Faculty and Staff
Residency Faculty Leadership
Nicholas Weida, MD (he/him/his)
Residency Program Director, Vice President Clinical Affairs, Lawrence General Hospital Chief of Family Medicine
Curricular Focus: Addiction Medicine, Clinical Operations/Quality Improvement, Point of Care Ultrasound
Undergraduate: College of Wooster
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine
Residency: Swedish Family Medicine Residency – First Hill Seattle
Academic Appointments: Assistant Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Hometown: Lancaster, PA
Nick grew up in rural Pennsylvania before moving to Boston for medical school and then to Seattle for residency. Desire to continue to practice full spectrum family medicine drew him to Lawrence, but he fell in love with LFMR due to the deep commitment of the residency and clinic staff to the surrounding community and each other. He rounds on inpatient medicine, the ICU, and Labor and Delivery. His curricular interests include addiction medicine and point of care ultrasound. He enjoys working within an innovative and constantly changing healthcare delivery system and particularly enjoys contributing to the creativity and innovation in LFMR. Often the best innovations in our own FQHC started with successful resident projects. Additionally, Nick spends time every year in rural Alaska working at an Indian Health Service site. In his spare time, Nick enjoys biking, hiking, and traveling.
Elise LaFlamme, MD, FAAFP (she/her/hers)
Associate Program Director
Director of the Surgical Obstetrics Area of Concentration
Curricular Interests: High Risk and Surgical Obstetrics, Breastfeeding Medicine, Outpatient Asthma and COPD Management, Hereditary Cancer Risk Assessment
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, Area of Concentration in Advanced Surgical Maternity Care
Academic Appointments: Assistant Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Hometown: Georgetown, Massachusetts
Elise grew up on the North Shore of Massachusetts and since then has continued her educational and life journey without leaving the state. After spending her college co-op experiences working as a medical assistant and phlebotomist in a busy Boston obstetrics office, she knew obstetrics would be part of her career. Ultimately, her passion for the psychosocial components of medicine, underserved populations, and full-spectrum maternal-child health guided her to family medicine. Elise was our first graduate from LFMR with an area of concentration in Advanced Surgical Obstetrics, and helped to develop this particular area of concentration. She is a trained ALSO Instructor and is part of our High Risk Obstetrics group, performing surgical obstetrics procedures at both Lawrence General and Holy Family Hospital, and taking care of our patients with high risk pregnancies. Outside of her time at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, Elise enjoys downhill skiing, spin class, mixology, Boston sports, March Madness, Lake Winnipesaukee, event planning, and spending time with her husband, two sons and puggle.
Jennifer Somers, MD, IBCLC (she/her/hers)
Associate Program Director
Curricular Focus: Breastfeeding Medicine, Maternal and Child Health, Physician Wellbeing
Undergraduate: Colby College
Medical School: University of Washington School of Medicine
Residency: Swedish Family Medicine, Cherry Hill, Seattle Indian Health Board clinic
Leadership Positions: Amarillo Team Leader at Haverhill Street outpatient teaching site
Hometown: Roseville, MN
Jenni’s desire to become a Family Medicine physician was inspired by her grandparents who lived on a dairy farm in rural Maine who struggled to find high quality primary care. During her training at the Seattle Indian Health Board she found she loved working with urban underserved populations. After graduating from residency she worked at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, where she continued full spectrum care. While in Wisconsin, she developed her own breastfeeding medicine practice and acquired her International Board Certified Lactation Consultant certificate. She is delighted to work at Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, where she continues full spectrum family medicine and directs a dedicated lactation practice that includes residents. Her academic interests are breastfeeding medicine with an empowerment model of lactation support, maternal and child health, low risk obstetrics, inpatient medicine and culturally competent care. She speaks intermediate German (helped by a recent sabbatical in Vienna, Austria) and is learning Spanish. She loves to garden, read, knit, hike, ski (both cross country and downhill) and relax with her children, husband and labradoodle.
Zandra Kelley, MD (she/her/hers)
Designated Institutional Official, Chief Medical Officer, GLFHC
Curricular Focus: Administration
Undergraduate: University of Chicago
Medical School: University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Academic Appointments: Tufts
Leadership positions: Senior Vice President/Chief Medical Officer, GLFHC and Chief of Family Medicine, LGH
Hometown: Naperville, IL
Zandra is a graduate of our Residency where she was elected as one of the Chief Residents by her fellow residents. Upon completion, she stayed on to do a fellowship in intensive medicine. She continues to do full spectrum family medicine including hospital rounding, maternity and intensive care. She has served in the past as Rotation Coordinator for the Inpatient Surgery Rotation and the Emergency Medicine Rotation. She has been the Medical Site Director of the clinic site where the residents see all of their continuity patients, the Haverhill Street Site. Currently, she serves as the Medical Director for the health center. She was born in Oakpark, IL, and attended the University of Chicago for her Bachelor’s degree as well as her Medical degree. Zandra sees teaching patients about their health is an important step in improving their health and quality of life. Her experiences teaching English in China taught her the importance of effective communication. Outside of her work, her main focus is playing and learning with her boy/girl twins born in 2010 together with her husband and continues to enjoy learning about reaching and maintaining health by striving towards excellent diet and exercise.
Ryan J Dono MD (he/him/his)
PCMH/Residency Team Leader
Medical Director of Health Care for the Homeless Program
Coordinator of Community Medicine Curriculum
Curricular Interests: Health Care for the Homeless, Addiction Medicine, Prenatal Groups/Maternity Care, Community Medicine
Undergraduate: Boston College
Medical School: University of Massachusetts
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Academic Appointments: Clinical Assistant Professor, Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine
Hometown: Dudley, MA
Ryan grew up in Central Massachusetts and had the great fortune to train in residency through our program. After graduation, he spent 3 years working as Community Faculty before moving over to join the Core Faculty. He enjoys a diverse practice involving routine primary care, clinic and group visits for Addiction Medicine, precepting prenatal groups, directing our Health Care for the Homeless program, working on Labor and Delivery, providing care on the Mobile Unit and Street Medicine rounds, and enjoying his responsibilities as a PCMH Team Leader. He was attracted to the Lawrence program for its mission to serve an underserved, immigrant community and its mission to develop full spectrum Family Medicine physicians. The integration of the health center’s mission within the community of Lawrence makes his daily work incredibly rewarding. His passions in life outside of medicine involve spending time in the outdoors (hiking, fly fishing, and camping), playing soccer (Go Liverpool!), traveling, and enjoying life with his amazing wife and three children.
Suhani Bora, MD (she/her/hers)
Associate Program Director/Integrative Medicine Director
Curricular Focus: Integrative Medicine, Group Visits
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School
Residency: University of Wisconsin, Madison Department of Family Medicine and Community Health
Fellowship: University of Wisconsin, Madison Academic Integrative Medicine
Leadership Positions: Director of Integrative Medicine AOC
Academic Appointments: Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Hometown: Grand Rapids, MI
Suhani grew up alongside her twin sister (now also a family physician) in the mid-West as a daughter of immigrants. Her love of science, stories and a desire to address health disparities led her to pursue family medicine in an urban setting. After residency, she first came to Lawrence as faculty where she was introduced to Centering Pregnancy group visits. As she began to learn more about her patients’ lives, she wanted to better understand their traditional healing methods and returned to Madison, Wisconsin to complete a fellowship in Academic Integrative Medicine. During this time, she developed a model of wellness based group visits, Whole Health Group Visits, began to learn osteopathic manual medicine and studied a wide array of integrative health topics including nutrition and trauma. After applying these new skills, in addition to primary care, at an FQHC in Madison, she returned to Lawrence to teach Integrative Medicine in a way that centers medicine centers social justice, cultural humility. She enjoys rounding on Adult Inpatient Medicine, teaching integrative AOC residents and fellows. When she isn’t working, Suhani enjoys reading, traveling, dreaming about gardening one day and spending time with her husband and son.
Keith Nokes, MD, MPH (he/him/his)
Director of Medical Student Education, Curriculum Coordinator for Inpatient/Acute Care Pediatrics
Curricular Focus: Pediatrics; Conferences
Undergraduate: Bowdoin College
Medical School: University of Connecticut (MD/MPH)
Residency: University of Rochester (Family Medicine)
Academic Appointments: Tufts and UMass
Leadership positions: Co-Chair, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Group on Teaching in Community Health Centers; Co-Director, Tufts Student Service Scholars Program
Hometown: Trumbull, CT
Keith came to Greater Lawrence as a National Health Service Corps Scholar in 2001 with a 4 year commitment and got hooked. Prior to joining the health center, he studied biology and anthropology at Bowdoin College, received his MD and MPH degrees from the University of Connecticut, and trained in Family Medicine at the University of Rochester. He has served in various capacities in the health center/residency and at Lawrence General Hospital, where he was Chief of Family Medicine for six years. Currently he oversees all medical student rotations at the health center and is in charge of inpatient/acute care pediatrics curricula, as well as serving as Verde Team leader and as a longitudinal preceptor. In his “other” job he is a founding co-director of the Tufts Student Service Scholar program, a four-year enrichment program for medical students interested in working in underserved communities. He also serves as Co-Chair, Society of Teachers of Family Medicine Group on Teaching in Community Health Centers. His academic interests are focused on medical education and the care of underserved communities. In his free time he enjoys reading (everything), travel, music, and getting outside with his family.
Tuhin Roy, MD, MPH (he/him/his)
Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley – Economics and Molecular Cell Biology
Medical School/MPH: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Hometown: Danville, CA; San Francisco Bay Area
Tuhin grew up in sunny San Francisco Bay Area, and attended UC Berkeley (GO BEARS!). While growing up, he was drawn to the diverse cultures of the Bay Area, mostly through the exploration of food. However, he came to New England for medical school at Tufts University School of Medicine’s MD/MPH program. There, he continued his commitment to community service and exploration of global health, but also fostered newfound interests in policy, social justice, and advocacy here at home. He was attracted to Lawrence for residency because of its dedication to training physicians to be the best possible resources for their patients in underserved settings, helping to close the disparities in healthcare that made him passionate about medicine in the first place. He has stayed at Lawrence as faculty to further develop and explore leadership and advocacy within medicine while continuing to be the full-spectrum family physician he was trained to be, and continues to see patients in the inpatient and outpatient setting, including obstetrics. His main clinical interests include pediatric and adolescent health, addiction medicine, behavioral health, and academic medicine in addition to policy and advocacy in medicine. When not delving into nearly every clinical interest possible, he enjoys finding new places to eat (in the quest to find the perfect taco), hiking, and exploring different corners of New England (even though he is still surprised by New England winters and the price of avocados on the East Coast).
Alex Ocampo, MD, MPH, AAHIVS (he/him/his)
PCMH Residency Team Leader
Curricular Interests: LGBT healthcare, HIV care, Teaching, Wellness
Undergraduate: University of Connecticut
Medical School: University of Connecticut
Residency: Boston Medical Center
Academic appointments: Clinical Assistant Professor, Tufts School of Medicine
Hometown:Watertown, CT
Alex was born and raised in Connecticut, and graduated from UCONN School of Medicine with a combined MD/MPH degree. He wrote his MPH thesis on depression and burnout in medical students, and finding ways to reduce these rates. In medical school, he spent a summer biking across the country raising money for leukemia research. He trained at Boston Medical Center for residency where he learned to be a primary doctor for underserved populations. Prior to to coming Lawrence, he worked at Fenway Health, one of the largest LGBT health organizations in the nation, where he learned about HIV care and gender affirming care. Alex specifically came to Lawrence because of the highly regarded family medicine residency, and he really enjoys teaching and working with the residents. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, gardening, and spending time with his husband Corey and his dog Chandler Bing.
Core Faculty
Carolyn Augart, MD FAAFP (she/her/hers)
Core Faculty
Curricular Focus: Inpatient Adult Medicine, Colposcopy, Addiction Medicine
Undergraduate: UMass Amherst
Medical School: UMass Medical School
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Fellowship: Faculty Development, Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Academic Appointments: Clinical Instructor, Tufts School of Medicine; Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health, UMass Medical School
Hometown: Arlington, MA
The daughter of immigrants, Carolyn grew up in a multilingual household. Between college and medical school, she did a year of service at a child abuse prevention program in an urban community health center much like GLFHC. Inspired by her service year and excited to learn Spanish, she chose Lawrence for residency, where she served as chief resident, and then did our faculty development fellowship. She has served on many hospital committees over the years, enjoying them most when she can be an advocate for high quality patient care and maintaining our strong family medicine inpatient presence. In the outpatient setting she loves teaching residents colposcopy and how to treat patients with substance use disorders. A New England native, she enjoys hiking tall mountains and skiing down them. Despite having never done the Presidential traverse in one day like Andy Smith, she has climbed all 48 of the 4,000 footers in New Hampshire. She also owns a house in Italy that is constantly in need of repairs. She is married to Tony Valdini and they have a daughter who loves to ski way too fast, just like her mom.
Azmina Bhayani, MD, MPH (she/her/hers)
Core Faculty
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Medical School and Public Health: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, Area of Concentration Women’s Health
Fellowship: Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy
Hometown: Lisle, IL
Azmina grew up in Illinois, and completed her undergraduate and graduate schooling at Northwestern University. After arriving at the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center for residency, she felt relieved and excited to find like-minded colleagues who were focused on social justice and providing high-quality primary care to underserved populations. She developed a strong clinical interest in women’s health and reproductive health and went on to do a fellowship focused on reproductive health advocacy. After her training, she moved to New York City with her husband and worked at an FQHC, Institute for Family Health, where she practiced primary care and fell in love with teaching medical students and residents in the Bronx and Harlem. She is involved with the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine and passionate about faculty development. She moved back to Massachusetts with her husband and toddler and is thrilled to be joining the residency again as faculty.
Dr. Claire Bogan is an ABPN board-certified adult, child, and adolescent psychiatrist who serves as core faculty in the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Family Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine. Dr. Bogan practices clinical psychiatry at the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center, providing comprehensive, trauma-informed, and culturally-sensitive consultations and psychopharmacological treatment to children and adolescents. She also serves as a psychiatric and behavioral health consultant to the Health Center’s integrated care teams, as part of a collaborative care model. Outside of her role at GLFHC, Dr. Bogan serves as Part-Time Teaching Associate in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School where she teaches and supervises trainees in the Cambridge Health Alliance Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Dr. Bogan is passionate about community psychiatry and access to mental health care for vulnerable populations.
Stephen Buttenwieser, MD (he/him/his)
Addiction Medicine Rotation and Area of Concentration Director
Curricular Focus: Addiction Medicine, Outpatient Medicine
Undergraduate: Harvard College, BA 1989
Graduate: Columbia School of Public Health, MPH 2007
Medical School: Harvard Medical School, MD 2001
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, 2004
Academic Appointments: Lecturer, Tufts University School of Medicine
Hometown: Cambridge, MA
Stephen worked in the social service field before returning to school for an MPN in Health Policy and then to medical school. Some of his principal professional interests involve health system planning and delivery, addiction medicine, and child development.
Chelsea Harris, MD (she/her/hers)
Core Faculty, Colposcopy Clinic Director
Curricular Focus: Women’s Health, Diabetes
Undergraduate: Northeastern University
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, Area of Concentration in Academic Medicine
Hometown: Chicopee, MA
Chelsea grew up in Chicopee, Massachusetts. She attended Northeastern University where she received her Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Affairs – to explore her love of people and the world. Before pursuing a career in medicine she worked in municipal government. Her interests include health policy and population health. Chelsea was drawn to family medicine as the perfect way to integrate policy and practice within medicine. Her clinical interests include women’s health, diabetes, and addiction medicine. She received her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School in Worcester, Mass. When she is not working, she enjoys traveling, yoga, independent films, and spending time with her family.
Julie Johnston, MD, FAAFP (she/her/hers)
Director of Women’s Health
Curricular Focus: Gynecology/Women’s Health
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: Brown Medical School
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Fellowship: Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy
Academic Appointments: Clinical Instructor, Tufts University School of Medicine and UMass Medical School
Hometown: Onsted, MI
Julie is originally from Michigan, after graduating from Brown Medical school she completed her residency here in Lawrence. Her interests include empowerment of women, maternity care with a midwifery spin, reproductive health access, postpartum LARCs, and political action. Julie rounds on the obstetric service and serves as the curriculum coordinator for the Gynecology rotation and Women’s Health area of concentration. Julie is an ALSO Instructor and serves as the site lead for the FMEC-IMPLICIT quality improvement network. She has multiple leadership roles in the community and at the state level including President of the Massachusetts Academy of Family physicians and the Family Medicine representative on the Postpartum Depression Legislative Commission. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two sons, puppy, practicing Taekwondo, crafting, and traveling.
Christie Langenberg, MD CAQSM (she/her/hers)
Sports and Musculoskeletal Medicine Director
Medical Director of the School-Based Health Centers and Team Physician at Lawrence High School and Greater Lawrence Technical School
Curricular Interests: Sports, Exercise, and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Musculoskeletal Ultrasounds
Undergraduate: Tufts University
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: Swedish Family Medicine Residency – Cherry Hill, Seattle WA
Fellowship: Sports and Exercise Medicine, University of Massachusetts
Academic appointments: : Assistant Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine and University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School
A Massachusetts native, Christie graduated from Tufts University where she was a 4-year member and senior captain of the women’s lacrosse team. Studying and working abroad in Madrid and a month learning rural medicine in Nicaragua helped solidify her Spanish skills and introduce her to the mission of LFMR. She switched coasts to explore the beautiful Pacific Northwest for her residency at Swedish Family Medicine Residency Cherry Hill, in Seattle, Washington where she helped care for athletes at Seattle University. After some time working at a federally-qualified health center outside of Seattle and spending many winter weekends working with the local ski patrol, she returned to Massachusetts for her fellowship in Sports and Exercise Medicine at the University of Massachusetts. On Friday nights in the brisk New England fall you will find her under the lights covering high school football games. She is passionate about decreasing disparities in sports and musculoskeletal medicine as well as increasing awareness of pelvic floor health in women. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and three young children and trying to find time to exercise, garden, hike, cross-country ski, and spend time in the woods.
TlalliAztlan “Tlalli” Moya-Smith, MD (she/her/hers/ella)
Curricular Interests: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Justice/Belonging, Climate Medicine and Planetary Health
Undergraduate: Yale University — Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology, BS
Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Hometown: Oakland, CA
Growing up in an Indigenous-Mexican-American family in the Bay Area, Tlalli developed a deep appreciation for multiculturalism. With familial roots in the farm workers’ movement and exposure to the injustice of socioeconomic inequality at a young age, her passion for fighting for the rights of marginalized communities blossomed. Drawn to Lawrence’s commitment to fill the needs of its incredible community, Tlalli completed residency at LFMR with an area of concentration in Advanced Surgical Obstetrics. She is committed to continuing her full-scope family medicine practice in the clinic and on the inpatient wards on adult medicine, obstetrics, and pediatrics. She is dedicated to advancing LFMR’s DEI and climate medicine/sustainability endeavors, and is currently finishing a Climate Health Organizing Fellowship as well as a Wilderness Medicine Fellowship. In her free time, Tlalli can be found traipsing through the wilderness, writing, trying to create something with leftovers in her fridge, traveling, and dancing.
Andrew Smith, MD, FAAFP (he/him/his)
Director of Inpatient OB/Residency OB Curriculum
Curricular Focus: inpatient medicine, obstetrics, and pediatrics; global health; surgical and high risk obstetrics; outpatient procedures, point of care teaching
Undergraduate: Dartmouth College
Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency Program / Fellowship in Advanced Obstetrics at the Lawrence Family Medicine Residency Program
Academic Appointments: Assistant Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Leadership positions: Obstetrics Rotation Coordinator, Tufts Family Medicine Clerkship Lawrence Didactic Day Director, Global Health Guatemala Rotation Coordinator
Hometown: Dartmouth, MA
Born in the small town of Dartmouth, MA, Andy was raised by parents who were outstanding role models in demonstrating the importance of service and community. To avoid any confusion in life, he went from Dartmouth High School to Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Med School, saving tons of money on school related apparel. Along the way he discovered a great joy and passion for working with the poor and underserved. In college, he had the remarkable fortune to work with the Missionaries of Charity in Calcutta, where he first felt the draw to medicine. After college, he spent a couple of years working with the homeless population in Boston before going on to med school. Drawn to Lawrence in 2004 by the residency’s mission to the underserved, he has found himself surrounded by a group of patients, residents and colleagues who act as a type of metaphorical jet fuel for idealism, simultaneously challenging his intellect and compassion. He feels inspired on a daily basis and thinks he has the most fulfilling job on the planet. In 2011-2013 he took a sabbatical from LFMR to volunteer with my family in a rural indigenous community in Guatemala, at a site that has become one of the LFMR Global Health resident rotations. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his amazing wife and kids, traveling, hiking, biking, running, following Boston sports teams, and playing practical jokes.
Joshua St. Louis, MD, MPH, AAHIVS (he/him/his)
Inpatient Director
Curricular Focus: HIV, Viral Hepatitis, Addiction Medicine, Inpatient Medicine, Gender-Affirming Care, Resident Scholarly Projects
Undergraduate: Harvard College
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine (MD/MPH)
Residency: Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, Area of Concentration in HIV Medicine
Fellowship: Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy
Academic Appointments: Assistant Clinical Professor, Tufts University School of Medicine
Hometown: Haverhill, MA
Josh is board certified in Family Medicine and Addiction Medicine. He is also an AAHIVM-certified HIV Specialist and completed the WPATH GEI SOC7 certification program in gender-affirming care as well as the Physicians for Reproductive Health Leadership Training Academy. He grew up in a single-parent home in Haverhill, Massachusetts, another mill city up the road from Lawrence, studied evolutionary biology at Harvard, earned his MD/MPH from Tufts, and returned to the Merrimack Valley to complete his residency at LFMR where clinicians recognized the importance of social justice and advocacy in the care of the most vulnerable patients. He is the residency inpatient director and particularly enjoys supervising residents in the clinic’s HIV, Viral Hepatitis, OBAT, and Gender Care consultation clinics. He also works at HealthQ and the Joan G. Lovering Health Center providing comprehensive reproductive health services. In his spare time, Josh enjoys reading fiction, singing, mentoring, and trying out new brunch restaurants and Boston-area breweries with his partner Jason.
John Torro, MD (he/him/his)
Emergency Medicine and Surgery Coordinator
Curricular Focus: Emergency Medicine, Surgery
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: Somerset Medical Center, NJ
Fellowship: Faculty Development Fellowship, Lawrence Family Medicine Residency
Hometown: Palm Harbor, FL
Born and raised in Florida, John enjoys outdoor pursuits such as playing golf and going to the beach. After completing his residency in New Jersey, John completed a Faculty Development Fellowship at Lawrence, which prepared him for a teaching role at the residency. His favorite part about working in Lawrence is teaching the residents and working with the Spanish-speaking population. He particularly enjoys participating in prenatal group visits and being active in the Lawrence community. When he is not at work he enjoys playing sports, traveling, and spending time with his wife and daughters.
Anthony Valdini, MD, MS, MPH, FACP, FAAFP (he/him/his)
Research Director
Curricular Focus: Clinical Research, Procedures, Global Health
Undergraduate: Syracuse University, NY
Medical School: S.U.N.Y. Syracuse Medical School
Residency: University of Maryland Hospital Family Medicine Residency; Union Memorial Hospital Internal Medicine Residency, Baltimore
Academic Appointments: Professor, UMASS Medical School; Associate Professor, Tufts School of Medicine
Hometown: Wantagh, NY
The son of immigrants, Tony grew up in the New York area and is a first-generation college graduate. He is residency trained and board certified in both Family Medicine and Internal Medicine, has a master’s degree in clinical nutrition and another in public health. Tony was residency director and vice-chair of the Department of Family Medicine at S.U.N.Y. Stony Brook between 1983-1989. Before coming to Lawrence in 1993, he was medical director of the Navajo Nation Health Foundation in Arizona. At GLFHC, Tony is the residency research director and, with Dr. Jenni Somers, a Balint group leader. He has put his varied skills to work during 15 years of leading residents on a primary care medical rotation at a puesto de salud in the jungle of northeast Nicaragua, working with the Nicaraguan Ministry of Health and the NGO Bridges to Community. In addition, he is an editorial reviewer for several family medicine journals. His research interests include abnormal pap smears, Spanish language training, and clinical nutrition. He is married to Dr. Carolyn Augart, has three sons and a daughter, who translates for him at the hardware store near their home in Italy.
Community Faculty
Suzanne Andrews, MD, Family Physician, High Risk Obstetrics
Alaina Aristide, MD
Erin Bassett, MD, Family Physician, High Risk Obstetrics, Adult Medicine
Katrina Baumgartner, MD, Family Physician, HIV Medicine, Adult Medicine, Precepting
Tanya Campos, MD, Family Physician, Geriatrician, Adult Medicine, Nursing Home, Precepting
Maria Diaz, MD, Internist, Adult Medicine
Ciaran DellaFera, MD, Family Physician, Transgender Medicine, Adult Medicine
Eloise Edgings-Pryce, MD, Family Physician, High Risk Obstetrics, Adult Medicine, Colposcopy, Advanced Maternity AOC Coordinator
Paul Esielionis, MD, Family Physician, Precepting
Karen Glatfelter, MD, Family Physician, Adult Medicine, Maternity Care
Richard Glatz, MD, Family Physician, Maternity Care, Precepting
Jack Gordon, MD, Family Physician
Caren Jacobson, MD, Family Physician, Adult Medicine, Maternity Care, Precepting
Xenia Johnson Bhembe, MD, Psychiatry
Amy Lee, MD, Family Physician, Precepting
Jonathan Lichkus, MD, MPH, Family Physician, Adult Medicine, Maternity Care, Pediatrics, Precepting, Health Systems Management Curriculum coordinator
Ellen Lynch, MD, Pediatrician
Cara Marshall, MD, Family Physician, Precepting
Robert McKersie, MD, Family Physician, Maternity Care, Adult Medicine, Precepting
Jessica Reader, MD, MPH, Family Physician, High Risk Obstetrics, Adult Medicine, Precepting
Lydia Rex, MD, Family Physician
Blair Roberts, MD, Family Physician, Adult Medicine, Precepting, Bariatric Medicine
Carolyn Roy-Bornstein, MD, Writer in Residence
Laurel Ruzicka, MD, Family Physician, Precepting
Patrick Salemme, MD, MPH
Nirmala Sambangi, MD, Family Physician, High Risk Obstetrics
Kathleen Sausen, MD
Diane Smith, MD, Family Physician, High Risk Obstetrics, Adult Medicine, Precepting, Colposcopy
Angela Sterling, MD
Jennifer Sparks, MD, Family Physician, Adult Medicine, Precepting
Mia Sorcinelli, MD, Family Physician, Addiction Medicine, Precepting
Krenie Stowe, MD, Pediatrician
Vincent M. Waite, MD, MPH
Rebecca Weiner, MD
Our Staff
Michelle Olivieri, BBA, C-TAGME(she/her/hers)
Director of Graduate Medical Education and Residency Administration
Michelle grew up in the Lawrence community, and started working at the Health Center part-time while in high school. She started working for the health center’s residency in 2007 as an administrative assistant and soon became the Research Coordinator, collaborating with other institutions and co-authoring several presentations and publications. She has worked in all aspects of residency administration, and is now the Graduate Medical Education Director, managing Residency operations. She currently serves as Co-Treasurer and Co-Chair of the Mentoring Committee on the Association of Family Medicine Administrators’ Board of Directors, and is also a mentor to AFMA members. When she is not overseeing the schedules and administration of 44 residents, she is busy being a wife to her high-school sweetheart of over 20 years, mom to two busy teenagers, coaching youth cross country and track and field as a Level 1 USATF Coach, and slowly updating her 200-year-old farmhouse. Some of her greatest joys are cooking and entertaining for her family and friends, exploring restaurants with her husband in search of the best grilled octopus, watching her children run, and being the best fur mom to her Yorkie babies, Penelope and Luna.
Concetta “Connie” Coleman
Associate GME Manager
Connie was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She received her B.S. in Mathematics at Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn which is now part of NYU. Connie was lucky enough to be a stay at home Mom for a number of years to raise her two children while her husband traveled for work. Upon returning to the work force after an 8 year hiatus, she has worked in various areas of health care for 10 years and started at Greater Lawrence as a temp in the fiscal department. She has held various positions involving data management in the Med Admin department and has come to Residency as the Associate Manager. In her spare time, she is an active member of Chorus North Shore and has traveled with them on tour. She and her husband love to travel, sing and work on their antique house.
Bruce Ramirez, MD (he/him/his)
Clerkship Coordinator and Data Management Analyst
Bruce is originally from the Bronx, NY, but having moved around a lot throughout his life he doesn’t consider himself a pure New Yorker. Interested in the health care field since his youth, Bruce began as a chiropractor’s assistant in high school. He attended PUCMM school of medicine in Santiago, Dominican Republic where he obtained his MD degree in 2019. Today, as a part of the residency administration team, Bruce works with staff and residents to help organize and complete a variety of tasks. Bruce also aspires to join a residency of his own someday and continue his medical career. In his spare time Bruce enjoys being active, lifting weights, playing basketball, board games, and watching Knicks and Yankees games.
Jennifer Figuereo
Senior Administrative Coordinator
Jennifer Figuereo was born in the Dominican Republic and immigrated to the United States at the age of 11, bringing with her a deep appreciation for family and a determination to succeed. Her journey in education and career has been marked by dedication and passion for healthcare. Jennifer began her formal education at Greater Lawrence Technical School, where she earned her Certified Nursing Assistant license. This early exposure to healthcare ignited her interest in the field and set the foundation for her future aspirations. After graduating from Greater Lawrence Technical School, Jennifer pursued higher education at the University of Massachusetts Boston. There, she embarked on a rigorous academic path, majoring in Biology with a focus on the pre-medical track. Her time at UMass Boston was marked by academic excellence and a commitment to learning, culminating in her graduation with a Bachelor’s degree in Biology in 2022. Throughout her academic journey, Jennifer balanced her studies with a passion for spending quality time with her family, a value instilled in her from her upbringing. She cherishes moments spent with loved ones, finding joy and inspiration in their company.
Naomy Florentino
Senior Administrative Coordinator
Naomy Florentino was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Lawrence, MA with four siblings. Her journey through finance has seen her wear many hats- from Loan Servicing Specialist to Account Data Administrator. Now part of LFMR’s Residency Administrative team, her eye for detail shines brightest in managing expense reports and reimbursements. Outside of work, Naomy enjoys nature treks, fishing, reading, and cooking. She’s passionate about anime, stand-up comedy, exploring new eateries and she’s always eager to share her latest discoveries with friends. For Naomy, family is central; she helps at her parents’ cozy cafe and dotes on her pets: Gucci and Ginger, her lively dogs, and Zion, her affectionate cat. When she’s not enjoying the great outdoors or cooking up a storm, you’ll find her curled up watching her favorite movies like “The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie” and “Grease.”