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Dr. Amer Smajkic, MD, is a double board-certified Child, Adolescent, and General Psychiatrist with nearly three decades of clinical, academic, and research experience in Chicago. Originally from Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, he graduated from medical school before arriving in Chicago in 1994 as a refugee of the Bosnian war. His early work as a therapist at Chicago Health Outreach focused on refugees, immigrants, and survivors of war, shaping his lifelong commitment to trauma-informed care. Dr. Smajkic developed strong academic ties with the Department of Psychiatry at the University of Illinois at Chicago, working under the mentorship of Dr. Stevan Weine and Professor Ivan Pavkovic. He participated in national and international research on genocide, ethnic cleansing, PTSD, mood disorders, and refugee mental health, publishing multiple papers and presenting widely. He later completed his general psychiatry training and child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Rush University Medical Center. Throughout his career, Dr. Smajkic has held leadership roles, including Director of Child Psychiatry Consult-Liaison Services at Rush, Assistant Professor at Rush University, Chairman of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Advocate Christ Hospital, and Director of the Child and Adolescent Inpatient Unit at Riveredge Hospital. His clinical expertise includes ADHD, developmental and learning disorders, anxiety, depression, and trauma-related conditions. Dr. Smajkic is an active member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. He is also a past president of the Bosnia-Herzegovinian American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He is the owner and founder of Chicago Child Psychiatry Associates, providing specialized psychiatric care to children, teens, young adults, and adults through in-person and virtual services. In 2022–2025, he was recognized as one of Chicago’s top patient-rated psychiatrists.

Dr. Ndrio is a child, adolescent and adult Psychiatrist. After obtaining a Medical Degree from Tirana University School of Medicine, Dr. Ndrio completed a four-year Adult Psychiatry Residency training program at Rosalind Franklin University/Chicago Medical School, where he received the Distinguished Service Award as Chief Resident. In addition, Dr. Ndrio sub-specialized in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and completed a two-year Fellowship training program at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine/Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children´s Hospital of Chicago. During his training, Dr. Ndrio has given numerous presentations in a wide variety of topics. Dr Ndrio is the founder and Medical Director of Advanced Behavioral Health Services (ABHS) where he stands committed and dedicated to providing excellent care for his patients.

Christine Yum, MSN, PMHNP-BC, is a board-certified psychiatric-mental health nurse practitioner dedicated to providing compassionate, culturally sensitive care to individuals across the lifespan. She earned her BA in Psychology from the University of Illinois at Chicago and completed both her BSN and MSN at Chamberlain University.

Grounded in empathy and authentic connection, Christine values building strong therapeutic relationships. She takes time to understand each client’s unique background, environment, physical health, and life experiences in order to collaboratively develop personalized, safe, and empowering treatment plans.

Christine’s diverse clinical experience includes hospice care, inpatient psychiatry, chronic pain and migraine management, and outpatient gastroenterology, giving her a well-rounded perspective on whole-person care. She provides a full spectrum of psychiatric services, including screenings, diagnostic evaluations, medication management, and crisis intervention.

As a bilingual Korean-American fluent in English and Korean, Christine is passionate about breaking down mental health stigma—especially within the Asian-American community and other cultures where seeking care can feel difficult. She works with clients experiencing a range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and more. Clients can expect compassionate, patient-centered care tailored to their unique needs and goals.

Dr. Babatunde Idowu Ogundipe, MD, MPH, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. and the American Board of Medical Specialties. He graduated Doctor of Medicine from Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Cook County - Loyola Provident, Chicago, IL, and Psychiatry at Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN. He also received his Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA.

His past experiences include Neighborhood Family Practice, Oak Park, IL, Fred Richardson M.D., where he does home visits for  Medical / Psychiatry patients. Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC, where he mainly focused on the evaluation and management of geriatric patients with complex medical/psychiatric problems, including PTSD and other anxiety disorders, depression, dementia subtypes, schizophrenia or psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury, sleep disorders, hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome, and Parkinson's disease. Inventiv Health Clinical, LLC, Nashville, TN, where he monitored clinical sites to ensure adherence to standard protocols and safety requirements.

He also contributed to several publications, such as "Remaking the American Health Care System: A positive reflection on the Affordable Care Act with emphasis on Mental Healthcare." - Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved and "Unphosphorylated SR-like Protein Np13 Stimulates RNA Polymerase II Elongation." - PLoS ONE.

Overall, he has extensive training and interest in geriatric psychiatry (including but not limited to diagnosis and management of neurocognitive disorders) and PTSD, ADHD, sleep, movement, psychotic, anxiety, and mood disorders (including TMS for depression). He has a strong passion for his work and derives satisfaction in building a solid therapeutic alliance with his patients to overcome their functional limitations.

Dr. Babatunde Idowu Ogundipe, MD, MPH, is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. and the American Board of Medical Specialties. He graduated Doctor of Medicine from Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Cook County - Loyola Provident, Chicago, IL, and Psychiatry at Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN. He also received his Multidisciplinary Master of Public Health at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health, Pittsburgh, PA.

His past experiences include Neighborhood Family Practice, Oak Park, IL, Fred Richardson M.D., where he does home visits for  Medical / Psychiatry patients. Washington DC VA Medical Center, Washington, DC, where he mainly focused on the evaluation and management of geriatric patients with complex medical/psychiatric problems, including PTSD and other anxiety disorders, depression, dementia subtypes, schizophrenia or psychotic disorders, bipolar disorder, traumatic brain injury, sleep disorders, hypothyroidism, metabolic syndrome, and Parkinson's disease. Inventiv Health Clinical, LLC, Nashville, TN, where he monitored clinical sites to ensure adherence to standard protocols and safety requirements.

He also contributed to several publications, such as "Remaking the American Health Care System: A positive reflection on the Affordable Care Act with emphasis on Mental Healthcare." - Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved and "Unphosphorylated SR-like Protein Np13 Stimulates RNA Polymerase II Elongation." - PLoS ONE.

Overall, he has extensive training and interest in geriatric psychiatry (including but not limited to diagnosis and management of neurocognitive disorders) and PTSD, ADHD, sleep, movement, psychotic, anxiety, and mood disorders (including TMS for depression). He has a strong passion for his work and derives satisfaction in building a solid therapeutic alliance with his patients to overcome their functional limitations.

Loretta Armstrong is a dedicated Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner (PMHNP) with over a decade of experience in the field of patient care. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to providing compassionate and comprehensive care to individuals facing a range of psychiatric disorders.

After earning her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Governors State University, Loretta began her career as a registered nurse in various settings, including acute care, community health, and outpatient clinics. Her hands-on experience in these roles reinforced her passion for mental health, prompting her to pursue further education. Loretta obtained her Master of Science in Nursing with a specialization in Psychiatric Mental Health from Northern Kentucky University, where she honed her skills in assessment, diagnosis, and evidence-based treatment modalities.

As a PMHNP, Loretta is adept at managing a wide spectrum of mental health issues, including anxiety disorders, depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. She is known for her holistic approach, integrating both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions tailored to meet each patient's unique needs. Loretta emphasizes the importance of building strong therapeutic relationships, fostering trust and open communication with her patients, which she believes is fundamental in facilitating effective treatment outcomes.

In addition to her clinical practice, Loretta is deeply committed to education and advocacy in mental health. She frequently participates in community outreach initiatives aimed at reducing stigma associated with mental illness and improving access to mental health services. Loretta has also been involved in training and mentoring nursing students and new practitioners, sharing her wealth of knowledge and experience to inspire the next generation of healthcare providers.

Dr. Kishwar Ali completed her medical education at Sind Medical College and residency training at Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood, Illinois. She holds board certification from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and has 30 years of experience in treating a wide range of psychiatric disorders. As a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association, Dr. Ali is dedicated to providing comprehensive care to patients aged 12 and older. She was the first in the DuPage County area to utilize Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for the treatment of adult and adolescent depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). She offers both telehealth and in-office consultations to accommodate diverse patient needs and speaks English and Urdu/Hindi. Dr Ali’s special interests include treating patients with Addictions, eating disorders, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and Major depressive disorder. Dr. Ali is associated with Linden Oaks Hospital and Edward Hospital.