Christine Jacobs, M.D.
Vice President for Medical Affairs and Dean of the School of Medicine
Chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine
Christine Jacobs M.D., FAAFP is professor and chair of the Department of Family and Community Medicine since 2017. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine and Brown University Family Medicine Residency. She was founding program director of the SLU Family Medicine Residency from 2011 through 2018. Dr. Jacobs has over 30 years of experience in medical education and is Board-certified in Family Medicine and Geriatrics. She is passionate about training future family physicians and working to achieve health equity in our region. She is an avid bicyclist and gardener.
Elizabeth Keegan-Garrett, M.D.
Program Director
Elizabeth Keegan Garrett, M.D., M.P.H. is the program director of St. Louis University Family Medicine Residency and assistant professor of Family & Community Medicine. Dr. Keegan Garrett earned an B.A. in Biology from Mount Holyoke College (1998). She completed a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Harvard University (2003), earned her medical degree from Oregon Health & Science University (2005) and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Missouri (2008). Before joining SLU Family Medicine Residency in 2017, she worked for eight years at Family Care Health Center in St. Louis, where she continues to maintain a full scope clinical practice, including maternity care. She is passionate about women’s health, maternity care, working with underserved patients and loves teaching. She is happiest when spending time with her husband, Kelly and sons, Silas and Sam. She loves time outdoors, cooking, travel, reading and digging in the dirt (even when only weeds grow).
Jay Brieler, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Jay Brieler, M.D., FAAFP serves as the associate program director and associate professor of Family & Community Medicine. Dr. Brieler received his bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign (1994) and his Doctor of Medicine from Southern Illinois University (1999). He completed residency at Ramsey Family and Community Medicine in St. Paul, Minnesota (2003) with an emphasis on counseling and mental health. His research interests center on the delivery of behavioral health by primary care physicians and integrated behavioral health. He spends most of his free time with his wife Michele and daughters Isabel and Sophie, who will both be away at college in the fall. He recently retired from a long run as a scholastic chess coach but still plays guitar in several local bands. He loves the water, kayaking and is adding bicycling to his fitness routine.
Theresa Drallmeier, M.D.
Director of Curriculum
Theresa Drallmeier, M.D., is the director of curriculum and scholarship for the SLU Family Medicine Residency and assistant professor of Family & Community Medicine. She received a medical degree from University of Missouri (2014) and completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of New Mexico (2017). After a year providing primary care through the St. Louis County Health Department, she joined the SLU Family Medicine Residency in 2018. Her passions include using medication-assisted treatment to manage opioid use disorder, and working with the Latinx population. She can’t believe her luck at finding a place (Family Care Health Center!) where she gets to work with these disparate populations daily. She happily spends her free time with her wife Julie, their golden retriever Maple, and baby Theodore, the newest addition to their family. Her favorite pastimes include reading, exploring the 50 states and beyond, and anything that takes her outdoors, including hiking, jogging and stroller walks through the neighborhood.
Ashley Meyr, M.D.
Core Faculty
Ashley Meyr, M.D., is the clinical director of the SLU Family Medicine Residency and Assistant Professor of Family & Community Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Saint Louis University (2016). She went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency at our very own program here at SLU, where she was chief resident. After graduating, she joined SLU Family Medicine as core faculty in 2019. She is originally from the St. Louis area and is so happy to be serving this community. Her passions include women’s health, pediatrics and teaching. She loves spending time with her husband, Alex, and baby, Madelyn, who was born just after Ashley completed residency. In her free time, she enjoys introducing Madelyn to some of her favorite things to do in St. Louis, including exploring Forest Park and the zoo, and she can’t wait to turn her into a Cardinals and Blues fan.
Darryl Zinck, M.D.
Faculty
Jackie Cattage, Ph.D.
Behavioral Health Faculty
Jacquelyn Cattage, Ph.D., is adjunct behavioral science faculty for the SLU Family Medicine Residency. She received a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Saint Louis University (2012) and completed her postdoctoral training at Family Care Health Centers (2014). After completion of postdoctoral fellowship, she accepted a full-time position at Family Care Health Centers and continues as a valued member of the integrated behavioral health team with a clinical focus in pediatric behavioral health disorders and perinatal mood and anxiety disorders. Dr. Cattage joined the SLU Family Medicine Residency as part-time faculty in July 2018. The assessment and diagnosis of Autism Spectrum disorders piques her intellectual interests as does team-based primary care and work force development. Dr. Cattage is a wife and mother of 3 young children. She enjoys reading, listening to music and singing, and game night with her family!
Fred Rottnek, M.D.
Addiction Medicine Fellowship Program Director
Dr. Rottnek is a Professor and the Director of Community Medicine at Saint Louis University School of Medicine and the Program Director of the Saint Louis University Addiction Medicine Fellowship. He completed his medical degree at Saint Louis University, his residency at Family Medicine of St. Louis, and the faculty development fellowship at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. His clinical practices currently include addiction medicine and correctional healthcare. He teaches in the School of Medicine, the Physician Assistant program, the Center for Interprofessional Education and Research, and the School of Law. Board-certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine, he is the Medical Director for the Assisted Recovery Centers of America (ARCA) and Juvenile Detention in Family Court for the City of St. Louis. He serves on the boards of the Saint Louis Regional Health Commission, the ARCHway Institute, and Alive and Well Communities.
Jennifer Bello-Kottenstette, M.D.
Addiction Medicine Fellowship Core Faculty
Dr. Bello-Kottenstette is an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine and has been associate director of Saint Louis University's Health Criminology Research Consortium since 2016 and core faculty in the Addiction Medicine Fellowship since 2021. She is a graduate of Saint Louis University School of Medicine, West Suburban Family Medicine Residency, and University of Chicago Primary Care Research and Ethics fellowships. Dr. Bello-Kottenstette's clinical practice is focused on addiction medicine at Assisted Recovery Centers of America, Midwest (ARCA) and her research is focused on understanding and addressing the unique reproductive health needs of men and women with substance-use disorders.
Kento Sonoda, M.D, A.A.H.I.V.S.
Addiction Medicine Fellowship Faculty
Dr. Sonoda is an assistant professor at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. He serves as the Family Medicine Clerkship instructor and the Addiction Medicine Fellowship faculty. He received his medical degree from the National Defense Medical Center in Japan, completed his Family Medicine residency (HIV Primary Care track) at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), and the Addiction Medicine Fellowship at UPMC. He also completed the Medical Education Faculty Development Program at University of Pittsburgh. He provides a full scope of practice with a special focus on addiction medicine and HIV. He serves as the AAFP Primary Care Leadership Collaborative Trainer, the co-chair of STFM Minority and Multicultural Health Collaborative Steering Committee, and the Assessment Author/Editor for the Aquifer Family Medicine course.
Jamil Neme, M.D.
Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Director
Dr. Neme has been an assistant professor in the Department of Family and Community Medicine since 2018. He is a graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine, family medicine residency at University of Nebraska, and a Sports Medicine fellowship at Saint Vincent-Allegheny Health. He is board-certified in family medicine and sports medicine. Dr. Neme practices at SLUCare Family Medicine, is director of the SLUCare Concussion Clinic and a team physician for Saint Louis University, Harris-Stowe State University, Fontbonne University, and area high schools. He trains medical students and residents and collaborates in regional sports medicine recommendations. He will be the Program Director of the Primary Care Sports Medicine fellowship. His passion is improving the overall physical and mental well-being of the area. Exercise is medicine!