Meet the Providers
Our providers and staff speak several languages, including Spanish, Polish, Russian, French, Portuguese, and Arabic.
Jump to:
James Bell, M.D.
Dr. James Bell was born on Manhattan's East Side, but his parents quickly escaped to the hills of Vermont, where he grew up and learned to walk to school uphill both ways in winter. Jamie attended Harvard undergrad, where he originally thought he would be an archaeologist, but found digging in mud to find old bones a little boring. He moved back to Vermont to attend the University of Vermont Medical School, where he discovered he could be his normal goofy self, have fun, take care of children, and get paid for it. Jamie completed his residency program at Baystate Medical Center and joined Fairview Pediatrics in 2000.
Dr. Bell has interests in astronomy, archaeology, and Star Wars. He is an accomplished juggler and "balancer." He can play the harmonica and clarinet, but wants to play the bagpipes. He plays paintball, foosball, and air hockey. He likes writing about himself in the third person. He is married with two boys.
Thomas Wadzinski M.D., Ph.D.
Dr. Tom Wadzinski grew up outside of Boston. He was a competitive gymnast and also enjoyed hiking, cycling and skiing in New England. He then escaped to the midwest to attend Carleton College where he majored in biochemistry, played ultimate frisbee for GOP (Gods of Plastic), and worked on his juggling skills. He came back to New England to attend UMass Medical School in Worcester where he received his MD and a PhD in cell biology.
Dr. Tom moved out to Western Mass. with his family for training in Pediatrics and Pediatric Endocrinology at Baystate Medical Center. During this time, he worked at UMass Amherst, investigating how industrial chemicals can interfere with the hormones of the body. He enjoys being a physician at a camp for children with diabetes. He is married with three boys and joined Fairview Pediatrics in July of 2014.
Erica Madara, FNP
Erica was born and raised in Western Massachusetts. She attended American International College for her undergraduate degree in nursing. She worked as a registered nurse at Baystate Medical Center for four years. She earned her master's degree in nursing, also at American International College, and became a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner. She began her career as an FNP working in primary care.
Erica is coming to the practice a new mother. She and her husband welcomed their first child in May 2021. They have a daughter named Eliza! They look forward to creating many memories with her. Erica fills her free time with family, friends, and travel. She and her husband look forward to catching hermit crabs and splashing in the waves with their daughter during summer vacations on Cape Cod.
Renee Catjakis, FNP
Renee grew up in Springfield, MA. She began her passion of working with children by working as camp counselor with the Springfield Public School system and coaching gymnastics and cheerleading. She went on to attend nursing school at American International College. After graduation, Renee began working as a nurse in an orthopedic setting while working on obtaining her master's degree for Family Nurse Practitioner at American International College. She began her FNP career in the occupational health setting, but is excited to return to her passion of working with kids!
Renee has two young children that take up most of her time outside of work. She enjoys taking them to all kinds of activities, like hockey practice and gymnastics. Renee refers to her beloved dog, Banana, as her first and most well-behaved child. When she is not chasing her kids around, she is usually taking Banana for long walks.
Haleigh Tsagaris, FNP
Fairview Pediatrics is pleased to welcome our new provider, Haleigh Tsagaris, FNP.
Haleigh grew up and currently resides in Chicopee, MA. She completed her undergraduate nursing degree at University of Massachusetts Amherst. She worked as a Registered Nurse in the neonatal ICU for 7 years at Baystate Medical Center. She earned her master's degree at Regis College and is board-certified as a Pediatric Nurse Practitioner in Primary Care. Haleigh is passionate about pediatric healthcare and cannot wait to start her career fulfilling her dream.
Haleigh and her husband have a daughter named Vivian, born December 2021. Soon, they will have two under two, welcoming their son this fall. They have a dog named Maverick and two Maine coon cats, Lily and Reese. She enjoys traveling and spending time with her family and friends in her spare time.
Melissa Yaffe, LICSW
Melissa was born and raised in Western Mass. and went to Ithaca College to pursue an undergraduate degree in sociology, minoring in social work. Melissa then relocated to Boston and attended Simmons College for her master’s degree in social work. Upon graduation in 2011, Melissa obtained her LCSW and began working in the field, primarily with children and adolescents.
While living in Boston, Melissa worked as an adolescent clinician at a Partial Hospitalization program for adolescents through Bournewood Hospital, an outpatient therapist through Walker Community Counseling in Needham, and a clinician case manager at Cambridge Eating Disorder Center's residential program. Melissa obtained her LICSW in June 2017.
Since returning to Western MA in June 2020, Melissa has been primarily working with clients who are struggling with eating disorders, poor body image, anxiety, depression and relationship dynamics, in a private practice setting. Melissa is looking forward to this new chapter in her life and career as the integrated behavioral health clinician at Fairview Pediatrics.
Melissa is an avid Boston sports fan, and you can also find her cooking up a new recipe! Melissa is engaged to her fiancé Brian, and together they rescued their little “puppy princess,” Frances aka Frankie, in July 2021.