Faculty

Paul W. Ament, PharmD

Undergraduate School: University of Pittsburgh School of Pharmacy, Pittsburgh, PA
Graduate School: Duquesne University School of Pharmacy, doctoral program, Pittsburgh, PA
Residency: The Mercy Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

Born and raised in the Latrobe area, I have been on the Family Medicine Faculty since 1993 and am involved on a daily basis with the Residents. My teaching in Clinical Pharmacology focuses on Anticoagulation and Antibiotic Stewardship.

In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my children and grandchildren, working on and driving muscle cars, home remodeling projects and playing drums in the church Praise Band.

Jarrett Bender, DO

Undergraduate School: Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Altoona Family Physicians Residency Program, Altoona, PA

The best part of my day is the teaching of residents and medical students. I hope I instill my passion and knowledge of medicine to all I come in contact with each day. Inpatient hospital medicine is of special interest to me. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my lovely wife, two beautiful children, and our dog Geno.

Molly Castille, MD

Undergraduate School: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA
Medical School: The Ohio State University College of Medicine, Columbus, OH
Residency: Forbes Regional Hospital, Monroeville, PA

I joined the faculty here in 2012 after nine years in private practice in the Washington, D.C. area. Actually, I was born at Latrobe Hospital and grew up in Greensburg and my husband is also from Greensburg, so after some enjoyable years spent exploring other areas of the country, we decided to return to this area to be near family. Professionally, I have an interest in preventive medicine and women's health. In my free time, I enjoy running, playing tennis, and spending time with my twin son and daughter.

Dan DiCola, MD

Undergraduate School: West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine Residency, Latrobe, PA

I am a Western Pennsylvania native. I first came to Latrobe Hospital in 1976 as a junior medical student where I was inspired and mentored by the programs founding fathers, Dr. Joseph Govi and Dr. John Mazero. These two doctors along with Dr. Thomas Gessner, inspired me daily to be an excellent clinician and medical educator.

Mike Dinger, MD

Undergraduate degree: Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine, Latrobe, PA

I am a native of the state of Indiana but I've lived in the Latrobe-area for well over a decade and have spent the past several years at Saltsburg Family Medicine. I am married with no children, but we have A LOT of cats. I am a die-hard Pittsburgh Pirates, Steelers and Penguins fan as well as a devoted follower of Notre Dame football. Additionally, I’m a history buff, avid reader and love to travel. I also have jumped out of a perfectly good airplane (with a parachute on) and have been in a cage surrounded by sharks.

Courtney Floyd, MD

Undergraduate degree: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine, Latrobe, PA

I first came to Latrobe as a resident in 2013 when I couples matched with my now husband Dr. Ryan Floyd. I was interested in Latrobe for residency training based on its strong academic curriculum and emphasis on small-town medicine, but was sold by the people that I met when visiting. I spent my first three years out of residency in a non-teaching office to build my practice management and skill set, but soon learned I miss the academic setting. I have found my new home at The Square at Latrobe where I practice full spectrum family medicine. I became board certified in obesity medicine and run our residency weight management clinic out of our office.

Ryan Floyd, MD

Undergraduate degree: Allegheny College, Allegheny, PA
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine Residency, Latrobe, PA

I am a native of Western Pennsylvania but have had family in the Latrobe area. I loved visiting the friendly culture, good people and good pizza as a child! I decided to stay here after coming out as a medical student and resident. Now, approaching a family of five, the town and residency program have much more to offer. It is a wonderful place to raise a family, great amenities for a small town, including an airport and easy access to Pittsburgh. The residency continues to grow; we now have new state of the art outpatient facilitates and a new ultrasound program.

Jerome “Skip” Gera, MD

Undergraduate degree: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine Residency, Latrobe, PA

Born and raised in Latrobe, I had the opportunity to become a member of the Residency Faculty after graduating from the Latrobe Family Residency Program in 2003. This has allowed me the opportunity to work and grow alongside several of my mentors who have become great friends. I have found my career as both a clinician and educator to be very rewarding. I work with the residents to provide care to our patients in a variety of environments including the office, hospital, local high school, and nursing home. I serve as the school physician for the Mount Pleasant Area School District. I also serve as the Medical Director for a local nursing home, where residents spend time with me during their second and third years of training. During my time on faculty, the residents have honored me with the Faculty Teaching Award on two occasions. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my wonderful wife and our seven children. We enjoy sports and traveling to the Outer Banks or Walt Disney World whenever we have the opportunity. I have found parenting our children and mentoring the residents to be similarly challenging, but also very rewarding.

Marie George, DO

Undergraduate School: The Pennsylvania State University, State College, PA
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Blacksburg, VA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine, Latrobe, PA

It is a pleasure to now be a faculty member within the Latrobe Family Medicine residency after graduating from this program in 2019. Following graduation I worked full-time as a hospitalist at Latrobe Hospital which helped me grow tremendously as a physician, but I am thrilled to take on a new role and impart my knowledge on the doctors who will be the future of medicine. In my time outside of work I stay busy by running, traveling, and spending time with my husband.

Tiffany Higgins, DO

Undergraduate degree: Saint Vincent College, Latrobe, PA
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine, Latrobe, PA

I am a proud graduate of Latrobe Family Medicine residency program. I graduated from LECOM in 2014, completed residency here in 2017, and returned to the residency in 2019 as an attending at The Square at Frick Hospital. I chose to stay with the residency, as I received excellent training and wanted to pass on the knowledge. I am a proponent on preventative medicine/routine screening and enjoy working with residents. Outside of work, I spend time with my family and I try to get to Disney World as much as I can.

John P. Horne, MD

Undergraduate School: Allegheny College, Allegheny, PA
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine Residency, Latrobe, PA

A native of Latrobe, I still live here with my wife and children. I serve as team physician for the Greater Latrobe High School varsity football team. One of my duties is serving as coordinator of the medical student clerkships for Sidney Kimmel Medical College students who come to our program. Further, I am a clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine for Jefferson Medical College of the Thomas Jefferson University. Board certified in family medicine, I also hold a Certificate of Added Qualifications in Adolescent Medicine.

Michele Mattis, Psy.D

Undergraduate degree: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Doctorate Degree: Carlow University, Pittsburgh, PA

As the Director of Behavioral Sciences, I enjoy teaching residents how to organize their patient interviews and complete a detailed psychosocial history. We focus on how to identify a variety of mental health disorders and learn when therapy, community resources, and psychopharmacology should be incorporated in the treatment plan .We discuss the importance of being culturally competent, actively listening, and demonstrating empathy during patient interactions. We also focus on the importance of self-care and discuss ways to prevent symptoms of burnout. I also provide outpatient therapy services for patients in the Latrobe, Frick and Saltsburg family medicine offices as part of our integrated health care philosophy. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my two children, hiking with my dogs, tackling home improvement projects, and of course watching the Steelers.

Alan L. McGaughran M.D

Undergraduate School: Albright College, Reading, PA
Medical School: Penn State University College of Medicine, Hershey Medical Center, Hershey, PA
Residency: Saint Vincent Health Center, Erie, PA

I came to Latrobe Hospital and the Residency program in 1998 after five years in a private practice, some ER work and prior to that, a 3 year stint in the Air Force Medical Corp. I have been at Saltsburg Family Practice since 2005. I am blessed with a wonderful family comprised of my wife of 32+ years, three sons, two daughters-in-law and so far one grandchild on the way. I keep busy with family and church involvement.

I enjoy the diversity and varied interests of our residency faculty. I was involved in the development of and now ongoing supervision of the minor surgery/procedures clinic, which gives the residents more practical experience with minor surgery in their third year. My office patient population tends to be medically complex older adults, though I do enjoy dealing with musculoskeletal and dermatologic issues in particular.

Suzanne E. Putnam, MD

Medical School: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
Residency: Forbes Regional Hospital, Monroeville, PA

In spite of moving around a great deal during my school years, I managed to remain in Western Pennsylvania after moving here from Arizona in 1998. I joined the faculty of Latrobe Family Practice Residency in 2001, and am grateful for the opportunity to practice true family medicine in the rural town of Saltsburg. I have a special interest in women’s health and access to care. At home, I live with my husband, daughter and an ever-changing number of pets. I still haven’t figured out how to be a football fan, so I may never be a true Pittsburgher, but I love baseball and have become a Pirates fan over the years. It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it.

Lauren A. Sciullo, DO, MS

Undergraduate School: Grove City College, Grove City, PA
Graduate School: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine, Latrobe, PA

After graduating from the Latrobe Family Medicine Residency in 2021, where I served as Chief Resident, I am thrilled to be joining the residency faculty as a new attending physician. Furthermore, I am excited to practice medicine near my hometown, as I grew up in Westmoreland County and graduated from Kiski Area High School. While I enjoy the full breadth of family medicine, I am especially interested in women's health, preventative medicine, and minor procedures. During residency, I realized my passion for teaching, leading me to pursue a career in academic medicine. Outside of medicine, I remain an avid dancer, taking classes or performing whenever I can. While I love all styles of dance, ballet will always be my favorite. I also enjoy puzzles, music, Broadway musicals, and anything Disney.

Mike Semelka, DO

Undergraduate School: Penn State University, State College, PA
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: The Medical Center of Beaver Family Medicine Residency, Beaver Falls, PA
Fellowship: Faculty Development, Duke University, Durham, NC

I joined the residency program as a faculty member in 2005 and have been the program director since 2009. I work with outstanding people in the residency, hospital, and our family medicine offices who make my job rewarding and fulfilling. It has been a privilege to be part of such a special team. My medical interests include office procedures, including OMT, and pediatrics. My wife and I spend as much time as possible with our six children, including keeping up with all of their activities.

Lauren Trimeloni, MD

Undergraduate School: Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, PA
Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine, Latrobe, PA
Fellowship: Obstetrics, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, San Jose, CA

I first came to Independence Health System (formerly Excela Health) in 2004 when I interviewed for a position at the Latrobe Family Medicine program. I graduated from the program in 2007 and had the pleasure of returning 10 years later to practice Family Medicine and Obstetrics where I trained. I joined the Faculty in 2019 and have been thrilled to help the residency maintain a strong foundation in women's health and obstetrics ever since. As a Ligonier native, it has been a pleasure to practice near my home town and to continue to pass on the knowledge I was first given as a resident in this program. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our 6 children whose ages span from 26 years to 5 months.

Jonathan Wilson, MD

Undergraduate School: Indiana University of Pennsylvania, Indiana, PA
Medical School: Thomas Jefferson Medical School, Philadelphia, PA
Residency: Latrobe Family Medicine, Latrobe, PA

I came to Latrobe in 1989 as a resident and joined the faculty immediately after graduation. I oversee the residency office at Frick Family Medicine. I am the proud parent of three children and enjoy the great outdoors and breeding show cats. Any additional spare time goes toward being a diehard Cleveland Browns fan.