Faculty Bios

Teniesha Wright-Jones, D.O.
Program Director

Dr. Teniesha Wright-Jones was born in Detroit, MI. She attended Michigan State University for undergraduate and New York College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical studies. She did her residency at Providence Hospital serving as Chief Resident and was awarded the AAFP Graduate Medical Education Award. Dr. Wright-Jones coordinates educational programs for our osteopathic residents. She serves as chair of the Recruitment Committee. She lives in Farmington Hills with her husband Dr. Lamont Jones, an ENT Facial Plastics Surgeon, and their daughters. Hobbies include traveling, reading, bowling, and entertaining.

Cheryl Smith, M.D.
Associate Program Director

Dr. Smith graduated from Wayne State University School of Medicine in 2011 and successfully completed her Family Medicine Residency at Providence Family Medicine in 2014. Dr. Smith joined as a core faculty member of the residency program directly after residency graduation, teaching and practicing full scope family medicine. Starting in 2020, Dr. Smith became one of the Associate Program Directors. As a faculty member, she’s been involved in recruitment, quality improvement projects, scholarly activity and both medical student and graduate student education. Dr. Smith has non-prefixed clinical professorship at MSU-CHM and MSU-COM. Dr. Smith lives in Novi, Michigan with her husband and two children. She spends her time outside of work traveling with her children to their many sporting events, reading mindless mystery novels and spending time outdoors in her garden.

Nikolaus Fulbright, M.D.
Associate Program Director & Recruitment Chair

Dr. Fulbright attended Michigan State University undergraduate and Wayne State University Medical School. He trained at the William Beaumont Troy Family Medicine Residency and also underwent Advanced Training in Medical Education. He has been involved in community outreach including Tar Wars presentations, dermatology and procedural training. He is based in South Lyon and brings his interest in sports medicine and procedure training to help our residents at this location. He loves hiking, fishing, running and all things outdoors.

Braswell Deen, M.D.
Faculty, Deighton Family Practice

Dr. Deen was raised in Atlanta, GA and attended the University of Georgia where he received degrees in both history and chemistry. He completed his residency at Providence Hospital in 1997 and joined the faculty following graduation. Dr. Deen’s special areas of interest include metabolic medicine and procedural training. Dr. Deen’s interests include church activities, his wife Mambwe, and their children.

Christina Downey-Biechler, M.D.
Faculty, Deighton Family Practice

Dr. Downey-Biechler grew up in Roseville, Michigan. She attended Wayne State for undergraduate and graduate school, and Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical training. She completed her residency right here at Providence Hospital, and joined our faculty, working in the Deighton Family Medicine Center after graduation. Her clinical interests include women’s health and office based procedures. Dr. Downey-Biechler enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, reading and being a sports mom.

Lauren Groskaufmanis, M.D.
Faculty, South Lyon Medical Center

Dr. Groskaufmanis was born in Washington, DC and grew up in northern Virginia. She graduated from the University of Virginia with an undergraduate degree in neuroscience. She then split her graduate time, earning her medical degree from Duke University (where she was a part of the Primary Care Leadership Track) and taking a year to obtain her Masters of Public Health from Virginia Commonwealth University. She moved to Michigan for residency at the University of Michigan, where she served as chief resident, and (after much trial and error) learned to dress for the winter weather. She is based at the South Lyon Clinic and her curricular areas of focus include pediatrics, research / scholarly activity, and community outreach. When not in clinic, she can often be found running, sometimes with humans and but most often with her dog.

Jessica Hudson, D.O.
Faculty, Deighton Family Practice

I was born and raised near Toronto, Canada and completed my undergrad degree at the University of Western Ontario. Prior to pursuing medicine, I had a career in higher education administration and spent several years managing student dorms. I completed a master’s degree in that field at USC in California in 2009. After enjoying 4 years in sunny California, I made the decision to change careers and pursue medicine. I attended Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine and fell in love with family medicine during my 3rd year rotations. I went on to complete my family medicine residency at Henry Ford Providence Hospital and never left! Within the residency program, I am responsible for the OB curriculum and oversee the program’s didactics. I’m an avid runner and have recently gotten back into marathon training. For fun, I enjoy watching reality TV and hanging out with my 2 best friends – a Golden Retriever named Remy and an Australian Shepherd named Bootsy

Nicola Okafor, D.O.
Faculty, Deighton Family Practice

Dr. Okafor was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan. She graduated from Western Michigan University with an undergraduate studies in Biochemistry. Later she received her Masters of Public Health degree from Michigan State University before going on to receive her Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from MSU. Dr. Okafor is a proud graduate of the program and works out of the Deighton Office. Her curricular areas include: Inpatient Committee Chair, Recruitment, Obstetrics, CCC, Addiction Medicine, and OMT. Dr. Okafor, her husband, and son enjoy traveling and spending time with extended family.

Patricia Scheuerman, D.O.
Director of Osteopathic Education

Dr. Scheuerman graduated from Michigan State University, Lyman Briggs for undergraduate studies and Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine - AT Still University for medical school. She completed Family Medicine/OMT Residency at Providence Family Medicine 2013 while training in the Deighton Office. After working in a private office for almost a decade, she returned to the program in 2023 to pursue her teaching passion. She is now based at the South Lyon office. Dr. Scheuerman is the Director of Osteopathic Education and has oversight for the geriatrics curriculum. She loves to share her osteopathy passion with students and residents. She enjoys spending time with her two children and taking her dog on walks.

Amy Shepard, D.O.
Faculty & Medical Director, South Lyon Medical Center

Dr. Shepard graduated from Michigan State University for her undergraduate studies and from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine in 2006. She completed her residency training in Family Medicine at Providence in 2009 and trained at the South Lyon office. After working in a private outpatient family practice, she returned as faculty in 2014 to further pursue her passion for teaching and medical education. Dr. Shepard coordinates the residency’s community outreach efforts and Population Health curriculum. She is a mother of two children and a golden doodle. Outside of the office, she loves spending time with her family and is always dreaming or planning her next vacation.

Glenn Taylor, M.D.
Department Chair & Faculty

Dr. Taylor was born and raised in the Metro Detroit area. He received his undergraduate degree from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and his medical education from Wayne State University School of Medicine. He remained in the area to pursue his dream of primary care and graduated from the Providence Hospital Family Practice Residency in 1989. Dr. Taylor has been both an employed and private physician and is a founding member of Infinity Primary Care. He has always remained active with the residency program, both as a community preceptor at Deighton Family Practice until 2015 and a very active provider of obstetrical care and deliveries for 31 years. He was appointed Chair of the Department of Family Medicine in January 2018. Dr. Taylor’s patient care passions include full-spectrum reproductive health and comprehensive diabetes care. His administrative interests lie in safety, process improvement and compliance. Dr. Taylor enjoys spending time with his wife Lori (a gourmet cook), walking their lovable Cocker Spaniel Chummy, visiting and playing with his grandchildren, photography, going to Stratford, Ontario for fine theater & food, reading and stamp collecting.

Jamila Taylor, M.D.
Faculty & Medical Director, Deighton Family Practice

Dr. Taylor attended Hampton University in Virginia for her undergraduate studies then returned home to attend Wayne State University School of Medicine. During her residency at Providence, Dr. Taylor was chief resident and recognized for her outstanding teaching skills with the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine award. Her passion to reach and teach her community led her to work for a federally qualified health center in the Detroit neighborhood where she was raised. Since her return to Providence, Dr. Taylor has participated on the Clinical Competency Committee, Program Evaluation Committee, Health Systems Management, Recruitment, and serves as Medical Director. Within the hospital, she was appointed to the Community Advisor Council and has participated in the Community Health Needs Assessments since 2016. She also is on the MAFP Practice Management Committee and has been appointed to serve on the AMG MI Board. Outside of work, Dr. Taylor enjoys traveling, shopping, and spending time with her family and friends-especially her husband and daughter.