Local physicians to speak at Art House May 21, June 2

from Encircle Films

Encircle Films presents “Suck It Up, Buttercup” at the Art House May 21 and June 2, followed by panel discussions with local health care professionals and one of the film’s producers. 

This investigative and deeply human documentary brings together physicians, nurses, patients, families and frontline leaders to reveal what is really happening inside America’s health care system.

Encircle Films partners with the University of Oregon School of Journalism and Communication, Media Studies, and Documentary Minor programs. Both panel discussions will be moderated by Gretchen Soderlund, associate professor and area director of Media Studies.

Panelists for the May 21 screening include:

• Gianina Best, MD is an emergency medicine physician who trained at Vanderbilt University before moving to Oregon. Since joining Eugene Emergency Physicians (EEP) in 2017, she has remained deeply grateful to be part of a local, democratic group made up of a dedicated, skilled, and supportive group of physicians. Dr. Best has a passion for educating the future generation of physicians and APCs, and serves as Medical Student Coordinator for EEP. Through the COVID-19 pandemic, staffing shortages, and ongoing capacity challenges, EEP has consistently shown up for one another and for the community they serve. Through all of those pressures, and the many other challenges life brings, her colleagues in EEP have remained like family to her. When she is not caring for patients in the Emergency Department, she enjoys travel, spending time with her family, and pursuing her amateur tennis career.
• Genevieve Birang, DO is a family medicine physician, specializing in chronic and acute disease management with a focus on women’s health, gender-affirming care, and mental health, particularly anxiety and depression. With a commitment to providing comprehensive and compassionate care, Dr. Birang takes pride in developing strong, trust-based relationships with patients, understanding their unique needs, and working collaboratively to achieve optimal health outcomes. Originally from Poulsbo, Washington, Dr. Birang graduated with a B.S. in Biology from Whitworth University in Spokane, WA, in 2014. She went on to earn her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from Pacific Northwest University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Yakima and completed her residency at the Family Medicine Residency of Western Montana in Missoula/Kalispell in 2022. Her residency was specifically geared towards practicing medicine in rural and underserved areas, and she is looking to bring that experience into her practice at Orchid Health. A Pacific Northwest native, she has enjoyed living in the Willamette Valley for the past several years. She enjoys gardening, reading, marine biology, and exploring new coffee shops and cuisines with her family and friends.
• Jeremy Brown, MD is an emergency physician and partner in Eugene Emergency Physicians (EEP).
• William Emerson, MD is a hospital medicine physician who has cared for patients in this community for 12 years. Thanks in part to an inability to say no, he has spent much of that time serving in a variety of medical staff roles. He currently serves as chief of staff at PeaceHealth Sacred Heart Medical Center at RiverBend. He expected the role to involve mostly meetings, bylaws, and the occasional politely-worded email. Instead, since stepping into the position in January 2026, he and the RiverBend medical staff have found themselves navigating significant and unexpected turbulence after the decision was made to replace Eugene Emergency Physicians with a corporate health care staffing company based thousands of miles away. He has been proud to represent the medical staff in advocating for high quality care for the community. Outside the hospital, he enjoys sports, exercise, and spending time and traveling with his family.

Panelists June 2 include:

• Annaleigh Boggess, MD is an emergency medicine physician and proud partner of Eugene Emergency Physicians (EEP). She was born and raised in Oregon, attended medical school at Oregon Health and Sciences University, completing residency training in emergency medicine and a fellowship in wilderness medicine at University of New Mexico before returning to her home state to settle in Eugene. She began with EEP as a scribe during college, and knew she wanted to return to this amazing democratic group after completing training. She is proud to be a part of a local group that has stood up against corporate medicine, and hopes to continue to be an advocate for local health care. Outside of the ER she enjoys gardening, beekeeping, mountain biking, and adventuring outdoors with her family.
• Dan McGee, MD/PhD is an emergency physician and partner in Eugene Emergency Physicians (EEP). He has decades of experience as an emergency room doctor and has served at RiverBend Medical Center in Springfield as well as Cottage Grove Community Medical Center for the last 11 years. He completed his residency at University of Chicago. He is passionate about defending independent, democratic physician groups, and most recently served as a plaintiff in the recent landmark case defending EEP against a corporate takeover in the context of Oregon’s new law restricting corporate practice of medicine, SB 951. He has a strong interest in medical education, and is dedicated to teaching future generations of physicians. When not at work Dan loves hiking and watching movies with his family and dogs, Waffles and Thor.
• Todd R. Otten, MD is a board-certified family physician and co-founder of Our Quadruple Aim, a movement that challenges the status quo in health care and promotes patient experience, quality care, lower costs, and provider wellness. He is an executive producer of the documentary “Suck It Up, Buttercup.” He has over 20 years of experience in providing quality patient care, leading teams, and managing projects in various settings, including the United States Navy, where he was honored as the naval flight surgeon of the year in 2006 for the Atlantic Fleet. And, most recently has joined Emergency Care Specialists in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He is also the co-author of Ripple of Change, a book that shares his unfiltered journey through burnout and the existing dysfunction in health care and offers a bare-bones approach to evaluate, re-imagine, and inspire positive disruption in the industry and beyond. He is passionate about empowering patients and health care providers to become agents of change and to turn their ripples into waves of lasting impact. He is currently the lead catalyst/board chair for Medicine Forward and is involved with numerous advocacy/activism efforts across the country.
• Julie Seo, MD is a board-certified emergency physician with over 20 years of clinical experience, a proud partner of EEP. Throughout her career in emergency medicine, she has developed a strong interest in the integration of point-of-care ultrasound to enhance rapid diagnosis and patient care in acute settings. Beyond her clinical work, Dr. Seo is committed to education and community outreach. She has sponsored summer health care programs for high school students, providing early exposure to medical careers, and is passionate about engaging local students to inspire the next generation of healthcare professionals.

You can find more information at the Encircle Films website, including links to the film trailer and ticketing.