Shala Sundaram, MD, FAAFP
Program Director
Dr. Shala Sundaram found her path to family medicine in a unique fashion. She attended Georgia Institute of Technology and earned a Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering prior to earning her medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine. She continued her education with an internship in Family Medicine at St. Joseph's Hospital at State University of New York, and completed her residency in Stamford Hospital/Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons, where she served as Chief Resident. Dr. Sundaram spent a year studying at University of Massachusetts Teaching of Tomorrow, participating in the Longitudinal Faculty Development Program, and completed a one-year faculty development fellowship at UNC Chapel Hill School of Medicine. She is also completing a year of the Program Director Development Fellowship with the Association of Family Medicine Residency Directors.
Prior to becoming the founding program director at LewisGale Medical Center (LGMC), she was the assistant program director for the family medicine residency program at Albany Medical College in Albany, NY. She has helped create a new family medicine residency before (so this will be her second at LGMC) at New York Medical College Phelps in Sleepy Hollow, NY.
With her background in engineering, she enjoys building a bridge between the world of electronics and medicine. She takes pleasure in practicing and continuing to learn medicine every day, with a drive to institute this passion via teaching to the upcoming generation of new family physicians.
Dr. Michael Simpson, DO, CAQSM, FAAFP
Core Faculty
Dr. Simpson specializes in family medicine and primary care sports medicine. He received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine. He then joined the U.S. Army and completed his residency in family medicine at Martin Army Community Hospital at Fort Benning, Ga. His 10 years of service in the Army included a deployment to Iraq, and he earned the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. During his time of service, Dr. Simpson completed a fellowship in sports medicine at Fairfax Family Practice in Fairfax, VA. Dr. Simpson is board certified in family medicine and primary care sports medicine, and is a fellow of the American Academy of Family Physicians. He is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Osteopathic Association, American College of Sports Medicine and the American Medical Society of Sports Medicine.
Prior to medical school, Dr. Simpson earned a master's degree in exercise science from the University of South Carolina in Columbia, S.C. He serves as a volunteer team physician for local sports teams and has published articles on tendon injuries and hypermobility. He is specially skilled in osteopathic manipulation, trigger points, joint/soft tissue injections and musculoskeletal ultrasound. Dr. Simpson resides in Blacksburg, VA with his wife and two daughters.
Matthew Kelly, DO
Core Faculty
Dr. Kelly is board certified in Family Medicine and OMT. He received his medical degree from the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine in Lewisburg WV. He completed his residency training and served as Chief Resident at Lewis Gale Hospital Montgomery in Blacksburg, VA. Dr. Kelly has proudly served his country for over 19 years. He enlisted in the US Marine Corps Reserves while he completed his Bachelor's Degree at Radford University and then was commissioned into the US Navy when he was accepted into medical school. While in the Navy, he served as Regimental Surgeon for the Fourth Marine Regiment in Okinawa, Japan and as Senior Medical Officer at North Island Naval Air Station Branch Clinic in Coronado CA.
Dr. Kelly enjoys traveling and spending time in the great outdoors with his wife and three children.
Abigail Lubin, MD
Core Faculty
Dr. Lubin is a board-certified family medicine physician and faculty member at LewisGale Family Medicine Residency in Roanoke, VA.
Dr. Lubin earned her undergraduate degree in biology, with a minor in music, graduating with high honors from Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. She then completed medical school at Albany Medical College, earning her medical doctorate with a Distinction in Advocacy, with a particular interest in providing more efficient healthcare to high-utilizing populations. Following medical school, Dr. Lubin completed her residency at Albany Family Medicine, where she served as residency recruitment chair and developed interests in teaching and in Women's Health and Obstetrics.
Dr. Lubin is Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. She is a professional member of the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP) and the American Medical Association (AMA). She is the recipient of several honors, including the J. Garth Johnson Prize - awarded to the individual who best exhibits the characteristics considered ideal in a family physician.
Dr. Lubin chose to specialize in family medicine because she enjoys providing whole-person, coordinated care to patients and families at all stages of life - from newborn patients to geriatric patients to obstetric patients, with all varieties of health challenges. She strives to create a caring environment in which to partner with patients in order to help them to achieve their best health. Dr. Lubin lives in Roanoke and enjoys reading, playing board games, and going to the park with her husband and their happy Westie pup!
Hilary Linderman, PSYD
Clinical Psychologist
Core Faculty
Dr. Hilary Linderman is a licensed Clinical Psychologist specializing in Health Psychology. She earned her master's and doctoral degrees from Midwestern University. Dr. Linderman completed clinical training on heart and lung transplant teams at a Level 1 trauma center in Chicago. During her pre-doctoral internship at the Cheyenne VA Medical Center, she utilized evidence-based therapies for the treatment of complex trauma (PE, CPT, EAET). Dr. Linderman completed her postdoctoral fellowship in Clinical Health Psychology at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center where she worked with medical specialty departments, including cardiology, hematology and oncology, and gastroenterology. She particularly enjoyed teaching medical residents about the relationship between emotional and physical well-being, as well as providers' role in caring for the whole person.
Dr. Linderman is involved in medical and psychological research and has been a guest lecturer for physicians and medical residents on a variety of topics, including motivational interviewing, the cognitive and emotional impact of advanced heart failure, treatment of patients with neurocognitive disorders in late life, and assessment of suicidality in hospital settings. She is particularly passionate about improving communication between healthcare providers and patients so that both parties achieve the goal of optimal long-term health. By teaching medical residents about the behavioral, psychological, and sociocultural aspects of overall health, she hopes to ensure the continued delivery of patient-centered care. In her free time, Dr. Linderman enjoys baking, kayaking, and hiking with her dog, Buddy.
Hannah Palmer
Residency Coordinator
Hannah is from Roanoke and attended Virginia Western Community College. She joined LewisGale's Family Medicine Residency Program in January, 2019, where she works with the Family Medicine Residents and Faculty. In her spare time, Hannah enjoys crafting, learning new recipes, visiting farmers' markets, and spending time with her family and friends.