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.

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.

Dr. Kesen is a clinical researcher with over 15 years of experience both in academic and private practice settings with exceptional commitment to patient care and dedication to clinical research. She specializes in vitreoretinal and inflammatory diseases of the eye. She is board certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology (ABO) and is a member of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) and the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

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.

Jeanette is a prominent health policy advocate with over 20 years of experience dedicated to improving health outcomes for underserved communities in the U.S. Before establishing the Organization for Latino Health Advocacy (OLHA), Jeanette founded the Latina Health Collab, a consulting firm aimed at engaging diverse stakeholders in public policy advocacy. Jeanette has held leadership roles in several national nonprofits, including the Biotechnology Innovation Organization (BIO), UnidosUS (formerly the National Council of La Raza), the National Consumers League, and the American Academy of Family Physicians. Jeanette began her career in the legislative office of the National Cancer Institute at the National Institutes of Health, culminating in over a decade of public service in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. She serves on the board of directors for the Hispanic Society for Rare Diseases (Sociedad Hispana de Enfermedades Raras) and HealthyWomen. Jeanette holds a Bachelor's degree in political science from California State University, Los Angeles, and a Master's degree in public policy from American University in Washington, D.C.

With more than 15 years leading healthcare operations in Northern Virginia, Barbara has worked in nearly every role within a medical office environment. She brings a practical, hands-on understanding of the daily challenges healthcare teams face and a strong commitment to improving both patient, doctor, and staff experiences.

Nicole Pazsoldan is an undergraduate student at George Mason University pursuing a degree in Health Administration with a concentration in Health Systems Management. She is passionate about healthcare communication, patient-centered care, and improving access to healthcare services. Through her internship with MSNVA, she is excited to expand her experience in healthcare marketing, advocacy, and community engagement.

Jaime Ellenberger is a junior at the University of South Carolina majoring in a public health with a minor in business administration and will be graduating in the spring of 2027. She is passionate about improving healthcare management systems and policies to benefit both individuals and providers to ensure the health of all communities.

Senior health administration student at George Mason University. Marketing and PR intern for MSNVA with a focus on media outreach

Fernanda Rojas is a senior Health Administration & Policy student at George Mason University with a concentration in Health Systems Management. She brings hands-on experience in healthcare coordination and is excited to support the Medical Society of Northern Virginia through her internship.

Jacob Abdeen is an undergraduate student at George Mason University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Health Informatics, with a strong interest in healthcare consulting, analytics, and using data and technology to improve healthcare delivery and decision-making. Having lived overseas for most of his life, Jacob has gained exposure to very diverse healthcare settings and perspectives. Jacob is passionate about teamwork, professional engagement, and contributing to MSNVA.