Meet the Director and Team

Welcome from the Program Director

Thank you for your interest in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Mercy Health St. Rita’s Medical Center. This program operates as a vital part of a regional trauma center as well as multiple regional specialty care centers, serving a surrounding 10-county population of more than a half-million individuals. We provide state-of-the-art, evidence-based care across our broad range of specialties and exposure to a diverse patient population, with nearly 200,000 patients cared for last year and more than 9,000 hospitalist service admissions in the past year as well. 

The Internal Medicine residency stresses an evidence-based, physiologically sound approach to care with emphasis on bedside diagnostic skills and team-based care. You will be assisted by a highly proficient staff of nurses, clinical pharmacists, care managers and supportive therapies. Interaction across our multiple residencies promotes a “fellowship of learning” as well. This program is designed to allow any resident to pursue their desired career path, whether this may include predominantly outpatient or ambulatory care, hospital-based inpatient care or further fellowship training. 

All residents will have the opportunity for leadership positions and be exposed to our self-designed resident leadership curriculum. Opportunities to function as full members of hospital committees will also be afforded, providing valuable experience for future practice. Pursuit of research interests and quality improvement projects is expected of all residents, with basic medical research and statistical support available through our affiliations with Ohio Northern University, University of Findlay and Ohio State University. 

As program director, I maintain an “open door” policy and am universally responsive to input from my resident staff to further improve our program. Although our program is rigorous in terms of learning opportunities, we appreciate the need for work-life balance and time for family as well as personal interests. This is designed into our curriculum and we encourage involvement in community activities as you may desire. It is my hope that many of our graduates may remain in or return to our facility to promote ongoing excellence of care in perpetuity for our community.

Eric S. Kirschner, MD | Program Director Medical School: Northeastern Ohio University College of Medicine Residency: North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Bowman-Gray School of Medicine Fellowship: Pulmonary Critical Care Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland  Dr. Kirschner is ABIM certified in internal medicine, pulmonary disease and critical care medicine. He has been active in medical education since fellowship completion in 1986, garnering multiple teaching awards. Dr. Kirschner served as intensive care medical director at St. Rita’s Medical Center from 2001 to 2019, and has remained active in local, regional and national teaching programs in multiple areas of pulmonary and critical care medicine.

Brian J. Taylor, DO | Assistant Program Director Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine Residency: University Hospital Cleveland Dr. Taylor is AOBIM-certified in internal medicine and has returned to medical education after serving as director of the hospitalist program at St. Rita's. He is originally from Lima and, along with his wife Shana, is active in various community programs.

Core Faculty

Eric Fisher, MD
Hamid Khatibi, MD
Jayde Kurland, MD
Norman Moser, DO
Sandeep Patel, MD
Kelly Schroeder, MD
Ryan Schwieterman, MD

Contact Us

Program Coordinator: Debra Miller
Email address: dmmiller@mercy.com
Phone: 419-226-9301