Our Team

Meaghan Doherty, MD, assistant professor, and pediatric and fetal cardiologist with UMass Chan Medical School, provides care throgh the UMass Memorial Medical Center. Prior to medical training, she worked as a physical therapist. Doherty, MD, graduated from UMass Chan and completed a pediatric residency program at Rhode Island Hospital / Hasbro Children's Hospital. Doherty received her pediatric cardiology training at Pittsburgh Children's Hospital of UPMC and has a robust heart failure and cardiomyopathy program. She enjoys a practice encompassing the full breadth of pediatric heart disease, and promotes a proactive approach to cardiac care for muscular dystrophy. She particularly appreciates the longitudinal relationships she develops with patients and families. 

Ted Kremer, MD, associate professor at UMass Chan Medcal School is chief of Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine, and director of Pediatric Sleep Medicine at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Kremer, MD, earned his medical degree at the University of Iowa, College of Medicine. Dr. Kremer received residency training at Children’s Medical Center of Dallas and specialized in the Pediatric Pulmonary fellowship at Riley Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis.  As a pulmonary and sleep medicine physician, Dr. Kremer enjoys the many unique aspects of caring for patients with DMD and the long-term relationships established with his patients and families.

Yvonne Shelton, MD, assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School, is chief of Pediatric Orthopedics at UMass Memorial Medical Center.  Shelton, MD, earned her medical degree at George Washington University. Dr. Shelton received residency training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and New York University Medical Center; and specialized in the Pediatric Orthopedics fellowship training at the A.I. DuPont Institute. Dr. Shelton adds, “I am pleased and excited to be part of the DMD clinic. My favorite thing is meeting the patients and their families from both far and near. I look forward to supporting them through their healthcare journey.”

Jeffrey Shih, MD, assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School, is a cardiologist whose clinical interests include cardiovascular disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure and transplantation. Shih, MD, serves as medical director of the ventricular assist device program as well as the advanced heart failure program at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Shih completed his medical degree, residency and cardiology fellowship training and advanced heart failure training at Emory University School of Medicine.

Matthew Shields, MD, assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School has clinical interests including inflammatory bowel disease, liver disease and polyposis syndroms. Shields, MD, grew up in Wellsley, Massachusetts. Dr. Shields attended UCC School of Medicine in Puerto Rico before receiving his residency training in periatrics at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Shields completed his pediatric gastroenterology fellowship at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, MA. He lives in Grafton, MA with his wife and two children, Nolan and Carina.

Curtis Barry, MD, assistant professor of Medicine at UMass Chan Medical School is a gastroenterologist/hepatologist who specializes in liver disease and liver transplantation. He received a medical degree in Boston University School of Medicine and completed a residency program at Boston Medical Center before working for the Boston University Amyloid program. Barry, MD, specialized in gastroenterology fellowship training at the University of Cincinnati, and a liver transplant fellowship at Lahey Clinic. 

Neena Gupta, MD, associate professor at UMass Chan Medical School, and Chief of the Division of Pediatric Nephrology and Hypertension. Gupta, MD, received her medical degree from SCB Medical College, Utkal University, Cuttack, India and completed a residency program in pediatrics at K.G.P. Children Hospital, Baroda, Gujrat, India. Gupta completed a pediatric residency at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, Valhalla, NY after moving to the United States. Dr. Gupta specialized in pediatric nephrology fellowship training at UT Southwester Children's Medical Center in Dallas, Texas. She worked as a faculty at Wayne State University School of Medicine, in Detroit, Michigan and at the Warren Alpert Medical School, Brown University before joining UMass Memorial Children's Medical Center. She values the long-term relationship with chronic DMD patients. Her clinical interests include chronic kidney disease, medical management of kidney stones and hypertension.

Jason Kurland, MD, associate professor at UMass Chan Medical School, is a nephrologist who specializes in management of chronic kidney disease, hypertension, and electrolyte disturbances. Kurland, MD, earned his medical degree from Boston University's 7-year BA/MD program. Dr. Kurland received his residency training in internal medicine and specialized in nephrology fellowship training at Brown University. 

Youssef Rahban, MD, assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School. 

Kristin Laraja, MD, assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School, is a pediatric cardiologist whose clinical interests include cardiomyopathy, congenital heart disease, arrhythmias, and fetal cardiology. Laraja, MD, is the medical director of the fetal cardiology program at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Laraja completed her medical degree at Tufts University Medical School and received her pediatric residency training at Hasbro Children's Hospital, Brown University. She specialized in the pediatric cardiology fellowship training at Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard University. Dr. Laraja enjoins the many unique aspects of caring for patients with DMD and the long-term relationships established with patients and families. 

Theo Meyer, MBChB, professor at UMass Chan Medical School, is a cardiologist whose clinical interests include cardiovascular disease, cardiomyopathy, heart failure and valve disease. Meyer, MBChB, is the clinical chief of cardiology at UMass Memorial Medical Center. Dr. Meyer completed his medical degree, residency and fellowship training in South Africa and obtained his PhD at Oxford University in the United Kingdom. 

Ruby Joshi Batajoo, MD, assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School, is a pediatric endocrinologist. Batajoo, MD earned her medical degree at BP Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences, Nepal. Batajoo received pediatric residency training at Stony Brook University, NY and specialized in the pediatric endocrinology fellowship training at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital at Case Western University, in Ohio. Dr. Batajoo loves connecting with patients and families in the DMD clinic while helping to manage the endocrine aspects of DMD care. 

Eyad Hamoudeh, MD, associate professor at UMass Chan Medical School.

Errol Mortimer, MD, assistant professor at UMass Chan Medical School, is a pediatric orthopedic surgeon for UMass Memorial Medical Center for over twenty-five years. Mortimer, MD, has clinical interests in congenital and developmental conditions of the musculoskeletal system, as well as trauma. Mortimer is a member of the Pediatric Orthopedic Society of North America and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons and has been board certified in orthopedic surgery since 1997.

K. Courtney Shellenbarger, APRN, CPNP
Nurse Practitioner

Courtney has been working side-by-side with Brenda Wong, MD, since 2012. In May of 2018, Courtney moved from Ohio to Massachusetts to help launch the Duchenne Program. As a pediatric nurse practioner with more than 15 years of experience, Courtney sees and treats patients, and plays the role of clinic coordinator behind the scenes to help keep the program's gears moving smoothly. She is a passionate advocate and always up for a challenge when it comes to accessing available treatments for her patients with DMD. She loves collaborating with her colleagues to deliver top-notch care to patients and their families. 

Celina Goncalves joined the Duchenne Program after completing a one-year fellowship from 2021-2022. She received her doctor of physical therapy at Simmons University in 2020. Previously, while completing clinical rotations at graduate school, Celina was introduced to a patient of Brenda Wong, MD, and became his personal care attendant. 

"Working with him inspired me and created a passion to pursue Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy as an area of subspecialty," she explains. For Celina, the best part of working with boys and young men with DMD is showing them the things they can do, with some help. "I love connecting with patients and families, advising them about how they can make everything as accessible as possible and use the tools to interact with their friends, family and community. Even small changes can have a meaningful impact on everyday life."

Emily has been a pediatric nurse practitioner focusing on pediatric pulmonary and pediatric sleep clinics. Previously, she supported complex patients as a nursing team leader in pediatric and neonatal intensive care units. She earned her undergraduate nursing degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her graduate degree from Northeastern University. “I enjoy helping children with chronic pulmonary diseases and their families, to become as healthy as possible and enjoy  great quality of life!”

Marla has experience as a dietician with both adult and pediatric patients. She received her bachelor's degree in nutritional science from the University of Connecticut and a dietetics internship at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Marla has drawn her love and focus in nutrition towards weight management, eating disorders, diabetes management and DMD. "I love being a part of the team with so much determination to make a difference. It has been an eye-opening experience providing patient care to such a strong group of patients, further validating how much nutrition plays a role in growth and well-being."

Robyn dos Santos has over 20 years working as a licensed Occupational Therapist, specializing in pediatric care. A graduate of Worcester State University, Robyn went on to pursue a Master's Degree in Counseling Psychology with a concentration in Child/Family Therapy from Assumption College. "I have always tried to practice holistically, viewing the family as an integrated, evolving system." Robyn is also a Certified Mindfulness Practioner. "I am honored to be a part of this talented and committed team, offering extraordinary care to patients and families. The families I have met have taught me so much about strength, resiliency, and creativity to live life to the fullest".

Sarah Figueira, a consummate professional in clinical trials project management, brings a wealth of expertise in areas including clinical research and program management. Sarah oversees operational aspects of DMD program while navigating complexitites of budget and contract coordination with clinical trials. Possessing extensive experience across various medical disciplines, Sarah's background is enriched by her contributions to regulatory submissions and her proactive engagement in research. Not only is she a Certified Clinical Research Coordinator (CCRC) through the Association of Clinical Research Professionals (ACRP), but she also displays academic credentials with a bachelor's of science and a master's of business administration. Sarah's career is a testament to her profound skills and dedication, as evidenced by her instrumental role in driving succesful clinical and research initiatives. 

"Within the dynamic landscape of clinical research, my passion is unwaveringly anchored in advancing the initiatives of the DMD Program. Each project managed, every study overseen, is a step toward groundbreaking solutions, enhancing our collective journey in medical science and patient advocacy."

Fiyin Olusola, MSc, earned her medical degree in 2011 at Sumy State University in Ukraine. After completing medical school, she fell in love with clinical research and trials. She further earned a master's of science in pharmacology and therapeutics in 2017 at University of Ibadan in Nigeria. For many years, her clinical research mainly focused on infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV. Fiyin joined the Duchenne Program in December 2022. Her education and previous experiences prepared her for this role. "I love working with such a diverse and interdisciplinary team whose primary goal is the wholesome care of the DMD population. Coordinating research for the team has been gratifying as it gives a ray of hope to the families and future generations."

Kristen Berthoud, MS, joined the Neurology Department in the fall of 2023 supporting the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) program. She is a native Massachusettsian living between Topsfield and Harvard Massachusetts. 

Kristen has had a love for research for many years which started as a reference librarian at Fidelity Investments. She switched her focus from finance to science with her love of biochemistry, physiology, and understanding how nutrition and medications work in the human body. Kristen has an MS from Maryland University of Integrative Health in clinical nutrition.

Kristen earned research experience at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) as a clinical research coordinator and at Dana Farber as a regulatory coordinator. 

Outside of research, Kristen teaches pilates, yoga, and group fitness.

Meg Barbosa is an invaluable asset to the Duchenne Program demonstrating exceptional teamwork and playing a crucial role in our functionality. As the  administrative processes coordinator, she is the core of communication and primary point of contact for families seeking information or assistance.

"Being a member of the DMD team more than satisfies my professional aspirations. Throughout my extensive work experience, I have never encountered a job as gratifying as this one. The collaboration with medical, clinical and administrative teams, alongside the interactions with patients and their families, all contribute to this incredibly fulfilling opportunity. It is an honor to be part of the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Program!"

Holly Blain is an integral member of the Duchenne Program. She is responsible for the complex scheduling vital to our multidisciplinary clinic running smoothly; as one co-worker has said, "...you are the backbone of our clinic!"

With over ten years of experience supporting medical staff, Holly is proud to be part of a team that provides exceptional quality care to patients and their families.