FACULTY - FAMILY HEALTH CENTER OF WORCESTER

Thank you for your interest in Family Health Center of Worcester. Please contact any of our faculty if you have any questions! 

    bxter  Jeffrey Baxter, MD
Assistant Professor
Jeffrey.Baxter@umassmemorial.org
Washington University School of Medicine, M.D., 1996
Family Practice Residency: Family Health Center/UMass, 1999
UMass Community Faculty Development Fellowship, 2001-2002
Addiction Medicine Fellowship, Boston VA Medical Center/Boston University, 2002-2003
About Queen Street: In my opinion, our Family Health Center offers the best of all educational worlds
for Family Medicine - the opportunity to work with an ethnically diverse, inner-city population at a
comprehensive community health center, with strong ties to all of the resources of the medical school
and the university hospital system. I chose this site for my residency in 1996, knowing only that I wanted
to make a difference in the lives of the urban underserved. During my time here, I've developed special
interests in the care of patients infected with HIV, as well as those with drug and alcohol problems.
Since completing fellowship training in addiction medicine, I have taken on consulting roles with addiction
care providers in the area and have recently received grant funding to improve treatment for alcohol
withdrawal in the state prison system. I'm proud to have been a part of lives of the people of this community.


                                                                                                                                                                                       
new canduLucy Candib, MD
Professor
Lucy.Candib@umassmemorial.org
Radcliffe College, 1968
Harvard Medical School, M.D., 1972
Residency: 1972-1973 Rotating internship Cambridge City Hospital
1974-1976 Worcester City Hospital/Umass Family Practice Residency
Areas of Interest and Research: Woman-centered care, pregnancy and birth, and throughout the
lifecycle; Empowering care of chronic illness, esp. diabetes; Violence and victimization of children
and adults, and the aftermath; Culture, immigration, refugees, asylum
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY/Danby Vermont
About Queen Street: Diversity of staff, patients, cultures, illnesses at a health center with a wide
variety of services. Commitment to high quality care linked with training programs
(MDs, NPs, social workers, dental residents) all in a setting dedicated to the underserved.
Academic faculty with ongoing research interests relevant to our population
(conveying prevention to low literacy patients; health care for homeless families; breast feeding
practices among low income women; CenteringPregnancy, and many others.)
Faculty with strongly evidence-based approaches and broad reading interests, always questioning,
many of whom have practiced for years at the health center and have deep understanding of
relationships with patients. Integration into medical care of mental health services, nutrition and health
education services for multi-lingual populations. Residents graduate with diverse competencies
and skills to go on learning—and many continue in health centers elsewhere.
Why Family Medicine: It was 1972. I knew I wanted to take care of women; within 2 months into
my rotating internship I knew I wanted to take care of infants and children, too. Then I found out I
liked working with adults, helping untangle the confusing symptoms from mind and body.
I read Michael Balint and learned that the doctor plays a role in how the patient’s illness gets
constructed. The only people who were talking about all this, who could link it all together,
who saw that family relationships were central to health and sickness, who were
critical of medical care as it was then—-were the people starting family practice residencies. I signed on
as one of the first residents in this program. I was not disappointed!
Personal Facts: I live on 10 acres on a pond within the Worcester city limits and sometimes bike
to work on a recumbent bike. I am working on a book possibly titled “It Runs in the Family”
about diabetes and depression in my family of origin.


 Lisa Carter, MD
Assistant Professor
Lisa.Carter@umassmemorial.org
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.D., 1999
Family Practice Residency: Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, 2003
Basic Clinical Pastoral Education (chaplaincy program), UNC, 1997
Masters of Public Health in Maternal/Child Health, UNC, 1998
Areas of Interest and Research: Psychiatry, Underserved Medicine
About Queen Street: I feel very blessed to have meaningful work that engages both mind
and heart. At Family Health Center of Worcester I feel that I am part of a vibrant, thriving team that
provides comprehensive services to patients and deeply impacts their lives. I have delightful
colleagues and I love working with the residents. I think residents see me as a role model for
balancing professional and personal life, which is something we all struggle with in underserved
medicine, and I enjoy helping them plan for balanced lives and careers. I truly love my job.


ClarkLinda Garufi Clark, MD
Assistant Professor

Linda.Clark@umassmemorial.org
Brandeis University
Eastern Virginia Medical School
Hunterdon Medical Center Family Practice Residency, Hunterdon NJ
Areas of Interest and Research: Education, Team Work, Family Centered Maternity Care,
Cultural Awareness, Wellness, Chronic Nonmalignant Pain, Chronic Illness
Hometown: I’ve moved every 2-5 years of my life. If you want to know more, just ask!
About Queen Street: FHCW is a place of many peoples with different interests all
working towards the same goal.
Why Family Medicine: People welcome me into their lives, share with me their
stories and treat me like family.
Personal Facts: I’d prefer my German Sheppard Scout to be with me at all times. I like being outside;
more often in the woods; although there are times when city streets are what I need.


 mattMatthew Collins, MD
Assistant Professor
Matthew.Collins@umassmemorial.org 
Howard University College of Medicine, M.D., 1997
Residency: Family Health Center/UMass, 2000
Areas of Interest and Research: Quality Improvement, International Family Medicine,
Preventive Medicine
About Queen Street: In my life I have always sought meaningful work. I believe that the family physician
can do no greater work than serving the most deserving of our society. That is why I came to the Family
Health Center of Worcester as a resident and stayed on as a faculty member. My experience with its diverse
population has opened up international opportunities for me and led to my involvement with the Vietnam
Family Medicine Development Project. FHCW has allowed me the flexibility to travel throughout Vietnam as
a consultant for this project. I feel tremendously fortunate to be surrounded by the most intelligent, capable
and caring colleagues at FHCW.


 warrenWarren Ferguson, MD
Associate Professsor and Vice Chair
Warren.Ferguson@umassmemorial.org
University of Massachusetts, Amherst; B.S, Biochemistry, Summa Cum Laude
Boston University School of Medicine, M.D.
Maine-Dartmouth Family Medicine Residency
Areas of Interest and Research: Health Equity and Health Disparities, Primary Care Workforce;
Health Policy for Vulnerable Populations
Hometown: Medford, MA
About Queen Street: I have been practicing at the Family Health Center of Worcester (Queen Street)
for 20 years and was the medical director for ten of those years. The health center serves a very diverse
population, racially, ethnically and socioeconomically. I love practicing and teaching at the health center
because I learn something new every day. The faculty are superb clinicians and teachers who are committed
to caring for the underserved and training the future family physicians for community health centers
and other underserved sites.
Why Family Medicine? I knew I would become a family physician by the middle of my first year of medical
school despite the fact that only 6 of my 150 student class went into this specialty. I fell in love with the
concept of whole person and family oriented care. Unquestionably, family physicians are best prepared
to integrate management of medical and behavioral health issues.
Personal Facts: I enjoy gardening, hiking in the woods and good spy novels.


 Margo Kaplan-Gill, MD
Assistant Professor
Kaplan.Gill@umassmemorial.org
Assistant Professor
University of Arizona, 2001
University of Maryland, M.D., 2005

Residency: UMass Worcester Family Medicine, 2008
Areas of Interest and Research: I am a physician acupuncturist and am very interested in Integrative
Medicine. Also, I thoroughly enjoy prenatal and obstetrics along with caring for the children that
I deliver.
Hometown: Chevy Chase, MD (really that is the name of the town just outside Washington, D.C.)
About Queen Street: You can get trained to do anything and learn how to be whoever you are.
Why Family Medicine? I would be bored doing anything else; the possibilities are endless!
Personal Facts: I enjoy watching my kids play in my garden and family trips.


 kedianTracy Kedian, MD
Assistant Professor

Tracy.Kedian@umassmemorial.org
McGill University
University of Massachusetts, M.D., 1996
Hahnemann Family Health Center/UMass, 1999
Areas of Interest and Research: Clinical interest in care of the underserved, women’s health
obstetrics and colposcopy. Academic interest in medical education. Research in assisting learners in
academic difficulty.
Hometown: Plymouth, MA
About Queen Street: UMass is an inclusive, energetic community of family physicians with a mission
of caring for patients who truly need it, teaching learners with compassion and dedication and
performing research to make people’s lives better. I believe in our department and our work. There is
no where else I would rather be.
Why Family Medicine? I am a family doctor because I love being “in the room”. The human connection
with your patients combined with the constant intellectual challenge makes this the most exciting
and rewarding field of medicine.
Personal Facts: I speak four languages and love to travel.


MckeyHeather Mackey-Fowler, MD
Assistant Professor
Heather.MackeyFowler@umassmemorial.org
Binghamton University, 1999
SUNY Upstate Medical University, M.D., 2003
Residency: Wilson Memorial Regional Medical Center, 2006
Areas of Interest and Research: Obstetrics, colposcopy, women’s care, adolescent health
Electronic Medical Record implementation
Hometown: Homer, NY
About Queen Street: I decided to become a family doctor because I like taking care of the entire family;
from the babies to the grandparents. No other specialty allows you to become so involved with a family.
I chose to work at FHCW because of the diverse population, the outstanding staff and providers, and the
opportunity to teach residents. Family medicine is a great specialty for those who want to 'do it all'
in medicine, but want to make their own families important, too.
Why Family Medicine: Family Medicine is the foundation of healthcare. We get to have the best
relationships with our patients, because we take care of their children, their parents and their Uncle Joe!
I can do all sorts of procedures if I wish, I can teach… the options in Family Medicine are boundless.
I feel I have tailored my job to fit my needs and interests and still serve our community in a
meaningful way.
Personal Facts: I sing karaoke with my family. I can do an awesome “Wicked Witch of the West”
impression. Really!


 MaxtedGeorge Maxted, MD
Associate Vice President of Medical Services
Assistant Professor
George.Maxted@umassmemorial.org
Wayne State University, M.D., 1977
Family Medicine Residency: Duke University, 1980

Areas of Interest and Research: Evidence-based Medicine, Geriatrics
(Certfication of Added Qualifications since 1989), Electronic Medical Records 
Why Family Medicine? I have dedicated my professional career to my own continuing medical education
and to the education of others. I believe Family Medicine, as the specialty in breadth, is the domain in which
the most comprehensive level of medical knowledge is possible. We do the best primary care. I have also
always been involved in medical administration, quality improvement and ongoing efforts to help our
profession stay healthy. Medicine to me is a journey to gather knowledge and expertise in the
service of people and communities who seek our help.


 Miguel Olmedo, DNP, FNP-c
Miguel.Olmado@umassmemorial.org

Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions – Doctoral (2009)
University of Massachusetts at Boston – Graduate and Undergraduate (2000,2006)
Areas of Interest and Research: Role of spirituality in primary care; Nurse practitioner primary care residency,
Reduction of health care disparity among Latinos
Hometown: Boston suburbia
About Queen Street: Family Health Center of Worcester will provide you with a rich and diverse experience in family practice that is as equally challenging as it is rewarding.
Why Family Medicine: Family medicine offers me the challenge and gratification of caring for patients through the entire life span. I can think no other profession where the impact of what we do (care we provide) on a daily basis is so great.
Personal Facts: I'm an avid tennis player.

 





 pietry

Valerie Pietry, MD, MS
Assistant Professor
Valerie.Pietry@umassmemorial.org
Dartmouth Medical School, M.D., 1989
Family Practice Residency: Brown University Family Medicine Residency, 1992
Areas of Interest and Research: Behavioral pediatrics, Attention Deficit Disorder
Community-Oriented Primary Care, Spirituality and Health 
About Queen Street: The residents in this program are very motivated to give the best care they
can for each patient. I enjoy the interactions with residents that lead to my learning more, which can
be applied to my own practice of medicine. I appreciate getting to know the residents as they come
through our site.


rathMelissa Rathmell, MD
Assistant Professor

Melissa.Rathmell@umassmemorial.org
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, B.S.
University of Massachusetts, M.D., 1999
Residency: UMass/Barre, 2002
Areas of Interest and Research: "Traditional Medicine", Women's Health, Procedures, Teaching
Why Family Medicine: I started my career as a software engineer and worked part time as an EMT
and then a paramedic as a hobby. Over the years I found that I enjoyed the medical aspects of my life
more than the engineering, and so I decided to take the plunge and go to medical school! I enjoy doing
and teaching a variety of procedures; I am a certified medical acupuncturist. There are many problems
that western medicine does not deal with well, so I feel that understanding of "traditional” forms
of medicine is important to providing full care.
Personal Facts: I am an avid baseball fan and my husband and I are on a quest to see a game in
every major league stadium.

 Lana Sargent, FNP
Lana.Sargent@umassmed.edu



 shieldsSara G. Shields, MD, MS
Associate Professor
Sara.Shields@umassmemorial.org
Harvard University, A.B., 1984 
University of California at San Francisco, M.D., 1989
Residency: University of Rochester, 1992
Maternal & Child Health Fellowship, Memorial Hospital or Rhode Island, 1994
Areas of Interest and Research: Maternity Care, Underserved Populations, Women's Health
About Queen Street: When I'm able to be with residents attending one of their own patients' deliveries,
I love encouraging the residents to discover and savor their unique longitudinal connections with laboring
women and their families. This continuity during maternity care is what makes our role as family
physicians so special and so important. Here at Family Health, we have such an incredible opportunity to
serve a truly multicultural perinatal population with support systems that provide something unique and
special to families otherwise so disempowered and disenfranchised in our society.
Personal Facts: My family loves pursuing New England's multi-season activities with kids (hiking, biking, camping,
anything at Cape Cod, skiing and snowshoeing); in my nanoseconds of free time I enjoy reading
novels, writing, knitting and sometimes coaching kids' soccer or teaching Sunday School.


 ShoemakerTheodore Shoemaker, MD, MS
Assistant Professor
Theodore.Shoemaker@umassmemorial.org
University of Rochester, M.D., 1985
Residency: Family Health Center/UMass, 1988
Areas of Interest and Research: Medical Informatics and Quality Assurance
About Queen Street: Teaching encourages me to grow and be more rigorous about my own practice.
It is fun to watch the residents and students mature from neophytes into independent journey-person practitioners.