Clinicians

Christopher Johnson, MD, FAAFP, CSCS

Chief Medical Officer
Family Medicine
Site Medical Director
HHS East Bluff

Dr. Johnson joined the Heartland team in 2022 and became our Chief Medical Officer in July 2023. He has been practicing medicine since 2013. Dr. Johnson has received numerous awards and recognitions for his work. He is a father to 4 kids and several pugs, and is married to his wife Michelle. In his…

Read More
James Barnett, MD

Family Medicine
HHS East Bluff

Dr. Barnett joined the Heartland team in 2007. His roots and early medical practice were in Africa which nurtured an enjoyment of work with many cultures. He hopes to bring a ‘love our neighbors as ourselves’ focus to medical practice. In his personal time, he enjoys his family (wife and…

Read More
Sarah Koscica, MD

Family Medicine
Site Medical Director
HHS Garden

Dr. Koscica joined the Heartland team in 2014. With over 15 years experience in family medicine, she enjoys seeing multiple generations within the same family.   In her spare time, Dr. Koscica likes to stay busy. When she’s not spending time with her family and twin boys, you can find her…

Read More
Roxie Oliver-Payne, MD

Family Medicine
HHS Carver

Dr. Oliver- Payne joined the Heartland team in 2015. She is a proud University of Illinois graduate and has studied on almost all of the U of I campuses. She is passionate about all aspects of women’s health and family planning.   As a mother of two, she is interested in all baby related…

Read More
Brogan Bahler, MD

Family Medicine & Obstetrics
Director of Obstetrics
HHS East Bluff & Olt

Dr. Bahler joined the Heartland team in 2022. He has practiced medicine for 6 years. Dr. Bahler's characteristic style of practice is patient centered, focusing on patient education and advocacy.      He has been married to his high school sweetheart for 13 years and has 3 sons. He…

Read More
Archana Ramesh, MD

Family Medicine & Obstetrics
HHS Olt & East Bluff

Dr. Ramesh joined the Heartland team in 2022. She looks forward to growing her practice and connecting with her community.   Medical School Chicago Medical School Residency University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria Fellowship University of Illinois College of Medicine Professional Memberships…

Read More
Brian Bamberger, MD

After Hours Care Director
Internal Medicine & Pediatric Medicine
HHS Knoxville

Dr. Bamberger has been practicing medicine for over 9 years. He joined the Heartland Health Services team in 2014 as a resident and continues to serves the community as our After Hours Care Director.   In his free time, Dr. Bamberger enjoys long distance running.    Medical School Doctorate…

Read More
John Mihelcic, MD

Family Medicine, Obstetrics, and Gynecology
HHS East Bluff

Dr. John Mihelcic practices medicine by treating the patient as a whole person, including their emotional, mental, and spiritual health, not just their physical well being. He empowers his patients to take charge of their health and tailor the care plan to the individual. While caring for pregnant women…

Read More
Elena Patel, DO

Family Medicine

Dr. Elena Patel viewed coming to Heartland as a unique priviledge to help underserved communities in our area. Her goals are to help increase access to quality healthcare and services for her patients of all ages, from newborn to geriatric.   Medical School Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine…

Read More
Gretchen Evans, DPM

Podiatry
HHS Garden

Dr. Evans has been practicing medicine for over almost 25 years. She joined the Heartland Health Services team in 2017 providing family podiatry, arthritic foot and ankle care, orthotics, sports medicine, pediatric and diabetic foot care and nail disorders.    In her free time, Dr. Evans enjoys…

Read More
Jennifer Kolettis, PMH-NP, FNP

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
HHS Knoxville & East Bluff

Jennifer joined the Women's Health team at Heartland in 2019. She has a friendly, open approach and strives to create a partnership with the women she provides care for. She works in a dual role in both Obstetrics and Mental Health.    She started her medical career in the military, where…

Read More
Kristina McCue, PMH-NP

Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner
HHS East Bluff

Kristina has been an employee of Heartland Health Services since 2009. She has been in the medical field for 39 years, starting as a pharmacy technician in 1985 later becoming a certified nurse assistant and shortly thereafter entering nursing school, graduating in 1994 from Methodist School of Nursing…

Read More
Courtney Wyatt, WHNP

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
HHS Knoxville

Courtney Wyatt joined Heartland Health Services in 2023 and is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner who has been working in Women’s Health for the last 12 years. She earned her Bachelor’s degree at Illinois State University in 2009 and shortly after began working on a Labor and Delivery…

Read More
Madeline Gresham, WHNP-C

Women's Health Nurse Practitioner
HHS Olt

Madeline joined the Heartland Health Services team as a Women's Health Nurse Practitioner in 2023. As a graduate of Illini Bluffs, she grew up in the Peoria area. Madeline has been working in healthcare in our community for the past 10 years, most of that time in focusing on women's health.…

Read More
Yvonne McCall, PA-C

Physician Assistant Certified
HHS Garden

Yvonne joined the Heartland team in 2009 and serves on the provider retention committee. With over 15 years experience in community health she is dedicated to promoting overall wellness among her patients. In her personal time she enjoys running, spending time with family, and watching her two children…

Read More
Ashley Droege, PA-C

Physician Assistant Certified
HHS Garden

Ashley joined Heartland Health Services as a PA-C in 2018 and then as a PRN in 2019. In 2023, she came back to HHSIL full time in the role of PA-C.   Ashley chose Heartland Health Services because she has 2 children who are very busy in sports and being home in the evenings and on the weekends…

Read More
Braden Williams, PA-C

Physician Assistant Certified
HHS Garden

Braden joined Heartland Health Services in 2023 following the completion of his Master's of Physician Assistant degree at St. John's University in Queens, New York. He specializes in internal medicine and pediatrics for youth ages 14+. Braden provides high quality care for all and is dedicated…

Read More
Angela Miller, FNP-C

Family Nurse Practitioner
HHS East Bluff

Angela joined Heartland Health Services in 2017 in primary care/walk-in clinic. She accepted the role of our Telehealth provider in 2023. Angela enjoys caring for those in our community with the greatest needs. In her spare time, she enjoys shopping and spending time with family.   Education Saint…

Read More
Victoria Payne, APN

Family Nurse Practitioner
HHS Knoxville

Victoria joined the Heartland team in 2022. She has been a registered nurse for over 10 years and became an Advanced Practice Nurse in 2020. She also teaches nursing clinicals for Bradley University to help new up and coming nurses how to provide excellent and compassionate care. She describes…

Read More
Kathryn Endress, APN

Family Nurse Practitioner
HHS Human Service Center

Kathryn joined the Heartland team in September of 2014 at our Garden location. She began splitting her time between Garden and the Human Service Center the following year in 2015. In early 2018, She accepted a position at the Health Department, but continued serving Heartland patients at the After-Hours…

Read More
Susannah Dintzis, APN

Family Nurse Practitioner
HHS East Bluff

Susannah Dintzis, APN. BC-FNP, joined Heartland Health Services in 2019.   She has worked in a variety of settings, including school based health care, the Chicago Health Department and an urgent care.   She enjoys serving culturally diverse patient populations.     She spent time…

Read More
Larisa Savage, CNM, APN

Certified Nurse Midwife
HHS Olt & East Bluff

Larisa joined Heartland Health Services in 2023. She chose to join the Heartland Health Services family because the Peoria area feels like home. She was excited to return and care for a community that shaped her into the midwife that she is today. Larisa had the privlege of caring for patients as a…

Read More
Ciara White, APN

Family Nurse Practitioner
HHS East Bluff

Ciara joined the team in 2022 and serves as a Family Nurse Practitioner for the walk-in clinic at East Bluff. She worked as a pediatric nurse at the Children’s Hospital of Illinois for 7 years before becoming an APN.    In her personal time she enjoys spending time with her family and…

Read More
Alison Pendergast, LCPC

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
HHS Garden

Alison joined the Heartland team in 2022 and has worked in the industry for 10 years.   In her free time she enjoys dancing, cooking, reading and strength training.    Education Bachelor's degree from Loyola University New Orleans  Master's degree in Clinical Mental Health…

Read More
Cristy Tomaszewski, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
HHS Carver & Knoxville

Cristy joined Heartland Health Services in 2020 as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.  Cristy is based at the Carver location and provides services at our Knoxville location one day a week. She comes to us with nearly ten years of experience in community mental health and inpatient behavioral health…

Read More
Mary Jennifer Meister, LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker
HHS East Bluff

Mary Jennifer received her Masters of Social Work and Masters of Divinity from Loyola University in 2006. She brings with her a wide range of experience including chaplaincy work, hospice, social work, foster care therapy, pastoral care, youth ministry, and community mental health. Mary Jennifer is…

Read More
David Gonzalez, LCPC

Director of Behavioral Health - MAT Clinic
Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor
HHS East Bluff

    Education Master of Arts - Clinical Psychology, Roosevelt University, Chicago, IL  Bachelor of Arts - Psychology, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA  

Read More