Stroke Patient & Family Support Services
Stroke Warriors Group
This is a forum for stroke survivors, caregivers, and families to share experiences and insights, and receive guidance from experts to navigate stroke risk and recovery challenges. The group is led by multidisciplinary clinicians and administrators committed to supporting all those affected by a stroke. Sessions are both in person and virtual and require registration.
To attend in person, please email neuro-strokewarriors@cumc.columbia.edu or call Beatriz Nivasch at 646-697-9985.
Please click here for more information and to register to attend virtually.
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Dates |
Topic and Presenter |
Room |
|---|---|---|
|
June 20, 2025
|
Compras y comidas sabias: Estrategias nutricionales para la recuperación tras un accidente cerebrovascular con Alina Pacheco Irizarri, MS, RDN, CDN, CNSC |
Columbia Community Partnership for Health |
|
July 18, 2025 |
Common Medications Prescribed after Stroke and Side Effects |
Columbia Community Partnership for Health |
|
September 19, 2025 |
VIP Community Services' Role in the Community with Local Resources and Networks |
Columbia Community Partnership for Health |
|
October 17, 2025 |
Bringing Stroke Community Stakeholders Together |
|
|
November 21, 2025 |
Smart Shopping & Dining: Nutrition Strategies for Stroke Recovery |
Columbia Community Partnership for Health |
|
December 19, 2025 |
Community Resources |
Columbia Community Partnership for Health |
Stroke Warriors Team
Imama Naqvi, MD, MS
- Assistant Professor of Neurology at the CUMC, Assistant Attending at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, and Director of Outpatient Stroke Services
As a board-certified Stroke Neurologist, Dr. Naqvi's clinical expertise in stroke care has guided her research to alleviate inequities in health care among our diverse stroke populations.
Her team's work is centered on community engagement to design supportive strategies for health behavior change among minor stroke patients. Their innovative interdisciplinary telehealth approaches aim to improve after-stroke care.
Dr. Naqvi has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and serves on several NIH-sponsored multicenter clinical trials to advance secondary stroke prevention. Outside of work, Dr. Naqvi enjoys cooking with her family, and going on long walks in the neighborhood.
Cris Perdomo, MSN-Ed, RN
- Manager, Stroke Center
Cris Perdomo's passion for stroke started as a Clinical Educator on staff at a community hospital. Assisting stroke survivors and caregivers navigate life after stroke inspired her to join our hospital’s stroke program. In my current role at NYP, she works with our clinical teams to deliver high quality stroke care, enhance workflow and most importantly, provide support in the journey to stroke recovery. Their goal is to help improve patient outcomes and quality of life for stroke survivors in our diverse population.
Cris feels rewarded every day interacting with our hospital patients, survivors, caregivers, and community members. At my leisure, she enjoys dancing, crafting, and spending time with family.
Kyra Lizardo, MS, APRN, FNP-BC
- Stroke Program Nurse Practitioner
With 15 years of nursing experience, including 8 as a nurse practitioner, Kyra Lizardo brings a wealth of expertise to patient care. Her childhood experience of caring for ger grandpa after his stroke ignited her passion for neurology. Beyond the medical field, she finds comfort in reading books, cherishing time with family and friends, and thinking about life in general and its purpose. Committed to holistic well-being, she combines professional proficiency with personal empathy to deliver comprehensive care.
Juan Meyreles, AS
- Community Liaison
Juan Meyreles is a Community Health Worker at VIP Community Services in the Bronx and a Research Officer at Columbia University with the Stroke Warriors Advisory Group. With over three years of experience in community health, he has a hands-on, people-first approach to engaging patients and connecting them to vital services.
Born and raised in Washington Heights, he is a proud Dominican-American and fluent in both English and Spanish. He holds certifications as a Community Health Worker and in Mental Health First Aid. He is deeply committed to supporting underserved communities and take pride in building relationships with local organizations to address gaps and expand access to health education, counseling, and resources. He truly finds purpose in helping individuals navigate complex systems, offering compassionate support every step of the way.
Beatriz Nivasch, BA
- Group Administrator
As a dedicated team player, Beatriz Nivasch is committed to cultivating a positive work environment. She excels in coordinating and achieving objectives by prioritizing attention to detail, team collaboration, persistence, and taking ownership of projects. Beyond work, she find joy in exploring the culinary world through homemade meals and expressing creativity through the art of origami.
