Stroke Patient & Family Support Services
Stroke Warriors Group
NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
This is a forum for stroke survivors, caregivers, and families to share experiences and insights, and receive guidance from experts to navigate stroke risk and recovery challenges. The group is led by multidisciplinary clinicians and administrators committed to supporting all those affected by a stroke. Sessions are both in person and virtual and require registration. To attend in person, please email neuro-strokewarriors@cumc.columbia.edu or call Beatriz Nivasch at 646-697-9985. Please click here for more information and to register to attend virtually.
Language: bilingual, English and Spanish
Location: 177 Fort Washington Ave., New York, NY 10032
Time: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
| Dates | Topic and Presenter | Room: |
| Friday, January 19 | Navigating the health care system after stroke Dr. Angel Cadena |
Heart Center Room 3 |
| Friday, March 15 | The Spirit of a Stroke Warrior: Coping and Conquering! A session about recalling and recovering what is important to you and using that information to help cope with stroke. Linda Golding, MA, BCC Chaplain Jasmine Gómez, MA, MHC |
Heart Center Room 3 |
| Friday, May 17 | Cognitive Changes After Stroke Marykathryn A. Pavol, PhD, ABPP |
Heart Center Room 3 |
| Friday, July 19 | TBA | Heart Center Room 3 |
| Friday, September 20 | TBA | Heart Center Room 3 |
| Friday, November 15 | TBA | Heart Center Room 3 |
Stroke Warriors Team
Imama Naqvi, MD, MS, Assistant Professor of Neurology at the CUMC, Assistant Attending at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Director of Outpatient Stroke Services
As a board-certified Stroke Neurologist, my clinical expertise in stroke care has guided my research to alleviate inequities in health care among our diverse stroke populations. Our team’s ethos is centered on community engagement to design supportive strategies for health behavior change among minor stroke patients. Our innovative interdisciplinary telehealth approaches aim to improve after-stroke care. I have been funded by the National Institutes of Health and serve on several NIH sponsored multi-centered clinical trials to advance secondary stroke prevention. Outside of work, I enjoy cooking with my family, and going on long walks in the neighborhood.
Kyra Lizardo, MS, APRN, FNP-BC, Stroke Program Nurse Practitioner
With 15 years of nursing experience, including 8 as a nurse practitioner, I bring a wealth of expertise to patient care. My childhood experience of caring for my grandpa after his stroke ignited my passion for neurology. Beyond the medical field, I find comfort in reading books, cherishing time with family and friends, and thinking about life in general and its purpose. Committed to holistic well-being, I combine professional proficiency with personal empathy to deliver comprehensive care.
Angel Cadena, MD, Postdoctoral Clinical Fellow in the Department of Neurology
Born and raised in Bani, Dominican Republic, I pursued medicine at UNIBE in Santo Domingo. From Youth Mayor to President of the Medical Student Association, I spearheaded community-focused projects during medical school. I also served as a Graduate Medical Education Ambassador and House Staff Council President during my Neurology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina where I had the opportunity to champion any residency concerns. Currently a Vascular Neurology Fellow at Columbia University, I aim to empower communities in health decisions and guide recovery. Beyond medicine, I find joy in dancing (Merengue, Bachata), walking, watching comedy, or just good conversations.