Meet the residents

Kelly Fahey, DPM

Additional Information:

Home state: Illinois
Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Medical school: Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn: The ACMC Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program is comprised of compassionate resident and attending physicians dedicated to providing excellent patient care. I appreciate the opportunity to work with a motivated team at a Level I trauma center with a diverse population of patients.

Academic projects: High Complex Carbohydrate Diets and Glycemic Control in the Diabetic Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Career goals: I aspire to be a compassionate and skilled podiatric physician and surgeon that my patients can rely on and trust. I will prioritize patient’s health and safety, actively listening to health needs and constructing effective treatment plans. Moreover, I aim to provide mentorship to pre-podiatry and podiatric medical students. Additionally, I look forward to advocating for our profession through my involvement with the APMA.

Extracurricular interests: I enjoy running, hiking, and spending time with my family. I like discovering new music and attending concerts as well.

Andrew Silman, DPM

Additional Information:

Home state: Indiana
Undergraduate: Purdue University, B.S. Biomedical Engineering
Medical school: Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn: The Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program at ACMC allows residents to enhance their skills as doctors by handling a varied and extensive load of surgical cases. As a student, it was clear from day one that the atmosphere at ACMC fosters a familial and collaborative approach to learning during residency. I am immensely fortunate to learn from such talented physicians and surgeons.

Academic projects: Posture Assessment: A Narrative Review of the Technologies and Systems Used to Measure Vertebral Curvature (Poster Presentation: CLEAR NIH Summer Research Fellowship, 2020) Limb Salvage of Postsurgical Osteomyelitis of the Calcaneus, and the Role of Vascular Studies in Acute Settings (Poster Presentation: ACFAS Annual Scientific Conference, 2021)

Career goals: I aim to be a proficient and versatile physician and surgeon who can deliver exceptional clinical and surgical care to all my patients. To achieve this, I aspire to combine my knowledge in biomedical engineering with my expertise in podiatric surgery. I plan to use this unique combination of skills to become an innovator and educator in the field of foot and ankle surgery.

Extracurricular interests: I love being outdoors, playing basketball, working out, watching movies, and spending time with my family and friends.

Eyad Xoubi, DPM

Additional Information:

Home province: Illinois
Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago
Medical school: California School of Podiatric Medicine at Samuel Merritt University

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn: I have always been familiar with the exceptional care ACMC offers as well as their advancements in medicine for the patients in the community. The attendings who practice here share a wealth of knowledge and surgical skills that allow residents to master their craft.

Particularly, the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program consists of an incredibly high volume of cases and a wide surgical diversity. I love the culture of this program and the hard work being put in by everyone involved every single day to achieve a common goal. The attendings that take time to train their residents are passionate and extremely skilled. This program values heart and education. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with this amazing program.

Academic Projects: Ultrasound vs. Palpation - Guided Corticosteroid Injection of the Plantar Fascia: A cadaveric Study (Current Study)

Career goals: My aspirations include becoming a well-rounded Foot and Ankle surgeon that can identify and treat any pathology that walks through my door with high quality care for the patients in the community I serve. My interests include treating athletes or individuals who encounter sport-related injuries, as well as preventative care to guide patients early on in their pathologies to prevent worsening of their conditions.

Extracurricular interests: I enjoy playing tennis, golf, and competitive basketball. I love talking sports and enjoy watching games with friends and family. My passions include fitness, coffee and hiking new trails.

Lauren Michels, DPM

Additional Information:

Home state: Illinois
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
Master's: Georgetown University
Medical school: Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center - Oak Lawn: In addition to the impressive volume and variety of cases and patients at ACMC's Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency, I love the warm, welcoming community of residents and attendings at Christ. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work alongside such hardworking, caring, and intelligent people.

Academic projects: Arthrodesis versus Open Reduction Internal Fixation for Lisfranc Joint Fracture-Dislocations in
Adults: A Systematic ReviewActivity Tracking Monitors: Accuracy Comparison and Suitability for Diabetic Population; BESTest Evaluation and its Correlation to Laboratory-Based Biomechanical Assessments of Balance in Type 2 Diabetic Population; A Real Time Visual Feedback Program via Tibial Acceleration; The Application and Efficacy of a Modified Low-Dye Taping Technique in the Treatment of Podiatric Conditions; A Peculiar Case of Charcot Neuroarthropathy; “Arthrodesis vs. Arthroplasty for 1st MPJ Hallux Limitus/Rigidus”.

Career goals: I hope to be a thorough and conscientious physician devoted to lifelong learning and to always strive to serve my patients and local community the best I can. As a former competitive dancer, cheerleader, and fitness instructor, I would love to help active people get back on their feet and promote healthy biomechanics and recovery for athletes.

Extracurricular interests: running, hiking, swimming, cooking, yoga, anything outdoors!

Dylan Patel, DPM

Additional Information:

Home state: Missouri
Undergraduate: Saint Louis University
Medical school: Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn: ACMC provides residents and healthcare providers the opportunity to work in a high volume, inter-professional setting that focuses on providing excellent healthcare to all patients. The institution values the concept of a family, as well as team-based medicine, which stood out to me the minute I came to ACMC as a student.

The Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program is full of warm-hearted, passionate residents and attending physicians who are highly skilled in the clinical, surgical, and academic arena. This program creates outstanding foot and ankle surgeons, but more importantly it molds residents into humble and caring humans. I really value how much heart the people of this institution put into the
ACMC culture.

Academic projects: Tarsal Coalitions: Is there a long-term follow-up for Conservative and Surgical Treatment; which interposition grafts have better outcomes.

Career goals: I aspire to be a positive figure in my patients’ lives by providing them with quality and compassionate healthcare, both clinically and surgically. I want to advance the field of Podiatry by getting involved with Podiatric national organizations, as well as local and state government.

Extracurricular interests: Playing basketball, lifting, participating in leadership opportunities, going to the beach, and spending time with family and friends.

Steven Smith, DPM

Additional Information:

Home province: Alberta, Canada
Undergraduate: Trinity Western University
Medical school: Dr. William M. School College of Podiatric Medicine

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center - Oak Lawn: The wide variety of clinical and surgical pathology alongside knowledgeable and humble attending physicians. ACMC provides an excellent space to learn and grow in a variety of different specialties to be equipped to provide the best patient care.

Academic projects: Literature Review of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome. Retrospective Analysis of Tarsal Tunnel Decompression: Long Term Follow-up and Complications

Career goals: I aspire to be a well-rounded physician to provide the best service and care to my patients. I aim to be a leader and educator to continue to advance the field of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery.

Extracurricular interests: I enjoy spending time skiing, biking, and relaxing with family and friends.

Palwasha Ahmed, DPM

Additional Information:

Home state: Illinois
Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical school: Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn: “The excellent clinical and surgical training residents receive here in addition to feeling like part of a warm and welcoming family is what I like about ACMC.

Academic projects: I am currently a part of a research project relating pedal amputation rates with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Career goals: My career goals are to be the best clinician and surgeon for my patients

Extracurricular interests: I enjoy being outdoors and spending time with family and friends.

Shivani Sheth, DPM

Additional Information:

Home state: New Jersey
Undergraduate: Rowan Graduate School of Biomechanical Sciences, Saint Louis University
Medical school: Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn: Our clinical and surgical exposure in combination with a teaching environment that’s filled with positive and welcoming residents, attendings and other specialties makes ACMC a wonderful residency.

Academic projects: I am currently part of a research project looking into continuous regional blocks for post-operative pain management.

Career goals: I aspire to continue developing my skills and knowledge throughout and after residency and be able to take quality care of my patients and pass my knowledge along to future generations.

Extracurricular interests: I enjoy spending time outdoors, doing puzzles, reading books and watching movies with friends and family.

Alanna Wahl, DPM

Additional Information:

Home state: Illinois
Undergraduate: Miami University
Medical school: Dr. William M. Scholl College of Podiatric Medicine

What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center, Oak Lawn: “What I like about Advocate Christ Medical Center is that it provides a great supportive work environment. There are many great opportunities to communicate and develop relationships with multiple different health services, providing an interprofessional workspace.”

Academic projects: Insertional Achilles Tendinopathy Analysis of 166 procedures and Return to Activity (ACFAS, 2021)

Career goals: As a former dancer, I am very passionate about sports medicine, sports related injuries, and the health and wellbeing of athletes. It has always been a dream of mine to be the podiatrist for a professional dance company. I would like to be a part of multiple research projects and continue to grow in my ability to provide the best patient care.

Extracurricular interests: Dancing, hiking, golfing