Meet the SeniorBridge Madison Team
Rita Shindnes, RN, MPA
Regional Executive Director
Rita has more than 18 years experience in the healthcare field with an extensive background in sales, marketing and patient care, a strong skill-set that has allowed her to develop relationships with families and the professionals who serve them. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Rita was Administrator and Director of Patient Services at St. Mary's Healthcare System for Children Community Care Professionals, LHCSA in Elmhurst, New York. Throughout her time there she oversaw all aspects of the Licensed Home Care Services Agency, maintained community relations and developed long and short-term strategic plans. Among her achievements, she spearheaded the growth, development, management and clinical oversight as Branch Administrator at Premier Home Health Services, Inc. and implemented a High Risk Disease Management program specific to network providers as Providers Services Manager at Healthways, Inc. Rita earned a Registered Nurse degree from Rabin Medical Center, Hasharon School of Nursing in Israel, a Bachelors of Arts degree in Healthcare Systems from New England College in Henniker, New Hampshire and a Master of Public Administration degree in Healthcare Systems from Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts. Rita holds licensure in the states of New York and New Jersey as a Registered Nurse and holds certification in PRI. She is a member of the New York City chapters for Case Management Society of America and National Association of Professional Geriatric Case Managers and is fluent in English, Russian and Hebrew.
Debora Thomas, RN, MSN
Director of Client Services
Debora brings more than 30 years of professional nursing experience in a variety of settings including hospitals and home care with particular expertise in care management. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Debora served as Director of Nursing and Alternate Administrator at All Pointe Homecare, LLC, where she had responsibilities on the administrative, staff coordination and company liaison levels. Throughout her time there, she formulated business plans, oversaw clients services, insured regulation compliance, supervised staff and actively developed referral sources, among many other duties. Other career highlights include organizing and directing clinical operations as Care Team Manager for Patient Care in Hamden, Connecticut and being responsible for care of all post-surgical patients including transplant cases as Registered Nurse in the Post Anesthesia Care Unit of Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, New York. Debora also has more than 25 years of teaching and training experience in topics such as homecare processes and procedures, proper care of the elderly and training in crisis intervention for patients and families. Debora earned her Associate degree in Nursing from Genesee Community College, her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Nazareth College and her Master of Science in Nursing, Pediatric Clinical Nurse Specialist from University of Rochester. She is currently pursing her Doctor of Philosophy in Organization and Management with a specialization in Leadership from Capella University. Debora holds licensure in the states of Connecticut and New York as a Registered Nurse and holds certification as an EMT and LPN. She is an active member of the community and has been a Girl Scout leader for the past 14 years.
David Zychowski
Regional Director of Professional Relations
David brings more than 15 years experience in the healthcare field with an extensive background in sales, marketing and operations to his role as Regional Director of Professional Relations. His strong skill-set has allowed David to develop long-term relationships and strategically set up business plans throughout New England and the Mid-Atlantic. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, David served as District Director of Sales Development for Kindred Healthcare where he developed sub-acute specialty clinical programs, forecasted and attained census targets for 23 skilled nursing facilities and was responsible for sales initiatives for hospital and medical staff. Other career highlights include creating and delivering a consultative sales training program as Owner and Sales Consultant of 6 Degree Network Consulting and executing a successful turnaround strategy through aggressive strategic planning as Vice President of NP Care. David earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication and Marketing from University of Connecticut.
Melanie Plunske
Director of Professional Relations
Melanie brings more than a decade of marketing and sales experience in the health care field to her role as Director of Professional Relations. Her commitment to excellence encompasses all areas of her work including strong client advocacy, and she has experience in a variety of settings including home health and medical offices. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, Melanie served as a marketing representative for Visiting Nurse of Southern Connecticut working as a three-person marketing, development and sales team to promote services and programs to assisted living facilities, doctor offices and short-term rehabilitation centers. Other career highlights include traveling throughout Connecticut to educate and in-service clients as Community and Clinical Relations Manager at Family Care Visiting Nurse & Homecare Agency and being held responsible for all patient care as a medical assistant for a doctor in Wallingford, Connecticut. Melanie earned her Associates degree in Medical Business from Western International University and is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Health degree in administration with a concentration in health management and marketing. She holds certifications as a nurses assistant, medical assistant and phlebotomist.
Deborah Reichentahl
Director of Professional Relations
Deborah is an active member of the New Haven, Litchfield and Fairfield Counties' healthcare communities with more than 10 years of clinical and business administration experience. A resourceful and creative problem solver, Deborah excels at finding new solutions to difficult challenges and has been successful at implementing new ideas and programs to meet the unique needs of her professional partners and clients. Prior to joining SeniorBridge, she served as Director of Marketing and Admissions at Long Ridge of Stamford where she was responsible for public relations, customer communication and marketing. Previously, Deborah was the Director of Community Relations at Benchmark Assisted Living where she worked with families and professionals, planned community events and handled risk management. Deborah attended Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
Ingrid Balck-O'Donnell, RN, BSN, MBA
Care Manager
Ingrid brings more than 20 years of broad experience in the healthcare field as an educator, nurse, and administrator to her role as Care Manager. For the past decade, Ingrid served multiple positions at VNA Community Healthcare, Inc. in Guilford, Connecticut where she advocated for sound health management. Most recently, Ingrid served as nurse advocate, health advocate and health promotion coordinator where she promoted strategies for maintaining optimal care through nutrition, lifestyle, exercise and emotional well-being. Prior to that role she also served as health promotion coordinator expanding the agency's outreach and implementing new educational and health programs. Other career highlights include providing various healthcare services to staff and students as substitute nurse for two Connecticut school districts and managing the clinical department as clinical supervisor for Kaiser Permanente. Ingrid earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree from American International College in Springfield, Massachusetts and a Masters of Business Administration from the University of New Haven in Connecticut. Ingrid holds licensure as a Registered Nurse in the state of Connecticut and holds certifications as a Childbirth Educator, Fitness and Nutrition Counselor and Personal Trainer.
Cecilia Fishman, BSN, RN
Care Manager
Cecilia has more than 30 years experience in the healthcare field, with particular expertise providing primary care nursing and hospital discharge planning education. Prior to joining SeniorBridge she served as a Registered Nurse with the National Disaster Medical Assistant Team, as a critical care Registered Nurse at White Plains Hospital in New York, and as a medical office Registered Nurse in California. Cecilia began her career as a staff Registered Nurse, charge nurse and research nurse at Montefiore Hospital in Bronx, New York and also has experience with children's camps throughout Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania. Cecilia earned a Bachelors of Arts degree in Psychology and Bachelors of Science degree in Nursing from Herbert H. Lehman College in the Bronx. She holds licensure in Connecticut and New York as a Registered Nurse and has completed Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) certification. Cecilia is National Incident Management Systems (NIMS) compliant and also serves on the Westchester County Advisory Board for Emergency Medical Services.
Leah Pullaro, MSW
Care Manager
Along with her expertise in social work, Leah brings more than 30 years experience in education and social services to her position as a SeniorBridge Care Manager. Her social work credits include serving as a social worker for the Town of New Milford Social Services Department implementing community-based programs to benefit families, providing social work and advocacy services for older adults with Patient Care/Almost Family and interning as a social worker and case manager within Danbury Hospital's Acute Inpatient Physical Rehab facility. Throughout her long-standing career in western Connecticut, Leah has served in numerous capacities including teaching in Watertown Public Schools as a Special Education Teacher, working as a supervisor for the State of Connecticut Department of Developmental Services and currently as an active volunteer with several local organizations including Parents Available To Help (PATH) and University of Connecticut Medical School's Health Center. Leah holds a Bachelor of Arts in Special Education from Southern Connecticut State University in Hamden, Connecticut and a Master of Social Work from the University of Connecticut.