Current Residents

Juan Aguirre Villalobos (he, him, his)

Medical School: University of Wisconsin - Madison

Juan Aguirre Villalobos joins Northwestern ready to work within our community to improve access to quality healthcare and to accompany patients throughout their medical journey. Juan’s life experiences have provided him with the maturity and understanding required to navigate challenging situations with patients. He has been involved in organizing mentoring activities for Latine college students, helping to coordinate care for underserved patients in his community, and aiding with community education alongside influential peers and mentors through the Latino Health Council. Juan is enthusiastic about his career in Family Medicine and eager to develop long-lasting relationships with patients and their families in order to help patients overcome common barriers to equitable healthcare.

Oscar Castro, MD (he, him, his)

Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine

Oscar Castro joins Northwestern ready to help patients through the complexities of the medical system and to act as their “home base” while providing excellent care with the mitigation of language barriers. Oscar’s commitment to the community during medical school was evident as a Community Outreach Coordinator for the Latino Medical Student Association. He enjoyed educating patients, fostering a deep connection with them as a Spanish-speaking provider, and bridging the cultural gap to achieve better health outcomes. Oscar has a deep appreciation for the significance of social determinants of health on patient outcomes and is excited to continue his work in addressing these in his encounters with patients.

Jeriann Collymore MD, MPH (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Loyola University of Chicago, Stritch School of Medicine

Jeriann Collymore joins Northwestern ready to intertwine health education with compassionate advocacy for every patient she encounters. Through the specialty of Family Medicine, Jeriann looks forward to practicing medicine through a biopsychosocial lens—a holistic approach that treats the individual as a dynamic tapestry of physical, mental, and social threads. She eagerly anticipates the building of relationships grounded in trust, with the ultimate goal of empowering her patients to take control of their health as best as they possibly can. Jeriann was very involved in the Student National Medical Association, and helped found the first Public Health Association at Loyola. She had the privilege of providing medical care and social outreach to individuals experiencing homelessness.

Aubrey Haughn, MD (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Aubrey Haughn joins Northwestern ready to nurture longitudinal relationships with her patients, build an atmosphere of trust, champion patient autonomy, and promote accessible and welcoming care. Aubrey’s passion for advocacy was fostered through her many volunteer and leadership experiences, including developing a donation campaign for La Casa Amiga, an organization dedicated to uplifting the local Hispanic immigrant community, and organizing guest speaker panels addressing opioid use disorder in adolescents and racial disparities in access to care. She is passionate about serving individuals of all ages and co-founded the “Caring for the Elderly” initiative, which promotes a lasting partnership between medical students and the seniors living in the community. Aubrey looks forward to providing exceptional patient care that extends outside the walls of a clinic and reaches the surrounding communities.

Kipp Morgan, MD (he, him, his)

Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health

Kipp Morgan joins Northwestern eager to partner with his patients, navigate challenging diagnostic presentations, and work to overcome the social determinants of health. As co-president of the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Kipp grew within a community of leaders that accomplished so much during a very contentious time in medicine and society. Kipp's passion is fueled by his own experiences and drive him to make an impact for his patients. Kipp is looking forward to being a Family Doctor who truly embraces public health, research, and community outreach.

Eduardo Orozco-Rodriguez, MD (he, him, his)

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Eduardo Orozco-Rodriguez joins Northwestern with a commitment to work towards his long-term goal of providing and advocating for equitable healthcare to underserved communities. Eduardo’s many work and volunteer experiences include counseling patients receiving hospice care, aiding patients during buprenorphine inductions, and developing medical science curricula. Eduardo’s work with multiple community organizations helps him bring a needed perspective to medicine. Eduardo is ready to begin residency and work with a team committed to advocacy and recognize the value of empathy and compassion in medicine.  

Angelica Sanchez, MD, MPH (she/her/hers)

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Angelica Sanchez comes to Northwestern from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine and is excited to begin her career in Family Medicine. As a Fellow in the Dr. C.M. Craig Summer Research Fellowship Program, Angelica applied her background in epidemiology to investigate health disparities in local communities. This experience reinforced her passion for public health and its vital link to medicine and equitable care. Angelica also served in a leadership capacity within the Latino Medical Student Association, as well as volunteered at free clinics in Chicago. Angelica is dedicated to advocating for her future patients and committed to advancing health equity. Outside of medicine, Angelica enjoys gardening, outdoor movie nights, and hiking.

Laurine Tiema-Benson, MD, MPH (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science

Laurine Tiema-Benson joins Northwestern excited to help patients rise above adversity and guide them toward success on their path to better health. Through a three-year, self-directed community health project, Laurine addressed a lack of access for African American patients by connecting patients with local resources. Informed and inspired by her own path to becoming a physician, Laurine mentors future doctors and equips them with the tools needed as they begin their own journeys. Laurine has extensive experience working and volunteering with diverse and vulnerable populations. These commitments helped expand her knowledge of social determinants of health. She is ready to join us with an unwavering commitment to delivering compassionate, equitable care.

Rachel Bernardo, DO (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

Rachel Bernardo joins Northwestern enthusiastic to work alongside our supportive team of residents, faculty, attendings and staff. She is ready to learn the full spectrum of Family Medicine. To encourage growth in her community, Rachel started a mentorship program giving medical students the opportunity to provide support and inspiration to undergraduate students wanting to pursue medicine. Rachel also served as a subcommittee member on the Touro University Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, educating students, faculty and staff on matters of diversity and social justice. Rachel’s passion for justice and teaching will enable her to empower patients with the knowledge and confidence to make their own healthcare decisions. Rachel’s hobbies include traveling, cooking, hiking and trying new things, especially food!

Megha Gangadhar, MD (she, her, hers)

Medical School: University of Toledo college Of Medicine

Megha Gangadhar joins Northwestern ready to help patients navigate through the incredibly complex medical system and to become a Family Physician who will provide compassionate care for her patients. Megha is a student author of several peer reviewed published articles, one of which was a study on student wellness and coping during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Megha’s many volunteer experience’s include tutoring residents of the Juvenile Detention Center on various health science topics and provided office visits and health screenings to patients of the Community Care Center in Toledo, OH, a free, student-run community healthcare clinic committed to reducing health disparities. Megha’s hobbies include Bollywood dance, crocheting hats, playing the clarinet and making lattes.

Nahae Kim, MD, MPH (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science

Nahae Kim joins Northwestern ready to build trusting relationships with patients and empower them to advocate for themselves throughout the healthcare system. Her lifelong goals include expanding access to primary care and supporting sustainable systemic changes within medicine and medical education. Nahae founded Rosalind Franklin University’s Justice Equity Diversity and Inclusion student committee, working with other students and faculty to advocate for curricular reform, faculty development, and equity research. She is also a working group member for the AAMC’s strategic action plan, project 1.1, engaging with selected professionals to curate low and no cost antiracist educational resources. Nahae’s hobbies include reading, bullet journaling, and tarot card reading.

Maribel Munoz, MD

Medical School: Rush Medical College of Rush University

Maribel Munoz joins Northwestern dedicated to serving underserved communities. Maribel is from an underrepresented community in Chicago and is determined to fill the gap in patient representation and make healthcare accessible to those who feel restricted due to a language barrier or legal status. Maribel‘s many research, work and volunteer experiences include mentorship of students interested in pursuing a career in medicine, medical interpreter for a student run clinic, and community COVID education sessions. Maribel looks forward to a career that will help her fulfill her goals within medicine of increasing health equity within the community she will serve upon graduation. Maribel’s hobbies include outdoor activities such as hiking, watching the Chicago Bulls, Bears and Cubs, travel and interior design.

Estelle Irene Rousseau, MD

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine

Estelle Rousseau joins Northwestern eager for the opportunity to form lifelong relationships with her patients and colleagues. She brings with her the innate ability to understand the gravity of what a Family Physician does and values the relationships that are formed from birth to death. Estelle’s many work and volunteer experiences include being a volunteer at the Navari Student Outreach Center where she provided free primary care to members within her community. She was a mentor for junior medical students and peer tutor for young men transitioning out of incarceration. Estelle is looking forward to the opportunity to connect with her patient’s and make them feel at home in an exam room. Estelle’s hobbies include singing, murder mysteries and recreational sports.

Paarul Sinha, MD (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science

Paarul Sinha joins Northwestern with a commitment to practicing holistic patient care, conducting innovative research that can shape preventative medicine, and understanding the larger impact of Family Medicine within our communities. Paarul served as president of a large student-led nonprofit in college, during which she organized novel and exciting ways to facilitate effective teamwork that furthered sustainable global health initiatives in Haiti. She was the founder of the Rosalind Franklin University chapter of Physicians for Human Rights and spearheaded events to advocate for local as well as national public health issues. Paarul is eager to begin residency dedicated to learning and using empathy and effective communication to care for her patients. In her spare time, Paarul enjoys spending time with family and her dog Noori, painting, digital art, cooking and hot yoga.

Sandra Spychalska, MD

Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

Sandra Spychalska joins Northwestern ready to build long term relationships with her patients so that she can be a source of support and provide solutions for language and cultural barriers to healthcare. From an early age, Sandra was instilled with a dedication to and empathy for others not of privilege, which fuels her passion for the underserved and underinsured. Sandra volunteered at several clinics that provide free medical care in Chicago during her time in medical school. She served as a Polish translator and as a patient educator, providing needed information about proper nutrition, exercise, and diabetes. Sandra looks forward to building meaningful relationships with her patients from birth to end-of-life as a full spectrum Family Physician. Sandra’s hobbies include cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.

Keven Stonewall, MD (he, him, his)

Medical School: Stritch School of Medicine, Loyola University of Chicago

Keven Stonewall joins Northwestern ready to fulfill his life mission of addressing low health literacy and healthcare disparities and to utilize his medical training to empower underserved communities. Keven is the recipient of several honors and awards one of which is the American Academy of Family Physician’s Family Medicine Leads Scholarship and the Doximity Telehealth Fellowship. Among many of Keven’s work and volunteer experiences, he is a health advocate for Culture, Cuts, and Care, a grassroots initiative he started to raise health literacy and awareness in Chicago’s underserved neighborhoods. Keven serves as a mentor to disadvantaged high school students to pursue a career in healthcare. Keven’s hobbies include baseball, basketball, gardening, and time spent with family.

Nithin Charlly, MD (he, him, his)

Medical School: University of Wisconsin- Madison

Nithin Charlly joins Northwestern with a commitment to serve underserved populations. Nithin is keenly aware of the need to address the interplay between health status and broader social determinants of health. Nithin hopes to bridge the intersection between public health and social justice through his dedication to family medicine. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Nithin created a short series of photographs and interviews to capture the sentiments of healthcare workers during the pandemic, examining how healthcare workers responded to the increasing demands of their jobs as professionals and as people. He also created a photo series documenting the influence of social justice on minority health by photographing and interviewing artists of color in Madison, WI. These projects can be viewed at www.nithincharllyphoto.com. During medical school, Nithin received Honors in Research, the Shapiro Summer Research Fellowship and the Foundations Scholarship from the Wisconsin Academy of Family Physicians. Nithin's hobbies include photography, bhangra (type of folk dance), electric violin, cooking and travel.

Kelsey McAfee, MD (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Northwestern University

Kelsey McAfee joins Northwestern committed to prioritizing compassion, empathy and trust with her patients. Kelsey is excited for the opportunity to advocate for her patients and advance diversity, equity and inclusion within Family Medicine and the community she will serve. Kelsey was a member of the Committee for Justice and Equity, established at Feinberg in the summer of 2020 as the Black Lives Matter movement pushed nationally for anti-racist action. Kelsey and a group of medical students raised over $11,000 to support minority communities in Chicago. One outcome of the work of the community engagement committee is the inclusion of community engagement in the academic promotion criteria at Northwestern University. Kelsey’s hobbies include painting, hiking, playing flute, board games and swimming.

Francesca Meade (formerly Prospero), MD (she, her, hers)

Medical School: University of Iowa

Francesca Meade is excited to join Northwestern and to continue her education in family medicine. She is eager to embrace the opportunity to see a broad spectrum of medical conditions and to understand the holistic care of patients in a continuity relationship. Francesca’s many volunteer experiences include being a Give Back Mentor where she supported mentees in goalsetting and college preparation throughout 3 years of high school as part of a program that provides full college scholarships to motivated students that have faced adversities. She was the Advocacy Chair at McCowen Learning Community, Iowa City, IA, where she identified and advocated for medical students’ needs and concerns and participated in leadership training. Francesca’s hobbies include cheerleading, physical fitness, cooking, baking and family game nights of monopoly, hearts and rummy.

Bryanna Paunovich, MD (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Rush University

Bryanna Paunovich is excited to join Northwestern and understands the immense privilege and challenges that come along with being a family physician. Bryanna deeply values the human connection and the simplicity of asking someone how they are doing because it is powerful to let another person know you care for them both physically and mentally. Among many of Bryanna’s work, research, and volunteer experiences, she was an elected member of the Special Committee on Rush Medical College Environment where she ensured the safe, productive, and positive learning environment for medical students. As a Student Council Leader, she led supportive initiatives and advocated for fellow medical students. Bryanna will bring exceptional professionalism, compassion, and leadership to the field of family medicine and our program. Bryanna’s hobbies include spending time with her husband and son, travel, animal rescue, infertility advocacy, and spending time on water.

Cassandra Smith, DO (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine

Cassandra Smith joins Northwestern eager to continue her education in our collaborative environment where she can apply her foundation of medical knowledge to comprehensive patient-centered care. Cassandra grew up in a Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA) and plans to works in an HPSA and address residential needs of providing longitudinal healthcare as well as community wellness, advancement, and equality. Cassandra is the recipient of the United States Public Health Service Excellence in Public Health Award. She received the Midwestern University Office of Student Services Outstanding Leadership and Service Recognition. Cassandra’s hobbies include advocacy work, baking and cooking, hiking and travel where she hopes to set foot on every continent.

Jacqueline Story-Remer, MD (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science

Jacqueline Story-Remer is excited to join Northwestern and is eager to serve our community as a family physician. She hopes to advocate for her patients by building strong longitudinal relationships that promote mental and physical health. Jacqueline strives to care for patients beyond treatment of disease by investing in their holistic wellbeing, empathizing with their barriers, cultivating healthcare literacy, and putting kindness and compassion above all. Jacqueline is passionate about women’s health and reproductive advocacy, and served as president of Medical Students for Choice in her medical school chapter. Her many work and volunteer experiences include mentoring junior medical students, researching advances in traumatic brain injury and Parkinson’s Disease, and volunteering during the COVID-19 pandemic. Jacqueline’s hobbies include community outreach, travel, hiking, and water activities.

Ashley Watson, MD, MPH (she, her, hers)

Medical School: Meharry Medical College

Ashley Watson is excited to join Northwestern with a desire to learn through our extensive inpatient training as well as in our continuity clinic at Erie HealthReach Waukegan where she can provide quality, patient centered care to the underserved community. Ashley has a strong desire to serve vulnerable populations, as evidenced by her work with undomiciled patients during her time at Meharry Medical College. She is engaged in the vocation of medicine and will continue to brighten the world of her patients during residency training and beyond. Ashley’s many work and volunteer experiences include being Vice President of the Family Medicine Interest Group at Meharry where she encouraged, collaborated with other and promoted the specialty of Family Medicine. Ashley’s hobbies include traveling, reading, puzzles and spending time with family and 2 dogs.

KaHoua Yang, MD (she, her, hers)

Medical School: University of Wisconsin- Madison

KaHoua Yang joins Northwestern dedicated to the field of family medicine. She joins our program where she will continue to nurture her passion for working with underserved communities and strengthen her competency in being a community-responsive physician. KaHoua grew up as a Hmong refugee in central Wisconsin, taught science in an underfunded Chicago public high school, and ran for a volunteer EMS in a small rural community; all unique lessons about the social determinants of health. These experiences have shaped her interest in medicine, influenced her medical school experiences which guided her to family medicine. KaHoua’s hobbies include hiking, cooking, reading, and spending time with her family and her dog.