Providers – Arthritis Health Associates

Dr. George Mtanos

Dr. Mtanos, a member of the American College of Rheumatology, is a Board Certified Rheumatologist since 1996. He received his fellowship training for Rheumatology at SUNY – Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY in 1995. He earned his medical degree from Faculatea De Medicina Generala, Cluj-Napoca, Romania in 1987. He is also Board Certified in Internal Medicine since 1993. He completed his residency for Internal Medicine at the American University of Beirut in 1991 and Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore, MD in 1993. Dr. Mtanos is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine. He is a member of the Onondaga Medical Society, the New York Start Rheumatology Society and the American Medical Society. Dr. Mtanos joined our practice in 2004.

Dr. James Hyla

Dr. Hyla, a member of the American College of Rheumatology, is a Board Certified Rheumatologist since 1978. He received his fellowship training for Rheumatology at the University of Michigan Hospital, Ann Arbor, Michigan in 1977. He earned his medical degree from the University of Rochester, Rochester, NY in 1972. He has been Board Certified in Internal Medicine since 1975. He also has a Board Certification with the National Board of Examiner which was obtained in 1973. Dr. Hyla completed his internship while at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital (affiliated with Columbia University) in Cooperstown, NY in 1973. His residency program for Internal Medicine was also completed at Mary Imogene Bassett Hospital in 1975. Dr. Hyla is also a member of the American College of Physicians, the Onondaga County Medical Society and the Medical Society of the state of New York.

Dr. Mary Abdulky

Dr. Abdulky, a member of the American College of Rheumatology, is a Board Certified Rheumatologist since 1997. She received her fellowship training for Rheumatology – Immunology at the New York Medical College, New York, NY in 1993. She earned her medical degree from University of Damascus, Syria in 1987. She is also Board Certified in Internal Medicine since 1993. She completed her internship and residency for Internal Medicine in New York, NY at Our Lady of Mercy Medical center in 1993. Dr. Abdulky is also a member of the New York State Rheumatology Society, New York State Medical Society, the Onondaga County Medical Society, and the Circle of Red/American Heart Association. Dr. Abdulky joined our practice in 2000. We are proud to say that we have the honor of having the 2017 president of the Onondaga Medical Society on our team.

Lynne McILvain, PA-C

Lynne has been a member of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants since 1980. She earned her Physician Assistant Degree at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland Ohio in 1980. Lynne joined our practice in 2000. We are proud to say Lynne brought 14 years of Family Practice experience to our team.

Dr. Ramzi Khairallah

Dr. Khairallah, a member of the American College of Rheumatology, is a Board Certified Rheumatologist since 2003. He received his fellowship training for Rheumatology at SUNY – Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY in 2003. He earned his medical degree from Saint Joseph University, Beirut, Lebanon in 1997. He is also Board Certified in Internal Medicine since 2001. He completed his residency for Internal Medicine at Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY in 2001, and his internship at Hotel Dieu de France, Beirut, Lebanon in 1998. Dr. Khairallah, is also a member of the New York State Rheumatology Society, the American Medical Association, the Medical Society of the State of New York, and the Lebanese Medical Order. Dr. Khairallah joined our practice in 2007.

Dr. Maria Isabella Pasniciuc

Dr. Pasniciuc has been a member of the American College of Rheumatology since 2016 and Board Certified in Rheumatology since 2018. She received her fellowship training for Rheumatology at SUNY – Upstate Medical University, Syracuse , NY in 2018. She earned her medical degree form Carol Davlia Medical School, Bucharest, Romania. She completed her Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic health system. Dr. Pasniciuc, is a member of the American Medical Association and is also a Fellow of the American College of Physicians. Dr. Pasniciuc joined our practice in 2018. We are proud to say that Dr. Pasniciuc, brought 11 years of Internal Medicine experience to our team.

Heather B. Machovec, PA-C

Heather has been a member of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants since 2005. She earned her Physician Assistant Degree at LeMoyne College, Syracuse, NY in 2005 and her Biology degree with a minor in Psychology in 2003. Heather joined our practice in 2011. We are proud to say Heather brought 5 years of Family Practice experience to our team.

Jennifer L Lafrance, NP-C

Jennifer has been a member of the American Associations of Nurse Practitioners since 2017. She is also a member of the Sigma Theta Tau National Honor Society. She earned her Nurse Practitioners Degree at SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY in 2017. Jennifer joined our practice in 2017. We are proud to say Jennifer was a registered nurse on our team for 7 years prior to joining us as a Nurse Practitioner.

Sheri Spink-Palmieri, PA-C

Sheri joined our practice in 2015. Prior to that she worked as a PA in neurology for 17 years. She earned a BS in medical technology from Utica College of Syracuse University graduating summa cum laude in 1988. After working as a medical technologist for 8 years she went to the Albany-Hudson Valley Physician Assistant Program graduating as the class valedictorian in 1998. She earned a Master’s degree from the University of Nebraska Medical College in 2012. She is licensed by the State of New York and is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She is also a member of the American Associations of Physicians Assistants.

Rachel Bossi, PA

Rachel is a member of the New York State Society of Physician Assistants, American Association of Physician Assistants, and National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants. She earned her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Le Moyne College in 2014. Rachel joined our practice in 2020. We are proud to say Rachel brought 5 years of pain management experience to our team.

Alisabeth Walburn, PA

Alisabeth has been a member of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA) since 2020. Alisabeth earned her bachelor’s degree with a minor in Chemistry in 2019. She also earned her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Le Moyne College in 2020. Alisabeth joined our practice in 2021.

Chelsea Barone, PA

Chelsea has been a member of the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants since 2021. She earned her Physician Assistant Degree at Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY in 2021. She earned a Biomedical Science degree with a minor in Philosophy at RIT in 2015. Chelsea joined the practice in 2021.

Kathleen Tibbits, NP

Kathleen joined our practice in 2020. Prior to that she worked as a nurse practitioner in neuro-otolaryngology for 19 years and an epilepsy monitoring unit for 3½ years. Prior to that she worked as a registered nurse. She earned her BS/MS in advanced practice nursing from SUNY Upstate Medical University in 1997. She is licensed by the State of New York as a family nurse practitioner and nationally board certified. She is also a member of RHAPP Rheumatology Advanced Practice Providers.