Transitional Year Faculty

Our Transitional Year faculty are dedicated educators and practicing clinicians committed to guiding residents through a transformative year of medical training. With diverse backgrounds across internal medicine, emergency medicine, and various specialties, they bring a wealth of experience and a collaborative spirit to the program. Focused on mentorship, hands-on learning, and professional growth, our faculty foster a supportive environment where residents can build the clinical skills and confidence needed for success in their future specialties.

Program Director

Judy Swanson, MD

Grew up In Spokane

Medical School: University of Washington

Residency: Internal Medicine Residency Spokane, Chief Resident

Special Interests in Medicine: Physical Exam, Board Review, Medical Humanities

Carmen McDermott, MD

Grew up in Pittsburgh, Vancouver, WA, Venezuela

Medical School: University of Washington

Residency: University of Washington

Special interests in medicine: Hospital Medicine, Patient-Physician Communication, Nutrition, Lifestyle Medicine, Functional Medicine.

Darryl Potyk, MD

Grew up in Southern California

Medical School: USC (now Keck)

Residency/fellowship: LA County-Harbor UCLA Medical Center, fellowship Perioperative Consultation

Special Interests in Medicine: Medical education, geriatrics, humanities in medicine, perioperative medicine.

Debbie Stimpson, PA

Grew up in Bellevue WA

PA School: MEDEX Northwest School of Medicine

Special Interests in Medicine: HIV, Hepatitis C

John Frlan, MD

Grew up in Tacoma and Gig Harbor, Washington

Medical School: University of Washington

Residency: Internal Medicine Residency Spokane

Special Interests in Medicine: HIV/Hep C

Kang Zhang, MD

Grew up in Beijing, China

Medical School: American University of Caribbean

Residency: Internal Medicine Residency Spokane, Teaching Fellowship 2014/15

Special Interests in Medicine: Bedside ultrasound, Physical Exam Diagnosis, Evidence-based Medicine.

Judy Benson, MD

Grew up in Nebraska

Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine Residency Spokane, Chief Resident

Special Interests in Medicine: political advocacy, health care disparities/justice, health literacy

Ian May, MD

Grew up on Vashon Island, Washington

Medical School: University of Washington

Residency: Internal Medicine Residency Spokane

Special Interests in Medicine: Diagnostic and procedural ultrasound, Evidence Based Medicine, Wilderness medicine.