Our Staff
Catherine Mazzola M.D.
Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Director, NJCC
Dr. Catherine Mazzola is the founder of the Craniofacial Center at Goryeb Children’s Hospital, the Pediatric Brain and Spine Tumor Center (now called GNOP) and the Spasticity and Gait Disorder Center of Goryeb Children’s Hospital. She has been the Director of the Division of Pediatric Neurological Surgery since 2005. Dr. Mazzola serves Morristown Medical Center on the Operating Room Committee and she is a Member-at-Large of the Morris County Medical Society Executive Board.
Dr. Catherine Mazzola has gone on neurosurgical missionary trips to Kenya and is currently planning a mission trip to Cebu, Philippines, for pediatric neurosurgery outreach.
Dr. Catherine Mazzola serves on the Bergen County Republican Organization County Committee and is a member of Most Blessed Sacrament, where she taught CCD for four years. Dr. Mazzola grew up in Queens, NY and currently lives with her husband and five children in northern New Jersey. She is the founder, President and CEO of four LLC’s.
| Links | Published In: |
|---|---|
| www.aans.org | Medulloblastoma |
| www.medtronic.com | The ABCs of Pediatric Head Trauma |
| www.sbaa.org | Critical care management of head trauma in children |
| www.atlantichealth.org/Goryeb | Prevention of Early-Onset Group B Streptococcal Disease |
| www.healthgrades.com | Revision surgery for chiari malformation decompression in the New Millennium |
| www.cns.org | Efficacy of Neurosurgery Resident Education in the New Millennium |
| www.acpa-cpf.org | American Cleft Palate - Craniofacial Association |
John Collins, MD, FAANS
Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Dr. Collins comes to NJCC after twenty years of experience in academic pediatric neurosurgery. He was an Assistant Professor at the Children’s Hospital of Loma Linda University in Southern California, then was recruited to the West Virginia University Children’s Hospital as an Associate Professor where he created the first integrated, multidisciplinary, academic pediatric neurosurgical program the state had ever had. After his thirteen years of service there, he came to Virginia Commonwealth University as a full Professor and Chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery where he expanded the pediatric neurosurgical program and integrated it into a multispecialty pediatric neuroscience center.
Dr. Collins has intensely focused on the surgical treatment of brain tumors over his entire neurosurgical career and he has acquired advanced skills in skull base microsurgery, endoscopic cranial surgery and para-fascicular techniques which are protective of interconnecting neural networks during subcortical brain operations. Currently he has a strong academic interest in diffusion tensor imaging of the brain’s neural networks and the use of image guided navigation to protect those neuronal pathways during operations. He also focuses on the rapid pace of new discoveries concerning the specific molecular-genetic dysfunctions which cause brain tumors and the newest strategies to treat those tumors at the molecular level.
Using microsurgical and, when needed, laser surgical techniques, Dr. Collins also has considerable experience is the treatment of complex congenital spinal abnormalities including spina bifida, tethered spinal cords, spinal lipomas, spinal tumors, syringomyelia, and Chiari malformations.
His long-standing work at academic medical centers has afforded Dr. Collins a wide breadth of pediatric neurosurgical experience which includes the surgical management of intractable epilepsy, hydrocephalus (endoscopically or with shunts), cerebral cysts, cerebrovascular malformations, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis, craniosynostosis and other cranio-fascial anomalies, spasticity of either cerebral or spinal cause, and traumas to head, brain, spine, spinal cord or peripheral nerves.
Committed to a principle of service wherever there is a need, Dr. Collins has provided missionary pediatric neurosurgical work at the Kajabe Medical Center in Kenya and in
Thailand he has taught basic neurosurgical procedures to missionary surgeons from throughout Southeast Asia. He has also treated children with complex neurosurgical problems brought to Virginia from Central America by the World Pediatric Project organization.
Dr. Collins is married and the father of three daughters. He understands the anxiety it causes whenever a family hears that one of their children needs the attention of a pediatric neurosurgeon. He is compassionate, highly accessible, and is a thoughtful communicator who explains things clearly. He is committed to answering all questions from his patients and their families in full detail and he works diligently for the best treatment outcomes for his patients.
Adam E. Ammar, MD
Pediatric Neurological Surgery
Dr. Adam Ammar completed his Pediatric Neurosurgical Fellowship at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2023, and his neurosurgery residency at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center in New York in 2022. In addition, he completed a Fellowship in Global Neurosurgery at the Harvard Medical School Program in Global Surgery and Social Change in 2021. His goal is to meld the two fields of pediatric and global neurosurgery to the benefit of patients both at home and abroad. He has authored over 25 peer-reviewed papers in addition to five book chapters. His scholarly pursuits lie in global neurosurgical capacity building and social determinants of health. He has obtained additional training in public health, implementation science, and health systems science, and completed the Health Systems Science Leadership Track at the Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2023, in order to integrate his research into his clinical practice, improve access to care, and develop patient-centric, value-based care that effectively and efficiently improves outcomes.
Dr. Ammar has a wealth of global neurosurgery experience. He was the lead secretariat of the Global Neurosurgery Committee of the World Federation of Neurosurgical Societies. He is co-founder and assistant editor for the Journal of Global Neurosurgery, a new peer-review journal for global neurosurgery focused on promoting literature from low and middle income countries. He has also led capacity building efforts in Tanzania, Senegal, and Afghanistan, in addition to undertaking multiple surgical trips to Mongolia. He believes in the importance of training the next generation of neurosurgeons around the world, and is involved in mentorship and education of undergraduates, medical students, and residents both here and abroad.
Clinical Interests
Dr. Ammar’s special interests include congenital neurologic disorders and injuries such as spina bifida, hydrocephalus, and cerebral palsy. He has expertise in the management of spasticity, hydrocephalus, traumatic brain injury and concussion, pediatric brain tumors and spine tumors, brain cysts, craniofacial surgery, Chiari malformation, spina bifida, and epilepsy. He treats children for the above specialties at his offices located in Morristown, Hackensack, Hazlet, and Rockaway, NJ.
Jeffrey Kornitzer, MD
Pediatric Neurologist Specialists
Dr. Jeffrey Kornitzer is an attending Child Neurologist at New Jersey Pediatric Neuroscience Institute (NJPNI). He also is affiliated with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital in New Jersey and an assistant professor in the Department of Neurology at Rutgers-New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Kornitzer obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Biology at The College of New Jersey as part of a highly competitive 7-year Bachelors/MD program. He completed his medical degree at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. He stayed on to complete a residency in Pediatrics at UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Kornitzer then completed a fellowship in Child Neurology at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. While in fellowship, Dr. Kornitzer was awarded the prestigious Golden Apple award in teaching. He was also selected for induction into the esteemed Arnold P. Gold Foundation.
Dr. Kornitzer sees children and adolescents with a variety of neurological conditions. He specializes in neurodevelopmental conditions (such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorders), tics, seizures, headaches, concussions, and autonomic disorders (such as fainting/syncope). His emphasis is on a thorough workup using the latest technology to get to the root causes of the symptoms and then multidisciplinary approaches to treat the whole child. His neurologic research has resulted in publication of over a dozen peer-reviewed articles and numerous scientific articles and abstracts. His ADHD research has even been featured on Neurology Advisor and on the ADHD online magazine, ADDitude. Dr. Kornitzer also co-authored five chapters for McGraw-Hill’s Neurology Board Review book and authored the chapter on Complementary and Alternative Medicine in the definitive book for parents of children with autism, Navigating the Medical Maze.
Tatiana Sikorskyj, R.N., BSN, MSN, PNP
Pediatric APN
Tatiana Sikorskyj graduated from Rutgers University College of Nursing in 2005 with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Tatiana began working as a registered nurse at Hackensack University Medical Center in September of 2005 in the Surgical Intensive Care Stepdown Unit. In 2007, Tatiana pursued her love for pediatrics and transferred to the Pediatric Epilepsy Monitoring Unit where she acquired a strong knowledge of epilepsy patients.
In February of 2009, Tatiana further pursued her interest in pediatrics and challenged her critical thinking skills by transferring to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. In the PICU, Tatiana managed a variety of neurosurgery patients aiding in their diagnosis and treatment.
Tatiana graduated from Rutgers University College of Nursing with her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner degree in January 2012. Tatiana maintains membership to the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, American Association of Neuroscience Nurses, American Nurses Credentialing Association, New Jersey State Nurses Association, and Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of Nursing.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Tatiana is an active member of Plast, a non-profit Ukrainian scouting organization, where she mentors youth and volunteers in the summer camp clinic.
Yvelisse Ng, NP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
Yvelisse graduated from Ramapo College of New Jersey with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
She spent her entire nursing career at Hackensack University Medical Center, first on an adult medical-surgical/bariatric floor and then in their Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. Throughout her time as a nurse at HUMC, Yvelisse was lucky enough to have received a DAISY award twice.
Her love for helping others was her primary motivation for going back to graduate school. She earned her master’s degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Yvelisse joins our practice after 6 years of nursing experience at Hackensack University Medical Center.
When she’s not at work, Yvelisse enjoys spending time with her family, travelling, and rock climbing.
Diane McClure, DNP, RN, CPNP, CNL, APHN-BC, CCRN, CCAP, CEIM
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Diane is a certified pediatric nurse practitioner and clinical aromatherapist in New Jersey. She holds a doctoral degree in nursing practice and is certified by AACN as a neonatal critical care nurse and AHNCC as an advanced practice holistic nurse.Diane works at Seton Hall University as a Clinical Associate Professor and Director of the Pediatric Primary Care Nurse Practitioner program. She has vast experience in neonatal nursing and lectures on topics of whole body cooling, neonatal resuscitation, ethics, aromatherapy and holistic nursing. She is co-leader of the Tristate Chapter of AHNA. She is also a Caritas Coach through the Watson Caring Science Institute.
Diane received her DNP and post-masters NP from Seton Hall University, a masters and bachelors degree in nursing from Rutgers University and an associate degree in nursing from Bergen Community College. She has over 40 years of bedside nursing care.
Diane maintains membership to the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, American Academy of Pediatrics, National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculties, American Association of Holistic Nurses and Sigma Theta Tau International.
Diane is married to her wonderful husband David and together they have one daughter, Jennifer. Jennifer is a sixth grade science teacher. Outside of her professional responsibilities, Diane enjoys running, hiking and traveling. Her favorite destination place is Disney World.
Outside of her professional responsibilities, Tatiana is an active member of Plast, a non-profit Ukrainian scouting organization, where she mentors youth and volunteers in the summer camp clinic.
Heather Weiner, PNP
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Heather started her nursing career after graduating from Rutgers University College of Nursing in 1994. She specialized as a pediatric nurse in adolescence and cardiac intensive care in several children’s hospitals. She then pursued a graduate degree in Rutgers University College of Nursing. She graduated with her Pediatric Nurse Practitioner master’s degree in January of 1999. She immediately began working in Pediatric Primary Care. After 12 years, she decided to specialize in Pediatric Neurology, where she has been since 2011.
Heather maintains membership to the American Nurses Credentialing Association and Sigma Theta Tau Honor Society of nursing.
Outside of her profession, she is the mother of three teenage daughters. She enjoys reading, spending time at the beach, and hiking with her dog.
Susanne Ginart, RN, MS, APN-C
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
Meet Susanne Ginart, a dedicated Pediatric Nurse Practitioner with 28 years of experience as a nurse and 13 years in the field of neurology. Susanne’s passion for nursing started at a young age, and she pursued her dreams by earning her bachelor’s in nursing at William Paterson University and then a master’s degrees in nursing from Rutgers’s University.
Throughout her career, Susanne has worked with children of all ages, providing compassionate care and expert guidance to families dealing with cardiac and neurological conditions. She has years of pediatric ICU experience at NY Presbyterian Hospital and in 2010, she transitioned her career path to neurology at St. Joseph’s University Medical Center where she developed a particular interest in concussion and has become an expert in managing the care of children with this condition. She spear-headed the pediatric concussion program by helping to provide Impact neurocognitive testing to local schools and clubs. She has given grand round lectures to her colleagues on concussions.
Susanne has a wealth of knowledge and expertise in diagnosing and treating neurological disorders, from headaches, developmental delays, ADHD, and seizures to more complex conditions like cerebral palsy. Her gentle demeanor and kindheartedness have made her a trusted resource for parents and caregivers, who appreciate her ability to explain complex medical issues in terms they can understand. She was also in charge of organizing/monitoring QI projects to improve patient outcomes. She was also on the family centered care committee to enhance the experience of children and their families during hospitalization and office visits.
With over two decades of experience under her belt, Susanne is a leader in her field and has earned the respect of her peers and colleagues. She is passionate about mentoring the next generation of nurses and has precepted several nurse practitioner students.
In her free time, Susanne enjoys spending time with her family and traveling. She loves Pilates and walking. She is an active member of ANA, NAPNAP, and ANS. She participates in local activities that support her community where she provides support and care to children and families in need.
Sandra McGill, DNP, RN, FNP-BC, CCRN, CNS
Family Nurse Practitioner
Sandra is a board-certified family nurse practitioner in New Jersey and New York. She holds a doctoral degree in nursing practice and is certified by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses as a pediatric critical care nurse. Sandra received her Doctor of Nursing Practice, Master, and Bachelor of Science degrees from Rutgers University School of Nursing.
With over 24 years of professional experience, Sandra has created, published, and presented award winning initiatives at local and national scientific forums. She has dedicated her career to ensuring pediatric practitioners provide high-quality evidence- based family-centered care.
Sandra has been recognized for her leadership, mentoring, and outstanding care for pediatric patients. She has been the recipient of multiple awards including the Advance Practice Nurse of the Year and the Daisy awards from New-York Presbyterian Hospital.
Sandra maintains membership with the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Sigma Theta Tau International, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.
Sandra is married to her wonderful husband John, and they have an amazing son, Andrew. When she is not at work, Sandra enjoys taking her dog on hikes, traveling, and reading.
Mike Ruebenacker
Center Coordinator, NJCC
Mike Ruebenacker specializes in Athletic Training and Concussion. Mike was named the NJCC’s Center Coordinator in 2013 and has been with the practice for the past 3 years. He has been working closely with Ice Hockey Rinks and Youth Sports leagues in the Bergen, Passaic, Morris and Essex Counties to develop concussion programs to be implemented among club and travel Ice Hockey programs. He has also implemented numerous Concussion protocols among football programs in New Jersey.
Mike specializes in sports concussion education as well as training. During his free time, Mike enjoys coaching youth sports. He currently is the Head Coach of the 11U Franklin Lakes War Eagle Travel Baseball Team, which were League Champions at the 8U level.