Meet Our Staff

The Children's Heart Center team at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center is composed of physicians, nurses and allied-health professionals who specialize in caring for children with heart disease. Our team consists of pediatric cardiologists and pediatric cardiothoracic surgeons, nurses and allied health professionals who specialize in caring for children with heart disease. Our team works closely with pediatric anesthesiologists, neonatologists and pediatric intensivists to provide outstanding, personalized care for patients of all ages. Our interdisciplinary approach to patient care combines the experience and expertise of all members of the health care team.

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGISTS

Rubin S. Cooper, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
Areas of Interest: Congenital and acquired heart disease

Fredrick Z. Bierman, MD
Chairman, Department of Pediatrics
Medical Director, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center Satellite Services

Andrew D. Blaufox, MD
Section Chief, Pediatric Electrophysiology
Areas of interest: arrhythmias (heart rhythm problems in children)

Preeta Dhanantwari, MD
Areas of interest: echocardiography, fetal echocardiography

Shilpi Epstein, MD
Areas of interest: interventional cardiology (non-surgical treatment of heart disease in children)

Dipak Kholwadwala, MD
Director, Pediatric Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Areas of interest: interventional cardiology (non-surgical treatment of heart disease in children and adults)

Michael LaCorte, MD
Assistant Chief of Staff, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center for Staten Island & Brooklyn

Deborah Mensch, MD
Areas of interest: pediatric echocardiography, cardiomyopathy (abnormal heart muscle function)

Angela Romano-Adesman, MD
Areas of interest: pediatric echocardiography, fetal echocardiography, Marfan syndrome.

Howard Seiden, MD
Associate Chief of Service, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
Program Director, Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Training Program
Areas of interest: cardiac critical care, heart failure in children

Yehuda Shapir, MD
Areas of interest: pediatric echocardiography, fetal echocardiography

PEDIATRIC CARDIOTHORACIC SURGEONS

Vincent A. Parnell, Jr, MD
Chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
Surgeon-in-Chief, Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center
Vice-Chairman, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Associate Director Thoracic Surgery Residency, Long Island Jewish Medical Center

David B. Meyer, MD
Attending Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeon

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY NURSES
Phone: 718-470-7374

Idalia Burkitt, RN, BSN

Lisa Felice, RN, BSN, CPNP

Joanne Gubitosi, RN, BSN

Judy Jacobellis, RN

Mary Beth Kearney, RN, BSN, MA, CCRN, CPNP

Anne Sweeney, RN, BSN, CDE

Elizabeth Vinas, RN, BSN

Kathryn Dillon, RN

PEDIATRIC CARDIOTHORACIC NURSE
Phone: 718-470-3582
Jayne Cashman, RN, BSN, MSN

PEDIATRIC CARDIOTHORACIC PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT
Dominick DiCapua, PA-C

SOCIAL WORK
Phone: 718-470-3127
Sue Huh, MSSW, ACSW