Who We Are:
Mission:
To advocate for the physician community through: education, business resources and access to up to date information affecting their practices.
Defend | Represent | Advocate | Network
Unite Physicians
Unite physicians of all specialties to create a strong local physician community.
Advocacy
Advocate for physician and patient rights at the local and state and Federal levels.
Practice Support
Support physicians in creating viable practices.
CME
Provide educational opportunities for physicians and their clinical support teams.
Information
Serve as a resource for the latest health care information and news.
Who We Are
Alvaro Puig, MD is a board-certified physician and has been a member of the MSNVA board since 2019. He attended the prestigious medical school at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, graduated with high honors in 2001, completed his residency and fellowship in Internal Medicine specializing in endocrinology in 2012 at Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami, FL. Dr. Puig and his wife Claudia Ardila, DDS have independent practices in Falls Church, they have a passion for giving back to their community by providing affordable and high-quality medical care to the Hispanic community. Dr. Puig also volunteers at the Culmore Clinic, a subsidized community clinic, where he provides medical care to patients afflicted with diabetes, dyslipidemia, osteoporosis, thyroid and adrenal conditions.
When Dr. Puig is not practicing medicine; he is practicing piano! As a classical trained professional pianist, he has seen the way music can heal. Dr. Puig is currently working on a pilot program to connect the healing power of piano to the healing power of medicine. The MSNVA board is looking forward to his leadership in 2024.
Dr. William Hutchens, MD is a pulmonologist in Norfolk, VA and has been practicing for 16 years. He graduated from Albany Medical College in 1995 and specializes in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine.
Soheila Rostami, MD practices medicine at Rostami Oculo-Facial Plastic Consultants in Reston, VA. Dr. Rostami attended Howard University School of Medicine in Washington DC, where she was chief resident of ophthalmology.
Nancy Tanchel, MD practices and serves as Medical Director at Liberty Laser Eye Center in Vienna, VA. Dr. Tanchel attended medical school at Emory University and completed her Ophthalmology residency at the University of South Florida.
Russell Libby, MD practices at the Virginia Pediatric Group in Fairfax, VA. Dr. Libby attended medical school at George Washington University and completed his residency at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
Dr. Richard Mendelsohn enjoys working with patients of all ages on a multitude of foot and ankle conditions. Widely recognized as a specialist in the treatment of sports and dance injuries, he is a Fellow of the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons, and is certified by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery. In addition, he is a Fellow of the American Society of Podiatric Dermatology and a member of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Frequently consulted by other physicians for his expertise in the area of sports- and dance-related injuries, he is a clinical advisor and columnist for the American Running and Fitness Association. He was named by the Consumers’ Research Council of America as one of “America’s Top Podiatrists.” Dr. Mendelsohn serves as a consulting podiatrist for numerous professional and amateur sports teams, and appeared on ABC, CBS and NBC news where he spoke about new advances in podiatry.
Dr. Mendelsohn received his undergraduate degree from Emory University in Atlanta and earned his Doctor of Podiatric Medicine from Philadelphia’s Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in 1985. He completed his residency in the medical and surgical treatment of the foot and ankle at Cambridge Hospital in Cambridge, Massachusetts, (an affiliate of the Harvard Medical School).
Married with five children, Dr. Mendelsohn is a passionate hockey fan who enjoys watching and participating in a variety of other sports as well.
For the past 34 years Dr. Heron has prescribed his moderate carbohydrate diet for weight loss and improved the health of thousands of patients in Northern Virginia and Southern Maryland. In 2005, Dr. Heron trained and became one of the first Bariatric Specialists in the country to master the laser procedure for the removal of cellulite utilizing a non-invasive laser.
Dr. Amir Shahlaee is a graduate of the University of Georgia and the Medical College of Georgia. He trained in Pediatrics at UAB followed by training in Pediatric Hematology-Oncology at the Johns Hopkins-NIH Joint Program and Allergy-Immunology at the Medical College of Georgia. He is board-certified in Allergy-Immunology, Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and General Pediatrics.
Dr. Shahlaee’s clinical interests involve the care of adult and pediatric patients with allergic and immunologic disorders including asthma. Additionally, Dr. Shahlaee has an extensive academic background and has previously served on the staff at the University of Florida School of Medicine and at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He also has an interest in drug development and clinical trial design and works as a consultant with the pharmaceutical industry.
Claudia began her career with MSNVA as Director of Foundation Programs. During her tenure, she was responsible for the planning and development of Project Access of Northern Virginia, a program that delivers pro-bono specialty health care services to low-income, uninsured patients in Fairfax County and Alexandria City. In addition, Claudia serves on a number of boards and committees. In 2008, she was appointed by Virginia Governor Timothy M. Kaine as trustee of the Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation (currently The Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth) and Board Trustee for the Physicians Foundation. She has a BA in International Relations from DePaul University and certification on Disaster Preparedness and Readiness from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
Susana is a George Mason University graduate with a degree in Health Administration and Policy. She is currently enrolled in her Master's program at George Mason for Health Administration. She enjoys finding new delicious restaurants, baking, learning about other cultures, and comedy shows. Email: Susana@msnva.org
Brigid is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, with a Bachelor of Arts and a minor in General Business. Brigid enjoys arts administrative work with previous theatrical employers, such as the Wolf Trap Foundation for Performing Arts. Brigid also enjoys acting, reading, and baking in her free time.
Hi, I’m Brittany, a senior at George Mason University with over four years of experience in the healthcare field as a dental assistant and patient care coordinator. I am passionate about enhancing healthcare delivery systems to ensure every patient receives the highest quality of care. I’m particularly interested in improving access to healthcare in underserved communities and learning about the processes involved in shaping healthcare laws and regulations. In my spare time, I love exploring new restaurants and spending quality time with my loved ones.
Eric Hoang is a senior at George Mason University majoring in health informatics. Being born and raised in Northern Virginia has inspired him to pursue passions related to public health and the data associated with it. During his free time, Eric is a homesteader, homemaker, gardener, and enjoys following an ancestral diet.
Peyton Adams is senior student at George Mason University majoring in Health Administration with a concentration in Health System Management. Peyton is passionate about utilizing strategic communication to enhance public health awareness. With a strong background in leadership, recognized through their membership in The National Society of Leadership and Success, Peyton is committed to a career in healthcare administration, focusing on effective health system management and community engagement. Outside of their academic and professional pursuits, Peyton enjoys refurbishing home decor, showcasing a keen eye for detail and creativity.
Camila is a senior at George Mason University with over 6 years of experience as a pharmacy technician. She has worked in clinical settings and volunteered for non-profit organizations. She is passionate about health informatics and using it to improve healthcare for marginalized populations in our community. In her free time, she enjoys exploring cuisines from different cultures in the DMV area.
Jenny Rivera is a senior at George Mason University majoring in Health Informatics. Jenny’s aspirations are to work with new technologies in the future and use data analytics in public health strategies to identify and address health disparities within communities. Jenny’s interests include researching current health trends and technology, walking in nature, and reading books during her spare time.
Stakeholders
MSNVA works with societies around the area to help the medical profession with advocacy and public health efforts.
