Faculty

Our faculty bring an exceptional breadth of experience and talents to the FMR program. Our physicians are board certified in family medicine, internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, geriatric medicine, and addiction medicine. They have completed fellowships in maternal child health, global health, and tropical health, and master’s degrees in public health, business administration, and theology. Several have worked in training programs and direct patient care in countries throughout Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Director of our Mobile Health Team was named Illinois Family Physician of the Year.

What brings such an exceptional group of people together? A commitment to practicing medicine as a mission to serve “the least of these”, and to equip others to do the same.


 
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Benjamin Preyss, MD, MBA // Program Director ▼

Undergraduate: University of Chicago

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Residency: Northwestern McGaw

MBA: University of Illinois at Chicago

As Program Director, Dr. Preyss provides day-to-day leadership, mentoring, teaching, and administrative oversight to our residents, faculty, and program staff. He has worked in various leadership roles at LCHC for the last ten years, and is the founding Program Director of the Lawndale FMR. His professional interests include addiction medicine, team-based care for "high-risk"/vulnerable patients, and training the next generation of family physician leaders.

A former Schweitzer Fellow, Pisacano Scholar, member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society, and graduate of an original Teaching Health Center program, Dr. Preyss is dually boarded in Family Medicine (ABFM) and Addiction Medicine (ABPM).

His wife, Alia, is an OB/GYN physician at LCHC and also faculty with Lawndale FMR, and together they share the great joy of raising three boys. He loves all things sporting and movie-going.

Elizabeth Redican, DO // Associate Program Director ▼

Undergraduate: Lipscomb University

Medical School: Des Moines University, College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Ventura County Medical Center

Fellowship: Maternal Child Health, West Suburban Medical Center

As Associate Program Director, Dr. Redican spearheads much of the program’s curriculum and is responsible for the resident training experience in our partner hospitals. Dr. Redican practices full spectrum family medicine, caring for patients in the clinic and hospital in obstetrics and adult medicine, and providing maternity and infant care through LCHC's Centering groups.

Dr. Redican was first drawn to medicine with a dream of working internationally, and spent a year helping and visiting medical missionaries after completing her residency. She continued her training in high risk obstetrical care by completing a MCH Fellowship at West Suburban Hospital. God unexpectedly opened her heart for training up the next generation of medical providers, urban medicine, and a newfound love for West Side Chicago.

Outside of medicine, you can find Dr. Redican on the dance floor, mentoring youth in Chicago through “GRIP”, tending to her garden, hosting prayer meetings, spending time with her roommates, and visiting the suburbs often to love on her nieces and nephews.

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Casey Clardy, PHD, MDIV // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Samford University

School of Psychology: Fuller Theological Seminary

Dr. Clardy is the rotation supervisor for Behavioral Health, and provides leadership to LCHC’s Behavioral Health and Population Health teams. She is passionate about teaching residents and mental health trainees how to address behavioral health and substance use needs of high risk populations chronically unengaged in the healthcare system, from a distinctly Christian perspective. As a community-based clinical psychologist, Dr. Clardy has dedicated her career to the intersection of psychology and faith in service of underserved populations. She is fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Clardy has also served as an Adjunct Assistant Professor at her alma mater, Fuller Theological Seminary, where she earned her PhD in Clinical Psychology and Masters of Divinity. She has conducted research and consultation in international settings, and has co-authored books, chapters, and articles on adolescent spiritual development and thriving in cross-cultural contexts. She serves on the Board of Directors for Christian Community Health Fellowship (CCHF), and is a past recipient of the Outstanding Contributions to the Primary Care Behavioral Health Model award from the national Collaborative Family Healthcare Association (CFHA).

She lives in Oak Park with her dog Riley, and enjoys traveling, singing, cycling, and camping.

 

TARA DEJESUS, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Columbia University

Medical School: Rush Medical College

Residency: Cook County Hospital

Dr. deJesus is a pediatrician who supervises residents on both their inpatient and outpatient pediatric rotations. She also serves as the faculty director for the resident advisor program, and as the faculty advisor of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion resident workgroup.

Dr. deJesus graduated from Rush Medical College in 1999 and completed her pediatrics residency at Cook County Hospital in 2003. She sees patients at LCHC clinics in East Garfield and North Lawndale, as well as newborns and inpatient pediatric patients at Mount Sinai and Saint Anthony Hospitals. Her clinical interests include general pediatrics, newborn visits, pediatric obesity, and anticipatory guidance.

Having grown up in Puerto Rico and Miami Beach, Florida, Dr. deJesus is fluent in spoken and written Spanish. Dr deJesus lives in Garfield Park, where she and her family also enjoy Broadway musicals, board games, puzzles and karaoke. She is also a faithful participant in the Let’s Move, Lawndale! weekly walking group and the LCFit Staff Wellness Book Club.

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Wayne Detmer, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Yale University

Medical School: University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine

Residency: University of Cincinnati

Dr. Detmer has worked at Lawndale Christian Health Center since 1999 and was promoted to Chief Clinical Officer of Operations in 2001. Dr. Detmer has been a coach and advisor to hundreds of interns and medical students, working with our residents in their Chief Rotation during PGY3. He has a particular interest and wisdom when it comes to exploring how faith should inform our practice of medicine.

Dr. “D” lives in South Lawndale with his wife, Gina, who is a pediatrician at LCHC. They have four incredible children.

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Kara Greeley, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Mount Holyoke College

Medical School: University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine

Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital

Dr. Greeley is one of our primary clinic preceptors and OB attendings, and regularly teaches our Wednesday afternoon didactics. She has served as Director of Maternal Child Health for LCHC for ten years. She also provides maternity and infant care through Centering groups, and provides holistic care for multi-generational immigrant families at Farragut Career Academy, where patients are seen both from the community and the high school, and where she also serves as the Site Medical Director. Dr. Greeley has taken call on Labor and Delivery throughout her career, during which she enjoys teaching and mentoring students and young physicians to provide excellent and compassionate maternity care.

Dr. Greeley has lived in the South Lawndale community for over two decades with her husband, Siri, and family, who always keep it an exciting place with her three boys, one girl, two cats, and rambunctious dog. She has found that living in the same community as her patients has given her insight into the strengths and challenges of life in their neighborhood, and creates a deeper bond with them.

 

MICAH CHOI HONG, DO // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Advocate Christ Medical Center

Fellowship: Maternal Child Health Surgical Obstetrics, West Suburban Medical Center

Dr. Choi Hong regularly precepts residents in our continuity clinic, provides full spectrum family medicine in the outpatient setting and delivers babies as part of LCHC’s obstetrics team in the hospital.

Dr. Choi Hong graduated from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2015 and completed her family medicine residency at Advocate Christ Medical Center in 2018.

Dr. Choi Hong loves the outdoors, including camping (even in the winter), hiking, biking, and traveling with her husband Stephen. She also likes to go on long walks with her dog Gabriel, to do innovative cooking, and to learn from failures on how to care for plants.

Florence Hsiao, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Princeton University

Medical School: Yale School of Medicine

Residency: University of Cincinnati/Christ Hospital

Dr. Hsiao is the supervisor of our FMR Clinic (aka continuity clinic) and the "Clinic First" rotation. She also teaches didactics and oversees residents on their OB rotations. She was introduced to Lawndale through her husband, Daniel, who is also a physician and faculty with Lawndale FMR, and who did an internship at LCHC after college.

Dr. Hsiao has particular interests in maternity care, women's health, point-of-care ultrasound, and care for underserved populations both locally and abroad.

Dr. Hsiao graduated from Yale School of Medicine in 2019 and completed her family medicine residency at the University of Cincinnati/Christ Hospital program in 2022. She completed a one year global health fellowship after residency in rural Guatemala, with a focus on maternity care and point-of-care ultrasound.

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Thomas Huggett, MD, MPH // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin - Madison

Medical School: University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine

Residency: University of Missouri-Columbia

MPH: Johns Hopkins University

Dr. Huggett currently serves as Medical Director of Mobile Health at LCHC, leading a team of healthcare providers providing full spectrum family medicine to 12 homeless shelters. Their team-based care includes care and support of severe mental illness, medication and support for opioid and other substance use disorders, HIV care and prevention, in addition to broad primary and preventive care.

Dr. Huggett was named the 2018 Illinois Family Physician of the Year by the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians, recognizing his 25 years of working on the West Side of Chicago passionately providing primary care to residents of marginalized communities, particularly those struggling with homelessness and substance use. He is the ideal role model, mentor, and instructor for family physicians.

Dr. Huggett lives in the Austin community on the West Side of Chicago.

 

Louisa Olushoga, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Dartmouth College

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Residency: University of Chicago

Dr. Olushoga is faculty for behavioral health and serves as a resident advisor. In her role at LCHC, Dr. Olushoga works in collaboration with primary care providers to deliver psychiatric care to LCHC patients. A passionate advocate for women’s mental health with a particular interest in minority populations, Dr. Olushoga is an accomplished lecturer and resource on topics such as mental health care amongst vulnerable populations, collective trauma, and psychiatric diagnosis/treatment during the peripartum period. Her research interests include women’s mental health and management of complex psychiatric issues within the context of trauma.

Dr. Olushoga augmented her training with a fellowship in Women’s Psychiatry at Northwestern University. During residency she received a prestigious American Psychiatric Association Diversity Leadership award and served on the APA Council of Minority Mental Health/Health Disparities. She holds a faculty affiliation with Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine where she supervises medical students and maintains continued involvement in research, and helped establish the Women’s Psychiatric Clinic at the University of Chicago. She has worked as a consulting psychiatrist for the ERASE Trafficking program, a ground-breaking local effort to provide comprehensive care to survivors of sex and labor trafficking, and served as Associate Board President for the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Alex Porte, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Hope College

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine

Residency: South Bend Memorial Hospital

Dr. Porte is the supervisor for the Mobile Health-Substance Use Disorder rotation, and also works as a preceptor in the continuity clinic of the residency program. He began work at LCHC in 2019, based out of the Homan Square clinic. Dr. Porte’s interests include addiction medicine and treatment of severe mental illness. He also has a special interest in treating persons experiencing homelessness, and his experiences in that area includes serving as the site medical director at Pacific Garden Mission (one of the largest shelters in the country), and working at a hotel-based shelter used to protect vulnerable persons during the Covid epidemic.

Dr. Porte graduated from Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in 2016 and completed his family medicine residency at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, in 2019.

Originally from Kalamazoo, Michigan, Dr. Porte lives in North Lawndale with his wife, Courtney, and his three children. He loves playing pickup basketball at Lawndale’s gym, going to Douglass Park, and hiking the dunes of Lake Michigan with his family.

Melissa Alia Preyss, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: University of Chicago

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Residency: University of Chicago

Dr. Preyss is lead faculty for the Women’s Health rotation. She provides comprehensive obstetrics and gynecology care to patients at LCHC as well our primary partner hospitals, where she takes call and operates. Her clinical interests include full spectrum obstetrics and gynecology, abnormal uterine bleeding, and providing access to minimally invasive surgery and prolapse management to historically medically underserved patient groups. She is passionate about health equity and fluent in Spanish.

Dr. Preyss is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology, serves on the steering committee for Chicago's Equal Care — Cervical Cancer initiative, and is also faculty for the OB/GYN residency at Sinai Hospital.

She lives in Oak Park with her husband, Ben, and their three young boys. She loves to travel and try new foods, though nothing will ever quite taste as good as her Grandma's pozole.

 

Michael Sethi, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Wheaton College

Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University

Residency: Oregon Health and Science University

MBA: Eastern University

Dr. Sethi first came to Lawndale as an intern from 2007 to 2009, and returned as a general pediatrician in 2016, seeing patients in the clinic and the hospital. He has been the LCHC pediatric service line leader since 2021 and faculty for the Family Medicine Residency Program since 2022, where he serves as the supervisor of inpatient and outpatient pediatric rotations. He enjoys all aspects of primary care pediatrics, and particularly enjoys breastfeeding promotion, medical education, and improving coordination of care with other institutions.

Prior to his work as a physician, Dr. Sethi spent 16 months working for an organization in Afghanistan, expanding the reach of the national tuberculosis program. It was there that he felt called to a career in medicine and where he met people from Lawndale who encouraged him to work at LCHC while preparing for medical school.

Dr. Sethi lives four blocks from the clinic in Little Village with his wife Bethany and their three daughters. He enjoys leading worship on keys or guitar, cooking adventurous food, struggling to bring order to his garden, and traveling the world with his family.

Erick Skaff, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Hope College

Medical School: Rush Medical College

Residency: West Suburban Hospital

Fellowship: Perinatal Child Health, PCC Community Wellness

Dr. Skaff supervises the OB rotation, teaches Wednesday didactics, and precepts residents in continuity clinic. His journey with LCHC began as a medical student, when he was assigned continuity clinic with Dr. Benjamin Preyss as part of his medical school's family medicine leadership program.

He is passionate about full spectrum family medicine and completed a specialized fellowship training in high-risk obstetrics, including Cesarean sections.

Dr. Skaff was honored with the Edward J. Eckenfels Award in Social and Community Medicine during medical school and was awarded the Resident Teacher of the Year by both faculty and peers during his residency.

A native of Flint, Michigan, Dr. Skaff married a Chicagoan who was a patient at LCHC during her childhood. When not immersed in medicine, he can be found exploring Chicago's diverse culinary scene and teaching his one-year-old daughter how to swim.

Daniel Song, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Princeton University

Medical School: Yale University

Residency: University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Children's Hospital

Dr. Song works with the inpatient experience of the FMR program, directing the St. Anthony inpatient rotation. He also oversees the home visit program within the Geriatrics rotation, precepts in continuity clinic, and occasionally leads weekly didactics. Dr. Song's clinic home is the Breakthrough Clinic, and his clinical interests include transitions of care between home and hospital, reducing hospitalizations and ER visits, and SUD treatment.

Dr. Song is board certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics. He first worked for LCHC in 2013 as an intern before going to medical school, intending to return to California once he completed his training, but God took him on a detour to join LCHC once again as a physician and to be part of the residency program.

Dr. Song's personal interests include enjoying live classical and jazz music, reading poetry and working on linocut prints. He lives in North Lawndale with Florence Hsiao, his wife and fellow FMR faculty member, and attends Lawndale Community Church.

 

Allison Thoburn, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: University of Chicago

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Residency: University of Chicago

Fellowship: Geriatrics, University of Chicago

Dr. Thoburn is the faculty lead for Geriatrics. She serves as Medical Director for LCHC's Senior Clinic where she enjoys practicing both primary care for older adults, as well as offering consults for specific geriatric concerns.

As a medical student at UIC, she had the opportunity to visit LCHC with her chapter of the Christian Medical and Dental Association, and witnessed the beauty of the mission here. Upon completing her geriatric fellowship at U of C, she took the opportunity to come to LCHC with the goal of bringing better access to specialized geriatric care for older adults in our surrounding neighborhoods.

Outside of work, she enjoys gardening and cooking with the produce she grows, as well as spending time with her husband and two dogs.

Jasmine Tzeggai, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Northwestern University

Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

Residency: University of Michigan

Dr. Tzeggai works with residents as a preceptor in continuity clinic, leads the integration of Community Health and Equity into the program's curriculum, and provides full spectrum family medicine outpatient care. She learned about LCHC while visiting as a medical student and returned to this community after completing her residency, eager to pursue her interests in community medicine, health equity, women’s health, and preventative care, alongside others who share her passions. She is also humbled and excited by the opportunity to help trainees grow and find joy in their work.

Dr. Tzeggai loves spending time with her family and friends, and will find any excuse to get together over a good meal. When she’s not exploring the city’s food scene, you’ll probably find her singing along to gospel music or enjoying a local concert.

Brendan Webb, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: Bob Jones University

Medical School: Rush Medical College

Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center

Dr. Webb is the rotation supervisor for Emergency Medicine and provides training and education in multiple clinical areas, including POCUS and acute care. Dr. Webb is the Medical Director of LCHC’s Immediate Care Clinic and also takes call with the inpatient medicine team at Mt. Sinai and St. Anthony hospitals.

After completing residency, Dr. Webb worked at the LBJ Tropical Medical Center in Pago Pago, American Samoa. He continued work in family and emergency medicine in rural Michigan while completing a diploma in Tropical Medicine and preparing for a move to Yemen. In Yemen, Dr. Webb led the development of an emergency department, provided medical education at a large government hospital, and ran a free clinic in an orphanage and a prison. Dr. Webb then moved to Egypt and served as the Associate Program Director in the Aswan Family Medicine Residency Program for five years.

After 16 years overseas, Dr. Webb returned to Chicago, where he now lives with his wife and two children.

 

MICHELLE YOO, MD // Faculty ▼

Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Medical School: University of Illinois at Chicago

Residency: Loyola University/MacNeal Hospital

Dr. Yoo precepts residents in continuity and OB migrant clinic, including morning teaching and case-based discussions in clinic. Dr. Yoo enjoys procedures and broad-spectrum family medicine, and has a particular interest in women’s health/OB and global health.

In medical school, Dr. Yoo was a scholar in the Global Medicine Program, which provided supplemental curriculum in global health. She was involved in overseas medical mission work/research during this time and was also a member of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Dr. Yoo stumbled across LCHC's Green Tomato Cafe during medical school while in search of a place to study. After witnessing two strangers interlocking hands and fervently praying together, she later found out about LCHC and its mission. Since then, she has found LCHC to be a perfect fit for her.

Outside of medicine, she loves traveling and exploring new cultures and foods. She also enjoys hiking and music (playing guitar, piano, leading worship at church) and spending time with her husband, newborn baby, and German shepherd puppy.

 

Residents

What is different about the doctors who want to train with Lawndale Christian? We believe that the practice of medicine is meant to be bigger than what is often experienced in our healthcare system today. We believe that every one of our patients bears the image of God, and that our view of their health and our service to them should reflect that understanding. It drives everything we do, including how we treat our team and how we treat each other.

Whether it’s a new mom with her baby, a senior suffering with chronic illness, or somebody struggling with homelessness or addiction, we strive to live out our motto of “Loving God, Loving People, Learning Medicine.”

 

Nils Eastburg, MD // PGY-3 ▼

Originally from Michigan, Nils has been in the Chicago area for the last decade, first completing a degree in Economics at Wheaton College, where he was a captain of the track and field team, and had an agricultural development internship in the Congo.

Of his time in Africa, “The injustice of poverty often places people at a further disadvantage due to poor access to quality healthcare… Health gives people the power to fight injustice. It allows them to reach for more than survival. When people know they will be well, they can find new ways of bringing change to their lives.”

Nils continued on to medical school at Rush University Medical Center, where he served as a peer advisor and on the Student Curriculum Advisor Committee. Nils and his wife are active in their church, Soul City, and enjoy exploring new restaurants around Chicago.

Alicia Ross, MD // PGY-3 ▼

Alicia hails from Tennessee, where she studied Biology at the University of Memphis before completing medical school at Ross University. Alicia brings a variety of experiences in preparation to become a physician, including work as a patient care technician, school teacher, and working with adults with mental and physical disabilities.

More recently, Alicia co-founded The Black Impact, an organization that assists underserved communities through service, promoting diversity in medicine, and providing access to adequate healthcare regardless of race, finances, or socioeconomic status. “My passion is to provide excellent healthcare for minorities by helping them manage their chronic diseases and give information and treatment to others to avoid preventable conditions and complications.”

Alexandra Pryor, MD // PGY-3 ▼

Alexandra (Ali) has always called California home, completing both her undergraduate studies and medical school at the University of California, San Diego.

During her years in San Diego, Ali was active in a number of volunteer efforts, from her clinic work just over the border in Tijuana, Mexico and on the Rincon Reservation, where she completed an experience in rural and reservation health in partnership with the Indian Health Council, to supporting her fellow students as a leader in the UCSD Christian Medical Fellowship.

Of her desire to become a family medicine physician, “I am enthusiastic to learn how to better use my faith to care for my patients and inform my training. I desire to be trained not only on how to practice excellent medicine but also on how to engage with the community.”

 

Rafael Torres, MD // PGY-3 ▼

As the son of immigrants, Rafael grew up in Florida only thinking he might accomplish his parents wishes of having a “better life”, but this all changed on a trip to the Dominican Republic with a church group, where he saw the impact doctors were able to have in some villages there. “I saw firsthand how a doctor could make an impact on people’s lives. What fascinated me was how familiar these doctors were with the people of this community and their various ailments. It took nearly a year of reflecting on this trip to begin to understand what that “better life” that my parents always spoke about was; not something tangible, rather, it was opportunity.”

After completing his undergraduate degree in Biology at Florida International University, Rafael completed medical school at Ross University, where he was involved with the Catholic Student Association and Latino Medical Student Association.

Benjamin Watt, MD // PGY-3 ▼

Ben is from western Pennsylvania, where he studied mathematics at Saint Vincent College before completing his medical degree at Penn State College of Medicine.

While in medical school, Ben served as a leader for the campus Christian Medical Society, a rural health fair outreach, and the 2023 edition of the Wild Onions humanities journal. He found rich community through church and with other adults living at the Paxton Ministries personal care home in Harrisburg, and he looks forward to growing in community in his new home.

Of his aspirations for residency, “I hope to grow as a whole person, cultivating hospitality, compassion, camaraderie, wisdom, and integrity, rooted in the life- and practice-changing love of Jesus. In my career, I will strive to serve patients no matter who they are, especially those living with barriers to medical care such as poverty, disabilities, or geography.”

Jenny Zheyuan Xu, MD // PGY-3 ▼

Jenny’s home has been California. She studied Molecular Environmental Biology at the University of California, Berkleley, and then attended the Sackler School of Medicine.

Jenny has used her fluency in Mandarin both in a volunteer capacity with the Migrant Workers Hotline to help Chinese workers with limited healthcare access, as well as a paid medical translator. She has also volunteered with clinics and hospitals in Israel and Mongolia, which exposed her to medicine in resource-poor countries and seeded her passion for global medicine. “God has been exceedingly gracious to me and have taken me to places I could never dream of. He has also given me Christian physicians as mentors and role models. I wish to respond to God’s love by following His example of loving people and bringing healing to the sick, since He is truly the Great Physician.”

 

Leira Lew, MD // PGY-3 ▼

Leira joined Lawndale FMR as a PGY-2 after completing her intern year in Arizona. She attended Calvin University as an undergraduate and then completed medical school at Michigan State University. Leira participated in a variety of volunteer activities to serve her community during college and medical school, including work with refugees, a mass vaccination clinic, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, distributing surplus baked goods, youth outreach work and supporting humanitarian medical work in the Philippines. Leira plays the drums, has a third Dan Black Belt in Taekwondo, and her research on the effectiveness of mental health interventions on refugees and immigrants was given an award at a global health conference in 2022.

Of her desires for residency, Leira writes “I want to keep learning about the historical context of my city and patients, engage in crucial conversations, and provide holistic and preventative healthcare to underserved communities – both in my neighborhood and abroad. I am passionate about family medicine because of its long-term relationships from cradle to grave, wide breadth of organ systems, and care for the whole person in the context of their community.”

Similolu Akintorin, MD // PGY-2 ▼

Simi grew up in the suburbs of Chicago, before completing her undergraduate degree in Economics at Harvard University and attending the USC Keck School of Medicine on a full-tuition merit scholarship. During medical school Simi volunteered teaching health topics to elementary school students, was involved in numerous research projects, and was the co-president of the Christian Student Fellowship.

Comparing an experience volunteering as an interpreter in Senegal with a summer internship here at Lawndale, Simi writes “I realized that much like my patients in Senegal, these people who lived less than 20 miles away from where I grew up were excluded from proper healthcare access merely due to their zip code. I decided then and there that I would use my medical career to benefit people's health no matter where they came from.” Simi has the proud distinction of being the first second-generation physician at Lawndale Christian Health Center, as her mother served as a pediatrician with our health center over twenty years ago.

Hope Chen, MD // PGY-2 ▼

Originally from San Diego, Hope studied mechanical engineering as an undergraduate at MIT, and went on to medical school here in Chicago at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Before beginning medical school, Hope was a Fulbright Scholar, for which she served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. Department of State in Taiwan, where she also taught English. She has volunteered with multiple hospice programs over several years, including one established specifically to provide spiritual, physical, and medical care for homeless men with AIDS.

Reflecting on her attraction to family medicine, Hope writes “Just as the body is a complex organism to be nurtured and maintained, the family medicine physician's job is that of a gardener, tending the soil, providing water, and allowing adequate sunlight for life to thrive. And just as every plant requires different conditions to grow, each patient requires their own unique medical care to flourish.” Hope is also known for sneaking into our health center group photo at conferences before matching with the Lawndale FMR, in the hopes that it would ensure the inevitability of her joining our program.

 

Gabriela Cossyleon, MD // PGY-2 ▼

Originally from the southeast side of Chicago, Gaby attended Dominican University in the Chicago suburbs where she studied biochemistry, before going on to medical school at St. George’s University School of Medicine. Gaby has worked as a barber and a supervising chemist with hazardous waste at a processing center. Among her extracurricular experiences, Gaby volunteered for several years with a prison ministry for women inmates at Cook County Jail, where she valued the opportunity to build trust and rapport with women who had grown up in some of the same neighborhoods where Gaby had her roots.

Seeing that “there is no place like Lawndale” as Gaby shared in some early correspondence with the Lawndale FMR, Gaby shared her own heart for “building deeper roots within the community and with the Love of Christ.”

Rachel Maibach, DO // PGY-2 ▼

Rachel studied neurobiology and physiology at Purdue University in her home state of Indiana, and then was off to Missouri for medical school at A.T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Rachel served for three years as an executive board member of the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents, a national body that includes the student government of every College of Osteopathic Medicine. She was also the Vice President and President of the Student Government Association at her medical school, and has worked with junior high girls as a weekend church camp counselor for many years.

Rachel shares that such leadership experience “has helped focus my passion for justice into concrete skills in advocacy and policy development at the state and national level. I'm committed to honing these skills throughout my career and to advocating for my patients both within the clinic setting and more broadly within healthcare policy.”

Haakon Nelson, MD // PGY-2 ▼

Haakon completed his undergraduate degree at Liberty University in Virginia before returning to his home state of Ohio to enroll at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. During medical school, Haakon was a representative for the Christian Medical and Dental Associations, earned a graduate certificate in human nutrition, and participated in a longitudinal geriatric medicine track.

Reflecting on his student rotation at Lawndale, Haakon writes, “It was there that my calling was reaffirmed to holistically serve the marginalized, and despite the challenges inherent in this work, I am convinced there is immense joy in being there for our patients who are most vulnerable to falling through the cracks of the system.”

 

Tiffany Pariva, MD // PGY-2 ▼

Tiffany studied microbiology, immunology, and molecular genetics as an undergraduate at UCLA, and then went to the Loma Linda University School of Medicine, before leaving her home state of California to join us here in Chicago. While volunteering with a street medicine program, Tiffany was involved in developing a program to provide eye care and eyeglasses to the homeless population in San Bernardino. She also volunteered with a group from her church at a homeless shelter in Riverside, worked with pregnant teens as San Bernadino high schools, and with a community health center in Los Angeles.

These and other experiences drove Tiffany to research physician management of adverse childhood experiences and social determinants of health to improve screening methods to identify high risk populations. She writes “this research and my clinical experiences have shown me the power of social risk factors in determining a patients' overall health and has taught me the role of advocacy a physician has, especially for those most vulnerable in a society. In the future I hope to advocate for my patient's health through further research and education.”

Josephine Sebagisha, MD // PGY-2 ▼

Originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Josephine lived in Massachusetts before completing her undergraduate studies at the University of Massachusetts in Lowell, and then going to the St. James School of Medicine. Prior to medical school, she was a science and literacy lab teaching assistant for immigrants with English as a second language. Working with Congolese immigrants who were born and grew up in refugee camps, she understood their challenges, and they found comfort simply by seeing a "familiar face."

Josephine was drawn to family medicine in part by witnessing the profound impact it can have on patients and their families as she accompanied her own family members on journeys with serious illness. She writes of a physician caring for her loved ones, “The physician addressed not only acute but chronic illness. He not only addressed the medical needs but also acknowledged our family's trauma and embraced us with compassion. These experiences provided valuable insights about the complex relational aspect of family medicine, combining specialties of pediatrics, women's health and geriatrics.”

Alisha Tillman, DO // PGY-2 ▼

A Tennessee native, Alisha completed her undergraduate and medical degrees in Alabama, at Alabama Agricultural & Mechanical University and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. She also completed a post-baccalaureate research internship at the Jackson Laboratory in Bar Harbor, Maine, where she conducted research that investigated the effects of chemotherapy on premature ovarian follicles in mice. She was also part of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Medical Scholars Program, a National Medical Fellowship Primary Care Leadership Program Scholar, and a J.W. Darden Scholarship Recipient.

Reflecting on a volunteer experience to address inequalities in healthcare access, Alisha shared “Being an integral part of this project underlined that health disparities not only stem from lack of finances, access, or education. They can be created or worsened by culturally unaware healthcare professionals. This project motivated me to ensure the people I encounter feel heard and supported.”

 

Lauryn Ashford, MD // PGY-1 ▼

Lauryn left Atlanta to complete her undergraduate studies at Tougaloo College in Mississippi, and then went on to Brown University for medical school. While at Tougaloo, she was an officer in the Student Government Association and part of several academic honor societies. At Brown, Lauryn participated in research to improve the quality of patient-centered outpatient discussions regarding advanced care planning and to improve satisfaction with feedback coming from residents of Brown Medicine’s Residency Program.

Lauryn’s observations of her great, great aunt Mattie Mae’s encounters with the healthcare system led her to pursue a year of elective research as an Academic Scholar, resulting in a systematic literature review titled "The Effects of Racism on Black Maternal Mortality," and strengthened her commitment to advocate for all patients' voices to be heard and validated throughout their healthcare journeys.

Lauryn shares “My commitment to Family Medicine is driven by a desire to provide trustworthy, comprehensive care that will support patients throughout their lifetime. I am passionate about serving diverse populations, advocating for health equity, and fostering long-term relationships with patients and their families.”

Zachary (Zach) Davis, MD // PGY-1 ▼

Zach grew up in sub-Saharan Africa, in a place where there was little to no access to healthcare. After graduating from Wheaton College, he worked at Lawndale before continuing on to medical school with the University of Illinois.

During his first time working at Lawndale, Zach came to see that while healthcare inequity in Chicago may look different than what he observed during his years in Africa, they were nonetheless present. He developed a particular interest in mental illness and substance use disorders, which he was able to stay involved in through volunteering and research. Among the topics he studied were scoping reviews describing low-threshold buprenorphine programs and of risk/protective factors for adolescent co-use of marijuana and alcohol, a descriptive analysis of distance travelled by patients to a mobile buprenorphine program, and a retrospective analysis of retention based on amount of buprenorphine dispensed/prescribed.

Zach was fortunate to have fantastic research mentors who prioritize patient-centered research, through whose tutelage he came to realize how the kinds of questions researchers ask has the power to shape their field in ways that can bring the interests of different people to the front. These experiences were so impactful on Zach, he shares “As a clinician and researcher who strives to keep my patients at the center of my work, I've come to see research as an essential element of patient advocacy.”

Haley Hagopian-Maloul, DO // PGY-1 ▼

Haley’s early interest in practicing medicine sprung from observing a doctor caring for a family member with ongoing health issues, a steadfast figure who inspired strength during the lows and celebrated the highs.

After college at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Haley went on to the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. At UIUC she was a Resident Advisor, specifically advising women pursuing degrees in math, science, and engineering. She has also volunteered with her church and a non-profit she cofounded in 2009 to recreate holidays for hospitalized pediatric patients. As a student state representative for the Christian Medical and Dental Association, Haley organized city-wide CMDA events for students and healthcare professionals.

Haley writes, “I am choosing to pursue family medicine because it allows me to be a physician who fosters enduring patient relationships, addresses the full spectrum of a patient's health throughout their lifetime, and emphasizes prevention and lifestyle medicine. These guiding principles have led me to this field, where I am eager to make a meaningful impact on the lives of patients and their families, continuing the legacy of care and compassion that has profoundly shaped my life from an early age.”

 

Aaron Holley, DO // PGY-1 ▼

A native of Mobile, Alabama, Aaron finished her undergraduate degree at Auburn University and stayed nearby to study medicine at the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. She had a specific interest in osteopathic medicine because it equipped her to view patients from a multidimensional perspective, starting early in medical school, which is particularly crucial in family medicine.

While Aaron’s extracurriculars included some traditional roles like membership in the Christian Medical and Dental Association, volunteering in a community garden, and serving as president of an organization using volunteers to deliver essential medical care to underserved communities, one of Aaron’s first activities on her CV is one she lists as “Neighbor”, in which she describes the commitment she and her husband have had to being good neighbors, picking up trash or lending a ride to someone with unstable transportation.

“Some of our neighbors live with inconsistent housing and food insecurity. We try to build a sense of community with our fellow neighbors, no matter their circumstances, knowing everyone brings something valuable to the relationship in their own way.”

Ifunanya (Ify) Nweke, MD // PGY-1 ▼

Growing up in Houston, Ify watched her mother ensure that anyone who visited their home always had something to eat. This lesson inspired Ify to take care of others not only through food, but also in family medicine by nurturing patients' well-being and building strong, supportive relationships.

Ify completed her bachelor’s degree at the University of Texas at Austin, a master’s degree at George Washington University, and then medical school at Ross University. Ify has volunteered and mentored with several community organizations and was the president of her Student National Medical Association chapter in medical school. While working on her master’s degree, Ify was a Residence Director overseeing ten resident assistants supporting over 400 undergraduate students. Feeling that she was falling short in serving her Spanish-speaking patients, Ify embarked on learning Spanish, and learning medical Spanish has enriched her understanding of diverse patient needs, underscoring the importance of making every patient feel valued, and preparing her to provide more inclusive and effective care.

Regarding her pursuit of a residency program to support her in continuing her journey, Ify writes “As I embark on this next step in my career, I am eager to find a residency program where I can build a strong foundation as a primary care physician. I aspire to be a doctor who is engaged with my patients, supporting them through the various medical seasons of their lives.”

Diamanta Panford-Ufere, MD // PGY-1 ▼

Born and raised in South London, Diamanta relocated to Bolingbrook, Illinois as a high schooler, quickly recognizing the vast differences between the health systems in those two places. She studied psychology and global health at Northwestern University, received her Master of Public Health (MPH) at Johns Hopkins, and completed medical school at Northeast Ohio Medical University.

Diamanta’s research and community service experiences have ranged from collaborating with the American Heart Association and The Urban Barber Association to develop a blood pressure screening program in Cleveland barbershops, to composing and publishing articles of global and public health interest for a daily newsletter while at Johns Hopkins. As an NHSC scholar, Diamanta was sure of her commitment to equitable healthcare, primary care, and patient advocacy early in her medical school trajectory.

Writing of her ambitions for residency training, Diamanta shares, “With my strong interest in community outreach, I hope to join a program that explores healthcare solutions beyond the clinic...to work in an environment where I can engage with patients, colleagues, and faculty who are rich in cultural diversity, and share my passions for community engagement, advocacy, and compassionate patient-centered care.”

 

Markia Pettway, DO // PGY-1 ▼

Markia received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Alabama, and went on to medical school at the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Markia is a National Health Service Corps Scholar, a scholarship awarded to medical students committed to working in underserved areas. She also worked as an adjunct professor in biology at Jefferson State Community College in Birmingham. Working with 'A Promise to Help,' a nonprofit organization that provides care, medicine, and screening services to rural areas in Alabama, Markia recognized the profound impact that accessible healthcare can have on underserved populations and reinforced her commitment to serving communities in need.

Markia writes of her vision for practicing medicine, “My journey through medical school has solidified my passion for family medicine, a field where the cornerstone of effective healthcare lies in the relationships we build with our patients. Whether it's connecting with a patient through sign language or offering guidance much like my own doctors did, I am eager to continue building meaningful relationships with patients and to contribute to the well-being of the communities I serve.”

Vasilios Stefanis, MD // PGY-1 ▼

Vasilios studied biology, chemistry and religion at Loyola University before embarking on his medical studies at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Vasilios undertook a variety of research projects while at both Loyola and Rush, and has volunteered with a community health clinic and for many years with Saint Haralambos Greek Orthodox Church. It was in those volunteer experiences that Vasilios learned how public hospitals offer some of the most valuable resources to patients who are otherwise unable to access the level of treatment they need. This ranged from helping a prisoner better understand the testing and treatments he was receiving to better manage his portal hypertension, to speaking with the family of a young mother to better understand and explain how her alcohol use led to her having Wernicke's encephalopathy.

Of his desires for residency training, Vasilios wrote, “I pray I attend a family medicine program that will train me to help vulnerable patients and their families overcome their most limiting barriers to achieving the more joyful, loving, and healthy life they deserve."

 

Alumni

We are so grateful for the contribution of each of our residents who graduate from our program, and we want to celebrate them as they continue on in their careers. Read on to find out what they’re up to now!

 

Class of 2025

 

From Left to Right: Edward Akinyemi, MD; Nick Eckert, MD; Oluwaseun Owoeye, MD; Daniel Tzou, MD; Joyce Idehen, MD; Courtney Hatcher, MD

 

Where are they now?

  • Dr. Edward Akinyemi continues his mission-driven work at LCHC, serving in several roles including the Immediate Care Center, the Substance Use Disorder Clinic, and as a faculty member supporting resident education.

  • Dr. Nick Eckert is practicing full-scope family medicine at a community health center near his hometown in Southern Indiana. His work focuses on caring for patients with serious mental illness, addiction, HIV, Hepatitis C, and other vulnerable populations.

  • Dr. Oluwaseun (Seun) Owoeye is practicing full-scope family medicine at a large academic medical center on the South Side of Chicago.

  • Dr. Daniel Tzou is completing a Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at the University of Chicago. Upon graduation, he is planning to return to LCHC to support our PACE program, Home Visit program, and Senior Clinic services.

  • Dr. Joyce Idehen is working to support underrepresented students in medicine and to promote health equity in her hometown of Houston, Texas.

  • Dr. Courtney Hatcher provides outpatient primary care in South Chicago, near the community where she grew up.

Medical Students

Medical students have rotated at LCHC for over 30 years, drawn to the West Side by our mission and our patients, and to experience our unique approach to community health and holistic primary care. 

That history continues today with our Faith and Urban Healthcare Rotation, which features:

  • 1:1 clinical precepting with LCHC providers across multiple LCHC sites, including home visits, homeless shelters, and partner safety-net hospitals.

  • Dedicated time for readings, reflection, and small group activities on community health and equity as well as faith and medicine.

  • For students interested in Lawndale FMR, clinical experiences are weighted towards faculty and residents, including didactics.   

If you are an Underrepresented in Medicine (URM) student, we want to support you and be part of your training! 

At Lawndale FMR, we are committed to recruiting students, residents, and staff who share the same racial, ethnic, language, or social backgrounds as our patients. Our aim is to continue to increase the diversity of our team and prioritize representation for our community, while fostering supportive spaces for all of us to live out our mission.

As an URM student rotating with us, you will experience the fullness of the Faith and Urban Healthcare rotation, as well as:

  • Dedicated Mentoring from URM Residents and Faculty, and LCHC Leadership.

  • Residency Application Review and Mock interview(s), if desired.

  • A financial stipend to support costs associated with participation in rotation, if needed.

  • Housing with a local LCHC family, if needed.

If you are interested in working with us, please complete the online form and we will be in touch!

If you have any questions, please contact us at FMR@lawndale.org.