| PLC Staff Bios
DEPARTMENTS:
Exercise Physiology Department
Nutrition Department
Imaging Department
Clinical Specialties
Exercise Physiology Department
Chris Volgraf CSCS, CGFI, HFI, CPT
Senior Exercise Physiologist
Since the Princeton Longevity Center began operations in 2002, Chris Volgraf has been the Senior Exercise Physiologist since 2002 and is a founding member of the PLC clinical staff. Mr. Volgraf received his degree in Exercise Science from Temple University where he specialized in Exercise Testing & Prescription and Sports Specific Training. He currently holds the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, the Health/Fitness Instructor certification from the American College of Sports Medicine, as well as the National Strength and Conditioning Association Certified Personal Trainer certification. Chris also received training in Program Design from the nationally recognized Cooper Clinic in Dallas, Texas. More recently, he has been trained to perform Gray Cook’s Functional Movement Screening and he has joined an elite group of Strength and Conditioning Specialists receiving the distinction of Titleist Performance Institute Certified Golf Fitness Instructor.
Chris has helped train youth, college, Olympic and professional athletes for the past 5 years. Chris has also served as a guest lecturer on the variety of career paths provided in the field of Exercise Science at Temple University for the past 3 years. In the past, Chris has worked with Aetna US Healthcare's Corporate Fitness Division as an Exercise Physiologist and with MediFit Corporate Services as an Exercise Physiologist/Exercise Prescription and Program Design Coordinator for one of the nation’s largest utility companies
Tom O'Connor MS, CSCS, NASM-CES, PES
Exercise Physiologist
Mr. O’Connor graduated from Rutgers University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Exercise Science and Sport Studies. He also received his Masters of Science Degree in Human Movement Science with a concentration in Corrective Exercise. Thomas is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He is also a certified by the American Council on Exercise as a Clinical Exercise Specialist, Personal trainer, and a Lifestyle and Weight Management Consultant. He also has advanced specialization in corrective exercise and performance enhancement from the National Academy of Sports Medicine. He is also He also received foundations of fitness training from Towns Sports International. He has intensive training in Golf Biomechanics from the Corrective Holistic Exercise Kinesiology (C.H.E.K.) Institute.
Mr. O’Connor worked as an Exercise Physiologist in a Cardiac Rehabilitation Center in Trinitas Hospital in Northern New Jersey. He also monitored diabetes and hypertensive management programs in a hospital setting in Union county. He was an exercise specialist in the fitness setting where he performed personalized exercise prescriptions. He has also worked as a personal trainer at New York Sports Clubs and at In-Home settings.
Keith Burns, MS, CSCS, NASM-CES, PES, CGFI
Exercise Physiologist
Mr. Burns brings to the Princeton Longevity Center over a decade of experience in the health and fitness field. He is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelors of Science degree in Physical Education Studies and received his Masters of Science Degree in Human Movement Science with a concentration in Corrective Exercise from the Arizona School of Health Science, A.T. Still University in Mesa, AZ.
Keith is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with the National Strength and Conditioning Association. He also has advanced specialization in corrective exercise and performance enhancement from the National Academy of Sports Medicine, as well as having been trained by the Titleist Performance Institute as a Certified Golf Fitness Instructor. In addition to his work at the PLC, Keith also serves on the faculty at Georgian Court University teaching Kinesiology and Biomechanics in the Exercise Science Program.
Prior to joining the PLC, Keith has worked as a Strength & Conditioning coach at both the collegiate and professional level. Professionally, he spent 4 years in Major League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Detroit Tigers organizations overseeing the athletic development of players within each organization. On the collegiate level he has worked at the University of Richmond, Towson University, and Seton Hall University serving in a similar capacity for student-athletes from a variety of sports. Additionally, Keith has held the position of Director of Training for two private sports performance companies overseeing all aspects of the business.
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Nutrition Department
Karen McPartland, R.D.
Senior Dietitian
Karen McPartland graduated from Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics. After completing her dietetic internships at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Syracuse, she passed a national dietetic registration exam and is a Registered Dietitian.
Karen’s special interests include nutritional approaches to cardiovascular disease prevention and management, metabolic syndrome, and lifestyle counseling for weight control. In order to stay abreast of the latest developments in these areas, she focuses her continuing education efforts around those topics. Karen earned a Certificate in Adult Weight Management in 2004 and is a member of the American Dietetic Association.
Andrea Panaccione, RD
Dietitian
Andrea Panaccione graduated from the University of Maryland with a Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics. She completed her dietetic internship with the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) School of Health Related Professions (SHRP). She then passed the national dietetic registration exam to become a registered dietitian. Andrea has earned American Dietetic Association Certification in Pediatric, Adolescent, and Adult Weight Management. She obtained her Master in Science in Clinical Nutrition from UMDNJ-SHRP. She is also a member of the American Dietetic Association, the New Jersey Dietetic Association, and the Sports, Cardiovascular, and Wellness Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group.
Andrea has experience in counseling all populations. Her special interests include weight management and behavior change, wellness, diabetes, cardiovascular health, and sports nutrition. Andrea has been a nutrition volunteer for the NJ Summer Special Olympics, the NJ Marathon Health and Fitness Expo, the ING NYC Marathon, and the Philadelphia Marathon. She was previously Rothman Institute’s nutritionist for southern New Jersey and Monmouth Medical Center’s outpatient and clinical dietitian. She has also worked as a sports nutrition intern at the Parisi Speed School in Fair Lawn, NJ.
Gail Wikler, R.D., C.D.N.
Registered Dietitian
Gail Wikler graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Rhode Island with a
Bachelor of Science degree in dietetics and a minor degree in psychology. After
completing her dietetic internship at New York‐Presbyterian Hospital in New York
City, she passed the National Dietetic Registration Exam to become a Registered
Dietitian. She also earned a New York State Dietetics/Nutrition Certification.
Gail is
currently pursuing a Master's Degree in nutrition with a minor concentration in
public health at New York University. She is a member of the American Dietetic
Association, the New York State Dietetic Association, the Sports, Cardiovascular, and
Wellness Nutrition Dietetic Practice Group, the Dietitians for Integrative and
Functional Medicine Dietetic Practice Group and the Behavioral Health Nutrition
Dietetic Practice Group.
Gail specializes in Behavioral Health Nutrition, focusing on weight management,
cardiovascular disease prevention and the treatment of eating disorders. Gail's special interests include cardiovascular disease and cancer prevention with diet
intervention, weight management, sports nutrition, and behavioral counseling for lifestyle improvement.
Gail's goal as a Registered Dietitian is to use diet as a tool to enhance treatment for chronic health problems and
weight management. She aims to help individuals set small, realistic goals for a larger lifestyle change to
improve their quality of life. She does not believe in restrictive diets, "good or bad" foods, or the need to fear or
be obsessive about food. Gail works to create individualized meal plans that are tailored to each person’s ethnic
food preferences, accessibility to food, daily schedule, and personal health goals.
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Imaging Department
Darlene Chuva, RT (R, CT)
Radiology Technologist
Ms. Chuva graduated Phi Theta Kappa from Brookdale Community College with AAS in radiologic technology. She has 7 years experience in general diagnostic imaging, QC, bone densitometry, CT and EBT. She is certified in general diagnostic imaging and computed tomography. Prior to coming to Princeton Longevity Center, Ms. Chuva was Chief EBT technologist at InteCardia Lifecare Imaging EBT center.
Christina Bardi RT (R)
Radiologic Technologist
Christina Bardi is a registered diagnostic radiologic technologist. She holds an AAS graduating Phi Theta Kappa from Middlesex County College. She also holds a BA in Business Management from William Paterson College. Christina spent 5 years at RWJUH performing diagnostic imaging. She also has 8 years experience in CT, bone densitometry and quality control.
Clinical Specialties Department
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