ATNS SIG CHAPTER
Greater Rochester, New York
Ann-Marie DeSantis, RN, BSN, BA
Greater Rochester New York Chapter
President and chapter co-founder
Ann-Marie DeSantis, RN, BSN, BA is currently founder and director of the NeuroResilience Pain Management program at the University of Rochester Medical Center Department of Neurosurgery and NeuroMedicine Pain Management. A graduate of the University of Rochester with degrees in nursing and psychology, her professional background in pain management includes bone-marrow transplant nursing in Seattle, WA; Palliative and Hospice Nursing in Central Vermont; and founder/director of the Dual-focused Chronic Pain and Addiction program at Westfall Associates in Rochester, NY.
Ann-Marie also holds certification from Dartmouth Medical Center in Holistic Interactive Imagery and Meditation. Her commitment to both the biopsychosocial models of compassionate care and trauma-informed care has led to deep interests in healing through helping build resilience and hope in those who are suffering. Identifying and treating chronic neuroplastic conditions through patient neuroscience education, evidence-based Pain Reprocessing, and Emotional Awareness and Expression techniques have become a cornerstone of her current work.
Sachiko Kaizuka, MD
Greater Rochester New York Chapter
Vice President and chapter co-founder
Dr. Sachiko Kaizuka is Associate Professor of Family Medicine at University of Rochester Medical Center. She has been pursuing truly biopsychosocial, integrative health care since she was a medical student in Japan. After training in internal medicine and family medicine in Japan, she completed the family medicine residency program at University of Rochester Medical Center and served a chief resident. She completed the integrative medicine fellowship through University of Arizona, then returned to Rochester to practice and teach integrative, biopsychosocial medicine. She is board-certified in family medicine, integrative medicine, and medical acupuncture. She has also been trained in Pain Neuroscience Education, Pain Reprocessing Therapy, and Emotional-Awareness and Expression Therapy, and has been combining all these tools and knowledge to provide biopsychosocial/integrative care in her practice at Highland Family Medicine and teaching residents and colleagues within and outside of her department to improve wellbeing of our patients and health care professionals.
Douglas Guiffrida, PhD.
Greater Rochester New York Chapter
Program Director and chapter co-founder
Douglas Guiffrida, PhD., is a professor at the University of Rochester, where he directs the Counseling Program and the Advanced Certificate Program in Mind/Body Healing and Wellness. He is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC). A former chronic pain patient, he now focuses his counseling practice, teaching, and research on mind/body approaches to healing chronic pain.
Jay Nittoli, Ed.D, LCSW
Greater Rochester New York Chapter
Case Review Director and chapter co-founder
Jay Nittoli, Ed.D, LCSW is a New York State licensed clinical social worker. During the course of his 39-year career he has practiced in a variety of clinical and school-based settings providing mental health services to adults, children and families. His experiences in higher education include teaching and clinical supervision of graduate and doctoral students. Jay utilizes Intensive Short Term Dynamic Psychotherapy (ISTDP) to treat patients with anxiety, depression, trauma histories and chronic physical pain conditions. He is certified in Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT) as well being informed by the Emotional Awareness and Expressive Therapy (EAET) model of treating neuroplastic pain. He is also very committed to providing therapy in a manner that is culturally sensitive.
Elliot S. Spengler, PhD.
Greater Rochester New York Chapter
Community and Family Systems Director and chapter co-founder
Elliot S. Spengler, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist in New York State where he works alongside couples, families, and individuals in private practice. He has an active research program focused on effective and affirmative mental health care rooted in mental health equity. He views mental health through a holistic (i.e., biopsychosocial), relational, and trauma-informed lens. He completed his postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center specializing in integrated care and medical family therapy. With advanced training in evidence-based modalities like Emotionally Focused Couple Therapy, Gottman Method, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy, and experiential psychodynamic approaches, he collaborates with clients, organizations, and community members to tailor his approach to the context of their unique experiences and goals. He is passionate about helping individuals and communities better understand the confluence of the mind and body.
Bryan Guzski, PT, DPT, OCS, CSCS
Greater Rochester New York Chapter
Consultant and chapter co-founder
Bryan is a licensed physical therapist, board-certified Orthopaedic Clinical Specialist, and certified strength and conditioning specialist with a passion for helping individuals reclaim their lives from chronic pain. He earned his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Ithaca College in 2014 and completed an Orthopaedic Residency Program in 2015. Bryan is the founder of Motive Physical Therapy in Rochester, NY, where he specializes in working with runners, active adults, and those navigating the challenges of persistent pain. With a whole-person, movement-based approach, he integrates evidence-based rehabilitation, strength training, and nutrition coaching to empower his clients to move with confidence and purpose.
Sandy Wang MD MPH FAAFP
Greater Rochester New York Chapter
Public Relations director and chapter co-founder
Sandy Wang MD MPH FAAFP is an assistant professor of clinical family and emergency medicine. She has professional interests in integrative medicine, academic medicine, and medical humanities. She is Chair of the Population Health Committee of the Monroe County Medical Society. Her scope of practice includes urgent care, hospital medicine, primary care, and teaching residents in family medicine. Her primary focus in ATNS is ensuring that mind body medicine is approachable and doable for all clinicians in their early stages of incorporating MBS into practice.