Choctaw Nation Recognizes Four Graduates from Residency Program

Published July 1, 2026

DURANT, Okla. — The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma recognized four graduates from the Family Medicine Residency Program this summer. Doctors Lance Frost, Benjamin Harris, Punam Mulji, and Hillary Patocka finished their three-year residency with Choctaw Nation and will begin their medical careers across the United States.

“Every residency program aims to arm the doctors in their program with tools to diagnose and treat patients wherever their career takes them,” says Cody McCorkle, M.D., residency program director. “Choctaw Nation has developed strategic partners across the area to make sure these physicians have the most tools possible.”

Lance Frost, D.O. grew up in Mustang, Oklahoma. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry and biochemistry from the University of Oklahoma. He then continued at Kansas City University, graduating with his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine in 2023. After graduating, Dr. Frost will be working for CoxHealth system in Ozark, Missouri in outpatient family medicine.

Dr. Benjamin Harris is a Denver, Colorado native. He received his bachelor’s in science in society from the Metropolitan State University of Denver in 2016. In 2019, he received his master’s in biomedical sciences from Bluefield College in Bluefield, Virginia. Dr. Harris then pursued his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, graduating in 2023. Dr. Harris plans to begin working at the Holdenville, Oklahoma Family Medicine Clinic.

Punam Mulji, D.O., M.S. spent the first part of her life in Spartanburg, South Carolina. In 2017, she graduated from Wofford College with a bachelor’s in biology with a minor in accounting. Dr. Mulji furthered her education with a Master’s in Bioscience from Kansas City University, graduating in 2018. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Kansas City University in 2022. Dr. Mulji moved to the Midwest nine years ago to pursue medicine and chase tornados. She’s happy to have achieved only one of those goals. She is eager to return home to her family in the Carolinas and plans to become a nocturnist.

Hillary Patocka, D.O. grew up in Enid, Oklahoma. Graduating from Southwestern Oklahoma State University with a bachelor’s in biology and a minor in chemistry in 2019, she further pursued her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at Oklahoma State University and graduated in 2023. After graduation, she plans to move back to Enid and work at a sliding scale outpatient clinic.

The residents completed the program on June 30, 2026, and are board-certified in family medicine. They gathered with family and friends for a recent graduation ceremony to celebrate.

Dr. Shanell Gray was named Attending of the Year for 2025-2026 by the residents.