Faculty and Leadership
Janice Litza, MD, FAAFP
Program Director
Hometown:
Milwaukee
Undergraduate:
University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee
Medical School/Graduate School:
University of Madison School of Medicine and Public Health
Residency Program:
Aurora St. Luke’s Milwaukee
Career Path
In addition to board certification in Family Medicine, she has completed additional fellowship training in Integrative Medicine through the University of Arizona in 2017. This allows her to bring a unique perspective to patient care and leadership with attention to the whole person, their body, mind, and spirit. She has been in progressive academic and leadership positions including Residency Program Director in Illinois and Chief Medical Officer for a Federally Qualified Health Center in Milwaukee. She has been providing full spectrum Family Medicine, including obstetrics, newborn care, and hospital medicine until her transition to Ascension in 2014. Within Ascension, in addition to direct patient care, her roles have included clinic physician lead, Medical Director, Vice President Medical Affairs and Regional Chief Medical Officer over 3 hospitals in Southeastern Wisconsin. Dr. Litza returned to academic medicine as Ascension Wisconsin Family Medicine Program Director in April of 2023. She has committed her medical practice and leadership advocacy to serve all patients with special focus on vulnerable populations. Dr. Litza is proud of her Puerto Rican heritage and currently serves on 3 community boards and was recognized as a BIPOC Executive Leader in 2023 in Milwaukee and achieved Changemaker status through American Heart Association National Woman of Impact 2023.
Clinical Interests:
Integrative Medicine, Hispanic Health, LGBTQ+, Women's Health
Interests/Fun fact:
Hiking, yardwork, painting, collage art, bowling and balloon animals. I have 2 adult kids and 3 fur babies.
Motivating Quote:
"Play keeps us vital and alive. It gives us an enthusiasm for life that is irreplaceable. Without it, life just doesn’t taste good."
- Lucia Capacchione, Italian-American psychologist, art therapist, and writer.
Andrew Clithero DO, MS, FAWM
Associate Program Director
Hometown:
Milwaukee, WI
Undergraduate:
UW-Milwaukee, BA
Medical School/Graduate School:
Kansas City University, DO
UW-Madison, MS
Residency Program:
North Colorado Family Medicine; Greeley, CO
Career Path:
I have worked as a hospitalist at St Joseph Hospital in Milwaukee since finishing residency and now am transitioning to an APD role for the new Ascension Wisconsin Family Medicine Residency Clinical
Clinical Interests:
Critical care, Point-of-Care Ultrasound Personal
Interests/Fun fact:
I like good food and riding bikes.
Motivating Quote:
"Don't be a jerk" - Abraham Lincoln
Daniel Perrault MD
Core Faculty Member
Hometown:
Racine, WI
Undergraduate:
UW Parkside BS in Biology
Medical School/Graduate School:
Medical College of Wisconsin
Residency Program:
Transitional year at St Lukes then spent some time in Anesthesia Residency at MCW. Completed Family Medicine residency at St. Lukes in Milwaukee.
Career Path:
After a transitional residency and some time in anesthesia I realized I needed more interpersonal activities and transitioned into family medicine with a plan to work in the ED. After residency I worked as a house physician at St Frances and an ED physician at Aurora Sinai. In 2003 I began working at the Heart Hospital of Milwaukee in the ED and at the Care on Demand urgent care.. I then transitioned to full time ED work at a critical access hospital in Berlin, WI. I later became ED boarded by the American Board of Physician Specialists. I started with the Ascension Family Medicine Program in 2024.
Clinical Interests:
Clinic procedures, ultrasound, urgent care and emergency care.
Interests/Fun fact:
I enjoy board games and playing the piano.
Motivating Quote:
"Success is the sum of small efforts”
Nancy Havas, MD, FAAFP
Core Faculty Member
Hometown:
Milwaukee, WI
Undergraduate:
University of South Florida, Tampa, FL Interdisciplinary Natural Sciences-Biology
Medical School/Graduate School:
Medical College of Wisconsin
Residency Program:
UW-Aurora St. Luke’s Residency program
Career Path:
I became interested in academic medicine as a medical student, and have been involved in many aspects of medical education since that time. I enjoy working with learners at every level from first year medical students to faculty peer medical education. Multiple roles in administrative leadership around the country provide a perspective for meeting the learner’s needs in both undergraduate and graduate medical education.
Clinical Interests:
General Family Medicine, Geriatrics, Hospice and Palliative Medicine
Interests/Fun fact:
Enjoy traveling, art, walking, and cooking
Motivating Quote:
"Four things come not back, the spoken word, the sped arrow, time past, and the neglected opportunity.” — Arabian Proverb
Michael Brewer, DO (Mike)
Family Medicine Specialist
Hometown:
Milwaukee
Undergraduate:
UW- Milwaukee, BA in psychology and philosophy
Medical School/Graduate School:
Midwestern University- AZCOM
Residency Program:
Adventist LaGrange Family Medicine in LaGrange, IL
Sabrina Ali, MD
Community Medicine Director
Hometown:
NYC
Undergraduate:
Bachelor's degree in Biology and English, 2011, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
Medical School/Graduate School:
Master's degree in Microbiology, 2013, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
Doctor of medicine, 2021, Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla
Residency Program:
All Saints Family Medicine Residency, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 2021-2024
Career Path:
It is my belief that family medicine physicians need to be the driving force of change when it comes to de-stigmatizing mental health in society. We touch many lives, and have the power to normalize mental health struggles with conversation. These conversations need to occur in the office and out in the community. I have emphasized these principles throughout residency via community events as well as in office visits where I have been able to provide my patients with tools to navigate the stressors of life. I am honored to continue this journey in my new position at this residency program.
Clinical Interests:
Mental health, Community medicine, Underserved medicine, Addiction medicine
Interests/Fun fact:
Broadway Enthusiast, Foodie, Frequent Flyer
Motivating Quote:
"Reach for the moon, even if you fall you'll land among the stars"
"In a world where you can be anything, be kind"
Sandra Olsen, M.S., B.A.
GME Operations Manager
Hometown:
Milwaukee
Undergraduate:
UWM/Ottawa University, B.A.
Medical School/Graduate School:
Marian University, M.S.
Career Path:
Began my career as a Respiratory Therapist, promoted to manage several clinical departments at Froedtert, hired as Manager of the St. Michael (then St. Joseph and now All Saints) Family Medicine Residency Practice by MCW. Transitioned to Ascension in July of 2023.
Interests/Fun fact:
Taking cello lessons. Love to spend time at the family cottage, building, kayaking, hiking, etc.
Motivating Quote:
"This is what the Lord asks of you, to act justly, love tenderly and walk humbly with your God."
- Micah 6:8
Denise Birmingham-Parker, BS
Family Residency Health Center Supervisor
Hometown:
Milwaukee
Undergraduate:
BS, Springfield College
Career Path:
Started career as a Medical Assistant, went back to college and received BS in Human Services, promoted to Supervisor in 2022
Interests/Fun fact:
Enjoy giving back to the community, active in church community, caring for grandchildren
Motivating Quote:
"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
- Philippians 4:13
Jennifer Ovide RN BSN (Jenny)
Community Medicine Coordinator
Hometown:
La Crescent, Minnesota
Undergraduate:
BSN MArquette Univ., Milwaukee, WI
Residency Program:
Have worked for 24 years in Ascension Family Medicine residency as Community Medicine Clinical Coordinator.
Career Path:
A nurse since 1979, behavioral health, management, and health education background in previous jobs
Clinical Interests:
Nutrition and food insecurity, mental health, addiction, wellness
Interests/Fun fact:
Played guitar since age 6 and sang in many country rock bands earlier in career
Motivating Quote:
"Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change."
- Bob Kerrey
Lauren Keesler, LPC, ATR
Faculty Member, Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist
Hometown:
Neenah, WI
Undergraduate:
University of Wisconsin - La Crosse, B.S. Psychology
Medical School/Graduate School:
Mount Mary University, M.S. Art Therapy and CounselingCareer Path:
My 7 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Art Therapist across multiple levels of care have fueled my desire to inspire patients, providers and students about the importance of prioritizing and destigmatizing mental health care. My interest in academic medicine was ignited while working as a program psychotherapist for a partial hospitalization program through my interactions with the medical students and residents completing their behavioral health rotation. I enjoyed collaborating with the residents and teaching them about the power of counseling and art therapy. This interest was further illuminated in my role as adjunct faculty in an undergraduate art therapy program. I am passionate about interdisciplinary collaboration and dedicated to mentoring future physicians in recognizing and addressing the psychosocial aspects of health care. Additionally, I am committed to providing our community and patients here at All Saints Family Care Center with supportive therapy and art therapy services.
Interest/Fun Fact:
I enjoy traveling, painting, running, snowboarding, spending time with friends, family and my dog as well as trying new restaurants, and watching Wisconsin sports
motivating quote:
“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.”— Pablo Picasso
Barbara Tong-Frey, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
Hometown:
Mustang, Oklahoma
Undergraduate:
University of Oklahoma - BS Health and Exercise Science Herzing University - BSN Herzing University - MSN FNP
Career Path:
I started my nursing career at St. Joseph’s Hospital as a med/surg RN. In my time there, I always felt like I wanted to do more as a nurse and to do more for those with health disparities. After working as an RN for 5 years, I then received a calling to pursue further education to become a family nurse practitioner. My journey to be at this clinic came from wanting to be a resource for the community to be able to reach out and provide care to the underprivileged such as refugees.
Clinical Interests:
Inner-city medicine/advancing minority medicine, obesity medicine, sports medicine, and women’s health
Interests/Fun fact:
I was raised in a bilingual household and didn’t know any english going into grade school.
Motivating Quote:
"Consult not your fears but your hopes and your dreams. Think not about your frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tried and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do." Pope John Paul XXIII
Lisa Marie Casey, DO
Clinical Preceptor
Hometown:
Upper Sandusky, Ohio
Undergraduate:
Otterbein University, Columbus Ohio BAchelor of Science in Life Science
Medical School/Graduate School:
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency Program:
Firelands Regional Health System, Sandusky, Ohio
Career Path:
The first job I accepted was as faculty in a Family Medicine Residency and I have been hooked on teaching ever since! One of the great joys I have had is being a founding Program Director of a Family Medicine Residency in Ohio, and was privileged to also serve as a Program Director in Duluth Minnesota. Now, as an Associate Designated Institutional Official and the Director of Undergraduate Medical Education, I hope to put some of those lessons to work as we continue to build programs in Ascension Wisconsin. I am excited to be back in a catholic healthcare system as part of the New Family Medicine Residency.
Clinical Interests:
Preventive Medicine, Dermatology (including procedures) Osteopathic Manipulation and Integrative Medicine
Interests/Fun fact:
I have been to all 50 states with my husband and 2 children!
Motivating Quote:
It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled, or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena... — Theodore Roosevelt
Stacey Olsen
Program Coordinator, All Saints Family Center
Hometown:
Milwaukee
Career Path:
I started out as the Administrative Assistant, transitioned to the Education Specialist position and just recently accepted the Program Coordinator position at the Family Health Center. I have been with Ascension since 2006.
Interests/Fun fact:
I enjoy spending time with my family and friends, watching my son play sports, seeing my daughter excel in her nursing career and traveling.