Meet the SeniorBridge Pittsburgh 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.
Sally S. Friedman, MSW
Executive Director
Sally has diverse, extensive experience as an administrator and social worker in elder living communities. Most recently, she served as Assisted Living Administrator for the Jewish Association on Aging (JAA), managing two AL communities and planning for continuity of care. Earlier Sally had been the Administrator of one of them, Weinberg Terrace, where she was noted for creating an inviting open community. She has also been Administrator at Harvest Hill, a retirement community in Lebanon, NH, and a Social Worker at its affiliated Alice Peck Day Memorial Hospital and Extended Care Facility. She has worked as Community Partners Coordinator for the Upper Valley Support Group, Lebanon, providing respite care for families of children with special needs. She earned a BS and an MSW at Syracuse University, and studied French at the University de Lausanne. In her spare time, she volunteers at Forbes Hospice and with the Palliative Care Committee at JAA and the Pennsylvania Coalition on Culture Change.
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.
Deanna Ferrella, RN
Care Manager
Deanna's was previously a Registered Nurse at Asbury Heights in Mt. Lebanon, where she assessed and implemented care plans, and educated patients on skilled nursing, intermediate and dementia units. Before that, she was Nurse Supervisor in charge of quality assurance and infection control at the Ronald Reagan Atrium I in Pittsburgh, a 160-bed long-term care facility. Her responsibilities included supervision and management of the facility, assessment, and staff development and education. Deanna also served as Registered Nurse for Triage and Back Office Coordinator at Mercy Hospital's Primary Care Network, providing nursing care for a multiple-site Internal Medicine practice, assessment and patient care plans and education. She received her Registered Nurse license after competing training at the Ohio Valley General Hospital School of Nursing in McKees Rocks and studied at the Community College of Allegheny County in Pittsburgh.
Martha L. Kwalwasser, MSW
Care Manager
Martha has been involved in senior care and healthcare management for 29 years. She has been the Program Director of Senior Services at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Pittsburgh for the past 18 months, which includes the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging Senior Center, and a member of the AgeWell Pittsburgh service collaboration. Prior to this, she was Executive Director of The Residence on Fifth, and before that, she was Personal Care Home Administrator at the Assisted Living Residence at Weinberg Village of the Jewish Association on Aging. She has also been Director of Care Management, Director of Social Work, Director of Admissions, and Geriatric Social Worker for the Riverview Center for Jewish Seniors, a nursing facility. Her BA in Sociology/Human Services was obtained at Arcadia University in Glenside, PA, and she earned a Certificate in Gerontology from the University of Southern California Andrus Gerontology Center in LA. Martha has a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work, is a licensed Social Worker in the State of Pennsylvania and is a state licensed Personal Care Home Administrator.
Marilyn W. Long
Care Manager
Marilyn began her career as a 4th-grade teacher in the Ipswich, Massachusetts public schools, taught children at St. Edmund's Academy in Pittsburgh and also taught adults for over 10 years. In 2001 she devoted herself to care management work, working as a Social Service Assistant at Sterling Care Counseling, a provider of eldercare services that had been acquired by SeniorBridge. Marilyn received her Bachelor of Science degree from Gordon College in Wenham, Massachusetts.
Jean M. Miller, RN, MEd.
Care Manager
Jean has been with SeniorBridge for 6 years. Prior to that, she was a Staff Nurse at the Lawson Nursing Home in Jefferson, PA. She was with the Veterans Affairs Hospitals in Pittsburgh for 20 years; 12 years as a dialysis nurse in hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis and 8 years as Manager of the IV Therapy team and Respiratory Therapists. She obtained certification in both areas. A Registered Nurse, Jean obtained her diploma from the Allegheny General Hospital School of Nursing, as well as a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing and a Masters degree in Adult Health Education from Penn State University.