Meet Our Faculty!

Thank you for your interest in Fitchburg Family Medicine. Feel free to contact any of our faculty any time to learn more!

		Nicholas Apostoleris, PhD Fitchburg Residency Behavioral Science Director Assistant Professor Nicholas.Apostoleris@umassmed.edu Worcester State Hospital/UMass Medical School, Dept. of Psychiatry Internship, 1999 Clark University, Clinical Psychology Ph.D., 2000 UMass Medical School Fellowship, Primary Care Clinical Psychology, 2001 Areas of Interest and Research: Dr. Apostoleris teaches research methodology and behavioral science, consults with medical providers, provides direct patient care,and supervises the program's post-doctoral fellowship in Primary Care Psychology. Areas of clinical interest include substance abuse and dual diagnosis issues, severe psychopathology, and child assessment. Areas of research interest include intrinsic motivation, home education, and psychological factors related to health outcomes.

		Margarita Castro-Zarraga, MD The Brooklyn Hospital Center (Residency) College of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila Professional Affiliations: American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Heart Association Areas of Interest and Research: Adult congenital heart disease, female sexual dysfunction, herbal medicine, meditation, raw food vitamins, student education in family medicine About UMass: "UMass has given me the opportunity to practice academic full-spectrum family medicine in the service of an underserved population. It is an honor to be working along side such gifted and genuine professionals. When you find the job that gets you up and excited in the morning, that is the greatest blessing." Personal Facts: "I had a stint as a movie jockey on a local cable channel over one summer when I was a teenager…I learned Vipassana meditation, essentially "body scanning" --- helps me discipline my mind and deal with stress."

		Felix Chang, MD Assistant Professor and Inpatient Service Director Felix.Chang2@umassmemorial.org Guayaquil University School of Medicine in Ecuador, 1986 UMass Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency, 2006 Areas of Interest and Research: Dr. Chang completed his training at the Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency Program in 2006. He remains on faculty at the Residency. He serves a Latin outreach program at the Leominster FHC. As director of the residency's Family Medicine Inpatient Service, Dr. Chang supervises morning report and rounds and lectures frequently on topics related to inpatient medicine, maternity and pediatrics. Dr. Chang is fluent in English, Spanish and Portuguese.

		Cheryl DiVito, DO Osteopathic Residency Director Cheryl.DiVito@umassmemorial.org University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, 2002 University of Massachusetts Family Medicine Residency Program, Fitchburg, MA, 2005 Areas of Interest and Research: Dr. DiVito completed her training at the Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency Program in September, 2005. She remains on the faculty at the residency. Dr. DiVito directs the osteopathic residency and also directs the maternity curriculum.

		James J. Ledwith, MD, FAAFP Residency Director and Assistant Professor James.Ledwith@umassmemorial.org College of William and Mary, 1979 Medical College of Virginia/Virginia Commonwealth University, MD, 1983 Family Practice Residency at The Toledo Hospital, OH, 1986 Areas of Interest and Research: Clinical interests include chronic disease management, preventive services, obesity, substance abuse and suboxone therapy. I love delivering babies! Practice-based research interests include patient safety and care improvement. Hometown: Numerous homes in my youth in MA, NJ, and PA, but Tappahannock, VA became hometown for me and my children. I am currently settled in Franklin, MA. About UMass Fitchburg: After 19 years of clinical practice before coming to UMass, I maintain a passion for community service and for the care of patients with a focus on health maintenance and systems implementation to enhance safe, accessible, comprehensive service. When I made the move to UMass, I shopped for a residency that was community-oriented and expressed care for its members, patients and staff like family. I found what I was looking for in Fitchburg! Personal Facts: My wife Lauren keeps my life in balance and my three children keep me active. Hobbies (often conflicting) include good food, reading, fitness, visiting the Cape, and protecting my home from the enthusiastic exploration of our new lab pup, Cassie. One day, with no kids' sports and school events, and with house renovations completed, I'll dust off my golf clubs or perhaps join another medical mission team. Community Involvement: Dr. Ledwith also serves as the Medical Director of the Epworth Free Clinic in Worcester.

		Beth Kurtz Mazyck, MD, FAAFP Associate Clinical Professor Director of Medical Education Senior VP of Clinical Services, Community Health Connections, Inc. Beth.Mazyck2@umassmemorial.org 1979 University of Oregon, Eugene 1984 George Washington University School of Health Sciences, Washington, DC 1987 Dwight David Eisenhower Army Medical Center, Fort Gordon, GA Areas of Interest and Research: Women’s Health, Clinical Ethics, Community Health Hometown: Hanover, NH About UMass Fitchburg: UMass Fitchburg is a great place to train. The education is wonderful, the variety of opportunities outstanding, and the resident support is unmatched at any residency. Why Family Medicine? I wanted the opportunity to really get to know my patients and be involved in their lives. I needed to know that I was helping them remain healthy, not just recover from being sick. Also, the thought of doing the same thing over and over and over again (as with subspecialty practices) just seemed too BORING! Besides, Family Docs are the nicest group of docs you could ever want to work with! Personal Facts: I hate to be bored, but am rarely bored since I married my husband, acquired 3 teenage sons, then had 3 more children! Now I have not only 6 children, but 5 grandchildren…no time for boredom! I love to travel, but with 6 children I don’t have the money to travel, so I have stayed in the Army – free trips to Iraq, Kosovo, Bolivia, and Guatemala (among others.) Community Involvement: Dr. Mazyck is the Deputy Commander of Clinical Services for the 399th Combat Support Hospital and has served in Iraq and Kosovo. She has also served on overseas humanitarian missions in Bolivia, Guatemala, Malawi and with the Indian Health Services. In addition, Dr. Mazyck has organized and provided leadership for the Regional Public Health Coalition for Northern Worcester County.

		Peter C. McConarty, MD Associate Professor, FMCH, University of Massachusetts Medical School Peter.McConarty2@umassmemorial.org Harvard College, 1969 University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, 1973 University of California San Francisco General, Residency, 1976 Areas of Interest and Research: Diabetes, care of underserved populations, collaborative primary care, assisting patients in behavior change, care of chronic disease, furthering the demise of the current non-system of healthcare Hometown: Easton, MA About UMass Fitchburg: Fitchburg is a manageable size, has enormous unmet medical need, a very involved and supportive medical community and a Community Health Center committed to being part of the solution. Why Family Medicine? Family Medicine represented the last, best hope for reform of a dysfunctional medical delivery system when I chose a residency in 1973, and it still does in 2009. Community Involvement: Member, Physicians of a National Health program; Campaign worker for President Barack Obama, Senator Jeanne Shaheen, Mass Governor Deval Patrick, Fitchburg Mayor Lisa Wong and candidate John Kerry.

		Michele P. Pugnaire, M.D. Associate Professor of Family Medicine and Community Health Vice Dean for Undergraduate Medical Education, University of Massachusetts Medical School Areas of Interest and Research: Dr. Pugnaire is responsible for providing leadership for curriculum development, implementation, and evaluation in undergraduate medical education. She has served as Associate Dean for Admissions and Assistant Dean for Student Advising. During the past 15 years, Dr. Pugnaire has served in a variety of administrative and teaching positions in the Department of Family Medicine, and is currently Project Director for the Macy Initiative in Health Communication grant at UMass Medical School as well as Principal Investigator for the Pfizer Sexual Health in Undergraduate Medical School Curricula and AAMC/John A. Hartford Foundation Enhancing Gerontology and Geriatrics Medicine Education in Undergraduate Medical Education grants. Her education interests and achievements include faculty development in student advising, technology in teaching, the McQ Standardized Family curriculum, and the expansion of the standardized family across three clerkships as the principal investigator for a UME 21 Associate Partnership grant. Dr. Pugnaire is the recipient of numerous teaching awards and maintains a community-based clinical practice in family medicine with the UMass Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency Program.

		Katherine Riggert, DO, MS Faculty, UMASS Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency Faculty, UMASS Sports Medicine Fellowship Program Katherine.Riggert@umassmemorial.org University of South Florida University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine Middlesex Hospital Family Medicine Residency, Middletown, CT UMASS Sports Medicine Fellowship Areas of Interest and Research: Sports medicine, endurance sports performance, medical issues & sports injuries in the female, pediatric, & master athlete populations; health behavior changes Hometown: Sudbury, MA About UMass Fitchburg: UMASS Fitchburg has supportive faculty with many diverse interests. Why Family Medicine? Family medicine provided the ideal foundation, broad-based & well-rounded, on which to become a primary care sports medicine specialist. Personal Facts: I had a past life as a professional bicycle racer before going to medical school. Cycling and running are two my favorite activities.

		J. Herbert Stevenson, MD Associate Professor Director, Sports Medicine Director, Sports Medicine Fellowship Program John.Stevenson@umassmemorial.org University of Vermont College of Medicine, 1998 University of Massachusetts Family Practice Residency, Worcester, 2001 Sports Medicine Fellowship, University of Connecticut, 2002 Areas of Interest and Research: Dr. Stevenson's clinical areas of interest include: sports medicine, evidence-based medicine, and implementation of technology in medical training and at the point of care.

		Barbara G. Sullivan, FNP-BC, Family Nurse Practitioner Barbara.Sullivan@umassmemorial.org MS - UMass-Amherst, 1995 ANCC - Credentialed American Association of Nurse Practitioners - Member Massachusetts Coalition of Nurse Practitioners - Member American Association of Home Care Physicians - Member Health Care for the Homeless Clinicians Network - Member Personal Facts: Prior to coming to the family practice residency, Barbara worked as a family nurse practitioner in private internal medicine and family practices. Community Involvement: Barbara has also worked at Boston Health Care for the Homeless and has worked with the GI Rights Hotline. As an RN, Barbara worked at the Homeless Outreach and Advocacy Project in Worcester, MA, and in community health and homecare for 15 years. Her special interests include providing care for the homeless and other underserved populations, cross-cultural issues, and women's health.

		Kathleen Sweeney, MD Kathleen.Sweeny@umassmemorial.org University of Rochester School of Medicine Residency at UMASS Family Practice Personal Facts: 4 kids; 1 husband. I live in an old farmhouse with horses, gardens and a maple sugar bush Community Involvement: Dr. Sweeney has been active with the Wachusett Regional School Committee, the Boys and Girls Club of Leominster, MA, the Genesis Club of Worcester and the Princeton Youth Soccer Association.
		Stefan Topolski, MD drred9@gmail.com Assistant Professor Country Doctor at Trailside Health Director of Caring in Community Brandeis University University of Maryland School of Medicine The Western Pennsylvania FP Residency Areas of Interest and Research: Chaos theory and complexity, philosophy and ethics, history of medicine and science, country doctoring and the house call, information technology and CottageMed, sustainable development, equal access to caring healers, appropriate affordable health care and the future of family medicine. Hometown: Liberty, Maine Personal Facts: I'm jack of all trades, master of none. About UMass Fitchburg: Talented faculty carrying George Engel’s biopsychosocial ideal of health into the 21st century Why Family Medicine? For every old-fashioned, high-minded reason that you’ve already heard
		Suryadutt Venkat, MD, MPH Assistant Professor Suryadutt.Venkat@umassmemorial.org Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College, Bangalore University, 2000 Master’s in Public Health from University of Alabama at Birmingham, 2004 Residency at University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, 2008 Geriatric Medicine Fellowship: University of Hawaii, 2009 Areas of Interest and Research: Nursing Home Medicine, Geriatric syndromes, Clinical research in Family Medicine and Geriatrics Hometown: Bangalore, India About UMass Fitchburg: UMass Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency provides an excellent learning environment. Residents rotate at HealthAlliance Hospital in Leominster, where Fitchburg Family Medicine Residency Program is an unopposed residency. Residents provide high quality outpatient medical care at Community Health Connections in Fitchburg, thereby meeting the healthcare needs of the underserved populations in North Central Massachusetts. Why Family Medicine? Family Medicine has a holistic approach to a medical problem. Family Physicians have a unique opportunity to provide continuity of medical care to their patients and families. What is unique about Family Physicians is the wide range of medical services they can offer. Family Physicians are true patient advocates, helping them navigate effectively through an otherwise complex health care system. Personal Facts: I enjoy traveling and playing golf