Whitney Young Health Providers
Virinchi Bala, MD
Dr. Bala, received his MD at Madras University in India, and went on to receive his MD in Pediatrics from the Royal College of Physicians in Glasgow, Scotland.
Dr. Bala works at the Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
Board Certification in Internal Medicine – American College of Physicians NY State Medical License
Languages
English
Jeffrey Cameron, PA
Jeffrey Cameron, PA has worked at WYH since 2014. He received his Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Albany Medical College and Hudson Valley Community College. Jeffrey has also received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Hamilton College.
Jeffrey works at the Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants Certified, Basic Life Support Certified, Advanced Cardiac Life Support Certified
Languages
English
Thomas L. Candara, DPM, MBA
Dr. Candara, received a Doctorate of Podiatric Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Candara also received his Masters of Business Administration in Healthcare Management at the Florida Insitute of Technology.
Dr. Candara works at the Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
New York State Podiatric Medical Association (NYSPMA)
American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS)
American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA)
American Heart Association Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
American Heart Association, basic Life Support (BLS)
Languages
English
Verina Habib, Clinical Pharmacist
Kenneth Kroopnick, MD
Dr. Kroopnick is a board certified Pediatrician and Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatrics, who received his Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and completed his residency programs at Albany Medical Center. He brings extensive experience as a General Pediatrician in the Albany area, where he has practiced for several decades.
He has worked at Whitney Young Health since December 2020 at the Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
New York State Physician’s License, Certified by the American Board of Pediatrics, Fellow at the American Academy of Pediatrics
Languages
English
Bharat Langer, MD
Dr. Langer practices at the Albany Health Center.
Ages Served: Adults
Licensures and Certifications
NYS Education Department/State Board of Medicine License to Practice Medicine
Languages
English
“Taking care of people as they pass through different stages of life is meaningful for me. I enjoy having the opportunity to give back.”
Padmaja Madala, MD
Dr. Madala has worked at WYH since 2008. She received her Doctorate of Medicine in Anesthesiology and her MBBS in India and completed her Family Practice Residency Program at St. Clare’s Hospital (now Ellis Hospital). She enjoys spending time with her family.
Dr. Madala works at Whitney Young Health’s Albany Health Center and the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Treatment Center.
Licensures and Certifications
NYS Licensed American Board of Family Medicine Board Certified
Languages
English
Jennifer McBain, MSN, APRN, FNP-C
Jennifer McBain, MSN, APRN, FNP-C has worked at Whitney Young Health since 2020. She received her Master of Science, Family Nurse Practitioner from Frontier Nursing University and her Bachelor of Science, Nursing from SUNY Empire State College. Jennifer is a newly Certified Family Nurse Practitioner and has extensive experience as a registered nurse in Trauma, General Surgery and Labor & Delivery. She is also an Adjunct Nursing Clinical Instructor at The Sage Colleges in Troy and a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
Jennifer works at the Troy Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
NYS Registered Nurse Practitioner in Family Health, Board Certified American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, NYS Registered Professional Nurse, Basic Life Support
Languages
English
Chelese Moore, DDS
Chelese Moore, DDS is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Dentistry.
Dr. Moore joined Whitney Young Health in September 2022, and she is based at our Albany Dental Practice.
Gurkirpal Nijjar, MD
Dr. Nijjar has worked at WYH since 2010. He received his MBBS from the Armed Forces Medical College in India and completed several internships and a fellowship in India, Pennsylvania, and Missouri. He is married and has 2 children.
Dr. Nijjar works at Whitney Young Health’s Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
NYS License
Languages
English
Patricia N. Nwaefuna, Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner
Patricia Nwaefuna DNP-PMHNP is a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner.
She practices at the Harry and Jeannette Weinberg Treatment Center, home of Whitney Young Health’s Addiction Treatment Services.
She has worked at WYH since January 2023.
Licensures and Certifications
- New York State Registered Nurse
- Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) waiver certificate
- Basic Life Support Certificate
- Narcan Certification
- Infection Control Certification
Languages
English
Elizabeth Pradhan, OD
Dr. Pradhan has worked at WYH since 2010. She received her Doctor of Optometry and Vision Therapy Residency Certificates from the State University of New York State College of Optometry and was pre-med at Hunter College. Dr. Pradhan has also received a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance at the Manhattan School of Music.
Dr. Pradhan works at Whitney Young Health’s Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
NYS License
Languages
English
Daniela Puorto, PNP
Daniela Puorto graduated from Massachusetts General Hospital’s Institute of Health Professionals with a Master of Science in Nursing – Pediatric Primary Care
She is Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP) who practices at the Swinburne Health Center and at our School-Based Health Center locations.
She has worked at Whitney Young Health since January 2023.
Languages
English
Natalia Romanoff, PA
Kathryn Rothas, DDS
Kathryn V. Rothas, DDS is a graduate of New York University College of Dentistry.
Additionally, she received her Master’s degree in Public Health through New York Medical College in 2021
Dr. Rothas joined Whitney Young Health in August 2021, and she is based at our Albany Dental Practice.
Licensures and Certifications
Certificate in Dental Public Health, NYU
Languages
English, Spanish
Kelly Schoch, DNP, APN, WHNP-BC
Kelly A. Schoch is a Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner, skilled in gynecological care in diverse patient populations.
She has a Doctorate of Nursing Practice- Women’s Health/HIV Care from Rutgers University and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
She has worked at Whitney Young Health since January 2022 and practices in the Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
Advanced Practice Nurse (APN) Registered Professional Nurse (RN) Basic Life Support for Healthcare Providers (BLS) Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS)
Languages
English, Proficient in Spanish, Some French
Samantha Shojaie, DO
Samantha Shojaie, DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), specializes in Family Medicine, treating adults and children.
She is a graduate of University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and did her residency at Phelps Hospital in the Phelps Family Medicine Residency Program (Sleepy Hollow, NY).
Dr. Shojaie joined Whitney Young Health in September, and practices at the Albany Health Center.
Alex Simao, MD
David Skory, MD
Dr. Skory is our Associate Medical Director for Women’s Health and Clinical Quality and has worked at WYH since 2016, after working over 40 years in various aspects of the medical industry. He earned his Doctorate of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University-Medical College of Virginia and also his Bachelor of Arts at the University of Notre Dame.
Dr. Skory works at Whitney Young Health’s Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
NYS Licensed, American Board of OB/GYN, American Board of Internal Medicine
Languages
English
“My favorite part of my job is watching the children I work with grow from infancy into early adulthood, experiencing the challenges of life with them, and sharing in their everyday experiences.”
Rhonda Stein, MD
Dr. Stein has worked at WYH since 2004. She received her Doctor of Medicine from New York Medical College and also her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Science at the Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education. Dr. Stein completed her residency at the University Hospital at Stony Brook in the Pediatrics department. In her spare time, Dr. Stein enjoys reading, watching her three boys, participating in extracurricular activities, making desserts, and spending time with her 3 cats.
Dr. Stein works at Whitney Young Health’s Swinburne Health Center at 526 Central Avenue in Albany.
Licensures and Certifications
NYS Licensed in Medicine and Surgery, American Board of Pediatrics Diplomat, Drug Enforcement Administration Licensed, Basic Life Support, Pediatric Advanced Life Support, Neonatal Advanced Life Support
Languages
English
JP Gonzalez-Torres, DDS
JP Gonzalez-Torres, DMD received his Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Puerto Rico, his Doctor of Dental Surgery from New York University College of Dentistry and completed his General Practice Residency at the Wyckoff Heights Medical Center.
Licensures and Certifications
Active Dental License in CA, NY
DEA, BLS up to date
Successfully completed NBDE I, NBDE II, NERB
Proficient in EagleSoft, NextGen, AxiUm
Certified Invisalign provider
Languages
English
Spanish
Christopher M. Unger, DMD
Chris Unger, DMD is a graduate of Boston University’s Henry M. Goldman School of Dental Medicine, where he received his Doctorate of Dental Medicine. Dr. Unger also earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Neuroscience from Boston University College of Arts and Sciences.
Dr. Unger joined Whitney Young Health in April 2023 and is based at our Albany Dental Practice.
Licensures and Certifications
New York State Dentist License
Texas State Dentist License
“I truly have a fun job, working with new mothers and their babies.”
Noel Varghese, DO
Dr. Varghese has worked at WYH since 2014. He received his Doctorate of Medicine in Osteopathy at the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine and also his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry at the State University of New York at Stony Brook. Dr. Varghese completed postgraduate training at Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center.
Dr. Varghese works at Whitney Young Health’s Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
NYS License
Languages
English
“I enjoy meeting families from many diverse cultures and discussing their children’s health.”
Deborah Vasquez, MD
Dr. Vasquez became Whitney Young Health’s Chief Medical Officer in October of 2020 following several months as Interim Chief Medical Officer. Prior to this, she was Director of Pediatrics and she has worked at WYH since 2013.
She received her Doctor of Medicine at Sackler School of Medicine in Israel and her Master of Public Health at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. She completed postgraduate training at Jacobi Medical Center – Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Mt. Sinai School of Medicine. Dr. Vasquez also received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology/Health and Society at the University of Rochester.
Dr. Vasquez grew up in New York City. She is a first-generation American from the Dominican Republic, and enjoys reading with her kids, gardening, biking, and learning how to bake.
Dr. Vasquez works at Whitney Young Health’s Albany Health Center.
Licensures and Certifications
American Board of Preventive Medicine Diplomat, American Board of Pediatrics Diplomat, NYS License to Practice Medicine, Drug Enforcement Administration Licensed in Controlled Substances
Languages
English, Spanish, Conversational Hebrew
Rong Zhang, Family Nurse Practitioner
Rong Zhang, Family Nurse Practitioner, earned her Associate Degree in Nursing at the Health School of Nanjing Military District of PLA, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Lehman College of The City University of New York and her Master of Science in Nursing, Family Practitioner Program at Lehman College of The City University of New York.
Licensures and Certifications
Certified Family Nurse Practitioner (ANCC)
Certified Pediatric Nurse (ANCC)
Pediatrics Advanced Life Support (PALS) Provider
Basic Life Support (BLS) Provider