Meet Dr. Dere
A physician focused on helping patients understand their health and risk.
Dereje Tefera Siyum, MD, MSHI, DipABOM — founder of WellifyCare Medical S.C.
From Ethiopia to Wisconsin
Dr. Dere began his medical journey at Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences in Ethiopia. He later continued his medical training in the United States, completing an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine residency at Aurora Health Care in Milwaukee.
What hospital medicine taught me
Today, he practices hospital medicine with Advocate Health, caring for adults with acute illness and complex chronic conditions, including heart failure, type 2 diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and advanced cardiovascular disease.
Years of caring for patients during serious illness gave him a front-row view of the burden of cardiometabolic disease—and strengthened his desire to help patients understand and address important risk factors earlier.
“Every hospitalization reinforced my belief that the best hospital admission is the one that never happens.”— Dr. Dere
Why I built WellifyCare
That vision led to WellifyCare: a physician-led specialty practice focused on diabetes, weight, and cardiometabolic health. Dr. Dere combines internal medicine, obesity medicine, lifestyle-focused care, and evidence-based pharmacotherapy to build individualized plans around each patient's health, risk, and goals.
Medicine, data, and human connection
Dr. Dere holds a Master of Science in Health Informatics from Boston University. His informatics training shapes his interest in telehealth, remote patient monitoring, and thoughtful use of health data.
For him, technology is not the destination. It should help patients understand their health more clearly and help physicians make better, more informed decisions.
His postgraduate medical education includes advanced continuing medical education through Harvard Medical School in obesity medicine, diabetes, and lifestyle medicine.
Credentials
Internal Medicine
Board Certified — American Board of Internal Medicine
Obesity Medicine
Diplomate, American Board of Obesity Medicine (DipABOM)
Health Informatics
Master of Science in Health Informatics — Boston University
Medical Education
Doctor of Medicine — Addis Ababa University College of Health Sciences
Beyond the clinic
Dr. Dere is a husband, father, teacher, and active member of the Ethiopian-American community. Education, service, and purposeful living are central to his work and the long-term vision of WellifyCare.
“My goal is not simply to tell you that a number is normal or abnormal. I want you to understand what it means, what matters most, and what we can do together.”— Dr. Dere