Division Directory

Children’s Specialty Group, PLLC
Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology
601 Children’s Lane
Norfolk, Virginia 23507-1971
Telephone: (757) 668-7320
FAX: (757) 668-9735

David N. Blakey, MD, FAAP
Past Director, CHKD Department of Anesthesiology
Medical Degree:  Duke University Medical School
Residency:  Anesthesiology, Naval Hospital, San Diego
Subspecialty Training:  Regional Anesthesia, Naval Medical Center-Portsmouth; Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia, Regional anesthesia

Ronald C. Brodsky, MD, FAAP
Medical Director, Oyster Point Ambulatory Surgery Center
Medical Degree:  State University of New York, Syracuse
Residency:  Anesthesiology, State University of New York, Syracuse
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital-National Medical Center, Washington, DC
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia, Operation Smile
 

J. Matthew Cecchini, MD
Chief, CHKD Department of Anesthesiology
Medical Director, 3C/Short Procedures Unit
Medical Degree:  Hahnemann University School of Medicine, Philadelphia
Residency:  Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia
Subspecialty Training:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Anesthesia for special needs children
 

Steven M. Defreitas, MD
Medical Degree:  George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, DC
Residency:  Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia
Subspecialty Training:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia




Justin M. John, MD
Medical Degree:  Kasturba Medical College, India
Residency:  Anesthesiology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia, Regional anesthesia, Pain management

Jessica J. Kell, MD
Medical Director, Surgical Services, CHKD Health and Surgery Center at Princess Anne
Medical Degree: The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences
Residency:  Anesthesiology, The George Washington University Medical Center
Subspecialty Training:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's National Medical Center
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia, Regional anesthesia, Resident/Medical Student/Nursing Education

Melissa M. McLeod, MD, FAAP
Medical Degree:  University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Residency:  Anesthesiology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Arkansas Children's Hospital
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia, Pain management

 

Cynthia I. Muñoz, MD
Medical Degree:  Weill Medical College of Cornell University, New York
Residency:  Anesthesiology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, The Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia


 

Lida Nadimi, MD
Medical Degree: University of Turin, Italy
Residency: Anesthesiology, Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, New York
Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, Yale Children's Hospital, New Haven, Connecticut
                Pain Management, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York
Special Interests: Pediatric anesthesia, Pain management

William C. Petersen, MD, FAAP
Medical Degree:  Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine of the University of Illinois College of Medicine
Residency:  Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, University of Southern California Medical Center
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology & Intensive Care, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Certification:  Pediatrics, Anesthesiology, Critical Care Medicine
Special Interests:  Anesthesia for pediatric ophthalmology

Mark R. Polak, DO
Director, CHKD Department of Anesthesiology
Vice President, CHKD Medical Staff
Medical Degree:  Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, Kirksville, Missouri
Residency:  Anesthesiology, Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Virginia
Subspecialty Training:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of The King's Daughters
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia, Regional anesthesia, Neuroanesthesia


Miriam U. Schoepf, MD
Medical Degree:  Ludwig-Maximilians University, Munich, Germany
Residency:  Anesthesiology, University of Illinois at Chicago; University of Toledo, Toledo, Ohio
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Certification:  American Board of Anesthesiology, German Board of Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia



Jeffrey L. Schubert, DO
Medical Degree:  Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ft. Lauderdale
Residency:  Anesthesiology, University of Miami
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Mayo Clinic at Wolfson Children's Hospital, Jacksonville, Florida
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia

Thomas M. Shackleford, DO

G. Kevin Thompson, MD, FAAP
Past President, CHKD Medical Staff
Medical Degree:  University of Texas School of Medicine
Residency:  Anesthesiology, University of Texas Health Sciences Center
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Arkansas Children's Hospital; Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic Anesthesia, Methodist Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia, Pain management, Acupuncture

Moira Gioitta-Tucker, MD
Medical Degree-National University of Ireland, Galway
Residency:  Anesthesiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
Fellowship: Akron Children's Hospital
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Regional anesthesia, Conscious sedation

Amy T. Wilborn, MD
Medical Degree:  Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Residency:  Anesthesiology, University of Virginia Health System; Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center
Certification:  Anesthesiology, Pediatrics
Special Interests:  Pediatric anesthesia, Regional Anesthesia

Cardiac Anesthesiologists

José Santoro, MD
Medical Degree:  Universidad Católica, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Residency:  Anesthesiology, New York Presbyterian Hospital, Columbia University
Fellowship:  Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of Michigan, Cardiac Anesthesiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Cardiac anesthesia
 

E. Christian Tucker, MD
Medical Degree:  National University of Ireland, Galway
Residency:  Anesthesiology, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio
Fellowship:  Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Certification:  Anesthesiology
Special Interests:  Pediatric cardiac anesthesia



CRNA's
 

Donna L. Balkus, CRNA
Nursing Degree: Rhode Island College
Nurse Anesthestetist Training: Old Dominion University, MSN
Additional Degree: MA-Counseling, BA-Psychology, Rhode Island College

Carol S. Farpour, CRNA
Nursing Degree:  Old Dominion University
Nurse Anesthetist Training:  DePaul Medical Center, Norfolk, VA
Additional Degree:  MS-Community Health Professions, Old Dominion University

Kathy B. Malley, CRNA
Nursing Degree:  Old Dominion University
Nurse Anesthetist Training:  DePaul Medical Center, Norfolk, VA
Additional Degree:  MS-Community Health Professions, Old Dominion University



 

Joyce C. Merola, CRNA
Nursing Degree:  Northeastern Hospital School of Nursing, Philadelphia
Nurse Anesthetist Training:  Lankenau Hospital, Philadelphia

Judith H. Ricketts, CRNA
Nursing Degree:  Medical College of Virginia, Richmond
Nurse Anesthetist Training:  Old Dominion University
Additional Degree:  MS-Nurse Anesthesia, Old Dominion University

Marlene E. Walker, CRNA
Nursing Degree:  Norfolk General Hospital School of Nursing, Norfolk, VA
Nurse Anesthetist Training:  Norfolk General Hospital/Old Dominion University School of Nurse Anesthesia