Residency Graduates: Impacting Communities Across the Midwest
Each year, eight physicians conclude their three-year residency training at Lincoln Family Medicine Residency Program (LFMRP) in Lincoln, Nebraska. As one of the leading family medicine residency programs in the Midwest, LFMRP helps physicians further their skills and experience after medical school, preparing them to meet the demands of family healthcare wherever they decide to practice.
Family Medicine Residency Training
At LFMRP, resident physicians continue to expand their knowledge and skills, becoming confident, well-rounded doctors ready to care for people at every stage of life. During residency, they gain hands-on experience treating everything from routine illnesses and preventive health to more complex medical conditions, all while learning the importance of building long-term relationships with patients, families, and the communities where they live.
It’s a time of tremendous growth, where clinical skills, compassion, and critical thinking come together. By training in a variety of settings, including clinics, hospitals, and rural communities, and caring for diverse patient populations, family medicine residents are helping shape the future of healthcare—providing comprehensive, personalized care for years to come.
Residency Creates a Lasting Impact
As graduation approaches, this year’s class of eight family medicine physicians took time to reflect on how much they’ve grown during their time in Lincoln. Over the past three years, they’ve cared for patients, tackled new challenges, celebrated successes, and learned valuable lessons along the way. While they’re excited about what’s ahead, they also recognize the lasting impact that the residency program, faculty, volunteer faculty, and patients have had on each of them.
We asked the Class of 2026 physicians to summarize their experience at the Lincoln Family Medicine Residency Program, where they are headed next, and to share advice for incoming first-year resident physicians.
Yamini Arukala, M.B.B.S.
For Dr. Yamini Arukala, her residency was meaningful, from building lasting relationships with patients and colleagues to gaining confidence as a physician and growing both personally and professionally along the way.
After graduation, she will be staying in Lincoln and joining Bryan NorthPointe Family Medicine, a decision she says was easy after falling in love with the community.
What excites her most about family medicine is the opportunity to build long-term relationships with patients and to care for individuals and families through every stage of life. She looks forward to being a trusted partner in their health journeys while continuing to grow and serve the evolving needs of the community.
Dr. Arukala’s advice to incoming residents: stay curious, ask questions, speak up, and give yourself grace. “You’re here to learn,” she says. “You won’t know everything right away, but you’ll grow into it.”
Matthew Belleville, M.D.
Dr. Matthew Belleville noted that the relationships he built with his fellow residents, his patients, the LMEP family, and the physicians throughout Lincoln shaped his residency experience. What stood out most were the people. "I've appreciated the growth I've made as a physician over the last three years."
While he'll miss the residency program and clinic family, Dr. Belleville is excited for what's ahead: continuing to call Lincoln home and serving patients as a family medicine physician at Bryan Southeast Lincoln Family Medicine.
For incoming residents, Dr. Belleville's advice is to ask questions early and often, lean on your fellow residents, and don't be afraid to reach out when the work feels overwhelming.
Molly Creevan, D.O.
Learning how to be a good doctor, never quitting learning, and the relationships she developed with co-residents meant the most during Dr. Molly Creevan’s residency. She will miss having access to all the specialties and everyone's willingness to help and answer questions.
For new residents, Dr. Creevan suggests they do this: "Soak up as much as you can. The time goes very quickly, and the more you can become a good doctor under the umbrella and protection of residency with all the help in the world, the better doctor you will be in the future."
Following graduation in June, Dr. Creevan is headed to Beatrice Community Hospital, where she will work in the Emergency Department.
Nick Hanlan, D.O.
The highlight of Dr. Nick Hanlan's residency was the people. From working through challenges alongside his co-residents to receiving unwavering support from faculty and building meaningful relationships with patients and their families, those connections have made the greatest impact on him.
“Be respectful, ask for help, communicate clearly, and stay confident while remaining flexible,” Dr. Hanlan advises new residents.
Following graduation, Dr. Hanlan plans to join Mosaic Life Care, Family Care North Pointe in St. Joseph, Missouri. He looks forward to building relationships with new patients and providing continuity of care for generations of families.
Izdeen Ilyas, M.B.Ch.B.
For Dr. Izdeen Ilyas, his patients and everyone he worked with were what he valued most during his residency. Being able to walk alongside patients through some of the most vulnerable and important moments in their lives and earning their trust, while simultaneously growing alongside residents, was incredibly meaningful to him. He said he will miss the sense of support here, as there was never a moment, no matter how challenging, when he felt alone. Whether faculty guided him through a difficult medical decision or a co-resident stepped in to help, he knows this kind of environment is rare, and he will carry it with him as he moves forward.
For new residents, Dr. Ilyas thoughtfully said this: "Trust the process and give yourself grace. Residency will challenge you in ways you can’t fully anticipate, but you will grow more than you imagine. Lean on your team and loved ones, ask for help, and don’t forget to take care of yourself along the way. And most importantly: never lose sight of why you chose medicine in the first place."
After graduation, Dr. Ilyas will join Bryan NorthPointe Family Medicine. He looks forward to building lasting relationships with his patients and being a steady presence in their lives.
Philip Stark, M.D.
Dr. Philip Stark looks back on the relationships that made the journey so meaningful. The greatest privilege for him was spending time with his co-residents, both at work and outside of work. While he's excited for what's next, he'll miss having his resident class together every day.
For incoming residents, Dr. Stark said this: “Take advantage of the program's flexibility by letting faculty and other residents know early on what skills or topics you'd like to develop—they'll work hard to help you gain the experience that's right for you.”
Looking ahead, Dr. Stark plans to practice in Lincoln, where he hopes to be the kind of physician patients know truly cares about them and is willing to go the extra mile to make their healthcare experience as smooth as possible.
Alaini Wallen, D.O.
For Dr. Alani Wallen, the patients she's cared for have been the most rewarding part of her residency. “Learning from them and building relationships with them has been an incredible honor,” she shared.
While she's eager for what's ahead, she will miss the strong sense of mentorship and community she found in Lincoln. “Our attendings have been amazing to lean on and learn from,” she said. “I definitely will be reaching out as I start my own career.” For incoming residents, her advice is to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. "Three years is so short, and it’s important to squeeze every ounce of learning that you can.”
Dr. Wallen will be joining the McCook Clinic in McCook, Nebraska, where she's looking forward to putting down roots and becoming part of the community.
Jon Wood, M.D.
Watching his confidence grow, especially in his interactions with both co-residents and patients, was what Dr. Jon Wood enjoyed about his residency. The cumulative impact of thousands of moments has shaped him into the kind of physician he always hoped to become. He will miss the people, from supportive co-residents and deeply invested faculty to the incredible nursing and support staff; the relationships made his experience so meaningful.
“Stay humble, be curious, and trust the process,” Dr. Wood said. “There will be days when you feel overwhelmed or behind, but growth happens so gradually that you don’t notice it until you look back. Say “yes” often, take chances, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. Even when it feels uncomfortable—lean in and do it anyway.”
The next leg of his training will be a one-year Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship at UNMC in Omaha. After that, he looks forward to building lasting relationships with patients and helping them navigate not just illness, but the bigger picture of health, quality of life, and meaning. It’s the breadth of family medicine and the ability to care for patients across all stages of life that makes the future so exciting to him.
Building the Future of Family Medicine
As the Class of 2026 begins the next chapter of their careers, they leave behind a lasting impact on the patients, colleagues, and communities they have served throughout their residency training. Whether they remain in Nebraska or practice elsewhere across the Midwest, these physicians carry forward the skills, compassion, and commitment to patient-centered care that define family medicine. The Lincoln Family Medicine Residency Program looks forward to seeing the difference they will make in the lives of countless patients and families for years to come.