Call us at
1-888-667-8447

MANAGEMENT TEAM

Stephen Rosenthal is the executive with overall responsibility for the Care Guidance Program. Steve is the President and Chief Operating Officer of Care Management Company (CMO), a corporate subsidiary of Montefiore Medical Center. Steve has worked at Montefiore Medical Center for more than 20 years and led the restructuring of the medical center into an integrated delivery system. He has an MBA from Pace University and a MS and a BS from Brooklyn College.

Anne Meara, RN is the executive with day-to-day management responsibility for the Care Guidance Program. Anne is the overall program strategist. She is also the Assistant Vice President for Network Care Management and oversees the Medical Management division of the CMO as well as the Social Service and Utilization Management Departments at Montefiore Medical Center. Prior to joining the CMO 10 years ago, Anne worked in senior management positions in major health plans in the New York area overseeing case management and utilization management functions. Anne grew up in the Bronx and has a BSN from Columbia University and an MBA from Adelphi.

Catherine Lynch, RN is the Care Guidance Program Clinical Director. Cathy has 20 years of nursing experience including 10 years managing case management processes. Prior to joining the Care Guidance Program, she was the director of inpatient case management in a hospital and prior to that served as vice president of medical affairs operations at a major health plan with management responsibility for disease management, quality management, nurse triage, and physician profiling. Cathy received a Bachelor’s degree from Wilkes College, is a Certified Professional in Health Care Quality and has a Case Management Administrator Certification.

Alessandra Taverna-Trani is Project Director for the Care Guidance Program and oversees all non-clinical aspects of the program. Alessandra has ten years of experience in health care with significant experience in managed care having served as the director of sales for a large Medicare Advantage Plan, manager of network development at CMO, Montefiore’s managed care organization and as a project manager for risk contracts between provider groups, MSOs and another large health plan in the NY market. Earlier in her career she worked in administrative positions in inpatient, clinic and physician office settings. Alessandra has a BA from New York University and an MBA from Baruch College/ Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. In 2003 she was awarded a Beneficiary Services Certificate of Merit from CMS.

Suzanne Martin is a consultant to the CMO and was one of the authors of the original Care Guidance Program proposal. Suzanne’s role in the Care Guidance Program has focused on the training, monitoring and mentoring of the enrollment team and on the development of the overall program strategy. Suzanne owns her own management consulting firm and has a background in hospital operations and health services research. She has a BA from Cornell University and an MPA from Princeton University.

Barbara Bruno is the Manager of Community Outreach and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She has played an active role in the enrollment process, recruitment of staff and is the lead resource for the care management team on community-based linkages to social supports. Barbara has 23 years of post-Masters experience, which includes director positions in both mental health clinics and victim services programs. She has extensive experience working with seniors including a year and a half as the Director of the Co-Op City NORC, a supportive services program, encompassing three senior centers and a case management program. Her work with the NORC also included managing a Meals-On-Wheels delivery program and two additional senior centers outside of Co-op City. She also had a private practice in psychotherapy for 10 years. Her MSW is from the Hunter College School of Social Work.

Peggi Czinger is a Senior Business Analyst. She redesigned the CMO’s case management information system to accommodate program needs, particularly individualized care plans. Her role is to serve as the interface between the clinical staff and the information technology group and she is a master at developing workflows for information exchange and work processes. Peggi has extensive experience in the development of health care system products having worked for both health insurance companies and care management organizations. She has a BA from Clark University and an MPH from Yale University in Epidemiology and Health Services Research.

Bonnie Evans, NP has been a key developer of the participant interview, clinical interventions and care plans. She works closely with Peggi Czinger to ensure the information systems support the program and continues to work on program refinements. Bonnie has worked with seniors in hospitals, PACE programs, nursing homes, hospice programs and continuing care communities. She also taught Advanced Gerontological Nursing at the University of Rhode Island. Bonnie has a BSN from the University of Rochester and an MS in Gerontological Nursing from the University of Michigan. She is certified as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner and has a Certification in Hospice and Palliative Care.

Karen Celio, RN is the Manager of Staff Development & Education for the Care Guidance Program. Karen has over fifteen years experience in nursing in hospital settings, insurance plans, and managed care organizations working in case management, quality assurance and utilization management. In her last position with United Health Care she was responsible for developing and implementing a comprehensive training program for existing staff and new hires. She also worked extensively on program and system development for the Oxford Cancer Support Program. She received her RN from the Cochran School of Nursing and is a Certified Case Manager.

Ann Marie Velez is the Project Associate for the Care Guidance team. Ann Marie spent her first two months with the program doing enrollment but is currently managing reporting functions, handling administrative tasks and coordinating beneficiary and provider communications. Ann Marie has an AA and a BS from Johnson & Wales University and was born and raised in the Bronx.

MEDICAL DIRECTORS

Yolonda Colemon, MD is a Geriatric Psychiatrist who also works part time for the CMO’s MD House Calls program. She recently completed a fellowship in geriatric psychiatry at Montefiore. Yolonda graduated from Xavier University in New Orleans and received her medical degree from the University of Tennessee in Memphis.

Anne Marie Reynolds, MD is a board certified internist and endocrinologist who has worked at the CMO for 6 years. She has experience working with the Medicare Advantage and other commercial insurance patients. She has been directly involved in the CMO’s case management and disease management programs and has assisted patients and their providers in the transition between acute and post-acute care. Anne Marie received her Bachelors degree from Colgate and her medical degree from New York Medical College.

CLINICAL STAFF

Team Leaders

Rhonda Baskin, RN is a Clinical Team Leader. She has directed an ambulatory care center for seniors and worked in home care as a patient service manager and a quality assurance coordinator. She has extensive experience organizing providers and organizations to meet the medical needs of a geriatric population. Rhonda received a BSN from Northeastern University and an MPH from Columbia University. She is a Certified Case Manager.

Barbara Bolden, RN is a Clinical Team Leader. She has worked in case management for over 15 years in many organizations including health plans, managed services organizations and a worker’s compensation carrier. She also has over 5 years experience as a team leader with extensive experience in assessment, care coordination, and integration of benefits and community resources. Prior to that she worked as a staff/charge nurse in medical/surgical, psychiatric and substance abuse inpatient units. Barbara attended the NY Institute of Technology and is a Certified Case Manager.

Sandra Cedeno, RN is a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) Team Leader. She has 20 years of clinical experience with significant case management experience in working with people with AIDS and substance abuse problems. Just before joining the Care Guidance Program, Sandra served as the Manager of Care Management for a Medicaid managed care plan where she supervised and trained case managers, coordinated care, monitored health care status and evaluated treatment options. Sandra received her RN from Manhattan Community College.

Clinical Support Staff

Adekemi (“Kemi”) Olabisi, PharmD, is the Care Guidance Team Pharmacist. Kemi received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from Temple University and then completed a pharmacy residency at Montefiore Medical Center. This residency included a rotation in which she worked with CMO commercial insurance and Medicare Advantage members, under the supervision of the CMO pharmacist. Kemi lives in the Bronx and prior to joining Care Guidance, she worked as a pharmacist in a community pharmacy.

Alina Gonzalez, CDN, is a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) Certified Nutritionist who holds a Masters Degree from Columbia University. She has extensive experience in the field of nutrition, including program development, patient assessment and counseling/teaching adults and adolescents in various settings. Alina works part time for the Care Guidance Program, she also has recent experience working for a skilled nursing facility in the Bronx.

Benita Kinard, NP is temporarily assisting the Care Guidance program by completing telephonic and in-home baseline interviews; her full time assignment is with the CMO’s MD House Calls program. Benita comes to the CMO from the Visiting Nurse Service of New York where she worked in the hospice program. She has a BSN and an MSN from Malloy College.

Patient Educators and LPNs

Peggy Ann McCarthy is a Patient Educator. She conducts patient interviews and handles interventions and also manages the hospital inpatient tracking system. Peggy Ann has worked for Montefiore and the CMO in a number of capacities for 11 years, most recently as a coordinator in the CMO’s Medical Management division assisting Medicare Advantage and other commercial insurance populations. Peggy has a Bachelor’s degree from Mount Saint Mary’s College and was born and raised in the Bronx.

Usheba Miller is a Patient Educator who spent her first month helping with enrollment but is now conducting patient interviews and handling interventions. Prior to joining the Care Guidance Program Usheba worked as a case manager with seniors in the Bronx, conducting psychosocial assessments and assisting with service and treatment plans. Usheba has a BA from the College of New Rochelle and lives in the Bronx.

Lidia Taveras is a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) Patient Educator. For the last 2 years Lydia has worked as a Case Manager/ Health Educator in a prenatal program where she performed psychosocial evaluations, provided crisis interventions, and counseling. Lidia also worked as a volunteer at a large nursing home in Manhattan and is a Certified Nurse Aide. She has a BS degree from Mercy College.

Samantha Torres is a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) Patient Educator who assisted with enrollment activities during her first two months with the program but who now conducts baseline interviews and follow-up calls with participants. Samantha previously worked as an educational consultant for a college fraternity, prior to that, she worked for an organization that provided social service referrals to court mandated clients and worked as an office manager in a medical clinic. Samantha has a BS degree from St. John’s University and lives in the Bronx.

Josephine Williams is a Patient Educator. She spent seven years managing a caseload of Bronx seniors, conducting in-home assessments, establishing care plans and referring patients to services as needed and worked as a program officer for the NYC Department of the Aging. Earlier in her career she worked as a caseworker with children and adolescents and as a unit clerk in a hospital. Josephine has a BA from the College of New Rochelle and lives in the Bronx.

Peggy Perry, LPN, is one of the newest additions to the Care Guidance Team. Peggy has been a practicing nurse for over 20 years, and has worked in many different settings including hospitals,home care agencies clinics and insurance companies. She recently worked for Montefiore Home Care.

Anibal (“Andy”) Perez, LPN, also a new addition to the team, Andy is a bilingual (Spanish/English) nurse with over fifteen years experience in hospital, managed care, rehabilitation and nursing home settings. Andy holds a BS degree from Nyack College. Most recently, he returned to his hometown of Yonkers, after working for a skilled nursing facility in Florida.

SUPPORT STAFF

Lourdes Clark is a bi-lingual (English/Spanish) Enrollment Specialist. She worked for many years as a Substance Abuse Counselor and was born and raised in the Bronx.

Allan Martin is an Enrollment Specialist. He has held a wide variety of jobs in customer service, and has worked in a call center, the insurance industry and as a case manager for a municipal agency. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from CW Post.

Arshon Williams is an Enrollment Specialist. She previously worked as an office manager with responsibilities for customer service for a large discount distribution center. Arshon was born in one of Montefiore’s hospitals and still lives in the Bronx.

Marie Berg was recruited to work for the Care Guidance program from a senior employment program. She began as an Enrollment Specialist, but is currently providing administrative support. Marie has extensive experience as an office manager in a law office.

Mirta Martinez- Kekenak is a tri-lingual (English/Spanish/Greek) social work intern. Mirta currently conducts telephonic and face- to- face baseline interviews as well as inhome psychotherapy and case management for Care Guidance Participants. Mirta has worked full time for Montefiore for the past 7 years and is currently with University Behavioral Associates where she conducts case management for patients with mental illness. Mirta has a BS in Criminal Justice with a minor in Psychology and is currently attending Fordham University where she is expected to graduate in May of 2007 with a Masters Degree in Clinical Social Work. Mirta was born in the Bronx but raised in Greece.

For more information on the Care Guidance Program, call us at 1-888-667-8447.