Health Services Staff

Bates Health Services is an established relationship with Central Maine Medical Center to provide expertise and care for students. The Health Services staff includes CMMC Family Medicine Residency Clinic medical providers, 3rd year medical residents, registered nurses, a medical assistant, a patient service representative, and Bates support staff.

All of our medical staff are trained in providing family medicine. Providers with specialty areas, such as osteopathic manipulative medicine, acupuncture, or sports medicine will have this listed in their profile. When scheduling an appointment for a specific service, take a look at the providers who specialize in this area. You can email or call Health Services and ask to schedule with a specific provider. 


Health Services Leadership Team

Paige Picard, DO

Medical Director

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Picard for Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Disordered Eating Behavior Treatment, Birth Control, or Substance Use Concerns

Hometown: Manchester, New Jersey

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: Maine Medical Center

Undergraduate: The Ohio State University

Major: Human Development, Psychology

My passions for family, learning, and sharing knowledge led me to medical school and ultimately a career in Family Medicine. After training, I sought out a job in teaching medical students and residents so that I could continue to learn and share with like-minded people.  A desire to continue to care for the whole person through physical touch, lifestyle intervention, and integrative approaches led me to attend osteopathic medical school, complete the integrative medicine in residency program, and become board certified in Lifestyle Medicine in 2019. Currently practicing as clinical faculty and medical director of Bates College Health Clinic I am privileged to live out all my professional aspirations. These passions have also led to lifestyle changes for me personally including following a plant-based diet, creating a plant-based homestead here in Maine, gardening, beekeeping, cooking, and baking healthy treats. I currently live in Winthrop with my husband and children, dogs, and chickens! 

Brenna Callahan, MSW

Director of Health Services and Student Well-Being

Reach out to Brenna for any questions related to accessing medical care, resources on campus, care coordination, health insurance, and managing your medical needs as a college student. You can email Brenna at healthservices@bates.edu.

Brenna Callahan (she/her), a 2015 graduate of Bates, serves as the Director of Health Services and Student Well-Being. She is responsible for working collaboratively with our partners at Central Maine Medical Center to support students in navigating the healthcare system and managing their medical needs on campus and directing the Office of Student Well-Being and the Well-Being at Bates program. Brenna received her Master’s in Social Work at Smith College in 2020. She worked with adolescents and young adults in both school and outpatient settings, providing psychotherapy and supporting individuals in navigating the medical, mental health, and education systems. Prior to graduate school, Brenna received her Bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and French and francophone studies from Bates College, and worked as the AmeriCorps VISTA at the Harward Center working with youth-focused organizations in the Lewiston/Auburn community.

Jessica Seger, RN

Clinical Coordinator


Faculty Medical Providers

Heidi Walls, MD

Medical Director, Bates Sports Medicine

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Walls for Sports Medicine, Birth Control, or Concerns with energy, fatigue, and nutrition.

Hometown: Bar Harbor, ME

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine

Residency: Maine Medical Center

Undergraduate: Connecticut College

A career in medicine is inevitably a commitment to lifelong learning, which totally excites me. The academic environment and the opportunity to educate the next generation of doctors truly fosters that growth. It’s a privilege to share my knowledge with our residents, and I get to learn from them as well. Working at the Central Maine Family Medicine Residency is just the best.

When I’m not working, I find joy in movement and the outdoors. If I didn’t choose a career in medicine, I would have become a carpenter or a coach.

Lauren Nadkarni, MD

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Nadkarni for Sports Medicine, Birth Control, or Complex Medical Management Concerns

Hometown: Media, Pennsylvania

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine

Residency: Maine Medical Center

Undergraduate: Tufts University

Major: Biomedical Engineering

I believe in promoting health and supporting preventative care efforts through physical activity based on the belief that ‘exercise is medicine.’ I work with patients using shared decision-making to provide creative solutions to their unique healthcare needs.

I enjoy working with underserved populations, and when the opportunity to create a new sports medicine program within the residency appeared, I was excited to step into the role. I enjoy combining my interests in sports medicine, ultrasound, and public health in a teaching environment, and look forward to continuing to learn from and teach residents for years to come.

Outside of work, I enjoy traveling and being active outdoors hiking, playing sports, and spending time with my family.

Patricia Collins, DO

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Collins for Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine or Birth Control Concerns

Hometown: Andover, MA

Medical School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine

Residency: CMMC Family Medicine Residency

Undergraduate: University of Connecticut

Major: Psychology

I grew up in Massachusetts and moved to Maine to study medicine as the University of New England and have not wanted to leave since. I was drawn to family medicine because of the unique opportunity to help care for individuals throughout their lives and across multiple settings. My interests include reproductive health and inpatient medicine.

After completing my residency and serving as chief resident at CMMC, I am excited to be staying on as faculty. I have enjoyed working in this community and appreciate the commitment to education and care at the residency. The culture is one that strives towards growth and I am thrilled to continue to be part of the team. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors. My husband and I love to take our daughter and dog hiking. I also enjoy biking, cooking, and attempting to garden.

Christopher Decker, DO

Schedule an Appointment with Dr. Decker for Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine, Acupuncture, Dry Needling, or Concerns Related to Long COVID-19

Hometown: St. Louis Park, Minnesota

Medical School: Touro University California

Residency: CMMC Family Medicine Residency

Undergraduate: University of Minnesota

Major: Biochemistry and Chinese (minor)

Growing up, I was always interested in health and wellness. My parents are both pharmacists and my father does acupuncture. Because of them, I became interested in health and wellbeing from a holistic and evidence-based approach. In college, at the University of Minnesota, I studied biochemistry but also had the opportunity to study abroad in China to learn Chinese for a year. After graduating, I spent some time traveling, coaching high school soccer and volunteering. After some reflection, I decided that I wanted to pursue a career in Osteopathy due to its holistic philosophy and hands on approach. Not long after I was off to California for medical school where, in addition to obtaining a medical education, I gained a man bun and met my wife through our school’s frisbee club.

For residency, I knew CMMC was the right fit for me. As my wife has family in Maine and the Northeast, she could attest to its beautiful and diverse landscapes and being from Minnesota I missed the seasons.  In addition, I was very attracted to the diverse experiences and opportunities that a rural residency afforded. The residency’s strong commitment to OMM and integrative medicine was one of the main features that attracted me. More importantly, I liked the family and down-to-earth atmosphere I experienced when I came here that is still present to this day.

After graduating, given my interest, I decided to further pursue my passions in integrative medicine and acupuncture. I completed a two-year fellowship through Maine Medical Center and the University of Arizona. During that time, I also became certified in acupuncture through an intensive course for physicians.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy being active whether it being playing soccer, frisbee or going on a hike and spending time with my wife, son and dog.

Jerry Pomeranz, MD

Hometown: Brookline, MA

Medical School: Frank H. Netter School of Medicine at Quinnipiac University

Residency: Memorial Hospital of South Bend

Undergraduate: Binghamton University

Major: Math

I chose to work in resident education because teaching the next generation of family medicine doctors is incredibly meaningful to me, and multiplies my impact as a physician. What I like most about working with medical learners is the different perspectives they bring to the table, and the joy they experience when they learn a new skill. What excites me about the clinical learning environment is there is always new ideas to discuss. There are also so much flexibility in how to practice medicine in that setting. When I’m not at work you can find me at the disc golf course, playing my harmonica, listening to country music, and spending time with my family near Boston.

Clinical Areas of Interest: Wilderness/International Medicine, Obstetrics, Point-of-Care Ultrasound, Mental Health, and Procedures.

Genesis Juat, MD

Medical School:  A.U.A. College of Medicine

Residency:  Central Maine Medical Center Family Medicine Residency

I have a deep-seated belief that everyone should have access to healthcare—it’s a right, not a privilege. And having primary care as the heart of it all is vital for keeping our communities healthy and thriving.

My own curiosity has taken me on a journey through a variety of healthcare settings, from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) as far west as Seattle to rural clinics in Maine, and eventually into leadership roles in hospital systems. These experiences have given me a broad perspective and allowed me to keep my practice diverse and dynamic. Moving into resident education felt like a natural step, sharing my experiences, and learning together as we adapt to the ever-changing world of medicine.

My interests include dermatology within primary care, behavioral health integration, international medicine, substance use disorder treatment, and the exciting ways technology enhances our practice. Yet, despite all the tech advancements, I still have a soft spot for my trusty old stethoscope from med school—it’s been with me through thick and thin.

My spouse is a local Mainer, and together we have 2 strong-willed kids and 2 Seattleite golden retrievers who have made an impressive transition from the urban sidewalks of Seattle to enjoying the open fields and cold Atlantic waters of Maine.


Medical and Office Staff

Allison Ceprano

Patient Service Representative

Kelly Ducas, MA

Medical Assistant

Kelly joined the Bates Health Services staff in April of 2023.  She brings to us 15 years of Medical Assistant knowledge with 12 years spent in Pediatrics.  She is looking forward to caring for the Bates students and helping them stay healthy during this school year. 

Maggie Leonard, RN

Registered Nurse

Maggie has been part of the Bates community since 1989. Her role as a staff nurse is multifaceted, assessing students and providing proper triage for medical care. Prior to her interest and practice in college health she worked primarily in pediatrics, in hospital and in home care. She graduated from The Children’s Hospital School of Nursing in Boston and attended Northeastern University.

Palomera, Josh

jpalomera@bates.edu

Registered Dietitian and Nutrition Educator
Health Services
207-786-6198
31 Campus Avenue

(Theophil Syslo | Bates College)

Josh Palomera, MS, RD, LDN, CSN

Dietician and Nutrition Educator

Josh is a Registered Dietitian whose passion lies in working with students and athletes at the collegiate level. Josh helps clients navigate various health concerns (allergies, chronic diseases, eating disorders), acute GI distress, performance nutrition and general healthful diets using evidence-based practice and research.

Josh earned a Bachelor’s in Nutrition from San Diego State University, and later completed a Masters and Dietetic Internship at Simmons University, specializing in eating disorders and sports nutrition. His ultimate goal is to help improve people’s relationship with food and uses a non-diet approach with a belief that all foods fit.


Rotating Medical Residents

Shariam Casiano Vega, MD

  • Hometown: San Germán, Puerto Rico
  • Medical School: University of Medicine and Health Sciences, St. Kitts
  • Undergraduate: Universidad de Puerto Rico en Mayagüez 
  • Major: Microbiology
  • Tell us about yourself:
    I lived in Puerto Rico until I left to start med school and got to live and experience Maine during my school’s clinical semester in Portland, ME. I enjoyed my time there and experienced my first snowfall and now I’m into snowboarding and winter hikes.
  • Why did You Choose CMMC FMR
    The resident’s culture and seeing opportunities to learn skills from the different specialty clinics, integrative medicine, WIMP, ORT, and others that I could use in my future practice.
  • What are your interests?
    Get together with friends, boardgame nights, videogames, snowboarding, arts/crafting, Formula 1, cooking with my husband. In medicine: preventative health, outpatient procedures, integrative medicine.

Emily Hill, DO

  • Hometown: Hermon, ME but coming from Brooklyn, NY
  • Medical School: University of New England COM
  • Undergraduate: Clark University, Worcester, MA
  • Major: Economics, Politcal Science
  • Tell us about yourself:
    I live with my husband and two young kids in Portland, ME. Growing up in Maine I always knew I wanted to return, but needed to learn more about the world first. I lived in Germany for a year abroad in HS, and then moved to NYC after college. I initially intended to go to law school and work in global public health and policy, however I realized I wanted to spend more time with people rather than paper. I completed a post-bacc at Hunter College – CUNY, but wanted to come back to Maine to complete medical school while raising my kids. I feel incredibly privileged to be a physician — I take it very seriously the power we have to make change both personally in peoples’ lives but also on a greater system level. I feel lucky to be able to tangibly help people every single day.
  • Why did you choose CMMC FMR?
    I chose CMMC because of the amazing 2×2 week block schedule, which allows me to enjoy my life at home, as well as the kind and passionate faculty, attendings, and residents. The patient population is incredibly varied, intensely sick and also forces us to grapple with both rural and urban health disparities on both macro and micro levels. It’s been an incredibly supportive, interesting place to complete my training. I intend to pursue a palliative care fellowship and work in in-patient palliative care.
  • What are your interests?
    I enjoy having a very good work-life balance, biking around Portland, swimming in lakes and the ocean any chance I get, cooking at home, and traveling both up the coast of Maine and abroad with my family.

Jaspreet Gill, MD

Mummtaz (Taz) Noori, MD

Jack Ritzo, MD

Saraja Pandit, MD

  • Hometown: Bharatpur, Nepal; moving from Boston
  • Medical School: Medical University of the Americas
  • Undergraduate: University of Iowa
  • Major: Human Physiology
  • Tell us about yourself:
    Growing up in Nepal, I have always loved being in nature. When I moved to Boston a year ago, I fell in love with the rich nature that New England had to offer. It didn’t take too long for me and my husband to desire to make New England our home. We both love being outdoors including hiking, trekking, and biking. When I first interviewed with CMMC, I remember feeling seen, respected and heard. The active effort to maintain and cultivate a positive environment was evident on my interview day. This residency is training me to be able to see from different perspectives in life as our patients come in from different walks of life. I feel very privileged and honored to be a physician providing care for our vulnerable and complex patients.
  • What are your interests?
    Spending time with family, and exploring different landscapes (hiking, biking, kayaking). Road trips. Watching international tv shows to learn new languages and tv cultures.