Dr. Courtney Gillenwater is a U.S. Navy veteran, an international humanitarian, a Representative of U.S. Goodwill, and a pediatrician. She has extensive volunteering experience as a physician M.D. in disaster areas and post-conflict zones.

After finishing undergrad at the U.S. Naval Academy and obtaining her M.D. degree in University of Miami, Dr. Courtney cared for America’s underserved children on both coasts (Miami’s public county hospital while at the University of Miami Medical School, and LA’s public county hospital while a pediatric resident at USC).

Much of her work has focused on providing medical care to the poor/underprivileged, and disaster victims. She was one of the first physicians to fly into New York City to US military’s COVID19 Hospital in the Bronx; she volunteered in Greek sea rescue teams during the Syrian refugee crisis; she delivered medical supplies to hurricane victims in the Bahamas, and earthquake victims in Nepal; she helped establish a free surgical clinic with Operation Smile in India; she served internationally with the veteran-run disaster relief organization Team Rubicon; and she evacuated refugee children with ambulance teams in Ukraine.

Her unique combination of backgrounds cultivated in her an ability to operate in environments with limited resources and complex sociopolitical challenges, and her military training and experience in international relations and public affairs served as a distinctive complement to her medical education.

Dr. Courtney is drawn to Chara Health Center because she is inspired by the healing potentials of stem cells, especially after own dramatic recovery with the aid of stem cells after a head & neck surgery. She is passionate about helping patients, and always goes above and beyond for those she cares for.