Our Staff

Ali G Hamedani, MD, MHS

Ali G Hamedani, MD, MHS

Ataxia Clinic Director

Dr. Ali G Hamedani, MD, MHS is an Assistant Professor of Neurology and Ophthalmology at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Hamedani directs the Penn Ataxia Clinic and also maintains a neuro-ophthalmology clinic that is focused on patients with visual symptoms due to neurodegenerative disease. He is the site principal investigator for several observational and interventional studies of symptomatic and disease-modifying treatment for spinocerebellar ataxia. He also holds a master's degree in epidemiology and conducts epidemiologic research related to visual impairment in aging and neurodegenerative disease. As a neurologist, he is trained in both movement disorders and neuro-ophthalmology, so he has particular expertise in visual symptoms associated with ataxia and retinal and optic nerve disease associated with certain spinocerebellar ataxias.

Meron Azage, MS, CGC

Meron Azage, MS, CGC

Genetic Counselor

Meron Azage, MS, CGC is the Associate Director of Genetic Counseling in the Department of Neurology at the University of Pennsylvania. In addition to providing clinical genetic counseling services, she is involved in various research projects through the Penn Neurogenetics Therapy Center. Meron received her Master’s in Medical Genetics from the University of Cincinnati in 2012 and was certified by the American Board of Genetic Counseling in 2013. 

Anne Beckett-Fedarko, MS, OTR/L

Anne Beckett-Fedarko, MS, OTR/L

Ataxia Clinic Coordinator

Anne Beckett-Fedarko, MS, OTR/L coordinates the monthly ataxia clinics and serves as a resource for patients and families. She also assists with ongoing clinical research studies for ataxia. She attended Occidental College for her undergraduate studies and earned her Master's in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in 2016. She previously has worked clinically with pediatric, young adult, and geriatric patients with neurologic and psychiatric conditions.  She maintains her professional license and works clinically with children and families in Philadelphia. 

Lauren Zelouf, MSW, LCSW

Lauren Zelouf, MSW, LCSW

Social Worker

Lauren Zelouf, MSW, LCSW is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania’s School of Social Policy and Practice, where she received her Master of Social Work in 2018. During her Master’s program, Lauren completed the Penn Aging Certificate (PAC) program and gained specialized skills and knowledge in the field of Geriatric Social Work. She completed her advanced-year field placement with the Penn Memory Center and continued on as the Interim Social Worker following graduation. Lauren worked for some time as an inpatient Social Worker in a skilled nursing facility. Lauren is an active member of the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Social Workers (PSCSW). She has a passion for serving patients and families living with neurodegenerative disorders. 

Casey Hasenbein

Casey Hasenbein

Physical Therapist

Casey Hasenbein, PT, DPT Casey is a graduate of Ohio State University and worked primarily in neurology in their outpatient clinic. 

 

 

Megan Reid, MOT, OTR/L

Megan Reid, MOT, OTR/L

Occupational Therapist

Megan Reid, MOT, OTR/L obtained her Master's in Occupational Therapy from Temple University in 2019. Megan has had experience in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. This diversity makes Megan uniquely skilled in working with individuals with complex medical backgrounds and those who have progressed through the continuum of care. She has worked with diverse diagnoses; some of which include Parkinson’s Disease, Huntington’s Disease, dementia, ALS, TBI, MS, stroke, and orthopedic conditions. Megan has established a special interest in the neurologic population. She serves as the occupational therapist for several multidisciplinary clinics including COPE clinic for individuals with Atypical Parkinsonism's, ALS clinic, Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) clinic, HD clinic, and now Ataxia Clinic. She has a passion for providing individualized care as part of an interdisciplinary team of providers at Penn Therapy & Fitness' Dan Aaron Parkinson's Rehabilitation Center at Pennsylvania Hospital. 

Kylee Haller, MA, CCC-SLP

Kylee Haller, MA, CCC-SLP

Speech Language Pathologist

Kylee Haller, MA, CCC-SLP received her Master’s degree in Speech-Language Pathology from the University of Minnesota in 2018. Kylee is an active member of the American Speech Language Hearing Association (ASHA) and has maintained her ASHA certificate of clinical competence since completion of her clinical fellowship in 2019. She has an interest in research and its translation to clinical practice. She works with patients who are seeking assessment and treatment of cognitive-communication, swallowing, voice, speech, language, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).  Kylee has a passion for managing the communication and swallowing needs of patients with movement disorders and other neurodegenerative diseases. She has experience in acute care, inpatient rehabilitation, and outpatient rehabilitation settings. This range of experience makes Kylee skilled in working with individuals who have complex medical backgrounds. She participates as a team member in several multidisciplinary neurologic clinics including pre-DBS screening, Huntington’s Disease, and now Ataxia Clinic.