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Living Our Legacy: Gabriela’s story

When Gabriela* was laid off from her job of more than 20 years due to a company shut down, one of her first thoughts was how she would maintain adequate healthcare for her family. She drove to the hospital where she had been receiving care that same day to apply for health insurance. She knew the importance of ongoing care for herself, her husband, and their two young boys.

Though she tried all that she could to continue her health benefits, she was denied for medical assistance.  In October of 2014, she was informed that the health benefits she was receiving at another health center would be discontinued. She was seven months pregnant, and she couldn’t find a single HMO that would accept her, and her family given her advanced pregnancy status.

In December of 2014, despite still being uninsured, Gabriela gave birth to her beautiful daughter, Olivia*. In March of 2015, Gabriela’s family received devastating news: Olivia was diagnosed with a hyperextended neck and would need to receive Occupational Therapy services.

Gabriela waited more than a year before Olivia would receive services at one of Chicago’s major hospitals. Gabriela’s family would spend those months navigating between a variety of hospitals and doctors at several locations across the city, just to get Olivia the care she needed.

But hope arrived later that spring when Gabriela received a recommendation from a friend and IWS patient about our services. She brought her older son in to received therapy services and she brought Gabriela in to see one of our providers. As Gabriela put it: “You guys have everything here. It’s like family when I come in”.

Thanks to the skill and attention of our providers, Olivia received a referral for genetic testing which led to her finally receiving a diagnosis for her condition- which she hadn’t received before. Gabriela’s children were also referred to our CACS, CHAT and Early Intervention/ Home Visitor services.

Today, Gabriela and her family receive all their services at the Angel Harvey Family Health Center. Medical, dental, social skills, therapy, occupational therapy, and the emotional support and encouragement of our staff. As Gabriela puts it: “I live here. You are my angels.”

We are grateful to Gabriela and her family for trusting us for their healthcare needs. We are proud to be equipped to provide her family with comprehensive care in our single, centralized location.

Thank you, Gabriela, for sharing your story and for being an important part of the IWS living legacy.

 

*Name changed to protect patient privacy.

 

Posted April 11, 2019

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.