Faculty and Staff

Sonia Velez, MD, JD
Program Director

Dr. Velez attended the American University of the Caribbean Medical School and completed a family medicine residency at Saint Joseph's Medical Center. She is board-certified in Family Medicine. Dr. Velez also completed a law degree at Boston University School of Law.

Debra Gerson, M.D.,
Medical Director

Dr. Debra Gerson attended State University of New York, Health Sciences Center, Brooklyn, New York and completed a family medicine residency program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. She is board-certified in Family Medicine.

Jennifer Ringstad, MD, MPH
Assistant Program Director

Dr. Ringstad is a graduate of the University of North Carolina Medical School and completed a family medicine  residency at  Montefiore Medical Center. She is board-certified in Family Medicine

Maria Rita Aszalos, MD
Faculty

Dr. Aszalos attended the University of  Virginia School of Medicine and completed a residency in family medicine and a fellowship in addiction psychiatry at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Rodika Coloka-Kump, DO
Inpatient Coordinator

Dr. Coloka-Kump attended the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed an internship in internal medicine at Methodist Hospital Brooklyn and a family medicine residency at Saint  Joseph’s Medical  Center. She is board-certified in Family Medicine.

Shadi Sayegh, M.D.
Faculty

Dr. Sayegh attended Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico and completed a family medicine residency program at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center.

Ana Guerra, M.D.
Faculty

Dr. Ana Guerra attended Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE) School of Medicine, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, and completed the family medicine residency program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center. She is board-certified in family medicine.

Laurie Sullivan, Ph.D.

Dr. Sullivan received a Ph.D. in social work from Yeshiva University in New York City, and a master’s in social work from Columbia University. She worked as the  Director of Behavioral Medicine for the Family Medicine Residency Program from 2002-2006 and then returned in 2013 and continues in this role. Her particular interest is in the field of caregiver support. 

Nebat Suker

Nebat is the Residency Program Coordinator.  She has a Bachelor’s degree in Statistics and a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from Pace University.