Dr. Joan Alvarado (RUSM ‘08) joined the staff of Sarah Bush Lincoln Charleston Family Practice, after completing her residency at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program. She has a special interest in women’s health issues. “I enjoy working with patients of all ages, from newborns to the elderly, and I enjoy getting to know patients on a more personal level. That’s why I chose family medicine,” she said.
Born in the Phillipines, Dr. Alavado moved with her family to New York City when she was five years old. With many aunts and uncles working in healthcare, having an interest in the medical field was always there, she said. Following high school, she went to College of New Rochelle, New York, on a full-tuition scholarship and received a bachelor of arts in psychology. At RUSM, Dr. Alvarado completed clinical rotations in New York, Chicago, South Miami Beach, Meza, Arizona and Washington, D.C.
While Dr. Alvarado enjoyed living in Chicago during her residency, she is excited to begin her practice in a smaller community. “People stop and talk and are much more open here,” she said. “My philosophy is to help people make healthy decisions within the context of their individual lives; and I’ve found people to be very receptive.”