Residency Faculty
Residency Program Director
Laura C. Decoster, ATC (NHMI Executive Director)
Education: University of New Hampshire
Laura was the creative and driving force behind the creation of NHMI’s post-professional athletic training educational program. She coordinates all daily activities and manages affiliation agreements with all resident rotation sites. Her work on this program was recognized by the NATA with the 2011 National Continuing Education Excellence Award.
Residency Preceptors
Keith M. Belmore, MEd, ATC, CSCS (Director, Safe Sports Network)
Education: MEd, University of Missouri; BS, Plymouth State University
Keith is the Athletic Training Preceptor for the residency. In this role, he mentors the residents’ high school experience. He also participates in didactic sessions including problem-based learning and journal clubs.
Erik E. Swartz, PhD, ATC, FNATA (NHMI Board of Directors)
Education: PhD, University of Toledo;
MS, Western Michigan University;
BS, St. Bonaventure
Erik takes an active role in providing hands-on research education during the residents’ research experience. He runs the biomechanics lab at the nearby University of New Hampshire; these facilities are often used for resident research.
Clinical Instructors
Orthopedics
James C. Vailas, M.D. (NHMI President and Medical Director)
Education: BA, Dartmouth College
MD, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH
Residency: George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Sports Medicine Fellowship: Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic, Inglewood, CA Sports Medicine
Practice: Sports Medicine and General Orthopedic Surgery, New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Manchester, NH
Scott Evans, PA-C
Education: BS, Springfield College, Springfield, MA
BS, Physician Assistant Program, Daemen College, Amherst, NY
MS, Orthopedic Physicians Assistant, University of Nebraska
Practice: New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Manchester, NH
Douglas M. Goumas, M.D.
Education: BS, Yale University
MD, University Connecticut, Farmington, CT
Residency: University Connecticut, Health Center, Farmington, CT
Fellowship: New England Baptist Hospital, Boston, MA
Sports Medicine and Foot and Ankle
Practice: Sports Medicine and General Orthopedic Surgery, New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Manchester & Nashua, NH
Robert J. Heaps, M.D.
Education: BS, Boston College
MD, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Residency: National Naval Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
Fellowship: Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC
Hand and Microvascular Surgery
Practice: Hand Surgery, New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Manchester & Nashua, NH.
Heather C. Killie, M.D.
Education: BS, Trinity College, Hartford, CT
MD, University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
Residency: University of Massachusetts, Worcester, MA
Fellowship: Sports Medicine, Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Practice: Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Surgery, New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Nashua, NH
Patrick McCarthy, PA-C
Education: BS, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Physician Assistant Program, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Practice: Orthopedics, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic, Manchester, NH
Marc J. Michaud, M.D.
Education: BS, Tufts University, Boston, MA
MD, Tufts University Medical School, Boston, MA
Residency: Madigan Army Medical Center, Fort Lewis, WA
Fellowship: Foot and Ankle, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Practice: Foot and Ankle Orthopedic Surgery, New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Manchester, NH
Vladimir Sinkov, M.D.
Education: BS, University of Kansas
MD, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Residency: Union Memorial Hospital, Baltimore, MD – Orthopedic Surgery
Fellowship: St. Joseph Medical Center, Baltimore, MD – Spine Surgery
Practice: Orthopedic Spine Surgery, New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Manchester, NH
Gregory Soghikian, M.D. (NHMI Board of Directors)
Education: BA, Harvard University
MD, Southwestern Medical School, University of Texas
Residency: George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC
Sports Medicine Fellowship: Tahoe Fracture Clinic
Practice: Sports Medicine and General Orthopedic Surgery, New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center, Manchester, NH
Primary Care
Brian Claussen, M.D.
Education: BS, Trinity College
MD, U Conn Medical School
Residency: Harrisburg (PA) Hospital
Practice: Primary Care, Family Physicians of Manchester, Manchester, NH
Christopher Couture, M.D.
Education: BS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
MD, Dartmouth Medical School
Residency: Dartmouth Family Practice Residency
Fellowship: Sports Medicine, University of Oklahoma College of Medicine, Tulsa, OK
Practice: Victory Sports Medicine, Merrimack, NH
Other Specialties
Karen Acton, PT, CO
Education: BS Physical Therapy, Quinnipiac; Orthotics and Prosthetics Certificates, Northwestern University
Practice: Orthotics and Prosthetics, New England Brace Company, Manchester, NH
Suzanne Boisclair, OTR/L, CHT
Education: BS, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH
Practice: Hand Therapist, Apple Therapy Services, Manchester, NH
Randall Brown, M.D.
Education: BS, Northwestern State University, Natchitoches, LA
MD, Louisiana State University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Practice: General Vision Care and Laser Surgery, NH Eye Associates, Manchester, NH
Robin Bruck, D.C.
Education: Palmer College of Chiropractic
Practice: Chiropractic Associates of Bedford, Bedford, NH
Jeffrey Byer, M.D.
Education: AB, Oberlin College - Biochemistry
MD, Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: New Britain General Hospital - General Surgery
Albany Medical Center Hospital - Otolaryngology
Practice: Specializing in pediatric and adult ENT, endoscopic sinus surgery, facial plastic surgery, head and neck reconstructive surgery, sleep apnea, and otology; Ear, Nose & Throat Physicians and Surgeons, Manchester, NH.
Keith McAvoy, M.D.
Education: MD, University of Health Sciences, Chicago Medical School, IL
Residency: University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Neurology
Practice: Neurology, Dartmouth-Hitchcock Manchester, NH
Robert Posnick, M.D.
Education: MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY
Residency: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY
Practice: Adult and Pediatric Dermatology, Nashua Dermatology Associates, Nashua, NH Chiropractic and Podiatric Rotations & Faculty.
Karen Rios, DPM
Education: BS, DPM Pennsylvania College of Podiatric Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Practice: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Clinic: Podiatry, Bedford, NH
Brian Snow, PA-C
Education: BS, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
MS, Emory University, Atlanta, GA
Practice: NH NeuroSpine Institute, Bedford, NH, Neurosurgery
