Physicians
Josh Leavitt, DO
Dr. Leavitt is a Board-Certified family physician. He received his undergraduate biology degree at the University of Utah, his medical degree (DO) at Touro Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine, and his residency training locally at Family Medicine Residency of Idaho. During residency, he, along with his wife and three children, fell in love with the Treasure Valley and the rest of Idaho and decided to put down roots.
He enjoys working in family medicine because of its variety and because of his love for continual learning. Getting to know patients well and promoting healthy lifestyles is deeply important to him. He considers himself a proceduralist and prides himself on his abilities with minor surgery. He is also a hospice director and is committed to the comfort needs of the terminally ill and dying.
In 2023 Dr. Leavitt expanded his direct care practice to two clinics by becoming the owner of sparkMD. Dr. Leavitt and his team are deeply committed to continuing the legacy of high-quality, independent cash-based medical care in the Treasure Valley that originated when Dr. Julie Gunther founded sparkMD in 2013.
When not working, he has a variety of interests that include woodworking, home improvement, gardening, and a host of additional outdoor activities. If wielding a pen, he is more likely to be sketching than writing, and if reading anything other than medical text, he is likely to be learning a new skill. He is known for being handy and is proud of his “MacGyver skills.” He is a very firm believer that laughter is one of THE best medicines.
Julie K Gunther, MD
Dr. Julie Gunther is a Board Certified Family Physician. She founded sparkMD in 2013 to take back her relationship with her patients and to empower herself to be the doctor she set out to be.
After almost a decade building one of the first 200 DPC clinics from the ground up and rising to a national leader in direct primary care, health care transformation and healthcare micro-entrepreneurship, Dr. Julie sold sparkMD to Dr. Josh Leavitt in October of 2023.
Dr. Gunther continues to support the care, the team and the community at sparkMD through her foundational mission and through her passionate legacy of dignified personalized medical care. She can be reached at [email protected].
Leadership and Medical Team
Jane Ankenbauer, COO
Jane is a prior CNA, Hospice and Palliative Care CNA, and Office Manager. She is the COO, MA, and Marketing Manager for Independent Family Doctors and has worked with Dr. Josh to grow their direct practice in Canyone County. Jane is the front line in Caldwell and will be managing the transition of sparkMD from the ownership of Dr. Gunther to the ownership of Dr. Leavitt. Jane will welcome you and answer any questions you may have as you get to know us and learn how we operate as a team.
Jane grew up in Central Pennsylvania, where her health care career started at just 15yrs old. While finishing High School, Jane worked as a personal care assistant and strived to know more about the patients, their lives and their familys, and ultimately how she could best serve them in there current chaper of life. Jane and her husband relocated 10 years ago to be closer to family. In that time, they have grown their family to 5 with the most recent baby who arrived in 2020.
Jane took every opportunity to learn more and was often a new employee mentor during her time as a CNA and Office Manager at a local Hospice Agency. Jane has a passion for all things nursing. She prides herself on delivering excellent customer serivce to every patient, potential patient, and vistor she encounters. She is commited to educating the public on this unique way of accessing health care services.
When not working, Jane enjoys being at home with her family. Summer is her favorite season, and if Idaho had a beach with fresh warm waters, she would live there.
Tanya Kowitz, MA-C
Ms. Tanya Kowitz, MA-C is a certified medical assistant who has been working in healthcare for almost 30 years. She is an Idaho native and has been a medical assistant to rural and ‘big city’ primary care physicians. Tanya is exceptionally bright, organized, well versed in all-things healthcare and has keen insight into patients’ clinical condition. With her experience, know-how and instinct she runs the ‘front-line’ of sparkMD.
Tanya and Dr. Julie have worked together since 2009. From 2010-2012, Dr. Julie and Tanya spent sixteen months running an onsite-employer clinic once weekly. This ‘micro-practice’ was the impetus for their understanding that together they could start, build and grow a clinic. When Dr. Gunther founded sparkMD in 2013 there was no question as to who she wanted for her right hand partner.
Tanya serves sparkMD as Head of Clinical Operations. She manages scheduling, resources, the in-house pharmacy, most billing and the patient-provider interface. She states, “I love working in the medical field because I like to help take care of people, to help them feel better and improve their quality of life.” When Tanya’s not working, she can be found at sporting events with her daughters, at the horse races or working on home improvement projects.
Tanya can be reached by emailing [email protected] or directly calling sparkMD.
Andrea Berry, MA-C
Ms. Andrea Berry, MA-C is a certified medical assistant. She was born in Boise and raised in Glenns Ferry, Idaho. Andrea joined sparkMD as our second nursing provider in 2017. She brings a compassionate practicality and mind for wellness to the sparkMD team.
Andrea manages many tasks at sparkMD including phone services, medication refills, nursing services and is an amazing phlebotomist. She has been a medical assistant since 2016, a mom since 2005 and with sparkMD since 2017. When she is not triaging calls and making the behind-the-scenes at sparkMD work well, Andrea can be found camping, reading, hiking or taking care of any type of animal. She recently rescued a dog, “Leo” and has had guinea pigs, rabbits and would be uniquely suited to run her own petting zoo.
In 2023, Andrea began providing aesthetics services in conjunction with Dr. Gunther for patients at sparkMD struggling with acne, scarring, melanoma rosacea and other skin conditions.
Andrea has a big heart for caring for all living things particularly animals, the plants that Dr. Julie neglects, and people who need their blood drawn. She is a mom of two amazing, creative kids, an early riser and sparkMD’s lone vegetarian.
Andrea can be reached by emailing [email protected] or directly calling sparkMD.