Our Team
Dr. Tanjeev Kaur practices both Palliative Medicine and Geriatric Medicine, serving as the Medical Director of the Palliative Care at UI Health and Associate Program Director of the Geriatric Medicine Fellowship Training at UIC. Her specialty of interest is geriatric medicine and helps patients and families make decisions for palliative or hospice care when transition needed. She is actively engaged in teaching fellows, residents and students, enhancing their knowledge of not only primary care, but also palliative care & advance care planning. She has worked as hospice physician for five years. During her residency, she was awarded the All Star Award for demonstrating the core values of compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, sacredness of life & service. She is proficient in English, Hindi, Urdu and Punjabi.
- Internal Medicine Residency: St. Elizabeth Health Center, Youngstown, OH
- Geriatric Medicine Fellowship: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago
- Board Certifications: Geriatric Medicine, Hospice & Palliative Medicine, Hospice Medical Director Certification
Khadijat Adeniyi is an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse. Khadijat works on the supportive care team with background in community based palliative care, complex care management and critical care.
She is dedicated and enthusiastic about alleviating stressors associated with serious illness. Her primary goal is to improve the quality of life of every patients by addressing their physical, psychosocial and spiritual needs.
- Bachelors of Science in Nursing, Lakeview College of Nursing - Danville, Illinois
- Masters of Science in Nursing, Olivet Nazarene University - Bourbonnais, Illinois
- Board certified Family Nurse Practitioner
- Continuing education - Coleman palliative Care training
Alexis Alvarado is a licensed social worker. Alexis specialized in health care social work, with experience in skilled nursing facility and inpatient hospital settings. She enjoys learning about the patients to help provide resources and safe discharge plans.
- BS in Social Work, Florida Gulf Coast University
- MS in Social Work, Loyola University Chicago
Dr. Siavash Azarnia is a palliative care physician in Supportive Care Services at UI Health. Dr. Azarnia's focus is on helping patients live their best lives for as long as possible. He considers working with patients who have a serious illness and helping them and their loved ones navigate the difficulties that come with it is to be his life's work. Dr. Azarnia is honored to serve the UI Health community and advocate for his patients.
- Fellowship: University of Wisconsin — Madison
- Residency: Rush University Medical Center — Chicago
- Internship: Rush University Medical Center — Chicago
- Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine — Philadelphia
- Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine
Miriam Correa is an advanced practice registered nurse on the Palliative Care team at UI Health. Miriam has been caring for patients in hospice and palliative care settings since 2011. Miriam provides symptom management, assistance with goals-of-care discussions, and advance care planning to patients with life-limiting illnesses. She also provides psychosocial support and assists patients with conflicts as they navigate treatment options. Miriam is committed to helping patients maintain their autonomy in decision-making by helping them understand the information they receive from providers and how it affects their lives. She strives to ensure the entire treatment team is aware of patients' priorities and goals.
- BS in Kinesiology, University of Illinois at Chicago
- MSN, University of Illinois at Chicago
- Board Certified Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
- Certified Advance Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse Practitioner
- Spanish-speaking
Lauren Ivory-Smyk, MDiv, BCC is a chaplain in Supportive Care Services at UI Health. Ms. Ivory-Smyk has served as a health care chaplain in acute care, hospice and nursing homes since 2005. She provides support, listening, and guidance to patients and families as they deal with serious illness, stress, uncertainty and anticipatory grief. Focusing on what provides meaning and comfort to a patient or family, she uses active listening to aid people in processing their experiences with illness, and assists them in the relief of spiritual and emotional suffering.
- BA in Theology and Communication, Aquinas College, Grand Rapids, MI
- Master of Divinity, Aquinas Institute of Theology, St. Louis, MO
- Chaplain Residency, The Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
- Board Certified Chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains
Matthew Sommers – Social Worker
