Clinical Staff

Medical Staff
 

Terry Heiman-Patterson, M.D. is a Professor and Vice Chair of the Department of Neurology, Director of the Division of Neuromuscular Disorders, and Director of the MDA/ALS Center of Hope ALS Clinic at Drexel University College of Medicine.
 
After completing a six-year BS/MD program from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Albany Medical College, Dr. Heiman-Patterson received her residency training in Neurology from Albany Medical College and was awarded a Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) clinical and research postdoctoral fellowship in Neuromuscular Diseases at the University of Pennsylvania. She started her medical practice at Hahnemann University in 1982 and became the first Medical Director of the MDA Clinic at Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital in Allentown, PA, where she continues today as Medical Director. In 1984, she founded and was Co-Director of the ALS Center at Hahnemann University, one of the first multi-disciplinary ALS clinics in the country. and the standard of excellence against which all ALS clinics are judged today. This was one of the first ALS clinic officially certified by a national organization (ALS Association) and remains a leader in the field. After serving as an Associate Professor of Neurology at Thomas Jefferson University from 1988-1996, she returned to Hahnemann University, which became Drexel University College of Medicine in 2002.
 
Dr. Heiman-Patterson has conducted over 24 clinical trials in ALS, helped to establish the standard of care in noninvasive ventilation of ALS patients, and has received several grants to study the cause of ALS in animal models of motor neuron disease. She has authored over 50 papers, abstracts, and correspondence on motor neuron diseases. She is a member of Executive Board of the Northeast ALS Consortium of ALS researchers and physicians (NEALS), and chairs the subcommittee on clinical trials. Dr. Heiman-Patterson served on the Medical Advisory Boards of the Myasthenia Gravis Foundation, the Philadelphia Chapter of the ALS Association, and the National ALS C.A.R.E. Program. In 2000, the Muscular Dystrophy Association honored Dr. Heiman-Patterson with the Lou Gehrig Memorial Award for outstanding service as a clinician and researcher on ALS. In 1999, Dr. Heiman-Patterson helped co-found the ALS Hope Foundation and currently serves as President of the Board.
 
Anahita Deboo, MD completed an internship in internal medicine and a residency in neurology before her fellowship in neuromuscular disease, specializing in electrodiagnostics, at the University of Pennsylvania. Today, Dr. Deboo is Co-Director of the MDA/ALS Center of Hope and an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Drexel University College of Medicine. She is also Director of the EMG Laboratory at Hahnemann Hospital.
 

Howard Natter, MD received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh in Psychobiology. He did his medical school training and neurology residency at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia. After a two year stay in a Bucks County private practice, he returned to Hahnemann to direct their EMG lab and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Center. He has been with the Meadowbrook Neurology Group since 1993. Interests include neuromuscular disorders, stroke, migraine and sleep disorders.
 

Luisa Rojas, MD joined the ALS center clinical team in 2008 after completing her residency at Drexel University College of Medicine.
 

 

 

Gary Romano, PhD, MD has been a member of the ALS center clinical team since 1997. He received his Ph.D. in Neuroscience from The Rockefeller University and his M.D from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. He completed an internship in internal medicine, a residency in neurology and a fellowship in neuromuscular disease and EMG at the University of Pennsylvania. He is currently a Director of CNS research at Johnson and Johnson's Pharmaceutical Research and Development L.L.C. He is also an adjunct clinical assistant professor of neurology at the Drexel University School of Medicine.
 
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The Clinic Team

Theresa M. Kuhar, RN, BSN is the Clinical Nurse Coordinator for the Center. A graduate and former faculty member of Holy Family University School of Nursing, Theresa has focused on emergency and critical care nursing since 2001. She describes herself as “a fierce patient advocate” and brings her passion for clinical excellence and compassionate care to every encounter with patients and colleagues.
 

 
Mary Paolone, MSRN is the Clinical Nurse Counselor, and has worked at the MDA/ALS Center of Hope since 2005. She graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing Degree from Villanova University in 1994, and has been focused in chronic pain and chronic illness for most of her career. While working with these populations, she gained a desire to assist others more deeply as they move along the spectrum of their diseases. Mary continued her education with a Master’s Degree in Counseling Psychology from Chestnut Hill College which has enabled her to remain present and supportive with her patients during difficult times. She states that her “life has been greatly enriched by her work at the Center of Hope” and considers it a blessing and an honor to help in any way she is able.
 
Marlene Ciechoski, MS, RN
 

 

 

 

 
Mark Goren, MS, OTR/L graduated from Temple University’s School of Occupational Therapy with a Master of Science degree in 1995. He did his clinical fieldwork at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. His past experience includes working at Bryn Mawr Rehab and Hahnemann University Hospital. Mark has been the senior occupational therapist with the MDA/ALS Center of Hope for the past ten years. Other areas of interest include hand therapy, assistive technology and research.
 
Sara Feldman, MA, PT, ATP has been the Physical Therapist at this center since 1994. She received her Bachelors in Physical Therapy in 1987 from Temple University and her Masters in Environmental Science from the University of Pennsylvania in 1997. Prior to coming to Drexel, she was a Senior Physical Therapist on the Spinal Cord Injury team at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital. She came to Hahnemann Hospital to be on the acute neurotrauma and neurology teams. Sara works full time for the MDA/ALS Center of Hope and in addition to clinical care, she is also involved in clinical trials and the use of assistive technology. She looks forward to the day there is a cure for ALS.
 
Donna Harris, MA, CCC is a licensed and certified speech language pathologist and has been involved with the MDA/ALS Center of Hope since 2000. She received her Masters from Temple University in 1991. Donna has worked in a variety of settings including special needs classrooms, acute care hospitals, and rehab centers. Donna is committed to the ALS cause and loves working with each and every family.
 

Rhea Silverman, CSW, MS has been a Certified Medical Social Worker for the past 10 years. Her experiences include working with people from young adults to geriatrics, with diagnosis related to both mental and physical disabilities. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work from Richard Stockton College of NJ, and a Masters in Psychiatric Rehabilitation from UMDNJ. Rhea has strong knowledge of community based of services and has a deep commitment to helping individuals with ALS.
 
Donna Mark, RD, LDN is a registered dietician at Hahnemann University Hospital. Her teaching role at the Community College of Philadelphia provides her with the opportunity to share her knowledge and clinical experience as a nutrition educator. Her experience includes hospital and community based programs, which has helped her to understand the nutritional needs for people of all ages. Working with the ALS population is a joy and a challenge for her as “food and nutrition may be one of the few things the client can control”. Originally from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, she earned her degree in Dietetics from the University of Manitoba.
 
Christine Barr, RN has been the Research Nurse Coordinator for the clinical trials at the center since 2004. She graduated from Hahnemann University Hospital’s School of Nursing in May of 1994 and just prior to coming to the center she was a charge nurse on Hahnemann Hospital’s progressive care unit. After many years as an intensive care nurse, she was ready to redirect her focus and welcomed the opportunity to work in clinical research. Christine feels that she has gained so much from the patients and staff and hopes that she can give back more than she has been given.
 
Jordan Myerson, BSN, RN coordinates care of patients in the Drexel Neurology Infusion Suite. Jordan earned his BSN from LaSalle University and joined the Infusion Suite in May 2008. Since that time the suite has been able to grow and expand thanks to the work of many.
 

 
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