Search

Dr. Khanal received her medical degree from Nepalgunj Medical College in Nepal, and completed her residency at John H. Stroger Jr. Hospital of Cook County. She is licensed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). Dr. Khanal is passionate about working in a medically underserved community. She is committed to caring for her young patients and ensuring they receive the care they need. She is fluent in Nepali and Hindi. In her spare time, Dr. Khanal enjoys reading books and traveling.

Dr. Vallejo received his medical degree from the University of Wisconsin Madison School of Medicine and completed his residency at Mercy Hospital and Medical Center. He is fluent in Spanish and when not working, enjoys dining out cooking with family traveling and reading. Dr. Vallejo enjoys giving back to the community and he believes in a holistic health care approach.

Maria Tejada earned her Certified Nurse Midwife degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. She is licensed by the American College of Nurse-Midwives. Maria is fluent in Spanish and is pleased to be working in a bi-cultural community where she can advocate for all patients. She believes that the birthing process is an opportunity for every woman to have a great experience that she will always treasure. During her spare time Maria enjoys participating in martial arts.

​Dr. Kim received her medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed the Deaconess Family Medicine Residency at Deaconess Hospital. She is board-certified by the American Board of Family Medicine, and she is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Dr. Kim believes in empowering her patients to take optimum care of themselves, while seeing the patient as a person and not a medical condition. She is fluent in Korean. When not working, Dr. Kim enjoys playing the guitar, hiking, gardening, enjoying art and spending time with her family.   

Eileen Baird earned her Master of Physician Assistant Studies from Chamberlain University and is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). She also holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Eileen is passionate about providing preventive health care and improving access to quality services for Chicagoland communities, especially those facing barriers to care. She believes that patient education and early intervention are essential to long-term health. Her philosophy of care focuses on building strong relationships and working collaboratively with patients to achieve their health goals. She strives to create a supportive environment where patients feel heard, respected, and empowered. Outside of work, Eileen enjoys reading, listening to music, attending live concerts, and spending time with friends. 

Dr. Hemlata Meena received her medical degree at Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi and completed her residency at Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She is credentialed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and is a member of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Meena is passionate about providing women’s health care in community health care settings and helping patients to empower themselves take care of their own health. To Dr. Meena, health is our biggest asset and it must be taken care of to live happy, full lives. She believes women have a unique opportunity to be role models and significantly shape the health of their families and communities. Outside of work, she enjoys dancing, meditating, spending time with family, and interior decorating. She is fluent in Hindi.

Tania Nunez earned her Master of Science in Community Counseling from National Louis University and completed her practicum at Rainbow House in Little Village working with survivors of domestic violence. She is credentialed through the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation and is a member of the Illinois Counseling Association and the Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing International Association. Tania chose to serve in community health after witnessing health disparities within her own community growing up. She works alongside her patients to ensure they are reaching their health goals and provides the best level of care to address their needs. Outside of work, Tania enjoys reading, listening to music, and connecting with her community. She is fluent in Spanish.  

Luiz Barbosa received his Masters in Social Work at the University of Illinois-Chicago after completing his internship at the Catholic Charities of Chicago. He is licensed through the National Association of Social Workers and continues to be an active member. Luiz has a long history of working in cross-cultural settings and decided to work in a community health center setting to empower and support his community. His philosophy of care includes working to enhance and empower the well-being of his clients by meeting their basic and complex needs. Luiz is also interested in cultural events and philosophy. He is fluent in Portuguese and Spanish.

Colleen Joseph, D.N.P., I.B.C.L.C., received her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Loyola University. She is credentialed through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health and Sigma Theta Tau Honors Society. Colleen has committed her medical career to providing care to those who need it most and believes everyone should have access to quality, affordable health care. Every patient she sees, she strives to provide them the same care and attention she would show to a member of her family. Outside of work, Colleen enjoys running marathons, CrossFit and spending time with friends and family. She is fluent in Spanish.

Peter Johnson earned his medical degree from the University of Illinois-Chicago and completed his residency at the University of Hawaii-Manoa. He is a Board-certified physician in the state of Illinois and is a member of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Johnson values serving a diverse patient population and takes a holistic, patient-centered approach to care. He wants to empower his patients to make the best decisions for their health and treats each of his patients like family. When not at work, Dr. Johnson enjoys staying active through yoga, swimming, biking, and traveling. He is fluent in Spanish.  

Claudia Garcia completed her Master of Science in Nutrition at the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed her dietetic internship at Loyola University Chicago. She is credentialed by the Commission on Dietetic Registration and is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Claudia is committed to making a positive impact on her patients’ lives through nutrition and health education. Working in community health care allows Claudia to reach a diverse population and provide accessible, evidence-based nutritional guidance. Claudia utilizes shared decision making to collaborate with patients on a personalized treatment plan that works for them and helps achieve their health goals. Outside of work, Claudia enjoys biking, paddleboarding, and hiking. She is fluent in Spanish.

Marina Ibrahim completed her Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Midwestern University. She is certified through the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants. In her practice, Marina provides patient-centered care and treats each patient like family. She believes in giving back to her community through preventative medicine and providing accessible, quality care to all patients. When not at work, Marina can be found exploring new places and spending time with her family and friends. She is fluent in Arabic.

​Dr. Brown received her medical degree from the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine at Rockford and completed her residency at Mt. Sinai Hospital. She is board-certified in Obstetrics and Gynecology. Dr. Brown is a member of the American College of OB/GYN, and the American College of Surgeons. She strives to provide excellent care and to help the community. When not working, Dr. Brown enjoys traveling, exercising and fashion design. 

Justin Poole earned his medical degree at the University of Illinois and a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Butler University. He is credentialed through the Commission on Certification of Physician Assistant Studies and is a member of the National Association of Emergency Medical Service Educators, the National Association of Emergency Medical Technicians, and the American Academy of Physician Assistants. Prior to coming to ACCESS, Dr. Poole worked in emergency medicine and witnessed firsthand the disparities that exist within health care. Dr. Poole believes providing high quality care is the core of the patient-provider relationship and a kes the time to actively listen to patients needs and provide quality education. Dr. Poole is a supporter of the LGBT community and has experience in administering PrEP, PEP, and Doxy-PEP. Outside of work, he enjoys playing trombone in a community concert band and going to different venues throughout Chicago.  

Tara Kristiansen received her Master of Science in Nursing at Spalding University in Louisville, Kentucky. She is credentialed through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners and is a current member of the Illinois Society for Advance Practice Nursing. Tara is eager to work with the West Chicago community to provide high quality, patient-centered care. She believes that everyone deserves access to care, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Outside of work, Tara enjoys coaching others on budgeting and saving, as well as staying active and travelling.