Avery Day, M.D.
 Medical School: University of Missouri – Kansas City
Bio: Hello! I’m Avery and I am originally from a small town outside Springfield, MO. I went to Mizzou for undergrad (MIZ!) where I studied biomedical engineering and then worked for a year as a scribe. After that, I moved to Kansas City for medical school here at UMKC! My husband, Zane, and I have two dogs, Vinnie and Nina, who keep us busy. I also spend my time doing yoga, knitting, hanging at the lake, or cheering for the Kansas City Chiefs! I am super excited to be staying at UMKC for residency after falling in love with the program during my rotations here as a student. I wanted a strong academic program that serves a diverse patient population with quality faculty and a tight-knit group of residents; UMKC has all that and more! I truly felt valued and at home even as a student, and I am excited for the next four years!
After residency: I am currently planning to pursue a fellowship in Maternal Fetal Medicine, but I could also see myself practicing as a generalist! Regardless, I would like to work in academic medicine and continue to work with underserved populations.
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Lauren Farley, M.D.
 Medical School: Saint Louis University
Bio: Hi, my name is Lauren Farley! I am originally from West St. Paul, Minnesota, but am no stranger to Missouri. I went to Saint Louis University for undergrad and medical school, so I am excited to now be on this side of the state! I like watching sports of all types and am excited to cheer on the Chiefs this fall. In my free time I like to go on walks and bike rides and be outdoors. I also have a growing collection of indoor and outdoor house plants and anticipate that it will keep expanding in the next few years. Living right in the middle of KC, I am looking forward to exploring all of the fun restaurants and breweries nearby. I was really drawn to UMKC’s residency program because of the location, diverse patient population, kind and friendly residents and wonderful PD, and I am so excited to be here for residency!
Plans after residency: At the moment, I am thinking about a career as a general OB/GYN or pursuing a MFM fellowship after residency. I would love to have the opportunity to work with a diverse patient population and include global health as a part of my practice. I’d like to continue in an academic role, where I can continue to teach and learn among a fantastic team.
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Kendra Garetson, M.D.
 Medical School: University of Kansas
Bio: Hello! I’m Kendra, and it’s so good to meet you! I grew up in Kansas and attended KU for undergrad and medical school. I got my bachelor’s degree in microbiology with a minor in Spanish. +I also worked as an RA and sang in the choir for 2 years, where I met my husband Jayden. We got married the winter before I started medical school. He is my biggest supporter, even of my random hobbies and side projects. We have a baby girl, Annilee, who is fiercely strong-willed. Most of my free time is dedicated to the two of them, but when I can, I enjoy gardening, playing sand volleyball, painting, and reading poorly written mystery novels. Family is super important to me, and since my family lives near KC, I knew I wanted to stay here for my residency training. Not only that, but I was wildly impressed with the UMKC OB/GYN program. Dr. Morales and the current residents prioritize patient advocacy, access to care for underserved populations, and resident teaching opportunities- all top priorities for me when choosing a program. Everyone has told me the days will be long, but the years will be short. So, I am hopeful I will soak in the opportunities that await me over the next four years, and I can’t wait to see how I grow professionally and personally.
Plans after residency: I don’t have solid plans. I will likely practice as a generalist, but I really love MFM. I hope to do both rural medicine and academic medicine throughout my career, so we will simply have to wait and see what happens. |
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Sawyer Hickey, M.D.
 Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Bio: Hey! I’m Sawyer Hickey and I am so excited to begin residency at UMKC! I am originally from Texarkana, Arkansas but have called Central Arkansas home for the last 8 years. I attended The University of Central Arkansas for Undergrad and then the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences for Medical School. When I started medical school OBGYN was not on my radar, but after my rotations I knew that it was the place for me! I love mountain biking, hiking, and generally being outside with my bestie “aka my dog Bear.” I also really enjoy hunting for mid-century antiques and going to farmers markets. Having only been to Kansas City one time before matching at UMKC, I am so excited to see what all the city has to offer! During my interview day and since then, I have seen how wonderful all the residents are. They have such a close-knit community that I am so excited to be a part of!
Plans after residency: Generalist? Fellowship? Who knows. Stay tuned to find out! |
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Edna A. Lopez Martinez, M.D.
 Medical School: Tecnologico de Monterrey – Escuela de Medicina
Bio: Hey there! My name is Edna and I grew up in a teensy town in Tamaulipas, Mexico. After graduating from medical school I moved to the US to reunite with my family, who had to leave Mexico due to cartel violence, and to continue pursuing my dream of becoming an OBGYN. I am beyond excited to be joining the UMKC family. Everyone has been extremely welcoming and I can’t wait to get to know all of my fellow residents and explore everything Kansas City has to offer. In my spare time you’ll find me at the gym (I love Olympic lifting and CrossFit), spending time with my cats (the handsome fella in the picture is named Mallow), gaming, or watching anime.
Plans after residency: I am currently undecided on what I’d like to do after residency. Although the idea of pursuing a fellowship in GynOnc definitely interests me, I don’t think I would be able to give up the amazing variety that being a generalist has to offer. Regardless of my choice, I’m confident this program will prepare me for any challenges that come my way!
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Allyson Rowe, M.D.
 Medical School: University of Oklahoma-Tulsa
Bio: Hi y’all! I’m originally from the small town of Inola, Oklahoma. I moved to Tulsa for undergrad, and stuck around for medical school at OU’s School of Community Medicine. I had some amazing mentors there who spoke highly of UMKC, and when I interviewed, I saw for myself how welcoming and passionate everyone is! I’m really interested in community medicine and working with underserved populations, and I’m excited to continue to learn and grow at UMKC. I’m also passionate about trauma-informed and LGBTQ+ affirming healthcare! Outside of work, I love to cook and bake, read, and explore the local art and thrift scene with my partner Ian. We’re KCMO newbies, and are always down to try recommendations!
Plans after Residency: Right now, I’m leaning towards a career as an academic generalist, but I’m open to exploring everything OB/GYN has to offer, so stay tuned!
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Mason Sifford, M.D., MPH
 Medical School: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Bio: Hey everyone! I grew up in Little Rock, Arkansas and went to undergrad at Hendrix College in Conway, AR where I got my bachelor’s in biochemistry. During medical school at UAMS, I spent an additional year getting an MPH so that I could couple’s match with my wife, Jessica. In my free time, I enjoy hiking with my two dogs, Hercules and Apollo, cooking, and doing obstacle course races (I’ve done a Spartan race the last 5 years now).
Plans after residency: I know I want to stay in academics and am strongly considering pursuing a fellowship. I’ve worked with underserved populations for a large portion of my time in school and hope to continue this work in my career.
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Tai Zollars, D.O., M.S.
 Medical School: Kansas City University
Bio: Hello! My name is Tai (like tie your shoes) and I grew up in Monte Vista, a rural southern Colorado town. Growing up I had many animals, but my favorite were my goats! After high school I attended Nebraska Wesleyan University where I continued my love for running by joining the cross country and track team. I met my partner while attending school in Lincoln and then moved to Omaha where I earned a Master of Science in Anatomy at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. I enjoyed living “the good life,” for over 6 years before making my way down to Kansas City for medical school. I fell in love with the city and was shocked by the endless entertainment options, great food scene, and abundant running/biking trails. I love being able to access all the city life amenities but also being able to drive 10-15 minutes to get small-town community feels. Spending time at UMKC as a medical student, I saw how impactful close-knit working relationships were to a healthy work environment. I am so happy to be able to stay for the next four years as part of the UMKC family and serve my local community.
When I do manage to find some free time, you’ll find me snuggled up on the couch reading or binging the latest reality tv show, adventuring at local parks/trails with my dog (Leo), trying to keep my plants alive, or working on the latest home makeover project.
Plans after residency: I’ve always had a passion for working with underserved communities as well as global health outreach. I hope to be able to incorporate those in my future practice as an Ob/Gyn generalist. However, who knows, I might fall in love with a subspeciality during residency. I’ll be keeping my options open and am excited to learn all that this specialty has to offer!
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