School of Medicine. Dr. Shah completed his residency in
                          Internal Medicine at Wilson Memorial Hospital and served as
                          chief resident. After residency, Dr. Shah served in the United
                          States Air Force as an Internal Medicine staff physician at
                          Wilford Hall Medical Center, including time in Iraq serving as an
ICU physician. During his time in the Air Force, he chaired the MUE committee and
served on the P&T committee, acted as the Internal Medicine Clinic Director, and
organized the Ambulatory Care Curriculum. More recently, he has gained experience as
a hospitalist for the Northern Colorado Hospitalist Group. He enjoys jogging, boating,
fishing, and spending time with his wife and two young daughters.


                       John Thieszen, MD
                       Dr. Thieszen received his undergraduate training from Westmont
                       College in Santa Barbara, California. He attended medical
                       school at Loma Linda University, and then joined the Air Force
                       for his residency training at Travis AFB, followed by service at the
                       USAF Academy. During his time in the Air Force, he chaired a
                       Critical Care Committee, implemented a Rapid Response Team
                       program, and taught ACLS. More recently, he gained experience
                       as a Hospitalist in Northern Colorado, working out of several
                       large medical centers in the region, including a Level I trauma
                       center. He enjoys mountain biking, skiing, and hiking with his
                       wife and two boys.


                          Gabe Decke, PA-C
                          Ms. Decke is a Board Certified Physician Assistant with over
                          30 years experience in internal medicine, geriatric medicine,
                          long-term care and transitional care. Most recently, Ms.
                          Decke gained a vast experience at Billings Clinic as a
                          member of the Hospitalist and the Geriatric Services teams,
                          serving as a liaison between clinic physicians and community
                          nursing homes. Ms. Decke is a full-time Physician Assistant at
                          Advanced Care Hospital of Montana. Ms. Decke has
                          memberships in numerous professional societies, including
the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the American Geriatrics Society.
Most recently, Ms. Decke has served as the Montana Academy of Physician Assistants
Liaison to the Montana Board of Medical Examiners. In her free time, Ms. Decke has a
passion for travel, cooking, and gardening and enjoys spending time with her husband
and dogs.
                       Ronald Burnam, M.D.
                       Dr. Burnam is the Pulmonary Medicine Program Director at
                       Advanced Care Hospital of Montana and most recently came out
                       of retirement! He was born in Tucson, Pima, Arizona. He
                       attended University of Arizona and earned his B.S. then received
                       his medical degree from University of Utah College of Medicine.
                       He completed his Internal Medicine internship, Internal Medicine
                       residency, and his Pulmonary Diseases fellowship at Letterman
                       General Hospital in San Francisco, California. He served in the
                       U.S. Army under Chief Pulmonary and Critical Care Services.
                       Dr. Burnam came to Billings in 1979 and began his private
practice. He has been a Board of Directors member of St. Vincent Healthcare,
Yellowstone Community Health Plan, and Montana Associated Physicians as well as
serving as President of the Medical Staff at St. Vincent Healthcare, Montana Associated
Physicians and the Medical Director of Respiratory Care Services at St. Vincent
Healthcare. Dr. Burnam has published several publications and has been involved in a
variety of societies.
Respiratory Center – Dr. Kahn, Dr. McMeekin, Dr. Ramsey

                Frederick Kahn, M.D.
                Dr. Kahn was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He received his B.A.
                from Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and his medical
                degree from University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He completed his
                Internal Medicine internship and residency at LaCrosse Lutheran
                Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, and his Infectious Disease/Pulmonary
                Medicine/Critical Care fellowship at University of Wisconsin in Madison.
                Dr. Kahn moved to Billings in 1986 and has been affiliated with the
Respiratory Center. Dr. Kahn is Board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, Critical
Care, and Infectious Diseases. Dr. Kahn is also involved in several professional
societies and has an extensive publication list, books, chapters, invited articles and
editorial responsibilities.

                James McMeekin, M.D.
                Dr. McMeekin was born in Lima, Ohio. He received his B.G.S. at the
                University of Kentucky in Lexington and his medical degree at Ohio
                State University in Columbus. He completed an internship/residency at
                SW Michigan Area Health Education Center in Kalamazoo, a year of
                Rheumatology fellowship at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville,
                and a Pulmonary/Critical Care fellowship at the University of South
                Florida in Tampa. In 1991 he joined The Respiratory Center. Dr.
McMeekin is Board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary, and Critical Care. He has
extensive teaching experience and involvement with a variety of committees. He has
served as the President of the Medical Staff at St. Vincent Healthcare, Department of
Medicine Chairman, and has been the ICU Medical Director since 1999. Dr. McMeekin
is also involved in professional societies and organizations and has received multiple
teaching awards.

                   Rory Ramsey, M.D.
                   Dr. Ramsey was born in Washington, D.C. He received his B.A. at
                   Covenant College in Lookout MT, Georgia and his medical degree
                   from Queens University Belfast in Belfast, N. Ireland, UK. He
                   completed his Internal Medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic and his
                   Pulmonary/Critical Care/Sleep fellowship at University Hospitals Case
                   Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Ramsey has worked at Health
                   Frontiers in Vientiane Lao, and University Hospitals in Cleveland,
Ohio, just prior to moving to Billings. Dr. Ramsey is Board certified in Internal Medicine,
Pulmonary Diseases, and Critical Care Medicine. He has publications, abstracts,
presentations, awards/distinctions, membership, and involvement in professional
societies and organizations.