Meet the Team
Michael Pallaci, DO - Medical Director
Dr. Pallaci is a 1998 graduate of the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, and is a Professor of Emergency Medicine at NEOMED, as well as an Adjunct Clinical Professor of Emergency Medicine at OUHCOM. He trained at Palmetto Richland Memorial Hospital in Columbia, SC. After nine years of private practice in Columbus, OH, he became a Residency Program Director in 2010 and is currently a Core Faculty member for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program at Summa Health. He has taught on various EM topics at multiple regional and national venues, and has appeared on EMRAP as well as other educational podcasts. He is a passionate sports fan and a proud member of Bills Mafia. He and his wife, Denise, live in Westerville, OH with their three children enjoying all their free time together.
Megan Cesta, MD - Assistant Medical Director
Dr. Cesta completed her undergraduate education at The University of Akron. She attended medical school at Wright State University and returned to Summa for her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology. During her residency, Dr. Cesta participated as the simulation chief, where she realized the importance of simulation in medicine. She continued her surgical training at the University of Louisville and completed a fellowship in Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery. A fun fact about Dr. Megan Cesta was a co-surgeon who holds the world record of removing the most oversized uterus laparoscopically. Once again, she returned to Akron and has developed a Pelvic Health program. She has continued her love for simulation here at Summa. She has taught numerous surgical dissection courses and continues to bring these courses to Summa. In addition, she enjoys boating and hiking with her husband and Goldendoodle.
Caleb Harrell, MD - Assistant Medical Director
Dr. Harrell is a graduate of the Quillen College of Medicine in Johnson City, Tennessee. He completed residency training in Emergency Medicine at the University of Tennessee and a fellowship in Critical Care Medicine at the University of Florida. Dr. Harrell joined Summa in 2020 as core faculty for the Department of Emergency Medicine. He is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Clinical Instructor of Internal Medicine at NEOMED. Dr. Harrell serves as clinical faculty in the Department of Critical Care Medicine. His interests include post-arrest care, critical care ultrasonography and all things cardiothoracic ICU. Dr. Harrell believes medical simulation is a critical tool for quality improvement and accelerating knowledge translation in medical education.
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Katie Francis, MD - Assistant Medical Director
Dr. Francis graduated from the University of Nevada School of Medicine with Alpha Omega Alpha Honors. She completed her General Surgery residency and Surgical Critical Care fellowship at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas School of Medicine. She is a Clinical Assistant Professor of General Surgery and Surgical Critical Care at NEOMED. Dr. Francis' interests include trauma surgery, general surgery, robotic surgery, critical care ultrasound and surgical critical care. She has a passion for medical education and simulation. She is excited to join the sim team at Summa. Prior to medicine, Dr. Franics was an avid Alpine skier and former ski racer. She participated in the World University Games in Torino, Italy and was nominated for NCAA Woman of the Year in 2010. Outside work, she devotes her time to her husband, Australian Cattle dog (Sadie), Bernese Mountain dog (Loki), and her two sons, Mason and David.
Yasmin Moftakhar, MD - Assistant Medical Director
Dr. Moftakhar is a Northeast Ohio Medical University graduate in Rootstown, Ohio. She completed her residency and a Medical Education fellowship at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and received a Master's of Education during this time period. She currently serves as the Associate Program Director and Assistant Simulation Director at Summa Health for the Department of Emergency Medicine. She is an Assistant Professor of Emergency Medicine and Clinical Instructor of Internal Medicine at NEOMED. Her interests include resuscitations, giving high-quality feedback, and team communication. She enjoys escape rooms, baking, and hanging out with her black lab, Winston.
Alma Benner, RRT, CHSE
Alma Benner, RRT, CHSE, is currently the Simulation Manager of the Virtual Care Simulation Lab. She completed her Respiratory Care Degree at Stark State College of Technology in 2007 and worked nine years clinically before transferring to the Simulation Lab. Her areas of interest include Respiratory Competencies, curriculum design, and creating interactive simulation experiences. In addition, she enjoys running, hiking, camping, gardening, and attending her children’s sporting activities in her spare time.
Elysia Kibler, BFA
Elysia Kibler is the newest member of the simulation team. In May 2022, she graduated from the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design. Elysia began volunteering as a standardized patient/role player soon after, which sparked her interest in the world of medical simulation. After participating in Summa's Tactical Emergency Services (TEMS) event as a volunteer in May of 2023, she established connections with the Sim Team and was hired the following fall. Her background in volunteer work, technology (both software and hardware), and art skills contribute significantly to being a Simulation Technology Specialist. When not at work she enjoys spending time with her husband, and they often go on adventures and do Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu together. She also remains involved with the arts by playing violin and illustrating when time permits.
Christan Rhamy, RDCS, BSBA
Christan Rhamy, RDCS, BSBA, joined the simulation team in January 2022. She came to Summa in 2013 as a Cardiac Sonographer, where she worked for eight years in Non-Invasive Cardiology. She holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Administration with a major in Sales Management. Christan can often be found at the baseball field or swimming pool, cheering on her two children. She also enjoys traveling with her family of four and their dog Rizzo.
Michael Schmidt, RRT, CHSOS
Michael Schmidt has been a member of the simulation team since 2017. His career as a Registered Respiratory Therapist began in 1997, which brought him to Summa in 2006, working further with Med-Surg floors, ICU, and ER, plus mentoring as a Respiratory Therapist Clinical Instructor at the University of Akron. Michael currently holds an Associates in Respiratory Care and Electronic Engineering Technology from the University of Akron. He also has an Associates of Avionics Technologies from his 27-years of service in the Air National Guard. These qualifications contribute significantly as a Simulation Technology Specialist, including his recently obtained Certified Healthcare Simulation Operations Specialist certification from the Society for Simulation in Healthcare. A fun fact about Michael is that he enjoyed working on C-130H aircraft while in the Air National Guard.
Beth Long
Beth joined the simulation team in July 2021 as Administrative Coordinator for the Lab. With over 20 years of experience in graduate medical education administration, she’s particularly interested in helping educators and learners achieve their goals through medical simulation. Beth began working as a File Clerk at Akron City Hospital in 1984 and has been a part of the administrative backdrop at Summa ever since. When not working, Beth enjoys spending time outdoors with her husband and their dog and the occasional adventure to the beaches of Southern California.