Program Faculty
Donald Raj Woolever, MD, FAAFP
Program Director
Dr. Woolever is the Program Director of the Portsmouth Regional Hospital/Tufts University School of Medicine Family Medicine Residency, with academic appointments at University of New England, Geisel/Dartmouth and Tufts University. He was a Fulbright Scholar, attended medical school at University of Rochester, family medicine residency at Travis Air Force Base, California and faculty development fellowship at University of North Carolina. Dr. Woolever served as a medical officer in the US Air Force and has been a residency director for 14 years, receiving multiple teaching awards. He is the immediate past president of the Family Medicine Education Consortium Board of Trustees, was elected as a Member-at-Large to the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors Board of Directors in 2022 and has been on the Academic Council of the National Institute of Program Director Development since 2015. He has presented widely on professionalism, team building, hidden curriculum and mentoring, and published on clinical decision-making, evidence-based medicine and ambiguities in the residency environment.
Michael Samaan, MD
Associate Program Director
Dr. Samaan attended the University of Texas Health Science Center Medical School in Houston Texas. He has filled many roles in Family Medicine working in both Alaska and Texas. His teaching experience includes time as core faculty at the Alaska Family Medicine Residency in Anchorage Alaska. Dr. Samaan is passionate about allowing residents to explore the full scope of Family Medicine. In his off time, he enjoys fishing and photography. Dr Samaan is also a veteran of the USMC.
Nicole Poole, MD
Core Faculty
Dr. Poole completed her medical training at St. George’s University. After, she completed her Family Medicine residency training at the University of Connecticut, where she later stayed on as a faculty member. She also works as a physician at the Appledore Family Medicine clinic. Her interests include preventive medicine, medical education, chronic disease management, women’s health, and contraception counseling/management. She enjoys building longitudinal relationships with her patients as well as seeing residents grow into confident, competent physicians over the course of their training.
Derek Lee, DO
Core Faculty
Derek Lee DO is a graduate of the University of New England College of Osteopathic medicine where he completed a 5th year OMM/Anatomy Teaching fellowship. He completed a 4-year Family Medicine Residency at Middlesex Family medicine. There he provided full spectrum family medicine while focusing in areas of Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine and LGBTQ+ Health with Gender Affirming Care. Here he works in the Appledore Family medicine office as well as an inpatient preceptor at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. He looks forward to growing with the program and its residents.
Joann Buonomano, MD
Core Faculty
Dr. Buonomano attended Boston University School of Medicine and completed her family practice residency in Fayetteville, North Carolina at a Duke University-affiliated program. She joined Goodwin Community Health Center in 2014 and is currently its chief medical officer. Dr. Buonomano has a special interest in developing health equity for vulnerable populations. She also served as president of the New Hampshire Academy of Family Practice.
Sonya Hovsepian, MD
Core Faculty
Dr. Hovsepian graduated from the Wright State University School of Medicine in Dayton, OH and simultaneously obtained a Masters in Public Health from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health. She completed her Family Medicine training at the Albany Medical College Family Medicine Residency. She now sees patients at the Appledore Family Medicine office. In conjunction with allopathic medicine, Dr. Hovsepian has Master Level Reiki training and has trained as a yoga and meditation instructor. She is excited to continue to grow and develop the residency while supporting residents on their journey to becoming skilled, thoughtful, empathetic, incredible Family Physicians
Xinuo Gao, MD
Core Faculty
Xinuo Gao is a graduate from NH Dartmouth Family Medicine residency, currently working as a hospitalist at Portsmouth Regional Hospital. Her medical interests include academic medicine and research, global health and health equity, obesity and lifestyle medicine. She is thrilled to join PRH FMR as core faculty to grow together with the residents.