Get to Know Your 2021-2022 PHiT Board
A new year means new beginnings. It’s the perfect time to get to know your 2021-2022 Physiatrist-in-Training (PHiT) Council Board! Read on to learn a fun fact about each of your new board members, their PM&R interest and their plan for the upcoming board year.
Heidi Chen, MD
President
PGY4, New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia and Cornell) PM&R Program
Fun Fact: I am an avid solo-traveler and love to meet new people while traveling.
PM&R Interest: Sports and Spine
Goal: To support PHiT Council members in their endeavors and identify ways In-Training members can contribute to the Academy to advance our specialty!
Nathan McKenty, MD, MPH
Vice President
PGY3, University of Miami/Jackson
Fun Fact: I was formerly a Marine Biologist before attending medical school.
PM&R Interest: Amputee Rehab; Prosthetics/Orthotics
Goal: To partner with our Ambassadors to bring the PHiT Council to new heights!
Kavita Nadendla, MD
Secretary
PGY4, Johns Hopkins University
Fun Fact: I grew up in Maryland but never liked 🦀
PM&R Interest: Pediatric Rehabilitation; Medical Education
Goal: To work with the Council and Academy members to provide engaging content for trainees
Scott Klass, MD, MS, ATC
Immediate Past President
PGY5, Sports Medicine Fellow at New York-Presbyterian (Columbia and Cornell)
Fun Fact: I've made my own granola for years and aspire to have a craft granola side hustle.
PM&R Interest: Sports Medicine; Medical Education
Goal: To recruit a diverse and interesting group of applicants for the future of the PHiT Council.
Megan Kennelly, MD
Residency Program Liaison
PGY3, Carolinas Medical Center
Fun Fact: I lived in a haunted house during medical school. The building was a Victorian mansion built in 1850 that was a boarding school for girls before being converted into apartments. Unfortunately, I did not have any ghost sightings 👻.
PM&R Interest: Pediatric Rehabilitation; Inpatient Rehabilitation
Goal: To strengthen the existing communication between the Academy and residency programs so that residents can take advantage of all the resources available (ideally without adding more emails to our already full inboxes).
Emilie Pinto, DO
Nominating Committee
PGY3, Virginia Commonwealth University
Fun Fact: I have two dogs - a goldendoodle and a golden cavapoo.
PM&R Interest: Pain Medicine; Integrative Medicine
Goal: To help continue to recruit amazing leaders for the PHiT Council!
Robert Pagan-Rosado, MD
Nominating Committee
PGY3, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Rochester)
Fun Fact: The first time I ever played baseball I was 5 years old. After hitting the ball, I ran to third base instead of first!
PM&R Interest: Pain Medicine and MSK Ultrasound
Goal: To select a diverse and talented leadership team whose vision is aligned with perpetuating growth, fellowship and support among the PM&R community.
Emily Kivlehan, MD
Medical Education Committee (MEC)
PGY6, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital/Harvard Medical School
Fun Fact: My one-year-old dog's favorite food is goat cheese!
PM&R Interest: Pediatric Rehabilitation; early detection and intervention of cerebral palsy; acquired brain injury; Inpatient Rehabilitation
Goal: To identify and fill educational resource gaps by advocating for trainees and their needs.
Alpha Anders, MD
Medical Education Committee (MEC)
PGY2, Louisiana State University
Fun Fact: Before medical school, I spent 5 years in the classroom teaching middle and high school science. Now, I get to teach my patients every day in the clinic and at bedside.
PM&R Interest: Interventional Pain; Regenerative Medicine
Goal: To help increase physiatrist trainee utilization of AAPM&R medical education content.
Ky Viet D. Quach, DO
American Medical Association (AMA) Delegate
PGY3, Sparrow Hospital (Michigan State University) PM&R Program
Fun Fact: I solo-backpacked Japan for three weeks after medical school. Can’t wait to go on the next adventure post-pandemic.
PM&R Interest: EMG, Interventional Pain, Performing Arts Medicine
Goal: Represent our specialty well at the AMA and make sure our voices are heard. Collaborate with other members on resolutions of common interests.
Stacey Isidro, MD
Membership Committee
PGY2, Baylor College of Medicine
Fun Fact: I love salsa dancing!
PM&R Interest: Sports Medicine
Goal: To help advocate, add value and show you reasons to join and stay with the AAPM&R family.
Daniel Pierce, MD
Quality, Practice, Policy and Research (QPPR) Committee
PGY5, CRQS (Chief Resident in Quality and Patient Safety) Fellowship at University of Washington
Fun Fact: I love making and eating ice cream and want to start an ice cream store someday.
PM&R Interest: General Physiatry; Quality/Patient Safety; Policy
Goal: To engage AAPM&R physician trainees in key policy discussions within our field.
Maneesh Tiwari, MD
Quality, Practice, Policy and Research (QPPR) Committee
PGY3, Ohio State University
Fun Fact: My high school is home to the 5th largest basketball fieldhouse in the nation and was fictionally represented in the movie Hoosiers.
PM&R Interest: Pain and Musculoskeletal Medicine; Advocacy and Policy
Goal: To learn more about the function of the Academy in advocating for physiatrists and to learn about the challenges facing rehabilitation physicians.
Roxana Garcia, MD, MPH
Diversity and Inclusion Committee
PGY2, Stanford University
Fun Fact: I collect national park passport stamps and am trying to visit all the national parks.
PM&R Interest: Pain Medicine; chronic pain in medically underserved populations; Integrative medicine
Goal: To amplify the voices of physiatrists who are underrepresented in medicine to improve patient care and elevate our specialty.
Kayla Williams, MD
Inclusion and Engagement Committee
PGY5, Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Fellow at UTSouthwestern
Fun Fact: I love all things food, especially cooking, and briefly had a pandemic meal prep side hustle.
PM&R Interest: Pediatric Rehabilitation
Goal: To help increase active engagement with AAPM&R among trainees and early career members.
Alexandra Fry, MD
Specialty Brand Expansion Committee
PGY2, Beaumont Health (Taylor)
Fun Fact: I love Latin dancing and was even on a touring salsa dance team right before medical school.
PM&R Interest: Interventional Pain, Pelvic Rehab
Goal: To spread awareness of our field to other specialties, helping them see all that physiatry has to offer!