Our Staff

Rock Heyman, MD

Dr. Heyman is an Associate Professor of Neurology, Director of the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital , and Chief of the Division of Neuroimmunology and MS at the University of Pittsburgh. He completed his medical school training at Ohio State University in 1985 and then completed his neurology residency in 1989 and fellowship training in 1990, both at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Dr. Heyman’s interests include education and treatment of people with MS. He is board-certified in Neurology and is also a Fellow of the American Board of Sleep Medicine. He has held many national leadership positions with the National MS Society (NMSS) and the Consortium of MS Centers. He enjoys working with people with MS and related disorders to help them find the best way to improve their function.

 

Zongqi Xia, MD, PhD

Dr. Xia is an Associate Professor of Neurology and Director of Research within the Division of Neurolimmunology. After receiving his B.A. from Swarthmore College and M.D. and Ph.D. through the Medical Scientist Training Program at Case Western Reserve University, he completed: (1) neurology residency at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital, (2) master in clinical investigation at the Harvard Medical School, and (3) post-doctoral fellowship in neurogenetics and neuroinflammation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Broad Institute.

Dr. Xia is a board-certified neurologist and an attending physician. He has developed an interdisciplinary clinical expertise in neuorinflammation, addressing the unmet needs of patients who face neurological complications from autoimmune disorders.

Dr. Xia leads a collaborative clinical and translational research program in neuroinflammation. His team harnesses multi-dimensional patient-derived data and deploys integrative computational and analytical approaches to gain insights into the disease process and translate these findings into the clinical arena to improve individualized prediction, prevention, and management in multiple sclerosis and other disorders of neuroinflammation. He will soon be inviting patients to join many of his research studies.

 

Cigdem Isitan Alkawadri, MD

Dr. Isitan Alkawadri is an Assistant Professor of Neurology at the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center of UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, she joined the faculty in 2018. She completed her Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunology training at Yale University. She did her medical training in Istanbul, Turkey and neurology residency at Boston University Medical Center.

She treats patients with a variety of conditions, including multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, neurosarcoidosis, autoimmune encephalitis, and other immune-mediated inflammatory conditions affecting the brain and spinal cord. Her specific research interest includes neuro-imaging biomarkers of MS.

Dr. Isitan also offers botulinum toxin injections for spasticity and migraine headaches. She is very passionate about teaching. She is the recipient of Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism and Excellence Award in teaching and compassion for patient care, and American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Quality Improvement & Patient Safety Award in 2016. She also received AAN fellow scholar award in 2017-2018. She was given Clerkship Preceptor of the Year Award by University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in 2020 for outstanding teaching.

 

Kavita Thakkar, MD

Dr. Thakkar is an Assistant Professor in the division of Neurology in the Department of Pediatrics at Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC and Unversity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. Dr. Thakkar obtained her medical degree from Seth G. S. Medical College, Mumbai, India.  She completed her pediatric residency in 2009 and then neurology training in 2014, both from Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Thakkar is board certified in Neurology with special qualification in Child Neurology.  Her research and clinical interests focus on neuroimmunological and autoimmune disorders of the brain in childen and adults.

 

 

Holly Appleberry, DO, MBA

Dr. Appleberry is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and joined our department August 2022. She completed medical school at Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences followed by neurology residency at Penn State Health and neuroimmunology/MS fellowship at Georgetown University. Dr. Appleberry is a board-certified neurologist and treats patients with multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder, myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease, transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, neurosarcoidosis, neuro-Behcet’s disease, autoimmune encephalitis, and CNS vasculitis. She is passionate about helping her patients achieve their best and ensuring that their complex needs are met. Other interests include clinical trials, patient advocacy, and healthcare policy.

 

 

Morgan Faeder, MD, PhD

Dr. Faeder earned his PhD at the University of Colorado at Boulder and his MD at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine before completing residency in Psychiatry and fellowship in Consult-Liaison Psychiatry at UPMC. He is the Medical Director of Neuropsychiatry and as of July 2020, the Fellowship Director for Consult-Liaison Psychiatry. He currently sees patients at the UPMC Multiple Sclerosis Center and Kaufmann Neurology clinic and is a consulting psychiatrist at UPMC Presbyterian Hospital. His main interests are neuropsychiatry, integrated care, medical education, and LGBTQ+ healthcare.

 

 

Ahmed Abbas, MD

Dr. Abbas is a current Neuroimmunology and Multiple Sclerosis fellow at UPMC. He obtained his medical degree from the University of Baghdad College of Medicine in Baghdad, Iraq and completed Internal Medicine Internship and Neurology residency at Southern Illinois University in Springfield, IL. He is a recipient of the Clinical Care Physician Fellowship grant from the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He is interested in teaching and is a strong advocate for improving access to care/MS medications.

 

 

 

Denise Li, MD


Dr. Li is a current women's neurology fellow at UPMC. She received her MD at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She completed neurology residency at UT Southwestern where she also served as administrative chief resident during her final year. She is interested in neurological care during pregnancy and the peripartum period.

 

 

 

Emily Eiben, CRNP

Emily Eiben is a Family Nurse Practictioner joining the MS Care Center in June 2020.  She received her undergraduate degree from Washington and Jefferson College and her Masters of Science in Nursing at Xavier University.  While attending school at Carlow University for her Family Nurse Practioner Program, Emily worked in the Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh Emergency Department as a Registered Nurse. She then worked as a nurse practitioner in Urgent Care. She is a caregiver and advocate for her mother who has Multiple Sclerosis for over 40 years.  Her mother inspired her to pursue a career in healthcare. She is always interested in learning something new about MS. She loves to travel with her husband and friends.

 

 

Emily Guerriero, PA-C 

Emily is a Physician Assistant-Expert in the Department of Neurology at the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center at UPMC Magee-Women’s hospital. She recently joined the department in December of 2020. After receiving her B.S. in Biology from West Liberty State College, in West Virginia, Emily worked as a research technician in the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. In 2010, Emily earned a her master of physician assistant studies degree from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA.

For the last 10 years, Emily worked in Department of Neurological Surgery at UPMC Presbyterian where she focused her expertise on a variety of cranial pathologies. She also founded the Western Pennsylvania Chapter of Brain Aneurysm and AVM (arteriovenous malformation) Support Group . As part of her volunteer work with the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, Emily also established the annual Pittsburgh Brain Aneurysm Awareness 5K.

In her role as a clinical educator, Emily has served as the preceptor for physician assistant students and serves a member of the Preceptor Academy at UPMC, and has been part of the Membership Committee since 2016, as well as several professional societies the American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA), the Pennsylvania Society of Physician Assistants (PSPA) and American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS).

Megan O'Brien, CRNP

Megan O’Brien is a board-certified Nurse Practitioner working in the MS Care Center. She received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Kent State University. After graduation Megan began her career as an RN in the neurology/epilepsy unit at the Cleveland Clinic. She received her master’s degree at Duquesne University specializing in Family Health while working at UPMC Shadyside Emergency Department. Megan is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and is extremely passionate about being an advocate for both patients and their families. She enjoys educating and working with patients in order to optimize their overall health and quality of life.

 

 

Mindy Tennant, RN, BSN, MSCN - Nurse Manager, OP

Mindy is the nurse manager at the MS Care Center. She achieved her associate degree at CCAC in 2011 and her bachelor’s degree at Drexel University in 2016. Mindy is a Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse. She started her nursing career at UPMC Magee Womens Hospital in 2012. After 6 years as a staff nurse on a med/surg unit, Mindy joined the MS Care Team in 2018. She has experience in various areas of the MS Care Center. She started as an infusion nurse, then became the nurse coordinator for the clinic and was promoted to clinician in January 2021. She enjoys working with MS patients daily. You will often communicate with her on my UPMC and see her throughout the clinic. When Mindy is away from the clinic, she enjoys spending time with her husband and two boxers, Duke & Olivia.

 

 

Margie O’Leary, RN, MSN, MSCN 

Margie, a  Senior Professional Staff RN II has been a member of the multidisciplinary UPMC MS Care Center for 30 years . She has been a nurse within UPMC for 40 years. Margie was a UPMC Aces award winner 2009.  She has been in many roles with our Care Center at Magee including previous manager and clinician of the center. In her many years in working with the center, she has focused on delivering quality patient care, creating efficiencies within the office, mentoring, and educating all center staff from front desk to physicians.

Margie is an active volunteer within our Keystone Chapter of the National MS Society serving on many committees and presently serves on the State of PA Chapter healthcare Council. She is also an active fundraiser for the society (top 50 fundraiser for MS walk 2021). Margie is a member of the International Organization for MS Nurses (IOMSN) since its inception and served as a previous board member. Margie received the IOMSN Hope Award in 2004. She has authored many journal articles and presented many abstracts at international meetings focusing on MS care. Margie enjoys reading in her spare time and you may also find her riding her bicycle in MS bike rides or on the local trails.

 

Jessica Serdy, RN  

Jess graduated from the CCAC Allegheny Campus nursing program in 2009. She has experience in inpatient and emergency room nursing, as well as inpatient and outpatient care management.  She is excited to now be working as an MS Outpatient Infusion Nurse and plans to obtain her certification in MS nursing care. Jess has a dog, three cats and a Greek tortoise named Stanley.  She enjoys reading, hiking and traveling in her spare time.

 

 

Julia Miller, RN, BSN, MSCN

Julia is one of our infusion nurses.  She has a background in Trauma, Neurosurgery and Neurology. I enjoy working with patients and helping them understand their condition and treatment here in infusion.

I have covered MS infusion since 2011 and was hired at Magee Women’s hospital full time in January 2018.

 

 

Liliy Watson, RN, BSN, MSCN

Lily graduated from Shadyside School of Nursing in 2014 and completed her BSN through Ohio University. She has worked at Magee on the inpatient medical-surgical unit since graduating nursing school. She started at the MS Care Center in 2018. Lily is excited to announce that she completed her certification as a Multiple Sclerosis Nurse in 2020. When Lily isn’t at work, she loves spending time with her family and doing outdoor activities.

 

 

Kayla Morris, RN

Kayla graduated from Shadyside School of Nursing in 2014.  She worked on the med surg floor at Magee for two years before she moved on to the NICU for four years.  She started here at the MS infusion center in August of 2020.  Kayla plans to receive her certification in MS nursing within the next year.  When she is not at work, Kayla enjoys spending time with her dog, baking and crafting

 

 

 

Rebecca Kelly, RN, MSN

Rebecca graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with her BSN in 2016. She became a full-time nurse in Magee's NICU and continued at Pitt while working, receiving her MSN in 2019. She then left Magee for Cigna's NICU Case Management team in 2020, returning to Magee in 2022 to join the MS Care Center as a casual nurse. She is excited to work with the patients and staff here! When she isn't at work, Rebecca enjoys photography, cooking with her husband, and playing with her daughters. 

 

 

 

Kori Livesey, RN, BSN

Kori graduated with her BSN from Robert Morris University in 2020. She started her career at St.Clair Hospital, working in labor and delivery. Kori was drawn to nursing with a strong desire to care, serve and help others. She is very excited to be part of the MS infusion team!

 

 

 

Paige Cassidy, RN, BSN

Paige graduated from Kent State University with a B.S in Biology in 2011 before completing her BSN from Robert Morris University in 2013. She started her career at Shadyside Hospital as a medical-surgical/neuro nurse before transferring to Passavant Hospital as a Clinician on a stroke and medical-surgical floor. She started here at the MS Infusion Center in May 2022. She is excited to learn more about Multiple Sclerosis from all the staff and patients. When she is not at work, Paige enjoys spending time with her husband, daughter, and dogs.

 

 

Emily Marsden - Administrative Coordinator

Emily joined the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center in April 2018 when we opened our center at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital. She started at the front desk as a Health Unit Coordinator checking in/out patients for appointments and then transitioned to a Sr. Authorization Specialist working on the oral and injectable medication authorizations. Now Emily helps manage the front desk and authorization staff. Emily truly enjoys caring for our MS patients and is dedicated to making sure each patient has a good experience when visiting our center. Previously, she worked at Magee-Womens Cancer Center for two years as a Health Unit Coordinator and Financial Consular. She was born and raised in Pittsburgh and currently lives in Jefferson Hills with her husband, twin daughters, and cat. 

 

 

Sandra Palmieri - Sr. Authorization Specialist

Sandy is from right here in Oakland. In fact, her family still lives here. She has been with UPMC for thirty years and has worked for twenty years in the Voice Center. She started full time with the Department of Neurology in early August 2015.

She enjoys anything “Italian”, cooking, and gardening.

 

 

Diane Mcgrory - Authorization Specialist

Diane is from Pittsburgh and has lived in Pittsburgh all her life. She started in the MS Care Center in June of 2022. Diane has worked for UPMC for over 6 years.  Over the 6 years, she has worked in several Primary Care Practices and orthopedics.  She has also worked in GI for AHN.  Diane attended courses at CCAC and earned an Administrative Assistant Associate Degree and a certificate for Insurance Specialist/Medical Billing and coding program. Her favorite board game is Monopoly and she love to be crafty. 

 

 

Karen Miller - Administrative Assistant 

Karen joined the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center in April 2018.  She comes from Shadyside ER with 24 years of experience.  Karen is a big Pittsburgh sports fan.  She has 2 black cats: Murphy and Molly and she likes spending time with her family and sorority sisters

 

 

 

Carol Packard - Health Unit Coordinator

 Carol started at UPMC in April 2010. Before that, she had worked at Sharon Regional for 5 years. She joined the MS Care Center in December of 2021. She is a proud grandmother of a couple of kids and they call her Co Co.She loves sports and is a big Steelers fan. She loves the outdoors and especially going camping with family for quality time. When Carol finally retires some day she hopes to travel as much as possible.

 

 

Ella Payne - Medical Assistant II

Ella joined the Multiple Sclerosis Center in August of 2021.  She has been a Certified Medical Assistant for 21 years and CNA for 16 years. Ella loves working in geriatrics and interacting with patients. She is a big fan of the dictionary, learning a new word, everyday!  Dogs are her absolute favorite animal, and she hopes to start a Labradoodle breeding business one day soon. Outside of work, she loves to listen to music, read, play Gin Rummy and Trash, dance, and spend time with her family.   

 

 

Lisa "Suze" Levine - Medical Assistant II

Suze joined the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center in April 2018. She has been working at UPMC since 2015. She enjoys interacting with patients, and when not at work, can be found at Starbucks with friends, drawing, or walking her dog, Rickles.

 

 

 

David Kim - Medical Assistant I

David graduated with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in music from Carnegie Mellon University in 2021. He joined the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center in March of 2022 as a Medical Assistant. Previously, he worked at UPMC Children’s as a lab technician in a neurology clinic. When not working, David likes playing clarinet, making coffee, and spending time with friends.

Simrita Hemrajani - Medical Assistant I

Simrita recently graduated from Pitt with a B.A. in Communication Science and Disorders and a Certificate in ASL. In the future, she plans to attend graduate school for Speech Language Pathology and eventually get her PhD. Simrita is extremely excited to be working as an MA in the MS Care Center and hopes to translate her current and future knowledge of MS and neurology into her career as an SLP. In her free time, she enjoys graphic design, exploring Pittsburgh, and Sunday brunch.

 

RESEARCH STAFF

Kerry Oddis, RN, CCRC - Clinical Research Coordinator

Kerry is from Lower Burrell, PA. She is the Certified Clinical Research Coordinator for the Multiple Sclerosis Care Center and Department of Neurology. Kerry worked in Labor and Delivery for 11 years and has been with the department of Neurology since 2005.  She is also a member of the International Organization of MS Nurses (IOMSN) and has displayed abstracts at the Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers (CMSC).

Although she loves Labor and Delivery, she gets great satisfaction working in research. She is gratified by helping patients who suffer with this terrible disease and hopes we can someday find a cure.

 

Wen Zhu - Clinical Research Assistant

Wen is a clinical research assistant for Dr. Zongqi Xia. She received her M.D. and M.S. in Neurology from Sun Yat-sen University of Medical Sciences, China. She joined the Department of Neurology as a basic research scientist in 2012. After working in the field of basic science for years, Wen became interested in clinical/translational research. She was excited to join the MS division in 2018 to expend her career in clinical research and to work with patients.

 

 

 

Elizabeth Walker - Clinical Research Assistant

Libby recently joined Dr. Zongqi Xia’s team as a clinical research assistant after graduating from Gettysburg College with a B.S. in Health Sciences.  She is originally from Rhode Island and moved to Pittsburgh to further her career.  Libby enjoys participating in clinical and translational research and working with patients.  She is also interested in epidemiology and plans to earn her Master’s in Public Health.  When not at work, Libby likes to read, cook, and explore the city.

 

 

 

Emily Song - Clinical Research Assistant

Emily recently graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and Psychology. She is planning to do two years of post baccalaureate research here in the MS Clinic before (hopefully) going to medical school. Emily is very excited to be working in this setting, as it is going to allow her to gain more clinical experience and understand the best ways to communicate with patients in addition to learning more about the analytical side of research. Emily is also interested in healthcare equity, sports medicine, and women's health.