Dr. Mary Ella Wood is a resident at PCC Dr. Burdick Family Health Center, as part of the West Suburban Medical Center – Family Medicine Residency Program. Her areas of interests are Women’s Health/Operative Obstetrics, Global Health/Underserved Healthcare, Infectious Diseases, Emergency Medicine, Wilderness Medicine, and OMM. Dr. Wood’s research interests are FGM and Self-Sustaining Global Healthcare.
She received her medical training from the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Wood chose this residency program because the medical providers that she met while interviewing genuinely loved the work that they do and were passionate about their patients. She also appreciated that this program offered a lot of training in obstetrics and women’s health, inpatient-based medicine and critical care training, and were caring for underserved populations. She’s ecstatic to be completing her training here!
She has been recognized by the Gold Humanism Honors Society and has served as the chair for the AMSA National Global Health.
Outside of work, Dr. Wood enjoys designing clothes, cooking, Latin and ballroom dancing, traveling, reading, writing, hiking, and camping.
Dr. Rebekka DePew is a resident at PCC Dr. Burdick Family Health Center. She earned her medical degree from Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. She completed her residency at PCC, as part of the West Suburban Medical Center – Family Medicine Residency Program because she wanted to train in a setting with a deep commitment for serving marginalized communities alongside a team of individuals who are passionate about the mission of social medicine and who create a supportive and encouraging environment.
Her areas of interests are Palliative Care, Geriatrics, Ethics, Inpatient Medicine, and Health Equity and Care for Underserved Populations. Dr. DePew’s research interest is Ethics and Health Policy. As a role model for compassionate care, she has been recognized by the Gold Humanism Honor Society. Her leadership experience includes serving as Psychiatry Clinic Director at the Shade Tree Clinic and as a Family Medicine Interest Group Leader.
Dr. DePew enjoys reading poetry and stories, being outdoors and exploring, and spending time with friends, family, and her two awesome cats.
Dr. Nicole Gim-Foong Chin is a resident at PCC Dr. Burdick Family Health Center. She is originally from the Pacific Northwest where she received a master’s degree in materials engineering at the University of Washington. She came to Chicago to attend medical school at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. She’s excited to be sticking around for her residency training, which she’s completing at PCC, as part of the West Suburban Medical Center – Family Medicine Residency Program. Her areas of interest include Urban Underserved Populations, Spirituality and Whole-Person Care, Full-Spectrum Medicine, and Women’s Health.
While in medical school, Dr. Chin served on the executive board of the Christian Fellowship and Family Medicine Interest Group, and mentored medical students at student-run free clinics in the Chicagoland area. Also while in medical school, Dr. Chin lived in and served the North Philadelphia inner city by providing free door-to-door health screenings through the Summer Medical Institute.
She is a Seattleite and enjoys the outdoors, birding, and hiking. As a Chicagoan, she enjoys many sights and museums Chicago has to offer. She spends her time with family, friends, or at church. Like her mother, she loves drawing and painting with her mother in her free time.
Dr. Melanie Jessen is a Conference Curriculum Coordinator and Family Medicine Physician at PCC Dr. Burdick Family Health Center. She is also the Associate Program Director and Director of Osteopathic Education for the West Suburban Medical Center’s Family Medicine Residency Program. She obtained a Bachelor of Arts in Music at the University of Illinois. She completed her medical education at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University, where she later completed her residency. Dr. Jessen’s area of interests are medical training and education. She served as a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and is an Adjunct Clinical Instructor at the Midwestern University – Department of Family Medicine.
Dr. Karla Tytus is a PCC Salud provider and family medicine resident at West Suburban Medical Center. She was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA, completed college in Rhode Island, medical school (Meharry Medical College) in Tennessee, and has now settled in Chicago. She plans to practice full-spectrum family medicine with an emphasis/passion in prenatal care, reproductive health, and preventative health care. In her free time, she enjoys getting active, doing puzzles, perusing museums, and watching a little too much reality television.
Dr. Katarina Crause completed her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Michigan School of Dentistry in 2021. She completed the General Dental Residency at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center in 2022. Dr. Crause also has a Bachelor's Degree in Evolutionary Anthropology from the University of Michigan. She is a recipient of the Michigan Periodontal Alumni Association Award. Outside of work, Dr. Crause enjoys ballroom dancing, walking along Lake Michigan, and trying new restaurants in Chicago.
Valerie Garcia is a Certified Nurse Midwife. She completed her Bachelor's of Arts degree in Molecular Biology and Gender Studies from Colgate University in Central New York. Her graduate education in nursing was completed at Yale School of Nursing in New Haven, CT in 2022. Valerie's nursing school sub-specialty was in Gender & Sexuality Health Justice, where she trained to provide Gender Affirming Care. Valerie completed her training at the Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, CT, and at Jacobi Medical Center in The Bronx, NY. Prior to nursing, she was a biologist at Columbia University Medical Center. Valerie is from the Bronx, New York and speaks fluent Spanish. Her hobbies include hiking, Latin dancing, plants, and reading.
Dr. Brisa Gulari-Jones is a Family Medicine Physician and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She received her medical degree from St. George's University in 2017 and completed the UnityPoint Methodist Family Medicine Residency in Peoria, IL. She has a Bachelor's of Science degree in health science from the University of Hartford. Dr. Gulari-Jones is a member of the Iota Epsilon Alpha Honor society and received a Patient Care Award July 2021. Before her career in medicine, she was a caseworker with at risk families and children. Her professional interests include obstetrics and women's health, breastfeeding medicine, procedures, and teaching. Dr. Gulari-Jones is fluent in Spanish and her hobbies include gardening, reading, and concert going.
Alison is a Licensed Social Worker. She received her master’s in social work from The University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration. Alison received her Bachelor's of Arts degree in psychology, with a special interest in clinical psychology, from The Ohio State University. Highlights of her clinical experiences have included facilitating Women’s and coed NA/AA groups as well as leading Mindfulness-Meditation practice in individual and group therapy. Her prior clinical-training has entailed working closely with individuals with medically and behaviorally complex conditions—notably PLWH (people living with HIV/AIDS) and populations with comorbid or co-occurring disorders.
Alison is dedicated to working with underserved populations to provide behavioral health care from a multidimensional perspective. She works with intention to acknowledge the complexities of the whole person to better equip individuals with the skills they need to work through their problems in living. Alison demonstrates an empathic understanding for others and strives to create a safe environment for individuals to share their lived experiences. During her free time, Alison enjoys making jewelry, playing with her dog, and spending times with friends.
Temitope Olutade is a board-certified psychiatry mental health nurse practitioner. She specializes in treating individuals with behavioral health disorders She has a 5-year history of working as a psychiatric nurse in a forensic treatment Center. Temi has lived in the Chicago area for the past 20 years. She completed her associates degree in Nursing from City Colleges of Chicago – Harry Truman College in 2014, and obtained her bachelor’s degree in Nursing at Oak Point University in Chicago in 2016. She further pursued her Master’s Degree in Nursing at Walden University in Michigan, and graduated in 2020. Temi has excelled in different leadership capacities as a registered nurse in both private and government establishments. Her passion for the nursing profession and her commitment to providing the best possible care motivated her to transition to a nurse practitioner. Outside of work, she enjoys travelling and spending quality time with her family.
Dr. Joell Chen received her dental degree from the Roseman University of Health Sciences College of Dentistry in 2021. She completed general practice residency at the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center. Dr. Chen has served on the American Dental Association's Council on Advocacy for Access and Prevention. She is fluent in Mandarin. Outside of dentistry, Dr. Chen enjoys hiking trips, yoga, and exploring restaurants in Chicago.
Dr. Emily Goodlin received her medical degree at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University. She is completing the West Suburban Medical Center Residency Program, Class of 2025. Dr. Goodlin's passion for global health began during her undergraduate years after she spent a summer in Arusha, Tanzania teaching about HIV/AIDS prevention. She has also gone on a medical mission trip to Honduras to provide basic medical care for people who did not have access to a physician. Dr. Goodlin hopes to continue this type of work throughout her career. She is a huge fan of the Golden State Warriors, 49ers, and San Francisco Giants. She also loves spending time with her French bulldog named Frankie.. In her free time she likes to explore the different neighborhoods of Chicago and go to new restaurants and bars.
Dr. Yael Schwartz is completing the West Suburban Medical Center Residency Program, Class of 2023. She graduated from the A.T. Still University of Health Sciences Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Schwartz's interests include chronic disease management, women’s health, adolescent medicine, palliative care, and underserved care. She is a member of the Sigma Sigma Phi Honors Osteopathic Service Organization. Outside of work, she enjoys playing and watching sports, tai chi, mentoring kids, and spending time near water.
Dr. Kevin Wu is completing the West Suburban Medical Center Residency Program. He graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign with a Bachelor's in Science in psychology/biology, and then attended Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine and Rockhurst University Helzberg School of Management to earn his DO and MBA degrees. Some of Dr. Wu's clinical research interests include patient flow and efficiency in clinic, and the effects of orthotics on balance and pain in patients after foot/ankle surgery. Outside of medicine, he is an avid martial arts practitioner and holds a 1st degree black belt in Shotokan karate. In his free time, he loves going to EDM festivals, visiting museums, and working out with family.