Dr. Monica Thipparthi is a Faculty Family Medicine Physician at PCC Dr. Burdick Family Health Center. She earned her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, Michigan. She completed Family Medicine Residency at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Clarissa O’Conor is a resident at PCC Dr. Burdick Family Health Center as part of the West Suburban Medical Center – Family Medicine Residency Program. She earned her medical degree from Drexel University College of Medicine. While in medical school, Dr. O’Conor completed a breastfeeding rotation. She’s working towards becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). Dr. O’Conor is passionate about helping families with breastfeeding!
She grew up in Lancaster, Pennsylvania on a small horse farm. She moved to Philadelphia for college and stayed for another six years. One of the highlights of her time in Philly was working at a local weekly farmers market, for two Lancaster farms. Clarissa learned how to cook with a lot of different fruits, veggies and meats and loved getting to know her neighbors and selling them produce over the years.
Outside of her work in healthcare, Dr. O’Conor joined a Muay Thai gym to learn new skills and new ways to move her body. She is also a member of a group called Put People First, where she has been advocating for healthcare as a human right across the state and connecting people in cities, towns, and rural areas. She’s excited about her involvement with the Illinois Poor People’s Campaign! Dr. O’Conor’s really interested in intuitive eating and the Health at Every Size movement, both personally and as a way she can support her patients. Dr. O’Conor completed a breastfeeding rotation in medical school and is working towards becoming a Certified Lactation Counselor (CLC). She loves helping families with breastfeeding!
Dr. Leah Getsov is a resident at PCC Dr. Burdick Family Health Center, as part of the West Suburban Medical Center – Family Medicine Residency Program. She grew up in Saline, Michigan and completed her undergraduate degree in psychology at Michigan State University. Dr. Getsov earned her medical degree from the Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science. While attending MSU, she was involved in research with the Sleep and Learning Lab and worked as a caregiver for children and adults with cognitive and physical disabilities. After earning her degree, she worked nights as a patient care technician.
During medical school, Dr. Getsov was involved in various peer mentoring opportunities, women’s health interest groups, and tutoring. She is grateful that she became involved in global health through an experience in Linhai, China.
Outside of medicine, she enjoys hiking, outdoor recreation, crafting, art, and playing board games with friends.
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. 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.