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Medical / Dental Providers
Providers
Stephen Grund, MD Chief Medical Officer
Dr. Grund holds a Ph.D. in Genetics from Iowa State University and his M.D. from Harvard University School of Medicine. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Oncology, Hematology, and Palliative Medicine. He has served Assistant Professorships at both Albany Medical College and the University of Connecticut. Most recently, Dr. Grund was Medical Director of Oncology at Eviti of Philadelphia, a web-based decision-support company, providing peer-to-peer evaluation and consultation for non-standard patient care, requiring current detailed knowledge of all malignancies, including rare types.
Lucila Bruno, DMD Dental Director
Dr. Bruno received her D.D.S. from Federal University of Ceara, Brazil where she tutored and did volunteer work with Operation Smile for children with facial malformations. After a year of general practice in Brazil she attended Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine on scholarship where she received her Doctor of Science as well as a year of post-doctorate work in Oral Biology leading to a research associate position. She then attended New York University, College of Dentistry for a D.D.S. to enable her licensure in the U.S. She comes to Caring Health after two years of general practice in the Boston area.
Jane K. Desmarais, LICSW Director of Behavioral Health Department
Jane Desmarais brings to Caring Health Center, 20 years experience as clinician, supervisor, Clinical Site Supervisor, Site Director, Utilization Review Director, Director of Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program. Certified in Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Accelerated Resolution Therapy, Problem Gambling Specialist. Trained in: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing Therapy, Emotion Freedom Therapy, Hypnosis, Group therapies, Narrative therapy, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for children and families.
Chetan Gohil, R.Ph. Pharmacy Manager
Aidette Florimon, MD Pediatrician
Aidette Florimon Dr. Aidette Florimon-Ramirez,MD received her medical degree from Pontificia Universidad Catolica Madre y Maestra in Santiago de los Cabelleros, Domincan Republic. She completed a three year residency training program in Pediatrics at the Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY which is affiliated with NYU Medical College. Dr. Florimon is fluent in Spanish.
Siobhan McNally, MD, MPH Pediatrician & Director of Pediatric Refugee Program
A board certified pediatrician, Dr. McNally is a graduate of Yale College, and holds MD and MPH degrees from University of Massachusetts. She did her pediatric residency at Massachusetts General and Boston Children’s Hospitals, and has spent the bulk of her career caring for underserved populations both in rural and urban areas, both in and outside USA, including Laos, Cambodia, Haiti, Ecuador, Lesvos Greece. She is a member of Physicians for Social Responsibility and Physicians for Human Rights, and in 2006, was awarded the Massachusetts Chapter of Pediatrics Special Achievement Award. Her interests include immigrant and refugee care, nutrition, and environmental health.
Vijay Patel, MD Internal Medicine
Dr. Vijay Patel got his Medical Degree in Goa, India in 1982. Upon arrival in the U.S. he worked as a research assistant with Dr. J.S. Torday on Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome at the Prenatal Labs of Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He did his residency at Salem Hospital, Salem, MA. He has since been a Primary Care Physician at Northside Medical Center in Westfield, Hampden County Medical Group, and the Family Care Medical Center. Dr. Patel currently has hospital privileges at Noble Hospital, Western Massachusetts Hospital, Bay State Medical Center, and Mercy Hospital.
Jayne Rohrbacher, MD Pediatrician
Dr. Rohrbacher is a graduate with honors of Holy Cross College in Worcester, Magna Cum Laude/Phi Beta Kappa. She received her medical degree from Dartmouth Medical School and completed her internship and residency at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. She joins us at Caring Health after extensive experience in a broad variety of medical venues, from emergency room care to group and solo practice in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, Virginia, Maine, Minnesota, Washington, New Hampshire, New York, and Massachusetts.
Abu-Baker Mahmood, DDS Dentist
Dr. Mahmood earned his Bachelor’s Degree of Dentistry Medicine and Surgical Dentistry from Bagdad University College of Dentistry, Iraq. He worked as a general dentist in Jordan for 3 years. After relocating to the United States, he enrolled at the Indiana University School of Dentistry for his DDS which enabled him to receive licensure in the United States. He started out at Caring Health Center as a patient, to medical interpreter, to Dental Assistant, then to Dentist.
Luis E. Castro Ovalle, DDS Dentist
Dr. Castro received his D.D.S. from Colegio Odontologico Colombiano School of Dentistry, in Bogota, Colombia and completed his Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Residency at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana School of Dentistry, in Bogota, Colombia. Following his surgical training in Colombia, he built a practice and served in several clinics in Colombia. Dr Castro practiced the full scope of Oral and Maxillofacial surgery with emphasis in Dento-Alveolar surgery, reconstructive surgery, oral pathology and orthognatic jaw surgery. He relocated to U.S. and after 7 years of practice at Holyoke Health Center, Dr. Castro joins Caring Health Center committed to provide excellent care and service to our patients.
Noreen Orinda, DMD Dentist
Dr. Noreen Orinda is a Board Certified General Dentist. She graduated from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine Boston, Massachusetts with Honors in Clinical Excellence in Geriatric Dentistry. Dr. Orinda has worked in Central and Western Massachusetts with all age groups in both private practice and various community health centers.
Raquel Villar Dentist
Dr. Villar received her DMD from University of the East, Manila Philippines. She did her 2 years of Postdoctoral Residencies at: General Practice Residency (GPR) – in Miami Valley Hospital Dayton, Ohio in 2007-2008 and Advanced Education in General Dentistry (AEGD) at Northwest Dental Residency Program, Yakima, Washington in 2008-2009.
Iqra Vohra, Dentist
Amanda Berthiaume RDH, BS Dental Hygienist
Amanda graduated with honors in 2015 from Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in dental hygiene education at Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, anticipating graduation in May of 2019. A proud ADHA member since 2013, she serves as a student liaison between The Massachusetts Dental Hygiene Association and STCC as well as the 2019 Massachusetts Delegate for the American Dental Hygiene Association. She also serves on the Dental Advisory Board for STCC. Her passion for public health and education has inspired her to work as adjunct faculty in the STCC Dental Hygiene Clinic and Caring Health Center in Springfield, MA.
Victoryn S. Williams, Pharm.D Clinical Pharmacist
Victoryn received her Bachelors in Biology degree from the University of Massachusetts Boston in 2007 and her Doctor of Pharmacy & Master of Business Administration degrees from Western New England University in 2016. She completed Advanced Pharmacy Practice Rotations in Community Pharmacy, Primary Care, Advanced Heart Failure/Heart Transplant, Surgical Intensive Care (SICU), and Public Health. Victoryn has a passion for the community and it is her lifelong goal to serve the underserved. She manages the Anticoagulation Management Service and the Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program at Caring Health Center. Her career interests include Cardiology, Pharmacogenetics (PhGe), Population-Health, and Public health.
Zainab Abdi MSW, LICSW Clinical Supervisor
Zainab received her master of social work from Springfield College, in Springfield Massachusetts, she holds an independent licensers. She is fluent in Somali and Arabic and specialized in refuges, war trauma, anxiety, depression and adjustment issues. By providing judgment free zone and space to heal she teaches clients skills such Emotional Freedom therapy, Mindfulness and Acceptance, Dialectal Behavior therapy and helps them into the path to restore autonomy, ability, values and hope.
Nircia Del Rosario-Melendez, Integrated Behavioral Health & Recovery Clinician
Nircia Del Rosario-Meléndez, LCSW is an Integrated Behavioral Health and Recovery Clinician at Caring Health Center (CHC). She has worked primarily with the Latino population living in Springfield and nearby areas since she moved from Puerto Rico in 2015 after completing her Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work. Del Rosario-Meléndez has experience working in outpatient clinics, providing behavioral health and substance use services in both individual and group therapy modalities. As a Spanish- and English-speaking clinician, one of Del Rosario-Meléndez’ goals is to enhance access to services for minority populations while bringing them support in their recovery pathway and helping them to re-discover the best within themselves.
Deborah Strauss, Medication-Assisted Treatment Nurse Care Manager
Deborah Strauss comes to Caring Health Center from Baystate Wing Hospital, where she served as a Nurse on their Inpatient Psychiatric Unit. Deborah has years of experience in management, having run the service staff of a large summer camp for many years, and also as the editor of a small community newspaper. Deborah is a Registered Nurse with a Bachelor's degree in Nursing and a Bachelor's degree in Communication Studies. She has a keen interest in the study of mindfulness, and is currently working on her Certified Addictions Registered Nurse (CARN) certification.
Ismael Cintron, Clinician
Ashley Adamski, Licensed Mental Health Counselor
Ashley Adamski is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor who works with mental health and substance use clients to help them on the path to recovery and overall wellness. Ashley believes that long-term recovery and wellness from substance use and mental health issues can be achieved; as well as finding a sense of peace and balance within one’s life. Ashley has worked in the field of mental health and substance use for 8 years with experience in counseling with medication-assisted treatment, mindfulness recovery, and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Ashley is a trained in mindfulness and acceptance therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and motivational interviewing. She has also published articles for the Interdisciplinary Journal of Advances in Research in Education, written a chapter for a publication on social justice, and presented for Learning Disability Worldwide. Ashley holds a master’s degree in counseling psychology from American International College.
Eric Silenga, Psychiatric Mental Health/Nurse Practitioner
Brian Beauvais, PA-C Certified Physician Assistant
With a MS degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Bay Path University, Brian Beauvais is a Board Certified Physician Assistant. His clinical experience includes: Adult Rotation at Noble Outpatient Clinic, Pediatric Rotation at Redwood Pediatrics, Women’s Health Rotation at Mary Lane, Surgical Rotation with PVSA, Emergency Medicine Rotation at Mary Lane, Psychiatric Rotation at Baystate Medical Center, and an Elective Rotation in Orthopedics at Mercy Hospital. Brian is licensed to provide the best possible healthcare to patients from newborn to geriatric.
Tyler Branco, PA-C Certified Physician Assistant
Tyler Branco received his MS degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Bay Path University in 2017 and is a Board Certified Physician Assistant. His clinical experience includes: Primary Care Rotation at Baystate High Street and Caring Health Center, Pediatric Rotation at Caring Health Center, Women’s Health Rotation at Harrington Hospital, Surgical Rotation at Baystate Medical Center, Emergency Medicine Rotation at Baystate Medical Center, Psychiatric Rotation at Baystate Medical Center, and an Elective Rotation in Family Medicine at Caring Health Center. His Masters Project involved research into endovascular repair vs open repair of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms. Tyler is licensed to provide the best possible healthcare to patients ranging from pediatrics to geriatrics.
Nataliya Lukin, PA-C Certified Physician Assistant
Ms. Lukin received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies and Bachelor of Science in Health Studies from Springfield College in Springfield, MA. She is NCCPA certified and is fluent in Ukrainian, Russian and Spanish. Natalia’s experiences include: Ambulatory Medicine, Dr. Joseph Breton, M.D., Enfield, CT; Pediatrics, Dr. Joyce Fong-Breton, M.D., Enfield, CT; Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mercy Women's Health Center, Holyoke, MA; Surgery, Metrowest Medical Center, Framingham, MA; Psychiatry, Worcester State Hospital, Worcester, MA; Internal Medicine, Worcester paternal Medicine, Worcester, MA; Emergency Medicine, Worcester Medical Center, Worcester, MA and Elective rotation in Inpatient Medicine, Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT. Natalia is professionally affiliated with American Association of Physician Assistants; Massachusetts Association of Physician Assistants and National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants.
Bonnie Paddleford, MS, PA-C Certified Physician Assistant
Bonnie received her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Springfield College, Springfield, MA. She did her clinical elective in HIV/Hep C medicine working in area hospitals, community health centers, Hampden County Jail and HIV outreach programs.
Liliya Tereshchuk, PA-C Certified Physician Assistant
Liliya Tereshchuk received her Master's of Science in Physician Assistant studies from the University of Bridgeport in Bridgeport, CT. She did her clinical rotation in Connecticut and was employed at Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield, MA.
Evelyn Ansah, PA Physician Assistant
Michael Child, PA Physician Assistant
Alessandra Monroe, PA Physician Assistant
Anne Marie Kearing, FNP Family Nurse Practitioner
Ms. Kearing received her BS in Biology from Villanova University and her MS in Nursing Studies from Yale. She comes to Caring Health Center with experience in Adult and Pediatric Diabetes treatment, chronic and acute disease management, Geriatric and Palliative care and Behavioral Health care.
Evelyne Matunda, FNP Family Nurse Practitioner
With a MS degree in nursing from Walden University, Evelyne Merab Matunda is a Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner. Her clinical experience includes; Adult Rotation at Baystate Adult Clinic in Greenfield , Pediatric Rotation at Baystate Pediatrics High St in Springfield MA, Women’s Health at Baystate Wesson Women’s and Health Promotion Disease Prevention at The Caring Health Center. She possesses a very strong background in nursing. Evelyne earned her BSN from Grand Canyon University in Arizona and an Associate degree in Nursing from Springfield Technical Community College. She worked at Baystate Medical Center at a very busy Heart and Vascular unit for about 8 years where she gained experience in taking care of Post- Op CABGs, Cardiac Catheterizations to Heart Failure patients. She held the role of a charge nurse and facilitated the efficient planning and running of the unit during assigned shifts. She has done urgency nursing in the greater Springfield area and worked at Holyoke Medical Center, Kindred Hospital and several nursing homes. She came to Caring Health Center with Pediatric experience, Adult patient experience both chronic and acute, and Women’s health. She is fluent in Swahili language. Evelyne is professionally affiliated with the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners.
Katherine Johnson, CNP Certified Nurse Practitioner
Katherine Johnson received her Master's of Science in Nursing from UMASS Worcester in Worcester, MA. She comes to Caring Health Center from Holyoke Health Care Center. She is Board certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner with a specialty in Gerontology. She is fluent in Spanish and Competent in Italian.
Kathryn Proulx, PNP Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Ms. Proulx has been a psychiatric nurse for over 40 years. She graduated from Saint Joseph College in 1992 and has since practiced as a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner caring for individuals with a variety of mental health needs in a wide range of settings. Ms. Proulx completed a PhD in Nursing in 2005 at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Her area of study was mindfulness and compassion. Her interest is in assisting clients to increase their self awareness, cultivate personal growth, and access their own inner resources to achieve wellbeing.
Nice Nabitaka, NP Nurse Practitioner
Ms. Nabitaka is a recipient of an Associates Degree in Nursing from Mount Wachusett Community College and a BS and MS in nursing from St. Regis College. As a Certified Family Nurse Practitioner she has experience in long and short term care and rehab with all ages ranging from Pediatrics to Geriatrics.
Linda Nardi, Pharmacist
Kathy Berdecia, PharmD, RPh, RDN Clinical Pharmacist
Dr. Berdecia earned her doctoral degree in pharmacy from MCPHS University and her bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Berdecia completed advanced pharmacy practice rotations in Ambulatory Care, Community Pharmacy, Institutional Pharmacy and Internal Medicine. She has a Collaborative Drug Therapy Management (CDTM) Agreement and is certified on Medication Therapy Management (MTM) and Immunization by the American Pharmacist Association. Her experience includes working in both community and hospital settings with patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes (including insulin pump), asthma, dyslipidemia, hypertension and others, from pediatrics to geriatrics. Dr. Berdecia is the administrative leader of Caring Health Center asthma clinic and one of our MTM pharmacists. Dr. Berdecia’s career goal is to continue serving her community and provide clinically accurate pharmacotherapy. She is Bilingual and Bicultural (Spanish/English).
Courtney Leduc, WIC Nutritionist
Gregory Chiasson, WIC Nutritionist
Joanne Santiago, Certified Pharmacy Tech
Gurpreet Saini, ANP Adult Nurse Practitioner
Nicholas Rodriguez, FNP Family Nurse Practitioner
James Quaicoe, Nurse Practitioner
Christine Ndissi Nurse Practitioner
Jennifer D. Perez, LPN Care Coordinator
Sasha Barrios, LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
Marceline A. Brennan, Lead Care Coordinator Licensed Practical Nurse
Basheera N. Jihad, LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
Caitlin Hernandez, LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
Jennifer Perez, LPN LPN Care Coordinator
Nelly Martinez, LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
Uwabunkeonye Ojei, RN Registered Nurse
Shaneika Hunt, RN Registered Nurse
Shamicka Jones, RN Registered Nurse
Kwaku Attakorah, RN RN/Care Manager
Devon Fitzpatrick, RN Registered Nurse
Teshena Jones-Swaby, RN Registered Nurse
Melissa Gorneault, RN Registered Nurse
Deborah Flores Carrion Licensed Behavioral Health Clinician
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