Address & Hours
Please note our new location!
Michigan Avenue Immediate Care
180 N. Michigan Avenue Suite 1605 Chicago, IL 60601 
Monday to Friday 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
Saturday 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
Phone (312) 201-1234
Fax (312) 201-1202
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History and Treatment
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of MAIC 
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Meet Our Physicians
James Runke, M.D.
Medical Director
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Dr. Runke attended Northwestern University for his undergraduate degree, studying biomedical engineering. He earned his medical degree at the Unversity of Wisconsin-Madison and completed his residency at Louis A. Weiss Memorial Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
As an adult Internal Medicine physician, Dr. Runke has focused on preventive medicine and occupational medicine, and all aspects of urgent care. He has helped lead the growth, enhancements, and quality of care initiatives of Chicago Consulting Physicians and Michigan Avenue Immediate Care over the past 20 years.
What Dr. Runke loves about being a physician: “Appreciating and striving to totally understand the feelings, perceptions, worries, and thoughts of every patient. Knowing that I am connecting, knowing what the patient feels, and seeing that look of genuine appreciation in my patients’ eyes is very gratifying”.
When Dr. Runke is not practicing medicine he is listening to NPR online, watching WTTW, and following political developments that have great meaning to him. For pure pleasure, he enjoys golfing, eating out in Lakeview with his wife Joanne, and seeing live music-anywhere, any kind. Lastly, he finds running blissful, especially when he is done.
Joshua Merok, M.D.
Associate Medical Director
Board Certified Family Medicine
Dr. Merok earned his medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco, after completing his Bachelor of Science and Master’s degree in Toxicology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He completed his residency in Family Medicine at Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and fellowships at Stroger Hospital and Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Dr. Merok also serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family and Community Medicine at Northwestern's Feinberg School of Medicine, Clinical Instructor of Family Medicine at the University of Illinois-Chicago and a Community Preceptor at Advocate Illinois Masonic Family Medicine. His clinical interests include HIV medicine, addiction, pain management, and evidence-based medicine. Dr. Merok also serves as a Primary Care Physician for Michigan Avenue Primary Care
and is accepting new patients.
What Dr. Merok loves about being a physician: “In addition to seeing and meeting interesting people everyday, I really love the continual state of learning that medicine demands. Staying current with new research and trends is a challenge, but well worth it!”.
When Dr. Merok is not practicing medicine, he is spending time with his lovely wife and brand new son and daughter.
Tatiana Batista, D.O.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Dr. Batista earned her undergraduate and Masters’ degrees from the University of Illinois. She attended Midwestern University for medical school, completing her residency at Resurrection Saint Joseph Hospital. Dr. Batista has been with Michigan Avenue Immediate Care for years. She holds a teaching faculty position and serves as Attending Physician at Saint Joseph Hospital and Seton Family Health Center, respectively.
What Dr. Batista loves about being a physician: “Everything!”
When Dr. Batista is not practicing medicine, she enjoys reading, playing golf, running and trying new foods.
Kenneth Gong, M.D.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Dr. Gong earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Chicago and his medical degree from Rush Medical College. He completed his residency through the Rush-Illinois Masonic Family Practice Program. In addition to practicing medicine at Michigan Avenue Immediate Care, Dr. Gong is the school physician at the Moody Bible Institute, holds a part-time faculty position at UIC’s Illinois Masonic Family Medicine Program, and volunteers at Community Health Center, treating the uninsured/medically indigent population, as well as teaching Rush University medical students.
What Dr. Gong loves about being a physician: “Teaching patients how to take care of themselves.”
When he’s not practicing medicine, Dr. Gong is cooking, fishing and DJing house/techno.
Niby Mathew, M.D.
Board Certified Family Medicine
Dr. Mathew attended the University of Szeged in Europe for her undergraduate studies. She earned her medical degree from St. Christopher’s College of Medicine in England and completed her residency through the Advocate Christ Family Medicine program.
In addition to practicing medicine at Michigan Avenue Immediate Care and Michigan Avenue Primary Care, Dr. Mathew has been an Attending Faculty of the Family Medicine Department of Rush University Medical Center and Rush University Southwest Family Physicians group.
What Dr. Mathew loves about being a physician: “I have always been interested in health & wellness; I love providing guidance & treatment to others; I love educating others on the human body & illnesses that affect our body; I believe in preventive care and what I can do now for my patient to prevent future illness; My job is to provide awareness to my patient; I provide a relaxed environment so that my patients aren’t afraid of going to their doctors’ office.”
When she’s not practicing medicine Dr. Mathew enjoys the following:
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Health & Nutrition
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Yoga
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Boxing
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Cooking/Baking
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Reading
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Running
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Traveling
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Culture
Robert Noven, M.D.
Director of Occupational Medicine
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Dr. Noven earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Illinois-Urbana and attended medical school at Northwestern University, where he also completed his residency. Dr. Noven has been involved in a variety of activities and clinical settings including academic, hospital-based, large-group and solo outpatient practices. He has been a staff member at Northwestern Memorial Hospital and a clinical instructor at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University since 1987. In addition to practicing general Internal Medicine, he has more recently become involved in Occupational Medicine, FAA physical examinations, Travel Medicine, and an Executive Health program.
What Dr. Noven loves about being a physician: “When working with medical students, I try to have them recall the reason that they decided to pursue a career in medicine. This is particularly important in the context of the financial, legal, political, professional and social pressures that are currently impacting the profession. Medicine is about the ability of medical professionals to provide advocacy, treatment, compassion and support to individuals who are in need of these services”.
When Dr. Noven is not practicing medicine, he is usually reading, exercising or going to movies. He is very involved with his family in the Chicago area. He volunteers with several organizations and tries to remain politically and socially active.
