Javed A. Malik, DO - Beacon Cancer Care Memorial

About Dr. Kessie It was during a high school science program that Melissa Kessie, MD, became fascinated with biology, especially studying various creatures and the intricacies of the human body. “It fueled my desire to explore the subject further, which is why I enrolled in medical school after high school,” she says. At Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology - Kumasi, Ghana, she earned a BSc degree in Human Biology. She then went on to earn an MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) degree at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology - Kumasi, Ghana. Dr. Kessie then completed her family medicine residency at UAMS South Central Family Medicine Residency - Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Here, she also served as Chief Resident. She has experience in orthopedic surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, surgery and pediatrics, and internal medicine. Dr. Kessie says that family medicine involves more than just treating a patient. “It involves taking care of factors that also influence a patient’s disease and recovery,” she says. “It encompasses total care of an individual.” Her philosophy to practicing medicine, which she sees as an art, is to treat an individual wholistically and with passion. “I hope my patients feel heard and supported when discussing their concerns,” Dr. Kessie says. “I hope my patients feel more empowered and knowledgeable after interacting with me.” In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life?My mother What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? I was a sales associate. I have had the opportunity to interact with different personalities and people from different backgrounds and learned about their cultures. What is your favorite food? Movie? Favorite food: plantains with cooked bean sauce Favorite movie: Grease What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? Best subjects were biology and math; worst was organic chemistry. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? Michelle Obama – she is a resilient and compassionate woman who is always ready to help others? In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? Cooking, shopping, traveling, learning different cultures, watching National Geographic series. What is something most people don’t know about you? I used to throw javelin in high school.

About Dr. Dhillon While volunteering at the Alberta Children’s Hospital on Saturday afternoons when in her 20s, Jasmine Dhillon, MD, found her future. A pediatric surgeon witnessed her talking with a patient experiencing a physiological issue and told Dr. Dhillon he thought she should pursue a career in medicine. “It was a pivotal moment for me because I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do with my career at the time,” she says. “I always loved science and the human body in addition to developing relationships with people. This all led to me chasing a career in medicine.” She studied at the University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada, and earned her Bachelor of Biological Sciences degree. From there she went to Saba University School of Medicine, Saba, Netherlands Antilles, earning her Doctor of Medicine and Master of Science. Dr. Dhillon then completed her Internal Medicine Residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation, New Orleans, LA. Dr. Dhillon specializes in adult medicine and is trained to prevent, diagnose and treat various medical conditions in addition to helping patients manage their complex and chronic conditions. “I enjoy internal medicine because it allows me to manage the body as a whole,” she says. Her approach to practicing medicine is to put the patient first. “Patient centered care is extremely important to me,” she says. Patients have taught her to take time to learn someone’s perspective. Doing this helps Dr. Dhillon have the patience required when making life-altering decisions. She hopes her patients see that they are working together as a team. “I will be honest and take every decision seriously in addition to respecting each patient’s wishes,” she says. In her own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life? My older brother is my hero. He taught me that nothing was impossible and always pushed me to be the best and most authentic version of myself. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? My first job was a Subway sandwich artist! My parents stressed the importance of independence and responsibility at an early age. What is your favorite food? I am a big foodie! Some of my favorite cuisines are Thai, Japanese and Greek. What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? Best subject was biology. Least favorite subject was physics. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? Any one of my grandparents; I would have loved to learn more about my heritage. What are your hobbies, interests? I love outdoor running in addition to travelling and spending time with my family. What is something most people don’t know about you? I’m usually singing at the top of my lungs whilst drinking my morning coffee on the drive to work!

About Dr. Renzi Medicine is for everyone, says John T. Renzi, MD. “It is something that affects everyone at some point in their life and learning it can help so many people.” Always fascinated by medicine, he knew it was the career for him. In his family medicine residency, he specialized in hospital medicine. “I fell in love with the hospital and seeing patients improve in a matter of days,” Dr. Renzi says. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Minor in Philosophy from Le Moyne College, Syracuse, NY. His Doctor of Medicine degree was earned at Saint James School of Medicine, Anguilla Campus in the Caribbean. His Family Medicine Residency was completed at Southern Illinois University, Quincy, IL. “I think practicing medicine is an art and treating every patient is different,” he explains about his approach to providing care. “Getting to know patients and gaining their trust and making them feel comfortable is just as important as understanding what is going on with them.” When they leave his care and the hospital, Dr. Renzi hopes patients have learned how to treat themselves and to understand what is going on with them. “Patients have taught me many things over the years but mainly that every patient is different and the way to go about treating them may also be different,” he says. In his own words… Who is or was the most influential people/role models in your life?My grandfather would be one of the most influential people in my life. He started a business from the ground up that crossed to almost 3 generations and then he also survived two different stage 4 cancers. What was your first job growing up? What do you remember about it? My first job as a kid was bussing tables and a dishwasher at a local restaurant. What is your favorite food? Movie? Favorite foods: I love any food that is spicy, but specifically I love sushi. What was your best/worst subjects in school growing up? Best subject in high school was science and my worst was definitely history. If you could sit down to dinner with anyone (alive or deceased) who would it be and why? I would choose Jesus, because I would have a lot of questions for him. In addition to medicine, what are you passionate about? I love to travel whether it be skiing down a mountain, lying on the beach or scuba diving in the middle of the ocean. What is something most people don’t know about you? I can speak Spanish, I am scuba certified and can do the Rubik’s cube.