Debra-Lynn Day-Salvatore
Debra-Lynn Day-Salvatore, MD, PhD, FAAP, FACMG
Clinical/Medical Geneticist, Department Chair
Dr. Day-Salvatore received her undergraduate degree from Harvard University and her medical degree from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Her residency training was in Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the Cleveland Clinical Foundation, and she completed two years of post-graduate training in Medical Genetics at UMDNJ. Dr. Day-Salvatore is also a molecular biologist with a Ph.D. and Masters from New York University Medical Center's Sackler Institute of Graduate Biomedical Sciences specializing in pharmacogenetics. She is recipient of the UMDNJ Foundation's Excellence in Teaching Award for 1994-95, has been consistently voted a Top Doctor by NJ physicians, has authored or co-authored more than 50 scientific papers and book chapters, has made several guest appearances on radio and television, and has lectured both nationally and internationally. She is director of the Regional Center for Newborn Screening and Genetic Services for central New Jersey, chair of the New Jersey metabolic task force, and is a principal clinical trials investigator and consultant for lysosomal storage disease therapies. She is best known in the international lysosomal community for her interest in the management and treatment of lysosomal storage diseases during pregnancy and recognized nationally for championing newborn screening.
Kristin Hengerer
Kristin Hengerer, MS, CGC
Licensed, Certified Genetic Counselor – Supervisor
Kristin is a graduate of Fairfield University where she received a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biology and minoring in Psychology. She received her Master of Science in Genetic Counseling degree from Boston University. Kristin’s graduate thesis investigated the multidisciplinary approach to caring for children diagnosed with neurofibromatosis type 1. Kristin joins the Department of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine following five years of experience as a prenatal genetic counselor in Boston, Massachusetts and Northern New Jersey. At Saint Peter’s University Hospital she provides genetic counseling services to pediatric, adult, and prenatal patients. Kristin is a board certified and licensed genetic counselor. She is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors
Ryan Kuehl
Ryan Kuehl, M.G.C., CGC
Licensed, Certified Genetic Counselor
Ryan is a graduate of Providence College, with honors, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biology. In 2019, he received his Master's degree in Genetic Counseling from the University of Maryland School of Medicine. Ryan’s thesis explored the role of patient religion/spirituality on patient preference for discussion and religious/spiritual actions by their genetic counselor within the framework of a prenatal genetic counseling session among patients receiving care at either a religiously affiliated or non-religiously affiliated hospital. He provides counseling services to pediatric, adult, and prenatal patients. Ryan is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
Francesca Spinosi
Francesca Spinosi, MS, CGC
Licensed, Certified Genetic Counselor
Francesca “Franki” is a graduate of Rutgers University where she received both a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Genetics, as well as a Master of Science in Genetic Counseling. Francesca’s graduate thesis work focused on the billing and reimbursement of reproductive genetic counseling services over an eight-year period. At Saint Peter’s University Hospital, she provides genetic counseling services for pediatric, adult, and cancer patients. Francesca is a member of the National Society of Genetic Counselors.
Gabriella Voso
Gabriella Voso, MS, CGC
Licensed, Certified Genetic Counselor
As a Genetic Counselor at Saint Peter’s University Hospital, Gabby provides genetic counseling services to pediatric, adult, and cancer patients. She graduated from Towson University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Cell and Molecular Biology. She received her Master of Science degree in Genetic Counseling from the Augustana-Sanford Genetic Counseling Program. Her graduate thesis consisted of a retrospective chart review to assess genetic counseling referrals following pregnancy loss.
Andrea Siering
Andrea Siering, MS, RD, CSP
Nutritionist
Andrea is a Registered Dietitian, who is Board Certified as a Specialist in Pediatric Nutrition. She currently works with children and adults who are affected with metabolic disorders and require restricted diets, specialty metabolic formulas, and medical foods to stay healthy and thrive. Before joining the Department of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Andrea worked as an inpatient dietitian at Saint Peter’s University Hospital on the Pediatric and Pediatric Intensive Care Units. She has a wide variety of experience in Pediatrics, including oncology, feeding disorders, diabetes, epilepsy requiring the ketogenic diet, and critical care. She is a graduate of Drexel University where she received her Masters of Science in Human Nutrition. Andrea completed her dietetic internship at New York Presbyterian-Hospital. She is a member of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, as well as the Pediatric Nutrition and Dietitians in Nutrition Support Practice Groups. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The College of New Jersey.
Mary Lou Mickalauskas
Mary Lou Mickalauskas, RN, BSN, CEN
Nurse
Marylou is a registered nurse with more than 30 years’ experience, 28 of them at Saint Peter's University Hospital. Graduating from Borough of Manhattan Community College with an Associates of Science degree in Nursing, her primary focus was in emergency nursing. She has maintained board certification in Emergency Nursing, as well as Advanced Cardiac Life support and Pediatric Advanced Life Support. In 2013, she completed her Bachelor of Science in Nursing, summa cum laude from Walden University, also achieving the Presidential Commendation for Academic Achievement Award. Marylou joined the department in 2003 as an infusion therapy nurse for lysosomal storage disorders and since has expanded her role to include triage and intake coordinator for the department.
Jennifer Huryk
Jennifer Huryk
Nurse
Jennifer graduated from Chamberlain University in December 2019 with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. She started her career at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in the Metabolic Unit and then joined the Department of Genetics and Genomic Medicine in 2023. Prior to becoming a nurse, Jennifer graduated summa cum laude from Hudson County Community College's Culinary Arts Institute. Jennifer worked for several restaurants as a pastry chef and grill chef, and then became a chef manager for a corporate dining company. Jennifer returned to school with a strong interest in nursing when one close family member was diagnosed with cancer and another was diagnosed with Rett syndrome. Jennifer found a passion in patient care and knew this role was her true calling.
Donna Farren-Chavez
Donna Farren-Chavez, MS
Intake Coordinator
Donna Farren-Chavez is a board-certified genetic counselor who is currently working as our Intake Coordinator. Donna initially joined the staff as a genetic counselor in 1992 upon graduating from Sarah Lawrence College. She worked with prenatal, pediatric and adult patients and assisted the Craniofacial Team during her years with Genetics. After taking some time to be with her family, she is welcomed back to her new role using her experience as a genetic counselor to assist in triaging patients for our various clinics.
Mirian Franco
Mirian Franco
Patient Navigator
Mirian joined Saint Peter’s in 2022 as the Receptionist Registrar for the Department of Genetics, and swiftly advanced into the Patient Navigator role in 2023, thanks to her innate organizational skills and administrative abilities. As the Patient Navigator, Mirian is responsible for coordinating follow-up appointments and assisting patients in completing their recommended studies. She has returned to school with a focus on Allied Health Pre-Professional to prepare for the Nursing Program. Mirian is bilingual in English and Spanish.
Erin Savage
Erin Savage
Education and Outreach
Erin is the Education, Outreach and Grant Coordinator for the Department. Erin organizes student and resident rotations, sets up physician and community outreach, and maintains academic relationships for departmental growth. Erin supports grant requirements for New Jersey Mandated Newborn Screening and tends to special projects at the direction of Dr. Day-Salvatore. Erin has her Bachelor of Arts from Drew University in Madison, New Jersey and has worked in development for five years. She joined Saint Peter’s in 2015.
Amida Sagastume
Amida Sagastume
Billing Coordinator
Amida Sagastume has been the Financial Coordinator in our department since 2007. Prior to coming here she worked with the pediatric multispecialty Department as a medical biller/coder. She is a certified medical coder with the American Academy of Professional Coders. She is involved in the overall billing process, which includes reviewing for discrepancies between data gather and submissions for billing. She also works in collaboration with other departments within the hospital ensuring the billing process is a smooth one. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s degree at Thomas Edison State University.
Yolanny Santos
Yolanny Santos
Administrative Assistant
Yolanny began working at Saint Peter’s in 2015 in the Department of Pediatrics as a receptionist registrar before joining the Department of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine as the administrative assistant in 2017. Yolanny left Saint Peter’s in 2019 to expand her skill sets, and we welcomed her back in 2022. Yolanny’s previous employment as a medical assistant and her experience in administration supports her strong work ethic. Her philosophy centers around the role she can play in helping others find solutions. She is committed to excellence in service and takes pride in representing Saint Peter’s to the community.
Marian-Joy Dionisio
Marian-Joy Dionisio
Practice Coordinator and Telehealth Systems Analyst
Marian-Joy “May” began her employment with Saint Peter’s University Hospital in 2002 as a unit secretary for the Perinatal Evaluation and Treatment (PET) Center of Labor and Delivery. In 2008, while working full time, May obtained her Certified Coding Associate (CCA) credential from the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA) in medical billing and coding from Lincoln Technical Institute in Edison, NJ, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration – Healthcare Management from American InterContinental University. In 2010, May became a department secretary for the Institute for Genetic Medicine, which was a pediatric sub-specialty at the time. She has since seen the practice evolve into the Department of Medical Genetics and Genomic Medicine in 2013, allowing her to also grow into the role of practice coordinator in 2016. May now manages the day-to-day operations of the practice, supporting its unique database and workflows, serving as liaison to other hospital departments, administration, and outside affiliates. She continuously strives for growth, excellence, and comradery, coining the office’s now well-known nickname, the “Gene Team.”
In 2017, May worked tirelessly with Information Technology on a pilot program for telemedicine, enabling the department to go live with tele-genetics in 2018. Due to the success of the program, she became a telemedicine subject-matter expert, assisting with the expansion of telemedicine throughout Saint Peter’s. In 2023, in addition to her full-time role with Genetics, May earned the title of telehealth systems analyst, working with the hospital’s vice president/chief information officer and chief medical information officer to manage and support the organization’s telehealth platform.
Maria Zamora
Maria Zamora
Receptionist Registrar
Maria is the newest addition to our team, joining Saint Peter’s in 2023, as the Department’s Receptionist Registrar. She brings valuable customer service experience from her previous role as a commission’s analyst. Maria is bilingual in English and Spanish. Currently, Maria is pursuing her associate degree in Radiography Education at Middlesex College with the ultimate aspiration of becoming a radiographer or a registered nurse.