Saud A. Sadiq, M.D. is the founder and director of the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice and the Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York (MSRCNY). A board-certified neurologist with residency training in Internal Medicine in England, and in Neurology at the University of Texas, he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. From 1988-91, he trained as a research fellow funded by a Dana Fellowship award and a MDA Fellowship for three years in neuro-immunology at Columbia University in New York.
From 1992-98, he was Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Neurological Institute at Columbia University, where he served as Associate Director of the MS Clinical Program and conducted NIH-funded laboratory research on heat shock proteins.
In 1998, he became Director of the MS Research and Treatment Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital in New York. From 2000-2005, he served as Chairman of the Department of Neurology at St. Luke's-Roosevelt, with faculty appointments at Columbia University and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 2006, Dr. Sadiq founded the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice, which receives more than 11,000 patient visits annually. Together with the MSRCNY these institutions constitute the world's largest and most comprehensive MS center.
Clinically, Dr. Sadiq is an internationally acknowledged expert in multiple sclerosis, winning numerous awards for his clinical and research activities. He has been an invited guest speaker nationally and internationally at numerous meetings and has more than 100 publications.
Andrew Sylvester, M.D.
Attending Neurologist
Andrew Sylvester, M.D. is a board-certified attending neurologist at the IMSMP. He earned his B.A. at Washington University in St. Louis, and then studied medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He completed his residency in Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and went on to finish a two-year clinical neuroimmunology fellowship through Columbia University at the MS Research and Treatment Center of Roosevelt Hospital. Since completing his fellowship in 2001, he has remained at the center as an attending neurologist. He is dedicated toward patient care, participates in several clinical trials, and is actively involved in training of neurology residents. Dr. Sylvester is an active guest speaker with a special interest in the fundamentals of treatment strategies.
Armistead D. Williams, III, M.D.
Attending Neurologist
Dr. Armistead D. Williams is a board-certified neurologist at the IMSMP. He received his B.A. with majors in biology and studio art at the University of Virginia. He received his MD and performed his medical internship at the University of Virginia Medical Center. He trained at one of the nation's foremost neurology centers, The Neurological Institute of New York at Columbia University Medical Center, where he was awarded the 2005 Daniel Sciarra Patient Care Award for outstanding patient care and humanism during his residency. He has published research on peripheral nerve regeneration and gene therapy delivery. In June 2007, Dr. Williams completed a two-year neuroimmunology fellowship at the IMSMP. His clinical interest is in comprehensive MS care.
Nurse Practitioner, Nurse Manager
Catherine Webb, MSN, ANP
Catherine Webb is a board certified Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, specializing in Multiple Sclerosis. After receiving her BA from the University of Michigan in 1998, she moved to New York City and received her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from NYU as a Hillman Scholar with high honors. After an externship during her studies at the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice, Catherine joined the center in 2003 as a registered nurse. While working as a nurse and specializing in Multiple Sclerosis, Catherine received her Master's in Nursing as a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner from NYU and currently practices as a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner. In addition, Catherine is the Nurse Manager and directs the nursing care at the center.
Stavra Romas, M.D.
Attending Neurologist
Dr. Stavra Romas is a board-certified neurologist in the cognitive division of the IMSMP. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Princeton University, and her medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. During medical school, Dr. Romas received an Aaron Diamond Fellowship in Human Rights and trained for several months abroad. She completed one year of medical internship at Bellevue Hospital Center and Tisch Hospital and then completed her residency in neurology at the Neurological Institute of New York at Columbia University Medical Center.
Following her residency, Dr. Romas completed a fellowship in Behavioral Neurology at the Gertrude H. Sergievsky Center at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center. During her training, she received a Lesse fellowship from the Neurological Institute for her work in the genetics of Alzheimer's disease and has published several research articles on the genetics of Alzheimer's.
Dr. Romas joined Dr. Sadiq at the MS Research and Treatment Center at St. Luke's-Roosevelt in 2002 and moved with him to the IMSMP in 2006. She has spoken about cognition and MS at past symposia given by the IMSMP and has worked for many years evaluating the cognitive abilities of people with MS and collecting data for clinical research.
Deneb R. Bates, N.D.
Naturopathic Doctor
Dr. Bates is a Naturopathic Doctor who provides a knowledgeable holistic approach to the care of people living with Multiple Sclerosis. She specializes in natural treatment options for improving wellness, such as nutrition and botanical medicine, and believes in empowering patients to take positive actions for their own health and wellbeing. Dr. Bates received a Bachelor of Science from The Evergreen State College in biochemistry and ethnobotany, and received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, the premier medical school offering a four-year naturopathic medical education. She has additional post-graduate training in women's health, midwifery, allergy and immunology.
Beth R. DiBiase, L.C.S.W.
Social Work Supervisor and Director of Patient Relations
Beth R. DiBiase, L.C.S.W. received her Bachelor's degree from Villanova University and a Master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University with a clinical concentration in health, mental health and disabilities. She received a certificate in psychoanalytic psychotherapy from the New York School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis in 2007. As the head of the social work department at the IMSMP since 2002, Ms. DiBiase specializes in the assessment and treatment of the psychosocial effects of MS on people's lives. Since 2007, she has been a field instructor in social work for Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. Beth is also the director of patient relations, chairing a committee that hears and addresses patient complaints and concerns.
James W. Stark, M.D.
Neuroimmunology Fellow
Dr. James W. Stark is a board-certified Neurologist and the current neuroimmunology fellow at the IMSMP. He received his B.A. from Boston University and completed medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Originally from New York, he continued at Einstein for his neurology residency training and was designated a chief resident of neurology during his final year. Dr. Stark is currently completing a two-year fellowship at the center, with a focus on patient care and clinical research.
Stephen Kanter, PT, DPT, ATC
Supervisor, Rehabilitation Services
Dr. Stephen Kanter is a licensed physical therapist in New York and New Jersey. He was hired as the Supervisor of Rehabilitation Services in April 2008 after spending the previous five years as a homecare specialist, working primarily with patients with Multiple Sclerosis and patients with balance, gait, and endurance impairments. Dr. Kanter has been a consultant for the New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, providing home consultations including home modification assessments and recommendations. As a homecare clinician and having taken several professional courses on accessible design, Dr. Kanter has consulted on many home and business remodeling projects.
Along with his clinical work, Dr. Kanter has been a professor at Seton Hall University, Touro College, and York College, CUNY. Dr. Kanter has taught at Seton Hall in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program and Graduate Athletic Training Program for eight years (since its inception). Dr. Kanter was an Assistant Professor in the Doctor of Physical Therapy Program at Touro College in New York City and currently is an adjunct in the Occupational Therapy Departments at Touro and at York College.
Dr. Kanter earned his undergraduate degree in Human Biology at the University at Albany, SUNY, then went on to earn his Masters of Science and Doctorate Degrees in Physical Therapy at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) in Newark, NJ.
Prior to earning his doctorate, Dr. Kanter, who is also a board certified athletic trainer (ATC), served as Director of Medical Services and Head Athletic Trainer for the Arena Football League's New Jersey Gladiators for five seasons. In 1999, Dr. Kanter was the Physical Therapy Consultant and an Athletic Trainer for the NFL's New York Giants after working parts of the previous three seasons as an Athletic Training Intern.
Dr. Kanter is an active member American Physical Therapy Association, including the Neurology Section and Home Health Section. He is also active member of the Eastern Athletic Trainers' Association, and is a volunteer for the NYC Medical Reserve Corps.
Evgeniya Guteva
Physical Therapist
Evgeniya Guteva is a New York State licensed physical therapist. She studied rehabilitation at the Medical College of Sofia and earned her master degree in the National Sports Academy of Sofia, majoring in Kinesitherapy. She completed a clinical internship at a military neurological clinic, an orthopedic rehabilitation hospital, and a cardio-pulmonary clinic, all in Sofia, Bulgaria. After accomplishing 3 years of clinical experience in a rehabilitation clinic for neurological diseases in Sofia, she travelled to Geisenheim, Germany through a state exchange program for physical therapists. There she worked in a private rehabilitation practice, giving medical aid to patients mostly with neurological and orthopedic issues. After finishing, she returned to Bulgaria and established her own rehabilitation practice.
Evgeniya has resided in the United States since 2004, first working at the Floral Vale Physical Therapy and a Chiropractic practice in Yardley, Pennsylvania and then joining the IMSMP in 2008. She is an active member of World Confederation for Physical Therapy (WCPT) and has Continuing Education Certifications in physical therapy interventions for patients with post-stroke conditions and MS as well post-orthopedic injury and post-surgery rehabilitation.
Victoria M. Leavitt, Ph.D.
Neuropsychology
Victoria M. Leavitt, Ph.D. is a clinical neuropsychologist and researcher. In addition to her work at the center, she is currently conducting research on the neurocognitive aspects of multiple sclerosis as a post-doctoral fellow at the Kessler Foundation Research Center in West Orange, New Jersey, under the mentorship of Dr. John DeLuca and Dr. Nancy Chiaravalloti, two of the foremost clinical researchers in the field.
Dr. Leavitt completed her undergraduate training at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and received her Ph.D. in Clinical Neuropsychology from Queens College of the City University of New York. Pursuant to receiving a Ruth Kirschstein Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health to fund her dissertation work identifying electrophysiological markers of sensory processing deficits in schizophrenia, she was awarded a travel grant enabling her to collaborate with a foreign laboratory for a portion of her training. Dr. Leavitt has published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles and has made numerous presentations at conferences both internationally and nationally. Her current research interests include employing multiple neuroimaging techniques (fMRI, DTI, and NIRS) to characterize neural connectivity during rest and during cognitive task performance in individuals with MS with the aim of developing new biomarkers that provide prognostic usefulness for identifying individuals at risk of developing cognitive symptoms.
Douglas S. Cohen, M.D.
Attending Neurosurgeon
Dr. Douglas Cohen is a board-certified neurosurgeon who has been associated with the center since 1998. Dr. Cohen completed undergraduate work at Cornell University before attending Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in neurosurgery at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and was chief resident during his final year. Included among his many appointments is Medical Director of the Inpatient Neurosurgical Service at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center. Throughout his career, he has received numerous honors and has had many research publications.
Dr. Cohen's focus is spinal cord surgery and his subspecialty interest is in implanting surgical devices for pain and spasticity. At the center, Dr. Cohen attends spasticity clinic and assists in the evaluation of patients for intrathecal pumps. He performs pump implantation as well as replacement surgery at the Roosevelt Hospital Center.
Robert Goodman, M.D.
Attending Neurosurgeon
Dr. Robert Goodman is also a board-certified neurosurgeon and is currently an Associate Professor of Clinical Neurological Surgery at Columbia University. He attended Johns Hopkins University both as an undergraduate and during medical school and moved on to Columbia for his neurosurgery residency. He then completed a fellowship for epilepsy surgery at Montreal Neurologic Hospital. Over the past decade, Dr. Goodman has been a leader in deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. At the IMSMP, Dr. Goodman assists with the evaluation of MS patients with tremor through our tremor clinic. The emerging technique of DBS had shown promise in alleviating the debilitating symptoms of some movement disorders in MS patients.
Gabriel Sara, M.D.
Attending Hematology/Oncology
Dr. Gabriel Sara is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at Columbia University who specializes in Hematology/Oncology. Prior to completing heme/onc fellowships at Columbia and Roosevelt Hospitals, Dr. Sara did internal medicine residency at The Brooklyn Hospital and medical school at French Medical School of Beirut. Dr. Sara has been with the center since 2003. He is a member of the stem cell research program at the center and performs bone marrow aspirations to collect patients own cells. Additionally, some MS medications are immunosuppressive and can cause bone marrow suppression and secondary malignancies. Dr. Sara is available to manage these hematologic and oncologic cases should they arise.
Ronny Hertz, M.D.
Attending Pain Management
Dr. Ronny Hertz attended medical school at SUNY Health Science Center at Syracuse and went on to do an anesthesiology residency at the Bronx Municipal Hospital Center. He is board-certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology with additional board certified subspecialization in pain management. Dr. Hertz also attends spasticity clinic at the center, which he has been associated with since 1998, assisting in the management of patients with chronic pain.
Mantu Gupta, M.D.
Attending Urologist
Dr. Mantu Gupta is a urologist associated with the IMSMP. He is board-certified by the American Board of Urology and practices outside the IMSMP at both Roosevelt and Columbia Hospitals. He graduated from medical school at Northwestern University and completed urology residency at the University of California in San Francisco. Dr. Gupta then went on to do fellowship in endourology and laparascopic surgery at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Through the center, Dr. Gupta has been treating MS patients with a variety of bladder and sexual issues since 2000.
Lisa Dabney, M.D.
Attending Urogynecologist
Dr. Lisa Dabney is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology. At the IMSMP, she practices urogynecology with an emphasis on sexual dysfunction among patients with multiple sclerosis. She completed medical school at University of California at Los Angeles and residency training at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center/Harvard Medical School. She then completed her fellowship in urogynecology at NYU. Dr. Dabney has a practice at Roosevelt and is Assistant Clinical Professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. She has been with the center since 2003.
Allan E. Inglis, Jr., MD
Attending Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr. Allan Inglis is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Surgery at Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons. Since 2007, he has provided orthopaedic care to IMSMP patients during his monthly clinic at the center. Dr. Inglis attended medical school at Cornell University, followed by an orthopaedic surgery residency at the Hospital for Special Surgery here in New York. He then went on to complete two fellowships: the orthopaedic biomechanics/custom prosthesis design at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London, England, as well as a total joint and revision total joint replacement surgery fellowship at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles, California. He is board-certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
OTHER CLINICAL STAFF
Rebecca Lizarraga, RN, BSN
Emily Eisenberg, RN
Andrea Feitosa, RN, BSN, MSCN
Pamela Bloom, RN
Alison Galiley, RN, Assistant Nurse Manager
Tamara Gilbert, BS, RN
Mary Gleason, RN, OCN
Mary Klein, RN, CNS
Yadira LaMazza, BA, Social Worker
James McKee, RN, Nurse Manager, Director of Infusion Suite
Martha Nkansah, RN
Amber Peskin, RN, BSN
Evelyn Schroeder, RN, BSN
Claudia Almodovar, RN
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Margaret Calarco, Practice Director
Jill Hughes, Office Manager
Marie Hughes
Francine Jackson-Wilds
Christina Nicolacopoulos
Jennifer Norman, MBA, Controller
Erica Peskin, BA
Larisa Raynesh, Billing Manager
Umar Sadiq, BA
Courtney Sochinski
Lynette Tabano, Reception Supervisor
Theresa Waddy, Billing Specialist
MSRCNY RESEARCH STAFF (an affiliated institution)
Kathleen Barrett, BS, Research Assistant
Michael Boatwright, Laboratory Technician
Edward Brydon, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist
Varun Chalivendra, Research Assistant
Massimiliano Christofanilli, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist
Najia Dar, BA, Research Assistant
Jacqueline Dinzey, BA, Staff Associate
Kalyn Frame, Development Coordinator
Violaine Harris, Ph.D., Research Scientist
John Lee, BA, Research Assistant
Jerry Lin, BS, Senior Staff Associate
Xinhue Liu, Med, Senior Laboratory Technician
Andre Muller, Ph.D., Research Associate
Adam Nassery, BA, Research Assistant
Lauren Puccio, BA, Research Assistant
Pontip Rasavong, Administrative Assistant
Saud A. Sadiq, M.D., Director
Sadia Sahabi, BS, Research Assistant
Tamara Vyshkina, Ph.D., Research Associate
Qijiang Yan, MD, Ph.D., Assistant Research Scientist
International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice
521 West 57th Street, 4th Floor · New York, NY 10019 · Phone: 212-265-8070
Saud A. Sadiq, M.D. is the founder and director of the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice and the Multiple Sclerosis Research Center of New York (MSRCNY). A board-certified neurologist with residency training in Internal Medicine in England, and in Neurology at the University of Texas, he was elected to the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. From 1988-91, he trained as a research fellow funded by a Dana Fellowship award and a MDA Fellowship for three years in neuro-immunology at Columbia University in New York.
Andrew Sylvester, M.D. is a board-certified attending neurologist at the IMSMP. He earned his B.A. at Washington University in St. Louis, and then studied medicine at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. He completed his residency in Neurology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and went on to finish a two-year clinical neuroimmunology fellowship through Columbia University at the MS Research and Treatment Center of Roosevelt Hospital. Since completing his fellowship in 2001, he has remained at the center as an attending neurologist. He is dedicated toward patient care, participates in several clinical trials, and is actively involved in training of neurology residents. Dr. Sylvester is an active guest speaker with a special interest in the fundamentals of treatment strategies. 
Dr. Armistead D. Williams is a board-certified neurologist at the IMSMP. He received his B.A. with majors in biology and studio art at the University of Virginia. He received his MD and performed his medical internship at the University of Virginia Medical Center. He trained at one of the nation's foremost neurology centers, The Neurological Institute of New York at Columbia University Medical Center, where he was awarded the 2005 Daniel Sciarra Patient Care Award for outstanding patient care and humanism during his residency. He has published research on peripheral nerve regeneration and gene therapy delivery. In June 2007, Dr. Williams completed a two-year neuroimmunology fellowship at the IMSMP. His clinical interest is in comprehensive MS care. 
Catherine Webb is a board certified Primary Care Nurse Practitioner, specializing in Multiple Sclerosis. After receiving her BA from the University of Michigan in 1998, she moved to New York City and received her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing from NYU as a Hillman Scholar with high honors. After an externship during her studies at the International Multiple Sclerosis Management Practice, Catherine joined the center in 2003 as a registered nurse. While working as a nurse and specializing in Multiple Sclerosis, Catherine received her Master's in Nursing as a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner from NYU and currently practices as a Board Certified Nurse Practitioner. In addition, Catherine is the Nurse Manager and directs the nursing care at the center.
Dr. Stavra Romas is a board-certified neurologist in the cognitive division of the IMSMP. She received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Princeton University, and her medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. During medical school, Dr. Romas received an Aaron Diamond Fellowship in Human Rights and trained for several months abroad. She completed one year of medical internship at Bellevue Hospital Center and Tisch Hospital and then completed her residency in neurology at the Neurological Institute of New York at Columbia University Medical Center. 
Dr. Bates is a Naturopathic Doctor who provides a knowledgeable holistic approach to the care of people living with Multiple Sclerosis. She specializes in natural treatment options for improving wellness, such as nutrition and botanical medicine, and believes in empowering patients to take positive actions for their own health and wellbeing. Dr. Bates received a Bachelor of Science from The Evergreen State College in biochemistry and ethnobotany, and received her Doctorate in Naturopathic Medicine from Bastyr University in Seattle, the premier medical school offering a four-year naturopathic medical education. She has additional post-graduate training in women's health, midwifery, allergy and immunology.
Beth R. DiBiase, L.C.S.W. received her Bachelor's degree from Villanova University and a Master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University with a clinical concentration in health, mental health and disabilities. She received a certificate in psychoanalytic psychotherapy from the New York School for Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis in 2007. As the head of the social work department at the IMSMP since 2002, Ms. DiBiase specializes in the assessment and treatment of the psychosocial effects of MS on people's lives. Since 2007, she has been a field instructor in social work for Fordham University Graduate School of Social Service. Beth is also the director of patient relations, chairing a committee that hears and addresses patient complaints and concerns.
Dr. James W. Stark is a board-certified Neurologist and the current neuroimmunology fellow at the IMSMP. He received his B.A. from Boston University and completed medical school at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Originally from New York, he continued at Einstein for his neurology residency training and was designated a chief resident of neurology during his final year. Dr. Stark is currently completing a two-year fellowship at the center, with a focus on patient care and clinical research.
Dr. Stephen Kanter is a licensed physical therapist in New York and New Jersey. He was hired as the Supervisor of Rehabilitation Services in April 2008 after spending the previous five years as a homecare specialist, working primarily with patients with Multiple Sclerosis and patients with balance, gait, and endurance impairments. Dr. Kanter has been a consultant for the New York Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, providing home consultations including home modification assessments and recommendations. As a homecare clinician and having taken several professional courses on accessible design, Dr. Kanter has consulted on many home and business remodeling projects.
Evgeniya Guteva is a New York State licensed physical therapist. She studied rehabilitation at the Medical College of Sofia and earned her master degree in the National Sports Academy of Sofia, majoring in Kinesitherapy. She completed a clinical internship at a military neurological clinic, an orthopedic rehabilitation hospital, and a cardio-pulmonary clinic, all in Sofia, Bulgaria. After accomplishing 3 years of clinical experience in a rehabilitation clinic for neurological diseases in Sofia, she travelled to Geisenheim, Germany through a state exchange program for physical therapists. There she worked in a private rehabilitation practice, giving medical aid to patients mostly with neurological and orthopedic issues. After finishing, she returned to Bulgaria and established her own rehabilitation practice.