Rizaldy Garcia, DPM, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Podiatric Medicine. He attended medical school at Kent State University College of Podiatric Medicine and completed   Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency with a credential in Reconstructive Rearfoot/Ankle Surgery at Cleveland, Ohio.

Nathan Larson, DPM, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery and is a Fellow of the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons and the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He completed medical school in Arizona followed by a surgical residency in Iowa. After practicing for 2 years in Lincoln, Nebraska, Dr. Larson and his family decided to move back home to their native Pacific Northwest.

Dr. Larson has been practicing in Bellingham since 2017 and has been graciously accepted into the medical community. He has furthered his education through extensive training with the Association of Extremity Nerve Surgeons where he is currently serving as a board member. Dr. Larson appreciates all aspects of lower extremity medicine but really enjoys treating patients with nerve lesions, entrapments, and general nerve pain. 

Dr. Larson has been happily accompanied by his wife, Jennifer, and their three amazing children.

Hyowon Choi, DPM, was born in South Korea and grew up in Greater Vancouver, BC. She performed in her high school music band as a flutist. She traveled during her high school years to volunteer with orphans in Lima, Peru and with the natives of Heiltsuk Nation in Northern British Columbia. She entered the University of British Columbia with the President’s Entrance Scholarship and the British Columbia Government Scholarship. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Integrated Sciences with an emphasis in Ecology and Microbiology. She received her Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine at Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, where she met her husband, Dr. Czurylo. She completed a three-year surgical residency in Foot and Ankle Surgery at Amita Health St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago, IL.

During her residency, she presented peer-reviewed abstracts at multiple surgical and wound care conferences. She also visited Instituto Nacional de Pediatria in Mexico City for a medical mission trip to perform pediatric limb deformity correction surgeries with the Chicago Lower Extremity Surgical Foundation. She is a member of both the American and Washington Podiatric Medical Associations, as well as the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgery. She has board certification in the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and qualifications from the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery.

Dr. Choi previously practiced in Surrey, BC at the Achilles Foot Health Center as a former member of the College of Podiatric Surgeons of BC. In her spare time, she enjoys snowboarding, camping, yoga, and hiking with her husband and two children. She is happy to be back in the Pacific Northwest and eager to serve the Whatcom community.

Michael Czurylo, DPM, is a board-certified podiatrist serving the community of Bellingham, Washington. At Northwest Foot and Ankle Institute, Dr. Czurylo provides comprehensive, fully personalized care with the goal of getting patients back on their feet.

Dr. Czurylo was born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago. He participated in high school wrestling and baseball. He attended Washington University in St. Louis, where he received his Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering and was named to the Dean’s List. He then received his Doctorate in Podiatric Medicine at Dr. William Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine, where he was awarded the Scholl Merit and Goren Scholarships.

While at Scholl College, he met his wife, Dr. Choi, and they completed their residencies together in Chicago. He completed a three-year surgical residency in Foot and Ankle Surgery at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center and served as Chief Resident. During his residency, he presented peer-reviewed abstracts at multiple surgical and wound care conferences. He was a finalist at the International Post Graduate Research Symposium at the Midwest Podiatry Conference in 2017.

Upon completion of his residency, he decided to move to the Pacific Northwest to be closer to his wife’s family. Dr. Czurylo enjoys watching his Chicago sports teams, playing golf and tennis, exploring hiking trails, and dining at local restaurants.

He is a member of both the American and Washington Podiatric Medical Associations, as well as the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons. He has board certification in the American Board of Podiatric Medicine and qualifications in the American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery in Forefoot / Reconstructive Rearfoot and Ankle. He is excited to be a part of the Bellingham community.

Jean Kassem, MD, was born in Germany and raised in the U.S. He is a board certified Ophthalmologist specializing in orbital surgery, oculoplastics, reconstructive surgery and neuro-ophthalmology. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology.

After completing medical school at Ruprecht Karl University of Heidelberg in Heidelberg, Germany, Dr. Kassem returned stateside for Ophthalmology residency at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, LA. He subsequently completed an extensive two year double fellowship in neuro-ophthalmology, orbital disease and oculoplastic and reconstructive surgery at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus, OH, where he served as assistant professor of ophthalmology.

Specialty and Clinical Interests include:

Oculoplastic surgery including eyelid malpositions, ocular adnexal tumors, reconstructions.
Lacrimal surgery.
Orbital disease including orbital tumors and thyroid eye disease.
Neuro-ophthalmology including optic neuropathies, pseudotumor cerebri, adult strabismus, anisocoria, and blepharospasm/hemifacial spasm.
Dr. Kassem is pleased to bring his skills to Bellingham and Northwest Washington. In his free time he enjoys diving, sailing, snowboarding, weight lifting, and photography. He also enjoys international travel and learning about other cultures. His own multicultural heritage assists him in relating to a broad range of people. Dr. Kassem is fluent in English and German.

Christopher D. Kullas, MD, was raised in Bellingham, WA. He received his BS in Molecular Biology from the University of Washington prior to heading east where he attended medical school at McGill University in Montreal, Quebec. He then spent one year at Virginia Mason Medical Center completing his internship. His ophthalmology residency was at the Casey Eye Institute at Oregon Health Sciences University. He is board certified by the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Dr. Kullas was able to participate in a medical mission in Guatemala before heading back to private practice in his hometown.

Currently, Dr. Kullas specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, performing approximately 500 cataract surgeries per year. He also provides routine ophthalmologic care to his established patients.

Outside of the practice, he enjoys remote backpacking, canoeing, travel, and especially spending time with his wife and two children.

Jonathan Crews, DO, is a board certified ophthalmologist who treats the entire scope of comprehensive eye conditions and is also fellowship trained in cornea, complex anterior segment and laser refractive surgery. He sees patients with cataracts, dry eye disease, diabetes, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma along with many other conditions. Some of the corneal conditions that he manages include Fuch’s dystrophy, keratoconus, corneal scars, herpes keratitis, ulcers, degenerations and other corneal dystrophies, such as ABMD. He performs the most cutting-edge corneal transplants, such as DMEK, DSEK, PKP and DALK. He also manages patients with dislocated IOLs with the Yamane technique, among others, and complicated eyes such as secondary to trauma or congenital malformations with anterior segment reconstruction, iris repair and complicated cataract surgery. Dr. Crews is also well-versed in the refractive side of ophthalmology and has experience working with some of the most advanced refractive surgeons in the country. In this way, he offers a breadth of procedures that allows patients to gain independence from their glasses. This includes LASIK, PRK, refractive/clear lens exchange, multifocal and extended depth of focus lenses, toric lenses, light adjustable lens and monovision. Dr. Crews has also worked on mission trips with the Himalayan Cataract Project alongside other surgeons from around the world who perform hundreds of cataract surgeries using a small-incision technique and hopes to continue this volunteering effort in the future, whether locally in health professional shortage areas or abroad.

Dr. Crews has a particular passion for dry eye disease and specifically how this relates to wellness. As medicine has evolved, we are realizing more and more, that some of the simplest ways to maintain our health include a meaningful reconnection back to the earth through healthy soil and healthy relationships with our bodies. Thus, education surrounding the patient’s lifestyle is critical in the treatment of not only dry eye, but diabetes and other conditions of the eye. In addition, there is a plethora of treatments that are now available for dry eye disease. Dr. Crews hopes to bring this expertise to the patients of Bellingham and the greater Whatcom and Skagit counties.

Dr. Crews joins Northwest Eye Clinic in June 2021. He is making a cross country journey from St. Louis, MO and bringing his lovely wife, Scarlett and their three beautiful children, Everlie, Magnolia and Arthur in order to set new roots here in Bellingham. Scarlett hopes to continue her career in photography and with a background in dietetics, shares his same passion for wellness. In his spare time, he enjoys skiing, birding, hiking, bread making, running, cycling, foraging, gardening and most of all, playing with his 3 children.

Vincent Matteucci, MD, practices comprehensive ophthalmology and focuses on cataract surgery, eyelid surgery, and laser surgery. He treats most medical diseases of the eye such as diabetic eye disease, glaucoma and macular degeneration. He graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1992 with a B.A. in Biology and received his medical degree from Tulane University Medical School in 1997. He completed his internship at the University of Utah in 1998 and his ophthalmology residency at the prestigious University of California, Los Angeles, Jules Stein Eye Institute in 2001.

Dr. Matteucci moved to Bellingham in 2001 because of his desire to live in a smaller community-focused town. He joined Northwest Eye Clinic to be part of a team that values excellence and high standards in ophthalmology. In addition to his practice at the clinic, Dr. Matteucci has participated in volunteer cataract surgery missions in El Salvador for Peace Health Hospital and Surgical Eye Expeditions. He is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the Washington Association of Eye Physicians and Surgeons, and is Board Certified with the American Board of Ophthalmology.

James M. Kim, MD, attended medical school at the University of Southern California, completed his internship in internal medicine at the UCLA- VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, and completed his residency in ophthalmology at the University of Southern California-Doheny Eye Institute.

William Baader, MD, is a plastic surgeon in Bellingham, Washington and is affiliated with PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center. He received his medical degree from University of Illinois College of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is one of 4 doctors at PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center who specialize in Plastic Surgery.

As a facial plastic and reconstructive surgeon, Jonathan R. Grant, MD, is dedicated to providing both medical and surgical care of the face and neck for cosmetic as well as functional purposes, including skin cancer reconstruction and the treatment of facial injuries and scars.

Dr. Grant provides a wide variety of cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, including the latest innovations in facial plastic & reconstructive surgery, ablative and non-ablative laser treatments, face and neck liposculpture, and skin cancer reconstruction. He also provides non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as Botox® Cosmetic and dermal fillers including Voluma, Juvéderm®, Radiesse®, and Restylane®.

Cary Kaufman, MD, was trained at UCLA and the University of Washington. His is an Associate Clinical Professor of Surgery at the University of Washington and the Medical Director of the Bellingham Regional Breast Center.

As a breast surgeon and in practice for over 25 years, his professional life focuses on individual patient care, with special interests in breast cancer research, teaching and education of the local community and of physicians. He has lectured on the diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer both nationally and internationally, including 10 years of conferences with Dr. Laszlo Tabar. Most recently he has lectured in India, China, Scotland, Brazil, Peru and Poland.

He is the current Chairman of the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and Past-President of the National Consortium of Breast Centers. He is a member of the Society of Surgical Oncology, the American Society of Breast Surgeons (past Board member and committee chairman), is a journal reviewer for the Annals of Surgical Oncology, the American Journal of Clinical Oncology, The Breast Journal, and the Journal of Surgical Oncology, and is on the National Ultrasound Faculty of the American College of Surgeons. He has recently been a representative on the Commission on Cancer.

He has published over 50 articles on several aspects of breast care, diagnosis and treatment, including pioneering work on cryoablation for breast tumors. These include measuring the quality of breast care, the value of preoperative needle biopsy, use of ultrasound in the operating room, digital specimen mammography, and choosing the optimal procedure for axillary surgery.

Dr. Kaufman and his wife live in Bellingham, Washington, and enjoy the beautiful Northwest. Their son is an attorney in San Francisco, their middle daughter is a radiologist in San Francisco, and their youngest daughter is in the corporate fashion industry in San Diego.

Education
Masters in Physician Assistant Studies. Idaho State University, Pocatello, ID.
Bachelor of Science, Biology with Minors in Chemistry and Psychology. Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.

Previous Medical Experience
1.5 years primary care practice at Family Care Network, Everson, WA.
Phlebotomist, PeaceHealth Laboratories, 2008-2009.
Emergency Department Volunteer, PeaceHealth St. Joseph Medical Center, 2007-2008.
Dental Assistant, Walla Walla, WA, 1997-2001.

Frazier is a graduate from the Idaho State University Physician Assistant Program. Frazier is from Walla Walla, Washington and attended Western Washington University (WWU) before continuing his education at Idaho State University. Bellingham called him back after graduate school and he joined Pacific Rim Orthopedic Surgeons in 2011.

Orthopedic medicine is a dynamic and challenging area of medicine. Frazier enjoys the opportunities he’s been given to help patients of all ages. He is honored to be a PA and grateful that patients are willing to entrust their care to him.

Frazier met his wife while at WWU and they love living in the Pacific Northwest. They enjoy being outdoors, hiking, biking and traveling, and raising their two children.

Education
BS South Dakata School of Mines and Technology, South Dakota
EMT, Skagit Valley College, Mt. Vernon, WA
Medical Radiology Certificate, Rapid City Regional Medical Radiography Program, South Dakota
Physician Assistant – Master of Clinical Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Previous Medical Experience
Physician Assistant, United States Air Force
Physician Assistant, Vascular Surgery
Radiology (Xray) Technologist
CT Technologist

Ariel is a graduate of University of Washington MEDEX Physician Assistant Program in 2016. Since graduation, Ariel has had a diverse career as a PA working with the Vascular Surgery team at St. Joseph PeaceHealth and then with Deployment Medicine in Ramstein Air Force Base in Ramstein, Germany. She returned to Bellingham in 2022 to work with the orthopedic team at Proliance.

A snowboard accident was the impetus for pursuing a career as PA and a career as an orthopedic PA. Having been on both sides of the orthopedic OR table, Ariel can attest to the value of surgery and quality care in order to return to preinjury functioning. She is honored to be able to help deliver and give back the care she has received in the past.

When not at work, you can find Ariel on the trails either hiking, mountain biking or running or on the slopes in the winter. When not pursuing athletic endeavors, she is planning the next family adventure either locally or abroad.

Education
Master of Clinical Health Services, MEDEX Northwest Physician Assistant Program. University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Bachelor of Science, Kinesiology. Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA.

Military Medical Experience
Physical Therapy Technician, Naval Hospital Lemoore CA., NV.
Field Medical Technician (Deployed), Kunar Province, Afghanistan.
Field Medical Technician, Okinawa, Japan.

Additional Medical Qualifications & Training
Advanced Cardiac Life Support. University of Washington, Seattle, WA.
Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Naval School of Health Science, San Antonio, TX.
EMT Basic. Naval Hospital Lemoore, CA.
Physical Therapy Technician. Naval School of Health Science, San Antonio, TX.
Field Medical Technician. Field Medical Service School, Camp Pendleton, CA.
Hospital Corpsman Basic. Naval Hospital Corps School, Great Lakes, IL.

Alex graduated from the University of Washington with his Master’s degree, becoming a Physician Assistant in 2017. Prior to his acceptance into PA school, he earned his Bachelor’s degree from Western Washington University, majoring in Kinesiology. Honored to serve in the US NAVY from 2001 to 2010, he gained a broad range of medical experiences to include sports medicine, physical therapy, and combat casualty care. The experiences gained in medicine during his enlistment has strengthened his passion for patient care and framed his focus in orthopedics.

When not in the office, he loves spending time with his growing family, spending time outdoors and is looking forward to giving back to his community.

Education
Masters of Health Science, Physician Assistant Studies. Lock Haven University, Lock Haven. PA
Bachelors of Science, Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, PA

Experience
Urgent Care PA – Skagit Regional Health, Mt. Vernon, WA
Emergency Room PA – Wellspan Health, Ephrata, PA
Orthopedic PA – Lancaster Orthopedic Group, Lancaster, PA

Rachel is originally from Pennsylvania and graduated from the Lock Haven University Physician Assistant program in 2017. After graduation, she worked in both orthopedics and the emergency department. She moved to Bellingham and joined the Proliance team in 2023. She primarily works in the walk-in clinic, using her background to help treat and manage urgent orthopedic issues. Being a former collegiate athlete who has dealt with injuries of her own, she understands the importance of getting back to activities you enjoy safely.

When not in clinic, you can find her hiking or camping with her husband and their dog. She also likes playing virtual board and card games with her family back in PA.