Faculty
Cecilia Avila, MD, MPH
Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Dr. Avila is a graduate of Universidad Nacional de Columbia School of Medicine in Bogota, Columbia, she did her internship in obstetrics and gynecology at Yale- New Haven Hospital and then completed her residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital followed by a fellowship in Maternal –Fetal Medicine at Columbia- Presbyterian Medical Center in New York. Upon completion of her fellowship in 2000, Dr. Avila trained in Obstetric and gynecological ultrasound at New York University before her arrival here at Stony Brook Medicine in 2004.
Her clinical and research interests includes prematurity, medical complications of pregnancy, intrapartum care and perinatal HIV care.
David Baker, MD
Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Associate Professor of Oral Biology and Pathology, School of Medicine
Director, Division of Infectious Diseases
Dr. Baker is a national recognized expert on infectious diseases in Obstetrics and Gynecology. He received his medical training at the State University of Brooklyn and completed his residency at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA. He completed his fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at University of Vermont College of Medicine in Burlington, VT.
Dr. Baker is actively involved in basic, and clinical research involving various aspects of women’s health relating to infectious diseases and menopause. Dr. Baker has published over 150 articles, chapters and books in the fields of infectious disease. Recently Dr. Baker has expanded his research into the area of menopause and herbal supplements. He has been recognized as a specialist in diseases of the vulva and vaginitis. In addition, he recently was recognized for work on herbal supplements.
James Bernasko, MD, FACOG, CDE, CDTC
Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine
Director, Suffolk County Regional Perinatal Center and the Stony Brook Diabetes in Pregnancy Center.
Dr. Bernasko is one of few maternal-fetal medicine specialists in the US who are also board-certified in diabetes education. His clinical areas of interest and publications include medical complications of pregnancy, particularly diabetes, preterm birth, and multiple pregnancies. He has published and presented in these fields at several scientific meetings.
Dr. Bernasko is the author of ‘A practical guide to insulin pump therapy for pregnancy.’
He served his residency in obstetrics and gynecology at the Harlem Hospital Center affiliation of the Columbia University college of Physicians and surgeons and completed a clinical fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City.
Jennifer Choi, DO
Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Dr. Jennifer Choi is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. She trained in obstetrics and gynecology at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center and completed her fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at WellSpan York hospital. Dr. Choi's clinical and research interests include diabetes in pregnancy, fetal anemia and fetal growth restriction. She has a highly specialized expertise in the management of patients with diabetes. One of Dr. Choi's top goals are to decrease the morbidity and mortality associated with diabetes in pregnancy by working with other experts at Stony Brook Maternal Fetal Medicine and engaging our patients through every step of their care.
David Garry, DO, FACOG
Professor, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Director, of Maternal Fetal-Medicine
Dr. David Garry is a Professor of Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology at Stony Brook Medicine University School of Medicine. He is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist, who trained in obstetrics and gynecology at Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn and Queens and did his clinical fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine New York Medical College. He now serves as the Director of Maternal Fetal- Medicine at Stony Brook Medicine.
In addition, Dr. Garry is actively involved in basic, and clinical research involving various aspects of women’s health. He also has held many leadership and committee positions in many institutions and prestigious professional societies.
Kimberly Herrera, MD, FACOG
Clinical Associate Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Dr. Herrera is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist. Her clinical interests include diabetes in pregnancy, in which she has published and presented on in regional and national meetings; as well as preeclampsia, and cerclage in pregnancy.
She completed her residency at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia in obstetrics and gynecology, and subsequently finished her fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Mount Sinai St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City.
Ayesha Hussain, DO
Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Dr. Hussain, a perinatologist, is dedicated to providing the highest quality care to expectant mothers with high-risk health conditions, fetal abnormalities, or obstetric complications. She strives to utilize the latest knowledge and technology to deliver the best care in women's health for mother and baby during pregnancy. She practices with a multidisciplinary approach to create a personalized care plan that's right for both mother and baby. As a physician, her goal is to provide well-informed, comprehensive care during pregnancy.
Cassandra Heiselman, DO, MPH, FACOG
Clinical Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Medicine
Dr. Cassandra Heiselman is an Assistant Professor at Stony Brook Medicine (NY), where she also completed MFM fellowship. Her schooling includes Boston University (BA with distinction), Tulane's School of Public Health (MPH/Delta Omega Honorary Society), and Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences (DO). She completed OB/GYN residency at Cleveland Clinic Akron General and her fellowship at Stony Brook Medicine. Her research interests include fetal heart rate signal processing and machine learning; stress, stigma, social determinants of health and perinatal experiences and outcomes; syphilis in pregnancy; opioid use disorder in pregnancy; birth satisfaction; hypertensive disorder of pregnancy; and maternal mental health. As a committed women's health care physician, her aim is to provide holistic, in-depth medical treatment focusing on personalized care for the unique needs of both mother and baby through an evidence-based, multidisciplinary approach. She also acts as Assistant Program Director for Global Women’s Health Fellowship and the Co-Medical Director of the Coordinated Fetal Care Program at Stony Brook University Hospital.
Kristen Alarcon, NP
Nurse Practitioner, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Kristen Alarcon is a Nurse Practitioner in Obstetrics and Gynecology specializing in maternal-fetal medicine. She began working at Stony Brook in 2000 as an RN with experience in maternal/child health and joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology in 2008. Her role here in the department of maternal fetal medicine is primarily direct patient care in women’s health, in particular high-risk pregnancies. Kristen graduated from Pace University with a bachelor’s degree in nursing in 2000 and from Stony Brook University with a Master’s of Family Health in 2004. She holds national certification as a Nurse Practitioner.
Nancy Bowden, NP, CNM
Nurse Practitioner, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine
Nancy Bowden is a nurse practitioner/nurse midwife in obstetrics and gynecology specializing in maternal-fetal medicine. She is dual certified as a certified nurse midwife and as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner which allows her to care for women with dual diagnosis of substance use disorder and mental health diagnosis.
Fellows
Bijal Parikh, MD
PGY-7
Hometown: Edison, New Jersey
Medical School: Rutgers-New Jersey Medicine
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai West
Publications
Publications:
- Hussain FN, Al-Ibraheemi Z, Kaplowitz E, Parikh, B, Feldman K, Chu Lam M, Brustman L, Lewis D. Incidentally found midtrimester shortened cervical length: Practice patterns among American Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists. Am J Perinatol. Published online June 17, 2022
- Hussain FN, Parikh B, Shenoy MS, Al-Ibraheemi Z, Lewis D. A case report of mirror syndrome in monochorionic diamniotic twins presenting as maternal hyponatremia and edema. Case Reports in Women’s Health.
- Grubman O, Hussain FN, Parikh B, Karotkin L, Schneider E, Brustman L. Is there an association between second trimester blood pressure and pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders? Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2022 Feb; 34:e00401.
- Varma R, Parikh B, Beyer C, Ghosh S, Du D, Aaron G, Kamath A. Magnetic resonance imaging of tubal ectopic pregnancy: correlation with intraoperative findings. Clinical Imaging. 2019 November; 58(1):194-200.
- Parikh B, Hussain FN, Brustman L. Acute Abdomen in Pregnancy. Topics in Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2019 May; 39(7):1–7.
- Patel K, Parikh B, Guirguis G, Williams S, Apuzzio J. Is advanced maternal age an indication for fetal echocardiogram? Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2017 May; 129(5):S168.
- Parikh B, Williams S, Heller DS. Ovarian steroid cell tumor in pregnancy-a rare occurrence. Report of a case and review of the literature. J Gyn Surg. 2016 Dec; 32(6):351–353.
- Cowen VS, Miccio RS, Parikh B. Massage therapy in outpatient cancer care: A metropolitan area analysis. J Evid Based Complementary Altern Med. 2017 Oct; 22(4):851-855.
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Poster Presentations:
- Noureddine L, Parikh B, Saliba E, Lo Monaco G, Herrera K, Heiselman C. How Comprehensive are websites of maternal fetal medicine programs for prospective fellows? Poster: Society of Maternal Fetal Medicine 42th Annual Pregnancy Meeting, Feb 2022.
- Parikh B, Markovic ES, Hussain FN, Stoffels G, Brustman L. Should ACOG reconsider guidelines for management of prolonged second stage of labor? Poster: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists Annual Meeting, May 2021.
- Parikh B, Markovic ES, Hussain FN, Stoffels G, Brustman L. Should ACOG reconsider guidelines for management of prolonged second stage of labor? Poster: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists District II Saad Khalil Memorial Junior Fellow Virtual Quality Improvement Challenge, Oct 2020.
- Hussain FN, Grubman O, Parikh B, Choi KH, Chu Lam M, Feldman KM, Al-Ibraheemi Z, Brustman L. The value of first trimester blood pressure in predicting pregnancy-induced hypertensive disorders. Poster: Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine 40th Annual Pregnancy Meeting, Feb 2020.
- Parikh B, Thoonkuzy C, Cafaro J, Keller S. Are Student Doctors Meeting USPSTF Guidelines for Women’s Preventative Health Screening at Student Family Health Care Clinic? Poster: Society for Student Run Free Clinics Annual Conference, Jan 2016.
- Parikh B, Keller S. Women’s Preventative Health Screening. Poster: New Jersey Medical School Research Day, Nov 2015.
- Parikh B, Thoonkuzy C, Cafaro J, Keller S. Are Student Doctors Meeting USPSTF Guidelines for Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening at Student Family Health Care Clinic? Poster: New York City Student-Run Free Clinic Conference, Weill Cornell Medical College, Sept 2015.
- Parikh B, Cowen V, Streit R, Pliner L. Survey of Massage Therapy in Outpatient Clinics. Poster: American Medical Association 12th Annual Research Symposium, Nov 2014.
Emily Stetler, MD
PGY-6
Hometown: Spring Hill, Florida
Medical School: Florida State University Medical School
Residency: Orlando Health (Winnie Palmer Hospital)
Tiffany Yang, MD
PGY-6
Hometown: Tustin, California
Medical School: USC Keck School of Medicine
Residency: White Memorial
Publications
Publications:
- Shammas N, Yang T, Abidi A, Amneus M, Hodeib M. Clinical use of PARP inhibitor in recurrent uterine leiomyosarcoma with presence of a somatic BRCA2 mutation. Gynecologic Oncology Reports. 2022 July. 42:101044.Hussain FN, Al-Ibraheemi Z, Kaplowitz E, Parikh, B, Feldman K, Chu Lam M, Brustman L, Lewis D. Incidentally found midtrimester shortened cervical length: Practice patterns among American Maternal-Fetal Medicine specialists. Am J Perinatol. Published online June 17, 202214.
Zenobia Gonsalves, MD
PGY-5
Medical School: Chicago Medical School, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Residency: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Fellowship: Medical Genetics and Genomics
(Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine - July 2023)
Rachel Lee, MD
PGY-5
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Medical School: John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii at Manoa
Residency: Flushing Hospital Medical Center
Alumni
2010: Daniel Kiefer, MD
2011: Jolene Muscat, MD
2012: Michael Demishev, MD
2013: M. Baraa Allaf, MD
2014: Corinne Yeh, MD
2015: Tracy Adams, DO
2016: Nadia Kunzier, DO
2017: Sevan Vahanian, MD
2018: Malini Persad, MD
2019: Cheryl Dinglas, DO
2020: Jay Davis, DO
2021: Cassandra Heiselman, DO
2022: Anna Fuchs, DO
2023: Omar Abuzeid, MD
