Faculty Members & Department Staff

April joined MSU in 2019. She serves as Office Assistant IV for the COM Department of Orthopedics. April's primary focus is assisting students and residents in their Primary Care Sports Medicine rotation. She is also the course coordinator for elective courses; Orthopedic and Sports Medicine. Prior to joining COM, she served as a Surgery Scheduler at MSU Healthcare Sports Medicine.

Nathan Fitton, D.O. received his undergraduate degree from Defiance College where he graduated Suma Cum Laude prior to medical school at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in family medicine at Metro Health Hospital in Grand Rapids serving as chief resident his senior year. He then completed a Sports Medicine Fellowship at Sparrow Hospital/Michigan State University.

Dr. Jildeh serves as an assistant professor at Michigan State University and serves as a Team Physician for Michigan State University athletics, as well as a Team Physician for the US Olympic Ski and Snowboard team. He specializes in sports medicine, joint preservation, cartilage restoration, and joint reconstruction of the shoulder, knee, hip, and elbow.

Sheeba Joseph, M.D. attended Medical School and completed her Orthopedic Surgery Residency at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. She went on to complete a Sports Medicine Fellowship at the University of Connecticut. Throughout her training, she has covered sporting activities from high school football to Division I and Division III collegiate football, field hockey, and men and women’s soccer, ice hockey, and basketball.

Jeffrey Kovan, D.O., received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Michigan State University. Following an internship at Botsford General Hospital, Dr. Kovan completed his residency with St. Lawrence Family Practice. He completed a fellowship in Sports Medicine at Michigan State University.

Sophie Lebrato, PA-C, ATC, is a board-certified physician assistant and board-certified athletic trainer specializing in orthopedics and sports medicine. Sophie received a bachelors of science in athletic training with honors from Michigan State University and then went on to receive a masters of science in physician assistant studies from Chatham University in Pittsburgh, PA. Sophie provides care at MSU Health Care Sports Medicine, and for MSU Athletics as an official team provider of the ...

Micah Lissy, MD has a master's degrees in physical therapy from Ithaca College, and is certified as an athletic trainer and strength coach. He spent time working in all three of these professions with Professional, Olympic and Recreational athletes before pursuing his medical degree. He draws on all of these experiences when providing patient care and lecturing.

Sydney Moosekian, PA-C received her undergraduate degree at The University of Michigan prior to attending Penn State University where she obtained her master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies.

Jill Moschelli, MD, MBA, joins MSU HealthTeam as its newest primary care sports medicine provider. After earning her medical degree at the St. Matthews University Medical School in Grand Cayman, Moschelli was a family medicine resident at Wayne State University School of Medicine in Rochester, MI. She earned her Fellowship in sports medicine through the Dartmouth-Maine Family Medicine Residency program in August, ME.

Robert Norris, M.D. has been the long time Team Physician with the Spartan hockey program. After assisting the program for three years (2000-03), he officially took over the reigns as Head Team Physician for Spartan hockey in the 2003-04 campaign. A Traverse City native, Dr. Norris is boarded in family practice and primary care sports medicine.

Randolph Pearson, MD, FAAFP, FACSM, is the Assistant Dean for Graduate Medical Education and a Professor in the Departments of Orthopedics and Family Medicine. Dr. Pearson completed his medical education at Wayne State University and his internship and residency in Family Medicine at the MSU/St. Lawrence Family Practice Residency, where he served as chief resident in his third year.

Mathew Saffarian, D.O. received his undergraduate degree from Alma College, where he played four years of varsity soccer, prior to starting medical school at Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Michigan State University, where he served as chief resident his fourth year.

Dr. Mohamed Salar is a board-eligible orthopedic spine surgeon at MSU Health Care Sports Medicine. Dr. Salar received his doctorate of medicine from Wayne State University in Detroit, Michigan and completed an orthopedic surgery residency at the University of Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Salar was selected and trained at the world-renowned Texas Back Institute in Plano, Texas in their combined orthopedic and neurosurgery spine fellowship.

Michael Straus, PA-C, ATC, received his undergraduate degree from Michigan State University and his graduate degree from Emory University. He completed an Internship with the New York Giants football team and worked for the United States Olympic Committee Sports Medicine Department in Colorado Springs for two years. Mr. Straus traveled overseas twice with USA Men’s Field Hockey and volunteered for the Atlanta Summer Olympic Games in both cycling and archery.

Sandy joined MSU in 2003. She currently serves as the Business Administrator for COM Department of Orthopedics and COM Department of Osteopathic Surgical Specialties. Prior to joining COM, Sandy served as a Clinic Manager for MSU Sports Medicine. Sandy earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Multidisciplinary Studies.