Efosa Aghimien MD, MS
Undergraduate: University of Houston-downtown
Graduate School: Georgetown University - Master of Physiology (concentration in Complementary and Alternative Medicine)
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy
Bio: I grew up in Houston, and spent a lot of time in Washington, DC. The main reason I’m going into medicine is to serve in underserve communities where I’m needed the most. Being someone, who patients can be comfortable around because they see a familiar face is something I generally take pride in. I’ve been having a great time in Philadelphia and serving this population, the food, people, and culture are things I really enjoy about living in the east coast. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy live music, film, cooking East Asian cuisine, and gaming.
Christopher Aspromonte, DO.
Undergraduate: Fairfield University
Medical School: PCOM (Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine)
Interests: Psychotherapy, Neuromodulation, LQBTQI+ mental health
Bio: I grew up and spent most of my life in Old Tappan, NJ. I moved to Fairfield, CT for undergrad where I studied communication and biology. Philadelphia has been my home since beginning medical school, and I’m excited to continue my journey here. I chose Einstein because of its strong focus in psychotherapy and psychodynamics, and the close-knit and supportive training environment that the residents and attendings here have created. Outside of psychiatry, I need music 24/7 to survive and love going to concerts & festivals (I love most genres with hip hop/rap being my favorite). I’m also into meditation/mindfulness practice, running, yoga, checking out new restaurants/bars, and traveling.
Kyle Beckman, DO
Undergraduate: University of Florida
Medical School: NYIT College of Medicine – Arkansas
Interests: LGBTQ+ mental health, forensics, psychotherapy
Bio: I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL, and spent my college years in Gainesville, FL where I majored in Microbiology and Nutrition. Upon graduation, I worked in a level one trauma center as a patient representative for a few years before medical school. I had the distinct pleasure of traveling for my third- and fourth-year clerkships and fell in love with Philadelphia - the food, the culture, the diversity. At Einstein, I immediately felt a sense of family. The exposure to different psychopathologies is unmatched and the caseload is oftentimes demanding, but I rest assured knowing I will be prepared for any role or setting in the future. I’m thrilled to be in such a medical hub for my training and in a city rooted in psychotherapy. When not in the hospital, I love to unwind with my partner, travel, try new restaurants, watch movies and spoil our golden retriever, Jackson.
E. Grace Cho, MD
Undergraduate: The University of Memphis
Medical School: The University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Interests: C&L, Cultural, Disaster, Forensic, Interventional, Positive, Psychotherapy (psychodynamic, psychoanalytic, psychedelic-assisted), and Public/Community
Bio: Being born overseas and growing up in and out of the US exposed me to many different cities and cultures and influenced my decision to train in a large urban setting for a diverse patient population. Additionally, I chose Einstein for its excellent psychotherapy curriculum and supportive culture. Prior to joining the Einstein family, I completed a preliminary year of Internal Medicine and worked in both public and private sectors in psycholinguistics and clinical research, respectively. My interests are broad, and I envision a fulfilling career combining my passion for working in between spaces (medicine and psychiatry, psychiatry and the law) with an outpatient psychotherapy practice. In my leisure time, I love being outdoors with my pup, exploring the food scene, powerlifting, training Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and traveling.
Abigail Friel, DO
Undergraduate: Gwynedd Mercy University
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Child & adolescent psychiatry, gender-affirmative & LGBTQ care
Bio: I was born and raised in the suburbs of Philly and am so glad I get to stay here to do my residency and give back to my local community. I have always been interested in mental health and human behavior, so psychiatry was a natural fit. I am passionate about inclusive, gender-affirmative healthcare and making sure all patients feel seen and represented by the medical community. I hope to someday provide a safe space for all individuals to seek mental healthcare no matter how they identify. I also enjoy working with the adolescent population and am considering a child and adolescent fellowship in the future. In my free time, I love riding my bike and discovering new neighborhoods around the city. One of my favorite things about Philly is the endless supply of amazing restaurants and am on a never-ending quest to find the city’s best French fry.
Taylor Goldman, MD
Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine
Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LGBTQ+-inclusive care, Psychotherapy, Harm reduction
Bio: I chose to go into psychiatry because I believe that taking care of mental and physical health is key to living a happy life. As of now, I see myself working outpatient where I can get to know my patients over a long period of time and be able to incorporate coping mechanisms and medications, as well as lifestyle modifications into my treatment plan. I like to maintain my own mental health by spending time with others, singing, meditating, exercising, taking care of my house plants, and playing with my dog Nugget! I identify as a California girl, but I feel very at home and well supported at Einstein. I am interested in going into Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, and one thing that attracted me to this program is that I was able to do my off-service rotations in pediatrics, allowing me to spend more time working with my preferred patient population.
Maria Gurski, DO
Undergraduate: Catawba College
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: C&L, Psychotherapy, Forensics
Bio: I grew up outside of Philadelphia and have now spent the majority of my adult life in Philly. I'm happy I am able to stay in the area during my residency training and take care of a population I have a personal connection to. During my third year of medical school, I spent the whole year rotating at Einstein and loved the supporting environment amongst the residents. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy running, hiking with my dog, baking, and spending time with family and friends.
Albert McHugh, MD
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Interests: psychodynamics, psychoanalysis, mood disorders, PTSD, CBT
Bio: I grew up in NJ, but went to undergrad at Upenn and medical school at SKMC. Despite living in Philly for 10 years now, I’m obsessed with nature and the behavior and complexity of relationships between animals, plants, and fungi. My hobbies include gardening, foraging (for edible plants and fungi), fishing, bodybuilding, hiking, camping, and slacklining. Within psychiatry I am passionate about psychodynamics, psychoanalysis, mood disorders, PTSD, CBT, and particularly the future role of psychedelics within psychiatry. I chose Einstein not only because their psychiatry program is incredibly well-developed, but primarily because of the warm and welcoming culture within the program. The people I get to work with everyday make everyday something to look forward to!
Ria Shah, DO
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy
Bio: Originally from New Jersey, I've lived in both Boston and Erie for my undergrad and med school years respectively. I'm stoked to return to the tri-state area and can't wait to indulge in everything Philly has to offer for the next few years! I chose Einstein for a multitude of reasons, but I was blown away by how kind and inclusive the residents are here. We love to do group happy hour, book club, and get togethers during our time off! I feel lucky to be part of such a close-knit family, and to be able to train at a program that exposes me to a variety of pathology, treatment modalities, and medications.
Erica Stagliano, DO, MS
Undergraduate: Penn State University, Bachelor of Science in Biobehavioral Health, with minors in biology and neuroscience
Graduate: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (concentration in Neurobehavioral Sciences)
Medical School: The Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Inpatient psychiatry, first-time psychosis, neurocognitive disorders
Bio: I grew up in Northeast Philadelphia and Bucks County, PA. Having grown up in both the city and suburbs, I have an appreciation for patients of all backgrounds but hold a particular desire to serve the underserved. I chose Einstein because of its responsibility and commitment to the North Philadelphia community and culture, two things I greatly respect. Outside of the hospital I enjoy volunteering with local animal shelters, staying active in the gym and outdoors (I have been a group fitness instructor for almost 10 years!), and spending quality time with my husband, our two cats and two dogs, and our families.
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Kelly Akah, MD
Undergraduate: Howard University
Medical School: Medical University of Lublin
Interests: Public Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Bio: I grew up in North Jersey but have spent a good chunk of my life living in D.C, the Bahamas, England, and Poland. I have always been passionate about working with underserved and marginalized communities and can talk about it all day if given the opportunity! Philadelphia is such a charming city and being at Einstein is an absolute dream because it allows me to work with the community I care about most. Outside of Psychiatry - I enjoy backpacking, international travel, running, collecting postcards, and filling my home with plants!
Allison Chambers, DO - Administrative Chief Resident for Medical Students
Undergraduate: The Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: General Adult Psychiatry, particularly mood and personality disorders
Bio: My experiences growing up in rural Pennsylvania and later living in both Baltimore and Philadelphia gave me a lot of exposure to the realities of those attempting to access healthcare in underserved areas. I'm thrilled to be addressing those inequities at Einstein and serving our local community! Philadelphia became my home during the 7 years I spent working as a clinical researcher here prior to medical school, and I'm thrilled to be beginning my psychiatry training in this city. Without soundness of mind, it's difficult to have everything else in life that we, as humans, typically want, and as psychiatrists, we get to help our patients work towards having the lives they desire every single day. Outside of the hospital, I love traveling, spending time with friends and family, and enjoying everything Philadelphia has to offer!
Reha Dharmaraj, MBBS - Administrative Chief Resident for Conferences
Medical School: Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences and Research
Interests: Addiction Psychiatry, Emergency/Crisis Psychiatry
Bio: I'm a self-proclaimed adventurer - mostly in the fantasy world of Dungeons and Dragons (D&D). Nonetheless, adventures (and sometimes misadventures) led me from India to Philadelphia and ultimately to Einstein and Psychiatry. I'm hopeful that my next adventure will be in Addiction Psychiatry. As recipients of the esteemed Albert Einstein Society (AES) Innovative Grant, my team was able to provide all Einstein Emergency Medicine providers free Narcan to use in the community and we are hopeful to expand this endeavor to all departments at Einstein. We also developed a process for "warm hand-off" from the emergency room to the Einstein MAT (Medication Assisted Treatment) Clinic for patients with alcohol use disorder to receive a long acting injectable that has proven to be effective in reducing cravings - another project funded by the AES society. Apart from my interest in addictions, I also enjoy the fast-paced environment of the crisis center. My experience at the Einstein Crisis Response Center made me fall in love with the line of crisis work. In my spare time, you'll see me spending time with my pets while dreaming about all the other pets I could adopt, hitting up some metal concerts, doing something D&D related and tending to my plants.
Natalie Katchmar, DO, MBA - Administrative Chief Resident for Medical Students
Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Kansas City University
Interests: Child and adolescent psychiatry, psychotherapy, medical education, mental health advocacy
Bio: A crazy cat lady at heart, I'm a former bioengineer turned psychiatry resident with a passion for baking (with help from my two sous chef cats!) I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA and majored in biological engineering. After college, I began working at Penn in a neuroimaging research lab where we focused on motivational deficits in mood and psychotic disorders. I fell in love with Philly during this time, and I am thrilled to be at Einstein for my psychiatry residency. There are many things I love about Einstein, but I really love the strong emphasis and training in psychotherapy. I hope to pursue a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship, and Einstein has a wide variety of unique experiences in the field. Beyond the broad experiences Einstein psychiatry provides, the people in this program are truly the best part! Outside of medicine, you can find me exploring hiking trails with my dog, or if it's raining, working on various jigsaw puzzles that I'll frame for my house. I also love working out, especially when all three of my pets join me for yoga and weightlifting (though they might be more distraction than help!)
Ali Khalil, MD, ABP, CPHQ
Medical School: Assiut University, Egypt
Interests: Forensic Psychiatry, Community Psychiatry, mental health promotion and advocacy
Bio: Before joining our residency program, I completed a psychiatry residency and forensic psychiatry fellowship at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) in Qatar and obtained the Arab Board of Psychiatry. In my previous institution, I was appointed as the chairman of assessment of patients chapter of Joint Commission International (JCI). In this capacity, I drafted and amended many policies and was recognized by my department for my contributions in obtaining the JCI accreditation. I was elected by my colleagues as the chairman of the Trainees Council, representing over 1300 residents and fellows in 30 departments across HMC. For my contributions in the training and education of medical students, I was awarded with the ‘House Staff Teaching Award’ by Weil Cornel Medical Colleague in Qatar and was also appointed as the deputy director for training in forensic psychiatry for the students of College of Health Sciences at Qatar University. Motivated by my passion for promoting mental health, I founded and lead the Wellness Ambassadors project; an evidence-based project aiming to improve mental health literacy and reduce mental illness stigma in Qatari high schools.
Wes Lewis, DO
Undergraduate: California State University Sacramento
Medical School: Touro University California
Interests: Forensics, Psychotherapy, Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), Trauma
Bio: Having a family background in criminal justice helped inspire me to study psychology during undergrad, where my interests expanded to pharmacology, psychodynamic therapy, and research related to personality theories. Following undergrad, I served as an AmeriCorps with the American Red Cross in Northern California, during which time I worked in disaster cycle services, and worked with under resourced communities. My interests during medical school expanded to forensic psychiatry, as well as ECT. Since at Einstein, I have continued to gain further exposure to reinforce these interests as well as see a variety of unique cases. After residency, I hope to pursue a fellowship in forensics. Outside of work, I enjoy running, hiking, cooking, writing/producing electronic music, audio engineering/sound design, and spending time with family.
Jonathan McLaughlin, DO
Undergraduate: Saint Joseph's University
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: I was born and raised in the Philadelphia suburbs and went through all of my higher education here as well. I absolutely love it here. There is always something new to do or explore. Even though my Philly roots run strong, I love to travel and go on road trips. In the Summer, you can find my wife and I taking our dog, Murphy, to the beach and in the winter you can find us skiing all over the country. I also love cars, Philly sports, animals, cooking, and whiskey tasting. I chose Einstein because from top to bottom, it is an absolutely stellar program. From the high quality curriculum and welcoming culture, to the supportive senior residents and esteemed attending physicians, I genuinely loved coming to work during my audition rotation and that in itself speaks volumes. When it comes to why I decided to pursue psychiatry as my field of choice in medicine, there are a variety of reasons. I have loved psychiatry for my whole life (I was a psych major with a neuroscience minor in undergrad). I love the collaborative nature of the field and how psychiatrists work with other doctors and other professionals to get the patient’s whole life back on track. Most of all, I love how the field of psychiatry is centered around treating the human condition and the person’s orientation to reality, rather than just one physical niche of the human body. If your mental health or orientation to reality deteriorates, so does your quality of life. The field of psychiatry helps remedy your well being in a way that no other specialty can.
Christopher Rakay, MD, M.Ed
Undergraduate: Lehigh University
Medical School: Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Bio: Originally from the great Garden State of New Jersey, I have been living, working, and learning in Philadelphia since 2009. Prior to medical school I earned a master’s degree in counseling psychology and worked in mental health and addictions for over ten years. I liked it so much I decided to learn more skills and go into psychiatry. I chose Einstein because of the diversity of clinical experiences and populations, the focus on psychotherapy and psychodynamics, and because the residents were genuine and engaging. Also, I can ride my bike to work. My interests include addiction psychiatry, mood disorders, personality disorders, disadvantaged communities, psychotherapy, and psychedelics as emerging tools in psychiatry. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, running, cycling, and reading Dr. Seuss with my two little kiddos, spouse, and dog. And of course, toddler dance parties.
Andrea Weir, DO
Undergraduate: University of St. Thomas (Houston, TX)
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Psychotherapy
Bio: I grew up between Houston (TX) and Port of Spain (Trinidad, WI); however, my entire family is from the Northeast- so I was eager to have the chance to move to the region! Medical school at PCOM afforded me that opportunity. I was a non-traditional student, who had a prior career working as a chef and enjoyed traveling to different countries to learn about other cultures and cuisines. What I love most about psychiatry is the opportunity to explore the depths of our humanity- and to discover what makes each of our journeys in life unique as well as meaningful. I was especially interested in Einstein after rotating here as a medical student and meeting the caring, as well as supportive, residents and faculty associated with the program. I was especially attracted to the ability that residents had to become involved with the Psychoanalytic Center of Philadelphia. In my spare time I enjoy cooking, playing with my dog (Nikola Tesla, aka Tessie-bear), spending time with friends, cross-stitching, discovering quirky restaurants/coffee shops, and camping.
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Sarah Friedrich, DO, MBA, MS - Chief Resident
Undergraduate: University of Florida
Graduate School: St. Joseph's University - Master of Business Administration; Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine - Master of Science in Biomedical Sciences (concentration in Forensic Medicine)
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Forensic Psychiatry, Emergency Psychiatry
Bio: I grew up in a small beach town in southwest Florida, easy walking distance to the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, I enjoy any activities related to the water or beach, also traveling abroad, reading, pick-up volleyball, and gardening. I am an avid fan of college football (Go Gators!) and all Philly sports teams. Additionally, I love how close Philly is to NYC, so it's easy to make a quick trip to visit friends. Having two parents from Philadelphia, I was raised with stories of adventures in the city, its historical importance, and the preponderance of good food and culture. Philly has always held a special place in my heart and I could not imagine a better place to train in psychiatry. There is such diversity in pathologies and many great opportunities to pursue whatever you are interested in. Upon completion of residency, I hope to pursue a fellowship in Forensics.
Robert Gordon, DO
Undergrad: University of Wisconsin-Madison
Medical School: PCOM
Bio: I grew up in Northern California between Sacramento and Tahoe, and came East to Philadelphia for medical school after a stop in Wisconsin for undergrad. I am so excited to be staying put in Philadelphia for my residency at Einstein. For me, the most rewarding aspects of psychiatry is helping people become more comfortable with themselves. This shared journey, guided by both the patient and provider, toward a more stable and cohesive experience of life is not a bad way to spend a career in medicine. I am particularly interested in incorporating a psychodynamic approach to building strong therapeutic relationships with my patients in whatever environment of psychiatry I end up practicing. I chose Einstein Psychiatry because the program offers a diverse set of training experiences allowing each resident to form their own professional identity in such a dynamic field. From strong training in psychotherapy, psychopharmacology, ECT, multiple in/outpatient environments, and a diverse patient population there is an opportunity to develop a large set of treatment tools in a field without many magic bullets. In these social distancing times, I enjoy jogging on the Schuylkill, Netflix, walks with friends, watching sports (if those ever happen again) and small group get-togethers to do just about anything. Hopefully, I can add to this list again when COVID slows down one of these days.
Tina Joseph, DO
Undergrad: Temple University
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Outpatient Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, South Asian and minority mental health
Bio: I have been a proud Pennsylvania native for nearly my whole life, growing up in Bucks County and living in Philadelphia for the past 10 years. Outside of Psychiatry, my interests include traveling both inside and outside of the country, singing, and trying new restaurants and cuisines (I love this so much I made a whole social media account dedicated to my food trials!) My interests in Psychiatry primarily include outpatient Psychiatry and psychotherapy. I would love to devote a portion of my practice in the future towards serving South Asian and minority communities in which the topic of mental health is commonly stigmatized.
Adam Kiejdan, MD
Undergrad: Tulane University
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical Center, Thomas Jefferson University
Bio: Adam was raised in Linwood, NJ. In college he studied Ecology & Evolutionary Biology. He spent his gap year in Austin, TX teaching underserved kids after school for 4-H CAPITAL through AmeriCorps. His interests include going to the beach and playing Catan. Within the field of Psychiatry, he is interested in psychotherapy.
Chase Ossenkop, MD - Chief Resident
Undergrad: University of Oklahoma
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch
Interests: LGBTQI+ Mental Health, Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Bio: I was born and raised outside of Fort Worth, Texas and have dreamed of moving to the northeast since I was a child. After interviewing all across the east coast I fell in love with the city of Philadelphia and was lucky enough to find Einstein! As a loud and proud gay man from the south I, and many people I know, have experienced lesser care from health professionals due to either prejudice or miseducation. These experiences led me to my interest in LGBTQI+ health while personal experiences in my coming out process spurred my desire to become a psychiatrist. I spent my medical school years addressing disparities in health care for LGBTQI+ patients through trainings, various educational programs, and research projects focused on improving interprofessional provider cultural humility when treating LGBTQI+ patients. The ideal endgame is to create a multidisciplinary clinic that would provide health services, law services, social services, etc to LGBTQI+ patients so that they can visit one safe space for comprehensive care. While I have a strong passion for my career, I also strive to maintain a healthy work/life balance. I love to cook and have been known to make delicious cocktails. I'm a plant zaddy to a small indoor forest, and I'm a pretty nasty piranha plant main.
Nicholas Prewett, DO, MBE
Undergrad: Case Western Reserve University
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Personality Disorders, Ethics, Inpatient Psychiatry and Crisis work
Bio: I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, PA, and spent my college years in Cleveland, OH, where I double-majored in biology and music. After graduating, I moved to Philadelphia to pursue a master’s in bioethics and clinical conflict management at Penn. While there, I completed additional training and certification in mediation. Until my third year of medical school in Florida, I was confident that I wanted to pursue a surgical specialty, but gradually switched gears. During my clinical years, I began to appreciate that my ethics and mediation training would be most useful in the field of psychiatry. Additionally, I completed many hours of volunteer work for a suicide hotline, cementing me in my decision and planting the seeds for my love for crisis work. After completing residency, I envision myself working in the acute inpatient setting and continuing to do work in a crisis response center. When I’m not in the clinic, you will find me spending time with my loved ones, exploring the latest Philadelphia restaurants, playing classical piano, traveling, practicing hot yoga, and collecting niche fragrances.
Nicholas Talamonti, DO
Undergrad: Kutztown University of Pennsylvania
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
Bio: I was born and raised in New Jersey and moved to Pennsylvania where I attended college and majored in biochemistry. In medical school, I was interested in many specialties but fell in love with psychiatry because I’m very passionate about mental wellbeing and love the dynamic world of the human mind. When I’m not engrossed in medicine, I love to do physical activities including bodybuilding, yoga, hiking, and rock climbing! I also love to meditate, read, and expand my mind in all avenues of life.
Dasylia Willoughby, DO
Undergrad: University of Maryland-College Park
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine-Erie
Bio: I was born and raised in the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area. When looking for a residency program, I wanted to return close to home, but I also wanted to explore a new city and Philadelphia was the perfect place for me. Philadelphia has many things to do and tons of great food and these are things that drew me to the city. I became interested in psychiatry during my psychiatry class in second year of medical school and this interest blossomed during my psychiatry rotations my third and fourth year. I was amazed by being able to help people in an aspect of medicine that is often neglected, and I wanted to help this patient population. My current interests in psychiatry include outpatient psychiatry, psychotherapy, and neuromodulation therapies like TMS.
Tarik Zeid, DO - Administrative Chief Resident for Conferences
Undergrad: Penn State University
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: Born and raised in Buffalo, New York known as “The Queen City” where I enjoyed playing football and, of course, the chilly winters. I originally became interested in medicine when I was 16 due to some medical issues while playing high school football so this is where my journey started. I enjoy playing as well as watching sports. My favorite sports team is the Buffalo Bills. I am avid about mental and physical health. I like to promote a healthy, balanced lifestyle of both mind and body. I love to read, albeit medical books, over the past several years and enjoy history and current events. I feel blessed to be here at Einstein in psychiatry which has been a passion of mine over the years and the great city of Philadelphia with its rich history and culture. I look forward to the years ahead meeting new people and my interactions with patients as well as my colleagues.
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Mohammed Ali, DO
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Bio: I am originally from NYC, but came to Philadelphia/South Jersey for college and medical school. During my free time I love working on my car or playing video games. Einstein is a great fit for me because of the diverse pathology.
Tamoor Ilyas, DO
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: Stony Brook University
Bio: Why do people behave the way they do? During my undergraduate years I pursued a degree in anthropology in order to answer this question. I was interested in trying to understand the perspectives of people from a variety of different cultures. In medical school, my guiding questions became not just “why,” but also “who?” Which community is most often neglected? My answer came when I became a certified crisis hotline worker and was exposed to the depth of need and stigma surrounding mental health. Meshing these experiences together, I look forward to working with immigrant and underserved communities, both of whom are too often overlooked.
Paulina Khodak, DO - Administrative Chief Resident for C&L Services
Undergraduate: Drexel University
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Geriatrics, C&L
Bio: I grew up in the greater Philadelphia area and am so excited to be returning to the city for my residency! Philly has always been in my heart and when I’m not working you can catch me out and about trying new restaurants, watching the Eagles or Phillies games and working out at some of the new kickboxing studios downtown. Philadelphia’s longstanding history of psychiatry training (1 in 5 psychiatrists is trained in Philadelphia!) makes it a unique and rewarding place to learn. I look forward to working with and helping the greater Philadelphia community
Arooj Latif, DO
Undergraduate: University of Delaware
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Women’s mental health, Inpatient Psychiatry
Bio: I was born in Pakistan and moved to America at the age of 11. After undergrad, I started working as a medical laboratory scientist but later realized I wanted a more active role in patient care and decided to go to medical school. Outside of psychiatry, my interests include traveling, dancing, and trying different cuisines.
Alexander Lopez, MD
Undergraduate: State University of New York - Binghamton
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Jefferson University
Interests: Psychotherapy
Bio: I am originally from northern New Jersey where I developed an interest in behavior at an early age. As young as 12 I wanted to become a psychotherapist when I "grew up". It was only in college that I found my passion for the hard sciences and began considering medicine. Once in medical school it became clear that for me psychiatry was the best of both worlds. After going to medical school in Philadelphia it was a pleasure to be able to stay four more years in a city I had come to enjoy so much. In my spare time I enjoy tending to my plants and exploring the outdoors.
Lindsay Michel, DO, MBA
Undergraduate: Temple University
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Psychotherapy, Women’s Health, Integrative Psychiatry, Trauma
Bio: Having spent my life in Pennsylvania within an hour radius of Philadelphia, I am happy to be practicing the art of psychiatry close to home. Mental health has always fascinated me, and I spent a year between college and medical school working closely with patients with treatment-resistant depression receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).
Yelena Shabelnik, DO
Undergraduate: Emory University
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Interests: Adult Psychiatry, Neuromodulation and Psychotherapy
Bio: Originally from Ukraine, I grew up in New York and Iowa before moving to Atlanta to study neuroscience and behavioral biology for my bachelors. This sparked my interest in both the biological and humanistic aspect of behavior, and I chose psychiatry because it is a perfect combination of the two. What drew me to Einstein was its diverse patient population, acuity of pathology and the welcoming work environment made possible by the residents, attendings and staff. In my spare time, I like to travel, paint, and spoil my 2 cats.
Phillip Shwae, MD - Administrative Chief Resident for C&L Services
Undergraduate: Penn State University
Medical School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Jefferson University
Interests: Consultation and Liaison Psychiatry and Neuromodulation
Bio: I am originally from the greater Philadelphia area and after 6 years now consider the city my home. Unexpectedly but gratefully found my calling in psychiatry after seriously considering pathology earlier in medical school. Philadelphia is a wonderful city to both live and train in due to the many opportunities it affords to expand one’s horizons both personally and professionally. I look forward to my time at Einstein and making the most of what it has to offer!
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