Faculty

Brahim Ardolic, MD FACEP

Chairman, Emergency Medicine

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Residency: Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Administration, ED Informatics, Collecting rare books and antiques

Email: bardolic@siuh.edu

Dr. Ardolic came to Staten Island University Hospital from Downstate Medical Center after serving as their director of Performance Improvement. Originally appointed as Director of the Emergency Department he was promoted to Chairman of Emergency Medicine in 2007. He also currently serves as the Medical Director of the Wagner College PA Program and the Administrative Director of Staten Island University Hospital EMS.

Dr. Ardolic has significant experience in multiple aspects of ED administration. Over the last five years, Dr. Ardolic has successfully recruited a full staff of board-eligible or board-certified Emergency Medicine attendings and oversaw the design and construction of our new Emergency Department and Educational center.

Dr. Ardolic currently holds several positions regionally and nationally. He is a board member of the New York Chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians. He also serves New York ACEP on both the government affairs committee as well as the education committee. On the education committee, he runs the Directors forum who’s main academic goal is to educate directors and future directors in emergency medicine. He has also been elected to both ACEP council and the national reimbursement committee at ACEP. He also serves on the FDNY Cardiac advisory council, due to SIUH status as one of the most successful institutions in initiating quality of care initiates. Dr. Ardolic proudly serves all of these entities, and we believe that they demonstrate recognition of his administrative ability by his peers.

Moshe Weizberg, MD FACEP

Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Residency Education, Cardiac Arrhythmias

Email: mweizberg@siuh.edu

Dr. Weizberg attended medical school at SUNY Downstate where he graduated AOA. He then pursued a residency in Emergency Medicine at Kings County Hospital where he served as Chief Resident. He took a position as an attending physician at Staten Island University Hospital, where he was the Director of Performance Improvement for 3 years. In 2009, Dr. Weizberg assumed the position of Residency Program Director. His interests include medical education and cardiac arrhythmias. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and children.

James F. Kenny, MD MBA FACEP

Associate Chairman, Emergency Medicine

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: New York Medical College

Residency: Internal Medicine: Staten Island University Hospital

Board Certifications: ABIM, ABEM

Appointments:

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Adjunct Professor in Biology, City University of New York

Clinical Instructor, Wagner College/SIUH Physician Assistant Program

Interests: Administration

Email: jkenny@siuh.edu

Dr. James F. Kenny is the Associate Chairman of the Emergency Department. He is a graduate of New York Medical College and is board certified in emergency medicine, internal medicine and geriatrics. Dr. Kenny is a fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians and holds the rank of assistant professor of medicine at SUNY/Downstate. He has functioned as the site director of the SIUH/South ED since 1993 and has maintained an interest in pre-hospital medicine and disaster preparedness.

Dr. Kenny resides in Tottenville with his wife, Dr. Viola Ortiz, and his children, James and Megan.

Dara Kass, MD

Assistant Program Director, Emergency Medicine

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Resident Education, Simulation, Politics

Email: dkass@siuh.edu

Dr. Kass trained at Kings County Hospital after attending SUNY Downstate Medical School. A native Brooklynite, she enjoys her “commute” to work daily over the Verrazano Bridge. Dr. Kass developed an interest in Education during her residency, where she served as Resident Director of Student Clerkships at SUNY Downstate. Upon becoming an attending at Staten Island, she immediately assumed the role of site director for the rotating Kings County Residents and Associate Medical Director for the Wagner College PA Program. She then went on to become the Assistant Program Director for the EM residency.

Dr. Kass enjoys traveling with her husband Michael and 2 children, Hannah and Charlie

Boris Khodorkovsky, MD FACEP

Assistant Director, Emergency Department

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Administration, Performance Improvement, Informatics

Email: bkhodorkovsky@siuh.edu

Dr. Khodorkovsky trained in Emergency Medicine at SUNY Downstate/ Kings County Hospital Center after completing his medical studies at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in the Bronx. During his Chief Resident year Dr. Khodorkovsky developed his interest in ED administration and performance improvement. After serving as the Director of Performance Improvement, he was promoted to Assistant Director of Emergency Medicine.

Dr. Khodorkovsky’s emigrated from the former Soviet Union to New York at the age of 15, settling in Brooklyn. After completing undergraduate studies in Manhattan and graduate studies in the Bronx, he returned to Brooklyn, where he currently resides with his wife, Nika, and children, Emanuel and Bina.

Abbas Husain, MD

Assitant Residency Director

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Residency: Emergency Medicine: Drexel University College of Medicine

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: International travel, Medical Informatics, Resident Education

Email: ahusain@siuh.edu

Abbas graduated from the University of Toronto. He then moved to Philadelphia to pursue medical school and an EM residency at Drexel University. After a year working in north Philly, he moved to NYC and is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital.

He now lives in New York and enjoys traveling, hiking and dining out.

Nicole Berwald, MD FACEP

Assistant Director, Emergency Department

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: State University of New York at Stony Brook Medical Center

Residency: Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Resident Education, Research, Travel

Email: nberwald@siuh.edu

Dr. Berwald was first introduced to Staten Island University Hospital as a resident, and decided to stay on as full-time faculty upon completion of her residency training program. Since her inception at SIUH, Dr. Berwald has been involved in several aspects of the department including, PA student education through Wagner College, medical student education and residency planning. Throughout her career, Dr. Berwald has been involved in independent research with a focus on women's health and infectious disease. More recently Dr. Berwald has taken on an administrative role and is the current Assistant Director of the Emergency Department at the North Site. Through this role she hopes to improve ED processes, interdepartmental protocols and improved work flow.

Dr. Berwald was born and raised locally and has the luxury of having her family and friends nearby. In her time away from the hospital, Dr Berwald enjoys spending time with her family, especially with her 4 nieces and nephews. In addition, Dr. Berwald feels fortunate to live close to NYC and seeks out events that exemplify the cultural opportunities that the city provides.

Christopher Graziano, MD

Assistant Director, Emergency Department
Medical Director, SIUH EMS
Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse

Residency: Emergency Medicine: Medical College of Pennsylvania - Hahnemann University Hospital

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Pre-hospital medicine, Disaster Preparedness, Fishing, Kayaking

Email: Christopher_Graziano@siuh.edu

Dr. Christopher E. Graziano is the Assistant Director of the Emergency Department. He is a graduate of SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse and is board certified in Emergency Medicine. Dr. Graziano is a fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine and holds the rank of assistant professor of emergency medicine at SUNY/Downstate. He has functioned as the medical director of the SIUH/EMS since 2009 and maintains an interest in pre-hospital medicine and disaster preparedness.

Gregorio Alvarez

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: De La Salle University- Emilio Aguinaldo College of Medicine, Philippines

Residency: Internal Medicine: Maimonides Medical Center

Board Certifications: ABIM, ABEM

Rauvan Averick, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: University of Illinois Medical Center

Residency: Internal Medicine, Weiss Memorial Hospital - Chicago, IL

Board Certifications: ABEM, ABIM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Dr. Averick, a Chicago native, and a long-suffering Cubs' fan (is there any other type?), moved to Staten Island in 1983. He likes Staten Island because “It's New York, but it's not New York.” When he's not working, you might see him here running with his dog on the boardwalk or in Clove Lakes Park. If you are in Colorado or Utah, you might see him skiing down a double diamond black slope with one of eight children.

Paul Barbara, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine

Residency: The Brooklyn Hospital Center; Emergency Medicine

Fellowship: Fire Department, City of New York; Emergency Medical Services

Board Certification: ABEM

Appointments:

Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Associate Professor in Emergency Medicine, St. George’s University School of Medicine

Interests: travelling with my family, Yankee baseball, aquariums, gardening/landscaping, gadgets

Dr. Barbara was born and raised on the north shore of Staten Island, attending high school at Staten Island Tech and then matriculating at Binghamton University. After attending medical school at SGU, he entered residency in Downtown Brooklyn and later completed the EMS fellowship with FDNY. After working 1 year in Long Island he decided to come back to the familiar grounds of SIUH, looking to serve the community he grew up in. He is excited to join the team at SIUH and is looking forward to the clinical experiences and opportunities here.

Dr. Barbara and his wife Jennifer have been blessed with two children, Alexis and Luke.

Heidi Baer, MD

Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine

Residency: Emergency Medicine: Drexel University

Board Certifications: ABEM, pending

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Simulation

Email: heidibaer@gmail.com

Amanda Bauer, DO

Medical School: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Emergency Medicine: St. Barnabas Hospital

Board Certifications: ABOEM, pending

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Emergency Ultrasound, dog training

Dr. Bauer was born and raised in California and attended UCSB for college and then medical school at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine - San Francisco. She moved to the New York area in 2003 and did her residency in Emergency Medicine at St. Barnabas Hospital in the South Bronx. She was surprised to like it here and after 7 years the novelty of having actual seasons still has not worn off.

Dr. Bauer's interests include Sports Medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Method. She firmly believe in the osteopathic principles especially that the body is self-healing and tries to integrate OMT and osteopathic phillosophy in the emergency setting.

Outside of work Dr. Bauer enjoys Bikram Yoga and also breed, train and show Chinese Sharpei. She currently has 4 AKC Champions that she shows herself, two of which are also nationally certified therapy dogs. Her latest challenge is agillity training with her puppy Javier (nicknamed Springs - for his nonstop jumping).

John Calabro, DO

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Emergency Medicine: NSLIJHS-North Shore University Hospital

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Photography, Travel, Cooking

Nancy Conroy, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Medicine

Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate – Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Sabrina Destefano, MD

Yusra Farooqui, MD FACEP

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Residency: Emergency Medicine: Jacobi-Montefiore Emergency Medicine Residency

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Ultrasound, Student Education

Marisa Fernandez,

Residency: Jacobi/Montefiore Medical Centers, Bronx, NY
Medical School: University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles
Undergrad: University of California, Berkeley (BA in Psychology) & University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (Post-baccalaureate)
Interests: Movies with subtitles, international travel/adventuring, beekeeping, and the Slow Food movement.

Kate Getzewich, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Residency:Temple University Hospital

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Yvonne Giunta, MD

Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine

Residency: Pediatrics: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Fellowship: Pediatric Emergency Medicine: North Shore LIJ Schneider Children's Hospital

Board Certifications: AAP

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Simulation, Resident Education

Email: yvonne_giunta@siuh.edu

Dr. Giunta’s official career in Pediatric Emergency Medicine began as a Pediatric resident at SUNY Downstate in 2002. As an affiliated hospital, she rotated through both the Emergency Department and the Pediatric Department at SIUH. Three years later, in 2005, she was the designated Pediatric Chief Resident at SIUH for a full year. At that time she decided to pursue a fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine, a three year position which she completed at Long Island Jewish – Schneider Children’s Hospital. Throughout my fellowship, she worked as a per diem attending in the CEC at SIUH. Finally in 2009, after seven years of training, she accepted full time Pediatric Emergency Medicine attending position at SIUH.

One of Dr. Giunta’s greatest passions is international medicine. She is a member of Healing the Children and has traveled to Colombia and Ecuador on medical missions. They are mostly involved in cleft palate repairs and burn scar revisions. She has a strong interest in simulation, resident education and research. More interestingly, she enjoys exercise and fitness, cooking, gardening, travel and spending time with her family and her baby girl, Julia.

Amit Gupta, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine

Residency: New York Medical College/ Metropolitan Hospital

Fellowship: Medical Toxicology, North Shore University Hospital

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Simulation, Resident Education

Email: amit_gupta@siuh.edu

Interest: Sports, Eating, Sleeping, Boxing (in that order)

Barry Hahn, MD

Research Director

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Research

Email: barry_hahn@siuh.edu

Kabeeruddin Hashmi, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine: Westchester County Medical Center

Board Certifications: ABIM

Monica Kapoor, MD

Director of ED Ultrasound

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: University of MA, Worcester

Residency: North Shore University Hospital

Fellowship: Ultrasound: New York Hospital Queens

Board Certifications: ABEM, RDMS

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Email: monica_kapoor@siuh.edu

Nima Majlesi, DO

Director of Medical Toxicology

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Emergency Medicine: Morristown Memorial Hospital

Fellowship: Toxicology, North Shore University Hospital

Board Certifications: ABOEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Email: nmajlesi@siuh.edu

Dr. Majlesi grew up in NJ and attended Rutgers University for undergraduate. He then attended the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine in Maine for medical school. He decided to come home to NJ for an Emergency Medicine residency at Morristown Memorial Hospital. He wanted to do a toxicology fellowship so he moved to NYC and completed the North Shore University toxicology fellowship. He has been loving NYC since.

He used to play soccer competitively but now mostly a spectator. He is also an avid football fan and has season tickets for the NY Jets. Dr. Majelsi loves hot air balloon rides, long walks on the beach and puppies.

Chris Niles, MD

Chris Niles, MD
Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: University of New Mexico School of Medicine

Residency: Emergency Medicine, Maimonides Medical Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Jaimee O'Connor, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: New York Medical College

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Erica Olsen, MD

Director of Medical Education

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Residency: Emergency Medicine: NSLIJHS-North Shore University Hospital

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Email: erica.olsen@siuh.edu

Rakesh Patel, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: Univ of maryland

Residency: Drexel University College of Medicine

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: movies, tennis, football, ultrasound, simulation lab, random trivia

Elzbieta Pilat, MD FACEP

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: hiking, zoology, art

Charlotte Reich, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Music, Dining Out

Jessica Romito-Sinan, DO

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School:

Residency: Emergency Medicine: St. Barnabas Hospital

Board Certifications: ABOEM, pending

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Krista Savarese, DO

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: New York College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Emergency Medicine: St. Barnabas Hospital

Board Certifications: ABOEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

David Schaeffer, MD

Attending physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Downstate

Residency: New York Methodist Hospital

Board Certification: ABEM pending

Interests: None

Amanda Smith, MD

Medical Director, Wagner College PA Program

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center

Residency: Emergency Medicine: SUNY Downstate - Kings County Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Johny Tafa, MD

Johny Tafa, MD, FACEP

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine

Residency: Internal Medicine: Mountainside Hospital

Board Certifications: ABIM

Anthony Vassallo, MD

Attending Physician Emergency Department

Medical School: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey

Residency: Emergency Medicine: Brooklyn Hospital Center

Board Certifications: ABEM

Appointments: Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate

Interests: Cooking, Travelling, Crossword Puzzles

Dr. Vassallo was born and raised in Jersey, attending nursery through medical school there, save for college at Columbia University in the City. He has been an attending at SIUH since 2007 serving as Director of Medical Student Education, Medical Director of the Hilton Head Oral Board Review Course and Medical Director of the Primary Care Ambulance Service.

Dr. Vassallo is an avid sports fan who's favorite team is admittedly the New York Mets. He coaches high school soccer in his hometown and lives in NJ with his wife, cat and young child.

Dr. Vassallo's proudest day thus far was in 2003 when his was crowned NJ State's Quarter Bouncing Champion.

Faculty

Brahim Ardolic, MD FACEP

Moshe Weizberg, MD FACEP

James F. Kenny, MD MBA FACEP

Dara Kass, MD

Boris Khodorkovsky, MD FACEP

Abbas Husain, MD

Nicole Berwald, MD FACEP

Christopher Graziano, MD

Gregorio Alvarez

Rauvan Averick, MD

Paul Barbara, MD

Heidi Baer, MD

Amanda Bauer, DO

John Calabro, DO

Nancy Conroy, MD

Sabrina Destefano, MD

Yusra Farooqui, MD FACEP

Marisa Fernandez,

Kate Getzewich, MD

Yvonne Giunta, MD

Amit Gupta, MD

Barry Hahn, MD

Kabeeruddin Hashmi, MD

Monica Kapoor, MD

Nima Majlesi, DO

Chris Niles, MD

Jaimee O'Connor, MD

Erica Olsen, MD

Rakesh Patel, MD

Elzbieta Pilat, MD FACEP

Charlotte Reich, MD

Jessica Romito-Sinan, DO

Krista Savarese, DO

David Schaeffer, MD

Amanda Smith, MD

Johny Tafa, MD

Anthony Vassallo, MD

Anna Vantuyl, MD

Irene Grinberg, MD