Oak Lawn, Ill. (March 24, 2009) -

Kenneth W. Lukhard, president of Advocate Christ Medical Center and Advocate Hope Children's Hospital, has announced the appointment of ten physicians to the medical staff.  Joining the medical center are: Michael Balbus, M.D., Justyna Bancerek-Stengele, M.D., Eric Culp, D.O., David Farnsworth, M.D., Blaine Hannafin, M.D., Himabindu Kandimalla, D.O., Steven Kuhn, D.D.S., Smain Sadok, M.D., Rakesh Salgia, M.D., and Carlos Smith, D.P.M.

Michael Balbus, M.D., of Orland Park, is board certified in neonatal-perinatal medicine.  Dr. Balbus received his medical degree from State University of New York.  He completed his residency at Long Island Jewish Medical Center and served a fellowship at Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Balbus is a member of Renaissance Medical Group SC in Oak Lawn. He has an additional office in Chicago.

Justyna Bancerek-Stengele, M.D., of New Lenox, is board certified in family medicine.  She received her medical degree from Akademia Medyczma W. Bialymstoku and completed her internship at Wojewodzki Szpital Zespolony IM J in Poland.  Dr. Bancerek-Stengle completed residencies at Provena Saint Joseph Medical Center and Rush Copley Medical Center. A member of the Advocate Medical Group, she has an office in Orland Park.

Eric Culp, D.O., of Dyer, Indiana, is board certified in pediatrics and specializes in neonatal-perinatal medicine.  Dr. Culp received his medical degree from Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Downers Grove. He completed his residency at Advocate Christ Medical Center/Hope Children's Hospital and is serving a fellowship at Loyola University Medical Center.  Dr. Culp is a member of Renaissance Medical Group SC in Oak Lawn.
 
David Farnsworth, M.D., of Schaumburg, is board certified in pediatrics.  Dr. Farnsworth received his medical degree from the University of Illinois. He completed a residency at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center.  A member of the Advocate Medical Group, he has an office in Chicago.

Blaine Hannafin, M.D., of Oak Lawn, is board certified in emergency medicine.  Dr. Hannafin received his medical degree from the University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his residency at Maricopa Medicine Center in Phoenix, Arizona.  Dr. Hannafin practices at Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

Himabindu Kandimalla M.D., of Darien, is board certified in internal medicine. Dr. Kandimalla received her medical degree from Guntur Medical College in India. She completed her internship at Guntur General Hospital and her residency at St. Joseph Hospital in Chicago.  A member of the Advocate Medical Group, she has an office in Chicago.

Steven Kuhn, D.D.S., of Lockport, is board certified in pediatric dentistry.  Dr. Kuhn received his medical degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry.  He completed residencies at Loyola University Medical Center in general practice and at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Dentistry in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Kuhn has an office in Frankfort.

Smain Sadok, M.D., of Bridgeview, is board certified in family medicine.  Dr. Sadok received his medical degree from I.N.E.S.S.M. Algiers. He completed residencies at the University Hospital of Algiers and at St. Elizabeth Hospital in Chicago.  Dr. Sadok has an office in Chicago.

Rakesh Salgia, M.D., of Morton Gove, is board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care (IM). Dr. Salgia received his medical degree from Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Medical College and completed his internship at M.Y. Hospital in India.  He completed a residency and served his fellowship in pulmonary medicine at John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County.  Dr. Salgia has an office in Chicago.

Carlos Smith, D.P.M., of Chicago, is board certified in podiatric surgery.  Dr. Smith received his medical degree from Rosalind Franklin University. He completed his internship at the University of Texas at San Antonio and his residency at Harris County Podiatric Surgical Residency/GTEF in Texas.  He has offices in Chicago.

Advocate Christ Medical Center/Advocate Hope Children's Hospital located in Oak Lawn, Illinois, is a 695-bed, premiere teaching institution with nearly 1,000 affiliated physicians and part of Advocate Health Care, Chicago's largest provider of health care.  Christ Medical Center has become a recognized leader and one of the major referral hospitals in the Midwest in a number of specialties, including cardiovascular services, oncology, neurosciences, pediatrics and women's health.

The hospital is a Level I trauma center and registers more than 80,000 patient visits annually.  Christ Medical Center was among the first in the country to offer eICU® (electronic intensive care unit) monitoring and one of the first in Illinois to provide CyberKnife® Radiosurgery.  The hospital has received Magnet recognition awarded by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC).  Magnet status represents the highest honor in the nursing profession.  Advocate Hope Children's Hospital, located on the campus of Christ Medical Center, is the largest children's hospital in Chicago's south and southwest suburbs.