Ellis Medicine

Core Faculty

Mineke Etienne, MD - Family Medicine Program Director Dr. Minéké Etienne graduated from Albany Medical College and then completed her Family Medicine Residency at St. Clare’s Hospital (now Ellis Hospital). Joining the faculty allowed her to pair two of her loves- resident education and caring for the underserved. She is proud of the lasting, positive impact that our program’s graduates have in the communities they serve. Now as program director, her goal is to continue the tradition of excellence in education and compassion in care that has been central to the program since its inception in 1977. In her spare time, she enjoys rediscovering the violin and learning taekwondo with her daughter.
Melissa Roberts, DO - Associate Program Director and Faculty Member Dr. Melissa Roberts is a graduate of New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at Ellis Hospital in 2017. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. In addition to her role as core faculty at the Ellis Family Medicine Residency program, she is also the HIV Clinical Program Director and the Medical Student Clerkship Director for the program.
Kristin Crouse, DO - Associate Program Director and Faculty Member Dr. Kristin Crouse is a graduate of New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her Family Medicine Residency at Ellis Hospital in 2019. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. Her bachelor’s degree is in Economics from Lehigh University. In addition to her role as core faculty, she is one of the Associate Program Directors. Her professional interests include providing broad- spectrum patient care, medical education and promoting procedural experience for residents.
Azuka Itabor, MD - OB Fellowship Director and Faculty Member Dr. Azuka Itabor is a graduate of the University of Benin College of Medicine, Benin City, Nigeria. He completed his residency at Ellis Medicine in 2015 and went on to complete an additional year of Obstetrics Surgical Fellowship at Bellevue Women’s Hospital
John Petrillo, DO - Faculty Member Dr. Petrillo sees the students, residents, and patients as “his greatest teachers.” He completed his bachelor’s degree in biology at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD and subsequently worked for a year thereafter on HLA typing for the National Bone Marrow Registry. He then matriculated at what was then the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM) where he received his Doctor of Osteopathy in 2003. At NYCOM, he also completed an undergraduate clinical and teaching fellowship in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. He graduated from the St. Clare's Family Medicine Residency Program in July 2006 and began his academic and teaching career at both his former residency program and through what was once the Capital Care Medical Group in Charlton, NY. In 2023, Dr. Petrillo was honored with the New York State Academy of Family Physician’s “Family Physician of the Year” award. He has had the honor of holding a position with St. Clare’s, and what is now the Ellis Medicine Family Medicine residency since 2006.
Christopher Murphy, MD - Faculty Member Dr. Chris Murphy is a graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his family practice residency at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital in the South Bronx. His Bachelors is in English and Philosophy from Cathedral College in New York and he has a Masters Degree in Nursing from Pace University. He was in private practice for ten years before coming to St. Clare's Hospital, which is now operated by Ellis Hospital.
Mays Abdulazeez, MD - Faculty Member Dr. Mays Abdulazeez is a faculty member at the Ellis Family Medicine Residency Program. She completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen Medical Center, Texas, followed by a one-year Obstetrical Surgical Fellowship at Ellis Medicine in Schenectady, New York. Prior to residency, her passion for research led her to join the Mayo Clinic in Florida as a research fellow. She earned her medical degree from the University of Baghdad, College of Medicine in Baghdad, Iraq. Dr. Abdulazeez’s professional interests include full-scope Family Medicine with a focus on obstetrics, newborn care, point-of-care ultrasound, medical education, and clinical research.
Paul DelPrato, MD - Faculty Member Dr. DelPrato is a graduate of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He completed his residency in family medicine at Hunterdon Health in western New Jersey. He joined Ellis in 2026, returning to Upstate New York having been born and raised in Syracuse, and completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Rochester. Dr. DelPrato’s academic and medical interests include inpatient and outpatient medicine, teaching, and patient advocacy. Before entering medical school, he worked in a variety of health-related academic and non-profit organizations in Delaware, Washington DC, and New York City. At home, Paul enjoys being herded by his Corgi.
Armani Khan, DO - Faculty Member Dr. Armani Khan is originally from New York City and completed her undergraduate degree in biology and psychological science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is a graduate of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her family medicine residency at Ellis Hospital. Interests include global health and osteopathic manipulative medicine.
Lindsay Reichenbach, DO - Faculty Member Dr. Lindsay Reichenbach graduated from Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete her family medicine residency through Ellis Medicine in 2025. She completed an additional year of fellowship in surgical obstetrics at Bellevue Women’s Hospital. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Reichenbach is passionate about providing comprehensive family medicine, both inpatient and outpatient. She has a special interest in women’s health and obstetrics, including prenatal care, labor and delivery management, and postpartum care. Her other professional interests include office-based procedures and medical education. She is excited to continue providing thoughtful, compassionate care through every stage of life at Ellis Medicine.

Mineke Etienne, MD - Family Medicine Program Director

Ellis Medicine Dr. Minéké Etienne graduated from Albany Medical College and then completed her Family Medicine Residency at St. Clare’s Hospital (now Ellis Hospital). Joining the faculty allowed her to pair two of her loves- resident education and caring for the underserved. She is proud of the lasting, positive impact that our program’s graduates have in the communities they serve. Now as program director, her goal is to continue the tradition of excellence in education and compassion in care that has been central to the program since its inception in 1977. In her spare time, she enjoys rediscovering the violin and learning taekwondo with her daughter.

Melissa Roberts, DO - Associate Program Director and Faculty Member

Ellis Medicine Dr. Melissa Roberts is a graduate of New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her family medicine residency at Ellis Hospital in 2017. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. In addition to her role as core faculty at the Ellis Family Medicine Residency program, she is also the HIV Clinical Program Director and the Medical Student Clerkship Director for the program.

Kristin Crouse, DO - Associate Program Director and Faculty Member

Ellis Medicine Dr. Kristin Crouse is a graduate of New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. She completed her Family Medicine Residency at Ellis Hospital in 2019. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Family Physicians. Her bachelor’s degree is in Economics from Lehigh University. In addition to her role as core faculty, she is one of the Associate Program Directors. Her professional interests include providing broad- spectrum patient care, medical education and promoting procedural experience for residents.

Azuka Itabor, MD - OB Fellowship Director and Faculty Member

Dr. Azuka Itabor is a graduate of the University of Benin College of Medicine, Benin City, Nigeria. He completed his residency at Ellis Medicine in 2015 and went on to complete an additional year of Obstetrics Surgical Fellowship at Bellevue Women’s Hospital

John Petrillo, DO - Faculty Member

Dr. Petrillo sees the students, residents, and patients as “his greatest teachers.” He completed his bachelor’s degree in biology at Loyola College in Baltimore, MD and subsequently worked for a year thereafter on HLA typing for the National Bone Marrow Registry. He then matriculated at what was then the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYCOM) where he received his Doctor of Osteopathy in 2003. At NYCOM, he also completed an undergraduate clinical and teaching fellowship in Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine. He graduated from the St. Clare's Family Medicine Residency Program in July 2006 and began his academic and teaching career at both his former residency program and through what was once the Capital Care Medical Group in Charlton, NY.

In 2023, Dr. Petrillo was honored with the New York State Academy of Family Physician’s “Family Physician of the Year” award. He has had the honor of holding a position with St. Clare’s, and what is now the Ellis Medicine Family Medicine residency since 2006.

Christopher Murphy, MD - Faculty Member

Ellis Medicine Dr. Chris Murphy is a graduate of Albert Einstein College of Medicine. He completed his family practice residency at Bronx-Lebanon Hospital in the South Bronx. His Bachelors is in English and Philosophy from Cathedral College in New York and he has a Masters Degree in Nursing from Pace University. He was in private practice for ten years before coming to St. Clare's Hospital, which is now operated by Ellis Hospital.

Mays Abdulazeez, MD - Faculty Member

Dr. Mays Abdulazeez is a faculty member at the Ellis Family Medicine Residency Program. She completed her Family Medicine residency at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, McAllen Medical Center, Texas, followed by a one-year Obstetrical Surgical Fellowship at Ellis Medicine in Schenectady, New York. Prior to residency, her passion for research led her to join the Mayo Clinic in Florida as a research fellow. She earned her medical degree from the University of Baghdad, College of Medicine in Baghdad, Iraq.

Dr. Abdulazeez’s professional interests include full-scope Family Medicine with a focus on obstetrics, newborn care, point-of-care ultrasound, medical education, and clinical research.

Paul DelPrato, MD - Faculty Member

Ellis Medicine Dr. DelPrato is a graduate of Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia. He completed his residency in family medicine at Hunterdon Health in western New Jersey. He joined Ellis in 2026, returning to Upstate New York having been born and raised in Syracuse, and completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Rochester.
Dr. DelPrato’s academic and medical interests include inpatient and outpatient medicine, teaching, and patient advocacy. Before entering medical school, he worked in a variety of health-related academic and non-profit organizations in Delaware, Washington DC, and New York City. At home, Paul enjoys being herded by his Corgi.

Armani Khan, DO - Faculty Member

Ellis Medicine Dr. Armani Khan is originally from New York City and completed her undergraduate degree in biology and psychological science at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. She is a graduate of New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed her family medicine residency at Ellis Hospital. Interests include global health and osteopathic manipulative medicine.

Lindsay Reichenbach, DO - Faculty Member

Dr. Lindsay Reichenbach graduated from Kansas City University College of Osteopathic Medicine and went on to complete her family medicine residency through Ellis Medicine in 2025. She completed an additional year of fellowship in surgical obstetrics at Bellevue Women’s Hospital. She is board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine.

Dr. Reichenbach is passionate about providing comprehensive family medicine, both inpatient and outpatient. She has a special interest in women’s health and obstetrics, including prenatal care, labor and delivery management, and postpartum care.

Her other professional interests include office-based procedures and medical education. She is excited to continue providing thoughtful, compassionate care through every stage of life at Ellis Medicine.

Pediatrics

Melissa Foye-Petrillo, DO Dr. Melissa Foye-Petrillo is a graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury. She completed her internship, residency and fellowship at Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

Melissa Foye-Petrillo, DO

Ellis Medicine Dr. Melissa Foye-Petrillo is a graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury. She completed her internship, residency and fellowship at Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics.

OB/GYN

William I. Anyaegbunam, MD Dr. William Anyaegbunam is a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He completed his residency at the Royal Liverpool Hospital in England and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Liverpool Women's Hospital. He is a faculty member with the Ob/Gyn Department. His interests include reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

William I. Anyaegbunam, MD

Ellis Medicine Dr. William Anyaegbunam is a graduate of the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland. He completed his residency at the Royal Liverpool Hospital in England and fellowship in reproductive endocrinology at Liverpool Women's Hospital. He is a faculty member with the Ob/Gyn Department. His interests include reproductive endocrinology and infertility.

Emergency Department

Robert J. Dachs, MD, FAAFP Dr. Robert Dachs is a graduate of New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. He served his internship in General Surgery at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA and completed his family practice residency at Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, Connecticut. He has worked full-time in emergency medicine since completion of his residency. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and serves as chair of the AAFP CME course, "Emergency and Urgent Care for Family Physicians". His interests include teaching and research and has given numerous lectures across the country on emergency and urgent care topics.

Robert J. Dachs, MD, FAAFP

Ellis Medicine Dr. Robert Dachs is a graduate of New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY. He served his internship in General Surgery at Baystate Medical Center, Springfield, MA and completed his family practice residency at Middlesex Hospital, Middletown, Connecticut. He has worked full-time in emergency medicine since completion of his residency. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians and serves as chair of the AAFP CME course, "Emergency and Urgent Care for Family Physicians". His interests include teaching and research and has given numerous lectures across the country on emergency and urgent care topics.

Intensivists

Brian A. McDonald, MD Dr. Brian McDonald and his colleagues at Schenectady Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates are the intensivists on faculty at the Ellis Medicine Family Residency. Dr. McDonald is the Vice Chair of Ellis Medicine’s medical staff and a member of Ellis Medicine's Board of Trustees. Dr. McDonald is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the subspecialties of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Disease. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City, completed his residency training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and a Fellowship also at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is a partner at Schenectady Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates and cares for the most critically ill patients at Ellis Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit.
Peter Weinberg, MD Dr. Peter Weinberg is a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. He completed his internship and residency at Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. He completed his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, CA. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Brian A. McDonald, MD

Dr. Brian McDonald and his colleagues at Schenectady Pulmonary and Critical Care Associates are the intensivists on faculty at the Ellis Medicine Family Residency.

Dr. McDonald is the Vice Chair of Ellis Medicine’s medical staff and a member of Ellis Medicine's Board of Trustees.

Dr. McDonald is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the subspecialties of Critical Care Medicine and Pulmonary Disease. He earned his medical degree from Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons in New York City, completed his residency training at New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, and a Fellowship also at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. He is a partner at Schenectady Pulmonary & Critical Care Associates and cares for the most critically ill patients at Ellis Hospital in the Intensive Care Unit.

Peter Weinberg, MD

Ellis Medicine Dr. Peter Weinberg is a graduate of the New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY. He completed his internship and residency at Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY. He completed his fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco, CA. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

Behavioral

James Ansel, PhD - Behavioral Science Coordinator Dr. James Ansel is a graduate of Bucknell University and a 1983 graduate of the University of Florida. He served his internships at Norfolk Regional Center in Nebraska, and Northern Nebraska Comprehensive Mental Health Center. In addition to his experience in private practice, he has served as a consulting psychologist with several local agencies.

James Ansel, PhD - Behavioral Science Coordinator

Ellis Medicine Dr. James Ansel is a graduate of Bucknell University and a 1983 graduate of the University of Florida. He served his internships at Norfolk Regional Center in Nebraska, and Northern Nebraska Comprehensive Mental Health Center. In addition to his experience in private practice, he has served as a consulting psychologist with several local agencies.

Administrative Staff

Ali Fox - Residency Manager Ali Fox is originally from the Pacific Northwest. After serving six years in the United States Army, she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in human development followed by a Master of Arts in management from American Military University. She is enthusiastic about graduate medical education and has been with the residency program since 2022. Ali is passionate about the full cycle of residency. She finds great fulfillment in being part of the transformation of eager medical school graduates to confident family medicine physicians. She takes immense pride in having a role in the growth and development of the residents that come through the program.
Alexis Gibbons - Residency Coordinator Alexis has a passion for supporting physicians throughout their training and helping create a positive, organized residency experience. Outside of work, she is a wife, mom of two, full-time college student, and part of a busy racing family. When Alexis isn’t working, you can usually find her at a racetrack, cheering on her kids, spending time with her three crazy huskies, or enjoying time with family.
Theresa Desantos - Residency Coordinator

Ali Fox - Residency Manager

Ellis Medicine Ali Fox is originally from the Pacific Northwest. After serving six years in the United States Army, she completed a Bachelor of Arts degree in human development followed by a Master of Arts in management from American Military University. She is enthusiastic about graduate medical education and has been with the residency program since 2022. Ali is passionate about the full cycle of residency. She finds great fulfillment in being part of the transformation of eager medical school graduates to confident family medicine physicians. She takes immense pride in having a role in the growth and development of the residents that come through the program.

Alexis Gibbons - Residency Coordinator

Ellis Medicine Alexis has a passion for supporting physicians throughout their training and helping create a positive, organized residency experience. Outside of work, she is a wife, mom of two, full-time college student, and part of a busy racing family. When Alexis isn’t working, you can usually find her at a racetrack, cheering on her kids, spending time with her three crazy huskies, or enjoying time with family.

Theresa Desantos - Residency Coordinator

Ellis Medicine

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