Behind all great websites is a foundation of expertise, authority, and trust. Introducing… 🎺 *Trumpets sound *🎺 the Greatist Medical Affairs team! These best-in-class experts manage the extensive Greatist Medical Network and work tirelessly to guarantee the scientific accuracy and integrity of all Greatist health content, products, and services. 

Our Medical Network includes healthcare professionals with extensive expertise in their respective fields. These pros come from all corners of health and are backed by years of clinical practice, research, and patient advocacy. This ensures Greatist’s readers receive the highest-quality health information, supporting our goal of inclusivity and health equity across our content. (Not to toot our own horn.) 

We don’t publish health content before our experts have verified that it’s medically accurate, bolstered by up-to-date research citations, and aligned with the current standard of care (as determined by diagnostic and treatment guidelines). In short, our health content accurately reflects the conversations and decision points that happen between you and your provider. 

To verify that an article on Greatist has met these standards, look for the medical review label on our articles.

Read more about our editorial process here, including our commitment to conscious language.

Meet Our Team

  • Megan Nelson, AM

    Director, Medical Network

    Megan Nelson brings her years of consulting and relationship management experience to lead the strategy of Healthline Media’s Medical Network and ensure the accuracy and integrity of Healthline’s content, products, and services. She received her master’s degree in social administration from The University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration with a certificate in health administration and policy. Before Healthline Media, Megan held leadership roles in organ and tissue donation education and hospital development.

  • Jenny Yu, MD FACS

    Chief Health Officer

    Jenny Yu joins the Healthline Medical Affairs Team with experience in clinical research, education, and clinical practice. She has experience in clinical operations, research processes, and innovation. Her passion is to educate in the realm of conditions, prevention and wellness. Her role with the Medical Integrity Team is to ensure accurate and consistent medical content in the strategic growth of Healthline.

  • Raven Shelvin

    Program Manager

    Raven Shelvin brings her years of strong research, problem-solving, and relationship-building skills to oversee the relationship management of Healthline’s Medical Network. She earned her BS from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in criminal justice and sociology and is an advocate for mental health awareness within her community. Before joining Healthline, Raven was a physician credentialing specialist within the healthcare staffing industry, where she owned and developed the relationship management of the physician network.

  • Brittany Dickens, MPA

    Program Manager

    Brittany brings her years of relationship building, problem-solving, and evaluation strategy to support Healthline’s Medical Network. She received her master’s degree in public administration from DePaul University with a certificate in health administration and policy. Before joining Healthline, Brittany held roles in the healthcare industry, where she worked to build recruitment resources and relationship management within the physician group.

  • Lin Reish

    Brand and Content Integrity Manager

    Lin Reish joined the Healthline Medical Affairs team after graduating with her B.S. from Vanderbilt University. As a Research Analyst on the Medical Integrity team, Lin is passionate about driving positive change through research, advocacy, and outreach. In her role, Lin collaborates with other members of the team to perform ad and affiliate vetting and healthcare landscape surveillance. Through her work she ensures that Healthline’s content is current, accurate, and trustworthy and helps Healthline set industry standards for transparency and safety.

  • Julia Machol

    Brand and Content Integrity Senior Associate

    Julia Machol brings her passion for equity and access to healthcare to Healthline Media’s Medical Affairs team. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in physics from the University of California, Los Angeles, applying her analytical skill set to her work as a Brand and Content Integrity Associate. Her work helps verify the accuracy and integrity of Healthline’s content.

  • Nia Davis

    Brand and Content Integrity Associate

    Nia Davis joined RVO Health bringing her common interest in communications strategy and research in the health and wellness space. Nia is passionate about collaborating on DEI efforts and health and wellness opportunities across all industry standards. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in mass communication from Shaw University, Through her work with Brand and Content Integrity she is dedicated to informing fact-based research for Healthline’s content.

  • Naomi Tellez-Duran

    Brand and Content Integrity Associate

    Naomi Tellez-Duran joined Healthline as an Associate Market Editor after graduating with a Bachelor of Arts from Queens University of Charlotte. Naomi’s drive for fact-finding, analysis, and editing evolved into Healthline’s Brand and Content Integrity team. Through her role, Naomi ensures the integrity and reputation of brands and products align with RVO Health standards.

  • Natalie Eller

    Brand and Content Integrity Associate

    Natalie Eller joins RVO Health with an educational background in health communication and professional experience in the clinical trial space. In her undergraduate studies at Northern Kentucky University, she participated in several qualitative research studies with topics spanning the health communication field. These opportunities allowed Natalie to pursue her passion for health literacy while learning valuable skills like data analysis, critical thinking, and collaboration. Through her work, Natalie is able to make an impact on the world by providing medically accurate health information.

  • Lisa Valente, MS, RD

    Medical Integrity Manager

    Lisa Valente is a registered dietitian with over a decade of editorial experience working with health and nutrition content. She loves breaking down complex science and health information, making it easier for people to understand, while maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the content. Lisa holds a Master of Science in nutrition communications from the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and completed her dietetic internship at Massachusetts General Hospital.

  • Meredith Goodwin, MD FAAFP

    Clinical Advisor

    Meredith Goodwin joins the RVO Health Medical Affairs team with experience providing medical review for the Healthline Media family of brands. She also has experience as a practicing family physician, including birth-to-grave care, occupational health, and telemedicine. She brings her knowledge of academics, medical editing, and medical copywriting. She describes herself as a “computer enthusiast, ” with a passion to help make healthcare overall more accessible. Meredith graduated from Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, completed her residency at UCLA, and has been on faculty at Brown University School of Medicine, The Florida State University College of Medicine, and Central Michigan University College of Medicine.

  • Rose Aka-James, MPH

    Senior Project Manager, Health Equity & Social Impact

    Rose Aka-James joins RVO Health with over a decade of experience working in social science research, community-centered health equity programming, and cultivating cross sector partnerships to improve maternal and reproductive health, youth mental health, HIV/AIDs, and food security in the U.S. and internationally. She’s a passionate advocate for equity, access, social justice and communication. In her role on the HESI team, she collaborates across business units to expand literacy, leads high-impact partnerships, facilitates DEI checkpoints for RVOH’s content, people, and products, and elevates important health inequities through social impact initiatives. Rose has a Master of Public Health degree from the New York University College of Global Public Health.

Medical Network

  • Nicole Aaronson, MD, MBA, CPE, FACS, FAAP

    Dr. Nicole Leigh Aaronson is an ABMS board certified otolaryngologist with fellowship training in pediatric otolaryngology. She currently practices in Wilmington, Delaware, and Deptford, New Jersey. She completed her residency at Yale New Haven Hospital in Connecticut and her fellowship at UPMC Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania.

  • Shilpa Amin, MD, CAQ, FAAFP

    Dr. Shilpa Amin is an ABMS board certified physician specializing in family medicine, geriatrics, and integrative medicine. Dr. Amin’s clinical work experience has ranged from private internal medicine and family practice to urgent care, long-term care, and public health. Dr. Amin is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

  • Jennifer Archibald, DDS

    Dr. Jennifer Archibald is a board certified general dentist in the United States and Canada. She works in private dental practice and is also a research assistant in the department of dentistry at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard School of Dental Medicine.

  • Bukky Aremu, APRN

    Bukky Aremu is an advanced practice registered nurse. Bukky has experience in family practice and urgent care, and she also specializes in dermatology. She especially enjoys the diversity of dermatology and being able to treat medical, surgical, and even cosmetic patients.

  • Mia Armstrong, MD

    Dr. Mia Armstrong is an ABMS board certified pediatrician and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (FAAP). Dr. Armstrong loves sharing with others and helping families learn to be healthy.

  • Emelia “Mimi” Arquilla, DO

    Dr. Emelia “Mimi” Arquilla is an ABMS board certified family medicine physician. They are an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine. They also practice primary care at Mile Square Health Center, a federally qualified health center that focuses on the needs of the underserved. They have special expertise in LGBTQ+ inclusive healthcare, gender-affirming care, addiction medicine, chronic disease management, and care for the homeless.

  • Melissa Badowski, PharmD, MPH, FCCP

    Dr. Melissa E. Badowski is a pharmacotherapy and infectious diseases specialist. Dr. Badowski assists in the medication management of people living with HIV and other infectious diseases in Chicago, Illinois.

  • Angelica Balingit, MD

    Dr. Angelica Balingit is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician. She has vast experience in treating adult conditions in the hospital, outpatient clinic, assisted living facility, home, and via telemedicine. Her special interests include hypertension, diabetes, arthritis, and anemia.

  • Stella Bard, MD

    Dr. Stella Bard is an ABMS board certified rheumatologist with more than 10 years of hands-on experience in managing complex rheumatologic concerns. She is currently a practicing physician in the states of New York and Texas.

  • Marina Basina, MD

    Dr. Marina Basina is an ABMS board certified endocrinologist specializing in diabetes mellitus type 1 and 2, diabetes technology, thyroid nodules, and thyroid cancer. She is currently a clinical associate professor at Stanford University School of Medicine and is a medical director of inpatient diabetes at Stanford Hospital.

  • Angela M. Bell, MD, FACP

    Dr. Angela M. Bell is an ABMS board certified physician, specializing in internal medicine and sports medicine. She practices in the south side of Chicago, in the treatment of sports and musculoskeletal injuries in athletes and nonathletes.

  • Adam Bernstein, MD, ScD

    Dr. Adam Bernstein is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician specializing in lifestyle medicine. He received his doctor of medicine from Boston University and his doctor of science (nutrition) from Harvard University. Dr. Bernstein is also a diplomate of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine.

  • Roger Bielinski, MD

    Dr. Roger Bielinski is an ABMS board certified urologist who was in private practice in Chicago for 38 years. In addition, he previously served as president of his hospital’s medical staff and also served on his hospital’s board of directors.

  • Alana Biggers, MD, MPH

    Dr. Alana Biggers is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician. She is an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, where she specializes in internal medicine.

  • Matthew Boland, PhD

    Dr. Matt Boland is a licensed clinical psychologist who conducts structured assessment and psychotherapy with medical patients and mental health consumers in Reno, Nevada. He also conducts original research on posttraumatic stress and emotional regulation in clinical disorders, teaches university courses on related topics, and he helps train psychiatry residents in a medical school setting.

  • Kerry Boyle D.Ac., L.Ac.

    Dr. Kerry Boyle is a nationally board certified licensed acupuncturist. Dr. Boyle is a 2003 graduate of Bastyr University, where she studied acupuncture and integrative medicine. She specializes in women’s health and pain management at her private practice, Integrative Acupuncture, in Vermont.

  • Alex Brewer, Pharm.D., MBA

    Dr. Alex Brewer is a certified pharmacist specializing in chronic disease and health and wellness. Dr. Brewer is also a consultant for Rx Studio, a pharmacokinetic modeling platform.

  • Janet Brito, PhD, PSY, LCSW, CST

    Dr. Janet Brito is a nationally certified Latinx sex therapist, supervisor, speaker, trainer, and author. Dr. Brito is the founder and owner of the Hawaii Center for Sexual and Relationship Health, a group practice that specializes in relationship and sex therapy, out of control sexual behavior, and gender and sexually diverse populations, and The Sexual Health School, an online training program for healthcare professionals seeking human sexuality training.

  • Heather Bruce, PharmD

    Dr. Heather Bruce is a clinical pharmacist with a breadth of experience in healthcare. Her expertise includes medication therapy management, drug information, medical writing, pharmacovigilance, and managed care. She is also certified to provide immunizations and medication therapy services. Currently, she lives and practices in Missouri.

  • Daniel Bubnis, MS, NASM-CPT, NASE Level II-CSS

    Daniel Bubnis is a nationally certified personal trainer who works independently in the Scranton, Pennsylvania area. His specialties include exercise science, health promotion, wellness, and fitness.

  • Amanda Caldwell, MSN, APRN-C

    Amanda Caldwell is a nurse practitioner in dermatology. She is certified by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (AANP) as a family nurse practitioner. She currently practices at KMC Dermatology in Kansas. She has diverse experience in family medicine, neurology, and dermatology. Caldwell strives to provide compassionate and patient-centered care in all aspects of both general and cosmetic dermatology.

  • Nancy Carteron, MD, FACR

    Dr. Nancy Carteron is an ABMS board certified internist, consultant rheumatologist, and multidisciplinary Sjögren’s clinic team member. She is a health sciences clinical professor at the University of California, Berkeley School of Optometry, and a clinical professor of medicine (volunteer) at the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine.

  • Lauren Castiello, MS, AGNP-C

    Lauren Castiello is a board certified adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner. Prior to becoming a registered nurse, she worked in diabetes research at Joslin Diabetes Center in Boston. Lauren has done nurse practitioner clinical practicums focusing on the adolescent, adult, and geriatric populations in internal medicine, long-term care, and outpatient oncology/bone marrow transplant.

  • Adithya Cattamanchi, MD

    Dr. Adithya Cattamanchi is an ABMS board certified pulmonologist who also specializes in critical care medicine. He currently practices at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center and is an associate professor of medicine at University of California, San Francisco.

  • Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie, MPAS, PA-C

    Cynthia Taylor Chavoustie is an experienced physician assistant specializing in urgent care, family medicine, and gastroenterology. She has been a licensed physician assistant since 2001 and has clinical experience with all ages and in many environments.

  • Jeffrey Chen, MD, MBA

    Dr. Jeff Chen, MD, MBA, is the founder and former executive director of the UCLA Cannabis Research Initiative (one of the first in the world), which he grew to include more than 40 faculty conducting cannabis and hemp research, education, and policy projects. He is the co-founder/CEO of Radicle Science, a health tech company validating natural medicines for the first time in history.

  • Kim Chin, RD

    Kim Chin is a registered dietitian and foodie at heart. She works in corporate wellness and provides nutrition counseling in the San Francisco Bay Area. Her passion is connecting with people through food and helping them obtain a balanced life.

  • Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN

    Dr. Cynthia Cobb is a nurse practitioner specializing in women’s health, aesthetics and cosmetics, and skin care. Dr. Cobb is a faculty member at Walden University and University of Louisiana, and she is also the founder and owner of the medical spa Allure Enhancement Center.

  • Joshua Copel, MD

    Dr. Joshua Copel is an ABMS board certified Yale Medicine specialist in obstetrics and gynecology with subspecialty certification in maternal-fetal medicine. In addition to his active clinical practice of ultrasound in pregnancy, he is the assistant dean for clinical affairs at Yale School of Medicine. He is a professor of obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences, and pediatrics at Yale School of Medicine.

  • Matt Coward, MD, FACS

    Dr. Matt Coward is an ABMS board certified urologist specializing in reproductive urology whose areas of expertise are men’s health and male infertility. He is also an associate professor of urology at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, the director of male reproductive medicine and surgery at UNC Fertility in Raleigh, North Carolina, and the fellowship director of the UNC Men’s Health Fellowship.

  • Raj Dasgupta, M.D.

    Dr. Raj Dasgupta is an ABMS quadruple board certified physician specializing in internal medicine, pulmonology, critical care, and sleep medicine. He practices at the University of Southern California, where he is an associate professor of clinical medicine, assistant program director of the Internal Medicine Residency Program, and the associate program director of the Sleep Medicine Fellowship. Dr. Dasgupta is an active clinical researcher and has been teaching around the world for more than 18 years.

  • Brittany A. Duke, PharmD RPh

    Dr. Brittany Duke is a pharmacogenomics certified pharmacist and freelance health writer. She is the founder and owner of Rx Care Consulting, a Maryland-based pharmacy consulting company specializing in pharmacogenomics and long-term care health content writing services. Dr. Duke also works as a global regulatory manager at Bristol Myers Squibb.

  • Katherine E. Duncan, MD

    Dr. Katherine Duncan is an ABMS board certified ophthalmologist specializing in comprehensive ophthalmology, cataract surgery, and oculoplastic surgery. Dr. Duncan completed a fellowship in orbital, oculoplastic, and aesthetic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

  • Maya Feller, MS, RD, CDN

    Maya Feller of Brooklyn-based Maya Feller Nutrition is a registered dietitian nutritionist and nationally recognized nutrition expert. Her practice provides medical nutrition therapy for the management and risk reduction of noncommunicable diseases. She believes in providing nutrition education with an anti-bias, patient-centered, culturally sensitive approach. Maya is dedicated to helping the public make informed food choices.

  • Imashi Fernando, MS, RDN, CDCES

    Imashi Fernando is a Seattle-based registered dietitian nutritionist and diabetes educator specializing in wellness and chronic disease management through sustainable, culturally appropriate nutrition and lifestyle modifications. Imashi works in a large hospital system as a clinical dietitian and provides one-on-one nutrition counseling through her virtual private practice, Brown Sugar Nutrition PLLC.

  • Dominique Fontaine, BSN, RN, HNB-BC, HWNC

    Dominique Fontaine is a holistic nurse, a health and wellness nurse coach, a holistic nurse educator, and a medical cannabis nurse coach and consultant. She specializes in homeostasis regulation in psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology ailments with clients to rediscover purpose and enhance quality of life. Dominique is a passionate nurse disability advocate who strives to transform healthcare and culture through awareness, education, and integrative nursing.

  • Christine Frank, DDS

    Dr. Christine Frank is a general dentist. Dr. Frank is also a dental consultant for an insurance carrier and has worked for a county health department, screening elementary school children.

  • Sara N. Frye, OD, MPH, FAAO

    Dr. Sara N. Frye is an optometrist with over 13 years of experience in both academia and private practice. She currently works as a clinical project lead in Clinical Development & Medical Affairs at Alcon. Her area of focus is monofocal and toric IOLs and injectors.

  • Raechele Cochran Gathers, MD

    Dr. Raechele Cochran Gathers is an ABMS board certified dermatologist and a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology. She is passionate about health literacy, and she is the founder of MDhairmixtress.com, a health and wellness website focusing on skin, hair, and wellness.

  • Sanaz Ghazal, MD, FACOG

    Sanaz Ghazal is an ABMS board certified reproductive endocrinology and infertility specialist and OB/GYN. As the co-founder and medical director of RISE Fertility in California, she specializes in the management of all aspects of female and male infertility. She is dedicated to demystifying fertility, educating about reproductive health, and empowering others to achieve their family-building goals.

  • Karen Richardson Gill, MD

    Dr. Karen Gill is an ABMS board certified pediatrician whose expertise includes breastfeeding, nutrition, obesity prevention, and childhood sleep and behavior issues. She currently lives and practices in Portland, Oregon.

  • Ann Marie Griff, OD

    Dr. Ann Marie Griff is an optometrist actively practicing in the state of Washington. In addition to optometry, Dr. Griff also has expertise in energy medicine, reiki, nutrition, and yoga.

  • Nancy Hammond, MD

    Dr. Nancy Hammond is an ABMS board certified neurologist specializing in epilepsy. Dr. Hammond works as a clinical associate professor of neurology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and is also the owner of Envision Neurology.

  • Seunggu Han, MD

    Dr. Seunggu Han is an ABMS board certified neurological surgeon and an associate clinical professor in the department of neurological surgery at Stanford. He currently practices in Salinas and Santa Cruz, California. His interests include surgical neuro-oncology, traumatic brain injury, and quality improvement in surgery.

  • Catherine Hannan, MD

    Dr. Catherine Hannan is an ABMS board certified plastic surgeon. She is the chief of the plastic surgery division at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Dr. Hannan’s practice focuses on general reconstruction, skin cancer, breast surgery and reconstruction, wound care, and limb preservation. Dr. Hannan also performs cosmetic plastic surgery at West End Plastic Surgery in Washington, D.C.

  • Stacy A. Henigsman, DO

    Dr. Stacy Henigsman is a physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. She currently practices in a private practice in California where she developed a special interest in minimally invasive gynecologic surgical procedures.

  • Danielle Hildreth, RN, CPT

    Danielle Hildreth is a registered nurse and certified personal trainer. She works full time in a labor and delivery unit, and her fitness background includes personal training, HIIT, yoga sculpt, and dance.

  • Adam Hotchkiss, DPM

    Dr. Adam Hotchkiss is a podiatrist and foot and ankle surgeon practicing in Detroit. He specializes in reconstructive, traumatic, and cosmetic foot surgery, sports medicine, wound care, and diabetic foot care.

  • Uzochukwu Ibe, MD, MPH

    Dr. Uzochukwu Ibe is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician and a general cardiologist. He completed his fellowship in interventional cardiology in Ohio and now practices in Missouri.

  • Joslyn Jelinek, LCSW, CYT

    Joslyn Jelinek is a licensed social worker specializing in perinatal mental health and chronic pain. She is the founder of Chicago Human Potential and practices with a group of behavioral health clinicians in Chicago, Illinois.

  • Marie Lorraine Johnson MS, RD, CPT

    Marie Lorraine Johnson works as an outpatient dietitian at Bright Sky Nutrition in Missouri, where she specializes in weight loss, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease treatment, and diabetes remission. She also works as a personal trainer and fitness instructor teaching interval-based cycling classes at Cyclebar.

  • Thomas Johnson, MPAS, PA-C

    Thomas Johnson is a physician assistant who specializes in pulmonology and sleep medicine. He has been a full-time practitioner since 2004. He treats many diseases, including COPD, asthma, obstructive sleep apnea, and narcolepsy. He is part of a large group practice in northwestern Pennsylvania.

  • Jerlyn Jones, MS MPA RDN LD CLT

    Jerlyn Jones is a registered dietitian nutritionist, national media spokesperson, nutrition writer, and owner of The Lifestyle Dietitian LLC, an Atlanta-based nutrition consulting practice. She specializes in integrative nutrition with an emphasis on food sensitivities, digestive problems, and women’s health.

  • Bethany Juby, PsyD

    Dr. Bethany Juby is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in trauma recovery and stress management. She founded Juby Clinical Services, LLC to provide psychotherapy to adults via teletherapy, utilizing acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) and eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR). She is licensed to provide teletherapy in 39 states, including Illinois and Arizona, through the Psychology Interjurisdictional Compact (PSYPACT).

  • Amanda Kallen, MD

    Dr. Amanda N. Kallen is an ABMS board certified reproductive endocrinologist and an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Kallen’s current research program is focused on the investigation of the molecular mechanisms underlying ovarian aging. Her clinical interests include pediatric and adolescent gynecology and endocrinology, infertility, and premature ovarian insufficiency.

  • Monica Kean, PharmD

    Dr. Monica Kean is a clinical pharmacist with experience in hospital pharmacy and long-term care. She has experience helping patients in internal medicine, emergency medicine, and critical and hospice care. Dr. Kean currently practices as a clinical pharmacist at Texas Arlington Memorial Hospital.

  • Tanya Kertsman, PharmD

    Dr. Tanya Kertsman is a pharmacist with experience in medical information, and finds meaning in empowering readers with the knowledge they need to advocate for themselves and make well-informed health decisions. Dr. Kertsman previously worked in pharmaceutical medical affairs and was responsible for ensuring that medical content reflected accurate and evidence-based research.

  • Dana Kim, PharmD

    Dr. Dana Kim is a clinical pharmacist. She has practiced as a home infusion pharmacist and has been writing clinical communications for patients and professionals for more than a decade.

  • Madeline Knott, MD

    Dr. Madeline Knott is an ABMS board certified family medicine doctor. Her professional interests are broad and range from pediatrics to geriatrics to women’s health. She currently practices in Tennessee.

  • Meir Kryger, MD, FRCP(C)

    Dr. Meir Kryger is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician specializing in pulmonary and sleep medicine. He is a professor of medicine at Yale University and is also a practicing physician at Yale Medicine. He is on the Board of Directors of the National Sleep Foundation in Washington, D.C.

  • Kendra Kubala, PsyD

    Dr. Kendra Kubala is a licensed psychologist specializing in working with survivors of trauma. She is licensed in both Pennsylvania and New York and works in private practice.

  • Francis Kuehnle, MSN, RN-BC

    Mx. Francis Kuehnle is a registered nurse whose main areas of interest include therapeutic communication, compassionate care of patients experiencing psychosis, and LGBTQIA+ language. They are a faculty member at the University of Iowa College of Nursing and teach mental health nursing to undergraduate pre-licensure students.

  • Deena Kuruvilla, MD

    Dr. Deena Kuruvilla is an ABMS board certified neurologist and a United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties (UCNS) certified headache and facial pain specialist. Dr. Kuruvilla has special interests in procedural and complementary and integrative medicine.

  • Micky Lal, MA, CSCS,RYT

    Micky Lal is a certified strength and conditioning specialist and a registered yoga teacher. Micky is a gym owner in California, where he holds personal training/health coaching sessions. He teaches classes on topics which include exercise, weight loss, stress management, sleep, and healthy eating.

  • Lori Lawrenz, PsyD

    Dr. Lori Lawrenz is a clinical psychologist and AASECT certified sex therapist. She has been a licensed psychologist since 2000, with licenses in Missouri and Hawaii. She currently practices in Honolulu, Hawaii. Dr. Lawrenz is passionate about addressing trauma, shame, grief, and mental health issues to assist her patients to live productive and happy lives free of shame.

  • Angela Ryan Lee MD, FACC

    Dr. Angela Ryan Lee is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician specializing in cardiology. She is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the National Lipid Association and the American Society for Echocardiography. She lives in Dallas, Texas and provides consulting services related to cardiovascular disease and health communication.

  • Susan W. Lee, DO

    Dr. Susan W. Lee is an ABMS board certified neurologist with fellowship training in clinical neurophysiology. She currently practices in Los Angeles, California, and her subspecialty interests include the management of epilepsy and headache disorders.

  • Jennifer Litner, PhD, LMFT, CST

    Dr. Jennifer Litner is a sexologist, a licensed marriage and family therapist, and a certified sex therapist. Dr. Litner is the founder of Embrace Sexual Wellness, a Chicago-based wellness center specializing in confidential, comprehensive care in sexual health through the integration of psychotherapy and educational programming for teens, parents, and healthcare professionals. Her expertise includes helping clients improve sexual functioning and satisfaction, loss of intimacy, and pain during sex. Her research explores comprehensive sexuality education and relationship satisfaction.

  • Katherine Marengo, LDN, RD

    Katherine Marengo is a clinical registered dietitian. She specialized as a certified nutrition support dietitian (CNSD) in New Orleans at the Medical Center of Louisiana, the No. 2 Level I trauma center in the nation.

  • Harshil Matta, DO

    Dr. Harshil Matta is an ABMS board certified sports medicine fellow physician at SUNY-Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Matta’s practice interests include sports medicine and primary care.

  • Erik Mayville, PHD, BCBA-D

    Dr. Erik Mayville is a clinical psychologist specializing in neurodevelopmental disorders, specifically autism spectrum disorder. He maintains an independent practice in Fairfield, Connecticut, where he works with tri-state area children, families, and school staff.

  • Jared Meacham, Ph.D., RD, PMP, MBA, CSCS

    Dr. Jared Meacham is a registered dietitian, fitness professional, and educator. He manages the global fitness and wellness programming for an international development institution, teaches at the university level, and practices dietetics in a variety of settings.

  • Gregory Minnis, DPT

    Dr. Gregory Minnis is a physical therapist with an interest in orthopedic manual therapy. His work experience includes orthopedic physical therapy, sports medicine, neurological rehab, advanced assessment and treatment of running injuries, and advanced treatment of the pelvic complex, spine, and extremities.

  • Heidi Moawad, MD

    Dr. Heidi Moawad is a neurologist and teaches at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland. She serves on the editorial board of the Neurology Clinical Practice and is a reviewer for Neurology.

  • John A. Moawad, MD

    Dr. John Moawad is an ABMS board certified vascular surgeon and associate professor of surgery at Northeast Ohio Medical University. He practices in Akron, Ohio. Dr. Moawad treats patients with vascular disease using the most appropriate medical, endovascular, or surgical approach.

  • Michaela Murphy, PA-C

    Michaela Murphy is a nationally certified physician assistant with 15 years of experience in infectious disease, primary and urgent care, and women’s health. She is passionate about patient care, research, writing, mental health, and wellness.

  • Victor Nguyen, PharmD, MBA

    Dr. Victor Nguyen is a licensed pharmacist who works as a pharmaceutical consultant. He works for Curta Consulting, where his projects involve various therapeutic areas including chronic and rare diseases. His expertise is in developing communication tools and economic modeling.

  • Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH

    Dr. Valinda Nwadike is an ABMS board certified physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. She has over sixteen years of experience performing deliveries and gynecologic surgeries and currently works as a clinical instructor and supervises residents.

  • Darragh O’Carroll, MD

    Dr. Darragh O’Carroll is an ABMS board certified emergency physician specializing in emergency, disaster, climate, and COVID-19 medicine. Currently practicing in Hawaii, Dr. O’Carroll has practiced in the busiest trauma center in the world, located in South Africa, and provided disaster relief in the Bahamas after Hurricane Dorian.

  • Ifeanyi Olele DO, MBA, MS

    Dr. Ifeanyi Olele is a board certified psychiatrist. He is the CEO and co-founder of Genesis Psychiatric Solutions, serving patients in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, and he also treats patients virtually in California and Florida. In the past, Dr. Olele has served as a medical director of outpatient mental health clinics in Maryland and D.C. He is passionate about using social media to normalize mental health and break stigmas.

  • Jennie Olopaade, PharmD, RPH

    Dr. Jennie Olopaade is a clinical pharmacist with an interest in critical care. She has practiced as a hospital pharmacist for more than 10 years, and she has strong clinical knowledge in pharmacokinetics, accurate reviews, and organization of student programs.

  • Damilola Omopariola, PharmD, BCACP

    Dr. Damilola Omopariola is a residency trained, board certified ambulatory care pharmacist practicing in the Washington, D.C., metro area. Dr. Omopariola specializes in clinical pharmacy and chronic disease management, and she works at Kaiser Permanente as a clinical pharmacist lead. She is passionate about improving health equity and access to care for underserved populations.

  • Alissa Palladino, MS, RDN, LD, CPT

    Alissa Palladino is a registered dietitian and certified personal trainer based in Atlanta, Georgia. Alissa has worked in a variety of corporate, community, medical, and fitness settings with diverse audiences supporting a range of health conditions and goals. Her focus areas include sports nutrition, weight management, diabetes, high blood pressure/cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease.

  • Henry S. Park, MD, MPH

    Dr. Henry S. Park is an ABMS board certified thoracic radiation oncologist at Yale Medicine. Dr. Park specializes in treating lung cancers and head and neck cancers. He cares for patients at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut. He uses advanced radiation techniques such as stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, and intensity-modulated radiation therapy.

  • Ami D. Patel, PharmD, BCPS

    Dr. Ami D. Patel is a board certified pharmacotherapy specialist and a licensed clinical pharmacist specializing in internal medicine and preventative healthcare. She is passionate about providing evidence-based education and empowering people to take control of their health. She is the host of a podcast and provides consulting on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) through her company, PCOS Holistic Coach.

  • Reema Patel, MPA, PA-C

    Reema Patel is a physician assistant specializing in dermatological skin conditions and aesthetic medicine who has a special interest in treating skin of color. She has previously worked in the emergency room as a physician assistant and for several years in a cosmetic plastic surgery office, gaining experience in aesthetic dermatology.

  • Sheel Patel, MD

    Dr. Sheel Patel is an ABMS board certified physician in hematology, oncology, and internal medicine. Dr. Patel is a practicing physician at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Florida. He specializes in genitourinary oncology.

  • Alyssa Peckham, PharmD, BCPP

    Dr. Alyssa Peckham is a board certified psychiatric clinical pharmacist specializing in various psychiatric and substance use disorders. Prior to her current role in the pharmaceutical industry, she practiced in the Bridge Clinic at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, which is a low-threshold, harm-reduction clinic for people with substance use disorders.

  • Alexandra Perez, PharmD, MBA, BCGP

    Dr. Alexandra Perez is a geriatric pharmacist specializing in chronic disease state management. She has experience collaborating with healthcare providers in primary care clinics, optimizing medication regimens. She also has experience in clinical informatics partnering with pharmaceutical companies to help them leverage real world clinical data to perform research studies.

  • Carla Prophete, PA-C

    Carla E. Prophete is a certified bilingual Haitian American hospitalist medicine and OB-GYN physician assistant. Carla is passionate about diversity in medicine, especially pertaining to women’s health. She has served as diversity chair of her PA program and works as a mentor for pre-PA students of diverse backgrounds. Carla has experience as a hospitalist PA throughout the start and height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She is currently working as an OB-GYN PA in a diverse and underserved community.

  • Skye D. Quamina, Au.D., CCC-A, F-AAA

    Dr. Skye Quamina is a board-certified audiologist specializing in adult diagnostics, compensation & pension examinations for veterans, vestibular assessments, and hearing aid selection, fitting, and troubleshooting. She is currently serving veterans in Florida, helping them pursue compensation for hearing loss and tinnitus due to military noise exposure and auditory trauma.

  • Leela Raju, MD

    Dr. Leela Raju is an ABMS board certified ophthalmologist and an associate professor at NYU Langone Health Center in New York. Dr. Raju’s research focuses are ocular surface treatment and reconstruction, and herpetic eye disease and factors to reduce recurrence. She has a special interest in international eye care and is currently involved with the Eye Foundation of America and the Goutami Eye Institute in India and Ghana.

  • Sarika Ramachandran, MD

    Dr. Sarika Manoj Ramachandran is an ABMS board certified dermatologist at Yale Medicine and medical director of the Branford, Connecticut, location. She is also an associate professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. Her clinical and research focus is in medical dermatology, with a special interest in rheumatologic dermatology conditions such as cutaneous lupus, scleroderma, and morphea.

  • Tahirah Redhead, MPAS, PA-C, MPH

    Tahirah Redhead is a board certified physician assistant specializing in obstetrics and gynecology. She is passionate about women’s health and centers her studies on health literacy and education surrounding contraceptive health. She is currently an OB-GYN PA in an underserved, minority community.

  • Akilah Reynolds, PhD

    Dr. Akilah Reynolds is a licensed psychologist in California. She practices at an academic psychiatric center and in private practice. Dr. Reynolds specializes in child psychology, parenting, depression and anxiety, and work-life balance.

  • Amy Richter, RD

    Amy Richter is a registered dietitian who specializes in skin conditions and gut health. She owns The Acne Dietitian, a blog and private practice dedicated to helping people with acne achieve clear skin using diet and lifestyle changes.

  • Vrinda Rio, PharmD

    Dr. Vrinda Rio is a licensed clinical pharmacist in Rhode Island. While most of her career has been in managed care and pharmacy benefit management, she’s also a consultant in different areas of healthcare.

  • Jenneh Rishe, RN

    Jenneh Rishe is a registered nurse, having worked in many different specialty areas, such as internal medicine, trauma, kidney transplant, oncology, and leukemia/bone marrow transplant. She is the founder of The Endometriosis Coalition, a nonprofit organization focused on spreading awareness and promoting reliable education for endometriosis.

  • Dannell Roberts, PhD, BCBA-D

    Dr. Dannell Roberts is a licensed psychologist and licensed behavior analyst in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. She specializes in evaluations of childhood disorders such as autism spectrum disorders, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and learning disorders. She also specializes in behavioral treatments of common childhood disorders based on the principles of applied behavior analysis. Dr. Roberts is the co-owner and program director of Will’s Way, LLC, a private practice in Hattiesburg.

  • Kimberley Rose-Francis RDN, CDCES, CNSC, LD

    Kimberley Rose-Francis is a Florida-based registered dietitian nutritionist who specializes in food and nutrition. Her inclusive approach and philosophy revolve around “making nutrition easy and attainable.” She does this by addressing common and complex food and wellness topics. Kim is also passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, specifically as it relates to food justice.

  • Yalda Safai, MD, MPH

    Dr. Yalda Safai is a psychiatrist in New York City. She currently works in telepsychiatry, treating people in California, Connecticut, Florida, and New York. She specializes in high functioning depression and anxiety disorders.

  • Elizabeth Scheffel, PharmD

    Dr. Elizabeth Scheffel is a board certified ambulatory care clinical pharmacist and certified diabetes care and education specialist practicing in Arizona. She specializes in chronic disease state management.

  • Julie Scott, DNP, ANP-BC, AOCNP

    Dr. Julie Scott is an oncology certified nurse practitioner. She practices clinically in a community medical clinic. Additionally, she serves as an adjunct faculty member in a master’s in nursing program at a local university.

  • Adrienne Seitz, M.S., R.D., LDN

    Adrienne Seitz is a registered dietitian and licensed dietitian nutritionist. She is a practicing dietitian and cook in Sarasota, Florida, where she prepares healthy and delicious food at a country club. Adrienne’s special interests are plant-based diets, gastrointestinal diseases, and intuitive eating.

  • Faith Selchick DNP, APRN, AOCNP

    Dr. Faith Selchick is a board certified adult oncology nurse practitioner and an adult-gerontology primary care nurse practitioner specializing in oncology. Currently, she is the associate director of medical strategy at a network of oncology healthcare and scientific communications agencies. Previously, she was an oncology nurse practitioner with over 10 years of experience. She also writes continuing education content and modules for nurses and advanced practice registered nurses.

  • Saurabh Sethi, MD, MPH

    Dr. Saurabh Sethi is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician specializing in gastroenterology, hepatology, and advanced interventional endoscopy. He is currently a gastroenterology practitioner in the San Francisco Bay Area.

  • Megan Soliman, MD

    Dr. Megan Soliman is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician whose main focus in her clinical practice is patient advocacy. Her research interests include adverse effects of medications and herbal supplements. Dr. Soliman is enthusiastic about “bread and butter” medicine, which includes treating patients with the most common diseases. She also has a passion for reaching underserved communities, including both U.S. and international rural communities.

  • Youssef (Joe) Soliman, MD

    Dr. Joe Soliman is an ABMS board certified internal medicine physician. He is a gastroenterologist at Cancer Treatment Centers of America. Dr. Soliman is passionate about acquiring, organizing, and disseminating accurate medical knowledge.

  • Carissa Stephens, RN, CCRN, CPN

    Carissa Stephens is a pediatric nurse, with a special expertise in extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). She is currently a nurse in a pediatric intensive care unit at Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas.

  • Jenna Stoddard, OD

    Dr. Jenna Stoddard is a residency-trained optometrist currently practicing in North Carolina. Following optometry school, she finished her ocular disease residency at the Baltimore VA Medical Center in Maryland. She is a fellow of the American Academy of Optometry.

  • Sharon Stoll, DO, MS

    Dr. Sharon Stoll is an ABMS board certified neurologist at Yale Medicine who specializes in multiple sclerosis (MS) and is also an assistant professor in the department of neurology at Yale School of Medicine. Dr. Stoll continues to play an active role in academic development and continuing medical education (CME) and serves as the course director for Yale’s annual MS CME program.

  • Courtney Sullivan, CYT

    Courtney Sullivan is a professional yoga instructor with extensive experience. Courtney currently owns and operates a yoga-inspired preschool program in North Carolina. She is certified in Kripalu Yoga, Yoga Trance Dance, and Yoga Booty Ballet, as well as being a professional youth dance instructor.

  • Debra Sullivan, PhD, MSN, RN, CNE, COI

    Dr. Debra Sullivan is a nurse educator with over 20 years of teaching experience. Her expertise includes cardiology, psoriasis and dermatology, pediatrics, complementary medicine, and workplace burnout syndrome. She has held many leadership roles in her nursing career.

  • Tiffany Taft, PsyD

    Dr. Tiffany Taft is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in the psychological and social effects of chronic medical illness. She is the founder of Oak Park Behavioral Medicine LLC, an independent private practice of psychologists, social workers, and counselors near Chicago. She is also a research associate professor and director of psychogastroenterology research at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

  • Vincent J. Tavella, DVM, MPH

    Vincent Tavella is an associate veterinarian at a small animal hospital in the greater Richmond area of Virginia. His special interests include population health, preventative medicine, the human-animal bond, emergency disease response, epidemiology, and evidence based medicine. Vincent is also passionate about international veterinary medicine and agriculture and participates in veterinary missions trips to developing nations.

  • Eloise Theisen, RN, MSN, AGPCNP-BC

    Eloise Theisen is an adult geriatric nurse practitioner with more than 20 years experience in nursing, including 14 years of oncology at John Muir Health in Walnut Creek, California. Eloise also started her own cannabis practice.

  • Teresa Hagan Thomas PHD, BA, RN

    Dr. Teresa Hagan Thomas is a registered nurse specializing in oncology and is a scientist at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. Dr. Thomas has an active, funded program of research focusing on promoting patient self-advocacy among individuals with cancer, including testing patient interventions to promote self-advocacy, patient-centered care, and quality of life.

  • Amy Tiersten, MD

    Dr. Amy Tiersten is an ABMS board certified medical oncologist specializing in breast and gynecologic cancers. She is a professor of medicine and the clinical director of breast medical oncology at the Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.

  • Kelsey Trull, PA-C

    Kelsey Trull is an NCCPA-certified physician assistant specializing in gastroenterology. She is currently practicing at Northeast Digestive Health in North Carolina. She has a special interest in hepatology and research.

  • Avi Varma, MD, MPH, AAHIVS, FAAFP

    Dr. Avi Varma is an ABMS board certified family medicine physician and public health advocate working for a nonprofit fighting the HIV epidemic in Atlanta, Georgia. Dr. Varma is an HIV Specialist™ (AAHIVS), certified through the American Academy of HIV Medicine.

  • Alisha D. Vassar-Sellers, PharmD

    Dr. Alisha D. Vassar-Sellers is a managed care pharmacist. She is the pharmacy director for Aetna Better Health of Maryland Medicaid, where she manages the pharmacy benefit and implements clinical and corporate initiatives, targeting various disease states, to improve member outcomes.

  • Nick Villalobos, MD

    Dr. Nick Villalobos is an ABMS board certified internist, pulmonologist, and clinical assistant professor. He is currently part of the San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Education Consortium in the department of pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine at the Brooke Army Medical Center. His focuses include medical education, point-of-care ultrasound/echocardiography, occupational lung disease, and pulmonary vascular diseases.

  • Danielle Wade, LCSW

    Danielle Wade is a licensed clinical social worker who specializes in behavioral health, senior support services, and hospital care management. Danielle is currently a clinical liaison in Colorado, guiding families and assisting medical professionals in transitioning medically complex patients out of hospitals and into skilled nursing and long-term care facilities. She also advocates for infertility awareness, support, coverage, and access to services.

  • Meredith Wallis, MS, APRN, CNM, IBCLC

    Meredith Wallis is a certified nurse-midwife, nurse practitioner, and international board certified lactation consultant (IBCLC) who specializes in out-of-hospital birth, lactation support, and childbirth education. Her professional passions include holistic medicine, vaginal birth after cesarean, and evidence-based care. She currently works in the Health Unit at the U.S. Embassy in Rabat, Morocco.

  • Alyssa Walton, PharmD

    Dr. Alyssa Walton is an experienced clinical pharmacist with a history of working in the hospital and healthcare industries. She has a passion for hospice, pain care, and palliative care. She practices in an oncology clinic in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

  • Kathy Warwick, RD, LD

    Kathy Warwick is a registered dietitian and certified diabetes care and education specialist with more than 35 years of experience in a wide variety of healthcare settings. She is the owner of Professional Nutrition Consultants, LLC, providing inpatient and outpatient diabetes services, long-term care consulting, medical legal consultation, and wellness services.

  • Nicole Washington, DO, MPH

    Dr. Nicole Washington is an ABMS board certified psychiatrist and the chief medical officer of Elocin Psychiatric Services, a primarily virtual practice where she focuses on the mental health needs of the busy professional. Dr. Washington has spent most of her career caring and advocating for people who aren’t typically consumers of mental health services, namely underserved communities and high-performing professionals.

  • Amber Watson, PharmD

    Dr. Amber R. Watson is a pharmacist with specialized training in drug information, medical communication, and clinical data analysis. She is currently the assistant medical director for Nashville Biosciences, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee.

  • Patricia Weiser, PharmD

    Dr. Patricia Weiser is a medical writer and drug information expert. She is dedicated to helping people find reliable medical information online, drawing on more than a decade as a community pharmacist. She strives to create evidence-based content that educates and empowers people to take an active role in their healthcare.

  • Dena Westphalen, PharmD

    Dr. Dena Westphalen is a pharmacist who works in medical affairs supporting clinical trial research in oncology and neurology. In her role, she supports the clinical development and strategy of novel molecules in solid tumors.

  • Daniel Wiznia, MD

    Dr. Daniel Wiznia is an ABMS board certified orthopedic surgeon at Yale Medicine who specializes in total joint replacement and avascular necrosis/osteonecrosis of the femoral head. He is an assistant professor of Orthopaedics and Rehabilitation at Yale School of Medicine and is also an assistant professor of mechanical engineering at Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science. He specializes in core decompression stem cell therapies, robotic total joint replacement, and computer navigation.

  • Amy Elizabeth Wolkin, PT, DPT, MBA

    Dr. Amy Elizabeth Wolkin is a travel physical therapist from Atlanta, Georgia, and is currently based in Alaska. Her clinical interests are outpatient orthopedics, women’s health, and pediatric sports medicine. She has advanced training in dry needling and pelvic floor physical therapy.

  • Kelly Wood, MD

    Dr. Kelly Wood is an ABMS board certified endocrinologist and internal medicine physician who treats adults with diabetes, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, and other hormonal conditions. She achieved her fellowship in endocrinology from University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics.

  • Sirisha Yellayi, DO

    Dr. Sirisha Yellayi is an ABMS board certified family medicine physician. In the fall of 2022, she will be joining the faculty at the Northwestern McGaw Family Medicine Residency at Humboldt Park in Chicago, Illinois.

  • Grace Zhang, MD

    Dr. Grace Zhang is an ABMS board certified ophthalmologist with almost 2 decades of experience. She practices in Santa Rosa, California. Dr. Zhang finds ophthalmology rewarding because she can practice medicine, perform microsurgery, and remain aware of the constantly evolving technology in this field.