Doctors & Staff
At Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases, our highly qualified doctors and physician assistants provide exceptional care for the residents of Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. From the time you make your appointment until you walk out the door, you will receive attentive service and individualized care from all of our healthcare professionals and staff.
To schedule an appointment, call our office at (602) 788-7211 or request an appointment online.
Stephen N. Finberg, DO, FCCPJohn T. Nicewicz, MDTodd M. Hrabak, DOJodi L. Rubin, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAITapan A. Desai, MDLeah H. Finberg, MMS, PA-CTheresa Pinder, BMS, PA-C
Stephen N. Finberg, DO, FACCP
A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Finberg completed an Internal Medicine residency followed by a Fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine, Allergy and Immunology at UCLA / Wadsworth VA Medical Center. After his fellowship training, Dr. Finberg moved to the Phoenix / Scottsdale area in 1981, and founded Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases.
Dr. Finberg is a Fellow of the American College of Chest Physicians. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Allergy and Immunology, with a special interest in Sleep Medicine. In 1985, his research substantiated the relationship between sleep apnea and hypertension and was published in the American Journal of Cardiology.
Dr. Finberg is a member of the American Thoracic Society and a Fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians. He has served as Chief of Staff and director of respiratory medicine at Paradise Valley Hospital.
Dr. Finberg is married with two grown children, including his daughter Leah who works as a Physician's Assistant at Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases. In his free time, he enjoys sporting events and spending time with family. As an Eagle Scout, he was active both locally and nationally in scouting. Dr. Finberg is also a model train enthusiast.
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John T. Nicewicz, MD
Dr. Nicewicz completed his undergraduate education at Rutgers University and received his medical degree from the University of Bologna Faculty of Medicine and Surgery in Italy. He performed his residency in Internal Medicine at Jersey Shore University Medical Center in Neptune, New Jersey, and completed a fellowship in Pulmonary Medicine at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey. He continued on as a staff physician at Deborah where he also served as the medical director of Pulmonary Ambulatory Care Services.
Dr. Nicewicz joined Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases in 2008, after relocating from New Jersey. His areas of practice include Internal Medicine, Pulmonary Medicine and Critical Care Medicine, with a special interest in Sleep Disorders and occupational lung disease. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Disease and a member of the American Thoracic Society. When he is not working, Dr. Nicewicz enjoys fishing, photography and reading.
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Todd Hrabak, DO
Prior to joining Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases, Dr. Hrabak was an Active Duty member of the United States Air Force. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Keesler Medical Center in Mississippi, and was subsequently stationed as a primary care provider at Luke Air Force Base in Arizona.
After completing his two-year assignment at Luke AFB, Dr. Hrabak completed a Fellowship in both pediatric and adult Allergy and Immunology at Wilford Hall Medical Center, Lackland Air Force Base, in San Antonio, Texas. He received multiple awards, including a first place research award from the 2007 American Academy of Allergy and Immunology Annual Convention. He also received the 2007 Commander’s Research Award competing against all United States Air Force Fellows-in-Training.
Following his Fellowship, Dr. Hrabak was stationed at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida, where he served as Chief of Allergy and Immunology. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel (sel.) prior to his voluntary separation from Active Duty Air Force after 9 years of service to our country. Dr. Hrabak is board certified in Internal Medicine and Allergy and Immunology.
Aside from his many military and professional accomplishments, including numerous publications and presentations to state medical societies, Dr. Hrabak is an avid sports fan and enjoys spending time with his wife, Sabrina, and their three children. Although he was an NCAA Division I, All-American tennis player at Duquesne University, he has since retired his racquets and now spends his time actively coaching his three children with their sporting activities.
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Jodi L. Rubin, MD, FAAAAI, FACAAI
Following her undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, Dr. Rubin received her medical degree from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit, in 1999.
She then completed her Internal Medicine Residency and Fellowship in Allergy and Immunology at Rush University Medical Center and Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois.
Dr. Rubin remained in Chicago and worked in an adult and pediatric allergy, asthma and immunology practice until January 2009, when she moved to Scottsdale to join Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases.
Dr. Rubin is board certified in Internal Medicine and Allergy and Immunology. She is a Fellow of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) and a Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI). She specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of food allergies, eosinophilic esophagitis, allergic/non-allergic rhinitis, asthma, sinusitis, urticaria (hives), angioedema, eczema/atopic dermatitis, contact dermatitis, and drug allergies in adults and children.
Outside of work, Dr. Rubin enjoys rock ‘n’ roll music, concerts, sporting events, traveling, swimming, being outdoors, dining out, spending time with friends and family and hanging out with her cat, Jade.
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Tapan A. Desai, MD
Dr. Desai is board certified in Internal Medicine and Pulmonary Medicine. He was a Fellow in Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine at Georgetown University in Washington D.C. , followed by a Sleep Medicine Fellowship at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
Originally from Miami, Florida, Dr. Desai moved to the Phoenix / Scottsdale area in 2010 when he joined Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases. His areas of expertise include lung cancer, bronchiectasis, sleep medicine and all aspects of pulmonary disease.
Dr. Desai is married with two children. Outside of work, he enjoys traveling and playing sports.
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Leah H. Finberg, MMS, PA-C
Leah is a board-certified Physician Assistant. She attended the University of Arizona for her undergraduate studies and completed her Physician Assistant program and masters of medical science at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona. Leah has specialized training in Allergy and Immunology, Pulmonary Medicine and Sleep Medicine from Wadsworth VA Medical Center at UCLA and National Jewish Medical Center in Denver, Colorado.
Leah has lived in the Phoenix / Scottsdale area most of her life and joined Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases in 2006. She is a member of the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants (ASAPA) and an allied health member of the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) and Arizona Allergy and Asthma Society.
She has lectured on primary immunodeficiency for the Arizona State Association for Physician Assistants. She also has a special interest in vocal cord dysfunction and sleep apnea.
In her free time, Leah loves snow skiing in Utah and Colorado, traveling and spending time with friends, family and her dog, Aspen. She also enjoys barbecuing and is a sports enthusiast.
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Theresa Pinder, BMS, PA-C
Theresa is a board-certified Physician Assistant. A native of Marion, Indiana, Theresa received a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology at Indiana University and a master’s degree in exercise physiology at Ball State University. She completed her Physician Assistant program at Midwestern University in Glendale, Arizona, and now serves as an adjunct faculty member there.
Theresa has lived in the Phoenix / Scottsdale area since 1997, and joined Desert Center for Allergy and Chest Diseases in 2009. She is a member of the American College of Physician Assistants, and she has special interests in exercise prescription and VO2 max testing.
Theresa is married with two sons. She enjoys playing or watching a large variety of sports, photography, hiking, camping , reading, crafts, and being with family.
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