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.

Elizabeth Natal, M.D.,
Medical Director

Dr. Elizabeth Natal attended New York Medical College and completed a family medicine residency program at Montefiore Medical Center. She is board-certified in Family Medicine.

Jennifer Ringstad, MD, MPH

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

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.

Wendy-Ann Sylvester, MD

Dr. Sylvester attended Albert Einstein College of Medicine and completed a family medicine residency at Saint  Joseph’s Medical  Center. She is board-certified in Family Medicine.

Rodika Coloka-Kump, DO

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.

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

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.