OSF HealthCare-Chestnut Family Health Center Welcomes New Medical Residents
OSF HealthCare-Chestnut Family Health Center Welcomes New Medical Residents
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Marianne Payne, manager
August 13, 2025 Marketing and Communications
(309) 445-3158 / mcpayne@chestnut.org
BLOOMINGTON, ILL — OSF HealthCare and Chestnut Health SystemsTM are proud to welcome a new class of OFS Family Medicine residents, bringing new energy to Chestnut Family Health Center located at 702 W. Chestnut Street, Bloomington, Ill. The six additional doctors give the health center extra capacity to improve healthcare access for McLean County.
The new residents are starting a three-year family medicine program to gain hands-on experience in a community clinic environment. They join 11 current family medicine residents.
The residents include:
- Michelle Aelion, Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Ayoola Awosika, All Saints University College of Medicine
- Alpha Bah, Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Prithvi Balaji, Trinity School of Medicine
- Diana Bilyalov, Kazan State Medical University
- Richa Petal, Medical College Baroda
Sponsored by the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria and in partnership with OSF HealthCare St. Joseph Medical Center, the program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).
"We are pleased that these residents have selected our community as the site for their residency training, and we are hopeful they will choose to continue practicing here upon the completion of their program," said Dr. Todd Kettering, Family Medicine Residency Program Director, OSF St. Joseph Medical Center. "Given the ongoing physician shortage, it is beneficial to establish a sustainable pipeline to help replenish the supply of family physicians in the community, particularly as many approach retirement."
The new residents bring diverse backgrounds, speaking six different languages among them. All are motivated to bring high quality care to the underserved population, who often exhibit complex needs.
"For me, there is no greater privilege than helping those in need — especially with something as deeply personal and precious as one's health," said Dr. Michelle Aelion, one of the new medical residents.
"I chose this line of work because it offers an opportunity to continue my passion for the clinical sciences while also providing a unique perspective in serving my community and helping others," said Dr. Prithvi Balaji, another new medical resident. The recent medical school graduates will benefit from the mentorship of experienced professionals.
"A key strength of the residency program being located at Chestnut is the opportunity to learn from a highly qualified and diverse team," said Dr. Jared Rogers, medical director of Chestnut Family Health Center. "This team includes family medicine physicians, nurse practitioners, psychiatric mental health nurse practitioners, case workers, community health workers, and counselors. As a result, learners gain exposure to a wide range of perspectives and practices within ambulatory medicine."
For more about seeking care with an OSF Family Medicine resident physician at Chestnut or to schedule an appointment, please visit chestnut.org or call 888.924.3786.
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Chestnut Health Systems is a not-for-profit organization that has cared since 1973 for the most vulnerable in our communities. Chestnut provides substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery; mental health treatment; primary care; dental care; and housing and supportive services. It is a leader in behavioral health-related research through its Lighthouse Institute. More at www.chestnut.org.
OSF HealthCare is an integrated health system founded by The Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis. Headquartered in Peoria, Illinois, OSF HealthCare has 17 hospitals — 11 acute care, five critical access, one continuing care — with 2,305 licensed beds throughout Illinois and Michigan. OSF employes more than 26,000 Mission Partners across 160+ locations and includes OSF OnCall, the digital health operating entity which offers a hospital-at-home. Advances in health care transformation take place through OSF Innovation and OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois, the third largest pediatric hospital in Illinois, cares for our smallest patients. In addition, OSF has two colleges of nursing; operates of OSF Home Care Services, an extensive network of home health and hospise services; owns Pointcore, Inc., comprised of health care-related businesses; OSF HealthCare Foundation, the philanthropic arm for the organization; and OSF Ventures, which provides investment capital for promising health care innovation startups. OSF HealthCare has been recognized by Fortune as one of the most innovative companies in the country. More at osfhealthcare.org.