Matthew Sacco
Welcome to Loyola! I was born and raised in Tucson, AZ and completed my undergraduate and medical school at Creighton University in Omaha, NE. I was so excited to match at Loyola University Medical Center and I am thrilled to serve as the 2026-2027 Loyola Inpatient Chief Resident and am especially looking forward to supporting resident education by leading Gen Med morning report. After completing my chief year, I plan to pursue fellowship in Pulmonology and Critical Care Medicine. Outside of the hospital, I like to cook, watch reality tv, and spend time with friends.
Katherine Sherman
Welcome to the Loyola Internal Medicine Residency Program! I was raised in the north suburbs of Chicago and completed my undergraduate education at Washington University in St. Louis. I then went on to the University of Illinois in Chicago for medical school, followed by a fantastic 3 years of training at Loyola’s internal medicine residency program. Outside of work I love to go for walks with my dog and try new restaurants in the city with my husband. I look forward to serving as Ambulatory Chief for the 26-27 academic year; next year, I plan to pursue a career in primary care!
Mark Debettencourt
Welcome to the Loyola Internal Medicine Program! I am originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and attended Georgetown University for my undergraduate education. After that, I went on to Loyola Stritch School of Medicine and stayed for internal medicine residency! I have loved my last three years in this program and am so excited to serve as the Research Chief Resident for the academic year 2026-2027. I am looking forward to helping our residents through the different phases of research and finding mentors in their fields of interest. Outside of work I enjoy playing tennis, exploring new hiking trails, and spending time with friends. I will be applying for fellowship in Hematology/Oncology this year.
Jacob Pozin
Welcome to Loyola and the Hines VA!
I grew up in Northbrook, which is a suburb just north of Chicago, before going to the University of Michigan for undergrad. I was fortunate to come back home for medical school at Loyola, then stick around for residency. I live and breathe all things Chicago, whether that be supporting the Cubs and Da Bears, playing 16-inch softball, and knowing the ins-and-outs of the city’s hot dog scene. I cannot wait to stay as the Hines Inpatient Chief Resident next year before pursuing a fellowship in Heme/Onc. The VA is the best place to grow as a clinician, and work with medical students and residents in a teaching capacity while serving our lovely Vets. I hope you enjoy this place as much as I do. My door is always open, so come on up to the 14th floor for good vibes, candy, and a great upcoming year.
Kathryn Fritz
Hi! I’m Katy Fritz, one of the Chief Residents for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety at Loyola. I’m from the Chicagoland area and returned home for medical school at Rosalind Franklin University after a brief stint in the South at the University of Alabama for undergrad (Roll Tide!). I completed my Internal Medicine residency here at Loyola and experienced firsthand the exceptional clinical training, supportive culture, and mentorship that make this program so special. I’m thrilled to stay on as chief resident to pursue my interests in quality improvement while helping residents grow into confident physicians and leaders. Our program has a robust QIPS curriculum that spans all three years of training, and Ryan and I have the privilege of facilitating this and helping residents engage in meaningful projects that improve patient care and hospital systems. Outside of the hospital, you can usually find me at a farmers market, checking out a local bakery, grabbing dinner at a new restaurant, or enjoying the lakefront with my husband, daughter, and our dog.
Ryan Gigstad
Welcome to Loyola and Hines VA Hospital! I grew up the Twin Cities suburbs before attending the University of Wisconsin-Madison for undergrad. I returned home to attend the University of Minnesota Medical School and then finally moved to Chicago for residency here at Loyola University Medical Center.
This coming academic year, I look forward to serving as one of the Chief Residents in Quality and Safety at Hines VA Hospital. Our program has a robust quality improvement curriculum for our residents, spanning all three years of training with additional opportunities related to quality improvement. I am excited to collaborate with our residents this year while also building my own skills, which I hope to apply as an aspiring cardiologist. Outside of work, I enjoy exploring the restaurants and music venues of Chicago, reading nonfiction, and cheering for my beloved Badgers and Minnesota professional sports.
