Our Nurse Practitioners

  • Ourania “Nia” Walraven, BBA, MSN, ANP-BC

    • Chief Nurse Practitioner

    Ourania “Nia” Walraven, BBA, MSN, ANP-BC, is an ANCC board certified adult nurse practitioner specializing in the care and management of patients with advanced heart failure and associated cardiac diseases.

    NP Walraven received her Bachelors in Business Administration with concentrations in Marketing and Management from Pace University and worked for an investment and insurance company prior to going into Nursing. After achieving her Bachelor of Science, she worked as a critical care nurse while attending Western Connecticut State University. There she obtained a Master of Science in Nursing and graduated with honors as recognized by the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society.

    NP Walraven is excited to be a leader in the advanced heart failure program at the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care, which has a long history of providing state of the art care to heart failure, ventricular assist device, and transplant patients. She strives to give excellent patient care, enjoys building trusting patient relationships, and fostering an environment where each patient’s specific needs are met.

    She is bilingual and bicultural in English and Greek.

  • Vivian R. Feldman, MSN, AGNP-BC, CCRN-CSC

    • Lead Nurse Practitioner

    NP Viv Feldman is a board-certified adult/gerontology nurse practitioner on the CUIMC ventricular assist device team since 2019.  She first began working with mechanical circulatory support devices in 2014 as a critical care RN in Columbia’s medical ICU and later in Columbia’s cardiothoracic ICU. She holds a Master of Science from Hunter College and a Bachelor of Science from Rutgers University, NJ.  She has special interest in ethical decision making, patient determination, and palliation as it relates to mechanical circulatory support devices.

    Image of Nurse Practitioner Vivian Feldman
  • Karen Antler MSN, AGNP-BC

    • Nurse Practitioner

    NP Karen Antler is a board-certified adult/gerontology nurse practitioner on the CUIMC ventricular assist device team since 2018. Previously, she was a bedside cardiac RN at The Valley Hospital in Ridgewood, NJ. She holds a Master’s of Science in Advanced Practice Nursing from Columbia University and a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing from New York University.  She has a special interest in the engineering and function of ventricular assist devices.

  • Briella Bartholomew, MS, NP-BC, OCN

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Briella is an adult nurse practitioner, with a focus in the treatment and chronic management of patients in all stages of advanced heart failure. She is ANCC board certified as an Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner (AGPCNP-BC).

     After graduating magna cum laude from Stony Brook University with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), Briella first began her career as a registered nurse on a hematology/oncology step-down unit at NewYork-Presbyterian Columbia University Iriving Medical Center. After completing 8 years working as at the bedside, she received her Master's of Science in Nursing (MS) degree from New York University and began her career as a nurse practitioner.  

    Briella joined the CUIMC Center for Advanced Cardiac Care team in 2022 and works closely with collaborating physicians, Dr. Melana Yuzefpolskaya and Dr. Paolo Colombo. As an adult-gerontology nurse practitioner, she cares primarily for adults while focusing on health promotion, disease management, and chronic care. 

    Image of Nurse Practitioner Briella Bartholomew
  • Hersy Contreras MSN, FNP-BC

    • Nurse Practitioner
  • Margaret Cuomo, MSN, FNP-C

    • Nurse Practitioner

    NP Cuomo is a board-certified family nurse practitioner specializing in the care of heart failure patients. She joined the team in the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care in 2019 after graduating Summa Cum Laude from Georgetown University with a Master of Science in Nursing. Prior to becoming a nurse practitioner, Margie worked as an ICU bedside nurse.  

    Margie’s primary clinical interest is cardiac amyloidosis. She serves as sub-investigator on numerous clinical trials involving patients with cardiac amyloidosis. She is passionate about advancing the care of her patients through research, advocacy, and clinical practice.

  • Tala Fanek MSN, FNP-BC

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Tala Fanek is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner specializing in advanced heart failure and cardiac transplant. 

    Prior to joining Columbia University as a NP, she worked as a RN for many years. She had completed a Critical Care and Trauma Fellowship at NUMC, obtaining her Trauma certification. Soon after, she joined the critical care float team at New York Presbyterian for several years.

    Tala received both her Bachelors and Masters in Nursing with Honors from Molloy College and she holds a degree in Biomedical Engineering from Hofstra University, during which she worked on novel research at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research.

    In her free time, she enjoys reading, traveling, the outdoors, and spending time with family and friends.

  • Byron Fuselier, Jr. MSN, FNP-BC, PCCN

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Byron Fuselier Jr., MSN, FNP-BC, PCCN, is a Post-Heart Transplant Nurse Practitioner at the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Born and raised in southwest Louisiana, Byron graduated with his Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Additionally, he is certified in Progressive Care by the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. He received his Master of Science in Nursing, Family Nurse Practitioner, from Long Island University- Brooklyn.  

    Image of Byron G. Fuseller
  • Anne Goldberg, MS, AGPCNP-BC, OCN

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Annie Goldberg is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner who specializes in the care of heart failure and cardio-oncology patients. Prior to joining the advanced cardiac care team, she worked as a board-certified oncology nurse at New York-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Annie received her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Northeastern University in 2015 and her Master of Science in Nursing (MS) from New York University in 2021. 

    Image of Nurse Practitioner Anne Goldberg
  • Nyhra Goldfinger MSN, ACNP-BC

    • Nurse Practitioner
  • Darya Haurylava MSN, AGPCNP-BC, CCRN

    • Nurse Practitioner
  • Margaret Jones, MSN, NP

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Margaret Jones is a Nurse Practitioner who  been working in the field of cardiac disease since the late 1980’s. She has been involved in research projects to better understand the etiology of heart failure as well as treatment modalities. She has over 30 years of experience working with patients and is committed to providing the best possible care for those with heart failure.

  • Jordan Lindekens, MSN, AGACNP

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Jordan Lindekens is a board-certified Adult Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner who started at the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care in December of 2022. She completed her undergraduate and graduate education at the University of Pennsylvania and was awarded the Amy Gutmann Leadership Scholarship. She has previously worked in Cardiology as a Registered Nurse at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center and Cooper University Hospital. She has a special interest in Cardiology and the Transitional Care Model. 

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  • Terilyn Ma, DNP, AGACNP-BC

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Dr. Terilyn Ma is a board-certified Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, with a dedicated focus in providing specialized care for individuals who have undergone heart transplantation. She achieved her Doctorate of Nursing Practice from Columbia University in 2024, earning recognition from the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Prior to this accomplishment, she attained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing from New York University in 2018. Driven by her passion for cardiovascular care and a keen desire to actively engage in groundbreaking advancements in heart transplantation, Dr. Ma brings five years of invaluable cardiology experience as a registered nurse and has initiated research contributions to scholarly journals that shape the landscape of cardiac patient care. Dr. Ma is committed to delivering high quality patient-centered care, enhancing patient outcomes, engaging in impactful research initiatives, and addressing the unique needs of heart transplant recipients. 

    She is proficient in both Cantonese and Mandarin languages.

    Image of Nurse Practitioner Terilyn Ma
  • Conor Maguire, MSN, FNP-C

    • Nurse Practitioner

    NP Maguire has over 10 years of Nursing experience in cardiology, infectious disease, and transplantation. He joined our team in 2021 as a board-certified Nurse Practitioner (NP-C) with a Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) from Pace University's Family Nurse Practitioner program. NP Maguire started his Nursing career in 2013 after obtaining his Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) from Borough of Manhattan Community College and later, his Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from the University of Texas. Conor joined the NYP-CUIMC group as a travel RN in our CACC advanced heart failure and transplant program in 2017. Prior to his position with us, NP Maguire was a Living Donor Transplant Coordinator with NYP-CUIMC's kidney transplant program. NP Maguire has been a Ventricular Assist Device Nurse Practitioner since 2021.

  • Jennifer Murphy ACNP-BC

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Jennifer Murphy is a board certified Acute care nurse practitioner on the CUIMC ventricular assist device team since 2007. Prior to this, she was a critical nurse for ten years in both the Medical and Cardiothoracic ICU settings. She holds a Masters of Science in Nursing from NYU and a Bachelors of Science in Nursing from William Paterson University.

    She has a special interest in the development of new VAD technologies and managing VAD patients in the outpatient setting. 

    Image of Nurse Practitioner Jennifer Murphy
  • Nayoung Park, MSN, FNP-BC

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Nayoung Park is a Master-trained family nurse practitioner. As an RN, she worked in various specialties including psychiatric, trauma, neurological, and cardiothoracic surgical nursing.

    NP Park cares for post-transplant patients with the multidisciplinary team including but not limited to Social Workers, Nutritionists, Pharmacists, Surgeons, the Palliative Care Team, the CACC Inpatient team, and other specialists as necessary to provide/coordinate care across the continuum.

  • Lori Reyes DNP, ANP-BC

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Dr. Reyes is a board-certified Adult Health nurse practitioner specializing in the care and management of heart failure patients. With over ten years of experience in inpatient and outpatient cardiology settings, she joined the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care in 2023. She graduated with honors from Johns Hopkins University with a Doctorate of Nursing Practice in Executive Leadership and a Post-Masters Certificate in Nursing Education. Prior to becoming a nurse, she obtained a Master’s degree in Social Work with a focus on family mental health from Syracuse University.

    Dr. Reyes’ treatment focus is pulmonary hypertension. She has served as a guest speaker for pulmonary hypertension patient support groups and nursing education groups featured through several pharmaceutical companies. She remains an active member of the Pulmonary Hypertension Professional Network (PHPN), the American Nurses Association (ANA) and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society. Her main areas of research interest include the safe administration of intravenous prostacyclin therapies and nursing education.

  • Melie Tiburcio, MSN, FNP- C, CCRN

    • Nurse Practitioner

    NP Melie Tiburcio joined the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program in 2012. 

    She is a board-certified family nurse practitioner. She earned her BS in nursing at the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines and completed family nurse practitioner education at Dominican College New York.

    She spent the former portion of her nursing career working in variable intensive care units as a bedside critical care nurse, was a nurse educator and nurse manager.    She has expertise in managing patients diagnosed with heart failure and left ventricular assist device. She is de dedicated to improving patient’s quality of life, personalized care and engaging family in patient care.

    Outside of work, she loves travelling, hiking and enjoys spending time with family and 3 dogs . She was born and raised in the Philippines.  

    Image of Nurse Practitioner Melie Tiburcio
  • Sheba Varghese MSN, FNP-C

    • Nurse Practitioner

    NP Varghese has on 5 years of Nursing experience in acute medical and surgical cardiology Nursing. She started her nursing career in 2016 after obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) from Adelphi University, and a Master of Science in Nursing with honors from Molloy College She is working with the Advanced Heart Failure team as a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C).

    Image of Nurse Practitioner Sheba Varghese
  • Angela Wuepper MSN, FNP-C

    • Nurse Practitioner

    Angela Wuepper is an experienced RN who practiced for 9 years in post-anesthesia care before becoming a board certified Nurse Practitioner. She was raised and educated in New York, and received her Associates in Nursing degree from the Borough of Manhattan Community College at CUNY. After working many years at a public hospital she completed her studies at Pace University with a Master’s Degree as Family Nurse Practitioner. She remains committed to serving her community and believes that health promotion begins at birth and should continue, with proper support, throughout the lifespan.

    Image of Nurse Practitioner Angela Wuepper