Golisano Children's Hospital / Community Pediatrics Training / About Us

About Us

Staff

Andy Aligne MD, MPH

Andy Aligne M.D., M.P.H.

Hoekelman Center Director
Andrew_Aligne@urmc.rochester.edu

Primary Responsibilities

Teaching evidence-based public health.
Mentoring CARE residents.
Leading the LARC Initiative.
Directing strategy and planning for the Center.
Supporting the faculty and staff of the Center to help them accomplish our various missions.
Doing research to evaluate our impact.
Partnering with community based organizations to promote evidence-based initiatives for children and families.

Passionate About

Addressing socioeconomic segregation.
Causewave Community Partners and Staytrue2u campaign.
Bicycling
Books (member of Rochester French book club for 20 years)
Star Trek, Crossword puzzles,etc

Fun Facts

None: always serious.

Marc Lavender, M.D.

PLC Rotation Director
Marc_Lavender@urmc.rochester.edu

Primary Responsibilities

PLC Rotation Director at the Hoekelman Center.
Primary Care Physician at East Ridge Family Medicine.
Curating an educational experience of the Rochester community through a community health lens.

Passionate About

Child, Family and Community Health in Rochester
Cycling
Education and Advocacy
Nap Pods and Legos

Fun Facts

Can successfully wrangle three children out the door and dressed for school... sometimes.
Can give a tour of the Ohio State University campus while walking backwards.
Brews beer when not parenting three children.

Andrew Sherman, MD, MPH

Andrew Sherman, M.D., M.P.H.

Global CARE Assistant Director

Primary Responsibilities

Pediatric instructor at the Hoekelman Center focusing on global health.
Primary care pediatrician at Bay Creek pediatrics in Webster.
Founder and co-president of nonprofit Netlife (see first passion).

Passionate About

Helping the people of Senegal prevent and fight malaria
Mentoring kids to see the magic of empathy, kindness, and humor
Karaoke
Blinky lights

Fun Facts

Worked at Wrigley Field for the Cubs
Visited all 50 states
Proud member of the West Fargo High School Hall of Fame!

Sarah Collins-McGowan, M.D.

Assistant Director of PLC
Assistant Director of CARE Track
Sarah_Collins-McGowan@urmc.rochester.edu

Primary Responsibilities

Assistant Director for the PLC Rotation
Assistant Director of the Community Health & Advocacy Resident Education (CARE) Track
Primary Care Pediatrician at Golisano Children's Hospital
Partnering with community-based organizations to improve child health in Rochester
Thriving Forward podcast host

Passionate About

Addressing social determinants of health with my patients
Physician wellness
Reading
Dark chocolate (70% or higher please)

Fun Facts

Plays the violin
Took bowling and belly dancing as my PE classes in college
Responsible for the care and feeding of two beautiful children

Susan Gasparino, MD, MPH

Susan Gasparino, MD

Community Health Advisor
Susan_Gasparino@urmc.rochester.edu

Primary Responsibilities

Community Health Advisor to the Hoekelman Center
General Academic Pediatrician at Golisano Children's Hospital Pediatric Practice
Clinician at The Center for Community Health and Prevention

Passionate About

Community Health and Disease Prevention
Lifetime Fitness Opportunities for Kids and Families
Public Education

Fun Facts

Proud Girl Scout Leader for the past 8 years to an awesome group of eleven 7th graders!
I'm a Zumba Kids Instructor and will literally dance anywhere, anytime.
I read chapter books aloud every night to my family (doing all the character voices) and haven't missed a night in 10 years!

Rosa M. Lloyd, M.B.A.

Hoekelman Center Manager
Rosa_Lloyd@urmc.rochester.edu

(585) 273-3737

Primary Responsibilities

Responsible for efficient operation of the Hoekelman Center Office.
Assists with coordination of the Pediatric Links with the Community (PLC) Program.
Provides support with program/project implementation.

Passionate About

Serving as the Missionary Chairperson of the NY, PA, New England States (NYPANE) Council of the Pentecostal Churches of the Apostolic Faith (PCAF)
Visiting with the sick and engaging in activities that support social action programs like feeding the less fortunate
Educating and empowering church congregants on improving their health through the church’s health ministry with support from the Interdenominational Health Ministry Coalition

Fun Facts

Builds dollhouses and miniature furniture

Kelly McDermott, M.A.

Kelly McDermott, M.S.

Health Project Coordinator
Kelly_McDermott@urmc.rochester.edu

(585) 273-5952

Primary Responsibilities

Developing and nurturing partnerships between the Hoekelman Center and the Rochester community.
Supporting the sustainability of CARE projects and the amazing residents who create them.
Increasing our capacity by supporting various programs and projects including the new launchpad function of the Hoekelman Center.

Passionate About

Literacy
Voting
Trivia

Fun Facts

Politics Junkie (self inflicted)
Jeopardy Enthusiast (we miss you Alex)
Swifties and friendship bracelets are my favorite

Cheyenne Hall, M.P.H.

Joy of Literacy Initiative Coordinator
Cheyenne_Hall@urmc.rochester.edu

Primary Responsibilities

Helps lead the preparation, implementation, and evaluation of the Joy of Literacy Initiative (JOLI).
Collaborates with community-based partners and the rest of the team at the Hoekelman Center on various projects, including the Rochester LARC (Long Acting Reversible Contraception) Initiative.
Organizes project and study materials.

Passionate About

Animals
Awareness of rare and orphan diseases
Community health and disease prevention
Disability accessibility
Learning, reading, and volunteer work

Fun Facts

I am extremely upset that I can't have a red panda as a pet.
I have a YouTube channel dedicated to bringing awareness to rare and orphan diseases.
I am the world's pickiest eater.

Grace Shin

VISTA Americorps Member
Grace_Shin@urmc.rochester.edu

Primary Responsibilities

Assists in the coordination of the Joy of Literacy project and other Launchpad projects
Maintains partnerships to create and distribute college matching research

Passionate About

Equitable access to education
Disability justice
Reading
Weightlifting
Criminal Minds

Fun Facts

I can kind of predict the weather from my wrist pain.
I can't have caffeine after 3pm or else I won't sleep that night.

Faculty Partners

Caren Gellin, M.D. is a Senior Faculty Advisor of the Hoekelman Center, Director of the Pediatric Residency Program at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and a pediatrician at Golisano Children's Hospital Pediatric Practice.
Jeffrey Kaczorowski, M.D. is the Vice Chair of the Golisano's Children's Hospital Vice Chair of Community and Government Affairs.
Nirupama Laroia, M.D. is the Global CARE Assistant Director for the Hoekelman Center and Professor Pediatrics/Neonatology at the University of Rochester Medical Center and Section Chief- Neonatology, Medical Director of Special Care Nursery at Rochester General Hospital.

Community Physician Partners

Megan Callanan-Lasaponara, M.D. is the Medical Director of the Newborn Nursery at Unity Hospital and a Pediatric Hospitalist at Rochester General Hospital. She is also the Executive Director for KidsThrive585 a child-focused Rochester, NY area non-profit that highlights good works occurring throughout the community and improves access to resources for children, caregivers and child advocate and she's the "Thriving Forward" podcast host.
Steven A. Schulz, M.D. is a pediatrician at Finger Lakes Medical Associates. He is a member of the board of Success for Geneva's Children which collects and analyzes data to understand the needs and interests of Geneva children and parents while coordinating resources to improve their quality of life. He also serves as a preceptor for first and second year medical students and pediatric residents.

Dr. Robert A. Hoekelman

As chair of the Department of Pediatrics, Dr. Hoekelman was an innovator in medical education, moving physicians out of the academic medical center and into the outpatient private practice setting.

During his retirement, “Dr. H” was the senior mentor, first champion and early benefactor of Pediatric Links with the Community and the Community Advocacy Resident Education track since their inception. With PLC/CARE, Dr. Hoekelman helped us take the next step and go beyond the walls of the doctor’s office into the community. He was an advocate for what he called “pre-primary care pediatrics,” that is to say changing health maintenance and disease prevention from the individual child to the community level. In 2015 the PLC/CARE program was renamed the Hoekelman Center. The Hoekelman Center is dedicated to fulfilling his vision.