A member of our imaging team, Nana Appiawiah, MD, is board certified in diagnostic radiology and fellowship trained in neuroradiology, a subspecialty concerned with diagnosing abnormalities of the brain, head & neck and spine. he received a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the University of California Irvine. He joined the US Navy and during military service earned a medical doctorate from Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA. He graduated with honors, earning the MD Honor Graduate Award and Outstanding Achievement in the Clinical Sciences and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. Following a transitional internship at Scripps Mercy Hospital, San Diego, he completed a four-year residency in Diagnostic Radiology at the University of Colorado, Aurora. Dr. Appiawiah served as a staff radiologist at Naval Hospital Twentynine Palms in California. He later joined the Naval Hospital in Rota, Spain, where he led the Radiology Department. He received the Navy Commendation Medal after fulfilling his military service. He then completed his neuroradiology fellowship at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, an affiliate of Harvard Medical School. Dr. Appiawiah is a member of the American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America, and the American Society of Neuroradiology.
Cerebral Artery Thrombosis
Kevin Clemans, FNP-BC
A board-certified nurse practitioner, Kevin Clemans, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, with four decades of nursing experience, is well qualified to address the complex needs of patients. Originally from Indiana, Kevin received his early RN training at South Western Michigan College and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bethel College, both in Indiana. He practiced in civilian and military hospitals, including 10 years with medical units at Wright Patterson and Elmendorf Air Force Bases in Ohio and Alaska respectively, achieving the rank of captain. In 2013, he earned a Master of Science in Family Nurse Practice from Goshen College in Indiana. He has since worked as an intensivist nurse practitioner in the fields of cardiovascular surgery, hospital medicine, and primary care. He has participated in numerous activities supportive of nursing and emergency preparedness, including serving as a flight nurse, Red Cross nurse, and Disaster Medical Assistance Team member. His many honors include receiving the Distinguished Duty Medal and Silver Star.
Paul DiGregorio, CCP
A key member of our heart team, Paul DiGregorio, CCP, is a certified cardiovascular perfusionist with 40 years of experience providing clinical perfusion and other services to patients. His role during heart surgery is operating the heart-lung machine that assumes the functions of a patient’s heart and lung while the surgeon performs surgery on the heart. A Long Island native, Paul completed his perfusion training in 1980 at State University of New York (SUNY) in Syracuse. He was chief perfusionist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Cleveland for many years. He has practiced in various clinical settings in Ohio, Indiana, and Florida. Most recently he was senior staff perfusionist at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, IN. His experience also includes serving as a clinical instructor and faculty member for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP). Paul is married with two children. He enjoys golf, dining out, and movies.
Michael Savitt, MD, MSE
A member of our heart and lung team, Dr. Savitt is a cardiothoracic surgeon with over 20 years of surgical experience. His expertise covers a broad range of innovative and minimally invasive techniques for coronary bypass and valve surgery, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). He is also an expert in lung resection and surgical treatment of lung and esophageal cancers. A Milwaukee native, Dr. Savitt earned his medical degree and Master of Science in Engineering from Duke University. He completed his surgical residency at the University of California at San Francisco, where he served as chief surgical resident. He accomplished his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Minnesota and later returned to Duke for a clinical lung transplant sabbatical. Dr. Savitt has maintained a dynamic practice at heart and lung centers in the Midwest. Most recently he served as a cardiothoracic surgeon and associate clinical professor at IU Ball Memorial Hospital in association with Indiana University School of Medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. A member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, Dr. Savitt has been a frequent lecturer on cardiothoracic topics and has authored numerous manuscripts for various medical journals.
Brian Johnson, DO, PA
Trinity Health is pleased to welcome Brian Johnson, DO, a diagnostic radiologist fellowship trained in breast imaging.
As a breast specialist, Dr. Johnson provides expertise and support for the full range of Trinity’s breast imaging services, including digital mammography, MRI, ultrasound, and minimally-invasive breast biopsy.
Dr. Johnson earned a Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He received his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Pennsylvania. Following a transitional internship at Sanford Health – University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Fargo, he completed a four-year residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Strong Memorial Hospital – University of Rochester School of Medicine, Rochester, NY. He went on to complete his breast imaging fellowship at New York University Langone Health Center in New York, NY.
Dr. Johnson is a member of the Radiological Society of North America, American College of Radiology, American Roentgen Ray Society, and Society of Breast Imaging.
Maria Li, MDCM
Maria Li MDCM, MSc, FAANS is a board-certified specialist in neurosurgery. With over 20 years of experience as an attending neurosurgeon, she brings an abundance of expertise to help patients afflicted with a wide breadth of conditions affecting the brain, spine, and peripheral nerves. Dr. Li earned her medical degree, completed her neurosurgery residency including an enfolded orthopedic spine fellowship, and earned a Master of Science in neuroscience in Montreal. Following her training at McGill University and the Montreal Neurological Institute, she did a post-doctoral laboratory fellowship in neurophysiology at the University of California at San Francisco and later completed a clinical fellowship in skull base and cerebrovascular surgery at the Seattle Neuroscience Institute.
She has practiced general neurosurgery in the USA for a decade, trying to improve the services available to local patients, including recently implementing a cranial neurosurgery program where none existed. Her academic career practicing, teaching, and doing clinical research spanned almost a decade in Montreal teaching hospitals affiliated with McGill University and the University of Montreal. Her neurosurgical practice consisted of 50% cranial and 50% spinal surgeries, with a focus on brain tumors.
Dr. Li is dedicated to maintaining the highest, most up to date standards, participating in the annual maintenance of certification program of the American Board of Neurological Surgery, which fosters excellence and lifelong learning. Dr. Li is a member of several medical and neurosurgical organizations. She continues to serve as a reviewer for the journal Neurosurgery.
Barry Amos, DO
Barry Amos, DO, is an interventional radiologist fellowship-trained in cardiovascular and interventional radiology. He provides first-line treatments for a variety of medical conditions using image-guided catheters and minimally-invasive techniques that target health problems at their source. Procedures include arterial and venous interventions for cardiovascular disease and cancer treatments using chemo/radioembolization to shrink tumors. A graduate of St. Mary’s College of California, Dr. Amos earned his Doctorate in Osteopathic Medicine from Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, graduating with highest honors. He completed his internal medicine internship and diagnostic radiology residency at Penn State Hershey Medical Center, serving as chief resident his last year. He remained at Penn State to complete his fellowship in cardiovascular and interventional radiology. Throughout his medical education, Dr. Amos has received numerous honors, including the Residency Program Director’s award and Medical Student Education awards. Dr. Amos has conducted research on several minimally-invasive techniques including chemoembolization for treatment of hepatic tumors and image-guided treatments for gallbladder disease. A member of the Society of Interventional Radiology and the American College of Radiology, Dr. Amos and his wife, Rebecca, enjoy spending time with their two Dachshund’s, Daisy and Ginger, spending time outdoors, as well as cooking and food/wine tasting.
Michael Gooden, MD
Dr. Gooden is a board-certified Vascular/Endovascular surgeon with over 20 years of clinical experience. As a vascular surgeon, he is uniquely qualified to treat, by either open surgical or endovascular means, all aspects of peripheral vascular disease, including carotid stenosis, aortic aneurysms, lower or upper extremity peripheral artery disease, renal and mesenteric stenosis, nonhealing diabetic foot wounds, or dialysis access. This includes the most up to date techniques of carotid endarterectomy/stenting, open AAA repair/EVAR/TEVAR, peripheral artery bypass or stenting/angioplasty.
Originally from Iowa, Dr. Gooden grew up in Tucson, AZ. He served 6 years in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, and was recalled for Desert Storm. He received both his Bachelor of Sciences in Molecular and Cellular Biology and MD degree at the University of Arizona. Following General Surgery residency at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Gooden completed a two-year Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in 2004. He is a member of the American Medical Association and a fellow in the prestigious Society for Vascular Surgery. He has worked in a variety of settings over the years, including private practice, academic surgery, and with the VA healthcare system.
“I enjoy working closely with patients and their primary care doctors, treating vascular disease to improve people’s daily lives, prevent stroke and limb loss.” When not working, ” I am spending all the time I can with my wife Erin and our son Colin, doing outdoor or school activities.”
Charles Wood, MD
Charles O. Wood, MD, is a board certified neurosurgeon with extensive experience providing surgical care to people with brain and spinal disorders due to disease or trauma. A graduate of Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Dr. Wood completed his internship and Neurosurgery residency at Medical College of Virginia, Richmond, where he also did a year-long fellowship in Clinical Neurotrauma. He founded North Georgia Neurosurgical Associates in 1985 and spent the next two decades serving patients at Gwinnett Medical Center and other area hospitals. During his tenure there he co-developed the hospital’s Neuroscience Center and began a longstanding interest in adopting innovative approaches to neurological surgery, including minimally invasive and image-guided brain and spine surgery. In 2008 he was appointed Director of Neurosciences at Greenview Regional Hospital in Kentucky, where he also served as co-director of the Greenview Stroke Center. He joined Trinity Health in 2016. He’s a member of the American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons.
Areas of Neurosurgical Practice:
- Brain and Spinal Trauma
- Minimally Invasive Spine Surgery
- Image-Guided Brain and Spinal Surgery
- Intracranial and Intraspinal Tumors
- Reconstruction of the Degenerative Spine
- Extra- and Intracranial Vascular Disease
- Stroke Management
Lynette Vondal, FNP-C
A Minot native, Lynette received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Minot State University. She was an RN at Trinity Hospital for 17 years, practicing in the ETC, Cardiology and Cath Lab departments. She earned her Master of Science/Family Nurse Practitioner degree from the University of Mary in Bismarck. A member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, Lynette enjoys outdoor activities, quilting and spending time with her two sons.