Faculty

Thomas Ball, M.D., FACEP

Medical Director

Educational Background

• 1999: Bachelor of Arts, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
• 2004: Doctor of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia
• 2007: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Del.

Clinical Interests

• ED administration & operations

Board Certification

• American Board of Emergency Medicine, 2008

Awards and Honors

• Alpha Omega Alpha
• Drexel University College of Medicine, Dean’s Special Award for Excellence in Clinical Teaching

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Emergency Medicine

 

Ilana R. Baltuch, M.D.

Educational Background

• 2007: Bachelor of Art, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• 2013: Doctor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia
• 2016: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Christiana Care Health System, Newark, Del.

Clinical Interests

• Resident simulation
• Bedside teaching
• Physician wellness

Board Certification

• 2017 American Board of Emergency Medicine

Professional Affiliations

• Society for Simulation in Healthcare

Awards & Recognition

• Sidney Kimmel Medical College Hobart Amory Hare Honor Society of Thomas Jefferson University, 2010
• Christiana Care Diamond, 2016

Selected Publications

• Cooper, J, Baltuch, I. Antibiotic Use During Pregnancy in: Levine (ed): 2017 EMRA Antibiotic Guide, Irving, TX, 2017.
• Matthews, P, Baltuch, I. Necrotizing Fasciitis in: Levine (ed): 2015 EMRA Antibiotic Guide. Irving, TX, 2015.

 

Pollianne Ward Bianchi, M.D., FAAEM

Clerkship Director

Educational Background

• 2005: Bachelor of Arts and Science, University of California, Davis, Calif.
• 2010: Doctor of Medicine, Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia
• 2013: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia

Clinical Interests

• Interactive residency education and teaching
• Women’s issues and wellness in the medical profession
• Interprogram collaboration in Emergency Medicine
• Cardiac resuscitation

Board Certification

• American Board of Emergency Medicine, 2014

Professional Affiliations

• American Academy of Emergency Medicine
• Women in Medicine Committee
• Pennsylvania Medical Society
• American Medical Association

Research Interests

• Residency education and teaching
• Clinical Emergency Medicine

Awards & Recognition

• Award for highest score on the Emergency Medicine In-Service Exam, 2013

Selected Publications

• Bianchi, Pollianne. #IlooklikeanEMdoc. AAEM’s Common Sense. 2016;23(1):16-17
• Saks, Mark; Bianchi, Pollianne. An Elevated Pruritic Rash in a Young Traveler. Visual Journal Of Emergency Medicine. 2016;2:27-28.
• Saks, Mark; Bianchi, Pollianne. Fingertip Amputation. Visual Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2016;1:16-17.
• Saks, Mark; Bianchi, Pollianne. A Symmetric Lower Extremity Cutaneous Inflammatory Reaction. Visual Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2016;1:22-23.

 

Stephen Carroll, D.O.

Director of Emergency Medical Services

Education

• 2004: Bachelor of Science, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. Major: Biological Sciences     
• 2009: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia
• 2012: Residency, Emergency Medicine, San Antonio Uniformed Services Health Consortium (SAUSHEC), San Antonio Military Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas

Clinical Interests

• EMS/Prehospital Emergency Services
• Airway Management Skills
• Podcasting, FOAM, social media

Board Certification

• American Board of Emergency Medicine, 2013

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Emergency Physicians
• Society of Academic Emergency Medicine

Selected Publications

• Marik PE, Farkas JD, Spiegel R, Weingart S, [Carroll SM, collaborating author]. Rebuttal From Drs Marik, Farkas, Spiegel et al. Chest. 2019; 155(1):17-18.
• Marik PE, Farkas JD, Spiegel R, Weingart S, [Carroll SM, collaborating author]. POINT: Should the Surviving Sepsis Campaign Guidelines Be Retired? Yes. Chest. 2019; 155(1):12-14.
• Brown DJ, Carmichael J, Carroll SM, April MD. End Tidal Oxygen Saturation with Nasal Cannula During Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation: A Randomized Controlled Trial. Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2018; 55(4):481-488.
• Brown DJ, Carroll SM, April MD. Nasal Cannula During Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation: Combining preoxygenation with apneic oxygen. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2018; 36 (5): 878-879.
• Brown DJ, Carroll SM, April MD. Face Mask Leak with Nasal Cannula During Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation: A Randomized Crossover Trial. American Journal of Emergency Medicine. 2018; 36 (6): 942-948. 2017
• Trueger NS, Bokarius AV, Carroll S, April MD, Thoma B. Impact of a Physician-Led Social Media Sharing Program on a Medical Journal's Web Traffic. Journal of the American College of Radiology. 2018; 15(1 Pt B): 184-189.
• Thoma B, Sebok-Syer SS, Krishnan K, et al. [Carroll SM; other contributor] Individual Gestalt Is Unreliable for the Evaluation of Quality Medical Education Blogs: A METRIQ Study. Annals of Emergency Medicine 2017; 70(3): 3 94-104.
• Carroll SM, Masters of the Undifferentiated Patient, In: An Emergency Medicine Mindset, Koyfman A and Long B, ed., 116-123, 2017.
• Carroll SM, Thaxton RE. A Survey on the Educational Impact of a Resident-Produced Emergency Medicine Education Podcast. Annals of Emergency Medicine. 2012; 60: S176

 

Max Cooper, M.D., RDMS

Director of Emergency Ultrasound and Associate Program Director

Educational Background

• 2009: Bachelor of Science, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass.
• 2012: Doctor of Medicine, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia
• 2015: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Jefferson University Hospital
• 2016: Fellowship, Emergency Ultrasound, Naval Medical Center Portsmouth, Portsmouth, Va.

Clinical Interests

• Emergency/point-of-care ultrasound
• Emergency obstetrics
• Social media and medical education

Board Certification(s)

• American Board of Emergency Medicine, 2018

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP)

Research Interests

• Emergency/point-of-care ultrasound
• Emergency obstetrics
• Medical education

Awards & Recognition

• Emergency Medicine Ultrasound Award, Department of Emergency Medicine, Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia
• Navy Commendation Medal, NATO Role 3, Kandahar, Afghanistan

Selected Publications

• Bylund W, MD, Delahanty L, Cooper MI, MD, The case of ketamine allergy. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. In Press.
• Kyle A, Cooper MI, Destree K, Oliveira L, Lawrence M. (2017) The daughter cyst. Western Journal of Emergency Medicine. In Press.
• Cooper MI, Papanagnou D, Meguerdichian M, Bajaj K. Emergency obstetrics for the emergency medicine provider. MedEdPORTAL Publications. 2016;12:10481

 

Matt Destefano, D.O.

Director of Resident Education

Educational Background

• 2010: Dickinson College, Carlisle, Pa.
• 2016: Doctor of Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia
• 2019: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Crozer-Chester Medical Center, Upland, Pa.

Clinical Interests

• Teaching
• Medical Education
• FOAMed

Awards and Honors

• Chief Resident
• Resident of the Year 2019

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Emergency Medicine
• American Academy of Emergency Medicine

 

Richard Hamilton, M.D., M.S., FACEP

Chair

Educational Background

• 1983: Bachelor of Arts, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia 
• 1987: Doctor of Medicine, Hahnemann University Medical College, Philadelphia
• 1988: Internship, Transitional Year, San Diego Naval Hospital, San Diego, Calif.
• 1989: Areospace Medicine, Naval Aerospace Medical Institute, Pensacola, Fla.
• 1994: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Bronx Municipal Hospital Center, New York City
• 1997: Fellow, Medical Toxicology, New York University, New York City

Clinical Interests

• ED administration
• Medical toxicology
• Aerospace medicine

Board Certifications

• American Board of Emergency Medicine, 1995, 2005, 2015
• American Board of Emergency Medicine, Medical Toxicology 1998, 2008, 2018

Professional Affiliations

• American Academy of Emergency Medicine
• American College of Emergency Physicians
• American College of Medical Toxicology
• Aerospace Medical Association
• Association of Academic Chairs in Emergency Medicine

Research Interests

• Medical toxicology and pharmacology
• Translational research
• Aerospace medicine

Selected Publications

• 7th Edition, Elsevier, Philadelphia (pending publication)

 

Sumaya Mekkaoui, M.D.

Education

• 2010: Bachelor of Science, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, Pa.
  Major: Neuroscience, Minor: Public Health
• 2015: Doctor of Medicine, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia 
• 2018: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Cooper University Hospital, Camden, N.J.

Clinical Interests

• Women in medicine
• Medical student and resident education
• Physician wellness

Board Certification

American Board of Emergency Medicine, 2019

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Emergency Physicians
• American Academy of Emergency Medicine
• Society of Academic Emergency Medicine

Selected Publications

• Pescatore R, Mekkaoui S, Duffell B, et al. A Case of Lactation Anaphylaxis. Cureus 2019; 11(8): e5497. doi:10.7759/cureus.5497
• Bhamidipati A, Mekkaoui S, Cassidy-Smith T. Neurovascular and Stroke Fellowships. In: Shafer K, ed. EMRA Fellowship Guide 2016. Opportunities for Emergency Physicians. 1st ed. Dallas, TX: Emergency Medicine Residents’ Association; 2016: 95-99.

 

Meaghan Reid, D.O.

Assistant Student Clerkship Director

Educational Background

• 2010: Bachelor of Science, Ursinus College, Collegeville, Pa.
• 2014: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia
• 2018: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Jefferson-Aria NE, Philadelphia

Clinical Interests

• Physician wellness
• Women’s issues and representation in the medical profession
• Medical correspondence and community outreach
• Health policy

Board Certification

• American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Medicine, 2019

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Emergency Physicians
• Pennsylvania Chapter of American College of Emergency Physicians
• American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians

Research Interests

• Opioid prescribing epidemics
• Health policy

Awards and Recognition

• Evelyn D. Witkin Award- excellence in teaching and mentoring, June 2018

Current (ongoing) Research

• Opioids prescribed from an academic center ED compared to a community hospital ED; Crozer Health- currently participating in an ongoing multi-hospital research study

 

Mark Saks, M.D., MPH, FACEP, FAAEM

Program Director

Educational Background

• 1996: Bachelor of Arts, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.
• 1998: Masters in Public Health, University of Michigan School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Mich.
• 2002: Doctor of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, N.J.
• 2005: Residency, Emergency Medicine, Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia

Clinical Interests

• Neurologic emergencies
• Infectious disease
• Undergraduate and graduate medical education

Board Certification

• American Board of Emergency Medicine, 2016 (recertification)

Professional Affiliations

• Fellow of the American College of Emergency Physicians
• Fellow of the American Academy of Emergency Medicine 
• Society for Academic Emergency Medicine 
• Academy of Clerkship Directors in Emergency Medicine
• Council of Emergency Medicine Residency Directors 

Research Interests

• Neurologic emergencies
• Infectious disease
• Professionalism
• Medical simulation

Awards & Recognition

• Society for Academic Emergency Medicine Student Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award
• Drexel University College of Medicine Golden Apple Teaching Award Nominee (multiple times)

Selected Publications

• Saks, MA and Karras DJ. Emergency Medicine and the Public’s Health: Emerging Infectious Diseases. Emerg Med Clin N Am 2006; 24:1019-33. PMID 16982350
• Saks, MA and Karras DJ. Update on Emerging Infections: News From the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Varicella Outbreak Among Vaccinated Children—Nebraska, 2004. Ann Emerg Med 2007; 49(1):99-102. PMID 17197292
• Griswold-Theodorson, S, Hannan H, Handly N, Pugh B, Fojtik J, Saks M, Hamilton RJ, and Wagner D. Improving Patient Safety with Ultrasonography Guidance During Internal Jugular Central Venous Catheter Placement by Novice Practitioners. Simulation in Healthcare 2009; 4(4) 212-216. PMID 21330794
• Saks M, Griswold-Theodorson S, Shinaishin F, and Demangone D. Subacute Tension Hemopneumothorax with Novel ECG Findings. West J Emerg Med 2010; 11(1):86-89. PMID 20411085
• Ramoska E and Saks M. The Implementation of an Audience Response System Improves Resident Attitudes Towards Weekly Resident Conference. Med Teach 2011; 33(10):861. PMID 21942484
• Wong S, Saks M, Wiler J, and Curtis J. Thermal Injury Associated with Propylene. J Emerg Med 2012; 42(4):452-53. PMID 20005659
• Shin NC, Ramoska EA, Garg M, Rowh A, Nyce D, DeRoos F, Carter M, Hall RV, Lopez BL, and the Delaware Valley EM Residency Program Directors Group. Google internet searches on residency applicants do not facilitate the ranking process. J Emerg Med 2013; 44:995-998. PMID 23351574
• Ginsberg MD, Palesch YY, Hill MD, Martin RH, Moy CS, Barsan WG, Waldman BD, Tamariz D, Ryckborst KJ, for the ALIAS and Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials (NETT) Investigators. High-dose albumin treatment for acute ischemic stroke (ALIAS) part 2: a randomized, double-blind, phase 3, placebo-controlled trial. Lancet Neurol 2013; 12:1049-58. PMID 24076337
• Senecal EL, Heitz C, and Beeson M. Creation and Implementation of a National Emergency Medicine Fourth-Year Student Examination. J Emerg Med 2013; 45:924-934. PMID 23948604
• Seeleang K, Manning Y, Saks M, and Winstead Y. Skin and Soft Tissue Infection Management, Outcomes and Follow-up in the Emergency Department of an Urban Academic Hospital. Adv Emerg Nurs J 2014; 36(4):348-59. PMID 25356895
• Wright DW, Yeatts SD, Silbergleit, R, Palesch YY, Hertzberg VS, Frankel M, Goldstein FC, Caveney AF, Howlett-Smith H, Bengelink EM, Manley GT, Merck LH, Janis LS, and Barsan WG for the Neurological Emergencies Treatment Trials (NETT) Investigators. Very Early Administration of Progesterone for Acute Traumatic Brain Injury. NJEM 2014; 371:2457-2466. PMID 25493974

 

Julia Todd, D.O.

Education

• 2008: Bachelor of Science, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
• 2013: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Philadelphia
• 2018: Residency, Emergency Medicine and Family Medicine, Jefferson Health Northeast, Philadelphia

Clinical Interests

• Medical education
• Teaching
• Community medicine

Board Certification

• American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians, 2018
• American Osteopathic Board of Emergency Physicians (pending oral board completion Nov 2020)

Professional Affiliations

• American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians
• American Academy of Emergency Medicine
• American Osteopathic Association
• Pennsylvania Osteopathic Medical Association

Research Interests

• Graduate medical education
• Clinical emergency medicine

Awards

• Faculty Member of the Year, Crozer Emergency Medicine Residency, 2019
• Evelyn D Witkin, MD Memorial Award for Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Physicians, Jefferson Health Northeast Residency, 2018

Clinical Faculty

• Dorothy Bloy, M.D.
• Melissa Burkhart, M.D.
• Joseph Cesarine, M.D.
• Ana Davitt, M.D.
• Magy Dawoud, M.D.
• Jessica Delcollo, M.D.
• Michael Demarco, M.D.
• Michael Dumin, M.D.
• Gregory Frattaroli, M.D.
• Christine Giesa, D.O.
• Marcus Grecco, M.D.
• Karen Greenberg, D.O.
• Mark Harris, M.D.
• Tamika King, M.D.
• Alexis Koda, M.D.
• Michele Kossev, M.D.
• Angela Kuehn, D.O.
• Brandon Leahy, M.D.
• Brad Li, M.D.
• Mark Olshan, M.D.
• April Papa, D.O.
• Thomas Papa, D.O.
• George Parsons, D.O.
• Una Pro, M.D.
• Kristen Ratner, M.D.
• Patrick Sullivan, D.O.
• Mary Wilsie, D.O.

Contact Us

Questions and other inquiries regarding the program can be made to Shayna Caliman at Shayna.Caliman@crozer.org or 610-447-6671