Hana Azizi, MD

Dr. Hana Azizi, a pediatric physiatrist, joined the Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia in July 2018. Born in Iran, she earned her medical degree at Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, as well as a master’s degree in public health. She then completed residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at Montefiore Medical Center, followed by a pediatric rehabilitation fellowship at Rusk Rehabilitation Institute/New York University Langone Health.

Dr. Azizi, who specializes in the rehabilitation of children with brain, spinal cord, and musculoskeletal injuries, works closely with Heakyung Kim, MD, Chief of Pediatric Physiatry, practicing at both Blythedale Children’s Hospital — New York State’s only independent specialty children’s hospital — and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia.

“These children are not able to reach their normal milestones as other children their age,” says Dr. Azizi. “By providing different treatments and therapies, we help them to achieve their milestones as much as possible to grow and develop normally. I have been able to connect with these children and their families very well. It gives me great joy to offer my help, and I often learn from them as well. They’re strong-willed and they don’t give up. They’re resilient and try very hard to get better.”

Monika Desai, MD

During medical school, a clinical rotation in physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) opened Dr. Monika Desai’s eyes to the world of rehabilitation medicine. “I was sold on the field after that rotation,” says Dr. Desai, who joined NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia in January 2018 specializing in pediatric rehabilitation. “I found myself drawn to the complexity of cases and interdisciplinary nature of pediatric rehabilitation medicine. I love working with children and developing relationships with them and their families. I am inspired by their resiliency and motivation to recover and excel.”

Dr. Desai earned her medical degree at St. George’s University School of Medicine and completed her residency in PM&R, as well as fellowship training in pediatric rehabilitation, at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein School of Medicine. Board certified in both physical medicine and rehabilitation and pediatric rehabilitation, her areas of clinical interest include adult and pediatric cerebral palsy, spasticity management, stroke, brain injury, concussion management, spina bifida, developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, and spinal cord injury.

In joining NewYork-Presbyterian, Dr. Desai particularly appreciates the ability to draw on the resources of a major academic medical center. “The wealth of research and the caliber of my colleagues are unparalleled,” she says. “When you find experts in so many subspecialties in one institution, it helps to create continuity of multidisciplinary care and a better outcome for the patient.”

Mike Mizrahi, DO

Dr. Mike Mizrahi joined the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell in July 2018. He is double board certified in both physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) and interventional pain management. As a multi-sport athlete in high school and college, Dr. Mizrahi has always had a natural interest in musculoskeletal medicine, which led him to pursue his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency training in PM&R at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, where he served as chief resident. He then went on to complete a pain medicine fellowship through the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Mizrahi routinely uses fluoroscopy or ultrasound as guidance in treating disorders of the spine, musculoskeletal, and peripheral nervous system. He believes the first step in treating any patient is using a thorough history and physical exam to establish an accurate diagnosis. “My treatment philosophy is centered upon presenting all relevant options and discussing the risk/benefit of each, thereby empowering patients to make informed decisions and actively manage their own care,” he says. “I see patients predominantly with low back, neck, and musculoskeletal pain who have tried conservative management such as physical therapy and medications without success.” Dr. Mizrahi also practices at NewYork-Presbyterian Medical Group Brooklyn. Being born and raised in Brooklyn, this facilitates his ambition to provide high quality care to his local community members.

Jennifer A. Soo Hoo, MD

Dual board certified in sports medicine and physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dr. Jennifer A. Soo Hoo believes she has the best of both worlds. “I became interested in rehabilitation because the field focuses on function and getting patients back to doing what they love to do,” says Dr. Soo Hoo, who joined the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell in August 2018. “I played soccer in college and so I had a natural affinity to sports medicine and an appreciation of the musculoskeletal system. Like most student athletes, I had a lot of injuries, so I understand the psychological and emotional aspect of injuries, in addition to the biomechanical and structural aspects.”

Dr. Soo Hoo attended Case Western Reserve University’s combined seven year undergraduate and medical school program. She subsequently completed residency training in physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Washington, where she also served as chief resident and won the Outstanding Resident Research Award. She then completed a fellowship in sports medicine at Northwestern University, McGaw Medical Center/Shirley Ryan AbilityLab (formerly known as the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago).

Dr. Soo Hoo specializes in image-guided procedures to aid in the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal and spine injuries, including musculoskeletal ultrasound and fluoroscopy. She has also been trained in regenerative medicine procedures, such as platelet-rich plasma injections. She is currently a travel team physician for the U.S. Soccer Youth Women’s National Team and the U.S. Paralympic Soccer Team.

Isaac P. Syrop, MD

Dr. Isaac P. Syrop joined the Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia in 2018, specializing in the treatment of patients of all ages with a wide range of musculoskeletal, sports, and spine injuries. Double board certified in both physical medicine and rehabilitation and sports medicine, he received his medical degree at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, followed by residency training in PM&R at NewYork-Presbyterian and a fellowship in sports medicine at Stanford University.

Today, Dr. Syrop practices at the Department’s offices in Scarsdale, Cold Spring, and Cortlandt Manor in Westchester County. “Having grown up in Westchester, it is nice to serve the community where I had my roots,” he says.

Utilizing musculoskeletal ultrasound and regenerative treatments, Dr. Syrop employs a nonoperative and individualized approach that focuses on return to activity, maximizing function, and optimizing quality of life. “Everyone has their own playing field,” he explains. “For a 90-year-old it might be walking out to get the mail. For professional athletes the field might be Yankee Stadium. My goal is to help all of my patients return to their highest level of function.”

Dr. Syrop’s research interests include regenerative medicine, musculoskeletal ultrasound, and athletic performance. He also lectures to audiences at both the local and national level and is an author of multiple journal articles, book chapters, newsletters, and academic blogs.