Faculty

Saba N. Awan, M.D.
Faculty
Dr. Awan received her Bachelor of Arts from The John's Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, where she studied Public Health; and her medical degree from McGill University, in Montreal, Quebec.  She completed her three-year Family Medicine Residency at the Rapid City Regional Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program.  Her clinical interests include hospital medicine and critical care.

Douglas A. Bright, M.D.
Program Director
Dr. Bright is the Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program and was instrumental in establishing the program at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He graduated from the University of Iowa College of Medicine and completed his residency at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. He previously served as the Associate Director of the University of Wyoming Family Practice Residency in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Dr. Bright is board certified in Family Medicine and Geriatrics. His clinical interests include pregnancy and its complications.

Patricia J. Stephenson, M.D.
Faculty
Dr. Stephenson received her undergraduate degree from Black Hills State University and her medical degree from the University of South Dakota School of Medicine.  She completed her three-year Family Medicine Residency at Rapid City Regional Hospital.  She was in private practice in Black Hawk, SD before coming to the Family Medicine Residency Program as a Faculty Physician.   Dr. Stephenson is board certified in Family Medicine.

Brian D. Smith, M.D.
Team Leader
Dr. Smith received his undergraduate degree from the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO and his medical degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, CO. He completed his three-year Family Medicine Residency at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Dr. Smith is board certified in Family Medicine. He was in private practice in Arcata, CA and group practice in Boulder, CO before coming to the Family Medicine Residency Program as a Faculty Physician. He has been involved in Electronic Medical Record implementation in multiple clinic settings. He enjoys the diversity of the spectrum of Family Medical Practice.

Kurt A. Stone, M.D.
Medical Director
Dr. Stone serves as the Medical Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. He earned his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin and completed his residency at Malcolm Grow Medical Center at Andrews AFB, Maryland. He served as the Director of the Rapid City Community Health Center and Chief of Hospital Services at Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota. Dr. Stone is board certified in Family Medicine. His clinical and research interests include universal hearing screening and prenatal pre-eclampsia screening.

Ruth E. Thatcher, M.D.
Faculty 
Dr. Thatcher received her Bachelor of Science from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology and her medical degree from the University of South Dakota. She completed her three-year Family Medicine Residency at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Dr. Thatcher is board certified in Family Medicine. Her clinical interests are women's health, obstetrics and pediatrics.

Rod J. Marchiando, Pharm. D.
Clinical Pharmacist
Dr. Marchiando received his doctorate of Pharmacy from Idaho State University and completed his residency at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. His research and clinical interests include lipid, asthma and hypertension management.