Meet the Medical Providers at ASHE

Dr. Ala Stanford, MD

Ala Stanford, MD is the Founder of the Black Doctors Consortium and Center for HealthEquity. Dr. Stanford previously served as the United States Department of Health and Human Services Regional Director, appointed by President Joseph Biden. Dr. Stanford is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania teaching best health outcomes for the next generation of clinicians, health policy advisors, legislators, health entrepreneurs and business leaders. A practicing physician for over twenty years and founder of R.E.A.L. Concierge Medicine, Dr. Stanford is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in both pediatric and adult general surgery and serves as a medical and health correspondent for national media outlets.

Dr. Pierre Chanoine, MD

Dr. Pierre Chanoine is a pediatrician, father, and husband. He currently resides in Montgomery County with his wife and 3 sons. He is originally from Haiti and grew up in New York City. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, attended the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in Baltimore, Maryland before training at St Christopher’s Hospital for Children. After his pediatric residency where he earned the honor of serving as Chief Resident and AOA member, he joined the faculty of Drexel University. After a few years of teaching and as his family grew, he joined a private practice in Abington, PA. Dr. Chanoine has always been animated by a desire to serve children and their families. When the pandemic started, under the guidance of Dr. Ala Stanford, he joined the early efforts of the BDCC. He continues to serve that mission as one of the 3 co-medical directors for ASHE as it continues to be a guiding light for what medical care should be.

Dr Akili DeBrady

Dr. Akili H. Debrady is a family medicine doctor in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and is affiliated with Temple Health Chestnut Hill Hospital. He received his medical degree from Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He has expertise in treating obesity, kidney disease, hypertension & high blood pressure, among other conditions.

Dr. Renell Dupree, MD

Dr. Renell Dupree, MD is a Family Medicine Physician at the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity and has 10 years of experience. She graduated from Drexel University College of Medicine in 2014 and completed a residency at Abington Jefferson Health.

Dr. Denina Helm, MD

Dr. Denina Helm, MD is a Family Medicine Physician at the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity and has over 29 years of experience in the medical field. She graduated from Howard University College of Medicine in 1994. She is affiliated with medical facilities Jefferson Einstein Philadelphia Hospital and Temple University Hospital.

Dr. Margarita McDonald, MD

Dr. Margarita E. McDonald is a family medicine at the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity. She received her medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine and has been in practice between 11-20 years. Dr. Margarita E. McDonald has expertise in treating shingles, asthma, gastroenteritis, among other conditions.

Dr. Janet Nwaukoni

Dr. Janet N. Nwaukoni is a family medicine physician with a strong background in both quantitative and qualitative research. As a first-generation Nigerian-American, she brings a deep understanding of cross-cultural healthcare needs. Her passion lies in advocating for underserved communities, particularly in rebuilding trust among patients who have historically faced medical mistrust and systemic barriers to care. Her areas of expertise are in wellness prevention, women’s health, addition medicine and recovery and medical education.

Dr. Jamie Redwing

Dr. Jamie V. Redwing is a family medicine doctor who has been practicing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for more than 20 years. She received her medical degree from University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine. Dr. Redwing can also be considered as primary care physicians or PCPs. She is trained to meet the basic health needs of children and adults and will often refer patients to specialists or for further testing. She treats and diagnoses common conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and allergies in addition to performing physicals, vaccines and in-office lab testing.

Dr. Diedre Reynolds

Dr. Diedre A. Reynolds is a psychiatrist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She received her medical degree from Yale School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Her specialty as a psychiatrists is the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, such as depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and schizophrenia.

Dr. Steven Spencer, MD

Dr. Steven Spencer is an internist at the Dr. Ala Stanford Center for Health Equity. He received his medical degree from The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Steven Spencer has expertise in treating diabetes, obesity, hypertension, among other conditions.

Khary Blackmon

Elizabeth Schmidt, CRNP

Lizzy Schmidt, MSN, CRNP comes to BDC with 25 years of Primary Care and Women’s Health experience.  She is passionate about supporting individually defined wellness, with a trauma-informed lens. Lizzy is a translator of complex medical information and enjoys educating about preventive health options, such as PrEP. Her specialty has been working with people living with HIV who have mental health and substance use disorders and she brings this experience to her work at the Riverview Wellness Center. Lizzy trained at The University of Pennsylvania, receiving her Masters of Nursing in Family Practice, with her undergraduate degree in Sociology from Bryn Mawr College.

Saintia Jean-Pierre, MSW

Hi! I’m Saintia. I recently earned my Master of Arts in Professional Clinical Counseling from La Salle University, where I also completed my undergraduate degree. Becoming a two-time La Salle graduate is a meaningful milestone in my journey as a first-generation Haitian American, one that represents perseverance, purpose, and the sacrifices made by those who came before me. I have experience working in schools and outpatient settings. I use a person-centered approach to help my clients reduce anxiousness, overcome self-doubt, and thrive despite the circumstances.

Kayla Schiller, MSW

My route to becoming a Mental Health Clinician has been long and very enriching. I completed my undergraduate studies in Business Administration with a concentration on Organizational Health, and continued with a Master of Science in Management and an MBA at Gwynedd Mercy University. I’ve worked in higher education, healthcare and government settings before completing a Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of the Cumberlands. I am now actively completing supervision to obtain my license as a Professional Counselor. In my practicum and internship experiences, I have worked with all ages on a variety of mental health issues including Autism Spectrum Disorder, Eating Disorders, Addiction Disorders, Anxiety, and Depression. With time and support, I do believe all people have the ability to overcome their obstacles.

Daria Podell, MSW

I earned my Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work, with a minor in Gerontology, and I am a Licensed Master Social Worker currently working toward becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. My professional background includes six years of experience as a Certified Nursing Assistant, along with six diverse internships and roles as a Mental Health Specialist, Mental Health Therapist, Medical Case Manager, and General Case Manager. My vision for healthcare is to promote compassionate, person-centered, and equitable care that integrates mental and physical health, empowers individuals and families, and reduces barriers to accessing quality services within the community.