Family Medicine Residency Program

FACULTY
Thomas Agresta , M.D.
Associate Professor

Dr. Agresta graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1986 with a degree in biomedical engineering and went on to New Jersey Medical School, graduating in 1990. He then graduated from UConn/Saint Francis Hospital Residency Program in 1993. For several years he was in private practice in Hartford, while maintaining a tie to the residency as a part-time faculty member. Dr. Agresta joined the Department full-time as Director of Predoctoral Education and was responsible for coordinating the UConn School of Medicine's third-year Family Medicine experience. Dr. Agresta is interested in information technology and recently developed a preceptor web page for community preceptors at the Medical School. He also currently serves as the coordinator of a recent departmental effort to introduce the Pocket PC's as a tool to enhance clinical practice and resident education. He is involved in STFM and will be chair of the Group on Predoctoral Education. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Miwako, a Certified Nurse Midwife, their daughter, Hanako and son, Michio. Together they enjoy traveling, cross-country skiing, hiking, and camping. Dr. Agresta also loves music and enjoys playing guitar and occasionally writing a song or two.

Patricio Bruno , D.O.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Bruno was born and raised in New York City and is a first generation Hispanic-American who is fluent in Spanish and English. Dr. Bruno received his Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, graduating with Honors and the Colwin Prize for Research, from Queens College, City University of New York. He obtained his Medical Degree from New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He did an Osteopathic Rotating Internship at St. Vincent’s Midtown Hospital and residency in Family Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center/Institute for Urban Family Health. He is board certified in Family Medicine and holds additional qualifications in OMT and Aerospace Medicine.
After residency, he and his family relocated to Florida where he was on the faculty at Florida Hospital’s Family Practice residency and worked in private practice and urgent care. He was also active in Shepard’s Hope, a volunteer organization that provides care to the undocumented, uninsured and poor. After a few years, he relocated back up North where he has been practicing as a hospitalist. His academic interests include hospital medicine, evidence-based medicine, procedures, osteopathic manual therapy (OMT), research and writing and looking at health care disparities of the underserved health care in the inner city. Dr. Bruno is also a medical officer (Flight Surgeon) in the US Air Force Reserve. He has traveled and served all over the world and is involved with the Space Shuttle program at NASA in rescue and recovery. His personal interests include traveling with his wife and family, exercise, flying, movies and writing.

Alan M. Cementina, M.D.
Medical Director, Practice Center
Associate Professor
Dr. Cementina graduated from the University of California at Santa Barbara in 1974 with a bachelors degree in anthropology with honors. He received his medical degree in 1983 from the University of Southern California in Los Angeles and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha in the same year. Dr. Cementina graduated from the University of Connecticut/Saint Francis Hospital and Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program in 1986 and entered a three physician practice in Storrs, Connecticut. After seven years of private practice and teaching as a community preceptor with the residency program, he joined the department in 1994 as a full-time faculty member and serves as the medical director. Dr. Cementina's clinical area of interest is the prevention, detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease. His outside interests include cross-country skiing, and triathlons.

Patrick P. Coll, M.D.
Associate Director, Center on Aging
Associate Professor,
Family Medicine and Medicine
Dr. Coll graduated from Trinity College Medical School in Ireland in 1981. He completed a Family Medicine Residency followed by a Geriatric Fellowship at the University of Connecticut and then spent a year in England working in an acute geriatric care unit before joining the faculty in 1989. Dr. Coll teaches geriatric medicine to medical students, residents, and fellows at a variety of sites. He is director of clinical programs in Geriatric Medicine at the University of Connecticut Health Center. His area of research is the utilization of preventive services by older persons.

Henry M. Feder, Jr., M.D.
Professor, Family Medicine and Pediatrics
Dr. Feder graduated cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania in 1967, and from Jefferson Medical College in 1971. He was a fellow in Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Johns Hopkins Hospital and served as the clinical director of the Mescalero Public Health Hospital in New Mexico. Dr. Feder has been with the Department of Family Medicine since 1977 and has served as a residency director. His main area of research is pediatric infectious disease, with concentration in the area of Lyme Disease, Streptococcal and Non-Streptococcal Pharyngitis, Recurrent Aphthous Stomatitis, Pediatric Fever Syndromes and Rabies. He is board certified in Family Medicine, Pediatrics and Pediatric Infectious Diseases. His first position was in family medicine at the University of Connecticut as assistant professor and has been with the Department as full professor for 18 years. He has twice won the resident teaching award in Family Medicine and has twice won the teaching award in Pediatrics. He is 50% Family Medicine and 50% Pediatric Infectious Disease at Connecticut Childrens Medical Center.

Judith Fifield, Ph.D., R.N.
Director of Research
Full Professor
Judith Fifield, a Medical Sociologist, is a Professor in Family Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. She is the Director of the Ethel Donaghue Center for Translating Research into Practice and Policy at UCHC. She is also the Director of Research in Family Medicine, and the Program Director of the NIH-K12, University of Connecticut Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Women’s Health. Her areas of research focus on chronic illness and minority health with an emphasis on translating research into practice and the community. In particular, her methodological expertise includes methods of translating research into practice including performance feedback using information technology, daily diary approaches to measuring within subject change and designing community-based clinical interventions that span multiple sites. Her topical areas of interest are chronic conditions such as depression, arthritis, asthma and obesity. Currently she is the Principal Investigator of two funded translational studies. The first is an AHRQ-funded study to improve outcomes for poor, minority children with asthma by translating the 1997 NAEPP Asthma Guidelines into practice in low-resource environments. The second is a study funded by the Donaghue Medical Research Foundation to translate tailored weight control strategies for dissemination through the Black and African American Church. Dr. Fifield is a member of the Health Research Implementation and Dissemination Study Section at the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.

Robin Gold, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Dr. Gold received her B.A. degree from Brandeis University in 1988, graduating summa cum laude with concentrations in both Chemistry and Biology, with Highest Honors in Chemistry. She then relocated from Waltham, Massachusetts to the Bronx, New York where she earned an MD degree and election into Alpha Omega Alpha in 1992. Dr. Gold (at that time known as Dr. Bersch) then returned to her home state, and completed the University of Connecticut/St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center Family Practice Residency Program in 1995. In an effort to solidify her training in maternity care, Dr. Gold went to Jasper , Texas in April 1996 where she planned a three-month "mini-fellowship." After just a few short weeks, it became evident that this was a superb, unique learning opportunity for rural family medicine. At Dr. Gold's request, with the academic support of the Family Medicine Department at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, a one-year Rural Family Practice/Maternity Care Fellowship was created. Dr. Gold helped to design the fellowship, was the first to complete it in April 1997, and was the on-site fellowship director for the subsequent three-and-a-half years. In addition to the focus of practicing family medicine in a rural environment, the fellowship taught operative obstetrical skills including C-sections, postpartum tubal ligations, and dilation and curettage procedures. In August of 2000, Dr. Gold was swept off her feet by her Prince Charming. She left Jasper in November 2000, returned to Connecticut, and planned her storybook wedding. In July 2001, Dr. Gold joined our faculty as the Obstetrics and Gynecology coordinator. Here, she plans to utilize the skills she learned in Jasper in the education of family practice residents.

Mary P. Guerrera, M.D., FAAFP
Associate Professor

Dr. Guerrera, a native New Englander, has enjoyed training and living in this beloved region of seasonal cycles and outdoor adventure. A native of Massachusetts, she graduated cum laude from Mount Holyoke College, going on to receive her medical degree from the University of Massachusetts Medical School. She then headed north to complete a residency at the Maine Medical/Mercy Hospital Family Practice Residency Program in Portland, Maine. Thereafter, she moved to Connecticut where her family summers by the shore and joined the Department. Dr. Guerrera has special interests and expertise in Integrative/Complementary and Alternative Medicine. She is board certified in medical acupuncture and is a founding diplomate of the American Board of Holistic Medicine. Dr. Guerrera represents the University of Connecticut School of Medicine as a member of the steering and education committees of the Consortium of Academic Health Centers for Integrative Medicine. In 2003 she became Principle Investigator of the four year Educational Development for Complementary and Alternative Medicine Project Grant sponsored by the American Medical Student Association Foundation. She has completed formal training in Mind-Body-Spirit Medicine which she also incorporates into her clinical practice. Other areas of interest include homeopathy and palliative/end-of-life care. She enjoys teaching/learning with residents and medical students, as well as developing innovative curricula. With great love for adventure and the outdoors, this amateur marine biologist may be found on, in or under the water either sailing, sea-kayaking, or scuba diving. Recent trips to the Caribbean have included snorkeling with wild dolphin and humpback whales, each renewing her appreciation of our planet's life force and wonderful diversity!
David D. Henderson, M.D. 
Director, Predoctoral Division
Assistant Professor 
Dr. Henderson is an assistant professor and predoctoral director in the Department of Family Medicine. Prior to joining the faculty he worked for a year as a physician volunteer in a rural hospital in Sierra Leone, West Africa. He also worked part time as a physician volunteer at Charter Oak Terrace Community Health Center in Hartford for two years. He was instrumental in the development of a community health center in Norwich, Connecticut and was the center’s only fulltime physician in its first three years. While chairman of the Family Medicine Department at Backus Hospital he assisted in the development of a series of hospital run, community based primary care sites and served as the primary care director.
Since joining the faculty fulltime in 2003 Dr. Henderson has continued to pursue his interest in community involvement and service. He has been a physician advisor to the Community Advisory Team of Sister Talk Hartford, a community based research project involving a consortium of 12 churches in Hartford investigating health promotion strategies in the African American community. He has served as co-PI of a Title VII funded HRSA grant one of the goals of which is to increase the number of graduating students choosing training and practice opportunities in medically underserved communities. He has also worked closely with the Health Careers Opportunities Program (HCOP) participating in enrichment programs with elementary and high school students in the Hartford school system as well as working with post-baccalaureate students here at the Health Center. In addition to a traditional medical practice Dr. Henderson is also trained in medical acupuncture which he uses in direct patient care and teaching.

Eric A. Jackson, Pharm.D.
Associate Professor/Clinical Pharmacist
Dr. Jackson graduated from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1971 with a BS in pharmacy. He received the School of Pharmacy Special Faculty Award for his work in coordinating pharmacy student involvement in multidisciplinary clinics for indigent patients in Chapel Hill and Durham, NC. After working for 2 years at Duke University Medical Center, he returned to school, earning his Pharm.D. in 1975 from the University of Cincinnati while completing a residency in hospital pharmacy at the Cincinnati Veterans Administration Hospital. He became board certified as a Pharmacotheraphy Specialist in 1995. Dr. Jackson's teaching and clinical responsibilities include attending morning report, precepting residents at the Family Practice Center, coordinating the Therapeutics Core Curriculum, and serving as a therapeutic consultant to residents and faculty. He also coordinates the department's Journal Club as well as a longitudunal curriculum on Information Mastery. Dr. Jackson is a member of the Editorial Board of Inforetriever and The Editorial Advisory Board of The Prescriber's Letter and Pharmacist's Letter. Outside activities include reading, kayaking, hiking, cross-country skiing, travel, and gardening.

Kenia Riveria-Mansilla, M.D.
Assistant Professor

Dr. Mansilla graduated from the University of Puerto Rico with a bachelor degree in Biology. She then attended the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, graduating in 1999. She completed her residency at Saint Francis Family Practice Residency Program in Wilmington, Delaware. Dr. Mansilla worked until 2006 as an Obstetric Family Medicine Faculty member in Wilmington, Delaware and practiced at the Center of Hope, a satellite office in Newark, Delaware for predominantly Hispanic immigrant population, where 50% of her practice was OB and pediatrics. She relocated with her husband, two daughters and a son to Hartford during the summer of 2006, where she joined UConn/St. Francis Hospital Residency Program. She currently practices at the Family Medicine Center of East Hartford and precepts residents at Asylum Hill. She also serves as faculty in the Predoctoral Education program, teaching in the third year family medicine rotation at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine.

Linda M. Sinapi, A.C.S.W.

Director, Behavioral Science Education
Assistant Professor

Ms. Sinapi graduated magna cum laude from the University of Connecticut with a degree in psychology. In 1980, she was awarded an M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut School of Social Work and received her A.C.S.W. accreditation in 1982. She worked as a clinical social worker with adults and families at the University of Connecticut Burgdorf Clinic and joined the Department of Family Medicine in 1982. Her special interests are gerontology, cross cultural competency, and the electronic health record. She was the director of the Principles of Clinical Medicine course and taught medical interviewing and physical exam skills to first and second year medical students. She taught for a number of years in the course also. She coordinates and teaches the longitudinal behavioral science curriculum. Ms. Sinapi enjoys hiking, kayaking, snowshoeing, bicycling in the beautiful western Massachusetts countryside with her partner, Cate.

Roy Zagieboylo, M.D.
Assistant Professor
East Hartford Geriatric Project
Dr. Zagieboylo graduated summa cum laude from Merrimack College, with a degree in biology. In 1982, he received his M.D. from the University of Massachusetts and continued his postgraduate training at the UMass Family Practice Residency Program. He was the first family practice resident to be voted by UMass medical students as an outstanding medical educator. With his partners, Dr. Zagieboylo has developed an outreach family practice office with an emphasis on geriatric medicine. In 1990 he obtained the certificate of added qualification in geriatrics. Dr. Zagieboylo is also medical director of the Riverside Health Care Center, a 340-bed skilled nursing facility, where he supervises family practice residents in the care of their geriatric patients, as well as the medical director of the VNA of Connecticut Hospice and Palliative Care Program. He is also the Medical Director of the VNA's PediPal (Pediatric Palliative Care) Program. Over the past 10 years Dr. Zagieboylo has served on the board of directors of the Connecticut Academy of Family Physicians. His service has included a year as President and he continues to serve as a past-president. He is serving as a board member of the St. Francis Hospital Physician Hospital Organization. He also precepts residents at Asylum Hill Family Practice Center. Outside activities include biking, hiking, running, volleyball and travel.