Our Team
We Invite You to Meet Our Senior Staff
At SNRC, each member of our dedicated medical, nursing and non-clinical staff has outstanding credentials, compassion, and a personal commitment to provide the best possible quality care to our Residents. Each of our primary physicians is renowned in their own right as geriatric specialists.
We take great pride in our interdisciplinary approach and develop a specific plan of care for each individual Resident, offering all of our Residents the opportunity to realize their full potential.
Heather Demma
Executive Director / Administrator
Heather Demma brings over 22 years of experience as both a rehabilitation manager and a clinician. Her energy and enthusiasm for geriatric rehab motivated her to further her education. In addition to being a Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant and NBCOT certified, she recently completed her Bachelor Degree at Worcester State University and obtained a nursing home administrator license. Prior to joining our team, Heather was a regional consultant overseeing multiple rehabilitation centers and was involved in program development such as fall prevention as a certified fall prevention specialist. Heather was the lead project manager in the development of Solutions Therapy located at Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Heather has developed a strong, cohesive team and continues to strive for excellent care here at Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
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Zahra Sheikh, MD, CMP, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine
Medical Director
Dr. Sheikh is a fellowship-trained geriatrician and a certified Medical Director with American Medical Directors Association. She has special interest in managing geriatric syndromes, and her practice focuses on improving the health and functionality of older individuals. Dr. Sheikh also holds a Master’s degree in Public Health – Epidemiology and is actively involved in medical education at the University of Massachusetts. Dr. Sheikh is a graduate of Nishtar Medical College and New York Medical College. She obtained her Internal Medicine residency training at New York Medical College, Metropolitan Hospital and Geriatric Medicine Fellowship at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, Montefiore Medical Center in New York.
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Linda Pellegrini, BS, MS
Geriatric Nurse Practitioner
Linda has extensive clinical expertise in pain control, end of life care, and the treatment of dementia.
Her clinical practice encompasses the University of Massachusetts Memorial Hospital, Notre Dame du Lac, and Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Linda graduated from nursing school at Salem State College with a BS in Nursing and from the University of Massachusetts with a MS in nursing.
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Julie-Anne Lauzon
Admissions Director
Julie-Anne Lauzon has been an admissions director for seven years and has an extensive background of 20-plus years in insurance. She has worked in a variety of long-term care settings as well as a LTAC with a focus on complex medical needs and a ventilator unit. Prior to being an admissions director, Julie-Anne worked for 10 years at Unum Insurance Company as a Disability Benefits Specialist. She is very committed to Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation Center and is excited to bring the community together in new ways with future marketing events. Julie-Anne graduated with High Honors, earning a business degree from Becker College.
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Amanda Huard
LPN, Case Manager
Amanda holds a degree from Quinsigamond Community College in Nursing.
She has been at Shrewsbury Nursing and Rehabilitation since the start of her nursing career 11 years ago.
She has held a multitude of positions at SNRC including floor nurse, admissions nurse, unit manager of the rehabilitation unit and long term unit and overseeing of the dementia unit.
Her specialties include dementia care, IV certification, palliative care certification, and wound care training.
All of these skills come into play in her role as case manager. Amanda integrates information from nursing, physicians, social work, therapy and others to tie the package of services delivered to the patient together.
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COTA, Director of Rehabilitation
Heather Walsh
Heather has spent her entire 25 year career as a rehabilitation professional in both skilled nursing and rehabilitation Facilities as well as outpatient settings in central Massachusetts. She has experience in developing and working in a hand therapy program and in fall prevention programs in outpatient settings. Heather has extensive experience developing ambulation and Neurological rehabilitation programs.
In addition to her clinical skills, Heather manages the rehabilitation department and ensures that the occupational, physical and speech therapy programs are consistently superior at SNRC and Solutions Outpatient Therapy. Heather graduated from Quinsigamond Community College with a degree in Occupational Therapy.
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Darlene Davis
Business Office Manager
Darlene has been a Business Office Manager for 15 years and has extensive background in Long Term Care. She has worked in several Long Term Care facilities in Central Ma and was a Regional Medicaid Specialist for 7 years prior to joining Shrewsbury Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. She communicates with clinical disciplines as well as patients and families in order to maximize the benefits to the patients and minimizing out of pocket expenses.