Faculty & Staff

Upon graduating from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Dr. Velez enrolled in the American University of the Caribbean for her medical studies. Ever in search of knowledge and education, Dr. Velez attended and graduated from Boston University School of Law. Following her graduation from law school, Dr. Velez decided to return to her first passion – Medicine. Dr. Velez completed her residency in Family Medicine at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers, New York where she served as a chief resident. Dr. Velez continued at the residency program as a core faculty member and in 2006 was appointed as the Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. In addition to her work and dedication to medical education, Dr. Velez has become an integral part of the community in Yonkers where she serves as a member of the Mayor’s Health Advisory Board for City of Yonkers.

Dr. Jerome is a graduate of Iona University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Biology. He received his medical degree at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ) School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Jerome completed his family medicine residency at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center in Queens, NY. Prior to joining the faculty at St. Joseph’s Hospital he served patients at Montefiore Medical Group Castle Hill in the Bronx and Sun River Health in Peekskill and Spring Valley, NY. Special areas of interest include preventative medicine, women’s health, HIV/Hepatitis C management as well as HIV prevention (PREP/PEP). Dr. Jerome is board certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Family Medicine.

Dr. Rodika Coloka-Kump is a graduate of Barnard College, Columbia University, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology. She received her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine in 1988. Dr. Coloka-Kump completed her residency training in Family Medicine at The Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn and Saint Joseph’s Medical Center in Yonkers, where she served as chief resident.

She began her clinical career in private practice in Yonkers and Riverdale, New York, where she cared for a diverse patient population for over two decades. In 2015, she joined the faculty of the Saint Joseph’s Medical Center Family Medicine Residency Program. She currently serves as Associate Program Director, Inpatient Coordinator, and Medical Student Site Director.

Dr. Coloka-Kump holds an academic appointment as Clinical Assistant Professor at New York Medical College Her professional interests include preventive medicine, women’s health, and medical education. She is a certified menopause practitioner through the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), reflecting her commitment to evidence-based care in women’s health.

Balancing patient care with teaching, Dr. Coloka-Kump remains deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of physicians while providing comprehensive care to the community she serves.

Dr. Sayegh attended Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Mexico and completed a family medicine residency program at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center.

Dr. Delgado-Salisbury is a Behavioral Health faculty member and the Education Specialist for Saint Joseph’s Family Medicine Residency Program in Yonkers, New York. She teaches Behavioral Health, Longitudinal Behavior Medicine, Population Health, Community Medicine, and Residency Wellbeing rotations. She is Co-Chair of the Recruitment and Research Committees and the Wellness Director for Family Medicine, Psychiatry, and Podiatry.

Dr. Delgado-Salisbury completed her Doctorate and second master’s degree at Fordham University and earned her first master’s degree at Long Island University. She is a part-time Field Specialist at Fordham University and an Assistant Professor at New York Medical College School of Medicine.

In 2023, Dr. Delgado-Salisbury completed the PEDS Network Fellowship Program with the United Hospital Fund and became Co-Chair of the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine New Faculty Collaborative. She is also a participant in STFM’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility initiatives and a Family Medicine Education Consortium Faculty Development Collaborative member.

Israel was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY. He earned his medical degree from the CUNY School of Medicine/Sophie Davis Biomedical Education Program, an academically rigorous program with a strong foundation in primary care. He then completed his residency training in family medicine at St. Joseph’s Medical Center. Throughout his training, he appreciated working with and learning from people with a wide range of cultural and linguistic backgrounds, which helped shape his patient-centered approach. He believes strongly in treating the whole person and being mindful of each individual’s unique needs and perspectives.

Israel also pursued a Master’s in Translational Medicine through the Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York, gaining hands-on experience in medical research and innovation, strengthening his skills and clinical acumen. 

He currently works as faculty at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and is excited to continue to work with his patients and colleagues in the heart of Yonkers. He also appreciates mentoring new residents and medical students, providing supervision and training. 

Outside of work, Israel enjoys spending time with his wife and their three energetic young kids. He’s also a big fan of sports—especially baseball.

Dr. Perla Mariel Pineda knew from an early age that she wanted to pursue a career in medicine. She earned her medical degree from Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo (UASD) in the Dominican Republic, where she was exposed to a wide range of socio-economic realities that shaped her compassionate and patient-centered approach to care. After moving to the United States, Dr. Pineda worked as a medical assistant in a private practice in Midtown Manhattan, where she gained valuable insight into the American healthcare system.

Dr. Pineda completed her residency in Family Medicine at New York Medical College at Saint Joseph’s Family Medicine Residency Program in Yonkers, New York. Following graduation, she joined the residency program as a core faculty member, where she is actively involved in medical education and mentoring future family physicians. In addition to her work in graduate medical education, Dr. Pineda is passionate about providing comprehensive care to underserved populations and promoting health equity in the community.

Dr. Rodriguez was born and raised in Puerto Rico, where his passion for the medical field began at an early age. From childhood, he viewed illnesses as complex cases, each requiring careful investigation of signs and symptoms to reach a diagnosis—much like solving a mystery.

At the age of 17, he relocated to the Dominican Republic to pursue his medical education. During medical school, he developed a strong interest in Family Medicine, drawn by its broad scope and the opportunity to care for patients across all age groups and medical conditions. This comprehensive approach to healthcare resonated deeply with him.

After completing medical school, Dr. Rodriguez moved to New York to engage in research in Family Psychiatry. His work allowed him to collaborate closely with families throughout the New York area, deepening his understanding of community-based care. The meaningful connections he formed during this time solidified his commitment to serving families long-term.

In recent years, Dr. Rodriguez has focused extensively on preventive medicine, emphasizing the importance of health promotion and early intervention. His guiding principle as a physician is simple yet powerful: “Treat patients the way you want to be treated.”