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Celebrating Jerry Isikoff’s Accomplishments at IWS Family Health

For nearly a decade, Jerry Isikoff has been an instrumental part of IWS Family Health. In 2015, he joined as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and transitioned to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in 2017.

Celebrating Jerry Isikoff on his retirement.

Over his tenure, Jerry worked with four different board presidents, contributing significantly to the organization’s growth and success. His dedication and leadership have left a lasting impact on IWS Family Health, ensuring it remains a vital resource for the community. Jerry’s commitment to staff welfare, technological advancement, and facility growth has set a solid foundation for future success.

We are grateful for his unwavering service and the legacy he leaves behind upon his retirement.

Among the many milestones and accomplishments of Jerry and his team over the years, here are some of the most notable:

  • In 2015, IWS launched the Child-Centered Health and Advanced Therapies (CHAT) program to provide assessments for developmental delays in children from low-income families, as well as early access to both speech and occupational therapy. Jerry led the path to its construction of the space and implementation of workflows.
  • In 2017, IWS began serving men in the adult health program and incorporated a more robust Care Coordination model to connect patients with necessary treatments and social services.
  • In 2018, IWS launched a Centering Pregnancy™ program, a group prenatal program.
  • In 2019, IWS completed an application to become a FQHC LAL and was awarded this status in 2020. Becoming a Look-Alike (LAL) stabilized the organization’s finances by increasing our reimbursement rate.
  • In 2021, IWS launched its 340B prescription program to provide lower-cost medications to adults and participated in student loan repayment for staff due to becoming a FQHC LAL.
  • From 2020 to 2022, IWS kept its doors open during the height of COVID-19 to address the critical needs of patients and vaccinations, launching a same day clinic for urgent appointments. Jerry, along with his staff, opened the clinic up for COVID-19 shots to an entire charter school staff so that teachers could work.
  • In 2022, the Auxiliary, working with Jerry and staff, launched the Angel Baby Program, which gave diaper bags and critical supplies to moms to address the healthcare needs of their newborns.
  • In 2022, in addition to the integration of behavioral health services on the medical floor, IWS introduced integrated behavioral health services in the dental department.
  • In 2023, IWS was awarded the HRSA Gold Quality Award. Of the 1,400 community health centers, only 10% of the facilities received this distinguished award confirming IWS’ commitment to quality care for its patients.
  • In 2023, IWS launched an onsite pharmacy. This was an additional service that increased our legacy as a one-stop-shop for patients to access care when coming to IWS.
  • In 2024, Jerry launched the first closed food pantry, Janie’s Kitchen, with the Greater Chicago Food Depository for patients with food insecurities. It has been a tremendous success thanks to the generosity of the Cooper Family in honor of their mom, Janie Cooper. 
  • In 2024, Jerry was able to secure a charitable gift of a physician pediatric practice that will take effect in January 2025. This could grow our overall number of patients by 1,500!
Photos of Jerry Isikoff in 2024 at his surprise retirement party

Building a Strong Team 

  • Advocating for higher wages
  • Creating an internal team-building group, the Dynamic Angels
  • Retaining and growing a vibrant C-suite
  • Establishing a robust HR department
  • Implementing an Employee Assistance Program

Raising the Profile of the Organization

  • Working with the Look-Alike Coalition to advocate for Look-Alikes across the country to Congress
  • Collaborating on government grants to bring in much-needed funds during and after the COVID-19 pandemic
  • 2020—Community Partner Award presented to IWS by Norwegian American Hospital.
  • 2021—Co-chair of the Look-Alike Task Force for the National Association of Community Health Centers. His position has brought light of the sustainability of LAL in the delivery of health care to the underserved.
  • 2022—Betsey Cook Grassroots Advocacy Award National Association of Community Health Centers
  • 2022—Humboldt Park Health Community Partner for Advocating health equity
  • 2022—Awarded by Molina Health Plans as the highest paid in the state for the incentive dollar award program for measures in 2021, totaling $98,000
  • 2024—Lifetime Achievement Award: The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) recognized Jerry for outstanding achievements and contributions to the health center mission and to community-based healthcare overall. 

Improving the Infrastructure

  • Updating the organizational IT capacity
  • Overseeing EHR upgrades to streamline patient care and provide robust data
  • Renovating and building out physical spaces
  • Creating “you-pick-it” herb gardens in the parking lot

Help us wish Jerry all the best as he says goodbye to the legacy he leaves behind upon his retirement here at IWS Family Health!

About Us

IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.

Call us +1 (773) 782-2800

IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.

Call us +1 (773) 782-2800

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Join The Team

IWS Family Health is a 501(c)3 Charitable Organization (Tax ID #: 36-2167752). IWS Family Health is a Federally-Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Look-Alike and a member of the Illinois Primary Healthcare Association (IPHCA) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).

Cathy Alvarez, MSN, CPNP-PC

Family Practice

Cathy Alvarez, MSN, CPNP-PC, is a board-certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with over two decades of experience dedicated to nurturing the health and well-being of children from birth through adolescence. Known for her warm, individualized approach to care, Cathy is passionate about building lasting relationships with her patients and their families—many of whom she’s supported through every milestone of childhood.

Cathy began her nursing career after earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999. She gained valuable experience working on the inpatient pediatric unit at Advocate Lutheran Children’s Hospital in Aurora. Driven to deepen her impact, she returned to UIC to complete the Pediatric Nurse Practitioner program, earning her Master of Science in Nursing in 2005. She is certified by the Pediatric Nursing Certification Board (PNCB) and has since devoted her career to providing expert care to diverse pediatric populations.

She is an active member of the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners and the American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association, always staying at the forefront of pediatric healthcare.
Fluent in English and Polish, with conversational Spanish skills, Cathy connects seamlessly with families from many cultural backgrounds.

Outside of work, you can find her cheering on her son at soccer games, exploring new destinations, and enjoying quality time with her family. Her caring spirit and clinical excellence make her a trusted partner in every child’s healthcare journey.” 

Marixa Alvarez, ARN, MSN, FNP-BC

Family Practice

Marixa Alvarez, ARN, MSN, FNP-BC, is a dedicated and compassionate Family Nurse Practitioner, board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She earned her Master of Science in Nursing from Lewis University, where she cultivated her passion for holistic, patient-centered care.

Fluent in both English and Spanish, Marixa connects deeply with diverse communities, ensuring every patient feels heard and supported. Outside of the clinic, you’ll likely find her in the kitchen—cooking, baking, and bringing people together over a homemade meal. A fun fact? Marixa has a knack for solving puzzles and putting things together—whether it’s a 1,000-piece jigsaw or helping patients piece together their path to better health.

Carlos Sian, PA

Physician Assistant

Carlos is a board-certified Physician Assistant who joined the IWS Family Health team in January 2024. He was born and raised in Antigua, Guatemala and is fluent in both English and Spanish.

His academic journey began at Saint Michael’s College, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology alongside minors in Chemistry and Religious Studies. Driven by a commitment to service, he devoted a year to volunteering as a medical assistant at a health clinic in Albuquerque, NM, through the Jesuit Volunteer Corps. This experience solidified his interest in medicine, inspiring him to delve deeper into healthcare and ultimately leading Carlos to pursue a Master of Public Health in Community Health Sciences and Infectious Diseases from Boston University School of Public Health.

Following his MPH, Carlos dedicated several years to the public health sector, primarily serving as a linkage to care coordinator,  clinical research coordinator, and COVID-19 contact tracer. Moved by a need to help his community during the 2020 pandemic, he secured admission to and completed the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine PA program, earning his Master of Medical Science degree.

Carlos aims to integrate his public health training with his medical practice to bring culturally competent and inclusive medical services to all his patients, but specially the Hispanic/Latino and LGTBQ+ communities he serves. In his downtime, Carlos enjoys cooking, collecting plants, fostering dogs, playing video games, watching reality TV shows, and adding more stamps to his passport!

Dr. Tara Ioffe

Family Practice

Dr. Tara Ioffe is a dedicated and compassionate Board-Certified Family Medicine physician with a strong commitment to providing excellent care to her patients. She obtained her medical degree from Avalon University in Curacao and went on to complete her Family Medicine Residency at the University of Oklahoma. She has worked at the University of Chicago and most recently NorthShore University. She has since returned to Chicago and is thrilled to join the IWS Family Health team in 2023, where she will continue to provide excellent care to her patients.

Throughout her career, Dr. Ioffe has gained experience in diverse medical fields, such as immediate and urgent care medicine while working at NorthShore Immediate Care. She did clinical research at the University of Chicago. Dr. Ioffe strives to foster a secure and inclusive environment for all her patients. She believes in an integrated approach to medicine, dedicating her time to understand each patient’s unique needs.

During her leisure time, Dr. Ioffe indulges in reading a variety of books for pleasure, plays boardgames, and loves to explore Chicago with her spouse and young child.