We are thrilled to welcome you to IWS Family Health – Dunning, where compassionate, high-quality pediatric care continues. Starting March 3, 2025, we are honored to carry on the trusted care Dr. Maria Staisz has provided for over 40 years.
Whether you’re a returning patient or new to our community, our dedicated team is here to provide the same exceptional service, now with expanded support from IWS Family Health.
M, W 9:30am-6:00pm
T, Th 8:30am-5:00pm
Friday 8:00am-4:30 pm
Saturday (2x per month) 8:00am-2:00pm
At IWS Family Health, your child’s health and well-being are our top priorities. Our Dunning location provides:
Dental Services | 
Prenatal Care | 
Adult Health Services | 
Behavioral Health (BH) | 🏥 Referrals to Specialty Care
…and more!
The compassionate providers you know and trust will continue caring for your family—now with the added support of IWS Family Health’s comprehensive network of specialists and resources.
We are committed to making this transition smooth and ensuring your child receives the highest level of care in a welcoming environment.
Chief Medical Officer | Pediatrics
Pediatrics
Site Manager
FAQ
No, your child will continue receiving the same high-quality, compassionate pediatric care you trust. Our goal is to make this transition seamless while offering additional support and resources.
Yes! The familiar faces you know will continue caring for your child, along with additional resources from IWS Family Health to enhance your family’s healthcare experience.
Our updated hours are:
To schedule an appointment, call us at 773-782-2800.
In addition to pediatric care at our Dunning location, our Logan Square site offers:
For more information, visit our Services page.
IWS Family Health provides healthcare services, education, and support to children and families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
Visit us 3600 W Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
We provide healthcare services and education to medically underserved and vulnerable families in the Chicagoland area.
Call us +1 (773) 782-2800
Visit us 3600 W Fullerton Avenue
Chicago, IL 60647
Monday 8am – 8pm
Tuesday 8am – 6pm
Wednesday 8am – 8pm
Thursday 8am-8pm
Friday 8am-5pm
Saturday 8am-2pm (open on the
2nd and 4th Saturday of the month)
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
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).
Dr. Portela is a Board Certified pediatrician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She graduated from Northeastern Illinois University in Chicago with a Bachelor of Science and a minor in Sociology. After college, she worked as a case manager at Casa Central in Humboldt Park. Soon after she graduated with honors from Ross University School of Medicine and a Masters in Healthcare Administration from National Louis University.
Dr. Portela completed her residency in pediatrics at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Her special interests are in areas of high-risk pediatric patients: newborns, obesity, nutrition, and asthma/allergy illnesses.
Dr. Portela was born in Colombia, South America and raised in Logan Square. She is bilingual and understands the multicultural facets of society to medicine. Her special interests are in areas of high-risk pediatric patients: newborns, obesity, nutrition, and asthma/allergy illnesses.
Dr. Portela has been an enthusiastic and dedicated member of the Angel Harvey Family Health Center team since her arrival in 2017. She exudes dedication and leads by example in her role as Chief Medical Officer and brings the same vigor and energy to her leadership as she is a provider and leader of our Comer Sano/Eat Healthy group.
Dr. Emeline Ramos joined the IWS Family Health Pediatrics team in 2022 with over 12 years of experience delivering high-quality pediatric care. After graduating from the University of Chicago in 2001 with a bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences, she moved on to graduate from Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in 2008 with an M.D., Doctor of Medicine.
Dr. Ramos is highly skilled in communicating effectively with youth and caregivers to clearly diagnose symptoms and understand their health history. She comes to us eager to apply her extensive expertise in diagnosing pediatric conditions and formulating effective care plans to foster wellness, child development, and pediatric care knowledge at IWS Family Health.
Dr. Ramos is fluent in both Spanish and English.
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.
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.”
Dr. Hayley Sparks is a board-certified pediatrician with a passion for providing high-quality, family-centered care. She earned her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C.
Before moving to Chicago, Dr. Sparks worked as a pediatrician and clinical instructor for Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she provided primary care for children in a busy community health center. Her favorite part of being a pediatrician is the relationships and trust she gets to build with her patients and families. She is excited to continue supporting children’s health and development as part of the IWS Family Health team.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Sparks enjoys practicing yoga, reading poetry, and spending time outdoors with her husband and young son.
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 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.
