Faculty
Program Leadership
Joana Machry, M.D., FAAP
Neonatology
Joana Machry, M.D., FAAP, is program director of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program and instructor in pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Machry received a Department of Pediatrics Teaching Excellence Award as a resident at Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, where she completed her pediatric residency and fellowship in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine. Her clinical expertise and research interests include exploring optimal practices in newborn respiratory support and care, management of the most complex cases of Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia with focus on neurodevelopmental outcomes, and innovation in medical education. Dr. Machry leads the NICU Pulmonary Task Force and the NICU Multidisciplinary Tracheostomy Team.
Aaron M. Germain, M.D., FAAP
Neonatology
Aaron M. Germain, M.D., FAAP, is associate program director of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program and instructor in pediatrics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Germain was named Pediatric Resident Teacher of the Year at the University of South Florida College of Medicine. He completed his fellowship training in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Children’s Hospital. His research interests include patient management and outcomes, management of Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and innovation in medical education. Dr. Germain is an assistant director of the LifeLine critical care transport program.
MFNI Leadership
Linda Van Marter, M.D., MPH
Neonatology
Dr. Van Marter is the medical director of the Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute and chief of Newborn Medicine at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2021. She also is a professor of Pediatrics (PAR) in the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Dr. Van Marter was most recently an associate professor of Pediatrics at Harvard Medical School and the associate chair for Academic Affairs in the Department of Pediatric Newborn Medicine at Brigham & Women’s Hospital (BWH).
Core Faculty
Danilo Escoto, M.D.
Neonatology
Director of Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital Center for Women and Babies Rotation
Dr. Escoto specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. He also sees patients through Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital Center for Women and Babies, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg General Hospital and the Medical Center of Trinity.
Sandra Brooks, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Brooks specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 1997 and is associated medical director for the neonatal intensive care unit. Dr. Brooks earned her medical degree at American University of Beirut School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Duke University Medical Center and her fellowship in neonatology at University of South Florida where she also attained a masters degree in public health.
Mara DiBartolomeo, D.O.
Neonatology
Dr. DiBartolomeo specializes in neonatology in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. Dr. DiBartolomeo earned her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. She trained in pediatrics and completed a neonatology fellowship at University of Chicago, Comer Children’s Hospital. While at the University of Chicago, Dr. DiBartolomeo concurrently completed a clinical medical ethics fellowship through the MacLean Center for Clinical Medical Ethics. Additionally, she holds a Master of Public Health from Nova Southeastern University.
Fauzia Shakeel, M.D.
Neonatology
Director of Patient Safety & Quality Rotation
Dr. Shakeel specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children's Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She joined the medical staff in 1999. She has a clinical focus on nutritional care for neonates to improve clinical outcomes in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and improving clinical outcomes in infants with short bowel syndrome at risk of intestinal failure. She is chair of the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Care Under Intestinal Rehabilitation Excellence (CUIRE) intestinal rehabilitation program. She also has a clinical focus on Patient Safety & Quality and is a quality lead for the hospital’s Maternal Fetal & Neonatal Institute.
Noura Nickel, M.D.
Neonatology
Director of NICU Pediatric Residency Rotation
Dr. Nickel specializes in Neonatology in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. Dr. Nickel earned her medical degree from the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Louisville, Kentucky. She completed both her pediatric residency and neonatal and perinatal medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the medical staff in 2021 and sees patients in our main campus level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit in St. Petersburg. She also sees patients at the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Fetal Care Program, working with Maternal-Fetal Medicine colleagues as well as various pediatric subspecialists to provide prenatal consultation and counseling, and to offer a coordinated, family-centered approach to the diagnosis and treatment of fetal anomalies that brings perinatal, neonatal and pediatric specialists to the patient.
Michelle Hojnicki, D.O.
Neonatology
Dr. Hojnicki specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children's Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She sees patients at the Johns Hopkins Al Children’s main campus. She joined the hospital staff in 2024. She earned her medical degree from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. She completed her pediatric residency at the University of South Florida in Tampa, followed by a neonatal-perinatal medicine fellowship at Johns Hopkins All Children’s.
Preceousa Jensen, D.O., MPH
Neonatology
Dr. Jensen specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She sees patients at our neonatal intensive care unit at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, Sarasota Memorial Hospital, Saint Petersburg General Hospital and Brandon Regional Hospital. She attends deliveries at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital Center for Women and Babies. Dr. Jensen’s clinical and research interests include feeding and swallowing disorders in infants. She joined the Johns Hopkins All Children's staff in 2016.
Lilly Chang, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Chang specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children's Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She sees patients at the Johns Hopkins Al Children’s main campus. She completed both her pediatric residency and a fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at the University of Florida in Gainesville. She is a graduate of the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. Her clinical interests include neonatal nutrition and hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy. Dr. Chang also holds a master’s of science in applied physiology and kinesiology from the University of Florida.
Oscar Winners Mendizabal, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Winners Mendizabal specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. He sees patients at the hospital's main campus in St. Petersburg, as well as at Brandon Regional Hospital where he serves as interim medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), through an affiliation with Johns Hopkins All Children's. He joined the hospital staff in 2012. Dr. Winners Mendizabal earned his medical degree from Universidad Boliviana Mayor de San Andres in La Paz, Bolivia. He completed training in pediatrics at University of Kansas and neonatal-perinatal fellowship at Case Western Reserve University at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. His research interests include retinopathy of prematurity, chronic intermittent hypoxia and enteral and parental nutrition. He is fluent in Spanish.
Stacey Stone, M.D.
Neonatology
Director of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Rotation
Dr. Stone specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2002 and leads the neonatal vascular access program, and is a member of the Center for Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH) team. In 2017, she won the Johns Hopkins All Children's Excellence in Service & Professionalism Award. Her clinical interests include CDH and infection prevention.
Faculty
Christina Chamberlain, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Chamberlain specializes in neonatology with the John Hopkins All Children's Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She sees patients on the Johns Hopkins All Children's main campus, and joined the hospital staff in 2020.
Michelle Smith, M.D.
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Director of CVICU Rotation
Dr. Smith specializes in critical care medicine in the cardiovascular intensive care unit (CVICU) and pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. She joined the medical staff in 2002 and became vice chair of the medical staff in January 2020. She served as chief of the medical staff from 2022-2023. She earned her medical degree at Georgetown University School of Medicine and completed her pediatric residency at Children’s Hospital, Los Angeles. She completed her pediatric critical care fellowship at The Johns Hopkins University.
Travis Walker, M.D.
Neonatology
Director of Follow Up Clinic
Dr. Walker is the Medical Director of the Neonatal Follow-Up Program at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital. He also sees patients as a Newborn Hospitalist at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital Center for Women and Babies, and as a Pediatric Urgent Care physician in the Emergency Center. He joined the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital staff in 2017. He previously worked as a Medical Director and Neonatal Hospitalist at Ascension Borgess Medical Center in Kalamazoo, Michigan. His professional areas of interest include child maltreatment, traveler's health, physician leadership and management, as well as quality improvement.
Karen Raimer, M.D.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Director of MFM Rotation
Dr. Raimer is a key member of our maternal-fetal medicine team, providing care for many expectant mothers whose infants may require care in our NICU or CVICU as well as surgery after delivery. She joined All Children’s Perinatology Specialists in 1991 after completing her fellowship at University of Miami. Dr. Raimer is a graduate of the Louisiana State University School of Medicine, New Orleans. She completed a residency in obstetrics/gynecology at the Ochsner Foundation Hospital in New Orleans, where she served as chief resident. Following a fellowship in perinatology at the University of Miami, in 1991 Dr. Raimer joined Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in St. Petersburg, FL and is the Regional Perinatal Intensive Care Center director for Maternal Fetal Medicine at Orlando Health Bayfront Hospital. Dr. Raimer serves as an examiner for the American Board of Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Julia Krzyzewski, RRT
Respiratory Therapist
Julia Krzyzewski, MAS, RRT-NPS, is a registered respiratory therapist and neonatal pediatric specialist. Julia began her RT career in the United States Air Force in 1995. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in cardiopulmonary sciences from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Applied Science in patient safety and healthcare quality from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She has worked at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital for more than 20 years, and currently serves as the RT clinical supervisor for the NICU and Emergency Center.
NICU Hospitalists
Kassey Wash, M.D.
Pediatric Hospital Medicine
Affiliate Faculty
Carlos Alana, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Alana specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. He sees patients at Bravera Health Spring Hill. Previously Dr. Alana was a neonatologist at AdventHealth Medical Group, where he served as vice chair and chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Florida Hospital Orlando.
Kelly Driver, D.O.
Neonatology
Dr. Driver specializes in neonatology for the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She serves as medical director of neonatology at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital, through a collaborative agreement with Johns Hopkins All Children's. She joined the hospital staff in 2018. Her clinical interests include improving care for infants with neonatal abstinence syndrome, patient safety and quality improvement initiatives.
Kiran Dwarakanath, MBBS
Neonatology
Dr. Dwarakanath is a neonatologist in the Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute at Johns Hopkins All Children’s and serves as medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital through a collaboration with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. He was previously an attending neonatologist at Children’s Hospital and Clinics of Minnesota.
Carlos Perez Sanfeliz, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Perez Sanfeliz specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute, and sees patients at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital. He joined the hospital staff in 2023. He was previously a pediatric/newborn hospitalist in San Juan, Puerto Rico and San Antonio, Texas.
Hazel Villanueva, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Villanueva specializes in newborn medicine in the neonatal intensive care unit at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital through a collaborative arrangement with Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. She joined the hospital staff in 2023. She was previously an attending neonatologist at UVA Community Health Prince William Medical Center in Manassas, Virginia.
Jacqueline Nguyen, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Nguyen specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She sees patients at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. She received her medical degree from the University of South Florida (USF) Morsani College of Medicine, where she received the Lewis A. Barness, M.D. Award and completed a scholarly concentration in health care disparities. Dr. Nguyen also completed her pediatric residency and neonatology fellowship at USF.
Maria Sandoval, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Sandoval specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She also sees patients at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. Dr. Sandoval earned her medical degree at the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara Medical School and completed her pediatric residency at Metropolitan Hospital Center and her neonatal-perinatal fellowship at the University of California Los Angeles Medical Center. She is certified by the Florida Medical Board, the American Board of Pediatrics and the Drug Enforcement Administration. Dr. Sandoval is fluent in Spanish.
Rebecca Schilling, D.O.
Neonatology
Dr. Schilling specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children's Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She sees patients at Sarasota Memorial Hospital, where she serves as medical director of the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), through an affiliation with Johns Hopkins All Children's. Dr. Schilling earned her degree as a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her pediatric residency at Louisiana State University and her neonatal - perinatal fellowship at the University of South Florida. During her fellowship, she created and teaches a newborn - specific cardiac curriculum rotation for pediatric interns.
Dean Theophilopoulos, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Theophilopoulos specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute program at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. He joined hospital staff in 2005. Dr. Theophilopoulos earned his medical degree and completed pediatric training and a neonatology fellowship at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He is board certified in pediatrics and neonatal-perinatal medicine.
Alejandro Diego, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Diego specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children's Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. He sees patients at Medical Center of Trinity. He joined the neonatology staff in 2013. Dr. Diego earned his medical degree from Instituto Tecnológico de Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He trained in pediatrics at the University of Texas Medical Branch and completed a fellowship in neonatal-perinatal medicine at the University of South Florida. He is fluent in Spanish.
Drifa Freysdottir, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Freysdottir specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She serves as the medical director of neonatology at HCA Florida Trinity Hospital, through an affiliation with Johns Hopkins All Children’s. She joined the hospital staff in 2020.
Angel Luciano, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Luciano specializes in neonatology with the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. He serves as medical director of neonatology at Brandon Regional Hospital, through an affiliation with Johns Hopkins All Children’s. He joined the hospital staff in 2020.
Audrey Davis, M.D.
Neonatology
Dr. Davis specializes in neonatology and primarily sees patients at Manatee Memorial Hospital and Lakewood Ranch Medical Center, where she became medical director of neonatology in November 2020. She joined the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital medical staff in 2022 through a collaborative agreement among the hospitals.
MFM Faculty
Katherine Apostolakis-Kyrus, M.D.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Dr. Apostolakis-Kyrus specializes in maternal-fetal medicine in the Johns Hopkins All Children's Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She earned her medical degree at Eastern Virginia Medical School and completed her Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency at Bayfront Health in St. Petersburg, Florida. She completed a fellowship in Maternal and Fetal Medicine at University of Tennessee Health Science Center.
Mayra Cruz Ithier, M.D.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Dr. Cruz Ithier is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2018. Dr. Cruz Ithier earned her medical degree from the University of Illinois in Chicago. She completed her obstetrics and gynecology residency at Bayfront Health in St. Petersburg where she served as education chief during her senior year. While at Bayfront she received the Research Award, Excellence in Obstetrics Award and the Resident Teacher Award. She then completed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at Rutgers/Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey where she was involved in clinical and basic science research.
Edmund Funai, M.D.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Dr. Funai is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. He sees patients at All Children’s Specialty Physician Maternal Fetal Medicine in Trinity, Florida. He joined the hospital staff in 2024. He has held leadership positions at NYU and Yale, and for a time was dean of Ohio State's medical school while also serving as chief operating officer of its five hospitals. At the University of South Florida, Dr. Funai served as chief operating officer of USF Health and vice dean at the Morsani College of Medicine.
Insaf Kouba, M.D.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Dr. Kouba is a maternal-fetal medicine specialist in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. She joined the hospital staff in 2024. She sees patients at the hospital’s main campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and at HCA Florida Brandon Hospital. She was previously clinical assistant professor and associate program director in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the New York University Grossman School of Medicine/NYU Langone Hospital-Brooklyn.
Jose Prieto, M.D.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Dr. Prieto is medical director of maternal-fetal medicine in the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Maternal, Fetal & Neonatal Institute. He specializes in the care of the mother and fetus in high-risk pregnancies. Dr. Prieto is a graduate of the University of Miami School of Medicine, where he also received a Master's in Public Health. He completed his residency in obstetrics, gynecology and reproductive sciences at the University of Texas Health Science Center/Houston at L.B.J. General Hospital, where he was named Outstanding Chief Resident, followed by a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and Magee-Women's Hospital. He joined Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates in 1996. Dr. Prieto is the Clinical Practice Director for All Children's Perinatology Specialists.
Rachelle Schwartz, D.O.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Dr. Schwartz specializes in maternal-fetal medicine at Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. She joined the medical staff in July 2012 after completing a fellowship in maternal fetal medicine at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, Columbia University, College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. Dr. Schwartz is a graduate of Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Bayfront Medical Center, where she served as chief academic resident. While at Bayfront she received the Laparoscopic Surgeon of the Year Award, Resident Academic Achievement Award and Academic Excellence Award.
Bradley Sipe, M.D.
Maternal-Fetal Medicine
Dr. Sipe specializes in maternal-fetal medicineat Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital. He sees patients. on our main campus in St. Petersburg, Florida, and at Brandon Regional Hospital. He joined the medical staff in 2021. Dr. Sipe earned his medical degree from Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine. He completed a residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta. During his time at Emory, he received several teaching awards and was also awarded with excellence in obstetrics, excellence in resident research and excellence in reproductive endocrinology and infertility. In his final year of training at Emory, he served as chief administrative resident. He then completed a fellowship in maternal-fetal medicine at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine.
