The following providers joined WVU Medicine in August and September:
Morgantown
BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE AND PSYCHIATRY
Stephen Deci, MD, is a child and adolescent psychiatrist. He completed a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship and general psychiatry residency at WVU.
Angelo Giolzetti, PsyD, is a geropsychologist. He was a clinical psychologist at the Louis A. Johnson VA Medical Center in Clarksburg, West Virginia and is a former adjunct clinical assistant professor with WVU Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry.
Janelle Mentrikoski, PhD, is a child psychologist specializing in cystic fibrosis. She is a former assistant professor from Children's Mercy Kansas City in Kansas City, Missouri. She sees patients at the WVU Medicine Chestnut Ridge Center and the WVU Medicine Children’s Cystic Fibrosis Center.
Elizabeth "Ash" Edwards, MSW, LGSW, is a clinical therapist at the Chestnut Ridge Center. She graduated from WVU with a Master of Social Work, and she is a former WVU Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry intern.
Brianna Hayes is a clinical therapist at the Chestnut Ridge Center. She graduated from WVU with a Master of Science in Clinical Rehabilitation and Mental Health Counseling. She was previously an intern at the Chestnut Ridge Center.
Katherine Lewis is a clinical therapist. She graduated with a master's degree in counseling from WVU. She completed an internship at the Chestnut Ridge Center and has previous experience as a school well-being leader.
WVU MEDICINE CHILDREN'S
Veronica Godsey, MD, is pediatric cardiac critical care physician. She completed an intensive care fellowship at the University of Alabama at Birmingham and a medicine/pediatric residency at WVU.
Bianca LoVerde, DO, joins the neonatology division. She was previously a neonatologist at UPMC. She completed a neonatal-perinatal fellowship at the University of Maryland and a pediatrics residency at the University of Toledo.
Laura Petras, MD, is a pediatric palliative care physician. She completed a hospice and palliative care fellowship (pediatric track) at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Kinsey Roth, MD, MS, is a neonatologist formerly with UPMC. She earned a Master of Science in Medical Education at UPMC and completed a neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship and a pediatrics residency there as well.
Joseph Jacob Schmidhofer, MD, is a neonatologist. He completed a neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship at UPMC and a pediatric residency at Brown University.
Lauren Blunt, PA-C, is a physician assistant in the newborn intensive care unit (NICU). She graduated from West Liberty University.
Lindsey Leddon, PA-C, is a physician assistant in the neonatology division. She graduated from Slippery Rock University and completed a NICU clinical rotations at WVU Medicine.
Samantha Mason, NNP-BC, is a nurse practitioner in the NICU where she has been a RN since 2013. She recently graduated with her neonatal nurse practitioner degree from the University of Connecticut.
Meghan Purdy, FNP, joins the pediatric cardiology service. She was a pediatric cardiology nurse at Children’s Hospital of Colorado and through Cross Country TravCorps provided care at Seattle Children’s, Boston Children’s, Alfred Dupont Children’s, and others. She obtained her Master of Science in Nursing from WVU.
EMERGENCY MEDICINE
Edgar Petras, MD, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician. He completed a combined residency in emergency medicine and pediatrics at Indiana University School of Medicine.
Lindly Theroux, DO, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician. She completed a pediatric emergency medicine fellowship and a pediatrics residency at Wake Forest.
ENDOCRINOLOGY
Smita Kumar, MD, is an endocrinologist. She practiced at Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago where she also completed an endocrinology fellowship.
Jeffrey Rico, MD, is an endocrinologist. He completed a fellowship at Marshall University and an internal medicine residency at United Health Services Hospitals in Binghamton, New York.
GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
Paul Cassis, MD, is a digestive diseases specialist. He completed a gastroenterology fellowship, an internal medicine residency, and medical school at WVU.
Matthew Krafft, MD, is a digestive diseases physician specializing in advanced endoscopy. He completed an advanced endoscopy fellowship at the University of Minnesota and a gastroenterology fellowship and an internal medicine residency at WVU.
WVU HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE
Vikrant Jagadeesan, MD, is an interventional cardiologist at WVU Medicine J.W. Ruby Memorial and Uniontown Hospitals. He completed two fellowships at Northwestern in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular disease.
Andrea Scuilli, PA-C, is a physician assistant in critical care medicine. She was recently a physician assistant with Allegheny Health Network. She graduated from Seton Hill University.
Fe Herald, NP, is a cardiothoracic surgery nurse practitioner. He previously practiced at Mon Health System.
HOSPITAL MEDICINE
Nathan Mahler, MD, is a hospitalist. He completed an internal medicine residency at Lewis Gale Medical Center in Roanoke, Virginia.
Subanandhini Subramaniam Parameshwari, MD, is a hospitalist formerly of Vidant Medical Center in Greenville, North Carolina. She completed an internal medicine residency at Cleveland Clinic.
Sharath Rajagopalan, MD, is a hospitalist. He completed an internal medicine residency at the Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Michelle Scribner, DO, is a hospitalist. She completed an internal medicine residency at Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia.
Jordan Robinson, PA-C, joins the hospitalist service. She was previously a hospital medicine physician assistant at Wheeling Hospital. She obtained her master's degree from West Liberty University.
GERIATRICS, PALLIATIVE MEDICINE, AND HOSPICE
Katherine Seachrist, MD, is a palliative care physician who completed her fellowship at Wake Forest. She completed an internal medicine/pediatrics residency at WVU.
MEDICAL WEIGHT MANAGEMENT
Amber Shaffer, FNP, joins the weight loss management team. She was previously a WVU Medicine nurse, and is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati.
NEUROLOGY
Matthew Marshall, MD, is a neurohospitalist. He held that position at the Medical College of Georgia in Savannah prior to joining WVU Medicine. He also practiced at Eastside Medical Center and Candler Hospital.
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
Kirstie Cutlip, MD, is an obstetrics and gynecology physician at the WVU Medicine United Hospital Center. She will practice at Ruby Memorial Hospital as well. She completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency and earned her medical degree at WVU.
Loren Custer, MD, is an obstetrics and gynecology physician at Ruby and Uniontown Hospital. She completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at WVU and earned her medical degree there as well.
OPHTHALMOLOGY
Grace Levy-Clarke, MD, is a uveitis specialist at the WVU Eye Institute. She was the founder and clinical director of Tampa Bay Uveitis Center. She was the program director of ophthalmology and core faculty/rheumatology at HCA West Florida.
Malkit "Mona" Singh, MD, is a retina specialist. She completed a vitreoretinal surgery fellowship at Beth Israel Lahey Health in Boston and an ophthalmology residency at the University of Texas/Houston Methodist Hospital.
ORTHOPAEDICS
Louis Bivona, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery. He completed a spine fellowship at WVU and an orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Maryland. He will practice at Ruby and Uniontown Hospital.
Andrew Parsons, MD, is a pediatric orthopaedic surgeon. He completed a pediatric orthopaedic surgery fellowship at Baylor in Houston, Texas and an orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of New Mexico.
Andrew Wroblewski, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand surgery. He completed a hand, upper extremity, and microvascular fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital and an orthopaedic surgery residency at Summa Health in Akron, Ohio. He will practice at Ruby and Uniontown Hospital.
Jackie Walker, PA-C, joins the orthopaedic service. She was a physician assistant with the orthopaedic spine/trauma service at WVU in the past. She has additional orthopaedic experience from Penn State, UPMC, and TriRivers in Pittsburgh.
OTOLARYNGOLOGY
Christopher Bailey, MD, PhD, returns to WVU Medicine after completing a fellowship in rhinology at University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Besides his clinics in Morgantown, Dr. Bailey will provide services at the Louis A. Johnson VA Hospital in Clarksburg.
Benjamin Boss, AuD, is the new director of clinical audiology in the WVU Department of Otolaryngology. He has seven years of audiology experience, and was previously with UPMC Ear and Eye Institute. He obtained his Doctorate of Audiology from Arizona State University.
Lynsie Watson, AuD, is a graduate of the Doctor of Audiology program at WVU. She completed an externship at Pittsburgh Ear Associates.
PRIMARY CARE
Jana Dbaibou, MD, is an ambulatory general internal medicine physician. She completed an internal medicine residency at Detroit Medical Center, Wayne State University.
Sidney Sisson, MD, is a family medicine and obstetrics practitioner. She completed a family medicine residency at Duluth Family Medicine Residency Program and received her medical degree from WVU.
Laxmi Upadhyay, MD, is a general internal medicine physician. She was a hospitalist at the State University of New York-Upstate, and she completed an internal medicine residency at Montefiore in New Rochelle, New York.
RADIOLOGY
Maximilian Schellinger, MD, is an interventional radiologist. He completed a vascular and interventional radiology fellowship and a diagnostic radiology residency at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital.
SURGERY
Alice Race, MD, is a general surgeon. She completed a minimally invasive surgery fellowship at the University of California San Diego. Her focus is on advanced laparoscopic and robotic treatment of the esophagus, solid organs, and complex hernia surgery.
Kevin Train, MD, is a colorectal surgeon. He completed a colon and rectal surgery fellowship at University of South Florida and a general surgery residency at UPMC. He earned his medical degree at WVU.
Rachel Statler, FNP, joins the division of trauma and critical care surgery. She has been a RN at WVU Medicine since 2017. She earned her MSN from WVU.
UROLOGY
John Barnard, MD, is a urologist specializing in urologic reconstruction. He completed a genitourinary reconstructive surgery and prosthetics fellowship at the University of California, Irvine as well as a urology residency at WVU.
Ali Hajiran, MD, is a urologic oncologist. He provides minimally invasive robotic, open, and endoscopic surgery. He completed a urologic oncology fellowship at Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute in Tampa, Florida and a urology residency at WVU.
Bridgeport
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
Kirstie Cutlip, MD, is an obstetrics and gynecology physician at the United Hospital Center. She will practice at Ruby as well. She completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency and earned her medical degree at WVU.
Fairmont
BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE AND PSYCHIATRY
Andrea Cheuvront, LGSW, is a clinical therapist at the WVU Medicine Healthy Minds Whitehall Clinic. She earned a Master of Social Work at WVU.
HOSPITAL MEDICINE
Devin Longo, FNP, is a nurse practitioner with the hospitalist service at WVU Medicine Fairmont Medical Center. He was a RN with WVU Medicine for the past three years.
Joseph Pershina, AC-AGNP, is a nurse practitioner with the hospitalist service at Fairmont Medical Center. He graduated from Seton Hill University, and had been a cardiovascular intensive care unit nurse at Ruby.
Uniontown
WVU CANCER INSTITUTE
Jill Natale, PA, joins the hematology and oncology service at WVU Medicine Uniontown Hospital. She is a former physician assistant from Cherry Tree Pediatrics in Uniontown.
WVU HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE
Vikrant Jagadeesan, MD, is an interventional cardiologist at Uniontown Hospital and Ruby. He completed two fellowships at Northwestern in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular disease.
OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY
Loren Custer, MD, is an obstetrics and gynecology physician at Uniontown Hospital. She also practices in Morgantown. She completed an obstetrics and gynecology residency at WVU and earned her medical degree there as well.
ORTHOPAEDICS
Louis Bivona, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery. He completed a spine fellowship at WVU and an orthopaedic surgery residency at the University of Maryland. He practices at Uniontown Hospital and Ruby.
Andrew Wroblewski, MD, is an orthopaedic surgeon specializing in hand surgery. He completed a hand, upper extremity, and microvascular fellowship at Allegheny General Hospital and an orthopaedic surgery residency at Summa Health in Akron, Ohio. He practices at Uniontown Hospital and Ruby.
PRIMARY CARE
Elizabeth Mazezka, DO, joins the Fayette Physician Network at Uniontown Hospital. She completed a family medicine residency at Carilion Clinic in Roanoke, Virginia.
Breanna Nolan, MD, is a pediatrician at Uniontown Hospital. She completed a pediatrics residency at WVU.
Sabah Sarwari, MD, is a pediatrician at Uniontown Hospital. She completed a pediatrics residency at WVU.
Weston
BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE AND PSYCHIATRY
Ariana Sotoodeh, PA-C, is a physician assistant at William R. Sharpe, Jr. Hospital. She graduated from the University of Charleston.
Wheeling
WVU HEART AND VASCULAR INSTITUTE
Sushant Sharma, MD, is an invasive cardiologist and medical director of preventative cardiology at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital. His previous position was at the UPMC Heart and Vascular Institute. He completed an internal medicine residency and a cardiovascular research fellowship at Hahnemann University Hospital in Philadelphia. He also completed a cardiology fellowship at Ochsner Clinic Foundation.
Marissa Jovicic, FNP, joins the congestive heart failure team. She was a nurse practitioner for Caring Connections Palliative Care/Valley Hospice. She graduated from Wheeling Jesuit University.
HOSPITAL MEDICINE
John Ruberg, DO, is a hospitalist at Wheeling Hospital. He completed a family medicine residency at Greenbrier Valley Medical Center in Ronceverte, West Virginia.
For questions or to refer a patient, call 855-WVU-CARE. / Visit WVUMedicine.org/advances for more physician resources.