​​​​SDMG FOUNDATION'S TEACHING DAY

​​​SDMG FOUNDATION'S TEACHING DAY

Kristy Mandour, PCC

Kristy Mandour is the founder of Sow to Speak, a boutique public speaking and communication coaching company for high-achieving, ambitious leaders.  For nearly two decades, Kristy has become a trusted confidante and mentor for leaders and entrepreneurs who want to lead with clarity, confidence, and emotional intelligence without losing themselves in the process.

Kristy is the creator of The Personification Posse Method, a practical and deeply human framework rooted in human dynamics that helps leaders understand and work with their internal voices. This approach supports leaders in integrating the core pillars of emotional intelligence to quiet self-doubt, navigate feedback and difficult conversations, and communicate from a grounded, regulated place, especially in high-stakes moments.

An ICF-certified coach, Kristy holds a Bachelor of Science from the Roy H. Park School of Communication at Ithaca College, a Master of Arts from Emerson College, and is trained in performance at the Stella Adler School of Acting and The Neighborhood Playhouse. Her work blends communication strategy, emotional intelligence, nervous system awareness, and performance training to help leaders show up with calm authority and authentic presence.

At the heart of Kristy’s work is a commitment to rehumanizing the workforce. She helps leaders remember that clarity, credibility, and compassion are not opposing forces and that strong leadership starts with understanding how humans actually think, feel, and respond under pressure.

Known for her compassionate and candid approach, Kristy helps leaders strengthen their voice, sharpen their message, and lead in ways that are both effective and deeply human. She is also a writer, sought-after speaker, and host of The Sow to Speak Podcast, where she explores leadership, communication, and what it really takes to stay grounded while gaining greater visibility leading at a high level. Kristy lives in upstate New York with her family and their lovable dog, Walter.
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Hom Neupane, MD

Dr. Hom Neupane is a board-certified physician specializing
in Rheumatology and Allergy and Immunology, currently practicing in Syracuse, New York. He is also an Associate Professor of Medicine at SUNY Upstate Medical
University. He is recognized for his expertise in managing complex rheumatologic conditions and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of clinicians.

David Cennimo, MD

Dr. David Cennimo is a graduate of Rutgers New Jersey Medical School where he also completed a combined Internal Medicine-Pediatrics residency, Internal Medicine chief residency, and fellowships in both Adult and Pediatric Infectious Diseases. He currently practices clinical infectious diseases and infection control with clinical foci ranging from HIV, tuberculosis, and emerging pathogens to vaccination implementation, public health, and infection prevention.

He continues to pursue his passion for medical education as core faculty in multiple residency and fellowship programs and an Associate Professor and Associate Dean for Education at NJMS. 

Past Speakers

• ​Ali Al-Mudamgha, MD (2017)
  
• Deborah Bradshaw, MD (2017)
• Stephan Carlson, MD (2019)
• David Cennimo, MD (2019 & 2024)
• Sanjiv Chopra, MD (2018)
• Anthony Comerota, MD, FACS, FACC       (2015)
• ​Yvonne Conte (2025)
  
• Joseph DeAngelis, MD (2018)
• Jeremiah Depta, MD, MPHS, FACC            (2016)
• Marisa Desimone, MD (2017)
• Robert Dirk Stanley, MD, MPH (2025)
  
• Luba Djurdjinovic, MS (2025)
  
• David Dougherty, MD, MBA
• Anuradha Duleep, MD (2025)
  
• Christos Fountzilas, MD FACP (2024)
• David Gilchrist, MD (2019)
• David Geier, MD (2019)
• Kenneth Greer, MD (2016)
• Kunal Grover, MD (2017)
• David Guarraia, MD, MS, FACP (2024, 2025)
  
• Jennifer Haley, MD (2018)
• John Huppertz, PhD (2017)
• Sohail Husain, MD (2015)
• Benjamin Kematick, Pharm D (2019)
• Ryan Kimmel, MD (2015)
• Neeraj Kohli, MD MBA (2015)
• Jacob Levitt, MD (2024)
  
• Petros Levounis, MD (2017)
• David Madgy, DO (2016)
• Alberto Montero, MD (2017)
• Manpreet Mundi, MD (2015)
• Santiago Munoz, MD (2016)
• Neil Nagovski, MD (2016)
• Amit R. Patel, MD (2025)
  
• Patrick Reagan, MD (2025)
  
• Donnaline Richman, Esq. (2024)
  
• Andrew Simonsen, DO (2015)
• Jennifer Sipos, MD (2019)
• Gary, Small, MD (2018)
• Mark Stephens, MD (2018)
• ​Asad Ullah, MD (2024)
  
• Jack Wazen, MD, FACS (2015)
  

Ghassan Koussa, MD

Dr. Ghassan Koussa is a board-certified pulmonary and critical care physician practicing at Oneida Healthcare. He completed both residency and fellowship at Albany Medical Center. Dr. Koussa manages and treats a diverse range of pulmonary disease at his outpatient practice and provides critical care and pulmonary coverage at Oneida hospital. He has a special interest in bronchoscopy procedures, leveraging his expertise to biopsy and diagnose lung nodules, including lung cancer, with precision and care.

Devayani Namassivaya, MD

Dr. Namassivaya is an infectious disease physician with over 20 years of experience serving the Mohawk Valley. Born and raised in India on her family’s farm, she completed her medical training there before moving to the United States. She completed her residency in internal medicine in New York City and a fellowship in infectious diseases at Main Medical Center, followed by specialized training in HIV and general infectious disease in Buffalo.

Since settling in Utica, New York, she has built a thriving infectious disease practice and serves as chair of infection prevention, overseeing antibiotic stewardship and community health initiatives. She has also worked as medical director for the Oneida County Health Department and collaborated with the New York State Department of Corrections. Dr. Namassivaya remains deeply committed to patient care and supporting the health of her community.

2026 Speakers

Juan Sotomayor, MD

Dr. Sotomayor was born in New York City and currently resides in North Syracuse, NY. Dr. Sotomayor is a graduate of the CNY Center for Biomedical Education and completed his medical degree at New York University in 1981. He completed his pediatric sub-specialty training at the Upstate Medical Center in Syracuse, NY, under Dr. Frank Oski and did a fellowship in Allergy, Immunology, and Pulmonology at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the University of Pennsylvania. He then became an attending physician in pulmonology at Wayne State University and was the director of the apnea program and the pulmonary function laboratory. Since 1988, he has been in private practice specializing in pulmonary, asthma and food related diseases in the Syracuse area.

His current focus is the treatment of food related allergies and has been very active in Oral Immunotherapy (OIT). He is also a clinical assistant professor in Pediatrics and Allergy at University Hospital and on staff at Crouse Hospital and St. Joseph's Hospital. He has been board certified in Pediatrics and Allergy/Immunology since 1987. He belongs to the American Academy of Allergy and Immunology, American College of Allergy and Immunology and the NYS Medical Society as well as the Onondaga County Medical Society. He has also received resident teaching awards in the past. He has published articles on allergy and pulmonary diseases. He has participated in clinical research studies including seasonal allergic rhinitis, perennial allergic rhinitis, vasomotor rhinitis, asthma, allergic asthma, hives and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.