Faculty & Staff

There are very few orthopedic surgeons and primary care physicians in the country who have fellowship training in sports medicine with a special interest in women athletes. We are lucky to have doctors with this background leading our program. They have gathered a team of professionals from multiple medical specialties with extensive experience working with the female athlete to help them meet the needs of active women. This team includes physicians, a sport psychologist, physical therapist, exercise physiologist, nutritionists, and nurses.

As part of Hospital for Special Surgery (consistently ranked as one of the top orthopedic and rheumatology hospitals in the country by U.S. News and World Report) we have access to the expertise of other highly respected orthopedic, rheumatology and physical medicine physicians. Hospital for Special Surgery physicians are currently team physicians for the New York Mets baseball team, the New York Giants football team, the ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) and the U.S. Rowing team.

Lisa R. Callahan, MD
Medical Director & Primary Care Sports Medicine Specialist

Rebecca Anne Demorest, MD
Pediatric and Adolescent Sports Medicine Specialist

Jo A. Hannafin, MD, PhD
Orthopedic Director & Orthopedic Surgeon

Jennifer L. Solomon, MD
Physiatrist

Beth E. Shubin Stein, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon

Jenny Susser, PhD
Clinical Health Psychologist
Dr. Susser has a doctoral degree in Clinical Health Psychology, is New York State licensed, and specializes in Sport Psychology. Dr. Susser was a four year All-American swimmer and then assistant coach at UCLA, she swam on two national teams, and at the 1988 Olympic Trials. She also competed nationally and internationally on the National Championship Los Angeles County Lifeguard Surf Racing Team for six years. She has worked with Division I collegiate teams such as UCLA and USC, California State University, Dominguez Hills, and currently works with sports teams at Hofstra University. She is a member of the American Psychological Association Sport Psychology Division and the American Association for the Advancement of Sport Psychology. She also reviews sport psychology texts for Human Kinetics Publishing. Dr. Susser has worked with athletes of all ages, professional and amateur. She has conducted research on athletic injury recovery, investigating the use of mental imagery on recovery. She remains active out of the pool by running and riding her horse.

Theresa Chiaia, PT
Physical Therapist
Theresa is a Senior Physical Therapist at the HSS Sportsmedicine, Performance and Research Center.  Theresa has guided athletes of all levels, from the recreational athlete, student athlete to the professional athlete along the road to recovery and a successful return to competition.  She has 10 years experience at HSS managing a broad spectrum of orthopedic problems.  Theresa is an Adjunct Instructor at Hunter College and has lectured extensively about strength, fitness, injury rehabilitation and injury prevention in athletes.  Theresa played collegiate basketball and maintains a keen interest in basketball.

Polly de Mille, RN, MA, NSCA CSCS
Exercise Physiologist
Polly holds a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology in addition to being a Registered Nurse.  She is certified by the American College of Sports Medicine as a Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist, Exercise Specialist, and Exercise Test Technologist.  She is also a certified USAT Level 1 Triathlon Coach.  Her experience includes years of critical care nursing as well as over 15 years managing a corporate fitness program.  Polly enjoys running, cycling, and swimming and has participated in numerous running events, adventure races, triathlons, and open water swims.

Terry Karl, MS, RD, CDN
Registered Dietitian
Terry is the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition Services and oversees all outpatient nutrition counseling at the Women's Sports Medicine Center and other areas of Hospital for Special Surgery.  She is a registered dietitian with a master's degree in clinical nutrition, and is a New York State Certified Nutritionist.  Terry has over 22 years of clinical experience at HSS and has developed specialized interest in the treatment of women's health issues including osteoporosis and eating disorders.

Heidi Skolnik, MS, CN
Sports Nutritionist
Heidi Skolnik is the Sports Nutrition Consultant to the New York Giants football team and the School of American Ballet. She is also a nutritionist at the Women's Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery. Heidi is a contributing editor to Men's Health magazine where her column "The Weight Loss Coach" can be read monthly and is co-author of The Reverse Diet: Lose Weight By Eating Dinner for Breakfast and Breakfast for Dinner (Wiley, Jan. 2007). Heidi has earned two master's degrees and is a New York State Certified Nutritionist.  Ms. Skolnik is a Fellow with the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) and is also ACSM certified as a Health Fitness Instructor.  Heidi consults and presents nationwide to corporations, professional organizations, universities, and colleges.  An expert resource for national media, Heidi is often referenced in newspapers and national magazines such as Men's Health, Self, Glamour, G.Q., and Real Simple.  She appears frequently on TV and has been seen on CNN American Morning and Headline News, The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Early Show, Primetime, 20/20, Extra, as well as the TV Food Network.  Ms. Skolnik is the president of Nutrition Conditioning, Inc. a nutrition consulting practice based in New Jersey serving the greater Metropolitan area.

Danica Giugliano
Research Assistant
Danica Giugliano is the Research Assistant for the Women's Sports Medicine Center.  Danica has a bachelor's degree in mathematics from Dartmouth College and recently completed the post-baccalaureate premedical program at Columbia University.  She is working towards obtaining a degree in medicine, with the possibility of specializing in sports medicine.  Danica pitched for Dartmouth's Division I softball team and served as a player-coach for the Women's Major Fast Pitch team, the Bats.