Our Physicians
Dr. Joe Garretto, D.O.
Internal Medicine, Owner
I graduated from Chicago Osteopathic Medical School because I liked the osteopathic medicine philosophy of treating the whole body instead of individual parts, along with manipulation therapy. Unfortunately, I have been unable to keep up with my manipulation training as traditional medicine has kept me busy enough. I did a residency programs in both family practice and internal medicine. While I practice general medicine, I have limited my practice to adult medicine and will take patients that are age 16 years and older. My philosophy in practicing medicine is that this is my profession, my life. When patients come to see me, I dedicate my life to their well being. I routinely tell patients not to worry, because I usually worry for them. Because I am a generalist, I don’t always have the answer, but try to have an open mind and will readily ask for help from a specialist when I feel it is warranted or if the patient feels it is necessary. I will exhaust every possible option to find a treatment for you. When I am not in the office, I enjoy spending time with my daughters. If they’re busy (they are teenagers), and I have a few moments to myself you may find me playing my guitar, doing some carpentry, or occasionally riding my motorcycle.
Dr. Ellen Spiering, M.D.
Family Medicine
My name is Dr. Ellen Spiering, and I graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago. I did a general surgery internship at Northwestern, and then went on to a Family Medicine Residency at Ravenswood Hospital affiliated with University of Illinois on the north side of Chicago. My loyalties for football, however, lie with my undergraduate institution, the University of Notre Dame. Go Irish!
My specialty is family medicine, which means I care for people of all ages, from the moment they are born, until the end of life. I love taking care of families! Caring for a whole family can give me insight into family dynamics and how that plays into the health and illness of my patients. My philosophy of treatment is to care for a patient’s body, mind, and spirit. My relationships with patients are based on mutual respect for each other, and it is important to me that we work together as a team to maintain health.
Although I care for people of all ages with all kinds of issues, my special areas of interest are adolescent medicine, sports medicine, and women’s health. When I am not working, I enjoy spending time with my family, reading novels, running, and spending time outdoors, especially hiking.
Dr. Shazia Mirza, M.D.
Internal Medicine
I am a graduate of Dow Medical College and graduated with distinction in Medicine. Before I moved to the USA, I worked for one year at Civil Hospital Karachi, which caters to the needs of underserved in the area. This one year of my life taught me lessons in humility and patience that I will never forget. I did my residency at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago, which is affiliated with University of Illinois at Chicago. I strongly believe that a kind word and listening ear have a greater power to heal than any pill ever invented. Internal medicine is pure adult medicine, which means I only see patients aged 17 and older. My special areas of interest are diabetes mellitus, hypertension and women's health.
Before I moved to Kenosha with my family, we lived in downtown Chicago. Compared to downtown Chicago, Kenosha is small, peaceful, quiet and I am happy to be here. When not working, I spend most of my time with my two kids. I also love to cook, read and listen to music.
Our Physician Assistant
Andrea Sickinger, P.A.-C
Certified, Licensed Physician Assistant
I am a graduate of the Marquette University Physician Assistant Studies program and started working at Genesis Medical Center in September 2009. I am a physician assistant with generalist training, which means I can work with patients of all ages to diagnose and treat all kinds of medical problems. It also means that I work closely with the doctors here to address each patient's concerns and needs in order to provide the best care possible. I see patients of my own, but I also see patients who need to be seen when their own doctor's schedule is full. This gives patients more flexibility in scheduling. If a patient sees me for a problem, I inform his or her own doctor about the visit, so patients can be sure their doctors are always aware of new issues or changes.
I am relatively new to the P.A. profession, but I have worked in the medical field as a social worker and asthma educator and have always been interested in medical practice. My philosophy of patient care is built on these professional experiences and is centered on my wish to care for the whole person, taking into consideration each patient's physical, emotional and social needs. I want patients to be as comfortable as possible coming to the office and will do my best to make them feel welcome, understood and well cared for. I am happy to be working in an office where everyone seems to feel the same way!
When I am away from the office, I love to spend time with my husband and son. I also enjoy singing, reading and spending time outdoors.