Atracare - Urgent Care, & Pediatrics

Catherine DeLuca, MD

Welcome to Primary Care at Aspira Health! I love the positive energy here at Aspira! I can't wait for our patients to come in and see for themselves. I am so proud to be joining an innovative, talented team of individuals whose vision and mission is to bring unequaled medical care to our citizens here in Sussex County. Not only is our gorgeous brand-new medical facility modern and fresh, so is our mindset. We aspire to deliver care that is top-quality and comprehensive, and we are dedicated to making it accessible, convenient and easy to navigate for your whole family. I came to Lewes to practice family medicine in 2006 after visiting my parents who had retired here and becoming smitten with the region and the community. My journey prior included an undergraduate engineering degree and medical training at the University of Pennsylvania (now the Perelman) School of Medicine and Thomas Jefferson University Family Medicine residency program, the combination to which I attribute my problem-solving and diagnostic skills. I then spent over 6 years in rural Iowa during which, out of necessity, I acquired a wide range of general medicine skills and practical knowledge. My time there included many hours as the only physician present in the ER or ICU setting. I am so fortunate to have had the training and experience to be your advocate in health. I regard my relationship with a patient as a partnership that promotes wellness and mitigates risk factors for disease. Of course I don't like to find ailments such as heart and lung disease and cancer; however, I'm particularly passionate about finding these conditions early so that my patients will have the best possible outcomes. I have years of experience in managing hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol and other adult medicine challenges. I hope you share my passion for staying well and my excitement about Aspira...l'll see you there!!

Education: Residency - Thomas Jefferson University - Family Medicine , Medical School - University of Pennsylvania , Undergraduate - University of VIrginia

Certifications: Board Certified - Family Medicine

Services: Internal Medicine

Lindsay D. Albanese, MD

Dr. Albanese received her undergraduate degree from Duke University and her medical training at the University of Maryland Medical Center. During her training, she has rotated through Shock Trauma Medical Center, University of Pennsylvania, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania (HUP), Penn Presbyterian Trauma Center, and Pennsylvania Hospital. For the past three years, she has been providing Emergency Medical Care for the residents of Sussex County, DE at Beebe Medical. Recognizing the need for increased out-patient healthcare services in Lewes, her plan is to bring a high level of expertise into the community to serve lower acuity patients and reduce healthcare costs for patients.

Education: Residency - University of Pennsylvania - Emergency Medicine , Medical School - University of Maryland, Baltimore , Undergraduate - Duke University

Certifications: Board Certified - Emergency Medicine

Services: Emergency Medicine , Walk-In Care

Maria Childers, MD

Welcome to Pediatrics at Aspira Health! As Medical Director of Pediatrics I am thrilled to welcome you and your children to our beautiful, new practice. Decades of experience have given me the expertise and knowledge to safely and precisely care for your child. I was born in Zaragoza, Spain and came to the US at the age of seven where I grew up in a multi-cultural, bilingual, medical home (my mom a nurse and my dad an Air Force surgeon). As the oldest of five children I gravitated toward caring for youngsters from an early age. Becoming a pediatrician was a no-brainer given my passion for medicine and my love of children. I completed my residency in Manhattan at the unparalleled Cornell New York Presbyterian Hospital and embarked on an academic career at DuPont Children’s hospital (Thomas Jefferson Medical School) where I trained medical students and residents. I was subsequently on faculty at St Vincent’s Hospital in Erie, Pennsylvania and ultimately moved to the private sector where I honed my expertise as a general practitioner. I fell in love with the Delaware coast on a family visit and ultimately relocated to Lewes in 2011. After years of practicing in the Cape region, I collaborated with Aspira Health to help create a state-of-the-art pediatric center with the goal of bringing the most professional, compassionate and up-to-date medical care to our local children. As a part of our unique medical practice, our patients will enjoy the convenience of a “one-stop shop” where we will handle everything from routine in-house lab tests and x-ray imaging, to the dispensing of frequently used medications and antibiotics. Our aim is to streamline your child’s care and eliminate the unnecessary burden of running to a distant radiology department, lab or even pharmacy for those uncomplicated medical conditions or ailments. It is my great honor to continue to serve the wonderful families of Sussex County. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t learn something new about your families and the beautiful community in which we are so fortunate to live. I feel that patients should have a central medical home and firmly believe all children and their parents should have a clear understanding of their health. I also believe that there is no greater comfort than knowing you have someone advocating on your behalf—my #1 priority. Whether your child is sick or needs a well checkup, my goal as director of pediatrics at Aspira Health is to create a welcoming and efficient environment that will make your child’s visit to the doctor a more pleasant and comfortable experience. I vow to provide the same high-quality and compassionate care that my patients have come to expect from me. I consider myself incredibly fortunate to love my career in pediatrics and look forward to embarking on this new and exciting journey with you!

Education: Residency - New York Presbyterian Hospital / Weill Cornell, New York, New York , Medical School - University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (UMDNJ) / Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ , Undergraduate - Penn State University

Certifications: Board Certified - Pediatrics

Services: Pediatric Medicine

William P Albanese III, PHarmD, MBA, BCPS

Dr. William P Albanese III is a Board-Certified Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS) who has a wide-breath of experience and is passionate about taking patients off medications they don't need. Schedule an appointment to discuss ways of making a healthier you, today!

Education: Masters of Business Administration - University of Delaware, Learner College of Business & Economics , Pharmacy School - University of Maryland, Baltimore , Undergraduate - University of Delaware

Certifications: Board Certified - Pharmacotherapy Specialist (BCPS)

Services: Emergency Medicine Pharmacy

Christie Whitlock, FNP-C

As a child, I lived in upstate New York and had always been an avid equestrian. I competed in horse shows up and down the eastern seaboard, and having a love for animals, I always wanted to become a veterinarian. However, in 2009, I was involved in a horse accident which sparked my interest in the medical field. I wanted to know and learn more about medicine so I gained employment as a patient care tech in the ICU. The ICU setting had a profound effect on me and my career choices. It was there in the ICU that I developed and grew my love for urgent and critical care. This love for critical care drove me to complete my registered nursing degree at Delaware Technical Community College (2012) and to further educate myself with a BSN from Wilmington University (2015) where I graduated with honors. Utilizing my degrees, I sought extensive training in critical care, cardiac, and surgical care at both Christiana and Beebe health systems. I spent time working as the critical care educator at Beebe Hospital, and my passion for education made me return to Wilmington University in 2016 to complete my MSN. My rotations for my MSN included Family Practice, Walk-in Care, Internal Medicine, Pediatrics & Gastroenterology. Now I am able to put my passion to work as a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP). When I'm not in the clinic, I enjoy time with my husband and two children in Lewes, DE. We love spending time by the water and being outside in all the beautiful areas that the Cape Region has to offer.

Education: Bachelors of Science in Nursing (BSN) - Wilmington University , Masters of Science in Nursing (MSN) - Wilmington University

Certifications: CCRN , PCCN , NIH Stroke Certified

Services: Urgent Care Walk-In Care

Katherine P. Lewis, MD

I grew up in lower Delaware and was influenced by the local culture, abundant and varied natural settings as well as colorful local personalities found throughout the community. Much of this exposure was through time spent in and around my father and grandfather’s solo medical practices. I saw firsthand how profoundly rewarding the physician-patient relationship can be when the art of medicine is fully embraced. House calls and conversations with elderly patients inevitably led to interesting anecdotes and stories of times past. It is my great honor and pleasure to return to the Eastern Shore and I look forward to serving the needs of our pediatric patients. Special interests include adolescent medicine, nutrition and fitness, as well as special needs children. Spare time is spent with my children, family and friends, exploring and enjoying the outdoors as much as possible, skiing, gardening, working out at the gym, and reading. Although I don’t currently have one, I am passionate about all things dogs related too! I feel strongly that teaching children from an early age to have empathy for all things living leads to a kind and caring adult who ultimately contributes to our society in a meaningful way.

Education: Residency - Georgetown University Hospital - Pediatrics , Medical School - University of Maryland, Baltimore , Undergraduate - University of Maryland

Certifications: Board Certified - Pediatrics