MEET OUR TEAM
Board-certified physicians and clinical specialists in Lake Forest, IL — practicing medicine the way it should be practiced.
PHYSICIAN-LED. DATA-DRIVEN. BUILT AROUND YOU.
Every patient at The Forest Lounge works directly with a board-certified physician — not a protocol, a portal, or a call center. Our team combines deep clinical expertise with a proactive, root-cause approach that goes well beyond the standard of care. We practice Medicine 3.0: data-driven, prevention-first, and built around you.
Dr. Tarak Chokshi, MD
Board-Certified Internal Medicine Physician
Dr. Chokshi brings 20+ years of experience across major academic medical centers, community hospitals, and private practice. At The Forest Lounge he leads a functional primary care model that combines the rigor of internal medicine with hormone optimization, advanced diagnostics, and longevity-focused prevention — helping patients move beyond managing symptoms into lasting energy, strength, and vitality.
Credentials
• M.D. — Chicago Medical School
• B.S. Cell Biology — University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Residency: Internal Medicine & Pediatrics — University of Illinois Medical Center
• Board-Certified: American Board of Internal Medicine
• Focus: Hormone optimization, functional primary care, medical weight loss, peptide therapy
Outside the clinic: Avid golfer, tennis player, and paddle tennis enthusiast.
Dr. Richard Scuderi, MD
Internal Medicine Physician
After a decade in acute and hospital-based internal medicine, Dr. Scuderi saw firsthand how reactive medicine leaves patients managing illness rather than preventing it. At The Forest Lounge he practices differently — extended visits, comprehensive lab evaluation, and a direct communication style that prioritizes finding what’s actually driving symptoms, not just treating what shows up on a standard panel.
Credentials
• M.D. — Indiana University School of Medicine
• B.S. Biology & B.A. Germanic Studies — Indiana University Bloomington
• Residency: Internal Medicine — Ascension St. Vincent, Indianapolis
• Focus: Direct Primary Care, hormone therapy, metabolic health, longevity protocols
Outside the clinic: Ultralight backpacker, history reader, family man.
JOSH BLACK, FMC
SSRP Certified Peptide Specialist | Functional Medicine & Longevity Coach
Josh leads peptide therapy at The Forest Lounge — one of a small number of SSRP-certified peptide specialists in the Chicago area. He works directly alongside our physicians in a true team model: protocols are designed collaboratively, reviewed clinically, and adjusted based on labs and patient response. His own experience rebuilding his health through functional medicine and targeted peptide therapy — after years of symptoms dismissed as ‘normal’ — shapes everything about how he works with patients. Host of The Becoming Young Podcast.
Credentials
• SSRP Certified Peptide Specialist — one of a small number in the Chicago area
• NASM Sports Performance Nutrition Certified
• ISSA Certified Health Coach
• Member, American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M)
• Focus: Peptide protocol design, hormone-peptide optimization, longevity, body composition
Outside the clinic: Paddle, kids, dogs, weights!
Shaily Patel, NP
Family Nurse Practitioner | FNP-C, MSN, APRN
Shaily brings 7+ years of clinical experience across pharmacy, rehabilitation, and gastroenterology to her work at The Forest Lounge. Her broad foundation gives her a layered view of how body systems interact — and how to address the imbalances conventional care often misses. She focuses on hormone optimization, functional primary care, medical weight loss, and peptide therapy, and is known for making every patient feel genuinely heard. Fluent in English, Gujarati, and Hindi.
Credentials
• MSN, Family Nurse Practitioner — Chamberlain University
• Board-Certified FNP-C (Family Nurse Practitioner–Certified)
• Focus: Hormone optimization, functional primary care, medical weight loss, peptide therapy
• Languages: English, Gujarati, Hindi
Kristin Bissing, NP
Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner | DNP, RN, APRN, AGPCNP-BC
Kristin’s clinical career spans cardiac and vascular critical care at Rush University and Northwestern Memorial Hospital, stroke coordination at Northshore University Health System, and advanced practice in adult and geriatric primary care. She holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice from Rush University. At The Forest Lounge she applies that depth of experience to hormone replacement therapy, IV therapy, medical weight loss, and preventive medicine — bringing a level of clinical rigor that most practices simply don’t have.
Credentials
• Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) — Rush University
• B.S. Nursing — St. Louis University
• Board-Certified AGPCNP-BC — Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner
• ACLS Certified | Former Stroke Coordinator, Northshore University Health System
• Focus: Hormone therapy, IV therapy, medical weight loss, preventive medicine
Stephanie Mansfield, MA
Medical Assistant | CPT · PCT · CPHT
Stephanie brings a rare combination of skills to the clinical team — certified across phlebotomy, IV therapy, and pharmacy. Her background as a Certified Pharmacy Technician at ProHealth Drugs, combined with hands-on experience in hormone therapy and IV vitamin programs, makes her one of the most versatile members of the practice. Known for making even the most nervous patients feel comfortable from the moment they walk in.
Credentials
• Certified Phlebotomy Technician (CPT)
• Certified Intravenous Technician (PCT)
• Certified Pharmacy Technician (CPHT)
• Focus: Hormone therapy support, IV administration, phlebotomy, patient experience
Ready to meet the team?
Book a consultation at our Lake Forest clinic. Your first visit is a comprehensive conversation with one of our physicians — no rushing, no shortcuts, no one-size-fits-all protocol. Just real medicine, practiced the way it should be.