Our Expert Team

Janet Kelske, CPNP, ANP-C, AE-C: Nurse Practitioner

Janet has over 30+ of clinical experience as a Registered Nurse and Nurse Practitioner in Neonatology, Pediatrics, Adult Medicine, Asthma, Allergy and Immunotherapy. Janet earned her Master’s of Science in Child Health at SUNY Stony Brook, and a post- Master’s degree in Adult Health at Molloy College. She is board certified by the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners (CPNP) and the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners (ANP-C). She joined the Center for Asthma and Allergy in 2011 after 10+ years of dedicated service in the field of allergy and asthma on Long Island. Providing education and guidance to her patients and their families is an integral part of her daily practice. Janet is a Certified Asthma Educator and a life long patient advocate.

Paola Spicer Soto, PA-C: Physician Assistant

Patricia Lombardi, PA-C: Physician Assistant

Catherine Arredondo, Practice Manager

Catherine brings an unparalleled dedication and a unique perspective to the Center for Asthma & Allergy and NY Food Allergy & Wellness Center with her 25+ years of experience. She is responsible for the successful management and daily operations of both offices. She enjoys working for Dr. Shah and in a field that changes people’s lives daily.

Bridget Anselmo, Billing Manager, Shirley Office Manager

Bridget first became associated as a team member at the Center for Asthma & Allergy after serving in primary care setting. She knows first-hand how patients are referred to a specialist, and is thrilled to be a part of this allergy specialty team.

Samantha Dixon, NYC Office Manager

Maria Mastriano, LPN: Clinical Nurse

Maria has over 15 years of nursing experience. She is a committed member of our team at the Center for Asthma & Allergy as a patient advocate and a clinical nurse. When she is not here, she is working at the Stony Brook VA with all the men and women who served our country proudly.

Suragi Patel, RN: Clinical Nurse

Suragi has over 10 years of nursing experience in the allergy and immunology specialty and more than 13 years as a nurse. She is proud of managing our food allergy management processes and protocols. She supervises our food oral challenges and food OT (oral immunotherapy) clinical needs. She is a committed member of our team at the Center for Asthma & Allergy as a patient advocate and a clinical nurse for New York Food Allergy & Wellness. She is a wonderful teacher and a trainer for our clinical team.

Joan Siafakas, RN: Clinical Nurse

Joan has joined our dedicated nursing team at the New York Food Allergy & Wellness. After making a difference at the institutions, she challenges herself with more rewarding patient interactions. She manages our food SLIT and OIT and oral challenge processes and protocols. She enjoys teaching patients and our support team.

Lorraine Yurkins, RN: Clinical Nurse

Lorraine has joined our dedicated nursing team at the New York Food Allergy & Wellness after years at other allergy practices. She enjoys making a difference in the community she calls home.

Luciana DiTata, LPN: Clinical Nurse

Luciana joined our dedicated nursing team at the New York Food Allergy & Wellness when she saw an opportunity to make a bigger impact with her work. After years at other private allergy practices, she is excited about the meaningful work through our practice.

Our Patient Care Medical Assistants

• Amanda Arredondo

• Brittony Losordo

• Jordan Locke

• Anuja Ria Joshi

• Alessandra Albano

• Rayyan Nabi

• Natalia Cuccurese

• Megan Babbino

• Justina Strauss

• Pola Urmanski

Our Patient Care Coordinators

• Brittany King

• Nadia Wilkinson

• Hina Khan

• Francesca DiMartino

NYAIRL (New York Allergy Immunology Research Lab) at New York Food Allergy & Wellness

Raavi Gupta, MD, FASCP, FCAP - Lab Director

Dr. Gupta is an Academic Pathologist at State University of New York (SUNY) Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. She completed her Pathology Residency at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA and fellowships in hematopathology and surgical pathology from Columbia University Medical Center and New York University Langone Medical Center in New York, NY respectively. She serves as a Director of Clinical Laboratories at Downstate at BayRidge, participates in undergraduate and graduate medical education, performs clinical and basic science research and is a Member of multiple institutional committees. She is an active Member of many national organizations and currently serves as a Secretary of New York Pathological Society. She is the director of our lab - NYAIRL where we offer flow cytometer-based assays for basophil activation and other immune phenotypes.

• Rebecca Rhame (Senior Lab Scientist and Research Coordinator)

• Amy Memoli (Lab Scientist and BAT coordinator)

The Basophil Activation Test (BAT) is a commonly used diagnostic tool for assessing the activation of basophils in an allergic response to allergens. It is considered a primary test for diagnosing Type I allergies, particularly in cases where routine clinical and laboratory analyses such as skin prick tests or sIgE measurements are inconclusive or pose risks, of reactions during the oral food challenge.

The BAT requires the incubation of allergy cells (basophils) and food allergens together in the lab setting to see how the cells will be affected by exposure to food allergens at various concentrations. This is like a Food Challenge, but done in the lab rather than exposing patients to allergenic foods.

Learn more about BAT:  https://www.nyfoodallergy.com/basophilactivationtest

If you’re looking for an Allergy and Asthma Specialist and a team of experienced medical professionals, contact our offices located in Suffolk county, Center for Asthma & Allergy  Shirley, New York or our NY Food Allergy & Wellness located in Centereach, New York.