Meredith A. Hays, DO, MPH, FACP
DO, Program Director, Hospice & Palliative Care, Internal Medicine
After earning her medical degree from Midwestern College of Osteopathic Medicine on the military scholarship program, Dr. Hays completed residency training in internal medicine at William Beaumont Army Medical Center. There she where was selected to serve as Chief of Medical Residents after graduation. Next, she went on to pursue fellowship in General Internal Medicine at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, focusing on graduate medical education. During that time she also served as the Transitional Year Program Associate Program Director and earned her MPH from Uniformed Services University. After graduating from fellowship, she was stationed at Dwight D. Eisenhower Medical Center. Dr. Hays served as the Chief of Internal Medicine Clinic and Associate Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency Program. Her final duty station was back in her old stomping grounds at William Beaumont where she was the Program Director for the Internal Medicine Residency. Upon completion of her service obligation, she was a Hospice and Palliative Care Fellow at National Institutes of Health before becoming a palliative care physician for a large health system on the West Coast. She now has the honor of serving as Program Director for the new Internal Medicine Residency at Riverside Regional Medical Center. She continues to practice inpatient palliative care. She is married and her husband, Tony, is an IT Architect for IBM. Medical School Midwestern University Chicago College of Osteopathic Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences Fellowship National Institutes of Health Walter Reed National Military Medical Center Board Certifications American Board of Internal Medicine.
Alexandra Ward, MD, FACC
MD, Associate Program Director - Inpatient
Dr. Ward earned her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in 2012. She completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Maryland Medical Center, where she was selected to be a chief resident. Dr. Ward then completed fellowship training in cardiology at the Jefferson Heart Institute in Philadelphia. She is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. She is also certified in adult echocardiography by the American Society of Echocardiography. Dr. Ward serves as medical director for the Riverside Women's Heart Center and is an advocate for the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of women's cardiovascular disease. Her interest began during residency, when she became increasingly aware that women’s cardiovascular disease is different in presentation, diagnosis and management as compared to their male counterparts. Dr. Ward is passionate about groundbreaking treatments and therapeutic options in cardiology and encourages her patients to be actively involved in decision-making for their treatment. Born in New York City and raised at the Jersey Shore, Dr. Ward appreciates the history of Hampton Roads. In her free time, Dr. Ward enjoys being outside, especially at the beach, as well as spending time with family and friends.
Dr. Alison Helmkamp
DO, Associate Program Director - Outpatient
Dr. Helmkamp is a board-certified Internal Medicine Physician with nearly 30 years of primary care and medical leadership experience. In New York, she completed medical school at New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, then Transitional Osteopathic Internship at Union Hospital in New Jersey. Afterwards, she completed her Internal Medicine Residency at University of South Florida and General Surgery Internship at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut. In her career, she has served in various capacities, including as an active duty Air Force officer for 20 years. Dr. Helmkamp has extensive experience in managing high-acuity and geriatric medicine clinics, overseeing medical personnel, and ensuring quality and safety of care. With a passion for patient education and graduate medical education, she seeks opportunities to precept and mentor residents and students while contributing to process improvement and patient advocacy. Dr. Helmkamp will lead the new Internal Medicine Continuity Clinic to help residents learn excellent outpatient care management. Dr. Helmkamp can be found spending time with her family or baking something delicious.
Camelia Pana, MD
MD, Internal Medicine & Hospitalist - Core Faculty
Dr. Pana’s medical education started with her degree from Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Bucharest, Romania. In Romania, she completed two years of residency while preparing for the USMLE exams. Dr. Pana went on to complete her Internal Medicine Residency program in Cleveland Ohio at Huron Hospital (later affiliated with Cleveland Clinic). She served as Assistant Chief Resident for six months, and one year of Geriatrics Fellowship at University Hospitals of Cleveland. Dr. Pana worked in primary care, to include hospital activity and nursing home care. Afterwards, she transitioned to a hospitalist position and was briefly part of faculty for the residency program in Geriatrics. She worked as an internist in Sweden, returned to Virginia and worked in a hybrid position. This included hospitalist primary care provider with TPMG for two years. Dr. Pana also served as a hospitalist in Wisconsin for four years and returned back to Virginia in 2013 to present day. Dr. Pana is Board certified in Internal Medicine in the US and in the UE, and equivalent recognition of training in the UK. She and her spouse Dorian have a son who is currently in medical school.
MD, Internal Medicine & Hospitalist - Core Faculty
Dr. Djuraev’s medical journey began at Samarkand State Medical University, Samarkand, Uzbekistan, where he earned his medical degree and graduated with honors. Dr. Djuraev completed his residency training in the Internal Medicine Residency Program at Danbury Hospital, affiliated with Yale School of Medicine, Danbury, CT. His earlier experience includes being awarded the ACP CT Research Abstract Winner and during medical school he received an Excellent Stipend. Dr. Djuraev also contributed to medical education as a faculty member at The University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, where he served as a Clinical Instructor. His involvement extends to the operational boards at Danbury Hospital, where he was a member of the Stroke and Cardiology Board. Dr. Djuraev joined as an Attending Physician at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News, VA in 2021 and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. His commitment to quality care is evident through his membership in the Hospitalist Quality and Medication Safety Committee at RRMC and his affiliation with the American College of Physicians and Society of Hospital Medicine. He is actively engaged in academia, currently holding the position of Assistant Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. When not practicing medicine, Dr. Djuraev enjoys playing table tennis as a member of NNTTC. He is also a culinary enthusiast who values spending quality time with his children and family. Dr. Djuraev is multilingual, fluently speaking Uzbek, Russian, and Tadjik (Persian), which enhances his ability to provide comprehensive care to diverse patient populations.
Dr. Jerry McQuain
DO, Internal Medicine & Hospitalist - Core Faculty
Dr. Jerry McQuain holds an impressive educational background, earning his Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine, where he graduated as valedictorian. He further honed his skills through internships and residencies, including at Exempla Saint Joseph Internal Medicine Residency Program. Dr. McQuain pursued additional specialties with fellowships in Hospice and Palliative Medicine at Eastern Virginia Medical School and Integrative Medicine at the University of Arizona. His dedication to learning is evident in his Master of Physical Therapy from West Virginia University, where he graduated summa cum laude. Board-certified in Internal Medicine and Hospice and Palliative Medicine, Dr. McQuain brings a wealth of expertise as a previous Hospice Program Medical Director. In his personal time, Dr. McQuain enjoys spending time with his family, running and staying active, baking and gardening and is also is a certified yoga instructor.
Dr. Vance Barksdale
MD, Internal Medicine & Hospitalist - Core Faculty
Profile information coming soon!
Dr. Erwin Rommel
MD, Internal Medicine & Hospitalist / Nocturnist- Core Faculty
Profile information coming soon!
Dr. Huy Pham
MD, Internal Medicine & Hospitalist / Nocturnist- Core Faculty
Profile information coming soon!
Amanda Bielski, MSW
MSW Program Manager
Amanda was raised in Hampton Roads, She graduated from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Social Work, and Virginia Commonwealth University with a Master of Clinical Social Work. Some of Amanda’s experience includes licensing foster/adoptive parents through Social Services, working in intensive outpatient psychiatric healthcare through Community Services Board, and medical social work in oncology/hematology. She enjoys spending time with her family and pets and traveling in the US and out of the country.