The Lake Forest Patient Care Team

Gary Schaffel, M.D.

Prevention and health promotion are passions for Dr. Schaffel. Patients benefit from his expertise in cardiac risk factors and stroke prevention and are guided toward behavioral changes that can impact these risks. Dr. Schaffel takes the time to synthesize clinical data with lifestyle issues, including stress, sleep, and life-cycle factors, resulting in an actionable plan for improved patient health.

Dr. Schaffel embodies this passion for wellness by regularly exercising, jamming on his bass guitar, and performing in multiple music groups. He is actively involved in his synagogue. Most importantly, he dedicates his free time to his wife and three beautiful daughters.

Born and raised in the Chicago area, Dr. Schaffel received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the University of Illinois College of Medicine and completed his residency at Rush University Medical Center, where he was honored with the Outstanding Resident Award. Dr. Schaffel also completed a master’s degree in exercise physiology at the University of Illinois and a certificate in clinical lipidology. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Schaffel enjoys hospital privileges at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and Highland Park Hospital. He has served in leadership positions as Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine Staff and as Director of the Metabolic Syndrome and Cardiac Risk Reduction program at Lake Forest Hospital.

Steven Lasin, M.D.

Dr. Steven Lasin was born into a medical family in the northern suburbs. Both his father and uncle were beloved pediatricians for many years in Lake Forest, and Dr. Lasin is proud to follow in their footsteps as a healthcare provider.

Enthusiastic and empathic, Dr. Lasin is passionate about patient care and thrilled to be able to give his patients the time and attention they deserve as a partner in Forward Focus Concierge Medicine. A devoted husband and dedicated father with two sons, Dr. Lasin embodies his own wellness values through running and daily exercise.

He attended the University of Michigan as an undergraduate and then received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) at the Chicago Medical School - Rosalind Franklin University. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Rush University Medical Center, where he was also honored with a Resident Teaching Award. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine.

Dr. Lasin maintains hospital privileges at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and Highland Park Hospital and has served in leadership positions throughout his career, including as Chairman of the Department of Internal Medicine at Lake Forest Hospital.

Sharon Berliant, M.D.

Dr. Sharon Berliant is a compassionate, experienced physician who embodies the values of our Forward Focus team: outstanding personalized healthcare, evidence-based medical treatment, commitment to wellness, and a relationship-centric approach. Enthusiastic and energetic, she is excited to bring her respected clinical and diagnostic skills to a practice where she can give her patients all the time and attention they need. Patients will be able to contact Dr. Berliant directly via cell phone or text after hours, and during the day, all calls are answered personally by a trusted member of our team. Appointments can be scheduled immediately when the need arises.  

Dr. Berliant is one of the very few female concierge physicians in the North Shore area, bringing a woman’s perspective to healthcare at Forward Focus. Beloved by patients for over 25 years, she offers warmth and compassion to each patient, treating each person as if they were a member of her family. She’s thrilled to be able to spend more time with each patient and will be able to focus on wellness and lifestyle issues as well as acute healthcare needs. She prides herself on accompanying patients every step of the way in their healthcare journey, coordinating care with specialists, recommending courses of treatment, and providing guidance in medical decision-making.

A North Shore native and the proud mother of two adult children, Dr. Berliant is also passionate about animals, baking, reading, gardening, and traveling. A model of good health habits, she is a vegetarian who exercises daily by walking, swimming, and practicing yoga. Relatable and empathetic, she is often described by patients as an excellent, responsive listener. 

Dr. Berliant received her undergraduate degree from Washington University in St. Louis and her medical degree with honors from Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. Prior to joining Forward Focus, she practiced Internal Medicine at Physicians of the North Shore in Northbrook and Northwestern Medical Group. She stays updated on the latest healthcare research through ongoing studies and regularly attends medical conferences. Dr. Berliant has hospital privileges at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital and North Shore Highland Park Hospital.

Marissa Versalle, D.O.

Dr. Marissa Versalle began seeing patients on January 5th, 2026.

Dr. Marissa Versalle joins Forward Focus with a passion for healthy aging and personalized care. After years of serving as a hospitalist, where she honed her excellent diagnostic skills and learned to manage complex medical conditions, she is eager to help patients prevent the very illnesses she treated in the hospital setting. By focusing on preventative medicine and lifestyle, including nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress, she empowers patients to stop, slow, or even reverse chronic diseases and live healthier, more fulfilling lives. At Forward Focus, she looks forward to building meaningful, long-term relationships with patients and tailoring care to support their individual goals.

Known for her kindness, sensitivity, and ability to quickly build trust, Dr. Versalle excels at explaining medical concepts in clear, relatable language so patients feel informed and empowered to make the best decisions for their care. She diagnoses and treats chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cholesterol concerns, and creates tailored lifestyle prescriptions that include diet, exercise, and other wellness strategies to support lasting health improvements. Trained to think of the whole person, Dr. Versalle takes the time to understand her patients’ symptoms, goals, and life circumstances, recognizing how stress, family responsibilities, and mental health affect overall well-being.

Dr. Versalle has a special interest in women’s health, particularly in guiding patients through life transitions such as perimenopause, menopause, and healthy aging. She is committed to evidence-based medicine and continually engages with the latest research to offer her patients the most up-to-date treatment options. Her years at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital gave her deep knowledge of local specialists, allowing her to guide patients seamlessly through the healthcare system and ensure continuity of care.

Dr. Versalle was accepted into an accelerated 4+4 program in college and medical school at the Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, where she began her medical studies at the age of 17. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where she also spent one year as an attending Hospitalist. She then moved to the North Shore and has worked at Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital since 2018. She has hospital privileges at Lake Forest as well as Highland Park Hospitals.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Versalle is dedicated to living the same principles of wellness that she encourages in her patients. She enjoys working out regularly, tending to her garden, and taking care of Mac and Bear, her mischievous dogs. She is also an active member of a book club with fellow female physicians, where she enjoys thoughtful conversation, camaraderie, and connection. She looks forward to getting to know her patients on a personal level and helping each of them achieve their best possible health.