Meet David DeMarzio, Neurology’s Residency program coordinator. He has supported the department since February of 2022. David, originally from Staten Island, NY, worked in higher academia education before joining UMass Chan Medical School. David spent three years working as an admissions counselor with the City University of New York (CUNY), and eight years as a culinary specialist in the United States Coast Guard. 

David values working in educational administration sharing, “I enjoy supporting our residents and fellows so they can focus on their job at hand.”  

When David is not supporting our residency program he enjoys playing bass, drums, and guitar. 

David, we appreciate the support you provide to our community members.  

Carolyn Griffin, MSN, RN, neurology nurse navigator

Movement Disorders, and Neuromuscular Medicine

Carolyn Griffin, MSN, RN, neurology nurse navigator is now supporting our neurology divisions, Movement Disorders, and Neuromuscular Medicine. She is a native of the Worcester area and loves all New England seasons, including winter. Her passion for nursing is inspired by her mother, who is also a nurse. Carolyn began her career as a Candy Striper at Fairlawn Hospital when it was a traditional medical-surgical hospital.  

Carolyn shares, “One of the best things about being a nurse is the ability to do many different things with your degree and I have had the pleasure of doing so. Integrating community support and education is a big part of my job, and I look forward to incorporating this skill as a neurology nurse navigator.”  

Carolyn has a strong interest in palliative care and participated in the Jewell Palliative Internship program last year. She plans to join the focus group working with the Executive Office of Elder Affairs as the E-POLST is rolled out in Massachusetts.   

When outside of the medical center, Carolyn enjoys working in her yard. Currently, she is landscaping a previously “overgrown area” to include a path and stone walls.   

When you see her, ask her about her progress.   

Meg Barbosa, administrative assistant

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Program

Meg Barbosa has been an administrative assistant at UMass Chan for the past three and a half years. She supported the Graduate School of Nursing (GSN) before joining the Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) program in 2022. Before UMass, she supported the Framingham Union Hospital (FUH), as an administrative assistant for fifteen years, working in the case management department. Originally from Belem, North of Brazil, she worked as an executive secretary for multinationals from USA, England, France, and Denmark. She received a bachelor’s degree and is a bilingual executive secretary. She is fluent in English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish.  

Meg enjoys helping others from behind the scenes, through her excellent customer service and administrative support for the patients, families, and staff members of DMD.   

She creates a friendly atmosphere by making people laugh and smile. She has a huge passion for dancing, even without music, and loves to travel.   

We appreciate the solid support Meg provides to our DMD program. 

Thoma Pano, neurodiagnostics tech

Neurodiagnostics Clinic

Thoma Pano, originally from Worcester, joins neurology as a neurodiagnostic, EMG, and EEG technician in the Neurodiagnostic Center. Thoma’s inspiration to help patients with better knowledge and empathy began with the mentorship he received from John Leroux, who helped Thoma to open doors to becoming a healthcare professional. Thoma started his career in housekeeping in 2000 and has since moved into various patient care roles working as a technician in the emergency department, supporting general surgery and trauma teams in roles such as pacu, anesthesia, orthopedic, and cardiac techs, and now as a neurodiagnostic technician. Before joining neurology, he worked closely in Cardiology Heart Failure research led by Dr. Shih Jeffrey and Rebecca Takis-Smith, NP.  

We are excited to welcome Thoma to our team.