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

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

Jennifer L. Solomon, MD
Physiatrist

Beth E. Shubin Stein, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon

Sabrina M. Strickland, MD
Orthopedic Surgeon

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, RCEP, 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.

Sotiria Tzakas, MS, RD, CDN
Nutritionist
Sotiria is a clinical inpatient nutritionist and staff nutritionist for the Women's Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery.  She is a Registered Dietitian and a New York State Certified Nutritionist. She has a Master's degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and is an ACSM certified Health Fitness Instructor and ACE Certified Personal Trainer.  In addition to sports nutrition, she specializes in individual nutritional counseling for weight management, pediatric nutrition, osteoporosis, and diabetes and cholesterol management.  She played club lacrosse and intramural basketball during college. Currently, she stays active by running, biking, and snowboarding.

Halley Smith, BA
Research Fellow
Halley Smith is the Research Fellow at the Women’s Sports Medicine Center at Hospital for Special Surgery.  She has a Bachelor’s Degree from Williams College in Chinese Language and Art History, and competed on the Williams Varsity Track Team as a short sprinter and occasional shot-putter three of her four years.  Halley was All-New England twice in the 4x100m relay, 200m dash and 4x200m relay, but suffered a back injury that limited her participation in track after her freshman year.  Halley also studied abroad in Hamilton College’s intense immersion program, Associated Colleges in China (ACC), in Beijing for three months to increase her fluency in Mandarin Chinese.  She is currently completing the first of two years at Columbia University’s Post-baccalaureate Pre-Medical Program, and will eventually attend medical school.  Halley has wide interest in medicine from orthopedic surgery, particularly in the treatment of back pain, to infectious disease and viral and bacterial resistance.  Outside of work and school, Halley loves to spend her time reading, and tries to stay active by running, doing Bar Method, and rock climbing.