Online Core Curriculum

Luz Ramos-Bonner, MD, MBA, CMD, is part of Independence Family of Companies as a network medical director for Independence Blue Cross. In this role, Dr. Ramos is responsible for collaborating with primary care providers to drive improved performance in the Pennsylvania market, including primary care population health and value-based programs with health systems. As part of the clinical care transformation leadership, her cross-functional role includes initiatives that promote whole-person equitable health and advancing the quintiple aim. Dr. Ramos is a geriatrician and finished her Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare at the George Washington University.

Barbara Tommasulo, MD, CMD, CWSP, LNHA, has devoted her career to caring for older adults, particularly in PALTC. She is certified in internal medicine and geriatric medicine, is a certified wound specialist physician, and is a licensed nursing home administrator in NY. Medical education has been a mainstay throughout Dr. Tommasulo’s career. Her many years of experience in medical direction have included a variety of settings with various medical staff models. Currently, she is medical director of Northwell Orzac Center for Rehabilitation and assistant professor of medicine at Hofstra North Shore – LIJ School of Medicine.

Rebecca Ferrini, MD, MPH, CMD, is a full-time medical director for the County of San Diego 192-bed distinct part skilled nursing facility serving a younger, safety net population for 18 years. Her facility is five stars (CMS 20/20), has been named a top nursing home in U.S. News and World Report for six years, and received the American Health Care Association / National Center for Assisted Living 2017 Gold -- Excellence in Quality Award. Dr. Ferrini received the 2009 AMDA Medical Director of the Year Award and was honored for her leadership in the AMDA monograph on younger adults. Dr. Ferrini received the California Association of Long-Term Care Medicine Leadership Award in 2019. She has a specialty in hospice and palliative medicine and general preventive medicine.

John Heath MD, CMD, completed his geriatric medicine fellowship at the University of Cincinnati in 1988 and has since been medical director for various PALTC facilities, including experience as a multi-facility corporate medical director. Currently medical director at the Hunterdon Care Center in Flemington, NJ, Dr. Heath joined the Hackensack Meridian Health System in 2021. Previously, Dr. Heath was a professor and geriatric medicine fellowship director at the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School and then established the Geriatric Services department for the Summit Medical Group. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and the American Geriatric Society, and a past board member of the New Jersey Geriatric Society. 

Cynthia Kuttner, MD, CMD, is the medical director of the Community Living Center at the Wilmington VA Medical Center in Wilmington, Delaware. She is also an adjunct assistant professor of Geriatrics and Gerontology at the Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. She is a graduate of the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City and completed a primary care Internal Medicine residency at Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, New York. She is fellowship-trained in Geriatrics at the Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to joining the Veterans Administration, she served as the medical director at several community nursing homes in Ohio.

Lee Lindquist, MD, MPH, MBA, CMD, is chief of geriatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL. She is medical director and sees patients at the Clare, a 55-story, five-star CMS, continuing care retirement community in downtown Chicago. Dr. Linquist is federally funded by PCORI, NIH, AHRQ, and CMS, and her research focuses on long-term care decision-making.

Thomas Lawrence, MD, CMD, is a geriatric medicine specialist with a career focus on practicing in the long-term care setting. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine and has served as medical director of 12 nursing facilities in Pennsylvania. Dr. Lawrence is currently the system medical director of geriatric medicine and long-term care for the Main Line Health System, a four-hospital health system in suburban Philadelphia. Dr. Lawrence is a past president of the Pennsylvania Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine and is a member of the Board of the American Board of Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. 

Dheeraj Mahajan, MD, CMD, is president and CEO of Chicago Internal Medicine Practice and Research and its associated group of companies and clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and board-certified in Internal Medicine and Geriatric Medicine. Additionally, Dr. Mahajan is a certified medical director, a certified physician advisor in utilization review and healthcare quality management, and is certified in infection control and epidemiology.

Meenakshi Patel, MD, MMM, CMD, is a clinical associate professor at Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio, and Ohio Heritage University of Osteopathic Medicine in Athens, OH. She is also a practicing physician at Valley Medical Primary Care, a principal investigator at Valley Medical Research, and a medical director at several nursing homes. She teaches internal medicine and geriatrics to medical students, internal medicine and family medicine residents, and geriatric fellows. She has been very active with AMDA-The Society in several roles, including as a board member, member of multiple committees, and writing clinical practice guidelines on the management of diabetes in the long-term care setting. Dr. Patel has served as president of the Ohio Medical Directors Association.

Toby Smith, DO, CMD, is a current practicing geriatrician and medical director in Hawaii. He serves in multiple roles for nursing facilities, hospice organizations, and insurers throughout the state of Hawaii. He has provided expertise in his role as chief medical officer and vice president for provider groups and is the current vice president of the Hawaii chapter of AMDA - The Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine. He earned his doctorate degree in osteopathic medicine from Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, and has a Master of Science degree in Kinesiology from California State University Northridge. Dr. Smith did his internship and residency at the University of Hawaii and is board-certified in internal medicine, geriatric medicine, and hospice & palliative medicine. Dr. Smith is an assistant professor at the University of Hawaii’s Department of Geriatric Medicine.

Todd Sobol, MD, CMD, has 26 years of private practice experience as a general internist specializing in geriatric medicine. During his tenure, he served as a medical director in long-term care facilities, assisted living, managed care, and hospice. Dr. Sobol served as an enthusiastic educator for students and residents, including recognition as a Preceptor All Star by The Ohio State University College of Medicine. He has supported the Ohio Medical Directors Association as Program Chairman for their annual conference, Board of Directors member, and President. Dr. Sobol is currently senior medical director for Optum Complex Population Management in Ohio.

Richard Stefanacci, DO, MGH, MBA, AGSF, CMD, a practicing internist/geriatrician, has a long-standing interest in and commitment to the frail elderly as his clinical practice solely focuses on nursing home eligible older adults through the PACE program (Program for All-inclusive Care for the Elderly). He is currently engaged with a large health system in developing a preferred skilled nursing home network of providers. He also continues medical direction for managed care plans, especially involved in medication management. He received his BA in economics at Boston College, his medical degree and MGH from AT Still University, and his MBA from Keller. In addition, Dr. Stefanacci is a fellow of the American Geriatric Society and College of Physicians of Philadelphia.

Jean Storm, DO, CMD, is a graduate of the Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine and is Board Certified in internal medicine. She has served as medical director of five long-term care facilities in Erie, PA, and throughout WV. She has also served as the program director for the internal medicine residency program at LECOM Health. She is currently a clinical support physician for Optum/United Healthcare and medical director for a quality improvement organization focused on improving care in long-term care facilities throughout PA and WV. Dr. Storm's interest is in developing policies and strategies that change the way providers view the care delivery process in LTC.

Matthew Wayne, MD, CMD, is an experienced chief medical officer with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital and health care industry. He is currently chief medical officer for CommuniCare Family of Companies and CEO of Personalized Health Partners. He has skills in population health, disease management, Medicare and Medicaid, and physician relations. He is a long-time active AMDA member and served as president in 2012-2103.