Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine

• Reason I chose Advcoate Lutheran General Family Medicine: As a medical student I chose ALGH because it was the highest quality Family Medicine program in the Chicago area and the attendings and residents seemed to be quality people and physicians. As a practicing physician, I came back to Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine for pretty much the same reasons. The opportunity to work and teach with this group was too attractive to pass up.
• Hobbies/Interests: My family - my wife, Kathy, and my 3 daughters, Emily, Caitlin, and Laura. Our extended families - I am one of 7 children and my wife is one of 6 - between my mother, siblings, in-laws and nieces and nephews, there are 46 of us; my other interests are marathons, triathlons and yard work
• Favorite TV Show: Cubs baseball (just like the marathon, I keep going, even though it hurts).

Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: the caring staff and faculty, the fantastic hospital and programs
• Hobbies/Interests: Playing with my cat, being with family and friends, swimming, exercising at Centre Club Fitness Center, reading, writing, playing on my iPad, gardening/yardwork
• Favorite Movie Quote: "The human spirit is more powerful than any drug and that is what needs to be nourished with work, play, friendship, family. These are the things that matter." Awakenings, 1990

Undergraduate: Case Western Reserve University
Medical School: Saint Louis University

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: I like an academic environment.
• Hobbies/Interests: biking, running, bowling
• Favorite Pasttime: my grandchildren

Anastasia Gianakakos, MD

Undergraduate: Carol Davila University of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania
Medical School: Carol Davila University of Medicine, Bucharest, Romania

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: I believe our program offers the warm spirit of a community hospital with the rigor and resources of a first-class medical center.  It's a truly exceptional environment to be a part of.
• Hobbies/Interests: Volleyball, traveling, cooking, doing projects at home
• Favorite Quote: "Wisdom is ofttimes nearer when we stoop than when we soar."
  - William Wordsworth

Judith Gravdal, MD

Undergraduate: St. Olaf College
Medical School: University of South Dakota

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: The philosophy of Human Ecology along with my desire to work and learn with residents at an excellent hospital in the Chicago area.
• Hobbies/Interests: Music (Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Lyric Opera); theater, reading, travel
• Favorite Movie: Smoke Signals
• Favorite Quote: "You can't change the direction of the wind, but you can adjust your sails."

Undergraduate: Montclair State University
Medical School: UMDNJ-NJMS (that's University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - New Jersey Medical School)

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: I realized when I was doing my residency at ALGH (which I chose because of the reputation of the hospital and residents and faculty that I met) that I really enjoyed working with everybody (faculty, staff) at Lutheran. So, I stayed.
• Hobbies/Interests: running after my children
• Favorite Books: A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, and Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky

Undergraduate: Kyrgyz State Medical Academy
Medical School: Kyrgyz State Medical Academy

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: I've always wanted to join a strong group of professionals that continuously improve their own skills and thrive for excellence as well as dedicate their lives to teach their patients and residents. Also, to serve my own community that I see at ALGH is the perfect chance to make life better day by day.
• Hobbies/Interests: Yoga, reading books, music, traveling, camping, singing, gardening
• Favorite Movie: Victor-Victoria, Book: Three Soldiers by John Dos Passos, Quote: "To regret the past, to hope in the future, and never to be satisfied with the present…" TV Show: Criminal Minds, Song: Ak-Kayzin (Kyrgyz song)

Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Additional Graduate Studies: MPH
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: I first came here as a resident through the couples match in 1982! I've stayed because I found out what a great fit it was for me: a community hospital with an outstanding commitment to education and quality.
• Hobbies/Interests: Music (piano, guitar, banjo); jogging/swimming; family and church life; missionary medicine in Nigeria
• Favorite Book: How Should We Then Live? by Francis Schaeffer

Undergraduate: John Carroll University, Cleveland, Ohio
Other Degree: MSSA from School of Applied Social Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio
Graduate School: Loyola University Chicago - PhD.

• Reason I chose Lutheran General Family Medicine: This is an incredible residency program with faculty who have a strong commitment to teaching and learning – and to each other! I really liked how they challenge and support each other to do the best. Interviewing here felt like coming home!
• Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with family and friends, agility training with my dog, cooking anything chocolate, reading and travel.
• Favorite Quote: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: I did my Family Medicine clerkship at ALGH and loved working with all the staff, especially the faculty. I also loved the diversity of the patient population and the community surrounding ALGH.
• Hobbies/Interests: Sports (Cubs, Bears, Bulls), reading and traveling (especially outside the US)
• Favorite Movie: The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

Undergraduate: University of Chicago, BA Biological Sciences General and Special Honors in my degree
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine

• Reason I chose Lutheran General Family Medicine: The volume of patients and the breath of the teaching faculty was awesome. The volume of pediatric cases was also important in my decision making.
• Hobbies/Interests: Reading mystery novels, childhood development, and travel
• Favorite Movies: The Shawshank Redemption,The Quiet Man, anything Irish.

Undergraduate: University of Illinois
Medical School: Rush University

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: Are you kidding? The people! I feel it is an honor and a privilege to work with the faculty and residents at our program. It is the reason I came in 1991, and the reason I have remained here. The group is like my extended family.
• Hobbies/Interests: Fiction, jogging, parenting, current events - international; Judaic studies
• Favorite Quote: "Know before whom you stand."

Undergraduate: University of Illinois
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: Excellence in medicine, wonderful people both in physicians/staff & patients.
• Hobbies/Interests: Raising children, classical piano, interior design, photography, inventing new recipes
• Favorite Quote: "To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible."

Undergraduate: Indiana University
Additional Graduate Studies: MBA, Northwestern Kellogg Graduate School of Management
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago - Stritch School of Medicine

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: Associates.
• Hobbies/Interests: Running, swimming, reading, golf
• Favorite Book: Sometimes a Great Notion by Ken Kesey

Philip Friere Skiba, DO, MS

Undergraduate:  Siena College
Medical School:  Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: ALGH has a long tradition of providing evidence-based, compassionate care in an educational environment.
• Hobbies/Interests: Music
• Favorite Thing: Anything with John Cusack

Undergraduate: Loyola University Chicago
Medical School: Rush University Medical College

• Reason I chose Advocate Lutheran General Family Medicine: Excellent reputation; Sports Medicine
• Hobbies/Interests: Running, swimming, water sports
• Favorite Thing: My baby girl, Ella Ann