Midwest Regional Elections: Voting Now Open

Midwest Regional Election: Cast Your Vote for Leadership Positions

Thank you for participating in the Midwest Regional election process. We invite you to cast your vote for the positions of President, Secretary-Treasurer, and DEI Chair. Review the slate of candidates below, and then cast your vote using the link provided.

Deadline to Vote: Friday, November 29th. Voting is reserved for SGIM members only.

President

Richard Cartabuke, BA, MA, MD
Dr. Richard H. Cartabuke is an Assistant Professor and practicing internist with expertise in primary care, hospital-based medicine, and executive health at Cleveland Clinic. He earned a BA in History, BS in Biology, and MA in History from Case Western Reserve University, followed by his medical degree from SUNY Upstate Medical University. Dr. Cartabuke completed his residency and an advanced fellowship in medical education at Cleveland Clinic, where he also served as Chief Resident.

Dr. Cartabuke is actively involved in SGIM, having served as Midwest region Secretary/Treasurer from 2018-2020 and as Co-Chair of the Workshop Review Committee. Currently, he is the inpatient team lead for his hybridized primary care practice and serves as medical director for HealthNetwork Foundation and on the regional board for Make-A-Wish Foundation.

Personal Statement:
The Society for General Internal Medicine (SGIM) has served as my academic and networking foundation since the inception of my career. I have been involved at numerous levels in the Midwest region, from my participation as the Co-Chair of the Workshop Review Committee to a more formal role as the Secretary/Treasurer from 2018-2020. At every level, the relationships that I have developed and maintained have not only furthered my own growth but have helped shape the mission of the organization as we strive to educate others, improve care, and develop future generations of internists. I hope to serve as President-Elect to continue these efforts and build upon the strong foundation that helped shape my own professional identity.

Secretary-Treasurer

Erica Swanson, MD
Dr. Erica Swanson is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Indiana University and a general internist whose practice focuses on primary care and hospital-based medicine at the VA in Indianapolis. She holds a BA in Chemistry and an MD from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Dr. Swanson completed her residency at Indiana University, where she served as ambulatory chief resident.

Dr. Swanson is passionate about medical education and advocacy, serving as a preceptor and facilitator in clinical practice foundations and as a director of patient care competencies. She has held leadership roles within the Indiana State Medical Association and the American College of Physicians.

Personal Statement:
I would be honored to serve as the SGIM Midwest Secretary/Treasurer-Elect. At my first SGIM meeting two years ago, I truly felt at home with “my people.” I have left each meeting inspired. I appreciate the vital role SGIM plays in advocating for internal medicine, supporting research, and fostering collaboration amongst a diverse background of professionals. I hope to become more involved by taking on this role and will bring the organizational and leadership skills that I gained from various roles in the past, including ambulatory chief resident and leadership roles through ISMA and ACP.

DEI Chair

Jamila Asif, MD
Dr. Jamila Asif is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine at The Ohio State University, where she leads quality improvement initiatives and mentors diverse trainees. She holds an MD from Shifa College of Medicine in Islamabad and completed her residency at Beaumont Hospital in Dearborn, Michigan, where she was Academic Chief Resident. Dr. Asif currently serves as Lead Physician at Hilltop Free Clinic in Columbus, Ohio.

Dr. Asif’s research and advocacy work focus on optimizing care strategies in primary care and addressing healthcare equity. She has published on COVID-19-related thromboembolic events and quality improvement in opioid safety.

Personal Statement:
Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) have been guiding principles throughout my journey in medicine. Growing up in a minority community, I experienced firsthand the challenges of navigating healthcare spaces that often lack representation. As a first-generation college graduate and physician, I have had the opportunity to work closely with diverse communities, mentoring residents and medical students from various backgrounds at Ohio State University and the Hilltop Free Clinic. Serving as the DEI Chair-Elect for SGIM Midwest would provide a platform to further this essential work and offer an invaluable opportunity to collaborate with leaders, peers, and trainees across all levels.

Richa Sood, MD
Dr. Richa Sood is an Associate Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, specializing in midlife women’s health and resilience training. She completed a fellowship in Women’s Health and earned a Master’s in Clinical and Translational Science at Mayo Clinic, with board certification in internal medicine and additional Ob-Gyn training from India.

Dr. Sood has published extensively on women’s health and resilience and leads the educational initiatives for the Menopause and Women’s Sexual Health Clinic at Mayo Clinic.

Personal Statement:
As a women’s health expert and resilience trainer, and a first-generation immigrant, I am privy to the challenges faced by diverse and minority communities. Every day I help patients struggling with self-doubt, low self-worth, and gender-based bias. I find great meaning in bringing my personal experience and clinical knowledge to help patients and community members better advocate for themselves. My clinical, research, and community work has provided me with the skills and knowledge to help women get past their limitations related to their diverse backgrounds. Moving forward, it will be a privilege to leverage my expertise to serve a larger, diverse community of individuals.

Asantewaa Ture, MD
Dr. Asantewaa Ture is a Chief Resident in Internal Medicine at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She completed her MD at Rush University and serves as the VA and Health Equity & Advocacy Chief Resident. Dr. Ture has led DEI and health equity initiatives such as health equity noon conferences and developing a “Health Equity & Advocacy” newsletter.

Her research includes “The WHOLE Patient Project,” focused on incorporating social history into case presentations to reduce implicit bias. She has presented her work at national meetings, including the SGIM Annual Meeting.

Personal Statement:
My name is Asantewaa Ture, and I am writing to express my interest in the Chair-Elect for DEI for SGIM Regional Leadership. I am a recent graduate of Northwestern University’s Internal Medicine Residency Program, and I was one of the Internal Medicine chief residents (June 2023 – June 2024) – specifically, I was the VA and Health Equity/Advocacy chief resident. I am currently the co-lead for the Health Equity & Advocacy curriculum for Northwestern medical students, and I am Internal Medicine core faculty with a focus on community engagement. I have led projects/initiatives related to health equity, advocacy, diversity/inclusion & curriculum development, and I am hopeful that my experiences align with the DEI position.