Meet the Team of Creighton University East Valley Arizona Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program

Program Director

Erum Azhar, MD, MS PHS, MHQS, CPPS, FACOG

Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Medical School:  Aga khan University Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan

Residency: Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York

Fellowship: Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety Fellowship-Institute of Healthcare Improvement (IHI)

Other Degrees:

• Master in Health care Quality and Patient Safety (MHQS)- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
• Master of Science in Public Health Sciences (MS PHS)- Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA
• Certified Professional In-Patient Safety (CPPS)

Board Certifications: Certified-American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Awards and Honors: 

• Leadership Award 2023-Harvard Medical School- Master in Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety
• Excellence in Research Mentorship Award 2023
• Excellence in Research Mentorship Award 2022
• Excellence in Research Mentorship Award 2021
• Excellence in Research Mentorship Award 2020
• Excellence in Research Mentorship Award 2019
• Excellence in Research Mentorship Award 2018
• Research Blue Ribbon Award PAFP 2022
• New Investigator Research Award 2020
• Research Blue Ribbon Award PAFP 2019 
• Research Award in the Research Study Design PAFP 2021
• Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine Karl H. Beyer Jr., M.D., Ph.D. Scholarship Award: Academic excellence and leadership 2017

Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=azhar+erum

Professional Affiliations: 

• American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology -ACOG
• Fellow Institute of Healthcare Improvement-IHI
• Assistant Professor Health Sciences Associated Faculty
• Clinician Educator, Tenure Track, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix.
• Editorial Board member American Journal of Medical Quality-AJMQ

Generalist and Sub-Specialist Faculty

Jane Ahn, DO

Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Medical School: Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, Arizona

Residency: Akron General Medical Center, Akron, OH

Board Certifications: Certified-American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Laila Younes, MD

Specialty: Family Medicine - Obstetrics

Medical School: All Saints University of Medicine, Dominica

Residency: AMITA Health Saints Mary & Elizabeth Medical Center, Chicago, IL

Board Certifications: Certified - American Board of Family Medicine

Fellowship: UPMC Magee Women’s Hospital, Pittsburgh, PA

Charles Boag III, DO, FACOG
Director Obstetrics

Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Medical School: Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, Arizona

Residency: University of Toledo, Ohio

Board Certifications: Certified-American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Affiliations: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology 

Andrew C. Villa Jr. MD, MBA, FACOG, FACS, FICS
Director Gynecology

Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Medical School: University of South Florida, College of Medicine Tampa, FL

Residency: University of South Florida, College of Medicine, Tampa, FL

Other Degrees: MBA

Board Certifications: Certified-American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Affiliations: 

• American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology – Diplomate
• American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology – Fellow, 1988-Present
• American College of Surgeons – Fellow, 1993-Present
• International College of Surgeons – Fellow, 1993-Present
• Arizona Medical Association, 1991-Present
• Maricopa County Medical Society
• Society of Laparoscopic Surgeons, 1995-Present
• East Valley Obstetrics and Gynecology Society
• American College of Physician Executives
• American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine

Erica Kreller, MD

Specialty: Naprotechnology/Gynecology-Minimally Invasive/Nature Family Planning

Medical School: Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California

Residency: Naval Medical Center, San Diego

Fellowship: Naprotechnology

Board Certifications: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Affiliations: Society of Procreative Surgeons Certification Chair and Vice President elect Jan 2024

Sub-Specialist Directors

Curtis Cook, MD, FACOG

Specialty: Maternal Fetal Medicine

Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana

Residency: Butterworth Hospital/Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, Michigan

Fellowship: University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky

Board Certifications: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Awards and Honors:

• Medical Director, East Valley-Maternal Fetal Medicine Dignity Health Medical Group
• American College Obstetrics/Gynecology, District VIII Mentor Award
• 2016
  • Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center Resident Award for Outstanding Teaching
• 2009-10
  • Leo J. Kinney Teacher of the Year Award
  • Grand Rapids Medical Education And Research Center
• 2006-07
  • Best Doctors in America
• 2001, 2003, 2007, 2011-2015
  • State of Michigan Community Service Award
• 2000
  • CREOG National Faculty Award for Excellence in Resident Education 1996, 1997, 1999

Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=curtis+cook

Ali Azadi, MD, MSc, MBA, FACOG, FPMRS

Specialty: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reproductive Surgery (Urogynecology)

Medical School: Shaheed Beheshti Medical University

Residency: Louisiana State University, New Orleans and University of Tennessee, Memphis

Fellowship: University of Louisville

Other Degrees: MSc, MBA Board

Awards and Honors:

• Top Doc Phoenix Magazine – 2023
• ACOG Mentor of the Year Award District VIII – 2019
• Best Surgeon: Louisville Magazine – 2018
• Surgeon of Excellence in Robotic Surgery (SOERS) – 2016 to 2018
• Surgeon of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery (COMIG) – 2015 to 2018
• Best Surgeon: Louisville Magazine – 2014
• University of Louisville APGO Excellence in Teaching Award – June 2011
• University of Tennessee Best Resident Teaching Award – June 2008
• University of Tennessee Resident Pelvic Reconstructive Surgery Award – June 2008

Professional Affiliations:

• American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG)
• American Urogynecology Society (AUGS)
• International Continence Society (ICS)
• International Urogynecology society (IUGA)
• American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL)

Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Azadi+A&cauthor_id=37944141

Polina Sawyer, MD, FACOG
Director Simulation-Gynecology

Specialty: Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery ((Urogynecology)

Medical School: State University of New York Downstate Medical Center Brooklyn, NY

Residency: Emory University, Atlanta GA

Fellowship:

• FPMRS Fellowship-University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas TX
• Advanced Pelvic Surgery-Emory University, Atlanta GA

Board Certifications: Certified- American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Affiliations: 

• American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• American urogynecology Society
• American Medical Association
• American Medical student association
• Society of vascular surgery
• Fellow’s Pelvic Research Network
• Society of Gynecologic Surgery (SGS)- Pelvic Anatomy Digital Workgroup

Nicole O. Afaupe, MD, FACOG
Director of MIGS

Specialty: Minimally Invasive Gynecology

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

Residency: University of Massachusetts Medical School-Baystate Campus, Springfield, MA

Fellowship: Creighton University School of Medicine Arizona. St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona

Board Certifications: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Affiliations:

• American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology
• American Association of Gynecologic Laparoscopists (AAGL)

Mia Lynne Van Eken, DO

Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Pennsylvania

Residency:

• Crozier Chester Medical Center rotating internship
• UMDNJ-Cooper University Medical Center Residency
  
  Other Degrees: MBA
  
  Board Certifications: Certified- American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology
  

Professional Affiliations: 

• American board of Obstetrics and Gynecology 
• Certification in Minimally Invasive Surgery 

Mario Javier Pineda, MD, PhD

Specialty: Gynecology Oncology

Medical School: University of Washington

Residency: Los Angeles County & University of Southern California Medical Center

Fellowship: Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine

Board Certifications: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=mario+pineda

Danielle Allen-Herried, DO, MBA

Specialty: Obstetrics and Gynecology

Medical School: LMU-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine (LMU-DCOM), Harrogate, Tennessee

Residency: SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Other Degrees: MBA

Board Certifications: Board Eligible

Awards and Honors: Chief resident 2021-2022, Sun Life Health Chair October 2024-present

Professional Affiliations: American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, AOA, AOMA

Gabrielle Goodrick, MD

Specialty: Family Medicine

Medical School: University of Vermont College of Medicine

Residency: Phoenix Baptist Hospital (now Abrazo Central), Phoenix, Arizona 

Professional Affiliations: NAF, CAN

Millie Behera, MD, FACOG, FRCSC

Specialty: Reproductive Endocrinology

Medical School: University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada

Residency: University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada

Fellowship: Duke University Medical Center

Board Certifications: American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology

Professional Affiliations:

• East Valley Fellow, elected – Pacific Coast Obstetrical and Gynecological Society
• Bloom Reproductive Institute – Medical Director Scottsdale, Arizona

Research and EQuIPS

Abdul Waheed, MD, MS, CPE, FAAFP
Director Research and EQuIPS

Specialty: Family & Community Medicine – Academic Chairman, Department of Family Medicine, Dignity Health Medical Group, AZ

Medical School: Aga Khan University College of Medicine

Residency: Penn State University/Good Samaritan Hospital Family & Community Medicine Residency Program

Fellowship:

• Academic Leadership Fellowship from National Institute of Program Director Development (NIPDD) in 2020
• WellSpan Health Physician/APP Leadership Academy in 2022
• Fellowship in Quality Improvement and Patient Safety from Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) in 2023

Board Certifications: American Board of Family Medicine (ABFM)

Awards and Honors:

• Program Director Achievement Award from the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors (AFMRD) in 2021 and 2024.
• Exemplary Teaching Award at the State Level 2020 by the Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians (PAFP).
• Elected President and Member Executive Council of the AKUAANA, an association with more than 2000 physician members in North America
• Listed in Best Doctors America Honor board since 2012
• Listed in Dean's Honor Board at Penn State University College of Medicine for Patient Experience Scores above 99th Percentile nationally 2017
• Hershey Hero Award 2016, patient nominated for patient centered care
• Exceptional Teacher & Professional Role Model in Family & Community Medicine by 3rd year Family Medicine Clerkship Students at Penn State University College of Medicine from 2012 through 2018, every year consecutively
• Faculty Teacher of the Year by Family Medicine Residents at Penn State University Hershey Medical Center Family & Community Medicine Residency Program in 2015 and 2017
• Research Mentee projects won awards at Pennsylvania Academy of Family Physicians Annual Research Day every year from 2019 through 2023
• Research Mentee projects won awards at WellSpan Health Annual Discovery Day every year from 2018 through 2023 Professional

Affiliations:

• Professor, Tenured Track, Family & Community Medicine, Creighton University School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ.
• Fellow Institute of Healthcare Improvement-IHI
• North American Primary Care Research Group (NAPCRG)
• Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM)

Publications: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Waheed+A&cauthor_id=38327064