Family Medicine Residents

Shelley Brencick-Higman, DO
Family Medicine

Dr. Shelley Higman is a graduate of PNWU and a fifth generation Washingtonian. After attaining her undergraduate degrees in Sociology and Spanish, Dr. HIgman became a professional oil painter, an after-school program director and later opened up a gardening business. After years of working with people and their gardens, her calling to medicine and healing work reasserted itself and she shifted gears. She enjoys surfing, paddle boarding and spending time with her young son and her wife Anastasia.

Devon Kienzle, DO
Family Medicine

A graduate of Touro University in Las Vegas Nevada, Dr. Kienzle, along with his wife and two children, have missed the Pacific Northwest. Originally from Monroe, WA, he has long awaited the opportunity to return home and establish his roots providing care to the residents of the great Pacific Northwest. Before medical school, Dr. Kienzle attended Brigham Young University – Idaho where he received his Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience, served a mission in South Florida where he became fluent in Spanish, and married his wonderful wife, Beth, and had two delightfully independent children. He is passionate about creating a patient-centered medical home by blending all philosophies of medicine into a place where any family or family member can feel comfortable receiving a wide spectrum of care. He and his family love spending time outdoors, cycling, backpacking and camping.

Justin Lytle, DO
Family Medicine

A graduate of Touro University Nevada, Dr. Lytle was born and raised in Washington State and is very excited to return home to finish his medical training. He graduated with a degree in human biology at Brigham Young University-Idaho. His love of science, a desire to work with people and his dedication to education drove him to pursue a career in medicine. As an osteopathic family physician, he hopes to practice holistic full-spectrum family medicine, with emphases on his passions for preventive medicine and osteopathic manipulative medicine. Dr. Lytle is married and has two young boys.

Corey Pickett, DO
Family Medicine

Corey Pickett is a graduate of Pacific Northwest University. He recently moved back home to Washington from North Carolina to complete his Family Medicine training here at Skagit Regional Health. Dr. Pickett has been serving as an officer of the Army National Guard for the past 10 years. He is excited to be involved with the community here in Skagit Valley, and after completing his residency he plans to remain in Washington State with his family. In his free time Dr. Pickett enjoys hiking and kayaking.

William Hudson, DO
Family Medicine

William (Max) Hudson, DO is a graduate of Midwestern University AZCOM in Arizona.  He grew up in Cincinnati and attended DePauw University as an undergraduate, majoring in Biology.  After a short stint as a private investigator, he entered the world of academics as a graduate student at Colorado State University, earning a Master’s degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition.  Dr. Hudson is most interested in primary prevention of disease through positive lifestyle practices.  He is eager to build relationships with his patients to help them on their path towards optimal health.  He and his wife, Molly, have two children, Jane and Simon.  His family most enjoys good food and all manner of outdoor pursuits with their dog, Temple.

Emily Kunz, DO
Family Medicine

Emily Kunz, DO is a graduate of PNWU-COM and received her undergraduate degree from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA with a major in Kinesiology. She grew up in Port Townsend, WA where her parents and youngest siblings still reside. Her interest to pursue medicine was initially piqued while learning about her adopted siblings’ medical conditions and how limited medical resources can be in rural communities. Dr. Kunz is excited to continue her training in Skagit Valley so she can help serve the community with full spectrum primary care. She enjoys spending time outdoors with her boyfriend and nurturing her creative side by painting, gardening and learning to play guitar.

Mark McGrath, MD
Family Medicine

Mark McGrath, MD is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine.  He grew up in Seattle, WA and attended the University of Washington as an undergraduate, majoring in Business Administration.  After working as a technician in an emergency department, he decided to pursue a graduate education in medicine.  Dr. McGrath is most interested in primary prevention of disease through shared decision making.  He is eager to build relationships with his patients and help them identify what interventions are best for their unique situation.  He and his wife, Erin, enjoy hiking in the Cascades, indoor rock climbing and relaxing with their cat, Luna.

Cory Schmidtz, DO
Family Medicine

Cory Schmidtz, DO is a graduate of Western University of Health Sciences COMP-NW in Lebanon, Oregon. She received an undergraduate degree in Biology/Anthropology with a minor in Chemistry from Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. After working for a non-profit organization for individuals with HIV/AIDS and gaining exposure to the medical field, she decided to pursue a career as an osteopathic physician. Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, Dr. Schmidtz has a strong passion for the region, culture and the people. In addition to treating acute and chronic conditions, Dr. Schmidtz considers all aspects of health and addresses each patient as a unique individual. She hopes to build long-term patient-physician relationships while giving back to her community. She enjoys art, baking, hiking, and spending quality time with her family.

C. Brooksby Hafen, DO
Family Medicine

Dr. Hafen, raised in southwestern Utah, received his undergraduate degree from the University of Utah in Religious Studies with a minor in Peace & Conflict Studies. After a brief stint in law school, he decided to pursue his original passion of medicine, and completed his osteopathic medical studies at Touro University California. His partner, Dr. Katherine J. Anderson, is a Professor of Victorian Literature and Culture at Western Washington University. Their daughter, Kaitlin, is starting her junior year at University of California-Davis. Dr. Hafen loves enjoying delicious food with the company of his family and friends, puttering about in his garden/yard, walking his dog, Sherlock, and attending concerts. He is particularly interested in mental healthcare and looks forward to eventually opening an artisanal dairy supported by a herd of Scottish Highland cattle.

Yevgeniy "Eugene" Elikh, MD
Family Medicine

Dr. Eugene Elikh is a graduate of the University of Washington School of Medicine. His interest in the medical profession emerged in the 9th grade, when he saw how much his mother suffered from a chronic illness. It was then that he set a goal to help treat and bring relief to those struggling with their health. Despite all the difficulties of being an immigrant in a low-income family, he soon reached his goal of becoming a registered nurse. He had a strong urge to continue his education and pushed further to become a medical doctor. He now feels that he is at the right place in life and can give all of himself to help those like his mother. In his free time, Dr. Elikh enjoys road biking, running a YouTube channel and spending time with his family outdoors.

Firuz Yumul, MD
Family Medicine

Dr. Yumul is a graduate of St. George’s University School of Medicine and received his undergraduate degree from UCLA with a major in Middle-Eastern and North African Studies. He mostly grew up in Los Angeles, California and throughout his life he has had the fortunate opportunity to live and visit various countries such as Germany, Grenada, the United Kingdom, Turkey, and Iran. He is interested in the history of medicine, holistic approaches to primary care, and global health. Dr. Yumul is excited to continue his training in Skagit Valley while enjoying the beautiful Pacific Northwest. He enjoys playing the piano, reading, cooking, and finding new ice cream shops.