Meet the Director and Team — Family Medicine Residency at St. Elizabeth Boardman Hospital

Welcome from the Program Director

Welcome to the St. Elizabeth Boardman Family Medicine Residency. We are eager to show you what we have to offer students ready to consider family medicine as a career. Within this website, you will have an overview that demonstrates our program commitment to education and our community.

Our program has been founded on the premise that excellence in medical care comes from quality of teaching, an intellectually stimulating environment and an ample variety of clinical exposures. Our experienced faculty is ready to provide a challenging, but supportive, environment for residents to grow and gain essential skills. A graduate of this program will be ready to enter into any number of clinical opportunities and find him or herself capable and comfortable.

So, if you are looking for an educational experience that will challenge and reward you, look no further. Take some time, read through the site. If this program interests you, feel free to contact us to learn more!

Program Director

Thomas Macabobby, MD, FAAFP | Program Director

Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Residency: Aultman Hospital, Canton

Dr. Macabobby is the program director for St. Elizabeth Boardman's Family Medicine Residency Program. After graduating from medical school at Northeast Ohio Medical University, he completed his residency at Aultman Hospital in Canton, Ohio. His interests include adult medicine, preventative health, quality improvement, health systems management and medical education. Outside of work, he enjoys collecting music memorabilia, coaching youth sports and rooting on Cleveland's professional sports teams.

Associate Program Directors

John Heintzelman
Alex Heintzelman, MD | Associate Program Director

Dr. Heintzelman was born and raised in Columbiana, where he practices medicine and teaches in his hometown today. He earned his medical degree from Northeast Ohio Medical University and completed his family medicine residency at Mercy Health – St. Elizabeth Hospital in Youngstown, Ohio. He has completed fellowships in academic medicine and primary care transformation at Northeast Ohio Medical University.  He has a passion for the health and health care of rural communities and directs the Rural Education Pathways at both Northeast Ohio Medical University and the St. Elizabeth Boardman Family medicine residency.  Away from work, Dr. Heintzelman enjoys tinkering on his farm, growing hops, tending honeybees, spending time at his family cabin in Ontario and going on travel adventures with his wife.  

Sumira Koirala, MD, FAAFP | Associate Program Director

Medical School: Nepal Medical College, Kathmandu, Nepal
Residency: St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown

Dr. Koirala received her medical degree from Nepal Medical College in Kathmandu, Nepal. She completed her residency training in family medicine at St. Elizabeth Health Center in Youngstown, Ohio. Her professional interests include women’s health, pediatric medicine and office procedures. Outside work she enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.

Michael Paronish, MD | Associate Program Director

Medical School: Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine
Residency: Washington Health System, Washington, Pa.
Fellowship: Northeast Ohio Medical University

Dr. Paronish received his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in Hershey, Pa.. He completed his residency in family medicine at Washington Health System in Washington, Pa. and is currently completing a fellowship in primary care training and enhancement through Northeast Ohio Medical University in Rootstown, Ohio. His professional interests include population/preventative health, quality improvement, medical education, health system management and musculoskeletal/sports medicine. Outside of work he enjoys hiking, biking, kayaking, fishing or just enjoying the outdoors, baking or grilling, home improvement and chess.

Lisa N. Weiss, MD, M.Ed., Associate Program Director of Mercy Health — St. Elizabeth Boardman Family Medicine Residency
Lisa N. Weiss, MD, M.Ed., FAAFP | Associate Program Director

Medical School: University of Kentucky
Residency: University of Kentucky

Dr. Weiss received her medical degree from and did her residency training at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Ky. She came to the Youngstown area in 2002 right after residency to fulfill her National Health Service Corp Scholarship requirement, and she liked it so much that she stayed! Since that time, she has been either working with residents or medical students in the area, focusing her professional career on teaching and curriculum design. Beyond academics and medicine, powerlifting and being a mom are what keep her feet on the ground and walking in the park with her husband and dogs is always a highlight of the day.

Assistant Program Director

Anthony Brine, PsyD, Assistant Program Director of St. Elizabeth Boardman Family Medicine Residency
Anthony Brine, PsyD | Assistant Program Director

Doctoral Degree: Chicago School of Professional Psychology

Dr. Brine is a licensed clinical psychologist who received his doctoral degree from the Chicago School of Professional Psychology. His professional interests include the assessment and treatment of childhood behavioral problems, anxiety and depressive disorders as well as the difficulties and adjustments within the geriatric population. His interests not pertaining to work involve spending time with his wife and family, cooking, traveling, playing with the dogs, watching college football, movies and camping. 

Core Faculty

Shawna Koprucki, MD

Clinical Faculty

Benjamin Brocker, DO
Jill Haltigan, MD
Alex Heintzelman, MD
Asmau Misawa, MD
Roy Morcos, MD, FAAFP
Stephen Predebon, MD
Ashley Reimer, MD, FAAFP

Contact Us

Program Coordinator: Elaine Kaneski, MS, CHES
Phone: 330-729-8749
Email: ekaneski@mercy.com