Physicians

Ben Marchello, M.D. Dr. Benjamin Marchello is the senior partner at Frontier, and has been practicing medicine in Billings for over 20 years. He is a Billings native and attended Billings Senior High School. Dr. Marchello attended Dartmouth College and the University of Utah Medical School. He completed his medical residency in Tucson, Arizona and his Fellowship in Clinical Oncology at the University of Nevada. Dr. Marchello is board certified in Medical Oncology and he enjoys caring for patients with all types of cancer. His special area of interest is in clinical research protocols through our Montana Cancer Consortium. Dr. Marchello practices in our Billings center, and also has monthly clinics in our Cody center. He enjoys attending professional educational meetings and reading specialty journals to keep current on the latest treatments and research. Dr. Marchello has 2 daughters and 1 son. He and his wife Mary Lou enjoy cross-country skiing, traveling and playing in the Billings Community Band. Dr. Marchello is also an avid gardener and grows some of the best vegetables you have ever tasted!
Patrick Cobb, M.D., F.A.C.P. Dr. Patrick Cobb has been practicing medicine with Frontier since 1995. Born in Louisiana, he received his B.S. from Louisiana Tech University and his M.D. from Tulane University School of Medicine. Dr. Cobb completed his residency at Fitzsimons Army Medical Center in Aurora, Colorado and his fellowship in Medical Oncology at Brooke Army Medical Center in Fort Sam Houston, Texas. He is board certified in Medical Oncology and Hematology. Dr. Cobb enjoys caring for patients with all types of cancer and blood disorders. He has a special interest in medical research and serves as the principal investigator for some of the research protocols offered through Frontier. He recently was the medical director for the Montana Cancer Consortium, which offers research protocols to cancer patients being treated across the state of Montana. He is currently the secretary and clinical practice committee chairman of the Community Oncology Alliance, which advocates for cancer practices and patients across the country. Dr. Cobb practices in our Billings center and also has monthly clinic in Miles City, Montana. Dr. Cobb has authored numerous articles on cancer related topics which have been published in professional journals. He is also a popular speaker on treatments for cancer, cancer prevention, and supportive care. Dr. Cobb and his wife Carla have two sons, Alex and Graham. His hobbies include traveling, cycling, cooking, and volunteering in youth sports.
James Hueftle, M.D., F.A.C.P. Jim Hueftle has been practicing Medical Oncology in Butte, Montana since 1986 and joined Frontier Cancer Center and Blood Institute in 1999. He attended University of Colorado and University of Nebraska College of Medicine. He completed his residency and his fellowship in medical oncology at University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Dr. Hueftle is board certified in Medical Oncology, Hematology, Geriatrics and Hospice & Palliative Medicine. Dr. Hueftle practices full time in our Butte center. He enjoys treating patients with all types of cancers and hematologic disorders. He is very interested in contributing to medical research and finding the best treatments for cancer. Dr. Hueftle also serves as the Medical Director of Highlands Hospice in Butte, and has done so since 1986. Dr. Hueftle was raised in Denver, Colorado. He has 3 daughters. His wife, Karen works part time in our Butte center also. The Hueftle family enjoys outdoor activities such as fishing, hiking and skiing. The family dog even joins in on the hikes, carrying his own backpack.
Marty Lucas, M.D. Marty Lucas has been practicing with Frontier Cancer Center and Blood Institute since 2001. She graduated from the University of Tennessee Center for Health Sciences with her degree in medicine in 1985. Subsequently she has completed internship and residency in internal medicine followed by a fellowship in hematology-oncology at the University of Tennessee. She spent two years as an assistant professor at the University of Tennessee specializing in coagulation disorders before moving into private practice in Memphis. She is board certified in Internal Medicine, Hematology and Oncology. Her special interests include coagulation disorders, hematologic processes, and hematologic malignancies. Dr. Lucas practices in the Billings and Miles City offices. She and her husband Brian have three daughters and one son. She has a special fondness for the people of Uganda and hopes to continue with missions support to this area of the world.
David Christianson, M.D. David Christianson was raised in North Dakota then attended medical school and completed his residency at the University of Oklahoma. He completed his fellowship in medical oncology at Ellis Fischel Cancer Center, University of Missouri-Columbia, and joined Frontier in 2004. He is board certified in Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Christianson, who practices full time in our Billings Center, serves as the principal investigator for research protocols offered through the Accelerated Community Oncology Research Network. He enjoys caring for patients with all types of cancer. He and his wife Pam have a daughter and son. Together, he and his family enjoy the numerous outdoor activities that Montana and Wyoming provide.
Troy Fiddler, M.D., PhD Dr. Fiddler joined the physicians of Frontier Cancer Center and Blood Institute in 2006. After receiving his medical degree from Oregon Health Sciences University School of Medicine, Dr. Fiddler performed his internship and residency at Maine Medical Center in Portland, Maine. Dr. Fiddler received advanced training in Hematology and Oncology through a fellowship completed at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. In addition to his medical training, Dr. Fiddler received his PhD at Oregon Health Sciences University researching the molecular genetics of Rhabdomyosarcoma. He practices full time in our Billings Center. He enjoys treating patients with all types of cancers and hematologic disorders, with a special interest in malignancies of the GI.
Joni Buechler-Price, M.D. Dr. Joni Buechler-Price grew up on a farm outside of Golden Valley, North Dakota. Truly a farm/small-town girl, there were seven people in her high school graduating class! The road she took to becoming a physician was longer and a bit more winding than the one usually taken. She first attended Minot State University and became an x-ray technician. She went on to the University of Iowa, where she became a radiation therapist. Years later, she earned her nursing degree at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland. She loved nursing, but felt the call to become a physician. In 2006, she graduated from the University of North Dakota School of Medicine. When choosing her specialty, she was drawn back to radiation oncology. Interestingly, she returned to the University of Iowa for her radiation oncology residency – and graduated in June 2011. Her years of experience in the field of medicine – in a variety of roles – have given her an understanding and perspective that is unique to a physician in radiation oncology. Dr. Buechler-Price has a passion for breast cancer patients and their treatment. During residency, most of her research was in the area of breast cancer. She had several abstracts accepted at national meetings, her work presented at a conference in China, and she was published in the International Journal of Breast Cancer (2011). Joni and her husband, Jeremy, were married in the beautiful badlands of Medora, North Dakota. They both love the Midwest, and would never want to live anywhere else. Jeremy is a charter pilot, and is building an airplane in the garage. (Trips back to visit family in North Dakota will be a lot easier once it is finished.) Jeremy is also looking forward to all of the hunting and fishing that Montana has to offer! They both enjoy hiking and biking in God’s beautiful outdoors. They have two cats (Cheyenne and Piper, named after airplanes), and they rule the house.
John Vipperman, PA-C John has been practicing medicine with Frontier Cancer Center and Blood Institute since 2001 in our Cody, Wyoming office. He received his Physicians Assistant degree from Rocky Mountain College in Billings in 1998 after receiving a degree in biology and chemistry from Carroll College in Helena in 1989. John is a member of the American Academy of Physicians Assistants, Wyoming Association of Physicians Assistants, and American Society of Clinical Pathologists. He has been involved with the American Cancer Society Relay for Life, the Park County Advisory Council, and was an Ambassador for the 2006 Celebration on the Hill. He also participated in the Wyoming Celebration of Hope in Cheyenne. He coordinates the local tumor board and enjoys speaking at various support groups in the community. In his free time, John enjoys camping and fishing with his family, spouse Jauntae, and three children Jessaray, Jakoby and Joren. He also is involved with coaching Cody youth baseball. When not doing any of the above, he enjoys driving around Wyoming in his Jeep CJ.
David Brost, PA-C MS David has been practicing medicine with Frontier since 2003. He is a native of Montana who grew up in Richey. He completed his undergraduate degree and Physician Assistant training at Rocky Mountain College in Billings. Prior to joining Frontier, David practiced primary care as a naval officer at the Naval Medical Center in San Diego. He also received a Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant studies with specialization in Hematology and Oncology through the University of Nebraska. David worked with patients in our Butte office for three years before beginning his practice in our Billings office in 2006. He occasionally spends a few days helping out in our Butte and Cody offices when needed. David’s wife Kylie is also a Montana native, having been raised in Darby. Together, they have a son and daughter, and enjoy traveling across the state visiting family. David’s favorite hobby is fishing (especially the special challenges that go along with ice fishing!)