About
Dr. Clodagh Ryan grew up in Northern Ireland and earned her medical degree from Trinity College Dublin Medical School in 1999. She completed a one-year internship at St. James Hospital in Dublin before taking an unusual turn. For three years, she toured globally and recorded with an Irish traditional music group, moonlighting as a locum physician between performances. That self-employed locum work gave her an early fluency in running an independent medical practice.
She later moved to the western suburbs of Chicago and completed her Family Medicine residency at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital. After eight years in insurance-based private practice, she founded Cara Direct Care in 2017. Dr. Ryan holds board certification in Family Medicine. She serves as course director, lecturer, and preceptor at Midwestern University's Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She sat on the Direct Primary Care Alliance Advisory Board from 2020 to 2023 and co-hosts the Illinois State DPC Summit with Dr. Aleea Gupta. Dr. Ryan is particularly passionate about ADHD and neurodiversity, offering comprehensive evaluation and treatment for both members and non-members. She brings firsthand perspective to neurodivergent care, believing that the right evaluation and support can be genuinely transformative. Outside medicine, she plays concertina and fiddle, runs, reads, and raises four children who all share her love of music.
Education & Training
Medical School
Trinity College Dublin Medical School (graduated 1999)
Residency
Family Medicine, Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital
Additional Training
Internship at St. James Hospital, Dublin
Certifications
Conditions Treated
Who is Dr. Ryan right for?
Dr. Ryan treats patients of all ages, from newborns through older adults, making her a strong fit for families seeking a single physician. Patients managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, thyroid disorders, or asthma benefit from her thorough, unhurried approach. She is especially well-suited for individuals seeking ADHD evaluation or support for neurodiversity. Adults focused on preventive health, weight management, or mental health will also find a good match in her clinical approach.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Dr. Ryan treats a broad range of conditions across all age groups. Her chronic disease work includes hypertension, diabetes, thyroid conditions, asthma, high cholesterol, and migraines. She also manages anxiety, depression, and ADHD. Her scope includes women's health, pediatrics, preventive medicine, and urgent care needs.
Yes, Dr. Ryan holds board certification in Family Medicine. She earned her medical degree from Trinity College Dublin Medical School in 1999 and completed her Family Medicine residency at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital in the Chicago suburbs.
Yes, Dr. Ryan treats patients of all ages, from infants through older adults. She provides pediatric care including school physicals, sports physicals, and sick visits. Families can see her as their single physician for all age groups.
Dr. Ryan offers comprehensive ADHD evaluation and treatment for both members and non-members. She brings particular passion to neurodivergent care, believing that the right evaluation and support can be genuinely transformative. She screens and treats ADHD across age groups.
Dr. Ryan trained at Trinity College Dublin Medical School, graduating in 1999. She completed an internship at St. James Hospital in Dublin before moving to the United States. She finished her Family Medicine residency at Adventist La Grange Memorial Hospital and spent eight years in insurance-based private practice before founding Cara Direct Care in 2017.
Yes, Dr. Ryan serves as course director, lecturer, and preceptor at Midwestern University's Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine. She also co-hosts the Illinois State DPC Summit with Dr. Aleea Gupta and previously sat on the Direct Primary Care Alliance Advisory Board from 2020 to 2023.
Yes, Dr. Ryan gives members direct access by cell phone, text, email, and video chat. She takes urgent calls seven days a week from 7am to 10pm. This level of access sets Cara Direct Care apart from traditional practice models.
Yes, Dr. Ryan performs a range of procedures in the office. These include skin biopsies, suturing, wound and burn care, abscess drainage, cyst removal, wart removal, and medical ear piercing. She also conducts rapid diagnostic testing for strep, flu, pregnancy, and blood glucose.
Doctor profile last updated March 21, 2026