Expert Bureau Profiles

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Hospitalist team member: since 2021

Education: University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine

Languages: English, Spanish, Finnish

Specialty: Internal Medicine

 

Dr. Seppo Aro considered trauma surgery before committing to hospital medicine. He was attracted to the fast-paced, high-intensity environment and the idea of trauma surgery. Ultimately, Dr. Aro determined that hospital medicine not only allowed him to use the critical thinking and good judgment skills required by both disciplines, but also gave him the satisfaction of working with patients to help get them healthy again. Hospital medicine won out.

 

Today, Dr. Aro describes himself as a primary care provider inside the hospital, working with patients recovering from various illnesses. He believes the rapid pace of change within this environment helps to keep him - and his colleagues - fresh and connected.

 

When asked if there is anything that surprised Dr. Aro about the role of a Hospitalist, his answer is simple and emphatic – everything! “It’s almost impossible to prepare for this job. Perhaps that’s true of other professions but, regardless of training, there is no way to prepare for all scenarios in hospital medicine. I have been surprised by it since day one and I believe it will continue to throw me curveballs the rest of my career.”

 

One of these curveballs is a new Electronic Medical Records (EMR) system that Dr. Aro describes as his pet project. The EMR system currently in use wasn’t developed to meet the unique needs of a long-term acute care hospital. Instead of accepting the status quo, Dr. Aro and a team of colleagues are creating the solution. The new system will have enhanced automation and will streamline medical transitions, which ultimately will reduce patient safety issues.

 

“I believe there is always something that can be improved in the hospital setting. The new EMR system will improve workflow for hospital staff and, most importantly, increase patient safety.”

 

30-seconds with Dr. Aro…

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be?

My commute, though I do it because I love this job!

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

My Dad is hoping I will say something about finance here, but the real answer is I’d be a chemistry or art history professor.

 

Is there anything you can’t live without?

Diet Coke!

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Physiatrist team member: since 2019

Education: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine, New York, NY

Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

 

Dr. David Chen is passionate about the relentless pursuit of assisting people. But he says passion is only part of the equation. The other part? Respecting others. “Healthcare providers who practice medicine engage in the ‘art of healing.’ The critical driving force of healing is respecting others. Practicing medicine gets to the heart of humanity - what it means to be human, and our collective responsibility to help each other.”

 

Dr. Chen was drawn to the unique field of physiatry because it allows him to work collectively with the physical medicine and rehabilitation team to:

• Treat patients with a wide variety of medical conditions 
• Support patients dealing with the aftermath of aging and decline in health 
• Combine therapy and medical treatment to help patients avoid surgery.

 

In addition to his inpatient work at Gaylord, Dr. Chen completed a Master of Medical Science and postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard Medical School focused on the development of novel mobile and web platforms for bridging data between patient health record and electronic health record systems. Dr. Chen believes the final tool will foster better communication between patients and their providers while empowering patients as the primary driver in their health management. 

30-seconds with Dr. Chen…

What is one thing that may surprise us about you?

I program for fun!

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

Searching for extraterrestrial life!

 

Is there anything you can’t live without?

A sense of humor!

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Physiatrist team member: since 1998

Education: Mount Sinai School of Medicine of New York University, New York, NY

Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

 

Since joining the Gaylord Specialty Healthcare’s physiatry team more than 25 years ago, Dr. Luci Juvan has never looked back. While she entered the field of physiatry because it checked all the boxes for how she wanted to practice medicine, she’s stayed with it, and with Gaylord, all these years because of the people – the patients and her colleagues. 

 

Dr. Juvan says that physiatry takes into consideration the whole person and, while other physicians look at specific body systems or organs, physiatry looks at everything in concert, from a patient’s physical state to their emotional and cognitive state). It’s a perspective, she says, that is especially important when managing spinal cord injuries and Parkinson’s disease, two areas in which she specializes. 

 

“A lot of the practice of physiatry is about education. We work hard to ensure patients understand their condition, what may cause it, how their recovery will be impacted, et cetera. This type of practice takes time that most practitioners simply don’t have. We have the benefit of establishing relationships with patients and their families, which positively impacts patient outcomes.”

 

Dr. Juvan credits the Gaylord team for their critical role in ensuring exceptional patient outcomes.. By working together in a team-based approach, they can collectively stay focused on their goal of ensuring what is best for their patients.

 

This approach is instrumental in her work as the lead for Gaylord’s wheelchair clinic and prosthetic and orthotic clinic. She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and perspectives with residents of Gaylord’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency program.

When asked why Gaylord is the right place for new PM&R residents to learn, Dr. Juvan notes that residents will be exposed to Gaylord’s unique team-based and patient-centric approach to caring for the most complex medical patients in a long-term acute care setting. 

 

“Residents will have the opportunity to observe progress in their patients from their treatments, which is one of the most rewarding things we can experience as medical professionals.”

 

30-seconds with Dr. Juvan…

What is one thing that may surprise us about you?

Member of the Bantam Lake Ski Club and I just climbed the pyramid for the first time in August 2022!

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

Teaching (grammar school or junior high)

 

Is there anything you can’t live without?

Coffee! Decaf with almond milk, please.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Physiatrist team member: since 1992

Education: University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY

Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Throughout his more than 30-year career, a singular, overarching goal has shaped the practice of Gaylord physiatrist Dr. Jerrold Kaplan:  “To help people enjoy life again.”

Dr. Kaplan started his medical training with the intention to become an orthopedic surgeon. His residency program at Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center included a rotation in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation and he quickly realized that the discipline allowed him to build relationships with patients.

Dr. Kaplan has spent the better part of the last 30 years as part of the multidisciplinary Gaylord team supporting patients in their recovery as the Medical Director of Outpatient and Workers’ Compensation Services and the Director of the Concussion Program.

Dr. Kaplan specializes in managing pain without narcotics by utilizing various rehabilitation options and treatments for conditions ranging from back strains to severe trauma, fractures, surgeries and chronic pain.

In 1993, Dr. Kaplan developed Gaylord’s first comprehensive program for injured workers. He recently launched Gaylord’s Work Conditioning Program to offer injured workers, workers’ compensation carriers, and treating physicians a structured program that provides a safe and successful return to work. An active member of the State of Connecticut’s Workers’ Compensation Medical Advisory Board, he contributed to the initial state protocol for the management of neck and back injuries. 

When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit Connecticut, Dr. Kaplan led a team to develop and launch a telemedicine and tele-therapy program in five days, allowing for a nearly seamless continuation of outpatient services to a vulnerable patient population.

Dr. Kaplan was an early identifier of long-COVID and established one of the nation’s first and most comprehensive outpatient COVID Recovery and Rehabilitation programs to address long-hauler symptoms.

In 2021, he was appointed to the AAPMR (American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) National Collaborative to develop multidisciplinary guidelines to manage patients with COVID long-term symptoms. Gaylord’s outpatient COVID recovery and rehabilitation program is one of 40 to be recognized by the collaborative. He is a sought-after resource on long-COVID in national and local media.

Dr. Kaplan is a member of the Gaylord team that launched the state’s first medical residency program in physical medicine and rehabilitation in partnership with the University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Hartford Healthcare, and UConn Health in 2021.

Dr. Kaplan believes PM&R is the only medical field that truly looks at the whole person and believes Gaylord’s approach to patient management is unique and transformative. “Gaylord is a truly multidisciplinary rehab hospital, which sets us apart.”

 

30-seconds with Dr. Kaplan…

What is one thing that may surprise us about you?

Boy Scout Leader in Hamden, CT for over 20 years

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

Nature guide

 

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily life, what would it be?

Dictations (the bane of my existence!)

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Hospitalist team member: since 2020

Education: Ross University School of Medicine

Languages: English, Gujarati

Specialty: Internal Medicine

 

Dr. Aaditya Kiri is a hospitalist at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare with a special interest in family medicine. Like most professionals, Dr. Kiri’s path to his current position wasn’t exactly a straight line. He was drawn to inpatient medicine because the variety of cases he sees provides fresh and unique challenges on a daily basis. Prior to settling on hospital medicine, Dr. Kiri taught tennis to children for more than six years, a role he credits with preparing him to work in a long-term acute care hospital setting.

 

“Working with children who are learning a new skill, or enhancing one, takes patience I didn’t always know I had. While it took time for me to build this skill, I was happy to have it by the time I started my medical career. Working with students and their families helped me hone my bedside manner which I believe is the crown jewel of hospital medicine – the time we have -  and take -  to work with patients at the bedside.”

 

Dr. Kiri believes the secret to effective hospital medicine is in one simple skill – listening. “When you’re at the bedside, the single most important thing you can be doing is listening. The patient has been dealing with their illness far more than anyone else. Listening is the only way to formulate an effective care plan for patients.”

 

As a hospitalist, Dr. Kiri appreciates the time he spends at the bedside with patients. While this surprised him as a medical resident, Dr. Kiri now sees the benefit of this time and the observed positive impact on medical decisions and, ultimately, patient outcomes.

 

30-seconds with Dr. Kiri…

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

I recently tried rock climbing for the first (and not last!) time.

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

A chef! Focused on vegetarian/meat substitute cooking (which is what I do on my spare time anyway!)

 

Is there anything you can’t live without?

That’s easy – coffee!

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Hospitalist team member: since 1983

Education: Saint Mary’s Hospital School of Nursing

Specialty: Adult Geriatrics

 

Sue Paxton, a veteran of Gaylord Specialty Healthcare, found her passion in nursing after more than three decades working in healthcare. Sue joined Gaylord in 1983 as a staff nurse. She planned to stay for two years. 

 

Fast forward to 2009. Sue went back to school for her Bachelor of Healthcare Administration and continued working in this field for Gaylord. She enjoyed her job, and she was good at it, but something was missing. 

 

Passion.

 

Fast forward to 2014. Sue decided it was time. She had always wanted to be a nurse practitioner but a busy life got in the way. Sue applied to Quinnipiac University’s nurse practitioner program. She was accepted, and she dug in. 

 

Sue found her passion. 

 

“After becoming a nurse practitioner, I felt a closer and deeper connection to my patients. First, I understood them better. But I was also given the opportunity to get closer to them at the bedside. As my experience grew, so did my confidence, and I started to see improved patient satisfaction and outcomes as a result.”

 

As an NP hospitalist, Sue works directly with patients at the bedside. She has the autonomy to care for her patients, and the benefit of the care team to support her and her patients when she needs them. 

 

“It’s hard to see patients so sick. I sleep soundly at night knowing my patients leave Gaylord with exquisite coordination of sub-specialties and rock-solid discharge training to back them up and support them on the next stage of their recovery.”

 

30-seconds with Sue…

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily life, what would it be?

Washing dishes. Just when you think you’re done, someone takes a glass of water…

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

Healthcare. It always was, and always will be, healthcare.

 

Is there anything you can’t live without?

My morning tea.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Physiatrist team member: since 1992

Education: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, NY

Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY

Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

 

Dr. David Rosenblum has been practicing medicine at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare for more than 30 years. 

 

Dr. Rosenblum is Medical Director for Gaylord’s Milne Institute for Healthcare Innovation, Director of Medical Education, Director of the Spinal Cord Injury Program, and Research/Site Director of the Model Systems SCI program, Dr. Rosenblum is also the Associate Program Director for Gaylord’s Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Program (PM&R), which launched in April 2022 with the first stream of residents entering the program in July 2022. He is also Associate Clinical Professor, Orthopaedics & Rehabilitation at Yale University School of Medicine.

 

After three decades as a key member of the Gaylord team, Dr. Rosenblum is excited for the opportunity to work with the next generation of physical medicine specialists in Connecticut’s first physiatry residency program and encourage residents to continue their careers serving the people of Connecticut.

 

 “Gaylord Specialty Healthcare has a long history of providing state-of-the-art rehabilitation and is a major hub for spinal cord and brain injury rehab. That, coupled with our extraordinary expertise and strong collaborative approach to management, makes Gaylord an undisputed leader in rehabilitative excellence.”

 

Dr. Rosenblum believes the Gaylord PM&R program can compete with the best programs in the country and looks forward to sharing this expertise with the PM&R residents and nationally.

 

Dr. Rosenblum says Gaylord stands out above the rest for three main reasons:

- The wide breadth of rehabilitation programs available for patients, which offers new, unique and interesting learning opportunities for medical practitioners; 
- Strong heritage in patient care, safety, and state of the art technology; and
- Strong collaborative approach to rehab management for all patients.

30-seconds with Dr. Rosenblum…

What is one thing that may surprise us about you?

Flutist with the New Haven Chamber Orchestra.

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

I’d be a musician or a teacher – both of which I’m still doing!

 

Is there anything you can’t live without?

My family, of course. But professionally, I’ve learned to be resilient over the years.

 

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Hospitalist team member: since 2018

Education: Ross University School of Medicine, Edison, NJ

University of Connecticut Health Center, Farmington CT

Specialty: Hospital Medicine

 

Dr. Astou Seye was born in Senegal, West Africa. At the time, no member of Dr. Seye’s family had graduated high school and she didn’t speak English. At the age of 12, Dr. Seye immigrated to the United States with aspirations of becoming a doctor … and plenty of determination to make her dreams come true.

 

After exploring several medical disciplines including endocrinology and obstetrics, Dr. Seye settled on hospital medicine and is now a Board-Certified Internist with a specialty in hospital medicine and a special interest in acute care. When asked why she chose that path, her answer is simple: “I love science, and I love people. Hospital medicine brings these two together.”

 

Dr. Seye likens her role as a Hospitalist to that of a person solving a puzzle. She is fascinated by the intersection between the different systems in the body and the varying systems within the medical field. In her role, Dr. Seye considers perspectives from different specialists and uses those individual clues to ultimately put the puzzle together. 

 

Improving patient care and the patient experience has become a passion project for Dr. Seye. It is her firm belief that a strong relationship between a patient and their MD directly correlates to patient compliance and, ultimately, patient outcomes. “We all know how to do the medicine; we were trained in that. It’s bedside manner, relationships with patients, and open communication between patients and their MDs that make the difference in a patient’s experience and outcomes.”

 

Dr. Seye is equally passionate about encouraging progress in healthcare. She believes there is an opportunity to be more progressive, innovative, and nimble and cites the rise of telemedicine during the COVID-19 pandemic as a good example of how healthcare can – and must – evolve to meet the demands of today’s society.

 

30-seconds with Dr. Seye…

When was the last time you did something for the first time?

The Gaylord Gauntlet – a 5k trail and obstacle run to raise money for Gaylord Specialty Healthcare

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

Painting

 

Is there anything you can’t live without?

Travel!

 

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Physiatrist team member: since 1992

Education: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA

Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, New York, NY

Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

Dr. Alyse Sicklick has been practicing medicine – at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare – for over 30 years. Every day, Dr. Sicklick’s goal is to advocate for continued care and to help patients get better. When asked what Dr. Sicklick likes best about practicing medicine, she struggles to find a succinct answer. When she finally does, her answer may surprise you – Dr. Sicklick likes her white coat (and not for the reasons you may think!). 

 

Dr. Sicklick’s white coat is home to many necessities for her day (iPhone, extra pens, etc.,), but there is one item(s) that stands out above the rest. Dr. Sicklick’s white coat carries cards that she has received from patients over the years thanking her for the care she has provided and keeping her informed of their recovery progress. These cards keep her strength high when she needs it most and serve as a constant reminder about the impact she and her colleagues have on patients and their families.

 

These cards are, in part, why Dr. Sicklick is taking a lead role in the launch and implementation of Gaylord’s Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency program. “There is a national shortage of practitioners focused on in-patient physiatry. By starting this program in the state of Connecticut, we are offering an opportunity for students to have exposure to the most diverse and complicated spinal cord and brain injury treatment and rehabilitation programs and we’re helping to ensure patients continue to get physical medicine and rehabilitation support for years to come.”

 

Gaylord’s PM&R program, which launched in April 2022 and welcomed its first students in July 2022, will see four students per year who will complete a three-month rotation, which Dr. Sicklick leads, focused on brain injury rehabilitation. Dr. Sicklick is hopeful these same students will learn about the field of physical medicine and rehabilitation and keep their own cards in their white coats to remind them how they’re making patients’ lives better every day.

 

30-seconds with Dr. Sicklick…

What is one thing that may surprise us about you?

Major sports fanatic. Go Mets!

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

I’ve wanted to practice medicine since I could talk so probably a veterinarian!

 

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be?

Drying my hair. Am I right, ladies?

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Hospitalist team member: since 2018

Education: Kasturba Medical College, Manipal, India

Languages: English, Hindi/Urdu

Specialty: Internal Medicine

 

Born in India, Dr. Zeba Syed says that living in four different countries has enriched her life with many different perspectives and reinforced the idea that no matter where she lived in the world, effective medical care is essential. In 2020, the start of the COVID-19 pandemic proved this already formulated belief – that medical doctors are one of the most required professions in the US and around the world.

 

As a hospitalist, Dr. Syed thrives from the team approach to patient care employed by the Gaylord Specialty Healthcare team. Gaylord patients benefit from this team approach, too. While the hospitalists may work as the team leader, each individual team member – care manager, therapist, nurses, etc., - plays a unique and essential role in supporting patients in their recovery.

 

“We have the unique opportunity as Hospitalists to take care of patients when they’re sick and watch them get better. This is the best part. Patients need medical oversight during physical rehabilitation and by working as a support team for our patients, we can ease the pressure on their outpatient physicians.”

 

With the care provided by Dr. Syed and the care team, Gaylord patients are released with a large part of the ‘mystery’ already solved and a solid plan in place to reach the finish line.

 

“During my residency training, I was most interested in the ICU rotation. There is a certain mystery in the ICU, which I found in hospital medicine as well. We are presented with pieces of information, which may or may not be related, and we find the missing pieces and connect the dots. It’s challenging but we watch patients get better, and that makes it all worthwhile.”

 

30-seconds with Dr. Syed…

What is one thing that may surprise us about you?

I’ve lived in four different countries in my life, which means I’ve learned (and forgotten) many, many languages in this time.

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

Forensics. There’s something fascinating about the mystery …

 

Is there anything you can’t live without?

My boys.

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare Physiatrist team member: since 2017

Education: Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, China

Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY

Specialty: Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

 

Dr. Hongmei Wang joined the Gaylord team in 2017 straight from her residency program at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, NY. She came to Gaylord because of its strong reputation for rehabilitation and she’s stayed because of the unprecedented individual care Gaylord patients receive from their collaborative care team. 

 

Dr. Wang is proud to work for an organization that provides extensive resources to patients and their families, and truly cares about the patients seeking care following a life-altering illness or injury. She’s also proud to play a key role in the launch of Gaylord’s new Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R) residency program, which launched in April 2022 and welcomed its first residents in July 2022.

 

In Connecticut, Gaylord is the go-to for rehabilitation from catastrophic illnesses and injuries. Unfortunately, catastrophic injuries are all-too-often a ‘real world’ experience and PM&R residents will have exposure to a wide range of these patients and become part of the cycle of recovery.

“The PM&R program is a win-win-win. Patients need well-educated, dedicated physiatrists nationwide. The residents benefit from Gaylord’s established programs for patient care while current Gaylord physiatrists stay fresh in their knowledge through teaching and learn from the next generation.”

 

Dr. Wang says the outcome – helping patients recover and return to their daily lives – is the most rewarding part of her role. “The physiatrists’ role is to guide the patient through their journey to recovery. Gaylord patients learn that rehabilitation takes time and bandages only cover up pain. We work together to recover from injury and build a healthy and active lifestyle to prevent further injury.”

 

30-seconds with Dr. Wang…

What is one thing that may surprise us about you?

I am a metal-head at heart!

 

If you weren’t practicing medicine, what would you be doing?

A writer

 

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily life, what would it be?

News consumption (too anxiety inducing!)