We are proud to have a core group of faculty dedicated to the CIHA-MAHEC Internal Medicine Rural and Tribal Health Track. Residents in the track benefit from the wealth of experience and knowledge of the core program faculty at MAHEC and Mission, as well as faculty members at Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority.
Executive Clinical Director, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
Pronouns: he/him/his
Undergraduate: University of Winnipeg Medical School: University of Manitoba Residency: Foothills Hospital, Calgary, Alberta
Dr. Bunio began his medical career at the University of Manitoba where he was one of two medical students selected to complete 1st year pathology residency between his 2nd and 3rd years of medical school. After graduation, he completed his family medicine residency at Foothills Hospital in Calgary, Alberta, during the 1988 Winter Olympics. He ran a successful private practice for many years before exploring family medicine in such diverse locations as Canada’s arctic circle, Saudi Arabia, and St. Lucia before settling in Western North Carolina where he has worked for the Cherokee Indian Health Authority for the past 25 years. He was appointed the Clinical Director for the hospital in 2017 and subsequently assumed the additional roles of Medical Director for Tribal Public Health and Human Services and the Medical Director for the Tribal Option Medicaid program, the first Native American Managed Care entity in the country. He is passionate about Quality and Performance Improvement and leads a number of Quality Improvement initiatives in Cherokee every year.
I feel blessed to work with the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and am eternally grateful that MAHEC Internal Medicine Residents get to spend time here. Not only do we learn a great deal from these bright minds but we have the chance to share the nuances of Cherokee and AI/AN culture benefits with all of our patients no matter where the residents choose to continue their careers. The Tribal Health System is particularly nourishing for my soul coming from another Universal Health System in Canada. Also, the value we place on continuous quality improvement is perfectly aligned with MAHEC and I look forward to our collaboration for many years to come. When not brainstorming over quality initiatives, I enjoy cooking, reading, brewing, and curling.
Primary Care, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
Core Faculty, CIHA-MAHEC Internal Medicine Rural and Tribal Health Track
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Undergraduate: Houghton College, Houghton, NY Medical School: Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey, PA Residency: MAHEC Family Medicine, Asheville, NC
Primary Care, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
Core Faculty, CIHA-MAHEC Internal Medicine Rural and Tribal Health Track
Pronouns: he/him/his
Undergraduate: Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln, NE Medical School: University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE Residency: St. Anthony Family Medicine, Denver, CO
Chief of Staff and Hospitalist, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
Core Faculty, CIHA-MAHEC Internal Medicine Rural and Tribal Health Track
Pronouns: he/him/his
Undergraduate: University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS Juris Doctorate: University of Mississippi School of Law, Oxford, MS Medical School: University of Mississippi School of Medicine, Jackson, MS Residencies: Family Medicine, MAHEC, Hendersonville, NC; Obstetrics and Gynecology, MAHEC, Asheville, NC
Geriatrics, Cherokee Indian Hospital Authority
Core Faculty, CIHA-MAHEC Internal Medicine Rural and Tribal Health Track
Pronouns: she/her/hers
Undergraduate: Davidson College, Davidson, NC Masters: University of North Carolina School of Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC Medical School: University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC Residency: Center for Family Medicine, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, SC Chief Resident: Center for Family Medicine, Greenville Hospital System, Greenville, SC Geriatric Fellowship: MAHEC, Asheville, NC
Campbell University Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
As a young kid, Sarah had only two career paths that ever came to mind that she wanted to pursue: either to sell toothpicks or to be a doctor. As a few years went by, the former choice quickly became a thought of the past, but the latter never went away. Before medical school, she thought about either becoming an orthopedic surgeon or a cardiologist. However, during her medical education, Sarah found herself particularly interested in every body system and rotation. It got to the point where she was unsure of what specialty she should choose for residency; therefore, she decided to pursue internal medicine since it encompassed everything she enjoyed.
When I have some down time, I love doing outdoor activities; I enjoy fishing in the pond behind my house, caring for my wildflowers, and ripping my dirtbike through the woods. I also have 3 wonderful dogs who love to play and have endless fun. Sometimes, however, I prefer to stay in the house cuddling with them while reading a good horror book. I chose MAHEC for residency because I knew it was the perfect place for me. It is located in the middle of a vast array of beautiful mountains that will provide a wonderful and peaceful view while working. I am excited to start my new chapter in healthcare in such an amazing setting.
Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
After originally earning a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Boston University, Mrs. Taws was inspired by the Boston Marathon Bombings to attend EMT school. She later worked the night shift as an EMT while completing additional prerequisite coursework for medical school. During her clinical rotations, Sarah found that she enjoyed serving higher acuity patients in the inpatient setting and later hopes to pursue a career in either hospital medicine, hospice, or infectious disease.
As a mom of two young children, I originally applied to MAHEC because my husband has family in Hendersonville and I wanted him to feel supported throughout this journey. I felt that MAHEC fostered such a positive and supportive environment. The interactions that I had with the attendings and residents were both respectful and transparent. The schedule was crafted to maximize learning without sacrificing work-life balance. Our family is also remarkably passionate about the outdoors and we spend the majority of our free time hiking, hunting, gardening, and taking care of our small farm. Currently we have four cats, two dogs, seventeen chickens, two ducks, one hamster, and one parakeet. We feel truly blessed to have matched at MAHEC and we are so excited to meet new friends, explore the greater Asheville area, and learn medicine!