Meet the SeniorBridge New York Team

Ruth Farrago, CMC
Vice President of Operations

Ruth Farrago has over 20 years of experience in health care administration. She was the Administrator of an inpatient and outpatient comprehensive Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Division at Downstate Medical Centers in Brooklyn. She has an extensive background in home care marketing and management having worked for St. Vincent’s Catholic Medical Centers as the Director of Intake and was then the Branch Manager/Administrator at New York Health Care. Ruth was also the Executive Director of Sunrise Assisted Living of East Meadow where she was responsible for the daily operations of the facility, client and family satisfaction, management of the sales and marketing team and coordinated community outreach and events. Ruth has a Bachelors of Science from SUNY College of Oneonta where she majored in Business Economics and she is currently completing a Masters Degree at Long Island University specializing in Gerontology. Ruth has received her certification in Geriatric Care Management (CMC). She is a current member of the National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers and the Case Management Society of America.

Jerry Biga, MBA, RN, BSN
Director of Client Services

Jerry joins SeniorBridge with more than 30 years experience in the healthcare field, with particular expertise in caring for seniors and HIV/AIDS patients. Most recently, Jerry was Vice President of Residential Services for VillageCare in New York City. Utilizing his breadth of knowledge and experience, Jerry led two nursing homes with 406 beds and an 80-bed mixed-use senior housing facility and acted as team leader for the operational team opening a 105-bed sub-acute rehabilitation facility. Previous work experience includes Director of Nursing and Nursing Home Administrator for VillageCare's Rivington House and Coordinator of HIV Services for Cabrini Medical Center. Jerry began his career in the health field as a Staff Nurse in the ICU department of Cabrini Medical Center in New York City. He holds Nursing licenses and Nursing Home Administrator licenses in New York and New Jersey. Jerry received his AAN degree from University of South Carolina, BSN from the University of the State of New York in Albany, and MBA from Baruch College/Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City. Jerry is professionally associated with the American College of Health Care Administrators.

Odalis Cortes, RN, CMC
Director of Client Services

Odalis is a Registered Nurse who most recently worked in Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Acute Care for the Elderly Unit, where she managed an inpatient geriatric unit that implemented the Hartford Institute’s “Best Practices in Care for Older Adults” guidelines. She was also previously a Home Care Nurse at Mount Sinai’s Home Health Agency, assessing the comprehensive needs of adult and geriatric patients and at Little Sisters of the Assumption Family Health Services, providing case management for both geriatric and pediatric/maternal health patients. As well as earning an Associate Degree in Nursing from Orange County Community College, Odalis obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at Lehman College School of Nursing. She gathered data on the prevention of pressure ulcers for a Mount Sinai Hospital study and presented findings on the importance of mouth care in the elderly population at a Mount Sinai geriatric conference.

Eileen Zenker, LCSW
Director of Client Services

Eileen joins SeniorBridge with 23 years' experience as a social work administrator and health care planner. Most recently, she served as Acting Director of the Department of Social Work at NYU Langone Medical Center, responsible for leadership and management of social work programs at Tisch Hospital and Rusk Institute, having been promoted from positions as Associate Director and Assistant Director. Earlier, Eileen was Senior Health Care Program Planner Analyst at the NYC Health and Hospitals Corporation, working as internal consultant to 11 municipal hospitals and 4 long-term facilities in the HHC system. She earned a BA in Psychology at SUNY Oneonta, a Master's degree in Social Work at the Hunter College School of Social Work, and completed a certificate in Bio-Ethics at Montefiore Hospital. Eileen has presented papers on elder care, discharge planning, and bioethics at professional meetings.

Julia Hollander Campbell
Director of Professional Relations

Julia's strong network and reputation among financial, legal and health professionals is grounded in a track record of results-driving, effective leadership and a compassionate understanding of the trials and tribulations families navigating elder care face. Her deep financial experience includes 15 years as a business owner of Corporate Security Resources, Inc. serving businesses and high net worth individuals and a 15 year career in banking with roles including Vice President and Unit Manager with BNY Mellon's Private Banking Group and management consulting positions with Irving Trust Company, KPMG, and the American Bankers Association. Her experience with chronic disease and caregiving includes more than a decade as an active member of Alzheimer's caregiver support groups. Julia is also active in community service roles and serves as Vice President of Education and Business Development and Governance Board and Executive Committee member of the Financial Women's Association of New York. She is a graduate of Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT.

Marsha Flowers, MSW
Director of Professional Relations

That Marsha Flowers' unique career path took her to the doors of SeniorBridge was perfect. Her professional background integrates social work and sales and marketing. She is a psychiatric social worker with extensive, diverse experience that encompasses safe hospital discharge planning, family counseling on effective communication with relatives with dementia, and leading story-telling groups with Alzheimer's patients. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Marsha held the position of Sub-Acute Social Worker at Jewish Home and Hospital. She was a Geriatric Social Worker at Schulman and Schachne Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, and held the position of Senior Account Manager for Wilson Learning Company, where she was responsible for selling and managing major training and development projects. She graduated from the University of Texas and earned her Masters in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis.

Vicky Gonzalez
Director of Professional Relations

With more than 20 years experience in elder care, healthcare, sales, marketing and management, Vicky has a deep commitment to providing quality client service to families and community members. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, she served as Director of Sales and Marketing at Prospect Park Residence assisting residents and families through the admissions process, cultivating relationships with community organizations and implementing marketing plans. Previously she served as Sales and Marketing Representative for Esplanade a senior residence facility in New York City, Front Office Manager at the Holiday Inn and Group Sales Manager at New York's famous Circle Line sightseeing boat tour. Vicky earned an associate in science degree in Travel and Tourism from Kingsborough Community College in Brooklyn, New York.

Barbara E. Katz, MA
Director of Professional Relations

Barbara joined SeniorBridge in 2006 as the Director of Recruitment and is now Director of Professional Relations. Before joining us, she was a Recruiter of clinical and nonclinical staff at the Hospital for Special Surgery and clinical staff at St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers in New York City. In her diverse career, Barbara has also been Placement Manager for an IT company, Training Manager for a graphic arts/advertising company, and Manager of Education and Training at Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Previously, Barbara taught third grade at The Dalton School. Barbara obtained her BS in Psychology/Communications from Montclair University and an MA in Curriculum Design from Long Island University.

Sheila M. Evangelista, LCSW, CMC
Senior Care Manager

Prior to Senior Bridge, Sheila provided care assessment and counseling for Value Options, a managed care company. Previously, she had been a psychiatric social worker at Holliswood and New York Presbyterian Hospitals. She earned a BA in psychology from the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, and an MSW from the Columbia University School of Social Work. Fluent in Spanish, she participated in clinical research studies at Holliswood Hospital and Washington University in St. Louis, Mo. SIFI course trained from Adelphi University, she supervised social work students at Holliswood hospital.

Patricia Charles, LMSW, CMC
Care Manager

Patricia has been a social work professional in nonprofit and philanthropic organizations for the past 30 years. She is a highly skilled care manager, as well as a lecturer and educator. Patricia recently served as Educational Manager in an evidence-based medicine and cultural competency research project for medical professionals at Bronx Lebanon Hospital. For 18 years she was also senior case manager/social worker at Jarvie Commonweal Services in New York, assisting older clients to navigate their environment, healthcare, and life transitions. She has worked as an Adjunct Professor of Gerontology at York College since 1993. Patricia obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology from Columbia University and a Master of Social Work degree from Fordham University, and is a Licensed Master of Social Work in New York State. She is Co-founder of the National Association for African American Social Workers on Aging and is a Cultural Consultant for Oregon Center for Applied Research. Pat has a certificate for completion of training for Article 81 - Court Evaluator and Guardianship Training.

Elizabeth Corner, RN

Care Manager

Elizabeth's commitment to excellence encompasses all areas of her work as Care Manager including strong patient care and advocacy with particular expertise in the fields of caregiving and eldercare. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Elizabeth served as Staff Nurse for the Cardiac Intensive Care (CCU) and Cardiac Telemetry Unit at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. Throughout her time there, Elizabeth maintained airway and life function for patients on ventilators, assisted physicians in examinations and post-op care and educated patients and family on condition, medication and procedures. Elizabeth also has experience as an Endoscopy and Recovery Nurse at Kips Bay Endoscopy Clinic in New York City where she prepared patients for procedures, provided recovery room care for patients coming off anesthesia and monitored vitals and pain levels. Elizabeth graduated from a five-year baccalaureate nursing program at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts and is currently enrolled in the Nurse Practitioner of Holistic Health and Adult program at New York University. Elizabeth holds licensure in the state of New York as a Registered Nurse and holds certifications in Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Intravenous (IV) administration.

Rita Deutsch, MSW, LCSW
Care Manager

Rita brings more than 17 years of social work experience with particular expertise in managing behavioral health concerns throughout the New York and Florida areas. Her commitment to excellence encompasses all areas of her work including strong client advocacy and has experience in the hospital and medical center settings. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Rita served as a social worker in the inpatient psychiatry wing at Gracie Square Hospital in New York City where she completed psychosocial assessments, held individual and family counseling services and assisted with placement in the communities. Other career highlights include making psychological assessments as a therapist in the inpatient behavioral health clinic at Broward General Medical Center in Florida and facilitating individual, group, and family therapy as social worker for Phelps Memorial Hospital in New York. Rita earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Brooklyn College in New York and her Master in Social Work from Barry University in Florida. Rita holds licensure in the states of Florida and New York as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.

Martine Dobrescu, RN, MSN
Care Manager

Martine began her nursing career at Best Care, Inc. a home care agency where she worked on units of 30-40 beds at a number of sub-acute/long-term care facilities in the New York City metropolitan area, caring for geriatric patients with complex medical needs due to stroke, cardiac and pulmonary diseases, diabetes, Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. She later worked for Flushing Hospital Medical Center in Queens as a staff nurse in the hospital's acute care psychiatric unit, caring for schizophrenic, manic-depressive, chemically dependent and post-traumatic stress disorder patients. Martine attended the Nurse Practitioner Program at Stony Brook University, in Stony Brook, New York, where she received her Master of Science in Nursing with a Psychiatric Clinical Nurse Specialty. She is a current member of the New York State Nurses Association and the American Psychiatric Nurses Association and holds a New York State Registered Nurse license.

Robert W. Hofman
Care Manager

Rob has been a Geriatric Care Manager for the past 12 years. Since 2000, he has designed and taught exercise programs for the elderly, including balance improvement and fall prevention, both one-on-one and in small groups, specializing in the frail and memory-impaired older adult. He works as an Exercise Specialist for the Elderly, Advanced Personal Trainer and Chi Gong Group Instructor in New York. Rob finds Tai Chi and Chi Gong, combined with regular exercises and breathing very useful for improving overall well being, strength, flexibility, endurance and balance. He earned a Masters degree in Psychology at the State University in Groningen, the Netherlands, is certified by the National Academy of Certified Care Managers and the American College of Sports Medicine. Rob's motto is "fun and functional."

Beata Reshetar, RN BSN, MBA
Care Manager

Beata brings more than 8 years of experience in the healthcare field with particular expertise working with the psychiatric, geriatric and dual-diagnosed population and providing palliative and hospice care. Her commitment to excellence encompasses all areas of her work as a Care Manager including strong patient care and advocacy. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Beata served as Assistant Professor for the Mildred-Elley School of Nursing, where she clinically taught and mentored students at a variety of hospitals, implemented programs to help in career-enhancement and developed inventive instructional methods. Other career highlights include assessing and planning patient care as Registered Nurse in the Psych department of Community Action for Human Services and providing Quality Assurance Management as Case Manager/Staff and Patient Development Coordinator for Immediate Home Care. Beata is a member of New York State Nurses Association, American Nurses Association and American Association of Managed Care Nurses. She earned her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Adelphi University, certificate in Geriatrics from Harvard University Medical School and her MBA in Management and Leadership from Aspen University. Beata holds licensure in the states of New York and New Jersey as a Registered Nurse. She holds numerous certifications in areas such as Geriatrics Ethics, Stress Management, Surrogate Decision-Making, Infection Control, CPR and BLS. Beata is also proficient in Russian, Hungarian and Ukrainian and can speak conversational Polish.

Laura Stadler, MS, RD
Care Manager Associate

Laura is a SeniorBridge nutrition specialist, registered dietitian and co-author of the chapter "Preventive Nutrition: Public Health Implications" in the text book "The Epidemiology of Women's Health." Through her recent work as a researcher and nutrition counselor at Columbia University Medical Center, Laura has extensive experience tailoring healthy eating plans for individuals and families and working with professional and non-professional staff on nutrition education. Her philosophy is grounded in placing a high priority on enjoying food. Laura is active in the community and has served as a nutrition and food service volunteer at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York. She has also volunteered as an advocate for Women's Health Initiative at Albert Einstein College and the Washington Square Community Supported Agriculture as part of the Nutrition and Food Studies Department at New York University. Laura received her Masters of Science in Clinical Nutrition from New York University and completed her training at NYU Medical Center. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association and the Sports, Cardiovascular and Wellness Nutritionists practice group.

Jessica Steinberg, MSN, RN, CMC
Care Manager

Jessica was a Nurse Educator of home health aides at Selfhelp Community Services, Inc, in New York, as well as a Nurse Consultant providing geriatric care management services and healthcare management training of professionals for Care Management Consultants in New York and Boston. Previously, she had been a Staff Nurse in the Maternal Child Health in-patient unit at Mt. Sinai Medical Center, where she educated patients and served as a student and new hire preceptor; and earlier, a Nurse Student Scholar in neurosurgery. A Registered Nurse, Jessica earned her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Nursing Administration degrees, with honors and academic scholarships at New York University. She is a member of the New York Organization of Nurse Executives. She is certified as a RN in both New York and Massachusetts.