GW Primary Care is Now in Your Neighborhood

GW Primary Care is committed to improving the lives of our patients through quality and equitable health care, and we have expanded to your neighborhood. As a proud practice of The George Washington University Medical Faculty Associates (GW MFA), we are a part of the largest independent physician practice in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area. With more than 700 providers and 50 specialties, GW physicians have been a trusted source of patient-centric care for nearly 200 years.

Our New Primary Care Locations

 Alexandria

1500 N. Beauregard Street, Suite 100, Alexandria, VA

Meet Our Providers in Alexandria

  1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

 Bethesda

7137 Arlington Road, Bethesda, MD

Meet Our Providers in Bethesda

1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

  Greenbelt

7321 Hanover Parkway, Suite A, Greenbelt, MD

Meet Our Providers in Greenbelt

1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

  Silver Spring

8700 Georgia Avenue, Suite 400, Silver Spring, MD

Meet Our Providers in Silver Spring

1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

  West End

2300 M Street, NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC

Meet Our Providers in West End

1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

 

Book an Appointment Online Now

 


Our Providers

Our Alexandria Providers
Rona Smith

Rona Smith, MD

Rona Smith, MD, is a board certified internal medicine physician with more than 10 years of clinical experience.

Smith earned her medical degree at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and completed her residency training in internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic Akron General. Following her residency training, she completed a fellowship in nephrology at the University of Tennessee.

Smith is a member of the American Medical Association and the American College of Physicians.

Smith is committed to patient centered care and her clinical interests include chronic disease management and patient education.

Book an Appointment with Rona Smith, MD

Emmeline Ha

Emmeline Ha, MD

Emmeline Ha, MD is a board-certified family physician and active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She completed medical school at George Washington University then trained at Stanford Family Medicine Residency, where she served as Chief Resident. Her clinical interests include family medicine, chronic disease prevention and management, and immigrant health. She is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

Dr. Ha is an Assistant Professor at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She serves as a faculty advisor for the student family medicine interest group and is an educator for the pre-clinical curriculum and clinical clerkships. Dr. Ha previously completed a fellowship in Health Policy Research with GW and the American Board of Family Medicine’s Center for Professionalism & Value in Health Care. Her academic interests include primary care workforce development, medical education, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander advocacy.

Book an Appointment with Emmeline Ha, MD

Doctor avatar

Vinh Son Tran, MD

Vinh Son Tran, MD is a board-certified family medicine physician. Dr. Tran earned his medical degree from the Eastern Virginia Medical School, and completed a family and community medicine residency training at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. Prior to joining the GW MFA, he worked at a primary care practice for five years in Virginia where he gained experience in special interests which include managing transgender hormone therapy and LGBT primary care, on top of practicing comprehensive family medicine from pediatrics to geriatrics within a Healthcare Professional Shortage Area.

Dr. Tran is an active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He practices evidence-based primary care for a broad range of chronic and acute medical problems. Dr. Tran strives to collaborate with patients in exploring healthy choices to maximize quality of life, both mentally and physically.

Book an Appointment with Vinh Son Tran, MD

 

Our Bethesda Providers
Maria Portela Martinez

Maria Portela Martinez, MD

Maria Portela Martinez, MD, is a board certified family medicine physician. Martinez attended the Ponce School of Medicine to earn her medical degree. She then went on to complete a family medicine residency at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina. She continued her education by earning a Masters in Public health (MPH) degree with a dual concentration in public health leadership and health policy and management. Martinez also completed a Leaders for Health Equity fellowship with the George Washington University in 2017.

Martinez is an experienced family medicine physician with over a decade of clinical experience. She has a passion for health policy development and has been an executive Board Member of National Hispanic Medical Association (NHMA). She was also selected as a 40 under 40 Leaders in Health Award Recipient, 2017, by the National Minority Quality Forum.

Martinez is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Book an Appointment with Maria Portela Martinez, MD

Emmeline Ha

Emmeline Ha, MD

Emmeline Ha, MD is a board-certified family physician and active member of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She completed medical school at George Washington University then trained at Stanford Family Medicine Residency, where she served as Chief Resident. Her clinical interests include family medicine, chronic disease prevention and management, and immigrant health. She is licensed to practice in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia.

Dr. Ha is an Assistant Professor at the GW School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She serves as a faculty advisor for the student family medicine interest group and is an educator for the pre-clinical curriculum and clinical clerkships. Dr. Ha previously completed a fellowship in Health Policy Research with GW and the American Board of Family Medicine’s Center for Professionalism & Value in Health Care. Her academic interests include primary care workforce development, medical education, and Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander advocacy.

Book an Appointment with Emmeline Ha, MD

Bridgette Provost

Bridgette C. Provost, MD

Bridgette C. Provost, MD earned her MPH from Yale University's School of Public Health, and her MD from Florida State University College of Medicine. Her clinical and research interests include medical weight management, preventative care, hormone replacement therapy, peptide therapy, and integrative medicine.

Book an Appointment with Bridgette C. Provost, MD

Elizabeth Prevou

Elizabeth Prevou, DMSc, MPH, PA-C

Elizabeth Prevou, DMSc, MPH, PA-C, is an Adjunct Assistant Professor in the department of PA Studies at The George Washington University and The University of Lynchburg.

Elizabeth comes from a family of medical practitioners in America's heartland. As the granddaughter of a rural primary care physician, she learned to appreciate the value of quality and accessible healthcare. Traveling abroad as a military dependent, Elizabeth developed a love for world cultures and pursued an undergraduate degree in anthropology from American University. She earned dual masters degrees from GW in Public Health and Health Sciences, and received the Outstanding Graduate Student Award. Elizabeth completed her doctorate at The University of Lynchburg, where she now teaches public health. She has served as a member of the Board of Directors of the AAPA and remains an active member of local PA organizations.

Book an Appointment with Elizabeth Prevou, DMSc, MPH, PA-C

 

Carlos Olivares, NP

Carlos Olivares, NP

Carlos Olivares, NP, earned his Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Kaplan University in 2012 and then went on to complete his Master's of Science in Nursing from Bowie State University in 2015. His experience as a family nurse practitioner includes emergency and urgent care as well as family health. He is an active member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP).

Olivares is fluent in both Spanish and English.

Book an Appointment with Carlos Olivares, NP

 
Our Greenbelt Providers
Saritha Sudharsun

Saritha Sudharsun, NP

Bio coming soon.

Book an Appointment with Saritha Sudharsun, NP

 

Our Silver Spring Providers
Sheikh Bidora

Sheikh Bidora, MD

Sheikh Bidora, MD, is a board certified internal medicine physician and an active member of the American Geriatric Society (AGS) as well as the American College of Physicians (ACP). Dr. Bidora began her medical education in Bangladesh, earning her M.B.B.S. from  Bangladesh Medical College. She then went on to train at Howard University Hospital and complete her internal medicine residency. Following her internal medicine residency she went on to complete a geriatric medicine fellowship at the George Washington University Hospital.

Dr. Bidora has over 20 years of clinical experience and a clinical interest in primary and geriatric care. She is fluent in both English and Bangla languages.

Book an Appointment with Sheikh Bidora, MD

Kelly Bates

Kelly W. Bates, DNP, FNP-BC

Kelly W. Bates, DNP, FNP-BC, is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and a member of American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Bates began her nursing education at Johns Hopkins School of Nursing and then went on to earn her Doctor of Nursing Practice degree at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is an experienced immediate and primary care provider to patients of a wide range of ages.

Bates is an experienced lecturer and clinical instructor, most recently lecturing at the George Washington University School of Nursing and Johns Hopkins School of Nursing in 2021.

Book an Appointment with Kelly W. Bates, DNP, FNP-BC

Dr. Ikem

Ifechukwude Ikem, MD

Ifechukwude (Iffie) Ikem, MD is a primary care physician specializing in Family and Social Medicine, recognized for her unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare. She completed her residency in Family and Social Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center-Albert Einstein School of Medicine, following the attainment of her Doctor of Medicine degree from Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine (VCU). Dr. Ikem's educational background also includes a Pre-Medical Graduate Certificate from VCU and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and Society with a minor in Global Health from Cornell University.

Throughout her academic and professional journey, Dr. Ikem has showcased exceptional leadership and teaching abilities, actively contributing to medical education. She is proficient in a wide array of medical procedures, ranging from LARC placement to joint injections. Dr. Ikem has significantly contributed to impactful research projects, focusing on areas such as contraceptive counseling, obesity, and cardiovascular disease risk factors in sub-Saharan Africa. Her research findings have been presented at esteemed conferences and published in reputable medical journals.

Dr. Ikem is a dedicated member of several prominent medical organizations, including the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), ASCCP, NAF, and the Society of Family Planning. Beyond her clinical and research roles, she has volunteered extensively in her community, actively participating in initiatives promoting healthcare access and education.

Driven by her passion for reproductive health, advocacy, and medical education, Dr. Ikem continues to shape the future of healthcare through her expertise and leadership, leaving a lasting impact on the field of medicine.

Book an Appointment with Ifechukwude Ikem, MD

Janet C. Austen, CRNP-FNP

Janet C. Austen, CRNP-FNP

Janet C. Austen, CRNP-FNP, is an experienced family nurse practitioner with over 45 years of clinical experience. Austen has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Mount Saint Mary College (1977) and earned her Family Nurse Practitioner (F.N.P.) degree from University of Maryland in 2007. She also completed her Master's of Business Administration at Southern Illinois University in 1987.

Austen’s clinical experience includes intensive care, surgical and operating room experience, as well as primary and urgent care. She also has research experience with the Biometric Research Institute.

Book an Appointment with Janet C. Austen, CRNP-FNP

 

Tizita Tessema

Tizita G. Tessema, DNP

Tizita Tessema, DNP, is a board certified nurse practitioner and a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Tessema has a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Chamberlain College of Nursing. She then went on to earn her Master’s of Science in Nursing and Doctor of Nursing Practice degrees from Walden University in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Tessemma has over 15 years of clinical experience including intensive care, adult gerontology, immediate and primary care. Her expertise includes wound care, geriatric and adult care, dermatology, health and wellness, and urgent care.

She also volunteers her services at the National Rehabilitation Hospital in the Fun Activity Center for patients and is fluent in English and Amharic.

Book an Appointment with Tizita G. Tessema, DNP

 

Our West End Providers
Elizabeth Bluhm

Elizabeth Bluhm, MD, MPH

Elizabeth Bluhm, MD, MPH, is an internist at the GW Medical Faculty Associates and an assistant professor of medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. She graduated from Williams College and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She was a resident in Internal Medicine and also obtained a Master's degree in Public Health in Epidemiology at the University of North Carolina. She served as a Cancer Prevention Fellow at the National Cancer Institute and as a teaching attending at Washington Hospital Center before joining the GW Medical Faculty Associates in 2015. Dr. Bluhm's clinical work is in general internal medicine. Scholarly interests include epidemiology, cancer survivor care, and rural-urban health disparities. Dr Bluhm is board-certified in Internal Medicine and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. She is listed as a “Top Doctor” in the Washingtonian Magazine and Washington Consumer's Checkbook.

Jacinta Elder-Arrington

Jacinta D. Elder-Arrington, MD

Bio coming soon.

Book an Appointment with Jacinta D. Elder-Arrington, MD

Brynn Farlow

Brynn M. Farlow, CRNP

Bio coming soon.

Book an Appointment with Brynn M. Farlow, CRNP

Kal Gopalswamy

Kal Gopalswamy, MD

Bio coming soon.

Book an Appointment with Kal Gopalswamy, MD

Keanan McGonigle

Keanan McGonigle, MD

Bio coming soon.

Book an Appointment with Keanan McGonigle, MD

Kirsten Scharer

Kirsten Scharer, FNP-BC

Bio coming soon.

Book an Appointment with Kirsten Scharer, FNP-BC

Doctor avatar

Angela Swann, PA

Bio coming soon.

Book an Appointment with Angela Swann, PA

 

Primary Care in Your Neighborhood

At the GW Medical Faculty Associates, our highly skilled medical team is passionate about taking care of the health and well-being of our patients in the community. We look forward to being an active part of your community – ensuring that we are working to improve the lives of the patients we serve.

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The Right Care for You and Your Family

 

Preventive Services

Health Care Screenings

Care for Common Illness / Injury

Lab Services

 

Vaccines

Chronic Care

Procedures

Prescription Medications

 

 

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Our Other Locations

 McPherson Square - Primary Care with Immediate Care

1101 15th St NW | Washington, DC 20005
  1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

 Cleveland Park - Primary Care with Immediate Care

2902 Porter Street, NW | Washington, DC 20008
  1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

 Rhode Island Ave - Primary Care with Immediate Care

2350 Washington Place, NE, Suite 110N | Washington, DC 20018
  1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

 Foggy Bottom South Pavilion - Primary Care

22nd & I Street, NW, 3rd & 4th Floor | Washington, DC 20037
  1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment

 West End: 2300 M Street - Primary Care

2300 M Street, NW, Suite 910 | Washington, DC 20037
  1-833-MYGWDOC (1-833-694-9362) to book an appointment