Our Team
Mary Callahan, MD, MS
- Attending Physician at Columbia University Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center
- Program Director, Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship
Dr. Callahan is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. She received her medical degree from Rush Medical College and completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Tulane University School of Medicine. She completed her Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center in 2018. She also received a Master’s Degree in Medical Education from the University of Pittsburgh.
Dr. Callahan's clinical time is spent on the inpatient palliative care service at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center and providing outpatient palliative care services at Herbert Irving Cancer Center.
Her academic interests are focused on teaching communication and primary palliative care skills.
Clinical Appointments with Dr. Callahan can be made by calling 212-305-7340.
Dinaz Irani, MD
- Director, Outpatient Palliative Care Services
- Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Education
Dr. Irani received her medical degree from McMaster University, Ontario, Canada and completed her Residency in Family Medicine at the University of Toronto. She completed her Fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Montefiore Hospital.
Board Certification
Dr. Irani has been board certified with the American Board of Family Medicine since 2009.
Role at CUIMC
Dr. Irani is a physician in the adult palliative care department at CUIMC. She works in both inpatient and outpatient clinic settings.
Goals as a Palliative Care Provider
Dr. Irani primarily provides outpatient Palliative Care services but also cares for those on the inpatient service. She also supervises Palliative Care Fellows in both outpatient and inpatient settings, as well as other fellows, residents and medical students.
Education Focus
Dr. Irani's education focus includes increasing palliative care exposure to medical students and enhancing palliative care skills of residents and fellows in both primary care and specialty settings.
Hobbies
Dr. Irani enjoys baking, gardening, hiking, traveling and yoga.
Shunichi Nakagawa, MD
- Director, Inpatient Palliative Care Services
- Director, Cardiac Supportive Care Services, NewYork Presbyterian Hospital
- Associate Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Education
- Hokkaido University School of Medicine
- Hokkaido University Hospital: General Surgery resident
- Cleveland Clinic Foundation: Liver Transplant fellow
- Huron Hospital: Internal Medicine resident
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Geriatric Medicine fellow
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai: Hospice and Palliative Medicine fellow
Board Certification- American Board of Internal Medicine
- Internal Medicine: 2010
- Geriatric Medicine: 2011
- Hospice and Palliative Medicine: 2014
Role at CUIMCDr. Nakagawa is the Director of Inpatient Palliative Care Services and Director of Cardiac Supportive Care Services in the NewYork Presbyterian Hospital.
Goals as a Palliative Care Provider
Dr. Nakagawa has an extensive training background in general surgery, internal medicine, geriatrics medicine, and hospice and palliative care medicine, both in Japan and the US.
Education Focus
Dr. Nakagawa’s clinical and research interests are palliative care for the seriously and critically ill, including those with cancer or advanced heart failure. He developed a palliative care consultation program prior to left ventricular assist devices implantation at NewYork Presbyterian Hospital. He teaches palliative medicine to different level of trainees, including fellows, residents and medical students at bedside. He is sort after as a lecturer, having been invited to conferences in Japan and in the US, locally and nationally. He has strong commitment in teaching medical communication, such as how to break bad news, lead family meetings and navigate difficult decision making for the seriously ill. He received Apgar Grant Awards in 2017 and co-developed the communication skills practice program for general surgery residents.
Michael Nalepa, MD, MA
- Assistant Professor of Medicine at CUMC
Dr. Nalepa is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. He received his medical degree from Rutgers University Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey where he also trained as a resident in Internal Medicine. He completed a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. Prior to studying medicine, Dr. Nalepa earned a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Psychology from Rice University, a Master’s Degree in Communication from Stanford University, and worked in publishing for several years. Dr. Nalepa’s interests include advance care planning; improving communication between patients, families, and medical teams; medical ethics; and narrative medicine.
Clinical Appointments with Dr. Nalepa can be made by calling 212-305-7340.
Melissa Ann Patterson, MD, MBA
- Assistant Professor of Medicine, Geriatric and Palliative Medicine Consult Service
Education
Medical School (MD/MBA): American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine Residency (Family Medicine): Ascension St. John Hospital Fellowship (Geriatrics): Weill-Cornell Medicine/NYP Hospital Fellowship (Hospice and Palliative Care): Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Weill-Cornell Medicine/NYP Hospital
Board Certification
Family Medicine
Geriatric MedicineRole at CUIMC
Currently developing and leading a robust geriatric/palliative care inpatient consultative service at the Allen while restructuring and strengthening of the curricula of the geriatric intern rotation for the CUIMC Internal Medicine residents. In addition, participating in the existing teaching activities of the Division of Palliative Medicine, including the Hospice and Palliative Medicine Fellowship and other educational activities, and the Department of Medicine, including assisting in the development of new educational endeavors.
Goals as a Palliative Care Provider
As a Palliative Care provider, I am very passionate about ensuring shared decision making in all aspects of medicine and the integration of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine along with the promotion of those principles through international medicine outreach and initiatives.
Education Focus
I am particularly interested in medical education research; specifically in the field of spirituality and religion in medicine in best serve my patients and their families throughout the aging process.
Hobbies
Spending my time sailing on the Great South Bay, going to car shows throughout the east coast, and restoring my 1965 Triumph TR4.
Ana Berlin, MD, MPH, FACS
- Associate Professor at Columbia University Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Adult Palliative Medicine Service
- Department of Surgery, Division of General Surgery
Dr. Berlin is a dually-trained general surgeon and palliative care physician who thrives on the diagnostic, therapeutic, and ethical dilemmas that so often accompany urgent, emergent, and high-stakes surgical problems. Dr. Berlin’s interest in prognostication, communication, and decision making in the surgical setting has driven her to forge a unique path at the intersection of surgery and palliative care.
Throughout her career, she has worked to promote the incorporation of ethics, professionalism, and palliative care into surgical education and practice. Her research on surgical outcomes, palliative care utilization, and communication in surgical decision making has helped define triggers to aid in the identification of vulnerable patients for whom early concurrent palliative care is most appropriate, and to guide the development and evaluation of tools that help patients, families, and surgeons navigate difficult treatment decisions and formulate goal-concordant care plans.
Dr. Berlin’s interest in pursuing systems-based approaches to promoting cultural change and quality improvement in health care has shaped her efforts to develop curricular interventions and clinical pathways to help surgeons provide compassionate, patient-centered care that minimizes the hazards and maximizes the value of surgical treatment.
Natasha Z. Piracha, MD
- Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medicine at CUMC
Education
Medical School: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (2014)
Residency: Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (served as Chief Resident) Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (2018)
Chief Residency: Internal Medicine, East Orange Veterans Affairs Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (2019)
Fellowship: Hospice and Palliative Medicine Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai (2020)Board Certification
American Board of Internal Medicine (8/2018-8/2028)
American Board of Pediatrics (10/2018-10/2028)
Hospice and Palliative Medicine (12/2020-12/2030)Role at CUIMC
I serve as an inpatient palliative care provider for both the adult palliative care service and the newly revamped pediatric palliative care service at Columbia University Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital. In my role, I have the opportunity to help create and grow the pediatric program and bring insight from the pediatric world to caring for adults and vice versa.
Goals as a Palliative Care provider
I strive to provide patient and family focused care to patients of the entire age spectrum, paying special attention to addressing the social and cultural barriers to care. I have a particular interest in the care for patients at the end of life in the hospital setting, and helping the transition of care for children with complex illness to the adult setting.
Education Focus
I'm lucky to participate in the education of learners across all levels and disciplines, but am especially focused on educating non-palliative care providers and medical students with primary palliative care skills in both the pediatric and adult population.
Hobbies
In my spare time, I love to travel, having had the opportunity to combine both travel and medicine in global health trips to Peru, Haiti and Jordan, where I was the physician lead. I usually spend my free time exploring New York City, particularly the ever-expanding food and theatre scene and with my family and friends.
Naomi R Rebollo Rodriguez, MD
- Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Palliative Care at CUMC
Education
Medical School: University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Residency: Kings County Hospital / SUNY Downstate Emergency Medicine
Fellowship: Montefiore Medical CenterBoard Certification
ABEM: Board pending
ABIM-Palliative Care: Board PendingRole at CUIMC
My role as attending physician for both Emergency Medicine as well as Palliative Care services is to provide direct patient care as well as educate learners from all levels in medicine.
Goals as a Palliative Care provider
My goal is to provide evidence based care with kindness and compassion. A particular interest is to address disparities in end of life care for Latinos and minorities.
Education focus
Providing education regarding end of life care and symptom management for chronically and/or critically ill patients in the Emergency Department.
Hobbies
When I am not working, I love to nap with my dog Gamja. Together we are always on the lookout for a decent cup of coffee to pair with a historical fiction read.
Nick D. Burry, FNP-BC
- Nurse Practitioner
Education
Columbia University School of Nursing, MSN and DNP
Rudin Doctoral Fellowship in Palliative and End-of-Life Care
Clinical Training was completed at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and New York Presbyterian HospitalBoard Certification
Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner July 2, 2019 – July 1, 2024
Role at CUIMC
I am a nurse practitioner in the adult palliative care department at CUIMC. I work in both inpatient and outpatient clinic settings.
Goals as a Palliative Care provider
My goal is to improve communication skills to help guide patients in end-of-life
decision-making. I'd like to continue to develop my pain and symptom management skills, with
attention to the differing needs in outpatient vs inpatient settings.Education focus
My initial training was in primary care across the lifespan. Since starting at CUIMC I have received additional training in outpatient oncology. In terms of palliative care, I have trained in outpatient, inpatient and hospice settings.
Hobbies
I enjoy hiking, camping, fishing, boxing, birding, trail-running and I'm almost finished reading War and Peace.
Johanis Patsikos, NP
- Nurse Practitioner
Johanis Patsikos is a Certified Adult Geriatric Nurse Practitioner who received her bachelors in Science in Nursing from the University of Puerto Rico. She also completed a Master in Science in Nursing from New York University Rory Meyers College of Nursing with a concentration in Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner and Palliative Care. She has more than 10 years of experience in Critical Care, Oncology, Infectious Disease, Research and Pain Management. Johanis is currently Board Certified as an Adult Advanced Practice Nurse by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She is an active member of American Nurses Association, Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association and the Metro NY Hospice and Palliative Care Chapter. Currently provides Inpatient Palliative Care Services at Columbia University Medical Center.
Clinical Appointments with Dr. Patsikos can be made by calling 212-305-7340.
Marlene E. McHugh, DNP, DCC, FNP/AGACNP-BC, ACHPN, FPCN
- Associate Professor of Nursing CUIMC
Education
Columbia University DNP, MS
Fellowship-Dept of Pain Medicine/Palliative Care Beth Israel Medical Center, NYC
University of Pennsylvania-Post Masters Acute Care Nurse Practitioner
Wharton Nursing Leaders Program
Fellow-Hospice and Palliative Care NursingBoard Certification
1991- current- Family Nurse Practitioner
2013-2026 Advanced Certified Hospice and Palliative Care Nurse
2018-current-Acute Care Nurse PractitionerRole at CUIMC
I will work as a nurse practitoner on the Palliaitve Care Team,providing management for complex illness mostly in the outpatient setting. I have a faculty appoinment at Columbia University School of Nursing, where I am the lead faculty for various doctoral level courses, a clinical partner with research faculty on palliative care projects and responsible for program development for palliative care intitatives.
Goals as a Palliative Care provider
I was a founding member and co-developed the Palliative Care Service at Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx NY that provides care both inpatient and outpatient across three hospitals in the health system. Prior to my fellowship in palliative care, I worked as an RN in acute care and oncology and then as family nurse practitioner, working in academic family medicine programs in NYC. I have published multiple articles and book chapters on both symptom management and palliative care models and spoken both nationally and internationally on palliative care topics. My goal is to be able to walk with patients and families through chronic, complex or terminal illness states as part of an interdisciplinary team, providing care both inpatient and outpatient settings. Also, I am interested in program development to increase access to care for patients and families needing palliative care
Education focus
I have developed both generalist and specialist palliative care programs for interprofessional learners, a post DNP fellowship in palliative care for NPs and global certificate program for APRNs. I am interested in workforce development, to expand both a generalist and specialist level provider that can deliver palliative care for complex illness both inpatient and outpatient settings.
Hobbies
I enjoy being with friends and familes at the beach and traveling.
Suzanne Zampetti, NP
- Inpatient Nurse Practitioner
Suzanne Zampetti received her Bachelors of Nursing Science from William Paterson University. She then went on to obtain her Masters Degree from Columbia University as a Family Nurse Practitioner. She has an extensive background in oncology, including bone marrow transplant, and has worked with both adults and pediatrics. Suzanne is certified by the Hospice and Palliative Care Nurses Association (HPNA) and is a charter member of the NY Metro Chapter of HPNA. She is also a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Nursing Society. Suzanne is the senior nurse practitioner on the palliative care service. Additionally, Suzanne is a board certified acupuncturist in both NY and NJ and maintains a busy private practice in NJ.
Cristina Ramirez-Urquiola, LCSW, ACHP-SW
- Palliative Care SW Lead in Ambulatory Care Network
Cristina received her MSW degree from Columbia University in 1990. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in both New Jersey and New York. She has a background in health and mental health working at Mount Sinai Adolescent Health Center, Palisade General Hospital Counseling Center and running an Employee Counseling Center for Hunter College. She has been an adjunct lecturer at Columbia and Hunter College Schools of Social Work. In 2011, Cristina began her work for hospice and palliative care at Hackensack University Medical Center. In 2015, she started working at New York Presbyterian Hospital providing palliative care services to patients who are admitted to the hospital, on the out-patient service and in community clinics. She received her Advanced Certificate in Hospice and Palliative Care the same year. Since then, she has enjoyed working as part of an interdisciplinary team on issues related to chronic serious illness, death and dying and bereavement work. Cristina is bilingual and bicultural and is particularly dedicated to providing palliative care to marginalized communities.
Sarah Wichman, LMSW, DSW
- Social Worker (General and Critical Care Consult Teams)
Sarah Wichman is a social worker with the Palliative Care Consult Service at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University Medical Center. She completed her Doctor of Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania School of Policy and Practice, where she was awarded the 2016 Ram Cnaan Award for meritorious achievement. Her area of study focused on "The Desire for Hastened Death" in the home hospice community. Sarah also received her Master of Social Work from the Ehrenkrantz School of Social Work at New York University. After earning her master's, she completed the Interprofessional Palliative Care Fellowship at the James J. Peters VAMC. Sarah has over a decade of experience in hospitals, nursing homes and homecare, working with patients and families facing serious or terminal illness.
Lauren Yuill, LCSW ACHP-SW
- Social Worker (Critical Care Consult Team)
Lauren Yuill, LCSW ACHP-SW, received her Master of Social Work from the Silver School of Social Work at New York University and is an alumna of the NYU Zelda Foster MSW Fellowship in Palliative and End-of-Life Care program. She is currently a social worker with the Adult Palliative Care Consult Service at New York Presbyterian Hospital at Columbia University focusing on critical care and coping with chronic critical illness. She is chair of the hospital’s Social Work Bereavement Committee, developing and implementing bereavement programs and resources for patients, families and staff throughout the hospital and local community. Lauren is also dedicated to social work education and facilitates group supervision for the hospital’s social work internship program. She was the recipient of the 2014 Outstanding Humanism in Patient Care Award from the Gold Humanism Honor Society of the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Columbia University.
Soren Glassing, BFA
- Staff Chaplain
Education
Pratt Institute
Nalanda Institute -Certificate in Buddhist PsychotherapyClinical Pastoral Education
New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care
New York Presbyterian Columbia Contemplative Studies ProgramBoard Certification
Board Certified Chaplain from APC (pending)
Role at CUIMC
I am a palliative care chaplain offering spiritual care to persons of all faith traditions and none. I specialize in mediative, mindful techniques and mind body therapies.
Goals as a Palliative Care provider
Ease spiritual suffer an distress through a variety of techniques including mindfulness, art, poems and music.
Education focus
Deepening an ever growing body of evidence that healing of the mind & spirit is as important as complimentary as healing the physical body.
Hobbies
Making art, sci-fi-fantasy, illustration, reading being in nature.
