Staff Directory
Nicolette Marinello, MS ATC
Head Athletic Trainer
Nicolette Marinello was selected for the Athletic Trainer position in Fall 2021 after serving as an hourly athletic trainer with Cypress College since 2019.
Nicolette has had a diverse background in the field of athletic training thus far. Nicolette received her Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Athletic Training from Chapman University. She had the opportunity to work with Chapman’s athletic teams on the field and in the clinic during athletic games and practices. She graduated with her Master’s Degree in Athletic Training from Chapman University and provided care at multiple colleges including Vanguard University, Chapman University, Cypress College, El Camino College, and Mt. SAC Community College. Through those experiences, she learned to work with collegiate athletes from many different sports including football, soccer, lacrosse, softball, baseball, tennis, water polo, volleyball, and basketball. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nicolette provided care to athletes from Cypress College and LA Galaxy through rehabilitating injured athletes and assisting in injury prevention protocols with her fellow sports performance specialists. While working with LA Galaxy, she gained experience in treating injuries in elite athletes at the highest level of competition as well as closely collaborating with the registered dieticians and strength and conditioning specialists. Nicolette had been working at Cypress College as a part-time Athletic Trainer since summer of 2019 and had taken the full-time Athletic Trainer position starting in Fall of 2021. She continues to strive for the best comprehensive wellness approach for all student-athletes by encompassing a larger health care team, including Team Physician, Team Fellows, Team Physical Therapist, Team Chiropractor, Sports Psychologist, Dietician, and Team Dentist.
As the Head Athletic Trainer, Nicolette oversees all medical aspects of the 14 intercollegiate sport programs. Nicolette believes that treating the patient as a whole is the optimal approach to comprehensive wellness. She believes wellness encompasses mental and socioemotional wellbeing in addition to physical health. She continues to improve the student-athlete experience by building a health care team to allow for the highest level of student success.
Athletic training is an ever-evolving field, and she strives to be progressive in her practice. In a field of continuous new advancements and innovations in health care, she believes it is essential to embrace lifelong learning and integrate emerging evidence-based practice to enhance patient care.
Athletic Training Clinic: (714)-484-7381 (office)
Email: nmarinello@cypresscollege.edu
Rachael Kirkpatrick, DAT, ATC
Head Athletic Trainer
Rachael Kirkpatrick joined the Charger family in Fall of 2021 as Head Athletic Trainer. She comes to us from Barstow College where she served as the Head Athletic Trainer for 5 years.
Rachael began her education at Chapman University. In 2014, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Athletic Training with a Minor in Psychology. During her undergraduate time, Rachael completed clinical rotations at 2 fellow CCCAA institutions, local Orange County Public and Private High Schools, USA Volleyball and volunteered with the Anaheim Ducks of the NHL.
After graduating from Chapman, Rachael continued her education at Indiana State University where she earned a Doctorate in Athletic Training (DAT) in May of 2017. During her time as a Graduate Assistant Athletic Trainer, Rachael served as the Head Athletic Trainer for North Vermillion High School in Cayuga, IN.
In 2017, Rachael returned to California and became the Head Athletic Trainer at Barstow College from 2017-2021. With the Vikings, Rachael also served in dual roles as the Interim Athletic Director (‘18-’20) and Eligibility Specialist (‘20-’21). Additionally, Rachael supported the following programs while at BCC:
-
Food Insecurity Committee
-
Student Engagement Committee
-
Chaired the Community “B Well” Health and Wellness Fair 2017, 2018
-
1st Annual Student PRIDE Celebration
-
Authored the BCC COVID-19 Athletics Return Plan
-
CCCATA COVID-19 Advisory Committee
In Fall of 2021, Rachael Kirkpatrick and Nicolette Marinello, took over as Co-Head Athletic Trainers for Cypress College Athletics. Cypress College Sports Medicine strives to provide holistic patient-centered care with its diverse healthcare team. Since 2022, Kirkpatrick and Marinello have developed a comprehensive medical staff including: Team Sports Medicine Physicians, Orthopedic Surgeons, Physical Therapist, Sports Medicine Chiropractor, Sport Psychologist, Dietitian, and Dentist. It is the mission of Cypress College Sports Medicine to provide 1) evidence-based care, 2) personalized accessible interventions, and 3) an inclusive environment.
Rachael currently serves as an institution representative within the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) as well as a member of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC). Rachael volunteers as a Clinical Preceptor for both CSULB and CSUF Master of Science in Athletic Training (MSAT) students. She is passionate about Athletic Training and believes in the importance of mentoring and developing the next generation of healthcare providers. Rachael looks forward to continuing to develop and advance the Sports Medicine Department at Cypress College.
Go Chargers!
Athletic Training Clinic: (714)-484-7381 (office)
Email: rkirkpatrick@cypresscollege.edu
Ellexis Khan, M.D.
Team Physician
Ellexis Khan, MD, attended medical school at Ross University in Dominica, and went on to complete her residency in family medicine at Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey. After her residency, she completed her fellowship in primary care sports medicine at UC Irvine. She chose a career in primary care sports medicine because of her passion for athletics. After playing Rugby during her undergraduate at BYU, she knew she wanted to stay connected with sports and athletes by providing a service needed for athletes at any age. Dr. Khan enjoys working with patients to provide options to help make informed decisions with their health care.
MemorialCare Medical Group – Long Beach (Sports Medicine)
https://www.memorialcare.org/services/sports-medicine
Joshua Snodgrass, M.D., CAQSM
Team Physician
Joshua Snodgrass, MD, is thrilled to be coming onboard as a MemorialCare Medical Group physician. As both a Primary Care and Sports Medicine provider, Dr. Snodgrass is dedicated to caring for his patients as a whole and is active in discovering emerging technologies and treatments, including sports concussion and evaluation experience with ultrasound-guided musculoskeletal injections. He is also Titleist Performance Institute Certified, which is the world's leading educational organization dedicated to the study of how the human body functions in relation to the golf swing.
Dr. Snodgrass has a variety of Sports Medicine affiliations, including holding a position as Team Physician for Long Beach State Athletics and Cypress College. In addition to his various Sports Medicine associations, Dr. Snodgrass offers sideline sports coverage for the action sports industry for snowboarding, skateboarding, surfing, and mountain biking events. He is also a proud medical volunteer for NCAA, FIVB, USA Water Polo and RunDisney.
MemorialCare Medical Group – Long Beach (Sports Medicine)
https://www.memorialcare.org/services/sports-medicine
Dr. Michael Shepard, M.D.
Team Orthopedic Surgeon
Dr Shepard is a board certified Orthopaedic Surgeon who is subspecialty trained in sports medicine with special emphasis on the care of the overhead athlete and knee ligament reconstruction. Dr Shepard’s clinical expertise includes elbow and shoulder injuries of the overhead athlete, elbow arthroscopy, and complex knee reconstruction. Dr Shepard is one of the few doctors in California to provide game day coverage for Major League Baseball and The National Football League. In the office, Dr. Shepard participates in the care of athletes from the NFL, MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAA, US Olympic teams, and the PGA/LPGA tours.
Orthopaedic Specialty Institute
Dr. Roni Negro, DC, DACBSP
Team Chiropractor
Email: sportychiro@gmail.com
Dr. Fumiaki Isshiki, PT, DPT
Team Physical Therapist
Dr. Fumiaki Isshiki "Fumi" was born and raised in Japan. He received his Bachelor's of physical therapy degree at Kobegakuin University in Japan. He was a Pilates Instructor during his college days and played baseball until the senior year. He worked with professional baseball team and outpatient physical therapy clinic in Japan. After that, he moved to The United States.
Received his Master of Science in Musculoskeletal Physical Therapy at University of Pittsburgh. Internship with NFL Pittsburgh Steelers and MLB Seatle Marriners. Attended proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation residency program at Kaiser Rehabilitation Hospital Vallejo.
After that, He went to Loma Linda University to pursue his Post Professional Doctor of Physical Therapy Degree. On the same time, he received Doctor of Osteopathy and Master of Athletic Therapy from National University of Medical Science in Spain.
Email: Fumiaki.isshiki.dpt@gmail.com
Dr. Daryn T. Nishikawa, DDS
Team Dentist
Dr. Daryn Nishikawa earned his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Irvine (UCI), and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California (USC). After completing his graduate degree at USC, he went on to complete a General Practice Residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) at the Ronald Reagan Hospital. There he received special training in hospital-based dentistry, which included treating and managing severely medically compromised patients, and caring for patients with Special Needs.
After residency, he has volunteered his time teaching at the USC School of Dentistry and working in private practice. In early 2016, he aided in developing the dental clinic at SpaceX in the City of Hawthorne, where he was the lead (solo) dentist for two and a half years. Since the summer of 2018, Dr. Daryn has enjoyed becoming the owner of his practice where he continues to cater towards those with Special Needs and the general public of the South Bay.
Furthermore, Dr. Daryn has been active in Sports Dentistry, volunteering his time and serving as the Associate Team Dentist for the MLS Chivas USA team (2012-2015), and MLS Los Angeles Football Club (2018- present). He is also an active volunteer Dentist for the United States Olympics and Paralympic Committee.
Email: Hello@Nishikawafamilydentistry.com
Nick Padula
Team Dietitian
Nick Padula has been practicing Dietitian for eight years in the state of California as a clinical dietitian, a foodservice director; and currently as an educator with the University of Southern California Master's Nutrition program and private practice owner of LBC Nutrition. He studied nutrition and dietetics at Long Beach State University and received a Bachelor's degree in 2012 and Master's degree in Nutrition and Dietetics with a concentration in Sports Nutrition from Texas Tech University. In his sports practice he has worked with triathletes, professional boxers, endurance runners, professional soccer players, high school athletes, and the USC football and basketball teams. Nick is an avid runner, weightlifter, and golfer.
Jana Nicholl
Team Dietitian
Jana Nicholl is a Registered Dietititian and International Board Certified Lactation Consultant. She's an Adjunct Instructor in the department of Family and Consumer Sciences, Nutrition and Dietetics Program at Long Beach City College. She's experienced in pediatric and neonatal nutrition, critical care nutrition, and lactation. She enjoys writing and educating future professionals. She hosts a free podcast called "RD Exam Made Easy Podcast" which teaches nutrition concepts through the power of storytelling to help dietetic interns get across the finish line and pass the RD exam. Jana immigrated from Canada and attended California State University, Long Beach where she completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Sports Nutrition, and the Dietetic Internship.
Lily Bolgov
Team Dietitian
Lilia Bolgov is a practicing dietitian in the Southern California area with over 14 years of experience in clinical nutrition, foodservice management, and patient education. She completed her Master in Business Administration degree from Western Governor's University and Master of Science degree in Nutrition Science, and Dietetic Internship from California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. Her passion is helping others achieve overall wellness, positive mindset, and a healthy relationship with food. She is also an advocate for infertility and women's reproductive rights. She is currently working as a Supervising Health Educator at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center focusing on preventative care and reducing health disparities in the community.
Ashley Hudson, LMFT
Team Psychologist
