Children's Hospital

Gail C. Argenbright, PhD, LCP

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Gail C. Argenbright, PhD, LCP, received her doctorate in psychology from Indiana University at Bloomington and completed a clinical child/pediatric psychology internship in the department of psychiatry, including Kosair Children’s Hospital and the Bingham Child Guidance Clinic, at the University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, followed by a residency at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center Department of Pediatrics in the Child Development Center.

Dr. Argenbright’s specialty areas include neuropsychological and psychological evaluations, traumatic brain injury, pediatric psychology, development disabilities and childhood bereavement. Dr. Argenbright previously worked as a psychologist with the public schools and coordinated child and adult bereavement services for hospice organizations.

Professional Affiliations

Brain Injury Association of Virginia
National Association of School Psychologists
Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology
Society of Pediatric Psychology
Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists
Virginia Psychological Association

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Karen Bennett, M.Ed.

Vice President for Human Resources

Mrs. Bennett received her bachelor’s degree in psychology and her Master’s degree in Education with an emphasis in Counseling from Wake Forrest University. She has worked in Human Resources for 28 years in a variety of settings, but primarily in health care. Prior to coming to Children’s Hospital, Mrs. Bennett worked at Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents and Humana- St. Luke’s Hospital.

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Elizabeth B. Bortell, D.D.S.

Director of Pediatric Dentistry

As Director of Pediatric Dentistry at Children’s Hospital, Dr. Elizabeth Bortell oversees a comprehensive dental program that serves both the well-child and the child with special needs.

Dr. Bortell completed both Dental School and a pediatric residency program at Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, D.C. In addition to graduating with honors, Dr. Bortell completed her residency first in her class and received awards for academic excellence in Pediatric Dentistry, Oral Diagnosis and Radiology. She specializes in all areas of Pediatric Dentistry and is licensed to serve patients from Virginia, Maryland and the District of Columbia.

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
American Dental Association
American Society of Forensic Odontology
American Society of Dentistry for Children

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Chris Broughton-Spruill

Executive Vice President, Children's Hospital Foundation

Mrs. Broughton-Spruill received her bachelor’s degree in Education from Virginia Tech and worked in the development field for over 20 years. She worked at Peace College and Virginia Commonwealth University before coming to Children’s Hospital in 1991 to establish the Development Office.

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Joanna "Josie" Castaldi, Ph.D., LCP

Director of Psychology Services

As Director of Psychology Services at Children’s Hospital, Dr. Josie Castaldi’s responsibilities include providing diagnostic assessment; parent and staff consultation, and individual, group and family psychotherapy. Her special areas of interest include working with preschoolers and their families as well as conducting social skills and problem solving groups for elementary school age children.

A 1990 graduate of the University of Virginia’s doctoral program in Clinical Child/School Psychology, Dr. Castaldi’s background includes a residency in Psychology at Children’s Hospital and pre-doctoral internships at VCU’s Medical College of Virginia Hospital’s Virginia Treatment Center for Children and UVA’s Dejarnette Center, Department of Child Psychiatry. Previously, she served as a staff therapist at UVA’s Center for Clinical Psychology Services and as a school psychology intern in the Orange County School System, Orange County, Virginia.

Professional Affiliations

Richmond Academy of Clinical Psychologists
Virginia Psychological Association

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Elizabeth "Betsy" Clawson, Ph.D., LCP

Behavioral Coordinator, Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program

As behavioral coordinator of Children’s Hospital’s Pediatric Feeding Disorders Program, Dr. Betsy Clawson plays an integral role in a program which addresses behavioral issues associated with feeding difficulties. She is a licensed clinical psychologist who specializes in working with children with emotional, behavioral and neurodevelopmental difficulties, including related feeding disorders.

A 1997 graduate of the doctoral program in Clinical Psychology at VCU’s Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, Dr. Clawson’s background includes a pre-doctoral internship in the department of Behavioral Psychology at the Kennedy Kreiger Institute of Maryland’s Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where she received specialized training related to feeding issues. She also completed a residency in Psychology at Cumberland Hospital, a Brown Schools hospital for children and adolescents located in New Kent, Virginia.

Professional Affiliations

American Psychological Association
Association for the Advancement of Behavior Therapy
Brain Injury Association
Society of Behavioral Medicine
Society of Pediatric Psychology

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Sharon Darby, RN, NHA, FACHE

Vice President & Chief Nursing Officer

Sharon Darby, RN, NHA, FACHE, was named Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Children’s Hospital in July 2003. In this role, she serves as a leader in patient care services and oversees inpatient and outpatient nursing as well as several other clinical departments. Prior to becoming Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer, Sharon served as Children’s Hospital’s Director of Clinical Services from August 2001-July 2003.

In addition to an educational background in nursing, Sharon has a master’s in Health Care Administration and is board certified as a Health Care Executive. Her background experience includes more than 19 years in Nursing at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center, with 10 years serving in Nursing Administration where her managerial duties included newborn and pediatric intensive, intermediate and general care units.

Professional Affiliations

National Association of Healthcare Executives
Society of Pediatric Nurses

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Harry P. Koo, MD, FACS, FAAP

Pediatric Urologist

Dr. Harry P. Koo sees patients through Children’s Hospital’s multi-specialty spina bifida clinic. Board-certified in Urology, Dr. Koo is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Surgeons. Dr Koo received his medical degree with a distinction in research from the University of Rochester School of Medicine in Rochester, NY. His postgraduate training background includes an internship and residency in Surgery, and a residency in Urology, all completed at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York, NY, followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Urology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Koo has served as a faculty member at University of Michigan Medical School before coming to Richmond. He is currently Professor of Surgery and the Barbara and William Thalhimer Chairman of Urology at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

Dr. Koo’s areas of expertise include the evaluation and management of prenatally diagnosed hydronephrosis, undescended testis and hypospadias. 

Professional Affiliations

Fellow, American Academy of Pediatrics
Fellow, American College of Surgeons
American Urological Association
American Urological Association - Mid Atlantic Section
Richmond Academy of Medicine
Richmond Pediatric Society

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Satish Mahajan, M.D.

Attending Physician, Transitional Care Unit (TCU); Medical Director, Children's Feeding Program

Dr. Satish Mahajan serves as the primary medical provider for the TCU and as the Medical Director of the Children’s Feeding Program. Dr. Mahajan has been the primary medical provider for the TCU for the past several years having served as the Pediatrician/Pediatric Hospitalist for Children’s Hospital’s Inpatient Programs since July of 2000. Additionally, Dr. Mahajan has been providing medical coverage for children in the hospital’s Day Feeding Program and has recently begun working in the Feeding Clinic. Dr. Mahajan is board certified in Pediatrics and focuses in general pediatrics.

Professional Affiliations

American Medical Association
Assistant Clinical Professor PM&R (Adjunct), VCU
Fellow American Academy of Pediatrics
Richmond Academy of Medicine

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Eugenio A. Monasterio, M.D.

Medical Director, Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

In May 2008 Dr. Eugenio Monasterio began serving as Medical Director of Children’s Hospital in addition to his responsibilities as Director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Monasterio provides outpatient pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation at Children’s Hospital and consulting services in hospitals throughout the community. He also serves as Head of the Division of Pediatric Rehabilitation and as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, at VCU’s Medical College of Virginia.

Dr. Monasterio completed a clinical research fellowship in Pediatric Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado, Denver Children’s Hosptial. His training includes a residency and chief residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and a 2-year post-graduate residency in General Surgery, both completed at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He is board-certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. In addition to a special interest in pediatric rehabilitation, cerebral palsy and spasticity management, Dr. Monasterio’s current research interests include adapted access to leisure activities in children with disabilities. 

Professional Affiliations

American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (Fellow)

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Julie C. Neblett, Ph.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Julie Neblett, Ph.D. received her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a focus on Behavioral Health and Child Tracks from Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed a Postdoctoral fellowship in Neuropsychology at Neurospsychological Services of Virginia in Richmond, VA. In addition, Dr. Neblett completed a Pre-doctoral internship in Pediatric and Clinical Child Psychology at the University of Miami School of Medicine’s Mailman Center for Child Development, Department of Pediatrics in Miami, Fl.

Dr. Neblett’s clinical specialties include cognitive, emotional and behavioral sequelae of neurological damage or dysfunction and coping with chronic and acute medical problems.

Professional Affiliations

National Academy of Neuropsychology
Virginia Psychological Association
Virginia Academy of Clinical Psychologists

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Donna T. Purcell, Psy.D.

Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Dr. Donna Purcell received her doctorate in Psychology from Florida Tech in 1996. She completed a psychology internship at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children in Richmond, Va., followed by a residency in Psychology at the Virginia Commonwealth Institute for Child and Family Studies, which included working with the VCU/MCV Pediatrics Department.

Dr. Purcell specializes in Pediatric Psychology. Her areas of expertise include working with families and children with a wide range of pediatric and developmental concerns including chronic medical conditions, brain injuries, ADHD and feeding disorders. She is covering psychologist for the Transitional Care Unit and follows patients through inpatient and outpatient services.

Prior to coming to Children’s Hospital, Dr. Purcell was supervisor of Psychology and Psychotherapy at Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents in New Kent, Va.

Professional Affiliations

American Psychological Association

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Kimberly Ritenour, MS, RN, CPNP

Nurse Practitioner, Children’s Feeding Program

Kimberly Ritenour, MS, RN,CPNP, serves as a nurse practitioner with the Children’s Feeding Program. Kimberly has an undergraduate degree from Radford University and a master of science in nursing from the Medical College of Virginia. She has extensive experience working with chronically ill children and their families and has held a variety of nursing positions at VCU Health System. Previously Kimberly was Children’s Hospital’s Director of Infant Services from 1990-1992 and a pediatric nurse practitioner with the NICU Developmental Follow-up Clinic from 1998-2002. She will work with patients in the outpatient feeding clinic to identify medical issues related to their feeding difficulties and provide assistance in managing those issues.

Professional Affiliations

National Association of Pediatric Nurses and Practitioners (NAPNAP)
VA Chapter of NAPNAP

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Chester H. Sharps, M.D.

Medical Director of Motion Analysis Lab, Pediatric Orthopaedist

Chester H. Sharps, M.D., serves as Medical Director of the Motion Analysis Laboratory at Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Sharps serves patients through the multi-specialty services offered by Children’s Hospital. He is board certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and specializes in cerebral palsy, deformity correction, pediatric orthopaedics and scoliosis.

Dr. Sharps received his medical degree from Hahnemann Medical School in Philadephia, Pa., where he completed residencies in both General and Orthopaedic Surgery. Additionally, Dr. Sharps completed fellowship training in Pediatric Orthopaedics at the Alfred I. DuPont Institute Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del., and an additional Orthopaedic Surgery residency at Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia, Pa. In addition to his role at Children’s Hospital, Dr. Sharps serves as Section Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedics and Director of the Division of Pediatric Orthopaedics at Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center.

Professional Affiliations

American Medical Associatio
American Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine
Medical Society of Virginia
Virginia Orthopaedic Society
Richmond Academy of Medicine
Richmond Orthopaedic Club
American Academy of Pediatrics
Virginia Pediatric Society
Group International Cotrel-Dubousset
Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America

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Jean E. Teasley, MD

Pediatric Neurologist

Pediatric Neurologist Jean E. Teasley, MD serves patients through Children’s Hospital’s Muscular Dystrophy, Neurology and Spasticity programs. Board certified in Neurology, Pediatrics and Electrodiagnostic Medicine, Dr. Teasley has cared for children and adolescents for more than 20 years. Her areas of clinical specialty include neuromuscular diseases and operative monitoring for neurosurgical procedures.

Dr. Teasley received her medical degree from the Medical College of Georgia. She completed both a residency and internship in Pediatrics at the Children’s Hospital Medical Center of Northern California. She completed a residency in Child Neurology and a Neuromuscular fellowship at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Medical Center. While serving on faculty at Louisiana State University and University of Alabama in recent years, Dr. Teasley continued pursuing these areas of interest through work in the neurophysiology laboratory and with Muscular Dystrophy Association clinics and Spasticity clinics. In addition to her role at Children’s Hospital, Dr. Teasley serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Neurology’s Division of Pediatric Neurology at the VCU School of Medicine.

Professional Affiliations

Child Neurology Society
American Academy of Neurology
American Association of Neuromuscular & Electrodiagnostic Medicine
Southern Pediatric Neurology Society, Executive Director

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H. Robert Tuten, M.D.

Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon

Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon H. Robert Tuten, M.D., is board certified in Orthopaedic Surgery and completed fellowship training in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at the Alfred I. DuPont Institute Hospital for Children in Wilmington, Del. He received his medical degree from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) School of Medicine where he also completed residency training in Orthopaedic Surgery.

Dr. Tuten specializes in fractures, knee injuries and scoliosis. In addition to his role at Children’s Hospital, he currently serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at VCU Medical Center. 

Professional Affiliations

Virginia Orthopaedic Society
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons
American Medical Association
Medical College of Virginia Alumni Association
University of Virginia Alumni Association

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John D. Ward, M.D.

Neurosurgeon

Dual certified in Neurologic Surgery and Pediatric Neurosurgery, Dr. John Ward is the only neurosurgeon in the Central Virginia area whose primary practice is Pediatric Neurosurgery. He currently serves as director of the Neurosciences Center for Children, a partnership between Children’s Hospital and VCU/MCV Hospitals that unites professionals caring for children with neurologic diseases and disabilities.

A 1970 graduate of University of Cincinnati’s School of Medicine, Dr. Ward completed a surgery internship at VCU’s Medical College of Virginia Hospitals, followed by a residency in Neurological Surgery there as well.

Based out of VCU/MCV Hospitals, he is a professor of Neurosurgery, chief of Pediatric Neurosurgery, co-director of the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit, executive vice chairman of the division of Neurosurgery and chairman of the Commonwealth Neurotrauma Initiative Advisory Board. He received the Physician’s Recognition Award from the American Medical Association in 1981, 1984 and 1987 and received MCV’s Physicians’ Distinguished Clinician Award for 1999.

Professional Affiliations

American Association of Neurological Surgeons
American Association of Neurological Surgeons-Pediatric Section
American College of Critical Care Medicine
American College of Surgeons
American Society of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition
American Society of Pediatric Neurosurgeons
American Spinal Injury Association
Carolina/Virginia Society of Critical Care Medicine
Congress of Neurological Surgeons
Joint Section of Neurotrauma and Critical Care
Joint Section on Spinal Disorders of AANS & CNS
Joint Section of Trauma or AANS & CNS
Medical Society of Virginia
Neurosurgical Society of Virginia
Richmond Academy of Medicine
Richmond Pediatric Society
Society of Critical Care Medicine
Society of Neurosurgical Anesthesia and Neurological Supportive Care

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Samuel G. Weidman, CPA

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

Mr. Weidman received his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration. He has worked in Business Administration for 30 years, 13 of those years in public accounting. Prior to joining the staff at Children’s Hospital, Mr. Weidman served as the Vice President of Finance for various Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans.

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Leslie G. Wyatt, RN, MS

President/Chief Executive Officer

Leslie Wyatt, senior executive of Children’s Hospital, received her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Nursing from Virginia Commonwealth University. Her background includes a wide range of roles and experiences in clinical nursing, nursing administration, and hospital administration concentrating in pediatric healthcare. Prior to joining Children’s Hospital Mrs. Wyatt was the Chief Executive Officer of Cumberland Hospital for Children and Adolescents in New Kent, Virginia. Mrs. Wyatt’s career in healthcare began in pediatric nursing followed by nursing administration at the Medical College of Virginia Hospitals of Virginia Commonwealth University.

Mrs. Wyatt serves on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, as well as on the organization’s Council on Health and Finance and the Advisory Council for Specialty Hospitals. Her civic affiliations include Make-A-Wish Foundation, Kiwanis Club and Leadership Metro Richmond.

Professional Affiliations

American College of Healthcare Executives
National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions
Pediatric Society of Richmond
Rehabilitation Administrators of Virginia
Richmond Academy of Medicine
Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association
Great Richmond Chamber of Commerce
Central Virginia Healthcare Executives Group

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