Staff

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Physicians

Bassam Afanah, MD, FAAP
Board Certified Pediatrics
Pediatric and Adult Medicine
Bassam Afaneh earned his Medical Doctor degree from the University of Cairo in 1975. After practicing many years in his home country of Jordan, he went to Ireland in 1985 to study pediatrics. He came to the United States in 1990 to complete his residency in Pediatrics at Michigan State University-Hurley Medical Center in 1992, where he was appointed instructor in the Pediatric Department. In 1994, he joined a pediatric practice in Nablus-West Bank, Jordan, but then returned to the USA to join a private practice in Michigan. Dr. Afaneh joined the Medical Staff of Deckerville Community Hospital in 2001.

At Deckerville Healthcare Services, Dr. Afaneh practices pediatrics, treating patients from newborn through 18 years of age and upward – for all types of medical needs. Dr. Afaneh specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of asthma and otitis media (middle ear infection), including the prevention of hearing loss that is associated with both these conditions.

Pany DeCossard, MD
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Board Certified Geriatrics
Dr. DeCossard joined the Deckerville Community Hospital staff in 2004, after receiving his Geriatric Medicine Fellowship from Loyola University Health Systems / Hines VA Hospital in Illinois. He lived for several years in the "Windy City" of Chicago, and then moved here to our rural community, where he has made his home with his wife Michelle (who is also a physician) and his two young daughters, Regine and Jasmine. Dr. DeCossard has a special interest in memory problems caused by Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia. Over the course of his career, Dr. DeCossard has worked as a physician in several hospitals, focusing his philosophy on what he terms a "reverence for life", and using this basic principle to guide his medical practice.

Levi Guerrero, MD
Chief of Medical Staff
Dr. Guerrero, MD, attained his Bachelor of Science at Xavier University, Philippines and Doctor of Medicine at the University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines in 1970, then worked as a staff physician at Bukidnon Hospital until 1975.

Dr. Guerrero and his wife Ophelia (Ofie) came to the United States in 1975. Dr. Guerrero did his first year pathology residency at St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Rapids, completed his pathology residency at Detroit Macomb Hospital Association, and then worked in nuclear medicine at William Beaumont Hospital. He and his family moved to Deckerville in 1982, and Dr. Guerrero has been an active member of the Medical Staff of Deckerville Community Hospital since then. Dr. Guerrero and Ofie have three children- Manual "Manny", Michael and Trisha.

Judith Kaszyca, MSN, RN, NP
Nurse Care Practitioner
"Judi", who received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Mercy College of Detroit in 1989, is a long-standing employee of Deckerville Community Hospital. She has served as both Director of Nursing and Director of Patient Clinical Services. In 1997, she attained certification as an Adult Nurse Practitioner and became an Allied Health Professional on the Medical Staff of DCH. Judi worked full time in Dr. Guerrero’s general practice office until 2008, when she limited her role at the office to "Women’s Wellness" for Dr. Guererro’s patients. Judi has also worked in our Lexington Clinic, our Walk in Clinic, and Deckerville Healthcare Services. A member of the Michigan Nurses Association, American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, and Sigma Theta Tau (Honor Society), Judi and her husband John live near Croswell. Judi, who has a special interest in oncology, states that her mission statement is to "provide maximum optimal care to all patients."

Dennis Smallwood, D.O.
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Dennis A. Smallwood, D.O. is a native of Deckerville (he graduated from Deckerville High School) and has worked in the thumb area of Michigan for many years. After receiving his degree of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery from Kirksville College, he went on to practice family medicine for 17 years. He was Medical Director for a four-county area of the "Thumb", and also served as Medical Examiner in Sanilac County. Like many family doctors in rural communities, Dr. Smallwood’s medical experience has included all facets of healthcare – from OB to OR. Today, Dr. Smallwood works in both our Lexington and Deckerville Walk In Clinics, as well as Deckerville Healthcare Services.