Meet Our Physicians & Staff

Judith Kirstein, MD

Dr. Kirstein grew up in Los Angeles, California. Her father was an auto electrical mechanic and her mother a nurse. Dr. Kirstein knew at a very young age that she wanted to be a doctor. However, the opportunities for women in medical schools were few at that time. Thus she elected to earn her Bachelors and Masters degrees in nursing before changing her focus to her first love, medicine. She received her Medical Degree from UCLA, and then came to Salt Lake to the highly-acclaimed Family Practice Residency program at the University of Utah. Since July 1981, she has been practicing in West Jordan, Utah. Dr. Kirstein founded Jordan Valley Family Health in 1984. In November, 2008, JVFH was acquired by HCA-Mountain Star, and became Jordan Family Health.

Dr. Kirstein is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, a fellow of the American Academy of Family Medicine, and a member of the Utah Medical Association, the Salt Lake County Medical Society and the AMA. Dr. Kirstein is board certified in the specialty of family medicine. She is also associated with the clinical faculty of the University Of Utah College Of Medicine.

"I am glad to have selected Family Practice as my specialty, as it allows me to know and understand all members of the family. Thus, I am able to help the entire family with their medical as well as emotional needs. At times I feel more like a family friend. My philosophy of patient care focuses on involving each patient in the decision-making process. I tell my patients their options and help them choose the appropriate one for them. My hobbies include cents-off couponing and refunding, traveling, camping, and listening to books on tape on my Zune."

Dr. Kirstein has completed her specialized training in medical acupuncture through UCLA's course for practicing physicians. She offers this age old and effective treatment along with traditional western medicine. As the old cliche - "Where East meets West" is referring to cultures or borders, here it signifies a return to the concept of total physical, emotional and spiritual well being, rather than the isolated disease specific auto mechanic approach to health care.

Joni Hougaard, MD

Dr. Hougaard was born at the Cottonwood Hospital, but grew up in Ely, Nevada. She was the Valedictorian of her high school class and went on to Brigham Young University for a degree in Zoology. During 1987-89, she served an LDS mission to Oslo, Norway, then attended medical school in Reno, Nevada, followed by a three year residency at FHP. She has been working at Jordan Family Medicine since 1996.

Dr. Hougaard's interests include golf, piano, travel and playing with her children.

"I chose to do Family Practice as I enjoy caring for a variety of patient problems and conditions. I feel it's important to deal with an individual's problem in the context of his or her family."

Caryn Slack, MD

Dr. Slack was born in Massachusetts and raised in Fairfield, CT. She received her Bachelor of Arts Degree in history with a minor in French from Georgetown University in Washington DC., and her Medical Degree from the University of Minneapolis. Prior to residency training, she did a year internship in General Surgery at the University of California, Davis. Dr. Slack then moved to Connecticut and entered the Family Practice Residency Training program at the University of Connecticut, Hartford. During residency, she was appointed Chief Resident and completed a National Ski Patrol course. She joined our team at JVH in December of 2005.

Dr. Slack enjoys providing a full range of Family Care, and has a special interest in Herbal Medicine for common medical problems.

Dr. Slack is currently enrolled as a part time graduate student at the University of Utah to complete her Masters in Public Health.

Garett Williams, MD

Dr. Williams was born in Jacksonville, FL and eventually made it to Portsmouth, RI where he grew up. After obtaining his bachelors degree in Biology at Montana State University he moved to Virginia and received his MD degree from the Medical College of Virginia. This was followed by a 3 year residency in Family and Preventative Medicine at the University of Utah, completing his training in 2009. He is currently Board Certified in the specialty of family medicine, joining the Jordan Family Practice in August of 2009.

Dr. Williams has a particular interest in young adult health, musculoskeletal issues (both new and old), preventative medicine, and perhaps most importantly, patient education. He strongly believes that by keeping patients educated about their particular health related issues that they can make better lifestyle choices to control their conditions.

Outside of clinic Dr. Williams stays busy skiing, playing soccer, golfing, trap shooting, and track racing cars. He also enjoys raising his 2 young dogs.

Sean Ponce, MD

Dr. Ponce is a board-certified physician specializing in Addiction Medicine. He graduated from Brigham Young University and attended Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine. Following graduation Dr. Ponce complete his fellowship program at the University of Utah Neuropsychiatric Institute in Psychiatry.

Annliza L. Piacitelli, MD

Dr. Annliza L. Piacitelli is a family practice physician with special interests in geriatrics and women's health. She graduated with her bachelor's degree in nursing from the University of Philippines Manila and her medical degree from Saint Louis University in the Philippines. Upon graduation she completed internships at the Philippine General Hospital and University of Massachusetts. She also completed a family medicine residency program at the University of Massachusetts.

In her spare time she enjoys playing with her daughter, baking and doing Taebo.

Erin V. Coppin, PA-C

Erin Coppin is a certified physician assistant through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). She practices a full spectrum of family medicine with special interests in pediatrics and women’s health. She graduated from Idaho State University in 2005.

Erin is originally from Salt Lake City and enjoys cycling, hiking, snowshoeing and spending time with her family.

Todd Schauers, PA-C

Todd grew up in Great Falls, Montana and after high school attended Brigham Young University. He took 2 years off from BYU and lived in Salinas, San Jose and San Francisco, California. He learned to speak fluent Spanish while working with the large Hispanic population in those areas.

After 2 years he returned to BYU and finished his bachelor's degree in Zoology, pre-medicine. Upon graduation he trained as a medical assistant and worked in pediatrics, gastroenterology and family practice. His goal was to become a Physician Assistant (PA), so in August 1997, he began his Physician Assistant program at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Here he completed a Masters in Medical Science and passed the national certifying exam to become a PA-C.

He joined Jordan Valley Family Health (now Jordan Family Health) in January of 2000 where he has happily continued his practice. He has enjoyed the relationship he has formed with his patients over the years and loves to see how people and children grow and change over time.

Todd enjoys remaining physically active by running, hiking, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, and practicing yoga. He also loves woodworking, and believe it or not, also occasionally does quilting (it comes in handy when suturing).

Todd believes that people can choose to live a healthy lifestyle to remain free from preventable disease. Todd works hard to educate patients about their diseases and how they can become more physically and emotionally healthy.

LeeAnn Johnson FNP, A.N.C.C.

LeeAnn Johnson, F.N.P. Board Certified A.N.C.C., attended the University of Utah for both undergraduate and graduate studies. In between that time she worked at LDS Hospital in the Thoracic Intensive Care Unit and with Life Flight and Intra Aortic Balloon Pump teams. LeeAnn also spent a few years working in the Emergency Department. From there she went to Primary Children's Medical Center to work as a Charge Nurse in the Pediatric Acute Care Unit and later worked as a Nurse Manager over the Children's Med-Surg Department.

LeeAnn joined our team at Jordan Family Health in July 2008.

LeeAnn has a strong interest in Cardiovascular Health and enjoys working with the older and younger alike. She is learning Spanish and knows American Sign Language.

Michelle King, FNP

Michelle King grew up in Salt Lake City, attending Brigham Young University and then the University of Utah, where she earned her Bachelors and Masters of Science degrees in nursing. After completing a residency in Salt Lake in 1980, she went into practice in the West Valley area. Three years later, she came to West Jordan and assumed the busy practice of Dr. Gordon Sollerder, a family physician who returned to his home in Canada. She combined practices with Dr. Judith Kirstein in 1984 and has been practicing in West Jordan for the last 25 years.

Michelle is a member of the American and Utah Nursing Associations and is also an Auxiliary Clinical Instructor for the University of Utah's College of Nursing.

In her spare time, Michelle enjoys hiking, biking, water skiing, tennis, scuba diving and handcrafts. Michelle really enjoys teaching preventative health and participating in the effort to improve your health and life's enjoyments. Michelle and her husband have two children.

Amelia Maass, FNP

Amelia Maas, F.N.P. Board Certified A.N.C.C. received her BA in Nursing from Idaho State University and her Family Nurse Practioner degree at the University of Utah. Amelia has specialized training in family primary care with an emphasis in urgent care and before joining Jordan Family Health in 2007 she worked at the ER at Timpanogos Hospital, at the OR at UVRMC, Planned Parenthood in Orem and West Jordan Medical.

Amelia loves practicing medicine and it shows in her dedication to patients and positive attitude!

Amelia and her husband just welcomed a brand new beautiful baby boy and in their spare time enjoy raising miniature daschunds!