Instructor Biographies

Sarah Baker, PT, DPT is a staff physical therapist in the rehabilitation department at Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS). She received her doctorate of physical therapy degree from Northwestern University. Her clinical interests include orthopedics, sports medicine and fitness.

Lydia Dalley, MA is a patient advocate at HSS. As an advocate she assists patients and families with any questions or concerns regarding hospital regulations and routines.

Martha E. Danielak, PT, DPT is a staff physical therapist at HSS. She received her doctorate of physical therapy degree from Northeastern University. Martha’s clinical interests include general orthopedics and postural training.

Eve Delachartre started practicing yoga more than 35 years ago in the style of Sri Krishnamacharya. She studied South Indian dance for three years as part of a cultural exchange scholarship. She is certified in Prana Yoga and Integrative Yoga Therapy and began private and group Yoga instruction in 1994 in New York.

Meghan Featherston, ORT/L is a pediatric occupational therapist at HSS and has experience in school-based, gym and early intervention settings.

Lorene C. Janowski, OTR/L, MS is a pediatric occupational therapist at HSS. Her experience includes therapy in school-based, sensory gym and early intervention settings as well as a background in sensory integration and Neuro-Development Treatment (NDT).

Nimali Jayasinghe, PhD is a licensed clinical psychologist and is currently an assistant professor of psychology at Weill Cornell Medical College. Her clinical and research endeavors include a focus on intervention for anxiety in older patients who have suffered traumatic accidents or injuries, such as falls. She recently completed an NIH funded fellowship in geriatric mental health services research and is currently a recipient of the DeWitt Wallace Pilot Award from the Department of Psychiatry at Weill Cornell.

Jan Kliger, MS is a gerontologist and recreational therapist with over 10 years of experience conducting creative group therapy and workshops for all ages. Jan has been funded by the National Institute of Health under the direction of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Weill Cornell Medical College and has presented evidence-based health and wellness programs in senior centers throughout New York.

Michelle Leach, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist at HSS and has experience in school-based, gym and early intervention settings.

Nicole L. Levane, PT, DPT is a staff physical therapist at HSS. She received her doctorate of physical therapy at NYIT. She has had experience working with cardiac and pulmonary care patients. Her clinical interests include orthopedics and cardio fitness.

Suzanne Levine, DPM is a board-certified podiatric surgeon who has been named one of America's Top Podiatrists (Consumers' Research Council of America) and is among the most acclaimed podiatrists internationally. She enjoys tremendous peer recognition and has been repeatedly voted one of the most influential podiatrists in the United States by her colleagues. Dr. Levine is featured frequently as NBC's foot care expert on The Today Show and WNBC's Today in New York.

Medicare Rights Center is a national, nonprofit organization that works to ensure access to affordable healthcare for older adults and people with disabilities through counseling, advocacy and educational programs. Their goal is to help people with Medicare understand their rights and benefits, navigate the Medicare system and secure the quality care they deserve. The Medicare Rights Center has an office in New York City along with a phone hotline and internet services.

Nancy O’Brien is a certified yoga instructor specializing in therapeutic and restorative practices and credits yoga with her ongoing recovery from serious illness. She has developed wellness and yoga programming in senior centers, hospitals and clinics and is certified by the Arthritis Foundation. The former New York Daily News editor writes on integrative health topics for Yoga Journal and Yoga Therapy Today.

Carolyn Perkins is an accredited T'ai Chi Chih instructor, a graduate of the Swedish Institute and a certified Ingham Reflexologist with extensive training in a variety of healing methods. In 1998 Carolyn studied Qigong Healing with a world famous master at a hospital in Beijing. She became an accredited teacher of T'ai Chi Chih in 1995 and has subsequently studied other forms of T'ai Chi under masters in Australia, China and the U.S. She is also the originator of a unique form of balance movements (called Chi Balance) based on T'ai Chi and Qigong.

Leigh-Ann Plack, DPT is a staff physical therapist at HSS. She received her doctorate degree at Northeastern University. She is currently applying to become a certified strength and conditioning specialist. Leigh-Ann’s clinical interests include strength and postural training.

Hagit Rajter, PT, MSPT, SST is an Advanced Clinician at the Joint Mobility Center at HSS specializing in outpatient spine rehabilitation. Hagit is a Schroth Scoliosis Therapist and a certified Mckenzie Therapist who received her masters of physical therapy degree from Hunter College. She is currently enrolled in the doctorate physical therapy degree program at the University of St. Augustine, Florida.

M. Cary Reid, MD, PhD received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Dartmouth Medical Center. At Yale University, Dr. Reid completed a fellowship in geriatric medicine and was a Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholar. He also received a coveted Paul Beeson Physician Faculty Scholarship in Aging Award while a faculty member at Yale. Dr. Reid has been published widely on the management of pain in older adults.

Timothy Roberts, MLS has a master’s degree in library science from SUNY Buffalo. Before joining HSS as the medical librarian, Tim worked for Ovid Technologies as a product manager, and before that he was a medical librarian with the New York Academy of Medicine. Tim is currently co-teaching a masters course for SUNY Downstate’s Medical Informatics program.

Lee Rosenzweig, PT, DPT, CHT is an Advanced Clinician at the Sports PT and Performance Center at HSS. He is an adjunct professor of physical therapy at Columbia University, and a member of the American Physical Therapy Association and American Society of Shoulder and Elbow Therapists. He has published a textbook chapter on rehabilitation following shoulder surgery.

Roberta Schine is a certified Kripalu Yoga instructor who has been practicing yoga and meditation since 1986. In addition to her classes at HSS, Roberta teaches yoga and meditation for people with a variety of medical conditions at Beth Israel Hospital, St. Luke's/Roosevelt Hospitals, SHARE and The Jewish Community Center.

Katherine Shapiro, BFA, E-RYT has a BFA in dance, is an E-RYT 500, and is Pilates-certified. She has over 20 years teaching experience and teaches both privately and in studios in New York City and the Hamptons, including YogaWorks and One Ocean Yoga at The Ross School.

Ruth Tomalski, MS, OTR/L is a pediatric occupational therapist as HSS. She received her master’s degree in occupational therapy at the University of New Hampshire. She is currently completing requirements to become sensory integration praxis test certified. She has experience in school-based, gym and early intervention settings.

Oleg Trebunski is a professional dance coach and instructor. Oleg teaches dance instruction and dance therapy for seniors and the disabled at the Church on the Hill Older Adults Program, as well as ballroom and Latin dance to children and adults in programs throughout Manhattan and Westchester counties. Oleg has coached both of his daughters to great acclaim: One daughter placed second in U.S. Professional American Ballroom and another daughter is one of the professional dancers on ABC’s hit show Dancing with the Stars.

Rebekah Wallach, PT, DPT is a staff physical therapist at HSS. She received her doctorate of physical therapy from Stony Brook University. Her clinical interests include cardio fitness, orthopedics and sports training.

Janet L. Wolfe, PhD received her doctorate in clinical psychology from New York University, where she is adjunct professor in the Department of Applied Psychology. She served for more than 25 years as executive director of the Albert Ellis Institute in New York City. Dr. Wolfe is the author of What to Do When He Has a Headache: Renewing Desire and Intimacy in Your Relationship and has appeared on Oprah, Donahue, Good Morning America, CBS’ This Morning, BBC News and Good Day New York.

Sue Karen Yanelli, PT, DPT is a staff physical therapist at HSS. She received her doctorate in physical therapy from New York Institute of Technology. Karen has presented for national foundations such as the National Arthritis Foundation and the APTA as well as privately and publicly funded support groups for rheumatoid arthritis and ALS. Her clinical interests include orthopedic, cardiac and neurological disorders with a focus on maximizing a patient’s functional independence.