ABOUT US
Oregon Surgical Specialists
More than 40 years ago, Oregon Surgical Specialists, PC was founded on the principle of delivering high quality surgical care in a comfortable and compassionate atmosphere. Today, we are even more motivated in our training, providing cutting-edge general, vascular and endovascular procedures to our patients.
Team PHILOSOPHY
Today’s surgeon works as a team member in the diagnosis, staging, and treatment of a patient. Working with primary care providers, gastroenterologists, radiologists, oncologists, cardiologists and many other specialty practitioners to provide the individual care each patient requires.
Specialized Expertise
Trends in surgical care have lead to more focused sub-specialties which provide even more expertise for the treatment of our patients. Sub-specialties at Oregon Surgical include vascular surgery, endovascular surgery, oncologic (cancer) surgery, and minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery, including bariatric surgery. The depth of surgical experience at Oregon Surgical Specialists is unmatched in our region.
Technological Advancements
Our surgeons have been instrumental in the technological advancements made in surgical procedures—from minimally invasive techniques such as laparoscopic surgery to vascular stenting and angioplasty. When the endoluminal aortic graft was approved to use by the FDA in 1999, the vascular surgeons of Oregon Surgical Specialists were one of the first in the country to be invited in exclusive training to use this device. Based on the number of cases and their complexities, Oregon Surgical Specialists has the largest experience of implanting FDA approved endoluminal grafts in the entire Pacific Northwest.
Our Surgeons
Leaders in general and vascular surgery.
Our goal at Oregon Surgical Specialists is to provide the most advanced diagnostic technology and progressive surgical techniques available in a compassionate environment. Optimizing every patient’s experience is important to us.
William E. Faught, MD, FACS
General and Vascular Surgeon
Dr. Faught received his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois and his medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, earning both with academic honors. He served his internship and residency in general surgery at The University of Utah Medical Center and completed his Fellowship in Peripheral Vascular Surgery at Read More...
Dr. Faught is board-certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and is a member of the International Society for Vascular Surgery and the Society of Laparoscopic Surgery.
David K. Traul, MD, FACS
General and Vascular Surgeon
A native of Wisconsin, Dr. Traul received his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University and his medical degree from Medical College of Wisconsin. He completed his general surgery residency and Surgical Research Fellowship at the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed an additional Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio. Dr. Traul is board-certified in both General Surgery and Vascular Surgery.Read More...
Dr. Traul is an outdoor enthusiast. The love of the outdoors is shared by his wife, Lena, and two sons who are learning to ski and bike ride right along with their parents. Dr. Traul has played the piano and keyboard for years. Occasionally, he has been known to make appearances in a local all-physician rock and roll band as their keyboardist.
Mark A. Eaton, MD, FACS
General and Vascular Surgeon
Originally from New Mexico, Dr. Eaton received his medical degree with honors at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine. As a senior medical student, he participated in a “Surgical Externship” at El Centro Medical National in Mexico City. He completed his surgical residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, TX and his Vascular Surgery Fellowship at the University of Tennessee’s Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville, TN. Read More...
Dr. Eaton is board-certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery. He is Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, as well as a member of the International Society for Vascular Surgery, American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. Dr. Eaton is also the Chairman of Surgery at Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center. He is fluent in English and Spanish. Dr. Easton is also the Trauma Director for Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center.
Dr. Eaton and his wife, Shelly, moved to the Rogue Valley in the late 1990s. Both college athletes, they enjoy the wealth of outdoor activities available in Southern Oregon. In his spare time, Dr. Eaton enjoys working out at the gym and playing his guitar. He also plays the drums in an all-physician rock band. Dr. Eaton and his wife are the proud parents of two boys.
Juan M. Castillo, MD, FACS
General and Vascular Surgeon
Originally from New York, Dr. Castillo received his undergraduate degree from the State University of New York and his medical degree from New York University Medical Center, where he also completed his Fellowship in Vascular Surgery. Dr. Castillo served his surgical residency at the Read More...
Dr. Castillo is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a member of the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the International Society for Vascular Surgery and American Society of Breast Surgeons. He is currently the Chairman for the Joint Cancer Committee of Medford, Oregon.
Dr. Castillo enjoys the mountains and many outdoor activities such as hiking and running. However, in recent years he has discovered a love of Cross Fit. He also enjoys skiing, biking, and cooking. Dr. Castillo and his wife, Sherry Jo (a local Family Practice physician) moved to this area to enjoy the benefits of living in a small community. They have five daughters.
Mitchell M. Plummer, MD
General and Vascular Surgeon
Dr. Plummer graduated from University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington. He completed his General and Vascular Surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, (UTSW) which is where he also received his Vascular Fellowship. He is board-certified in General Surgery and Vascular Surgery. Read More...
Dr. Plummer graduated with high distinction from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington; active member of the American College of Surgery and the Society of Vascular Surgery. He was an Assistant Professor in the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, training fellows and residents in advanced vascular techniques at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas where he also pursued numerous clinical research projects.
Patrick J. Phelan, MD
General and Vascular Surgeon
Dr. Patrick Phelan was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. While pursuing his undergraduate degree at the University of Wisconsin, he discovered his passion for medicine during an internship with the Wellcome Trust Research Programme in Nairobi, Kenya. This experience inspired him to apply to medical school, and he ultimately graduated from Emory University School of Medicine with honors. Read More...
Dr. Phelan thoroughly enjoys living in the beautiful Rogue Valley. An avid mountain climber and skier, he takes every opportunity to escape into the outdoors with his son, Gabe.
Julianne E. Allen, MD
General Surgeon
Dr. Allen was raised in central Illinois with her five siblings. She completed her undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She then received her medical degree from Southern Illinois University School of Medicine followed by completion of her General Surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas. She is a board certified general surgeon. Read More...
Brock Bennett, MD
General and Vascular Surgeon
A native of the Rogue Valley, Dr. Bennett graduated from North Medford High School before graduating with honors in Exercise Biology from the University of California at Davis. He attended medical school at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, where he earned the award for top student in surgery. He completed his General Surgery residency at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, TX where he was a two-time recipient of the Clifford Buckley award for excellence in Vascular Surgery. He remained at Scott & White Memorial Hospital to complete his Vascular Surgery fellowship. During this time, he was elected into the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Read More...
Erika Bennett, MD
General Surgeon
Dr. Bennett is a Texan, who was raised in Temple, TX, where she would later complete her General Surgery residency at Scott & White Memorial Hospital. During residency, she was awarded the Donald R. Cooney Award, for Excellence in Care of the Trauma Patient, as well as the J. Scott Thomas Award, for Excellence in Surgical Leadership. She completed her undergraduate degree in Biology from the Texas Tech University Honors College, graduating summa cum laude. She also completed medical school at the Texas Tech University School of Medicine in Lubbock and Amarillo. She received the award for top student in surgery during medical school.
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Our Clinical Team
Caring. Knowledgeable. Compassionate. Within minutes of meeting the clinical team at Oregon Surgical Specialists you will come to understand that their work is more than simply a job. Individually and together as a team they share a unique combination of the highest qualities of caring, knowledge, and compassion for our patients.
Reeger Cortell, MSN, FNP
Family Nurse Practitioner
Reeger Cortell graduated from Western University of Health Sciences with a master’s degree in nursing and family nurse practitioner certification and she leads our wonderful Southern Oregon Bariatric Center (SOBC) team. Reeger’s focus at SOBC is to provide continuity of care for SOBC patients during the entire length of their treatment phase; including pre-operative medical evaluation and education, assistance during surgery, as well as short and long-term post-operative care.
Melanie Westfall, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
Melanie Westfall graduated from Grand Canyon University with a master’s degree in nursing and her family nurse practitioner certification. Melanie has been a nurse practitioner for 10 years. She has worked for the majority of that time managing patients with a variety of endocrinology conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, adrenal and pituitary disorders and osteoporosis.
Read More...Melanie is happily married and enjoys cooking, teaching people how to cook healthy delicious food, traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Jeffery Herbert, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Jeff is a native Oregonian having grown up in Eugene where he graduated from the University of Oregon, in 1981 with Bachelor of Science, Biology. He completed his Physician Assistant Program at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas in 1997 and after a couple years working in Orthopedics he joined Oregon Surgical Specialists in 1999.
In his spare time Jeff enjoys hiking, camping, natural history, cooking and wine appreciation.
Megan Stewart, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Megan earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Pacific University in Portland, Oregon in 2020. Shortly after, she returned to her hometown of Medford, thrilled to join the Oregon Surgical Specialists team. She is passionate about providing high-quality, evidence-based, and sincere healthcare.
When not working, Megan and her husband, Tom, enjoy traveling and spending time outdoors, most notably skiing, hiking, and camping.
Savana Brown, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Savana earned her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies at Le Moyne College in New York in 2018. Savana is an Oregon native and returned to join the Oregon Surgical Specialist team.
In her free time Savana enjoys gardening, cooking and pottery. She is also very excited about traveling and learning about other cultures.
James Matson, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
James earned his Master of Physician Assistant Studies at Mercyhurst University in Erie, Pennsylvania in 2022. Prior to this, he earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. James was born and raised in Pennsylvania but moved across the country to join the Oregon Surgical Specialists team in the summer of 2022.
In his free time, James enjoys hiking the local and surrounding areas, camping, playing in soccer leagues, and going on adventures with his dog, Danny.
Hyo “Holly” Lee, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Holly is a Korean American who immigrated to the United States with her family as a child and primarily grew up in Portland, Oregon. She completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of California, Berkeley, and earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY, in 2022. After realizing she had an aversion to the heavy snowfall on the East Coast, she decided to return to Oregon and join the Oregon Surgical Specialists family.
Holly enjoys wine tasting, lounging on white sandy beaches, stargazing, exploring diverse cuisines, and creating aesthetically pleasing dishes from various cultures.
MacKenzie Cummings, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
MacKenzie graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, in 2017. She then received her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Idaho State University in 2023. In her spare time, she enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and partner dancing.
Brittney Ayles, DMSc, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Brittney is a proud native Oregonian with a passion for patient care and lifelong learning. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology–Health Sciences from Oregon Institute of Technology in 2020, followed by a Master of Physician Assistant Studies from George Fox University in 2024. Committed to advancing her clinical expertise, she also completed her Doctorate of Medical Science (DMSc) from George Fox in 2025.
Outside of medicine, Brittney enjoys hiking the beautiful trails of the Pacific Northwest, weight lifting, and spending time with her beloved chocolate lab, Moose.
Lauren Vande Hei, PA-C
Certified Physician Assistant
Lauren earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Charleston in 2025. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Psychology from the University of Denver. Growing up in a military family, Lauren has lived in nine different states — but her heart has always belonged to the Pacific Northwest. She joined Oregon Surgical Specialists in August 2025.
Outside of work, Lauren enjoys hiking, rock climbing, snowboarding, and baking.
Our Partners
Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center
For nearly 50 years Asante Rogue Regional Medical Center has played a significant role in the lives of people throughout southern Oregon and northern California. Through high-quality services and leading-edge technology, Asante Rogue Regional provides superb medical care with genuine human compassion. As the regional referral center for nine counties, Asante Rogue Regional has earned a reputation for expertise in cardiovascular care and many other medical specialties.
Southern Oregon Bariatric Center
If you are searching for a leading bariatric surgeon in Oregon, your search is over. Southern Oregon Bariatric Center is home to four certified bariatric surgeons who are experts in bariatric surgery techniques. Their goal is to provide appropriate personalized care in the least invasive manner possible. They are leaders in laparoscopic surgery—the minimally invasive approach to surgery. Patients who are candidates for this minimally invasive technique benefit from smaller incisions, reduced pain and scarring, and typically recover quickly.
Advanced Vein Center
If you have varicose or spider veins, you’re not alone — over 40 million Americans have the same health issue. The good news is that today’s technology provides a variety of non-invasive solutions which make treatment easier. Visit the Advanced Vein Center for information about varicose and spider vein health issues and the vein treatments.
Surgery Center of Southern Oregon
The Surgery Center of Southern Oregon (SCSO) was established in 1997 to better meet the needs of the patients in Southern Oregon and Northern California who require Outpatient surgery. Their facility combines the most advanced technology, treatment, advanced surgery techniques, and physician expertise in the most cost effective setting.