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Meet Our Faculty

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		Rebecca Blumhofer, MD, MPH Assistant Professor Wheaton College, 2004 Boston University School of Medicine, 2010 Boston University School of Public Health, 2006 UMass Worcester Family Medicine Residency, 2013 Areas of Interest: Adolescent Health, Women’s Health, Maternal Child Health
		Philip Bolduc, MD Associate Professor Director, Community-Based HIV and Viral Hepatitis Fellowship Brown University, BS in Electrical Engineering UMass Chan Medical School, 2000 Lawrence Family Medicine Residency, 2003 Areas of Interest and Research: HIV, Hepatitis C, addiction and chronic pain Why Family Health Center? Family Health Center serves a vibrant, diverse, challenging and inspiring patient population. It has become my “medical home” and it is an honor to work here among so many talented colleagues. HIV medicine is an ever-evolving blend of scientific and psychosocial challenges that I find both stimulating and rewarding. Personal Facts: I am a Worcester native and a former electrical engineer who worked on solar photovoltaic system R&D before going to medical school. I live in the city and participate in civic life in different ways, and am always impressed with the people I meet in different arenas who are working to make Worcester a great community.
		Lucy Candib, MD Professor Emeritus Radcliffe College, 1968 Harvard Medical School, M.D., 1972 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. Author of Medicine and the Family: A Feminist Perspective (Basic, 1995) Co-author (with Sara Shields, MD) of Woman-Centered Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth (Radcliffe, 2010.) Hometown: Brooklyn, NY/Danby, Vermont Why Family Health Center? 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; Centering Pregnancy, and many others.) 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. 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 University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, M.D., 1999 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 Why Family Health Center? 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.
		Sara Casey, DO Assistant Education Director Assistant Professor Providence College University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2011 UMass Worcester Family Medicine Residency, 2014 Areas of Interest: Women’s health and public health
		Elizabeth Dykhouse, Ph.D, Director of Behavioral Science Assistant Professor Doctorate in Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University Predoctoral internship with I Ola Lahui Rural Behavioral Health (HI) Postdoctoral fellowship with Salud Family Health Centers (CO) Areas of Interest and Research: Dr. Dykhouse's background is in primary care psychology and health psychology. She is particularly interested in the provision of culturally and linguistically appropriate care and has experience working with interpreters as well as practicing directly in Spanish.
		Erik Garcia, MD Assistant Professor Medical Director, Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Project
		Melanie Gnazzo, MD Assistant Professor University of Connecticut University of Rochester Family Medicine Residency Areas of Interest and Research: Immigrant and Refugee care, women’s health including maternity care, office procedures Why Family Health Center? I am excited to be a part of the UMass community. The physicians I work with are excellent clinicians and educators. The other staff work hard to make sure patients are cared for appropriately. Everyone really strives to provide the best care to all patients, particularly those in the greatest need Personal Facts: I enjoy spending time with my family hiking, exploring small towns and having quiet dinners with family and friends.
		Emma Howard-Young, MD Assistant Professor Pediatrics Residency at UMass Chan Medical School at Baystate Medical Center, 2021 Sidney Kimmel Medical School at Jefferson University, 2018 Areas of Interest and Research: I am a general pediatrician with an interest in mental and behavioral health for kids of all ages. I am passionate about providing trauma-informed care to patients and their families. Why Family Health Center? FHCW presented a fantastic opportunity for me to practice primary care pediatrics with a focus on mental and behavioral health. I wanted to be a part of an organization that was addressing the social determinants of health that impact our patients, which FHCW does well. I was able to join a team of staff and providers who are dedicated, supportive, and passionate. Personal Facts: I love to bake and paint in my spare time, and will try any craft or DIY that sparks my interest. Being in nature in any capacity is healing to me. My partner and I have a 1 year old who is a wild joy in our lives, and I love nothing more than spending the day with the two of them.
		Jordan Howard-Young, MD Assistant Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health Assistant Professor of Psychiatry Director, Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship UMass Worcester Family Medicine Residency Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University MA in International Development, Josef Korbel School of International Studies Areas of Interest and Research: Community psychiatry, complex trauma, anti-racism and structural oppression work, refugee health, LGBTQI+ health, teaching and mentorship, community organizing and storytelling Why Family Health Center? I immediately felt welcomed and cared for when I came here. I was inspired to join a group of people from different perspectives and disciplines who were passionate about providing the best care they can to structurally-vulnerable individuals and communities. Personal Facts: I grew up in Las Vegas, NV. I worked in community organizing and public policy prior to finding my way to medicine. I also have a background in refugee health and sustainable and participatory societal development that inform much of my approach to medicine. I live in rural Western Mass with my life partner, our toddler, and 2 cats.
		Hilary Mislan MD Assistant Professor Education Director University of Massachusetts – Family Health Center of Worcester (2017) Albany Medical College (2014) Areas of Interest and Research: Addiction medicine and suboxone; Maternal child health and Interconception care; Teaching Why Family Health Center: I love being at a teaching community health center. We have a huge array of services and can do a lot for our patients holistically. The cultural diversity is always stimulating, both among our patients and our staff. I completed residency here and stayed on because I love my patients and the people I work with, and I've been here ever since! I speak Spanish with about half my patients. Personal Facts: I am an avid gardener, outdoors enthusiast, and long-distance runner. I live just outside Worcester with my partner, two young children, and our dog. We also have about 20 chickens.
		Claudeleedy Pierre, MD Associate Director, Primary Care Psychiatry Fellowship Director of Perinatal Services Assistant Professor Brown University Brown University Alpert Medical School Boston University Family Medicine Residency Greater Lawrence Family Medicine OB Fellowship Areas of Interest & Research: Maternal Child Health, Underserved Communities/Populations, Diabetes, Teaching, & Team Approach to Health Care
		Angela Rufo, DO Assistant Professor Faculty, Sports Medicine Fellowship
		Amber Sarkar, MD Assistant Professor University of Nebraska - Lincoln Ben Gurion University Medical School for International Health 2010 UMass Family Medicine Residency (Family Health Center of Worcester) Areas of Interest and Research: Underserved Medicine, Community Medicine, Global Health

		Sara G. Shields, MD, MS Professor Harvard University, A.B., 1984 University of California at San Francisco, M.D., 1989 University of Rochester, 1992 Maternal & Child Health Fellowship, Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island, 1994 Areas of Interest and Research: Maternity Care, Underserved Populations, Women's Health. Co-author (with Lucy Candib, MD) of Woman-Centered Care in Pregnancy and Childbirth (Radcliffe, 2010.) My interests include breastfeeding, group prenatal care, family medicine maternity care, quality improvement in general and in maternal/child health in particular, and the humanities in medicine. I've worked in recent years with a community collaborative trying to address infant mortality, including a project to donate free Baby Boxes with educational materials to Worcester's neediest families. About Family Health Center: 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. I especially appreciate my amazing colleagues who help me learn and laugh and remind me why I love this work. Personal Facts: In my nanoseconds of free time, I enjoy reading novels, knitting, and any kind of outdoor exercise except for things that worsen my fear of heights or my tendency towards seasickness. My goal is to some day complete the Cape Cod half marathon trilogy in one year so that I can get the really cool jacket. I've taken up curling, and I'm currently training to be a docent at Worcester's fabulous art museum so that I can lead more tours for medical students, residents, and doctors to teach observation, teamwork and communication skills in that unique setting.
		Matthew Silva, PharmD Adjunct Assistant Professor
		Lyndsey Stadtmueller, MD Assistant Professor Olin College Boston University School of Medicine UMass Worcester Family Medicine Residency