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, a physical therapist, an 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 Liberty (professional women's basketball), New York Knicks, New York Power (professional women's soccer), the U.S. National Rowing Team, and the Wendy Hilliard Rhythmic Gymnastics Foundation.
Theresa Chiaia, PT, DPT - Physical Therapist
Theresa is Section Manager of the HSS Sports Rehabilitation and Performance 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, RCEP, CSCS - Exercise Physiologist
Polly is the Coordinator of Performance Services at Hospital for Special Surgery. In addition to being a Registered Nurse, she holds a Master's Degree in Exercise Physiology and 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, MD, RD, CDN - Assistant Director of Food and Nutritional Services
Terry is the Assistant Director of Food and Nutrition Services and oversees all inpatient and outpatient nutrition care at Hospital for Special Surgery and the Women's Sports Medicine Center. She is a registered dietitian (RD), with a master's degree in clinical nutrition, and a certified dietitian-nutritionist in New York State (CDN). Terry has over 25 years of clinical experience at HSS and although she no longer sees patients, enjoys working with the sports nutritionists and the health care team to bring the best in nutrition care and treatment for active women to the Women’s Sports Medicine Center. Her special interests include eating disorders and osteoporosis in active women. A former high school gymnast, Terry now stays active by taking ballet.
Heidi Skolnik, MS, CDN, FACSM - Sports Nutritionist
Heidi Skolnik is a nationally recognized thought leader in nutrition. As founder and president of Nutrition Conditioning, her firm oversees the nutrition programs at The Juilliard School, The Knicks Basketball Team, School of American Ballet, and Fordham University Athletics. She worked with the NY Giants Football team for 18 years and has consulted to professional teams for 25 years including the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, as well as Olympic, collegiate, high school and recreational athletes. Additionally Heidi consults to corporations and food industry.
Heidi has consulted with the cast of Billy Elliot, the Broadway show to help these artistic athletes achieve their best as well as the dancer/contestants on “So You Think You Can Dance?”. Heidi is a contributing advisor to Men’s Health magazine and is co-author of Nutrient Timing for Peak Performance; the right food, the right time, the right results (Human Kinetics, 2010) and The Reverse Diet: Lose Weight By Eating Dinner for Breakfast and Breakfast for Dinner (Wiley, Jan. 2007).
Heidi has earned two Masters degrees, one in Sports Medicine (Exercise Science), the other in Human Nutrition, 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 and sits on the Board of The National Osteoporosis Foundation.
An experienced and sought after presenter, Heidi consults and presents nationwide to corporations, professional organizations, universities and colleges. As an expert resource for national media (both print and TV), Heidi is often referenced in newspapers and national magazines such as Men’s Health, Self, Women’s Health, Glamour, Cosmo, 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, The Dr. Oz Show, Primetime, 20/20, Extra, The Weather Channel, The Fox News Channel, ESPN, the YES Network and the TV Food Network
Sotiria Tzakas-Everett, MS, RD, CDN, CSSD - Sports Nutritionist
Sotiria is a sports nutritionist for the Women's Sports Medicine Center and an inpatient clinical nutritionist at Hospital for Special Surgery. She is a Board Certified Specialist in Sports Dietetics (CSSD), a Registered Dietitian (RD) and a certified dietitian-nutritionist in New York State (CDN). She has a Master's degree in Nutrition and Exercise Physiology and is an ACSM certified Health Fitness Specialist. Sotiria is currently pursuing a Doctoral Degree in Nutrition Education, with a focus in behavioral change strategies to aid in maintaining nutrition goals. In her role at the Women’s Sports Medicine Center, Sotiria provides sports nutrition counseling to active individuals and athletes of all ages including pediatrics and adolescents. She has extensive experience in helping individuals achieve their goals and has expertise in sports nutrition, disordered eating, osteoporosis, weight management, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and autoimmune diseases. Sotiria has served as a nutrition expert in several sources of media and magazines such as Shape, Fitness, Girl’s Life, and Advance for Nurses. She has provided many lectures and workshops for the public and to other health professionals. Sotiria loves sports and fitness and enjoys running, spinning and trying new outdoor sports.
