Team Members

	Gerard A. Engh M.D., better known as Dr. Jerry, comes from a long line of surgeons. His father, brother and nephew are all orthopedic surgeons and his youngest son is a neurosurgeon. Dr. Jerry completed medical school at the University of Virginia in 1966 and completed his orthopedic residency in 1971 at Yale University. After serving in the United States Army as a medical officer, he joined his father and brother in practice at the Anderson Orthopedic Clinic in Arlington, Virginia in 1973. Dr Jerry’s proudest accomplishments relate to his extensive research with knee replacement surgery through the Anderson Orthopedic Research Institute and the enjoyment he has gained by training fellows for over 25 years. He has served as past president of the Knee Society, a national organization of specialist orthopedic surgeons, and co-founded Alexandria Research Technologies, a company that advances the design of total joint implants. In 2006, Dr Jerry started Operation Walk Virginia as a non-profit volunteer organization and hopes to leave this as a lasting legacy to helping others.
	Dr. Hamilton has been involved with Operation Walk Virginia since it’s inception. Involved in the planning, fundraising, and organization of each of the first two operation walk trips to Nicaragua have proved very rewarding. While the workload is significant during the one week stay in Managua, the need is so exceptional and the patients so thankful, that this far outweighs the fatigue. “Despite taking time away from the practice in Virginia and my family, there are so many rewarding aspects of the trip that I hope to make it an annual tradition. Because there are so few treatment options for patients in underdeveloped countries, the severity of disease is profound. This not only makes the surgery a life changing event for the patients, but exposes me to surgical complexities rarely seen in the United States. This makes it not only interesting, but sends me back home a better surgeon each time.”
	Kevin B. Fricka, M.D. has been a member of the Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic since 2006 specializing in hip and knee replacement. He graduated from Harvard University in 1995 where he was a member of the varsity basketball team. Dr. Fricka completed medical school at George Washington University in 1999 and completed his orthopaedic residency training at University of California-San Diego in 2005. From there he finished a fellowship in hip and knee replacement at Rush University in Chicago, IL. Since joining the Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic, Dr. Fricka has developed a busy clinical practice combining the enjoyment of patient care, patient education, fellowship training and research.
	Dr. Norman Whitmire received his MD degree from the Yale University School of Medicine in 1995. After a one-year internship at the University of Pennsylvania, he completed his residency at The Lankenau Hospital in Wynnewood, PA (just outside Philadelphia). He has been practicing general internal medicine in Northern Virginia since 1999.
	Mark Denzine is a certified Physician Assistant and joined Operation Walk in 2006. Since then he has been a part of two different aid trips to both Nicaragua and Ecuador. He grew up in northeast Ohio and earned a bachelors degree from the University of Vermont in 2001. After PA school at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), he finished a one year residency in orthopedics in Chicago at the Illinois Bone and Joint Institute. In 2005 he joined the Anderson Clinic and worked until 2008 under William Hamilton M.D. He and his family currently live in Philadelphia. Mr. Denzine is currently back at PCOM, working towards a degree as an osteopathic physician. He plans to continue on as an orthopedic surgeon after graduation in 2012.
	Jeanine Garguilo is a board certified physician assistant for Dr. William Hamilton who specializes in joint replacement surgery. She has previous experience in general orthopedics and spine surgery. Ms. Garguilo attended Saint Francis University in Pennsylvania where she graduated with honors and received her Bachelor of Health Science and Master of Physician Assistant Science degrees.
	Toby Gray is a Certified Physician Assistant who is trained and specializes in orthopaedic surgery. After graduating with honors from Nova Southeastern University’s physician assistant program in 1998, Gray went to work for Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, serving as a physician assistant for Martin Roche, MD and Marc Philippon, MD. Gray then founded Surgical Assist in January of 2001. Surgical Assist employs 17 people and provides first assistant’s to surgeons in 3 Florida markets. In these markets, Surgical Assist works with over 100 surgeons in 30 different hospitals and surgery centers. Surgical Assist specializes in all specialties of surgery. Gray and Surgical Assist continue to work with Martin Roche, MD and Holy Cross Hospital. Gray is married to Hollie Gray and they have 2 sons, Jack and Dylan.
	Julie Warner has been a team leader of Operation Walk Virginia since its inception in 2006 and has loved every minute of it.  She has been the Patient Care Director of the Inova Joint Replacement Center for the past 2 ½ years and has worked on IJRC since 2001.  She has a BA in Psychology from Hobart and William Smith Colleges and her BS in Nursing from George Mason University.  She is 2 classes away from completing her Masters in Nursing Administration.  Julie was a regional finalist for Nurse of the Year for her work with Operation Walk Virginia.  Her work with Operation Walk is her biggest passion.
	Ericka Pitts -RN#4,BSN,CNOR. I was born in New Jeresy raised in VA. I am a grad from Marymount University 1995 ANS- Assoc in Nursing and BSN 1996. I have been a Team Leader with OP Walk Va for the past 3 years. My main duties are in the Operating Room. I enjoy traveling to other countries to help people improve their actives of daily living through much needed joint replacement.This is a wonderful feeling and will continue to be a part of OP Walk VA through out my life.
	Kate Holmberg grew up in Arlington Virginia, her parents are still living in the house she grew up in. She is married to Tim, and has no children but does have 3 brothers, 3 sisters, multiple in-laws with 34 nieces and nephews. Ms. Holmberg graduated from Marymount with an AAS, then from GMU with a BSN/MSN. She has worked in and around the OR for 25 years, with her current position being the Surgical Business Manager at IMVH. Ms. Holmberg went on the inaugural and the second OP Walk trips to Managua, Nicaragua. Ms. Holmberg shares that “Being with Dr Jerry and the team has enriched me and showed me how with a little effort and teamwork great things can be accomplished.”
	Sarah Mossburg is a Registered Nurse currently working as a Clinical Specialist in Nursing Administration at IMVH. She grew up in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She received her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania, and her Masters in Health Systems Administration from Georgetown University. Ms. Mossburg has worked in a variety of clinical settings including the Surgical ICU, a General Clinical Research Center and Women’s Surgical Unit. She is married, with two young boys that keep her on her toes.
	Ms. Vera Broecker hails from South Carolina, where she grew up and studied nursing. Upon graduation from Clemson University, she entered the U.S. Army as an officer and a nurse. In addition to her nursing degree from Clemson, Vera is a graduate of the U.S. Army Medical Officer Basic Course, Combat Casualty Care Course, and Airborne School. While on active duty Vera served in the 10th CASH (Combat Army Support Hospital). After eight years in uniform, Vera followed her husband and worked as a nurse in various states and overseas from 1995 to present. Ms. Broecker has served as an emergency room nurse; orthopedic; ear, nose and throat (ENT); and gynecological (GYN) nurse, and is presently serving in Mount Vernon Hospital’s post anesthesia care unit (PACU). Ms. Broecker is married and lives in Northern Virginia with her husband and two children.
	Jackie Wavelet is a Clinical Nurse Specialist at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital. She joined Operation Walk in 2009 and participated in her first mission in Ecuador. This experience was truly life-changing! She enjoys working with this fantastic group that share their expertise with people who struggle to simply walk. She has many years experience in cardiac & surgical nursing, and is also a certified nurse educator.
	Michelle Viars grew up in Virginia and graduated in 1985 with a BSN from Virginia Commonwealth University/ Medical College of Virginia. After following her husband with the military and working in various states, she returned with her family to VA. Ms. Viargs has worked at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in the joint replacement center since 1994. Since 2008, she has worked in the role of Management Coordinator on the Inova Joint Replacement Unit at IMVH. The trip to Quito Ecuador was her first volunteer mission and Ms. Viars shared that it brought her great personal satisfaction. “Helping people walk again was not only life changing for them, but also for me.”
	Christopher Stanek had a successful career as a transportation planner in Chicago prior to embarking on a second career in nursing. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Lewis University in 1995, and has cared for patients in ER, ICU, PACU, Psychiatry and Rehabilitation units and clinical settings in Illinois, Texas and the Washington, D.C. metro area. Mr. Stanek and his wife settled in Alexandria in 2004 to be in close proximity to their adult sons and daughter-in-law. Mr. Stanek has been nursing at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, Joint Replacement Center since 2006. He enjoys working with his dedicated colleagues and believes he can serve the underprivileged clients of Operation Walk Virginia with compassion and nursing excellence.
	Chris Rupprecht has served as a nursing specialist in pain management at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital, Georgetown University Hospital and Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington DC. She has worked as a clinical coordinator, case manager, nurse researcher, consultant and director of pain services during her tenure within the health care industry. Ms. Rupprecht has travelled internationally to Germany and Vietnam in her work with pain management and education. In January 2010, she completed her training as a Reiki Master and has begun to integrate this alternative therapy into her clinical practice. Her public speaking on pain management and regional analgesia has been extensive. In addition to her pain management experience, she also has considerable overseas experience working in Latin and Central America for the Peace Corps and U.S. Embassies. Ms. Rupprecht is an active member of the American Society for Pain Management Nursing and is fluent is Spanish.
	Patty Engh was born in the tiny town of Rushford in western New York State and has been involved with health care since meeting her husband at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She has been rewarded by experiencing the joy of helping others on Operation Walk trips to Nicaragua in 2006 and 2007, and to Ecuador in 2009. Ms. Engh feels that giving back to those that have so little provides a special moment for all of us. She hopes that her 4 children and 11 grandchildren come to experience this joy. She is looking forward to upcoming trips with the anticipation of helping others regain their ability to walk without pain.
	Alfred Mack has been a Surgical Technologist at Mount Vernon Hospital from 1990-2008, contribute to the success of the first trip to to Nicaragua and also a member of the US Army Reserves from 1990-2008. Successfully built a progressive career with the United States Army Reserve as a key team player in developing, integrating and supporting troop organizations. Served as an Senior NCO responsible for monitoring current combat and health service support operations in Kuwait, Afghanistan, and Iraq in support of the ongoing Global War on Terrorism.
	Kevin Lingenfelter is a Certified Surgical Technologist, Surgical Assistant, and Nationally Registered EMT. He was trained at the Academy of Health Sciences in San Antonio, TX by the U.S. Army. Mr. Lingenfelter has worked as a surgical tech/surgical assistant at Mt. Vernon Hospital in northern Virginia for 12 years. He has been on several Operation Walk missions, and looks forward to helping and being part of the team on many more.
	Ann Vennell is a Physical Therapist by background but currently serves as the Executive Director of the Inova Joint Replacement Center. Ms. Vennell attended the College of William and Mary undergrad and then the Medical College of Virginia for her degree in Physical Therapy. She had the pleasure of being part of the treatment team on the trip to Managua, Nicaragua in 2008.
	Kelli Marlow has been a physical therapist at Inova Mount Vernon Hospital Rehab for 3 years, mainly working with patients with neurological injuries. She graduated with a doctorate in physical therapy from Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA. This is her first year working with Operation Walk Virginia, helping to organize and plan the OpWalk 5K Walk/Run- “We Run So That Others May Walk.” She is excited to be a part of such a wonderful mission.
	Tricia Hatchett, DPT, NCS, graduated with a Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Southern California in 2007. She completed her Master of Physical Therapy at Emory University in 1996. Ms. Hatchett has spent the majority of her professional career at the Rancho Los Amigos Hospital National Research Center in Downey, CA. She spent two years with the Peace Corps in Belize, Central America on a project to deliver rehabilitation to children with disabilities in the southern town and villages.
	Jennifer Watters completed her undergraduate education at Indiana University and received her Doctorate in Physical Therapy from Belmont University in Nashville, TN in 2006. Since graduating she has worked as a traveling physical therapist in 5 different states in a variety of settings. She accepted a permanent position at Inova Mt. Vernon Hospital’s Inpatient Rehabilitation Program in February 2009. Ms. Watters was part of the 2009 OpWalk team in Quito, Ecuador. Ms. Watters was fortunate to be selected to participate in long-term volunteer work in Haiti beginning in March 2010.
	.Deborah Stewart RN#4, CNOR-Operation Walk Operating Room team leader since it’s inception in 2006. Volunteering with Operation Walk has provided me with the opportunity for personal growth and achievements here in the U.S. and countries abroad. If we want a better world to live in it starts with you and me giving back to others who are less fortunate than we are.
	Connie Roof Kohler has been an occupational therapist for 15 years and has been with INOVA for 12 of those years. Connie has practiced in home health, inpatient, outpatient, pediatrics, and even hippotherapy (using the horse as the therapeutic medium), but her most exciting therapy adventure was in 2011 when she was on the OpWalk team to Managua, Nicaragua. Connie earned her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Shenandoah University after receiving her Bachelor of Science in Biology from Virginia Tech.