Wellness Providers

Explore the diverse expertise, dedication, and compassion that each of our healthcare providers brings to Wellness Homes of Chicago. From primary care professionals to behavioral health specialists, our team is committed to delivering inclusive, high-quality care that empowers every individual to live a healthier, more fulfilling life.

Dr. Vincent Vargas

Dr. Vincent Vargas is a board-certified medical practitioner with a 15-year clinical experience in inpatient and outpatient care. He completed his medical school at St. Luke’s College of Medicine (2005) and his residency in Family Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh (2011). He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Medicine (2012) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians (2020).

He is a committed educator, currently serving as a preceptor for the Department of Family Medicine Residency Programs of St. Joseph’s Hospital, Humboldt Park Health, and Advocate Lutheran General Hospital here in Chicago. He is also a preceptor at Duquesne’s School of Nursing, the LECOM School of Medicine, and Carlow University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Dr. Vargas is an active competitor in volleyball and can also be found tearing up a karaoke stage from time to time. He is in solidarity with the LGBTQ community, serving as one of the captains of his Stonewall League Kickball team, AAC, and CMSA Volleyball leagues. On Mondays, he painstakingly cooks, and if that fails, he expeditiously orders takeout. His munchkin cats, Piolo and Sam, fill his home with lots of positive energy and joy.

Joseph Stokes, NP.

Joseph Stokes is an Adult and Geriatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. He received his undergraduate from the University of South Carolina Upstate and went on to South University for his Masters in Nursing. He is board-certified as a nurse practitioner by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. He has also completed postgraduate studies at Duke University, specializing in the treatment and prevention of HIV. He is credentialed as an HIV specialist through the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

Joseph joined the Wellness Homes of Chicago in 2021 and has been practicing as a Nurse Practitioner since 2017.

Joseph is dedicated to providing compassionate and quality health care to LGBTQ+ clients. He is enthusiastic about helping end the HIV epidemic with a special interest in prevention utilizing Treatment as Prevention/Undetectable=Untransmittable, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis), and PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis). He is committed to helping his patients achieve their highest level of health & wellness.

JoAnn Reyes

JoAnn is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who recently joined our Wellness Homes of Chicago team. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Purdue University and her Master of Science in Nursing from Resurrection University. Her career involved fulfilling years in Emergency Medicine, Urgent Care, and Outpatient Care, such as Same Day Surgery, Gastroenterology, Pediatrics, Hospice, and Palliative Care.

During the pandemic, she worked as a COVID hotline public health nurse for the Illinois Department of Public Health. She is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society. She is credentialed by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Board.

As a provider, JoAnn strives to provide exceptional and individualized care to her clients, as she believes that every client is unique. JoAnn’s healthcare philosophy is centered on empathy, respect, trust, open communication, inclusivity, and collaboration. She believes in supporting and partnering with her clients to reach an optimal level of health and wellness, focusing on holistic care where individuals are empowered to be active participants in their overall health.

JoAnn enjoys hanging out with her family, friends, and three dogs during her free time. She loves to travel and learn about different cultures.

Andra Munteanu, MD

Dr. Munteanu’s philosophy of care is that patients and physicians work as a team, aiming to achieve the best medical outcome for the patient. She focuses on providing information and making sure patients understand their medical conditions and the importance of their role in managing their own health.

She also has a special interest in exploring the mind-body relationship and its effect on overall wellness and well-being. Dr. Munteanu graduated from Rush Medical College of Rush University(1996) and also completed her residency there (1999). She is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and has held academic appointments at Rush, Northwestern, and Michael Reese Hospitals.

Originally from Bucharest, Dr. Munteanu cares for Chicago’s diverse community and, in addition to English, is fluent in Romanian.

Stephanie Salmaca NP

Stephanie is a family nurse practitioner who has been involved in providing patient care since 2010. She worked as a nursing assistant and a registered nurse before receiving her master’s degree in 2018 to practice as a nurse practitioner. She has been working with the Wellness Home since March 2023.

Stephanie has a strong passion for eliminating barriers to care and making sure that each patient has a treatment plan individualized to their unique needs. She is committed to making sure that every patient feels confident and heard when deciding on a plan of care for their medical concerns.

She has extensive experience in working with the LGBTQ+ community and providing primary care, gynecology services, and gender-affirming hormone therapy to her patients. Outside of the office, Stephanie enjoys trying new foods, playing video games, and spending time with her spouse and two children.

Dr. Michael Chen, Do

Dr. Chen earned his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine in New Mexico and completed his Family Medicine Residency at Ascension Saint Joseph Hospital in Chicago. He holds an Illinois State Medical Licensure and is certified in ACLS, BLS, and PALS. Fluent in both English and Mandarin, he is able to connect with a diverse range of patients.

Dr. Chen has a wide range of clinical interests, including LGBTQ+ health, HIV care, and men’s health. He is proficient in several procedural skills, such as joint injections, Nexplanon placement and removal, and various dermatological procedures. Throughout his career, Dr. Chen has been actively involved in community health initiatives and the academic committee. He has contributed to efforts to increase childhood vaccination rates and has volunteered at community health centers, providing care to uninsured and underserved patients. In his spare time, Dr. Chen likes to play volleyball, go to the gym, and enjoy TV shows.