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IWS Welcomes Jerry Isikoff, PhD as New CEO

The Angel Harvey Family Health Center of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago (IWS) is pleased to announce Jerry Isikoff, PhD as the new Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Jerry Isikoff has effectively served in several roles at IWS and has furthered his commitment to the mission by stepping into the enduring CEO role. Dr. Isikoff’s background in clinical psychology includes more than four decades of providing and advocating for mental health services to children and adults.

No Fish Out of Water

Dr. Isikoff began his formal appointment as CEO on August 15, 2018, after serving as the interim CEO since March of 2018. Dr. Isikoff was the Chief Operating Officer of the Angel Harvey Family Health Center of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago for three years.

During his overall time at IWS, Dr. Isikoff has been integral to guiding the organization through the Child-centered Health and Advanced Therapies (CHAT) program implementation, the introduction of Dr. Landos and his practice to the optometry clinic, and several organizational infrastructures and communications improvements. On the transition, Dr. Isikoff comments that he is “honored to have the opportunity to be a part of” the ongoing legacy of the Angel Harvey Family Health Center and is “excited to work with a Board of Directors that is committed to the mission of the organization.”

Forward Facing and Mission Driven

As the Angel Harvey Family Health Center continues to grow, Dr. Isikoff in his new role of CEO is starting with a focus on the systems that make it possible to serve patients and the community by continuing to improve employee relations and building system updates: “healthcare is evolving and as an organization we must learn to adapt” he says.

To enhance employee relations, he keeps an open-door policy with all staff as “communication is very important. It is my goal to communicate effectively… I want staff to know that I have their backs and hope that people feel comfortable coming to me so that we can find resolutions. I see the genuine commitment to our work and mission from staff every day. It is important to me that staff feel nourished to support the mission in the important work they do every day.”

Organizationally, Dr. Isikoff is improving or enhancing the tools and resources necessary to provide quality and preventive health care services. Internally, Dr. Isikoff championed the move of IWS electronic medical records system to Athena.  He also improved the efficiency and productivity of the IT services.  Dr. Isikoff will also soon announce the return of a previous midwifery group to provide both traditional and CenteringPregnancy© group prenatal care services.

Planning the Next 100 Years of Health Care

Overall, Dr. Isikoff is uniquely qualified to accomplish the goals he has set for the Angel Harvey Family Health Center of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago. As CEO, Dr. Isikoff will lead using his unique perspective stemming from his clinical background, passion for people, and already successful time as a leader at IWS. Expect to see continues advancements to the future of family and public health from the Angel Harvey Family Health Center of the Infant Welfare Society of Chicago.

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.