Meet Our Class of 2025
Ruth Gakpo, DO
Medical School: Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: Wheaton College , MA
Medical Interests: Outpatient medicine, Global health, Care of the underserved, Community health
Hobbies: Traveling, photography, and reading
Future Plans: In the short term I envision working in the outpatient setting in the central Ohio area providing primary care. In the future, I hope to contribute to global health work in Sub-Saharan Africa, starting with the country of my birth, Ghana.
Why Dublin? I chose Dublin Methodist due to its emphasis in training with an outpatient focus as well as resident wellness. In addition, I have an interest in global health and Dublin Methodist offers opportunities and support to engage in interests with its ample elective time.
Kyle Hopkins, DO
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine
Undergraduate University: The Ohio State University
Medical Interests: Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Sports Medicine, Point-of-Care Ultrasound, Academic Medicine, Community Medicine, Outpatient Preventative Medicine, Cardiology.
Hobbies: Competitive swimming, Buckeye football and basketball, boards games (especially Catan, Ticket to Ride, rummy-style games), reading books, and of course spending time with family, friends, and my cat, Joey.
Future Plans: After residency and possibly a sports medicine fellowship, I hope to stay in Ohio to continue serving patients through a combination of primary care and sports medicine. I also aim to continue serving the community through free clinics and other community resources. One of the other long-term dreams I'm pursuing is the idea of being a primary sports medicine/OMT contact for swimmers either with a high school or college team, or with a broader organization like USA Swimming.
Why Dublin? I chose Dublin Methodist because of the program's emphasis and strengths in OMT, sports medicine, ultrasound, and thorough outpatient family medicine. To have these highlights plus being such a compassionate, knowledgeable, and positive team of residents, faculty, and staff was too good of a chance to pass up.
Matthew Kochheiser, DO
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine
Undergraduate University: Mount Vernon Nazarene University
Medical Interests: Outpatient Medicine, Lifestyle Medicine, OMT, Behavioral Health, Dermatology, Community Medicine, and Preventative Medicine.
Hobbies: Hiking, fishing, exploring the outdoors, spending time with friends and family, cooking, video games, listening to country music.
Future Plans: I plan to practice outpatient family medicine in rural Ohio where I can provide a wide variety of services to the patients I serve. I hope to create a comfortable environment where patients feel heard and know they are cared for.
Why Dublin? I chose Dublin Methodist because I knew it was a program that would challenge me to achieve my career goals, while also supporting me every step of the way. With an emphasis on outpatient care, as well as ample learning opportunities in ultrasound, OMT, and elective time for personally tailored experiences, Dublin's program fit nicely with what I was looking for. I The program's forward-thinking, goal driven approach to resident education, supportive and friendly culture, and genuine commitment to patient, resident, faculty, and staff wellbeing were important factors that helped me know I wanted to join the Dublin Dream Team!
Jessica McRae, DO
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine
Undergraduate University: Ohio University
Medical Interests: Sports medicine, Addiction medicine, Preventative medicine, and Pediatrics.
Hobbies: Hiking, golfing, traveling, spending time with family, friends, and my pup
Future Plans: Practicing outpatient family medicine while incorporating sports medicine with a strong pediatric patient population.
Why Dublin? I chose Dublin Family Medicine because of its strong outpatient focus and emphasis on OMT, wellness, and sports medicine. But above all, I chose the program because of its welcoming and friendly environment that I felt from the minute I began my rotation as a fourth-year along with through the interview process.
Chynna Smith, DO
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine
Undergraduate University: Baldwin Wallace University
Medical Interests: Osteopathic manipulation, preventive medicine, dermatology, pediatrics and academic medicine.
Hobbies: I enjoy serving at my church, traveling, attending concerts and musicals, DIY projects, "reading" audible books, and hanging out with family and friends. Oh- and my niece is my new selfie partner.
Future Plans: Graduate medical education faculty and/or hospital leadership.
Why Dublin? I chose Dublin Methodist for its unique outpatient FM focus and intentional faculty support. It was a major plus that the residents were physician leaders and valued wellness.
Aichetou Waiga, DO
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine
Undergraduate University: University of Nicaragua, Xavier University
Medical Interests: I am interested in women's health and global health
Future Plans: Eventually, my goal is to have my own free clinic in Mauritania and spend a few months out of the year giving back to my community!
About Me: My name is Aichetou and I am originally from Mauritania, a large country in West Africa. I moved to the states when I was 12 in 2007 and I’ve lived in Ohio since then, bouncing around between Cincinnati, Athens and now Columbus! I love Family Medicine because no two days look the same and I enjoy the variety of seeing both adults and children. I have two lovely fur babies, Luna and Sol. I come from a large family of 11 siblings. I’m really excited to be a part of the Dublin Dream Team!
Favorite Food: Peanut Stew
Hobbies: Reading romance novels, rewatching The Office, biking around Columbus
Why Dublin? I felt the most at peace and at "home" during my audition rotation. The residents, staff and faculty were incredibly welcoming and I loved the patients, too!
Fun Facts? I speak 4 languages (English, French, Spanish, Fulani) and I can understand Soninke and Wolof, both of which are native languages in West Africa. I'm a pretty good cook and I love hosting friends and family in my home.
