Meet Our Team

Dr. James Petros is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Allied Pain & Spine Institute and Managing Member of Trinity Surgery Center. In addition to healthcare executive responsibilities, Dr. Petros continues to also fulfill his professional passion actively for treating new and established patients with the most advanced pharmacologic, rehabilitative, restorative, and minimally invasive solutions available today. His clinical goal in every case is simple: diagnose root cause and maximize quality of life in the most efficient, conservative, and cost-effective way possible— one customized step at a time.

Dr. Parish Vaidya joined Allied Pain & Spine Institute as an Interventional Pain Specialist in 2015. Based on his stellar track record in patient care, leadership qualities, love for teaching, and refined knowledge and experience in comprehensive pain management, he was named Chief Medical Officer of Allied Pain & Spine Institute in 2019.

Dr. Vaidya’s personable and whole-person approach coupled with outstanding dedication to compassionate healing set the new standard in state-of-the-art pain care. His caliber and diversity of skill in interventional pain management, non-surgical & regenerative musculoskeletal/orthopedics, electrodiagnostics, and integrative medicine are matched by a rare few across the country.

Dr. Richard Keyme is a double-board certified physician with a special interest in low back pain, because he has been personally living with it for the last 20 years. He graduated from University of Pennsylvania with degrees in Biomedical Science and Psychology, then taught high school for 3 years as a science teacher, then earned his medical degree from University of Illinois in 2013, followed by completing residency at Stanford University in 2017. During medical school, he received Granville A. Bennett award for excellence in medical education and represented the student body during all 4 years.

Dr. Kemesha Delisser provides comprehensive pain management care for patients who are experiencing chronic pain caused by spinal nerves, spinal fractures, joint and tendon injuries, metabolic and developmental disorders, and other conditions. With over a decade of patient care experience, she specializes in developing non-surgical treatment plans that include a combination of procedures, therapies, and medications. Dr. Delisser also works closely with regional physicians and other care providers to create individual treatment plans that ensure patients receive comprehensive care for their physical and mental well-being.

Dr. Polsunas took a nontraditional path to his career in medicine. Looking to ease the aches and pains accumulated over years of participating in a variety of adventure sports, he discovered the practice of yoga, a passion for which led him to become a yoga teacher. In that role, he was privileged to watch people work through a variety of musculoskeletal and psychosocial ailments. It did not take long to realize that he wished to be more fully able to help people achieve their goals and a better quality of life as a physician.

Dr. Karandikar is a triple Board-Certified physician with expertise in comprehensive, goal-directed, multi-disciplinary management of pain arising from spinal and musculoskeletal conditions while simultaneously incorporating his specialization in Spinal and Ultrasound-guided procedures. Dr. Karandikar has a unique educational background and brings with him a distinctive blend of clinical expertise along with the experience of different practice settings including academia and the federal VA (Veterans Affairs) system.

Sameera Alocozy, MD, completed residency training in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Albany Medical Center in New York. She has a special interest in the nonsurgical treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and back pain. She graduated from the University of California Berkeley with a degree in Integrative Biology and obtained her medical degree from Creighton University School of Medicine in 2017.

Dr. Shelley Cowan is a board-certified doctor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Physiatry) who specializes in sports medicine and also serves as a qualified medical evaluator (QME). She focuses on a conservative, non-surgical treatment of orthopedic and neurological disorders, emphasizing exercise-based approaches.

Katherine Sattler is a board-certified Physician Assistant, who joined Allied Pain and Spine Institute in 2022. She grew up in New York, and received her training at NYIT.

After graduating in 2013, Kat joined the largest PA-run service in the country, when she began working as a hospitalist PA at Montefiore Medical Center. When she moved to California in 2018, she joined a renowned endometriosis clinic. She found it especially rewarding to connect with patients living with chronic pain, and valued her role in improving their quality of life. Kat is thrilled to use her years of experience to help her new patients at APSI.

Judith Smith is a board-certified family nurse practitioner now specializing in chronic pain management.

Judith began her nursing career in the United States Air Force and is now a retired veteran. After retiring from the military, she completed her Master’s degree in nursing from Samuel Merritt University. She has been working as a nurse practitioner since 2005. Judith has extensive experience in occupational medicine and acute and urgent care. She has been working in chronic pain management for over 3 years.

Nurse practitioner Patti Lee, RN, ARNP, FNP-BC, MSN, MEd, brings nearly three decades of experience in skilled nursing, urgent care, and pain management.

Maian Ngo is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Davis with a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences. She worked in a neurology research laboratory and as a tutor before moving down to San Diego to complete her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Azusa Pacific University (APU), where she also served as a nursing student representative and as a Supplemental Instruction Leader.

She then worked as a registered nurse on a step-down unit at UC San Diego Thornton Hospital for three years while completing her Master’s degree in nursing at APU to become a family nurse practitioner.

Dr. Raeda Joudy is our experienced licensed Lead Clinical Psychologist who joined Allied Pain & Spine Institute in 2020. Guided by her philosophy that a mind, body, and spiritual approach towards healing can be ubiquitously transformative, she is impassioned in coaching patients at Allied Pain & Spine Institute to engage emotional coping skills, realize increased daily function, and enjoy a higher quality of life.

Dr. Joudy obtained her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with emphasis in Health Psychology/Chronic Pain, from Pacific Graduate School of Psychology at Palo Alto University in 2008. She then completed intensive post-doctoral training at El Camino Hospital and CHAC to further advance her clinical skills.

Dr. Denniz Hernandez joined Allied Pain & Spine Institute in 2022. She obtained her Doctorate in Psychology in Applied Clinical Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in 2019. She received post-doctoral training at the Pasadena Rehabilitation Institute, where she gained experience in pain management; helping patients overcome chronic pain by minimizing psychological, emotional, and physical barriers that keep patients from achieving their maximum functionality and full potential.

Her goal is to ensure that patient’s emotional, mental, and physical needs are considered in treatment by providing a compassionate and trusting environment, along with coping techniques to help them overcome life challenges.

Dr. LaShurn Ferrell joined the Allied Pain & Spine Institute in 2023. She obtained her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the American School of Professional Psychology in San Francisco Bay Area in 2014.

She received post-doctoral training at San Francisco County Jail and the Institute for Transformation and Change. She gained experience in Forensic, Neurological, and Psycho-educational assessment as well as helping patients and educators understand socio-emotional, learning, and/or developmental disabilities, behaviors, cognitive and academic functioning.

Dr. Barbara Cox is a Clinical Psychologist who joined Allied Pain & Spine Institute in 2023. Guided by her philosophy that an integrated mind, body, and spirit approach towards healing can be transformative, she is impassioned in empowering patients at Allied Pain & Spine Institute to engage emotional coping skills, realize increased daily function, and enjoy a higher quality of life.

She received her BA in Biology from UC San Diego and her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, with an emphasis in Health Psychology from Alliant International University/California School of Professional Psychology. She then completed intensive post-doctoral training at Aurora Behavioral Health Centers and other medical centers that specialized in health psychology and was licensed in 2002.

Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Dr. Orlando Soler is a proud member of the APSI community. He studied chiropractic at New York Chiropractic College in upstate New York, emphasizing education in evidence-based chiropractic. He is comfortable working will all patients, but he specializes in pain management with instrument-assisted myofascial release technique, disc herniation injury management, and performing diversified adjustments.

In his free time, he enjoys cooking, gardening, movies, and finding the best place to eat.

Dr. Prabhjot Kaur joined APSI in 2023. She received her BS in Molecular, Cell, and Developmental Biology from the University of Washington, Seattle, and her Doctor of Chiropractic degree from Palmer Chiropractic College West, San Jose. During the clinical part of chiropractic school, she spent time at the Palo Alto VA Healthcare System treating Veterans with chiropractic care. She finds joy in establishing connections with her patients, providing care through active and passive treatment methods, and facilitating their return to active, functional lifestyles.

Dr. Rupa Chakravarty holds a Doctorate degree in Physical Therapy and is a Board certified Orthopedic Specialist. She earned her Doctorate from Des Moines University, Iowa. She has been a Physical Therapist for three decades and has extensive experience and expertise in various settings and practices. This unique background gives her the added perspective to being able to treat complex and difficult diagnoses.

Rupa has numerous manual therapy and exercise certifications in her tool kit. She is also a Board certified Clinical Instructor and imparts Physical Therapy knowledge to aspiring rehabilitation practitioners.

Junior Rangel is a California licensed Physical Therapist Assistant. He holds a BS in Kinesiology, pre-professional.

He has a wide range of experience working with multidisciplinary teams and emphasizes the root cause approach as a foundation for treating patients. Junior uses extensive manual therapy techniques and functional exercises to help patients operate at a more optimal level. He stresses movement science which works on the whole chain.

Mariano Mempin is a dedicated California licensed Physical Therapist Assistant passionate about promoting health and well-being with a B.S. degree in Kinesiology from CSU East Bay.

Mariano has honed his expertise in various Physical Therapy clinics, where he specializes in manual therapy techniques, guiding clients toward the restoration and achievement of functional movement through tailored exercise programs, providing knowledge to take charge of their health through education and experience.

Celine Chang is a California State Board Licensed Acupuncturist, Master of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine since 2006. She embraces traditional acupuncture with her own innovation and objective diagnosis method. Celine practices the technique of scalp acupuncture, which restores the strength of a person’s body, muscle, organs, and tissues efficiently and usually delivers immediate positive effects.

Dr. Itzel Coronado was born and raised in Mexico City, Mexico. Her diverse background and experiences made her interested in the human condition. While studying as a surgeon student at the UNAM Medicine School in Mexico City, she became interested in Traditional Medicine. She observed people’s struggles with illness and pain and, as a result of Chinese Medicine, achieved individual health, happiness, balance, and well-being. This experience triggered her own journey of helping people to feel their best emotionally, physically, and spiritually.

Noah is the Allied Pain & Spine Functional Restoration Coordinator. He works one-on-one with the FRP patients to assist them in restoring their bodies through gentle physical exercise.

Though born in Los Angeles, Noah developed his passion for health and fitness while studying martial arts in the mountains of northern China. While practicing various martial arts, he was injured frequently. As he recovered Noah spent his time studying kinesiology and injury recovery. Noah ultimately returned to the United States to complete his BS in kinesiology with a minor in sports nutrition.

Dr. Sherwin Hua brings nearly a decade of experience treating patients with complex spine and brain disorders.

He has performed over 3,000 surgeries since finishing Residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2005 and has taken care of thousands of patients with neurosurgical and pain issues. He brings this wealth of experience into every consultation at Allied Pain & Spine Institute and into every surgery at Trinity Surgery Center. Every patient and situation are different, and so Dr. Sherwin Hua practices the art of neurosurgery one patient at a time.

Contact Information:

Website: https://dimespine.com/
Telephone: 888-588-6988

Dr. Bryan McCleve is a board-certified Anesthesiologist who joined Allied Pain & Spine Institute in 2020. He works primarily through Allied‘s affiliated ambulatory surgery center, serving as co-director of Anesthesia Services at Trinity Surgery Center.

Dr. McCleve attended Stanford University for his undergraduate studies, and as a student-athlete, competed at the highest levels in springboard diving. He was awarded his Medical Doctorate at University of Utah School of Medicine before setting off for specialized training in anesthesia– with emphasis in acute pain management, regional anesthesia, and pediatric anesthesia– at the Medical College of Virginia.