Staff

Whittier’s experienced staff is committed to our mission providing comprehensive health care to our patients.

Doctors

Pediatric Medicine

  • Dr. Michael Oanea, Pedi View Bio

    Dr. Michael Oanea, Pedi

    Michael Oanea, Pedi
    Clinical Interests: Neurodevelopmental Disabilities
    School: University of Oklahoma
    Residency: Boston Children’s Hospital
    Languages Spoken: English
    Special Interests: Autism; Language Development
    Accepting new Patients: Yes

  • Dr. Olamide Atanda, DMD View Bio

    Dr. Olamide Atanda, DMD

    Olamide Atanda, DMD
    Clinical Interests: Pediatric Dentistry
    School: University Of Florida
    Residency: University Of Florida
    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 06/2024
    Languages Spoken: English
    Special Interests: Travelling and spending time with family and friends
    Accepting new Patients: Yes

Adult and Family Medicine

  • Dr. Simon Ball, Podiatrist View Bio

    Dr. Simon Ball, Podiatrist

    Dr. Simon Ball
    Clinical Interests: Diabetic Care
    School: Western University Of Health Sciences
    Residency: Brookdale Hospital medical Center
    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 09/2024
    Languages Spoken: English / Portuguese
    Special Interests: Physical Fitness
    Accepting new Patients: Yes

  • VILLARREAL VERDECIA, ARTURO- MD View Bio

    VILLARREAL VERDECIA, ARTURO- MD

    • Clinical Interests: Diabetes Mellitus.
    • School: Instituto Superior De Sciencias Medicas Habana
    • Residency: University Of Rochester
    • Special Interests: Substance Abuse Disorders
    • Languages Spoken: English , Spanish
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes
  • Robin Mayfield, MD Lead Physician Family Medicine View Bio

    Robin Mayfield, MD Lead Physician Family Medicine

    • Clinical Interests: Internal medicine / Pediatrics
    • School: Harvard Medicine School
    • Residency: UCSF and Umass
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on: September 1, 2020
    • Languages Spoken: English , French
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes
  • Joseph M.-S-L.DeMertine, MD, MBA, Lead Physician Wellness Specialist Services View Bio

    Joseph M.-S-L.DeMertine, MD, MBA, Lead Physician Wellness Specialist Services

    • Clinical Interests: Infectious Diseases, Heath & Development
    • School: University of Minnesota Medical School
    • Languages Spoken: Haitian, French, Spanish
    • Accepting new Patients: Yes

     

     

  • Michelle Johnson, MD View Bio

    Michelle Johnson, MD

    • Clinical Interests: Cardiovascular disease, women’s health
    • School: Boston University, School of Medicine, 1994
    • Residency: Boston Medical Center – Internal Medicine
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 8/2003
    • Languages Spoken: English / French and Haitian Creole
    • Special Interests: Music and reading
    • Accepting new Patients: Yes
  • Stephen Wright, MD – Medical Director View Bio

    Stephen Wright, MD – Medical Director

    • Clinical Interests: Urgent care, adult medicine
    • School: Tufts University School of Medicine, 1996
    • Residency: University of Illinois – Peoria
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center in December 2013
    • Languages Spoken: English
    • Special Interests: Clinical research, music
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes

OB/GYN

  • Dr. Raja Sayegh, Lead OB/GYN Physician View Bio

    Dr. Raja Sayegh, Lead OB/GYN Physician

  • Jessica Glasglow, CNM View Bio

    Jessica Glasglow, CNM

    Clinical Interests: Obstetrics and Gynecology
    School: University of Pennsylvania
    Languages Spoken: English, Conversational Spanish
    Special Interests: Midwifery, prenatal care, contraception
    Accepting New Patients: Yes

  • Amanda Davis, CNM View Bio

    Amanda Davis, CNM

  • Tarcia Edmonds-Jehu, CNM View Bio

    Tarcia Edmonds-Jehu, CNM

    • Education: Boston University School of Public Health
    • Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
    • Accepting New Patients: yes

Mental Health/ Substance Abuse

  • Stephenie Jackson Wilson, NP View Bio

    Stephenie Jackson Wilson, NP

    • Education: Walden university
    • Languages Spoken: English
    • Special Interests: PMHNP ~ Mental Health
    • Accepting New Patients: yes
  • Helenita Hamer, MD View Bio

    Helenita Hamer, MD

    • Clinical Interests: General Adult Psychiatry
    • School: Federal University, Rio Grande Brazil
    • Languages Spoken: Portuguese, Spanish
    • Accepting new patients: yes
  • Hesham Hamoda, MD View Bio

    Hesham Hamoda, MD

    Clinical Interests: Research and practice, child psychiatry

    School: Kuwait University, faculty of medicine, 2003

    Joined Whittier Street Health Center August 2011

    Languages spoken: English

    Special Interests: Exercise, fitness, traveling, music

    Accepting New Patients: Yes

Infectious Disease and Special Populations

  • Brian Wong, MD – Lead IDSP Physician View Bio

    Brian Wong, MD – Lead IDSP Physician

    • Clinical Interests: Infectious Diseases
    • Education: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine
    • Languages Spoken: English
    • Joined Whittier in Sept 2019
    • Accepting New Patients: yes

PharmMD

  • Kripali Patel, PharmMD View Bio

    Kripali Patel, PharmMD

    Clinical Interests – Diabetes, Hypertension and Cardiovascula Disease

    Education – MCPHS University

    Languages Spoken – English, Gujarati

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

    Special Interests – Chronic Care Management, Transitions of care

    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 1/2023

Optometry

  • Carolina Gomez-Angulo, Optometrist View Bio

    Carolina Gomez-Angulo, Optometrist

    • Clinical Interests: Optometry
    • School: Marshall B. Ketchum University
    • Residency: The Dimock Center (Ocular Disease / Community Health)
    • Languages Spoken: English / Spanish
    • Accepting new Patients: Yes
  • Sampson Nosike, OD View Bio

    Sampson Nosike, OD

    • Clinical Interests: Comprehensive eye care, refractive surgery
    • School: New England College of Optometry, Boston, 1995
    • Residency: Eye Associates PC
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 2/2001
    • Languages Spoken: English / Ibo / Hausa
    • Special Interests: Special lenses and care, reading
    • Accepting new Patients: Yes

Staff

Clinical Leadership Team

  • Sioufi, Habib, MD Director, Laboratory View Bio

    Sioufi, Habib, MD Director, Laboratory

    Clinical Interests – Community & outreach

    Education – Damascus university medical school

    Languages Spoken – French, Arabic

    Residency – Children’s hospital / Brigham and women’s hospital

    Joined Whittier street health center on – 9/23/1993

    Special Interests – Cycling, going on long walks.

  • Chigoziri Ojuka, NP – Director of Satellite Clinic View Bio

    Chigoziri Ojuka, NP – Director of Satellite Clinic

    Clinical Interests: Family primary care, preventative care
    School: Regis College
    Joined Whittier Street Health Center in November 2014
    Languages Spoken: English
    Special Interests: Reading, exercise, spending time with family
    Accepting New Patients: Yes

  • Stephen Wright, MD – Medical Director View Bio

    Stephen Wright, MD – Medical Director

    • Clinical Interests: Urgent care, adult medicine
    • School: Tufts University School of Medicine, 1996
    • Residency: University of Illinois – Peoria
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center in December 2013
    • Languages Spoken: English
    • Special Interests: Clinical research, music
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes

Laboratory

  • Sioufi, Habib, MD Director, Laboratory View Bio

    Sioufi, Habib, MD Director, Laboratory

    Clinical Interests – Community & outreach

    Education – Damascus university medical school

    Languages Spoken – French, Arabic

    Residency – Children’s hospital / Brigham and women’s hospital

    Joined Whittier street health center on – 9/23/1993

    Special Interests – Cycling, going on long walks.

Pharmacy

  • Anhdao Tran, PharmD View Bio

    Anhdao Tran, PharmD

    • Clinical Interests: Pharmacy
    • School: Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Services
    • Languages Spoken: English, Vietnamese
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on: 10/11/2023
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes
  • Jennifer Le, PharmD View Bio

    Jennifer Le, PharmD

    Clinical Interests – Primary Eyecare, Contact Lenses, Glaucoma, Ocular Disease

    Education – New England College of Optometry

    Languages Spoken – English, Spanish, Vietnamese

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

    Special Interests – Running, Travelling, Photography, Cooking

    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 9/2023

  • Ahmad Atri, PharmD View Bio

    Ahmad Atri, PharmD

  • Kripali Patel, PharmMD View Bio

    Kripali Patel, PharmMD

    Clinical Interests – Diabetes, Hypertension and Cardiovascula Disease

    Education – MCPHS University

    Languages Spoken – English, Gujarati

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

    Special Interests – Chronic Care Management, Transitions of care

    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 1/2023

  • Sabya AbdulRauf, PharmD View Bio

    Sabya AbdulRauf, PharmD

    Clinical Interests – Pharmacy

    Education – Albany College of Pharmacy & Health Services

    Languages Spoken – Farsi, English

    Joined Whittier in June 2021

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

Satellite Clinic

  • Chigoziri Ojuka, NP – Director of Satellite Clinic View Bio

    Chigoziri Ojuka, NP – Director of Satellite Clinic

    Clinical Interests: Family primary care, preventative care
    School: Regis College
    Joined Whittier Street Health Center in November 2014
    Languages Spoken: English
    Special Interests: Reading, exercise, spending time with family
    Accepting New Patients: Yes

Nurse Practitioners

  • Emily Restrepo, NP View Bio

    Emily Restrepo, NP

    Clinical Interests – Pediatrics

    Education- MGH Institute of Health Professions

    Languages Spoken – English, Spanish

    Special Interests – Clinical research, Travelling

    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 10/2023

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

  • Amaka Ofonagoro, NP View Bio

    Amaka Ofonagoro, NP

    Clinical Interests – Cardio

    Education – Regis College

    Languages Spoken – English

    Special Interests – Cooking, Socializing

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

  • Rose Odimegwu, NP View Bio

    Rose Odimegwu, NP

    Clinical Interests – Diabetes, Renal Diseases

    Education – Regis College

    Languages Spoken – English, Igbo, Hausa

    Special Interests – Cooking, Spending time with family and friends

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 9/2023

  • Nazaire Nzikoba, NP View Bio

    Nazaire Nzikoba, NP

    Clinical Interests – Family Medicine

    Education – Regis College

    Languages Spoken – English, French, Swahili

    Special Interests – ENT Diseases, Geriatrics

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 1/2023

  • Marie-Renee D Lucien-Jean, NP View Bio

    Marie-Renee D Lucien-Jean, NP

    Clinical Interests – Preventative Health, Diabetes

    Education – Regis College

    Languages Spoken – English, Haitian Creole

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

     

  • Foos Omar, DNP View Bio

    Foos Omar, DNP

    • Clinical Interests: Primary Care and Mental Health
    • School: Metropolitan State University
    • Languages Spoken: English , Somali
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes
  • Oby “Christi” Ikoro, DNP View Bio

    Oby “Christi” Ikoro, DNP

    • Clinical Interests: Family Practice
    • School: University of Massachusetts, Amherst
    • Residency: N/A
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on: 6/2023
    • Languages Spoken: English , Igbo
    • Special Interests: Medically Underserved
  • Nicola Bretherton, CPNP View Bio

    Nicola Bretherton, CPNP

    Clinical Interests – Adolescent medicine, Asthma, and Childhood Obesity

    Education – Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA 2021

    Languages Spoken – English

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

    Special Interests – Tennis, Reading, Spending time with her 3 daughters

    Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 9/2023

  • Dena Marie Vicente, NP View Bio

    Dena Marie Vicente, NP

    • Clinical Interests : Pediatrics, Addescent medicine, Women’s Health
    • School: MCPHS University
    • Clinical Rotations: Compass medical, Harvard Vanguard Medical Association, Signature Healthcare, Boston Children’s Hospital, Family Medicine North.
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on: Aug 1, 2022
    • Languages Spoken: English
    • Special Interests: Traveling, event planning, Family, Church, Music, Dance
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes
  • Teresa Yelle, CNP View Bio

    Teresa Yelle, CNP

    • Clinical Interest: Family planning, sexual health
    • School: Vanderbilt University
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on: Nov 1. 2022
    • Languages Spoken : English
    • Special Interests: Reading, Walking
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes
  • Pierre Joseph, NP View Bio

    Pierre Joseph, NP

    • Clinical Interests: Primary Care
    • School: UMASS BOSTON
    • Residency: Cambridge Health Alliance
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on: Oct 17, 2022
    • Languages Spoken: Spanish, French, Haitian Creole, English
    • Special Interest: Spend time with family
    • Accepting New Patients: Yes
  • Marie Rose Nshimuyumukiza, NP View Bio

    Marie Rose Nshimuyumukiza, NP

    • Education: Univ. of Massachusetts Lowell
    • Languages Spoken: English, French, Kinyarwanda
    • Residency: Newburyport seacoast medical associates
    • Clinical Interests: Family Medicine
    • Special Interests: Mental Health, Cooking , Travelling and spending time with family
    • Accepting New Patients: yes
  • Jasmine Haque-Ahmed, NP View Bio

    Jasmine Haque-Ahmed, NP

    Clinical Interests: Family Practice, Women’s Health

    Education: Simmons University

    Languages Spoken: English

  • Julianne Ahern, NP View Bio

    Julianne Ahern, NP

    Pediatrics Clinical Manager

    • Clinical Interests: Adolescent Medicine, Asthma, and Childhood Obesity
    • MGH Institute of Health Professionals, Boston, MA, 2006
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 2/2005
    • Languages Spoken: English
    • Special Interests: Community volunteer work, baking, and spending time with family.
    • Accepting new Patients: Yes

Dental

  • Negar Shahsavari, DDS View Bio

    Negar Shahsavari, DDS

    Clinical Interests – Endodontics

    Education – Shahid Beheshti University School of Denistry

    Residency- Harvard University School of Dental Medicine

    Languages Spoken – English, Persian

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

  • Juanita Canal, DMD View Bio

    Juanita Canal, DMD

    Clinical Interests – General Dentistry

    Education – Boston University Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine

    Languages Spoken – English, Spanish

    Special Interests – Public Health

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

  • Mohamed Habib Taha, BDS View Bio

    Mohamed Habib Taha, BDS

    Clinical Interests – General Dentistry

    Education – College For Technological Sciences

    Languages Spoken – English, Arabic, Romanian

    Special Interests –  Endodontics and Implant

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

  • Jina Yavarifar, DMD View Bio

    Jina Yavarifar, DMD

    Clinical Interests – Dentistry

    Education – Yerevan State Medical University

    Languages Spoken – English, Farsi, French, Armenian, Turkish, ASL

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

    Special Interests – Playing Piano, Hiking, Cooiking, Reading, History books

  • Joseph Hallak, DDS View Bio

    Joseph Hallak, DDS

    Clinical Interests – Esthetic Dentistry, New Technologies

    Education – University of Aleppo – Faculty of Dentistry

    Languages Spoken – English, Arabic, German, Spanish

    Accepting New Patients – Yes

    Special Interests – Sports – Camping

  • Dr. Alya Elmobarik, RDH Dental View Bio

    Dr. Alya Elmobarik, RDH Dental

    • Whittier Street Health Center

      Education: National Ribat University

    • Languages Spoken: English, Arabic
    • Residency: Boston
    • Clinical Interests: Dental Surgery
    • Accepting New Patients: yes
  • Nael Sayegh, DDS View Bio

    Nael Sayegh, DDS

    School: Aleppo University School of Dentistry

    Languages Spoken: English, Arabic

    Special Interests: Music, Reading

    Accepting New Patients: Yes

  • Debashree Saxena, DMD View Bio

    Debashree Saxena, DMD

    Clinical Interests: To provide good care to my patients

    School: BU Henry Goldman School Dental Medicine (Currently Clinical Assistant Professor)

    Residency: BU Henry Goldman School Dental Medicine

    Languages Spoken: English + Hindi

    Special Interests: Love to spend time with my son

    Accepting New Patients: Yes

  • Auhilda Lizardo, RDH View Bio

    Auhilda Lizardo, RDH

    Clinical Interests: Dental Hygienist

    School: MCPHS/Forsyth

    Languages Spoken: English, Spanish

    Accepting New Patients: Yes

  • Mireille Charles Alexis, DMD Associate Director Dental Services View Bio

    Mireille Charles Alexis, DMD Associate Director Dental Services

    • Clinical Interests: Prosthodontics
    • School: Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine, 1997
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 12/2012
    • Languages Spoken: English / French / Haitian-Creole / Conversational Spanish
    • Special Interests: Painting and sewing
    • Accepting new Patients: Yes
  • Nurulla Diyanat, DMD Dental Director View Bio

    Nurulla Diyanat, DMD Dental Director

    • Clinical Interests: General Dentistry / Oral Surgery
    • School: N. Narimanov Medical University, School of Dental Medicine, Baku Azerbaijan, 2000
    • Joined Whittier Street Health Center on 8/2007
    • Languages Spoken: English / Farsi / Urdu /Conversational Russian
    • Special Interests: Traveling, working outside (yard work)
    • Accepting new Patients: Yes

A note about Whittier and COVID-19

Due to the ongoing COVID-19 outbreak in our area, we ask all clients and patients to call ahead before coming to any of our sites. We are working to take care of most clients/patients via phone/video encounter so we can meet your ongoing healthcare needs. This is for your safety and so we can provide the highest quality of care to you while following CDC guidance for COVID-19. Please call 617-427-1000 for any questions or concerns.

Whittier will provide COVID-19 testing from 10 am to 4 pm on Monday to Friday. Following CDC guidance, we recommend testing if you have a fever AND one of the following three symptoms: cough OR shortness of breath OR sore throat. Please bring your picture identification and your insurance card (if you have insurance).