Erin Chevalier

Before joining Summit Health, Bernadette Parga, PA, practiced with First Care Medical Group in Verona and Lyndhurst, and WellCome Care in Garfield, New Jersey. Ms. Parga also has practiced with University Medical Professionals in Union, New Jersey. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and New Jersey State Society of Physician Assistants.To her credit, Ms. Parga has volunteered for Saint John's Clinic, an urban health care facility in New Brunswick and Broadway House Long-term Care Facility in Newark. She also has volunteered for the The College of New Jersey Special Olympics in Trenton, and Elijah's Promise Soup Kitchen in Newark.Ms. Parga became a PA because of her interest in medicine and her desire to help others. She says, "Being a PA allows me to care for others, address my patients' medical problems, and still have time to develop meaningful relationships with my patients and colleagues." She adds, "I want most to continue learning and becoming a better practitioner so that I can give my patients the best care possible. I believe that treating each of my patients as a whole person rather than focusing only on his or her condition or disease makes it possible to deliver comprehensive care that can sometimes make all the difference in a patient's outcomes."

Chikara Okafor, MSN, RN is a member of Summit Health's Gastroenterology team. Ms. Okafor treats patients suffering from a wide range of acute and chronic gastrointestinal conditions and diseases. Ms. Okafors interest in gastroenterology developed from her time spent working as a nurse on surgical units where she saw various gastrointestinal diseases. The field of gastroenterology requires a mix of skills and commands a considerable amount of teamwork and provider collaboration which I enjoy, she says.Ms. Okafor is a member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, the American Nurses Association, and is a Sigma Theta Tau Nursing Honor Society member. She participated in several evidence-based research projects while working as a nurse at Hackensack University Medical Center.In her spare time, Ms. Okafor enjoys traveling and learning about diverse cultures.

David Gersten, DPT is a member of Summit Health's Physical Therapy team.