Our Team

Philip DeFina, Ph.D., ABSNP, ABPdN

Dr. Philip Defina has over 40 years of experience as a neuropsychologist and cognitive neuroscientist. He is most known for developing novel, groundbreaking treatment protocols for traumatic brain injury, coma, autism spectrum, and PTSD.

Dr. DeFina is the founder and Chief Scientific Officer of the International Brain Research Foundation (IBRF), a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation registered in New York. Previously, he served on the NYU faculty as an associate professor of neurology and psychiatry at the New York University School of Medicine and the Bellevue Hospital Center. He was a forensic neuropsychologist at the Mount Sinai-Elmhurst Hospital Medical Center and was an adjunct professor at the University of Maryland Psychology Department. Dr. DeFina was also the founder and first director of the Fielding Graduate University's Post-Doctoral Clinical Neuropsychology Training Program. Dr. DeFina subsequently co-founded the school neuropsychology training program at Texas Women's University and co-founded the American Board of School Neuropsychology, and was one of the original founding members of the American Board of Pediatric Neuropsychology.

As a renowned author and lecturer, he has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific journal articles, books, and book chapters. He has been the Principal Investigator in several prominent research studies, including the recently completed Department of Defense Research Study on Severe Disorders of Consciousness and Coma recovery. Dr. DeFina is the Principal Investigator on a novel study using Stellate Ganglion Block Stimulation to treat chronic PTSD, Post-Partum Depression, and Post-Menopausal Syndrome. He was a research scientist and collaborator at the NYUBrookhaven National Laboratory's first PET-Schizophrenia Study. He has developed neuropsychological psychometric test instruments for ADHD, Memory Disorders, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Specific Learning Disabilities, and Disorders of the Aging Brain.

Dr. DeFina and the International Brain Research Foundation have been involved with many highly publicized cases of brain injury treatment, including the case of a 12-year old boy who was hit in the chest with a line drive during a baseball game and the highly controversial case of Jahi McMath, who was pronounced brain dead and then legally dead following a surgery in 2013.

His passion for unlocking the mysteries of the brain has been and continues to be his impetus in life.

  • Samuel Shor, MD, FACP

    Dr. Shor is the Medical Director and general internist, selected by Washingtonian TOP DOCTOR, BestDoctors.com and Washington Consumers Checkbook as Best primary care Physician. He gained national recognition for his peer-reviewed publications in the fields of chronic fatigue and Lyme disease, and has become a local referral resource in the management of fibromyalgia and Lyme disease. Dr. Shor has been a member of Governor McDonnell’s task force on Lyme disease since 2010, and has chaired the Loudoun County Lyme Commission since 2012.

  • Susan Santarpia, Ph.D, ABSNP, BCN

    Dr. Santarpia is the clinical consultant. She is a licensed clinical psychologist, and a board certified neuropsychologist, specializing in neurofeedback and conflict resolution therapy. She conducts neuropsychological testing and conducts clinical intake evaluations. Susan empowers patients to take on a holistic approach to healing and rehabilitation, in order to support optimal functioning of the physical, mental and emotional aspects of health.

  • Aya Abdelhalim, M.Sc., BCN-T

    Aya is the Chief of Neurofeedback. She earned her Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Master of Science in Biology with a concentration in Neuroscience from George Mason University. Aya is well-versed in neuroimaging methods including EEG, qEEG, and fMRI, and has worked in the field of neurofeedback since 2020. She has a keen interest in cognitive neuroscience and is passionate about making the world a better place through scientific research and development.

  • Doug Wessel, EMT, CHS

    Douglas is the Chief Hyperbaric Specialist. Doug has been well-versed in scuba diving and dive medicine since 2002, an EMT since 2011, and the Volunteer Chief with the Fairfax Fire and Rescue department, and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy since 2013. He has a keen interest in cognitive regeneration and is passionate about knowing that there are ways to make someone heal mentally and physically without reliance on pharmaceutical intervention.

  • Jordyn Wiesbock, RN

    Jordyn is a Registered Nurse with 8+ years of nursing experience in a variety of fields. She has developed a special interest and passion for complimentary medicine, research, and infusion nursing. Jordyn strives to deliver compassionate, individualized care and education to every patient while upholding the highest standards of practice. In her free time, Jordyn enjoys spending time with her family, rock climbing, and recently became certified in scuba diving.

  • Megan O’Rourke, BA

    Megan is a Neurofeedback Technician. She graduated from Loyola University Maryland with a Bachelor’s of the Arts in Psychology in May of 2022. Megan has a long-time fascination with the study of the brain and intends on furthering her education in the field of Neuroscience. She finds great joy in interacting with patients on a daily basis and finds passion in observing cognitive progression along the course of her patients’ treatment protocols.

  • Susanna Knob, CHS

    Susanna is a Hyperbaric Technician. She studied Exercise Science and was employed at a physical therapy practice for over four years. She has a passion for helping people and getting to know her patients which is what got her into Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy. She is working on furthering her education in Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy to be able to help her patients feel more comfortable during their treatments.