Faculty Bios

Andrew Berta, MD

Program Director

• Hometown: Lancaster, PA 
• Medical School: Drexel University, Philadelphia 
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Running the Wissahickon Trails 
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice: I came as a 4th year medical student, and it felt like home.  After that, they couldn't get rid of me. 
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off:  Hanging out with my favorite flowers- Daisy (wife) and Marigold (daughter). Waking up at 5:30 in the morning to try to keep up with Amanda on the Peloton 

Andrew Berta, M.D. became program director in 2023. Dr. Berta originally joined the faculty in 2014 after graduating from the residency program as chief resident. Originally from Lancaster, PA, Dr. Berta has been living in the Philadelphia area since 2002 during which time he attended St. Joseph's University for his undergraduate degree, completed a year of service in the Philadelphia Health Corps and received his medical degree at Drexel University College of Medicine. Dr. Berta first came to Chestnut Hill Family Practice as a medical student where he formed his interest in family medicine and his love for patient care.

Dr. Berta can be reached at [click-for-email]

Michael Bozzi, MD

• Hometown: Madison, CT
• Medical School: University of Pennsylvania
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Belmont Plateau
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice: I am so excited to join the team at Chestnut Hill. Living in Mt. Airy, my first goal is to  care for my own community, and doing so alongside such a dedicated collection of faculty and residents is such privilege. 
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off: running with my wife Debbie, chasing our son Luca around northwest Philly 

Michael Bozzi, MD graduated from Haverford College in 2012 before attending medical school at the University of Pennsylvania. He completed residency in family medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and stayed on for an additional fellowship in sports medicine. He is board certified in family medicine and sports medicine and has particular interest in musculoskeletal medicine and procedural interventions. 

Dr. Bozzi can be reached at [click-for-email].

Russell Breish, M.D.

• Hometown: Fort Washington, PA
• Medical School: Thomas Jefferson University Medical School 
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Nurturing my backyard vegetable garden and seeing my amazing 2-year-old granddaughter. 
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice: In all began in April 1981, when I fell in love with Family Medicine during my third-year clerkship at Chestnut Hill Family Practice.  The teachers and the patients were amazing.  I’ve been here ever since. 
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off:  On my bicycle. 

Russell Breish, M.D. graduated in 1978 from Temple University and received his M.D. from Jefferson Medical College in 1982. After a residency in family practice at Chestnut Hill Hospital, Dr. Breish joined the faculty in 1985 and is actively involved in all areas of clinical teaching as the Associate Director of the Residency program. Dr. Breish holds the Certificate for Added Qualifications in Geriatrics and Hospice and Palliative Medicine. Dr. Breish’s medical contribution extends beyond Chestnut Hill Hospital as he is also the Medical Director for Keystone Hospice and a staff physician at Cathedral Village, a continuing care retirement community. Dr. Breish is a past President of the hospital’s medical staff and is a long time contributor to the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is now working part time, making rounds and working in the retirement community

Dr. Breish can be reached at [click-for-email].

Bianca A. Davies

Program Manager

• Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
• Undergraduate: Temple University 
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Fairmount Park, Art Museum 
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice: I wanted to work closer to home and Dr. Berta really sold me on the residents and faculty while interviewing. The close-knit family atmosphere makes Chestnut Hill feel like home to me. I am glad I made this choice!
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off: Writing and performing poetry, spending time with my husband, Derrick and 2.5-year-old daughter, Brielle, trying every water ice flavor in the city and listening to my favorite R&B songs. 

Anne Hunter, D.O.

Clinical Director

• Hometown: Philadelphia
• Medical School:  Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine 
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Morris Arboretum 
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice:  It immediately felt like home 
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off:  Hanging at home with family 

Anne Hunter, D.O., graduated from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1994. She completed an osteopathic internship at Suburban General Hospital in Norristown, Pennsylvania and then transferred into the Chestnut Hill Hospital Family Practice Residency Program as a second-year resident in 1995. Dr. Hunter served as chief resident during her third year and was awarded an excellence in teaching certificate by the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine. She joined the faculty in 1997 as a full-time assistant director of the residency program. Dr. Hunter is board-certified in family practice.

Dr. Hunter is the current clinic director, which involves interfacing with the office manager and keeping all physicians current with office policies and all electronic medical record updates. She spearheaded the process for the practice becoming a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home. Dr. Hunter was the faculty representative to the Pennsylvania Family Practice Residency Research Collaborative - IPIP. She is actively involved in clinical teaching, providing guidance and support for our interns as well as upper-level residents.

In addition to her residency duties, she has been involved several hospital committees. Currently she is chair of the Chestnut Hill Hospital Credentials Committee and past president of the Chestnut Hill Hospital medical staff.

Dr. Hunter can be reached at ergahu.raan+fuhg+ryczrg+hqr.

Wakengo Mahaniah, M.D. 

• Hometown: Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; Geneva, Switzerland
• Medical School:  Temple University
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Schuylkill River Trail
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice:  I found a special community within this hospital
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off:  Riding my bike to my soccer games

Wakengo Mahaniah, MD completed his residency in Family Medicine at Chestnut Hill Family Practice after changing directions 2 years into a surgical residency program. Wakengo then joined the faculty at Chestnut Hill Family Practice and taught many residents over the course of seven years. His strong sense of social justice pulled him to serve as a Clinical Director at a Federally Qualified Health Center, where he implemented a Medication Assistance Program for the center's Philadelphia neighborhood. After many calls to come home, Wakengo returned part-time to fill the role of Preceptor at Chestnut Hill Family Practice. When not caring for his own patients or spending time with his family, Wakengo enjoys riding his bike on all the Philadelphia trails, swimming at the local Y, and doing science homework with his two daughters.

Marc McKenna, M.D.

• Hometown: Washington, DC 
• Medical School: Georgetown School of Medicine  
• Favorite Spot in Philly:  Wissahickon Park 
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice:  Wonderful, diverse community committed to excellent patient care and medical education 
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off: Playing sports
   

Marc McKenna, M.D., served as Program Director at Chestnut Hill Family Practice Residency Program for 29 years and has been involved in residency education for over 40 years. He recently passed the baton as Director but continues serve as Chief of the Division of Family Medicine at Chestnut Hill Hospital. Dr. McKenna still bikes to the hospital daily to educate residents as a Faculty member while caring for his long-time patients. A graduate of Georgetown School of Medicine, Dr. McKenna completed his Family Practice Residency at Wake Forest University School of Medicine in North Carolina and the Faculty Development Fellowship at Jefferson Medical College. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice and a Fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Dr. McKenna’s areas of special medical interest include sports medicine - for which he holds a Certificate of Added Qualification from the American Board of Family Practice - procedural skills and community outreach. Dr. McKenna is the primary care sports medicine physician for LaSalle University and a medical consultant for Arcadia University. Dr. McKenna has been nominated on many Top Doctor lists and has also received the Gold Level Program Director's Recognition Award from the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors. Dr. McKenna continues to embark on a medical mission trip each year to the Dominican Republic. Dr. McKenna has a beautiful growing family tree with 4 children and nine grandchildren.

Dr. McKenna can be reached at [click-for-email].
 

Valerie Pendley, M.D.

• Hometown: Dayton, Ohio                
• Medical School:  The Ohio State University 
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Mann Music Center Lawn with Philadelphia Orchestra and a Picnic on beautiful Summer night 
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice: I came to Chestnut Hill Hospital 30 years ago.  I could not resist the warm and friendly vibe, in a center providing excellent care to our diverse population of patients, all of whom appreciate the hospital as much as I do. 
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off:  Sea Isle city with my family and friends on Summer weekends. 

Valerie Pendley, M.D., Assistant Director at Chestnut Hill Family Practice, first arrived at this hospital in 1985. Dr. Pendley graduated from Wright State University in Dayton, Ohio and received her medical degree from Ohio State University. She completed her Family Practice residency at Grant Hospital in Columbus, Ohio.  After a year in a rural practice, Dr. Pendley returned to Grant as Assistant Director. 

Dr. Pendley is a Diplomate of the American Board of Family Practice and a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. She received her certificate for Added Qualification in Geriatrics in 1993. In addition to geriatrics, Dr. Pendley has a special interest in women's health and college health, being Arcadia University’s campus physician for the last several years. 

Dr. Pendley can be reached at [click-for-email].

Carolyn Sciblo, M.D.

• Hometown: Havertown, PA
• Medical School:    Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine
• Favorite Spot in Philly:  The Custard Stand (C&C Creamery)
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice: All the fun of working in a community hospital where you can really know your colleagues and patients with a strong focus on medical education and training excellent physicians 
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off: enjoying musical theater, running, critiquing my spouse's cooking

Carolyn Sciblo, MD completed her residency at Abington Family Medicine where she served as chief resident in her third year. She completed a fellowship in geriatrics at the University of Pennsylvania before joining the faculty at Chestnut Hill Family Practice in 2022. She has dual board certifications in family medicine and geriatrics. In addition to teaching and supervising residents in the clinic and hospital, she serves as the medical director at Cathedral Village, a continuing care retirement community where she guides the geriatric rotation. Dr. Sciblo enjoys all aspects of family medicine and is particularly interested in transitions of care and medicine at end of life. 

Dr. Sciblo can be reached at [click-for-email].

Janet Sim, M.D.

Associate Program Director

• Hometown: Redmond, Washington 
• Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine  
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Hmart 
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice: The wonderful people. 
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off: At home gardening, looking up and practicing new recipes, grocery shopping, going to farmers markets, getting my steps in, watching new movies and shows, planning my next trip, reading, hanging out with my dog Rusty, and goofing off with my sister.

Janet M. Sim, MD joined the faculty in 2018 after graduating from the residency program as Co-Chief Resident. She was born and raised in Seattle, Washington, graduated from Dartmouth College in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology, and found herself graduating from University of Cincinnati Medical College with her Medical Degree in 2015. Dr. Sim is of South Korean heritage and is fluent in Korean. She enjoys all facets of family medicine. From newborns to geriatrics, she enjoys meeting and treating patients from all different backgrounds.  

Dr. Sim can be reached at [click-for-email].

Amanda J. Zavodnick, MSW, LCSW

Behavioral Therapist 

• Hometown: Marlboro, NJ 
• Graduate School:  University of Pennsylvania School of Social Policy & Practice  
• Favorite Spot in Philly: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, Reading Terminal for EVERYTHING to eat & Wissahickon Skating Club.
• Why Chestnut Hill Family Practice:  It's the people & the culture that won me over. Chestnut Hill Family Practice thrives on community, the one we serve and the one we work alongside and there’s something truly special about being a part of it all.
• Where can we find you when your pager is turned off:   At the rink or on the pitch, cheering for my kids, walking my dogs (or a homeless shelter pup), at the beach, in a candy store or reading, once the house falls quiet.

Amanda J. Zavodnick, our Behavioral Therapist, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and received her Masters in Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania School of Policy & Practice.  She coordinates our behavioral science curriculum and helps residents integrate behavioral science and family systems theory into the practice of family medicine. In addition, Amanda facilitates support groups for residents and conducts co-therapy sessions with patients using family physicians as the co-therapist. Amanda completed her Behavioral Science/Family Systems Educator Fellowship with the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine in 2012.  In 2017, Amanda completed a two-year Fellowship with the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia.  As a more integrative approach, Amanda is a 500 hour Registered Yoga Teacher and is trained in teaching Mindfulness to children. When not at work, Amanda is busy sending daily shelter dog pictures to her husband - begging for another misfit pup, carefully curating the captions on her Instagram posts, driving her son to and from the rink at insane hours and holding her breath as her daughter attempts a wild new skateboarding trick. 

Amanda can be reached at [click-for-email].