Family Practitioner Joan Alvarado, MD, is committed to helping people maintain the best health possible. She joined the medical staff at Sarah Bush Lincoln Charleston Family Practice August 12 after completing her residency at Adventist Hinsdale Hospital Family Medicine Residency Program this summer.
“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. She received her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine, which is located in the Caribbean. To optimize her medical training, Dr. Alvarado spent the last two years of medical school traveling across the country for her clinical rotations. “I went to places that are world-renowned in various specialities,” she said, including New York, Chicago, South Miami Beach, Meza, Arizona and Washington, D.C. Commited to keeping abreast of the latest technologies, “the learning in medicine never really stops,” she said. “I’m still learning and will continue to learn.”
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.”
She has a special interest in women’s health issues. For more information or to make an appointment with Dr. Alvarado, call (217) 345-7700 or go to www.sarahbush.org. Health Alliance, Personal Care, Blue Cross Blue Shield and most other insurance plans accepted.