Meet Our Medical Directors/Physicians
Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Mary Dittrich
Dr. Dittrich is Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President of U.S. Renal Care as well as Co-Founder and Partner of Boise Kidney & Hypertension Institute. Dr. Dittrich earned her medical degree from the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver, Colorado. She completed a residency at the University of Washington Hospital, where she also served as Chief Resident. She went on to complete fellowship training in Nephrology at the University of Washington, where she also worked in the area of transplantation.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Medical Director
Dr. Jeremy Gitomer
Dr. Gitomer has been in practice in Anchorage since 2002. He received his MD from University of Texas Medical School, where he also completed his Residency and Fellowship. He is currently Medical Director of the Liberty Dimond Dialysis, Liberty Denali Dialysis, Providence Renal Care Unit, and Alaska Regional Renal Unit. You will often see him speaking at various venues. He appreciates the long term connections he develops with his patients through managing their illness. He enjoys family, traveling, and riding his fat tire bike.
Board certified: Internal Medicine, Pediatric Nephrology and Adult Nephrology
Medical Director
Dr. David Lefler
After graduating from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM), Dr. Lefler completed residency, and a nephrology fellowship at Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). Dr. Lefler remained at MUSC where he served as clinical faculty active in both clinical and basic science research. He then transitioned to private practice in 2003.
As a nephrology provider, Dr. Lefler is a fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP) and the American Society of Nephrology (FASN). He is also certified by the American Society of Diagnostic and Interventional Nephrology (ASDIN).
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Medical Director
Dr. Stefano Emili
Dr. Emili graduated from The Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine in 1991. He completed an internship and residency in internal medicine in 1995 and his fellowship in Nephrology at the Medical University of South Carolina in 1997. His professional career has spanned three states: South Carolina, Ohio, and Alaska. Dr. Emili started his current practice, Aurora Kidney in Anchorage, Alaska in the summer of 2006. Dr. Emili is board certified in nephrology and specializes in diseases of the kidneys and hypertension. It has been a lifelong dream of his to reside and practice in Alaska.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Physician
Dr. Trang Ngo
Dr. Trang Ngo is a Nephrology Specialist in Anchorage, Alaska. She graduated with honors in 2009. She received her nephrology training at the University of Texas in Houston and completed her internal medicine residency in Norwalk, Connecticut. Prior to becoming a doctor, she was a board-certified nurse practitioner. She enjoys traveling and going to national parks. She and her husband relocated to Alaska from Idaho in 2018.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Medical Director
Dr. Shuang Bao
Dr. Sarah Bao is a board-certified Nephrologist in Anchorage, Alaska with over twenty years of experience in the field. She graduated with honors from the China Medical University and completed nephrology training at the New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center in 2014. Before calling Alaska home, Dr. Bao practiced in Oregon and Montana. Dr. Bao is fluent in Chinese and enjoys spending her downtime with her husband and family. Her daughter is currently attending medical school.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Physician
Dr. Rahul Abraham
Dr. Abraham is a board-certified internal medicine physician and went on to complete his nephrology fellowship at NYU Langone Health . He is passionate about improving healthcare access and quality for rural communities. His clinical focus includes chronic kidney disease, dialysis care, and patient-centered treatment planning. Dr. Abraham is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to the unique needs of our population.
Dr. Abraham and his family moved to Alaska in July of 2025 and enjoy everything the great Alaska outdoors has to offer.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Physician
Dr. Ryan McDonald
Ryan McDonald is a board-certified nephrologist, completing his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University and his nephrology training at LSU. He specializes in the treatment of high blood pressure and takes a special interest in keeping people with advanced kidney disease off dialysis. He is passionate about patient care and optimizing outcomes, with an emphasis on the treatment of kidney disease by improving healthy lifestyle choices.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Physician
Dr. Mark Smith
Dr. Smith received his Bachelor’s Degree and Degree in Medicine from The Ohio State University in Columbus. He began his post-graduate training in Augusta at The Medical College of Georgia and, after finishing his Internal Medicine training, completed a two-year Fellowship in Nephrology. He is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Nephrology. Previously practicing in South Carolina and Georgia, Dr. Smith brings nearly 30 years of nephrology experience to Alaska.
Dr. Smith enjoys connecting with his patients and working with them to achieve their health goals. His calm demeanor and gracious approach make him a favorite amongst patients, colleagues, and staff alike.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Physician
Dr. Osman Yilman
Dr. Yilmam is a board-certified nephrologist, completing his Internal Medicine residency at Norwalk Hospital – Yale University, and nephrology training at Harvard Medical School in Boston, MA. Dr. Yilmam is passionate about all aspects of nephrology and specializes in the management of acute, chronic, and rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis. He enjoys working with his patients by improving healthy lifestyle choices to achieve optimal overall health and is committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care tailored to the unique needs of our population.
Dr. Yilmam and his lovely wife, Pernille, moved to Alaska in July of 2025 and enjoy the vast array of activities Alaska has to offer. Pernille is the adventure seeker and keeps Dr. Yilmam on his toes.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Physician
Dr. Eduardo Cadore Guzzo
Dr. Eduardo Cadore Guzzo is a board-certified nephrologist who cares for patients with chronic kidney disease, hypertension, kidney stones, glomerular diseases, and other complex kidney disorders. Originally from Brazil, he completed his medical education at Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul before pursuing advanced training in the United States, including a nephrology fellowship at Brown University and a critical care fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center.
Dr. Guzzo enjoys all aspects of nephrology, from helping patients manage chronic kidney disease to caring for critically ill patients with complex kidney conditions. He believes that clear communication and patient education are essential to achieving the best outcomes.
Board certified: Internal Medicine and Nephrology
Physician
Dr. Nang San Hti Lar Seng
Dr. Nang San Hti Lar Seng is a nephrologist with clinical interests spanning all aspects of kidney care, including glomerular diseases, dialysis, chronic kidney disease, and global kidney health.
Originally from Kyaing Tong, Myanmar, Dr. Seng earned her PhD from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and her MD from Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Jacobi Medical Center in New York City and her nephrology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.
Dr. Seng is passionate about delivering compassionate, patient-centered care and expanding access to high-quality kidney care both locally and globally.
Outside of medicine, she enjoys cooking and exploring the world with her husband, Luis.
Meet Our Advanced Practice Providers
ARNP
Stephanie McQuillin
Stephanie is a born & raised Alaskan who grew up in the Mat-Su Valley. She graduated with a Bachelor’s of Nursing from the University of Alaska Anchorage in 2014, finding her love for nephrology working in the renal care unit at Providence Alaska Medical Center. She completed her Master’s in Nursing in 2018 and transitioned to the Internal Medicine setting before returning to Nephrology in 2020. When she is not at work, she enjoys spending time with her husband Jake and their two springer spaniels appreciating all the wonderful outdoor activities Alaska has to offer.
PA
Roy Uyeno
Roy was raised in Scranton PA. He joined the US Army shortly After high school and served in active service for 7 years prior to honorable discharge. He then worked as a Paramedic for the Fire Dept in the Mat-Su Valley, eventually advancing to flight medicine doing search and rescue in the far north. Roy attended and graduated Physician Associate (PA) school at the University of Washington in 2019 and has since been working in Nephrology which is his passion. In his free time, Roy likes to spend time with his family, hunt, hike, road bike, and skate ski. He presently still serves in the Alaska Army National Guard as a commissioned officer providing healthcare to the troops.
ARNP
Christine Olson
Christine graduated from UAA with a BSN in 2004. Worked as an RN at PAMC PCU. Helped start the renal care unit in 2006. Returned to UAA for graduate school and got an MSN in 2011 – nurse practitioner. Her thesis was a qualitative study on the quality of life of peritoneal dialysis patients in Alaska – this was presented at the ANNA conference in 2011. She has worked with Dr. Emili at Aurora Kidney since 2011 as a nephrology nurse practitioner. Christine sees CKD and hypertensive patients and dialysis patents around the state and sees hospital patients when on call. Outside of work she enjoys all things Alaskan – cabin life, hunting, fishing, hiking, skiing, motorcycling and traveling with her husband Andy and dog Slim.
PA-C
Juliana Abreu
Juliana was born and raised in Minas Gerais, Brazil. She moved to the United States on a volleyball scholarship and later earned her Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Texas–Pan American in Edinburg, TX, in 2012. During her training, she discovered her passion for nephrology and developed a deep appreciation for managing complex medical conditions while helping patients improve their quality of life.
As a Physician Assistant, Juliana’s experience spans both outpatient and inpatient care, providing her with a strong foundation across diverse medical environments. She believes in a collaborative, team-based approach to healthcare, an essential element in bridging healthcare gaps in Alaska’s communities.
Juliana specializes in nephrology. Before joining KHC, she spent five years serving in rural Alaska community health centers, supporting continuity and quality of care for patients across the state. Prior to that, she worked in Shreveport, Louisiana, focusing on both acute and chronic nephrology. Her extensive experience in renal care has given her a deep understanding of how life-changing renal replacement therapy can be. She is dedicated to helping patients navigate their health challenges and find individualized approaches that maximize care and enhance quality of life.
Outside of work, Juliana enjoys spending time outdoors, hiking, rowing, and exploring all that nature has to offer. A lifelong learner, she loves reading and often finds comfort in the company of a good book. She also enjoys traveling and discovering new cultures with her children. Juliana believes that a positive mindset, a smile, and gratitude are the best tools for facing life’s challenges. She feels honored to live and work in Alaska, where the majestic scenery serves as a daily reminder of the beauty of life.
Meet Our Senior Leadership Team
Ana Silveira
Division President, Operational Excellence
Ana brings over 25 years’ experience in the dialysis industry, with a strong clinical background and a proven track record of driving results focused on operational excellence, including culture and retention. Prior to joining USRC she was General Manager of the Western Group at Fresenius Kidney Care with oversight of 320 facilities including Standalone Home Programs and Inpatient Services. Most recently, Ana has added Alaska Dialysis as part of the West Division.
Email: Ana.Silveira@USRenalCare.com
Gary Schmitz
Vice President, Operations
Gary has dedicated 17 years to the field of dialysis, beginning his career as a Dialysis Patient Care Technician. Over the course of his career, he has progressed through a range of leadership roles, including Nurse, Clinic Manager, Area Manager, Director of Operations, and Vice President of Acute Services nationwide. He currently serves as Regional Vice President, providing strategic leadership and operational oversight for approximately 50 clinics across 10 states from Alaska to Texas.
Outside of his professional responsibilities, Gary is married and the father of two children, including an 8-year-old son and an 8-month-old daughter. In his personal time, he enjoys hiking and swimming.
Email: Gary.Schmitz@USRenalCare.com
Debbie Lachance
Director of Human Resources
Debbie brings over 30 years of extensive experience in human resources, recruiting, payroll, and HRIS to her role as Director of Human Resources at Liberty Administrative Services, LLC. In this capacity, she collaborates with Alaska Dialysis and various nephrology practices nationwide.
Before joining Liberty Dialysis in 2009, Debbie gained valuable experience across diverse industries including hospitality, manufacturing, and the non-profit sector. Besides her professional endeavors, she enjoys reading, watching movies, and volunteering with the local animal shelter.
Cassie Fees
Director of Operations
Cassie is a Board-Certified Nurse Executive. She completed her undergraduate and graduate studies in Nursing at Nebraska Methodist College and her Doctorate in Nursing Practice at Baylor University. Cassie began her career in dialysis in 2008. She has held various roles within the dialysis industry ranging from Patient Care Technician, Registered Nurse, Charge Nurse, Clinical Manager, Area Manager and Director of Operations. Cassie has a passion for caring for patients with chronic kidney disease. Outside of work she enjoys spending time outdoors in the boat or on the snow machine with her husband and son.
Email: CassieF@AlaskaDialysis.com
Julie Lee
Director of Operations
Julie has spent 16 of her 17 years of nursing in dialysis. The bulk of these years in Home Dialysis. She found it easy to quickly falling in love with the care and population of dialysis patients. Providing these patients with necessary skills, knowledge, confidence, and support to return to their homes, communities, and families and perform their life-sustaining treatment was the nursing care she dreamed of providing. Over the years she has moved into many leadership roles, Charge RN, Home Therapies Manager and now Director of Operations, but her passion has remained, to provide exceptional care to our patients and our staff.
Email: JulieL@AlaskaDialysis.com