Family Medicine Residency Program

Hussein Saghir, DO, MPH, is board certified in family medicine, sports medicine and osteopathic manipulative treatment. He was born and raised in Dearborn, Michigan. He obtained his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency training in family medicine at Michigan State University/Ascension Genesys. Dr. Saghir went on to complete his sports medicine fellowship at Wayne State University School of Medicine/Detroit Medical Center where he provided care to Detroit’s professional sports teams. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Saghir returned to Flint where he served as Associate Program Director and Assistant Professor at Michigan State University College of Human Medicine/McLaren-Flint Family Medicine Residency Program. Dr. Saghir’s extensive experience in serving vulnerable populations in Flint, particularly during and after the Flint water crisis, compelled him to champion social, economic and health equity and further solidified his commitment to a career in public advocacy and health policy. He was most recently named a Commonwealth Fund Fellow in Minority Health Policy at Harvard University where he obtained his MPH in health management with a concentration in public health leadership. As program director at Authority Health, Dr. Saghir plans to continue his work in graduate medical education while recruiting and training the best and brightest minds. He hopes to use his medical and public health training to continue championing health equity in Detroit while inspiring doctors in training to provide continuity of care and the integration of health services to communities in need.

Dr. Saghir earned a Master of Public Health in Health Management and Policy, with a concentration in Public Health Leadership, from Harvard University, complementing his clinical and informatics training with advanced expertise in organizational leadership, health policy, and system-level transformation.

Dr. Saghir was born and raised in Michigan and earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan. He went on to earn his medical degree from Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed residency training in Family Medicine at Michigan State University/Ascension Genesys. He subsequently completed a Sports Medicine fellowship at Wayne State University School of Medicine/Detroit Medical Center, where he provided medical care to professional sports teams in Detroit. He later completed a fellowship in Health Care Leadership as a Harvard Commonwealth Fellow at Harvard Medical School.

Across his career, Dr. Saghir has held progressive academic and leadership roles, including Associate Program Director and Assistant Professor at Michigan State University/McLaren–Flint Family Medicine Residency Program. He also holds an appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor at Wayne State University School of Medicine. His professional work has focused on physician training, residency program development, health system integration, electronic health record modernization, and the delivery of high-quality, patient-centered care at scale.

As Program Director at Authority Health, Dr. Saghir is committed to excellence in graduate medical education through the recruitment, training, and mentorship of outstanding physicians. He leverages his clinical, informatics, and executive leadership experience to strengthen residency education, enhance continuity of care, and support the effective integration of health services across diverse communities.

Cathy Smart is a graduate of Eastern Michigan University, where she received a BS in health care administration. After graduating and successfully completing her internship, Cathy launched her career at Authority Health and has served in the role of family medicine residency coordinator since 2015; she now serves as the Lead Residency Coordinator. Cathy is passionate and committed to her career in Graduate Medical Education. Her abilities are a product of diverse training courses in past years. She has learned that execution, energy and commitment to others are key. The skill set acquired in her current position has granted her the ability to adapt quickly in any environment and has enabled her to build a stable foundation for Authority Health’s Family Medicine Residency Program. Outside of work, Cathy enjoys spending time making memories with family and friends.

Dahlia Ali, MD, is one of the Chief Residents at the Authority Health Family Medicine Residency Program. She earned her medical degree from Al-Neelain University Faculty of Medicine in Khartoum, Sudan.

She is passionate about geriatrics, hospice, and palliative care, with a strong commitment to improving care for older adults and underserved populations. During residency, she has been actively involved in academic leadership, wellness initiatives, and supporting a collaborative learning environment.

Dr. Ali plans to pursue a geriatrics fellowship following residency, with the goal of delivering compassionate, community-focused care to vulnerable populations. She is also dedicated to community engagement and health equity, especially in underserved urban settings.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys traveling and cherishes spending time with her loved ones.

Danielle Rayel, MD, MPH is one of the chief residents for the Authority Health family medicine program. She grew up in Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada, and studied medicine at University College Dublin in Ireland.

She spent dedicated time in public health before residency and developed a passion for improving access to health care and increasing health equity. She is committed to using her skills to care for underserved populations and give back to local and global communities.

Outside of medicine, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, running, and cooking plant-based meals.