Contact for Admission

Maddy DiMaula PM&R Program Coordinator at mtriglia@burke.org

Meet Our Current Residents & Fellows

PGY-4 Class

Sabreen Abdullah, DO

Dr. Abdullah grew up in Westchester County, where she developed a passion for healing and compassion. She completed her medical education at Touro College of Medicine in Harlem, NY and her transitional year at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, NY. Dr. Abdullah’s passion for PM&R stems from her ability to empower patients by restoring function and mobility from a musculoskeletal perspective. Beyond her dedication to medicine, Dr. Abdullah enjoys a rich life outside of the hospital. You can often find her indulging in her hobbies, which include watching movies, weightlifting, experimenting with culinary delights, exploring new restaurants, and cherishing moments with loved ones and friends.

Eli Dayon, DO

Dr. Eli Dayon was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, where he earned his Bachelors of Science at Brooklyn College before pursuing his medical education at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine New York. Following this, he completed his preliminary Internal Medicine year at Maimonides Hospital in Brooklyn, NY. Dr. Dayon's fervent interest in PM&R springs from his deep appreciation for collaborative, team-based patient care. Apart from his dedication to medicine, he cherishes moments spent with family, indulges in sports, and explores new places through travel. Dr. Dayon is committed to providing compassionate and comprehensive healthcare to all his patients.

Preetveer Kaur, DO

Dr. Kaur was born in Punjab, India, and raised in sunny California. She completed her undergraduate studies at the University of California, Davis, and went on to earn her master’s and doctorate degrees from Touro University California. Inspired by the profound impact Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) has on restoring function and quality of life, she developed a deep commitment to the field. She is dedicated to caring for patients with a wide range of rehabilitation needs, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, musculoskeletal conditions, electrodiagnostic evaluations (EMGs), and spasticity management. Outside of medicine, Dr. Kaur enjoys photography, board games, running, and Korean dramas.

Bryan Lebron-Solis, DO

Dr. Lebron-Solis was born and raised in Springfield, Massachusetts. Dr. Lebron-Solis completed his undergraduate degree in Kinesiology at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. He received his medical degree at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem. He completed his intern year at Montefiore Wakefield Hospital in the Bronx. He was drawn to the field of physiatry due to his love of human kinetics and how it can be enhanced after a debilitating event to further his patient's future goals. Dr. Lebron-Solis has a special interest in sports medicine, adaptive sports, and sports/spine, with a passion for exercise science, and human performance. His hobbies include exercise in all forms, video games, and tinkering with his musical instruments.

Matthew Slitzky, DO

Dr. Slitzky was born and raised in western Massachusetts. He received his medical training at The University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Slitzky entered the field of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation to help improve patients' physical function so they can continue to do the things they enjoy. He is interested in Pain Medicine and Sports and Spine. In his free time, he enjoys playing basketball, traveling, and spending time with friends and family.

PGY-3 Class

Amru Al-Rifai, MD

Dr. Amru Al-Rifai, born in Dallas, Texas, and raised in Saudi Arabia, completed his medical training at Alfaisal University in Saudi Arabia. He recently finished his intern year at DMC Sinai Grace Hospital in Detroit, Michigan. Specializing in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R), Dr. Al-Rifai dedicates his practice to improving patients' functional abilities and independence, thereby enhancing their quality of life and truly adding life to years. Beyond his clinical work, he is an enthusiast of social gatherings, weightlifting, and sports—activities that not only reflect but also enhance his commitment to health and vitality.

Sophia Antimisiaris, DO

Dr. Sophia Antimisiaris grew up in Hawai’i and completed most of her advanced education in Kentucky, obtaining a master’s degree in public health before graduating from the Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine and completing her preliminary internal medicine year at the University of Louisville. She chose physiatry for the multi-disciplinary problem-solving approach to optimizing recovery and the satisfaction of seeing patients return to their lives after an injury. Her primary areas of interest include interventional therapies, biologics and regenerative medicine, and neuropathophysiology. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, cooking and baking to feed everyone around her whether they’re hungry or not, and playing the piano and whatever instrument she can get her hands on.

Jennifer Hegedus, DO

Dr. Jennifer Hegedus was born and raised in Queens, New York where she earned her undergraduate degree at Queens College before receiving her medical degree at NYIT College of Osteopathic Medicine. Following this, she completed her internal medicine preliminary year at Jefferson Einstein Hospital in Philadelphia. She joined the field of physiatry due to its multidisciplinary team approach in improving quality of life for patients and instilling hope in those facing physical challenges. Dr. Hegedus has an interest in brain injury medicine, sports, regenerative medicine, and neuromuscular medicine. During her free time, she enjoys playing with her two cats, crocheting, binge watching reality TV shows, and traveling.

Issac Ichoa, DO

Dr. Issac Ichoa was born in North NJ but grew up in the Tampa Bay Area of Florida. He attended the University of South Florida where he earned his undergraduate degree and then earned a master’s degree in medical sciences. He then attended Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale for Medical school and completed his intern year at HCA Florida Aventura Hospital. Dr. Ichoa is interested in spinal cord injuries, musculoskeletal disorders, and pain. He was attracted to Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) because of the unique role physiatrists play in helping their patients regain function and optimizing their day-to-day lives. In his free time, he enjoys working out, playing recreational sports, cooking new recipes, and spending time with family and friends.

Christine Mathew, MD

Dr. Christine Mathew (who goes by CJ) grew up in Long Island, NY. She earned her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience & Behavior from Wesleyan University and her medical degree from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, in Dublin, Ireland. She completed her preliminary year in Internal Medicine at New York-Presbyterian Queens. Drawn to the impactful and patient-centered nature of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation (PM&R), Dr. Mathew has interests in General Rehabilitation, Interventional Pain, Sports and Spine Medicine, Sports Medicine, and Lifestyle Medicine—with a particular focus on Regenerative Medicine and Orthobiologics. Outside of medicine, Dr. Mathew prioritizes health and wellness. She enjoys weekly Pilates and HIIT classes and leads an active lifestyle through snowboarding, tennis,

Anju Sanchala, DO

Dr. Anju Sanchala is a Westchester native. She grew up in Ardsley, NY and completed her undergraduate education at Binghamton University, majoring in integrative neuroscience. She later completed her medical education at the Idaho College of Osteopathic Medicine and returned to New York for her intern year at Garnet Health Medical Center in Middletown. Dr. Sanchala chose to pursue physiatry because she enjoys helping her patients regain independence and enhance their quality of life. In her spare time, Dr. Sanchala loves to play board games with friends and care for her collection of houseplants.

Michael Thornton, MD

Dr. Michael Thorton was born in Dallas, Texas as the second oldest of six children and grew up in a tight-knit family. A lifelong athlete, he wrestled in high school and began training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during college, continuing through medical school. He attended medical school in Galveston, Texas, where he had the unique opportunity to care for the incarcerated through the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. After graduating, Dr. Thorton moved to Tyler, Texas, to complete a Transitional Year Internship. He finds his greatest joy in medicine by getting to know patients on a deeper level and building lasting connections with them.

Kenny Tse, DO

Dr. Kenny Tse's grew up on Long Island and attended Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine for medical school. He then completed his intern year at Vassar Brothers Medical Center in Poughkeepsie. His passion for neurology and musculoskeletal medicine naturally guided him towards physiatry, where he is committed to assisting patients in regaining functionality and enhancing their quality of life. Beyond medicine, he enjoys playing tennis, hiking, traveling, and exploring new restaurants throughout NYC.

PGY-2 Class

Siam Ayon, DO

Dr. Ayon grew up in Queens, New York. He completed his undergraduate degree in Human Biology with honors at Hunter College. He then earned his medical degree at Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harlem with honors. He finished his internship in Internal Medicine at New York Presbyterian Queens Hospital. The field of physiatry has always been his interest, as it allows him to work closely with his patients to navigate the ups and downs of recovery and build lasting relationships. His areas of interest include cancer rehabilitation, palliative care, and osteopathic manipulative medicine. Outside of medicine, Dr. Ayon enjoys trying out new restaurants and cafes, going on hikes, working out, obsessing over winning board games, and spending time with his friends and family.

Carla Hanna, MD

Dr. Hanna was born and raised in Queens, New York where she completed her undergraduate degree in Neuroscience and Behavior at Barnard College of Columbia University. She went on to earn her medical degree from Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and completed her transitional year at South Shore University Hospital/Northwell. Dr. Hanna’s passion for physiatry stems from its team-based approach and commitment to helping patients reclaim their function and independence. Outside of medicine, Dr. Hanna enjoys spending time with family, playing card/board games, traveling, and eating way too many cookies.

Tyler Judge, MD

Dr. Tyler Judge was born and raised in El Segundo, CA. He earned a degree in Biochemistry from Cornell University and, after serving two years with AmeriCorps, attained a medical degree from Weill Cornell Medical College. For his first year of training, Dr. Judge worked at Boston Medical Center-Brighton. He chose to pursue Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation because of its focus on helping patients with their everyday needs and improving their quality of life. Professionally, he is most interested in neurorehabilitation and pain management. In his free time, Dr. Judge can be found at the movies with his wife, or at home playing with his cat, Frijole.

Yanni Kevas, MD

Dr. Kevas was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He earned his undergraduate degree in Physiology and Neurobiology from the University of Maryland, College Park, and went on to receive his medical degree from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. He completed his internship in Internal Medicine at Mercy Medical Center in Baltimore. His clinical interests within physiatry include interventional pain, sports medicine, and spinal cord injury rehabilitation. He is passionate about helping patients restore function and improve quality of life through personalized, evidence-based care. Outside of medicine, Dr. Kevas enjoys hiking, fishing, traveling and rooting for his hometown Ravens and Orioles.

Austin Manjila, MD

Dr. Austin Manjila, raised in Long Island, New York, attended the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education at CCNY where he earned his bachelor’s in biomedical science before completing his medical education at the CUNY School of Medicine in Harlem, NY. He recently finished his intern year at Montefiore Wakefield Hospital in the Bronx, NY. He chose PM&R due to its emphasis on working multiple disciplines to see direct improvement and impact on patient function and quality of life, as well as the versatility in scope of practice and community amongst peers and mentors in the field. Dr. Manjila is currently interested in interventional spine, sports medicine, and pediatric rehabilitation. Outside of PM&R, he enjoys playing basketball, working out, playing the cello, and reading.

Thomas Pasquale, DO

Dr. Pasquale is a native of Endicott, NY. He earned his biology degree from St. John Fisher College, where he played collegiate baseball. His medical journey continued at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by an internship at Mather Hospital. He was drawn to PM&R by its emphasis on a team-based approach to care and its commitment to helping individuals regain their independence. His interests within the field include interventional pain management, sports medicine, and orthobiologics. In his free time, he enjoys playing golf and pickup basketball, weightlifting, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with friends and family.

Andrew Salgado, MD

Dr. Andrew Salgado was born and raised in sunny Southern California. Dr. Salgado earned his undergraduate degree at the University of California at Irvine. He moved across the country to New York for medical school and attended Albany Medical College. In his free time he likes to play tennis, work out and enjoys activities out in the sun. Dr. Salgado is excited to become a part of the Burke family.

Margaret Wilson, DO

Dr. Margaret Wilson was born and raised in New Jersey, where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering at Penn State University before pursuing her medical education at Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed most of her internship year at Crozer Health. Her passion for PM&R began before medical school while shadowing at a children’s rehabilitation center and has developed into a strong interest in brain injury and neurorehabilitation. Outside of medicine, she enjoys thrifting, sewing, and finding creative ways to repurpose and design.

Brain Fellows

Kenia

Kenia Maldonado-Vergara, MD

Dr. Maldonado was born in Guayaquil, Ecuador. She received her medical school degree at Universidad Catolica de Santiago de Guayaquil. She decided to pursue PM&R Residency after volunteering in a Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Program for American doctors, and working in the Police Hospital of Guayaquil, where she realized the importance of Rehabilitation Medicine to positively impact patients and caregivers.

After relocating to the USA, she continued shaping her career working in New York as a clinical associate for disabled and home bound patients. She was also an Observer in the Rehabilitation Medicine Department at Montefiore Medical Center. Posteriorly, she did clinical research at Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Center in Florida. Dr. Maldonado completed her Transitional year at Nazareth Hospital in Philadelphia. She is interested in Brain Injury, Pediatric rehabilitation, Sports, and General Rehab.

In her free time, she enjoys dancing, traveling, and watching soccer.

Abner Vazquez Pabon, MD

Dr. Vazquez-Pabon was born and raised in Puerto Rico. He earned his medical degree from Ponce Health Sciences University and completed a transitional year at Damas Hospital in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He then pursued a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) at the University of Puerto Rico, where he also served as the administrative chief resident.

His passion for neuro-rehabilitation and spasticity management led him to begin a Brain Injury Medicine fellowship at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital. Dr. Vazquez-Pabon is committed to patient care through a holistic approach, empowering patients to improve their functionality and independence.
In his free time, he enjoys playing volleyball and traveling to explore different architectural styles and culinary delights.

Sports Medicine Fellows

Simron Gill, MD

Dr. Simron Gill was born in Canada and grew up in Edmonton, Alberta. He earned his bachelor's degree in biological sciences with a minor in mathematics at the University of Alberta before pursuing his medical degree at Ross University School of Medicine. He completed his internal medicine preliminary year at St. Mary Medical Center in Long Beach California and finished his PM&R residency at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University in Brooklyn. Dr. Gill particularly enjoys snowboarding, golfing, hockey, and soccer. His free time is spent taking his cat for walks, playing video games, dungeons and dragons, learning to play the piano and attempting to make sourdough.

Nicholas Thornton, MD

Dr. Nicholas Thornton was born in Honolulu, Hawai’i, but raised most of his life in Dallas, Texas, as the oldest of six children. He moved back to Oahu for college and earned a degree in Biology from Hawai’i Pacific University. After college, he returned to Texas and attended UTMB in Galveston, Texas, for medical school. Following medical school, he completed a General Surgery internship at UTSW in Dallas. He then moved to New York, where he completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with New York Medical College at Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan. Dr. Thornton has always had a strong interest in sports and exercise and enjoys spending his free time traveling with his girlfriend, surfing, fishing, Olympic Weightlifting, boxing, and practicing Jiu-Jitsu with his younger brother, Mike, who is also a Burke resident. Dr. Thornton finds great satisfaction in helping athletically minded patients return to the activities that bring them joy and purpose.