Meet the Residents

Nour Alkhoudr
Undergraduate: The University of Michigan Dearborn
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Dr Alkoudr has been committed to community service and giving back to others for her entire life. Her experience growing up in an immigrant and non-english speaking family allowed her to deeply understand the power of the doctor-patient relationship, regardless of language barriers. Serving as her uncle's translator as he navigated his own chronic medical illness was incredibly impactful for her. In spite of her own family struggles, in 2015 she founded a service based organization called Detroit’s Helping Hand which helps to distribute personal hygiene and other essential goods to those experiencing homelessness. She continued volunteering throughout medical school including helping with relief efforts following hurricane Irma and tutoring K-12 students, all while maintaining her organization in Metro Detroit. She is also committed to fitness and works as a personal trainer. She uses her knowledge of health and fitness to empower women to live their healthiest lives.

Keyunna Austin
Undergraduate: Michigan State University
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr Austin has had many formative experiences that have guided her to family medicine. Most notable was helping her own grandmother navigate the medical system and seeing the transformative relationship that the doctor-patient relationship can provide. She comes to medicine with a varied and diverse work background. Prior to pursuing medicine, she had a career as a medical researcher at Henry Ford and also worked at the FBI as a forensic biologist. While in medical school, she volunteered with Detroit Street Medicine and also served as a peer mentor. She is particularly interested in working with patients with substance use disorder. She has overcome many obstacles on her path to medicine and takes great pride in her personal resilience. The skills and experiences that she gained in her previous career and her various volunteer efforts during medical school have helped her become a hardworking and empathetic physician. She is excited to start with Henry Ford FM residency and serve the Detroit community. When not in the clinic or hospital, you might find her exploring wineries and cooking delicious food.

James Blumline
Undergraduate: Oakland University
Medical School: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Dr Blumline is drawn to family medicine because of the ability to forge lifelong relationships with patients while simultaneously building community. He is passionate about promoting health equity and served as a board member on the OUWB Diversity, Equity and Inclusion council. He has various volunteer experiences including participating in direct COVID relief actions, education and mentoring in K-12 schools, and conservation efforts with the Detroit Zoo. He has also published numerous research papers and is particularly interested in the application of point of care ultrasound in the clinical setting. He comes to residency holding numerous honors including the Oakland University Presidential Scholarship. Outside of medicine, he enjoys reading fantasy novels, playing board games, and hiking the national parks (not always all at the same time).

Jessica Gable
Undergraduate: Hope College Holland, MI
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Dr Gable has been drawn to primary care and reproductive health throughout her medical training. She cares deeply about establishing long term therapeutic relationships with her patients and understands the importance of this connection to overall health. In addition to the rigorous studies of her first and second year of medical school she worked as the director of operations for Street Medicine Detroit, an organization which provides medical services to Detroiters experiencing homelessness. Through this work she was pushed to think critically and balance a large workload. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with her husband and son. She also enjoys cooking, traveling, and staying active.

Abbey McKee-Boyes
Undergraduate: Oakland University
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr McKee-Boyes wants to become a family medicine physician, not only to provide excellent direct patient care, but also to enact change on a larger scale by combating social and health care disparities. Her experiences working with the Detroit Street Medicine team were most impactful in highlighting those disparities. Through these experiences, she also saw the very meaningful impact that physicians (and specifically family medicine physicians) can have on the most vulnerable patients. While in medical school she also served as the Vice President for the Detroit chapter of the American Medical Women's Association, which strengthened her leadership skills and highlighted the importance of advocacy to enact system-wide change. She is passionate about reproductive health care and equitable care for those in the LGBTQ community. She is looking forward to creating lasting and impactful relationships with her patients. When not studying or in the clinic she is an avid supporter of the Detroit City Football Club and also enjoys baking. Ask her about her favorite recipes from 2021 - she baked one new recipe every week for the entire year!

Zachary Morgan
Undergraduate: Washington University in St. Louis
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr Morgan was drawn to family medicine because of the ability to form meaningful relationships with patients with the hope that this will allow him to make a positive impact on their lives. It also allows him to integrate all of the different aspects of medicine that he enjoys. He had impactful experiences during his time volunteering with the Detroit Street Medicine program during medical school and learned alot about the importance of compassionate care while he was a personal care attendant for his dear friend with a progressive debilitating illness. He also thoroughly enjoyed working as an anatomy T.A. and helping his fellow classmates with this rigorous class. Outside of medicine you may catch him singing semi-professionally around town. He is a passionate singer and leads a singing group called City Lights Chorus.

Danielle Purtell
Undergraduate: University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Dr. Purtell is excited to become a family medicine doctor in Michigan. She comes to residency with a wealth of work and volunteer experiences including being a personal care attendant for elderly and disabled individuals for the past 9 years, serving as a student board member on the Louisiana AFP, tutoring students, and authoring a book about medical school applications and MCAT prep. Perhaps her most impactful experience however was in the role of patient as she struggled with and overcame her own chronic health issues during medical school. These experiences have made her a caring and empathetic doctor who deeply understands the power of the patient-physician relationship. Other fun facts about Dr Purtell include that she placed 6th at the 2021 Miss North America contest, top 20 at Miss Earth USA 2022, and is a former teen Miss Michigan. She also raises chickens and has 2 amazing pitbulls.

Darion Twitty
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Dr Twitty is passionate about caring for underserved patients. He is proud to be the first in his family to complete undergrad and pursue a career in medicine. He is also proud to bring his identity to his practice as a doctor and hopes that he may inspire others to follow his path. He has numerous and varied volunteer experiences including being an HIV screener in the ER, helping with home renovation projects for imigrant mothers, free grocery delivery, and safer sex education at the Motor City Pride Festival. He has experience working as a phlebotomist and also participated in an 8-week intensive research program where he served as a research assistant in toxicology. His diverse personal and volunteer experiences have led him to family medicine, where he is excited to create lasting and meaningful relationships with his patients. Outside of medicine he enjoys classical music and excels at playing the violin.

Jennifer Byk
Undergraduate: University of Michigan Dearborn
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Detroit has been home to Dr. Byk since the beginning. She grew up on the west side of the city and is excited to remain here for residency, working in her community to focus on decreasing the negative impacts of the current socio-political infrastructure on health. Given this, she is passionate about enacting change at the state level, working with the regional chapter of the American Medical Association to help reform Michigan state policies, including working on defining regulations to prevent the unwarranted removal of homeless encampments. She is passionate about caring for our unhoused community members, as well as those otherwise left out of traditional healthcare avenues. Dr. Byk likes to roller skate, craft in her free time, and has a great taste in music!

Lauren Gaston-Hawkins
Undergraduate: Yale University
Medical School: University of Michigan
Dr. Gaston-Hawkins knows that strength lies in diversity and is excited to continue to cultivate a culture of equity and inclusion here at Henry Ford. She has served as a panelist at multiple conferences, where she discussed making medical training anti-racist and sustaining diversity through the act of mentorship and advising. She herself has served as an advisor- working as a peer support advocate throughout her time at University of Michigan medical school, and volunteering with Doctors of Tomorrow, mentoring a high school student from nearby Cass Technical High School here in Detroit. She is passionate about women’s health, and was awarded a fellowship through the Minority Health and Health Disparities Research Training Program to assess cervical cancer knowledge among women in India. Dr. Gaston-Hawkins loves expressing herself through dance and is an avid reader. Ask her what book she’s reading now!

Dr. Gupta is excited to pursue a career in family medicine to help his patients navigate the complicated health care system, where they may feel like outsiders. He is passionate about preventative health care- volunteering with a plant-based nutrition group and with the FreshRx program, which works to get fresh fruits and vegetables to community members in Detroit. A born leader, Dr. Gupta served as Wayne State medical school's class president for four years, working to ensure their education ran smoothly during the changing landscape of the COVID pandemic. Dr. Gupta is ready for the challenges of being a family medicine physician, and keeps his own family at the core of his reasons for pursing this career. Dr. Gupta is a fan of learning as much as he can about astronomy, science, philosophy, and different religions and their role in society. Dr. Gupta is a true life-long learner and excited to share this with his patients.

Marwa Harp
Undergraduate: Harvard University
Medical School: Wayne State University
Dr. Harp’s love of family medicine is rooted in community. She previously worked in the nonprofit sector and learned the importance of bringing people together. She is excited to continue the practice of making meaningful connections as a family medicine physician here at Henry Ford. She is passionate about women’s health and uses her free time to focus on giving back to those around her through volunteering and mentoring students who hope to go into medicine. Through her work at the Detroit Trauma Project during her time at Wayne State SOM, she worked with members of the Detroit community to understand how traumatic events influence our lives. She loves music, enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, and is definitely the person you should go to for coffee tips and tricks.

Kaitlyn Keffler
Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
Medical School: Rush Medical College
One thing Dr. Keffler can’t wait for throughout her career as a family medicine physician is forming foundational relationships with her patients. She has seen the importance of these relationships during her time working with Operation Safety Net, a nonprofit that provides outreach services and medical care to people experiencing homelessness. Dr. Keffler has also seen the importance of strong relationships with her peers- regularly volunteering in peer tutoring spaces, restorative justice circles, and serving as a supervisor in her school’s street medicine chapter. She is excited to continue her passions for working with the unhoused here in Detroit. Dr. Keffler loves cross stitching, a good episode of TV, and has almost definitely seen more roadside attractions than you. Trip to the World’s Largest Ball of Twine anyone?

Julie Ngo
Undergraduate: University of California Davis
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Being an advocate for her patients is one of the things Dr. Ngo is most looking forward to as a family physician. She has played this role many times, helping to translate and navigate the healthcare system for her family. Dr. Ngo is also mindful of how trauma can affect our relationship with the world we move through, and uses trauma informed care to help patients connect with the healthcare system as a whole. She utilized these skills obtaining a certificate for Leadership in Medicine for the Underserved, working at a substance use rehabilitation facility providing primary care services. Dr. Ngo also served as president of the VN CARES free clinic, a student run clinic focusing on providing much needed cancer screenings to the surrounding underserved Vietnamese population in California. Most recently, she has worked with the American Academy of Family Physicians to assist with creating curriculum guidelines for adolescent health. Outside of the hospital, Dr. Ngo loves hanging out with her adorable puppy Luna, bakes up a storm, and is always ready to hear your restaurant recommendations.

An Nguyen
Undergraduate: Xavier University
Medical School: Tulane University
Dr. Nguyen, a first-generation medical student, has always known that he wants to serve his community; through diverse clinical experiences and patient interactions he found family medicine as his vocation. He is driven to enhance primary care by incorporating his MBA background and knowledge of artificial intelligence to improve healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. Dr. Nguyen’s journey has included significant community service, including creating teen mentorship programs, teaching at local churches, and fundraising for local food drives. He also spent two months in Alaska providing comprehensive full-scope rural family medicine to 15 Native tribal villages, deepening his understanding of medical injustice and barriers to care. Dr. Nguyen also has a passion for research and earned the DeBakey Scholar award. Beyond medicine, he is a culinary enthusiast, jam skater, weightlifter, and LEGO creator.

Angelina Palacios
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: Wayne State University
Dr. Palacios has always been drawn to working in Detroit and is excited to give back to her community while working here at Henry Ford. A native Spanish speaker, Dr. Palacios knows how important it is for her patients to feel included and connected to their own wellness, and is excited to help translate the complicated language of healthcare for all her patients. She has already begun giving back to her community, working as a member of Wayne State Aesculapians, an honor society which works through service projects to give back to the city of Detroit. She served as the president of the Latino Medical Student Association, and set up monthly after school medical interest groups at a local high school in the neighborhood she grew up in. She is excited to continue giving back, now as a physician. Dr. Palacios loves to walk along the Detroit River and absorb all the diversity and culture her city has to offer.

Emily Beardsley, MD
Undergraduate: Saginaw Valley State University
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Dr. Beardsley is committed to creating meaningful relationships with her patients and caring for her community. She is particularly passionate about caring for patients who are struggling with opioid use disorder, and is a fierce advocate for this community. She was a founding member of the MSU CHM Addiction Medicine Student Interest Group and participated in the American Society of Addiction Medicine’s Hill Day in Washington D.C. in both 2022 and 2023. Throughout medical school, this passion was deepened through her work with Dr. Cara Poland, an addiction medicine specialist, researcher, and advocate. Dr. Beardsley was involved in multiple projects aimed at decreasing stigma associated with opioid use disorder, increasing provider education about medication-assisted treatment, and examining the intersection of opioid use disorder and maternity care. She saw firsthand the impact that family medicine doctors can have on their communities during her rural rotation at an FQHC and is now excited to build relationships with her patients and serve the Detroit community.

Dayaan Ghani, MD
Undergraduate: Kettering University
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Being able to witness firsthand the resilience of the Flint community in the face of dual public health crises (both the Flint Water Crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic) inspired Dr. Ghani to not only advocate for his patients in the exam room but also at the state and national level. He participated in the Medical Partners in Public Health Certificate Program throughout medical school, which helped him to learn actionable ways to address health disparities. Participating in the MAFP state advocacy day opened his eyes to the impact a physician can have on their patients' lives through policy-making. After this, he went on to be the MAFP Student Alternate Delegate at the AAFP national conference where he co-authored resolutions aimed at improving mental health emergency services and increasing reimbursement for the identification and treatment of postpartum depression. Outside of medicine, he is a personal trainer and sports fanatic. He is particularly excited to root for his beloved Detroit sports teams.

Kenan Millean, MD
Undergraduate: University of Michigan Ann Arbor
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Dr. Millean is an improviser at heart. His extensive knowledge and passion for music, as a long-time pianist and jazz musician, has given him skills that he aptly applies to his practice of medicine. He looks forward to using these skills to create meaningful and long-lasting relationships with his patients. As a native Michigander and current Detroiter, he is committed to advancing health equity for his community. His service learning experiences during medical school, which involved volunteering at local food banks and free clinics, gardening, and tutoring students, allowed him to observe the beautiful diversity of Detroit and reinforced his love for this community. Outside of medicine and music, he is a pizza aficionado. While in medical school, he created the Detroit Pizza Bracket, a social club dedicated to enjoying and evaluating local pizza restaurants. Ask him where to find the best pizza in Detroit (he will provide you with an evidence-based answer)!

Amal Mohamed, MD
Undergraduate: McMaster University
Medical School: Saba University School of Medicine
Dr. Mohamed’s life experiences have shaped her into a fierce advocate and tireless supporter of the underserved and marginalized. As a Black woman and first-generation immigrant, she understands the power of community. Prior to entering medical school, she worked as a facilitator for the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, where she organized community partnerships and created initiatives aimed at supporting immigrant youth and improving access to healthcare for community members. She then went on to work in Mombasa, Kenya, as a medical volunteer where she honed her skills in clear and empathetic communication to help patients reach their health goals. In the midst of her medical journey, she experienced personal tragedy when she lost a family member to gun violence. Drawing upon her experience as a community organizer, she buoyed her devastation into community action and organized a city-wide program to reduce gun violence through intergenerational mentorship. Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time outside, traveling, and brunching with friends.

Sam Morris, MD
Undergraduate: Tulane University
Medical School: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
As a native of New Orleans, witnessing the devastation of Hurricane Katrina and the ensuing health inequities in her community deeply impacted Dr. Morris’ approach to medicine. Throughout her medical training, her commitment to caring for marginalized communities has remained at the forefront. As a founding member of the Pritzker Medical Student Pride Alliance, she strengthened her medical school’s relationships with local LGBTQ+ organizations and fostered community among LGBTQ+ individuals in the medical school. She also worked as a community outreach coordinator and volunteer at the Maria Shelter Health Clinic, a student-run clinic co-located within a women's shelter. These experiences spurred a research project focused on intimate partner violence in LGBTQ+ communities of color, an often overlooked issue. She also spent time in Rome teaching Latin and has a deep appreciation of linguistics. When not in the clinic or hospital, you may find her rollerskating, cuddling with her cats, and enjoying donuts.

Kelly Russell, MD
Undergraduate: Michigan State University
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Dr. Russell cares deeply about being a safe and welcoming provider to all who enter her clinic and is particularly dedicated to working with the LGBTQ+ community. She is drawn to family medicine by the longitudinal relationships she will form with her patients. Her experience as the executive board member of the family medicine interest group at MSU-CHM allowed her to see the full breadth of the field and further solidified her commitment to family medicine. Her own experience as a caregiver for her father as he was struggling with chronic illness further reinforced the impactful role that family physicians can have in their patients’ lives. Beyond the clinic, she has also seen firsthand the power of advocacy on both a state and national level as a student ambassador to the MAFP and hopes to continue this work during residency. Outside of medicine, she enjoys improv comedy and led an improv troupe throughout her undergraduate years.

William Slattery, DO
Undergraduate: CUNY Hunter College
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Dr. Slattery’s singular path to medicine has prepared him to be a compassionate, flexible, and hardworking physician. While living and working on a submarine in the US Navy as a radioman, he learned the value of teamwork and hard work, which he is excited to bring to residency. While in undergrad, he supported himself by working as a stage manager and aerial acrobat at the House of Yes + Paradise Club, a nightclub in New York City. His time there taught him the importance of trust in oneself and one's team. He looks forward to building trusting relationships with his patients and co-residents. While in medical school, he served as the vice president of the MSU COM LGBT and Allies in Medicine group. Caring for the LGBTQ+ community is core to his practice of medicine and he looks forward to continuing to create safe and inclusive spaces for his community and patients. He is excited to add the Henry Ford Family Medicine residency to his varied and eclectic list of life experiences. Ask him how to say hello to a dolphin!

Shruthi Subramanian, MD
Undergraduate: University of Illinois at Chicago
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
Volunteerism and community outreach have been core to Dr. Subramanian’s journey to medicine. During undergrad, her experiences working with Apna Ghar, an organization that supports immigrant survivors of interpersonal violence, as well as her work with the Peer Health Exchange, where she educated public school students about abusive relationships, reinforced the importance of providing care that centers a person's needs and respects their autonomy. Throughout medical school, her involvement with the Community Outreach Intervention Project– a mobile-health initiative aimed at harm reduction and increasing access to medication-assisted treatment of opioid use disorder– allowed her to see the value of non-judgmental and comprehensive primary care. She is excited to care for the Detroit community and create long-lasting relationships with her patients. When not in the clinic, you may find her sitting by a large body of water (one of the best ways for her to recharge). She is also looking forward to trying new restaurants, so please give her all of your recommendations!