Meet our Team
The Adult Down Syndrome Center is fortunate to have a multidisciplinary team that includes physicians, an occupational therapist, a licensed clinical social worker, a nurse, certified medical assistants, patient/family advocates, patient service representatives, a project manager for research and education, a practice manager, and an administrative supervisor.
Click the headers below to learn more about the team at the Adult Down Syndrome Center!
Brian Chicoine, MD
Dr. Chicoine is a family physician and the medical director of the Center. He co-founded the Center in January 1992. He is on the faculty of Family Medicine at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Chicoine received his medical degree from Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and completed his Family Medicine residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. He has provided medical care for adults with intellectual disabilities for over 30 years and has presented and written extensively on caring for adults with Down syndrome.
Erin Dominiak, MD
Dr. Dominiak is a family physician who joined the team in September 2007. She is on the faculty of Family Medicine at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Dominiak received her medical degree from Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, during which she trained at the Adult Down Syndrome Center.
Hannah Graham, MD
Dr. Graham is a family physician who joined the team in September 2021. She is on the faculty of Family Medicine at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Graham received her medical degree from Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and completed her Family Medicine residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, during which she trained at the Adult Down Syndrome Center. After completing her residency in 2017, she practiced general family medicine in the Chicagoland area.
Farah Chaus, MD
Dr. Chaus is a family physician who joined the team in January 2024. She is on the faculty of Family Medicine at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. Dr. Chaus received her medical degree from Chicago Medical School and completed her Family Medicine residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital.
Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L
Dr. Frank is an occupational therapist who joined the team in August 2016. She received her degree in occupational therapy from Saint Louis University and her PhD in disability studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Dr. Frank has been in the field of occupational therapy since 2001. She has worked with individuals with Down syndrome of all ages.
Brittany Anderson, LCSW
Brittany is a licensed clinical social worker who joined the team in November 2024.
Pat Zidek, RN
Pat is a registered nurse who joined the team in November 2021.
Ana Appelman
Ana is a certified medical assistant who joined the team in June 2019.
Giselle Rodriguez
Giselle is a certified medical assistant who joined the team in March 2021.
Ajanae Wright
Ajanae is a certified medical assistant who joined the team in October 2024.
Jennifer Smid
Jennifer is a patient advocate who joined the team in November 2022.
Jenny Lutes
Jenny is a patient advocate who joined the team in March 2024.
Shirley Lange
Shirley is a patient service representative and medical office assistant who joined the team in June 2004.
Sandy Schumacher
Sandy is a patient service representative who joined the team in January 2022.
Laura (Chicoine) Krohn
Laura is a project manager for research and education who joined the team in April 2017.
Asha Richardson-James
Asha is the administrative supervisor who joined the team in February 2024.
Ruben Santiago
Ruben is the practice manager who joined the team in May 2024.