Recent Graduates

Graduates - 2024

John Ernzen, MD

Post-Graduation: Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship at Northwestern University

Dr. Ernzen joins us from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago where he completed three years of training in general psychiatry immediately prior to his fellowship training. He has now been in Chicago for the better part of a decade, having completed medical school at Northwestern’s Feinberg School of Medicine before residency. Prior to this, he obtained his bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering at Arizona State University along with some graduate work in education policy. He continues to be interested in education, having served on curriculum review committees during medical school and as class representative during residency. In his free time he enjoys running/lifting, traveling, trying new restaurants, and playing bar trivia with friends.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I chose to complete my child and adolescent psychiatric training at Lurie Children’s due to the comprehensive nature of the program. As a nationally ranked children’s hospital, Lurie Children's offers a variety of complex cases from which to learn and robust faculty under whom I can train. What’s more, the hospital makes a point of prioritizing behavioral health and is dedicated to being on the forefront of the growing adolescent mental health crisis."

Raymond Gonzales, MD

Post-Graduation: Private Practice

Dr. Gonzales attended medical school at the American University of Caribbean and completed residency at Citrus Health network/Florida International University HWCOM. Dr. Gonzales was the Wellness Chief of his residency program, where he created peer mentorships, promoted learning and work-life balance by coordinating wellness events and attaining amenities for his fellow residents. In residency, he presented poster at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry annual meeting. Prior to medical school, Dr. Gonzales attended Boston University for undergraduate education and studied human physiology. Dr. Gonzales was inducted into the Alpha Omega Phi honor society in medical school. He completed one additional year of child and adolescent psychiatry at University of South Florida where he constructed FDA-approved resource to help facilitate a smoother transition for residents/fellows entering the field of child psychiatry. During his free time, Dr. Gonzales enjoys playing volleyball, composing music, playing guitar and attending concerts.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I chose Lurie Children's for its robust training experience at a top-ranked children's hospital in the most-populated city in Midwest (3rd highest in the US). The acuity level of patients is often high, and many patients come from the surrounding states in addition to Illinois. One of the most appealing aspects for me was having the unique opportunity to learn from attendings with a variety of training backgrounds, many specializing in specific types of disorders. On interview day, the program faculty and fellows were warm and welcoming. The fellows were supportive of each other and spent time together outside of working hours. Lastly, Chicago as a city is fun, walkable, diverse, yet affordable in comparison to other major cities." 

Damian (Dongho) Gwak, MD

Post Graduation: NorthStar Behavioral Health, outpatient psychiatrist

Dr. Gwak joined us from Rush University where he completed his third year of adult psychiatry residency. Prior to attending medical school, he obtained a BA in Biochemistry at Rice University while involved in bioengineering research. He completed his medical school training at Texas A&M School of Medicine. Dr. Gwak was previously also involved in research at MD Anderson Cancer Center and taught as a middle and high school standardized testing math teacher in Houston, TX. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, indoor rock climbing and bouldering, and visiting Chicago restaurants.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I was drawn to the fellowship program at Lurie Children's due to the large number of clinical and academic opportunities the program offers to their fellows. It offers robust inpatient and outpatient training experiences, as well as access to a large variety of psychopathology and cultural diversity in the patient population that it serves. Additionally, it provides an excellent didactic curriculum and up-to-date, thought provoking grand rounds held throughout the fellowship. I would also have the honor to work with an exceptional faculty consisting of well-regarded and prominent experts in the field, as well as fellows who are all very welcoming and friendly. With an interest in outpatient adolescent psychiatry, I am confident that upon completion of this fellowship I will be able to serve my community as a knowledgeable, competent, and capable child psychiatrist."

Christy Ky, MD

Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor, Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Dr. Ky joins us from the University of Illinois at Chicago. While in residency, she earned the Jinger Hoop Memorial Award for Ethics in Psychiatry and the Psychiatry Research Writing Award. Her interests include early psychosis, collaborative care, cultural psychiatry, and women’s mental health. In her free time, she enjoys taking barre classes, exploring Chicago’s restaurant scene, and trying new recipes.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"Training in a big children’s hospital in a diverse city like Chicago promises a robust clinical experience that will help grow my knowledge and prepare me to pursue my interests in the field. I feel confident that at the end of my training, I will be able to manage both simple cases along with medically and psychiatrically complex cases. I am also excited to continue living in Chicago for another two years!"

Jasleen Singh, MD

Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor, Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Dr. Singh joins us from Rosalind Franklin University after completing her third year of general psychiatry residency. She also attended Loyola University Chicago for undergrad and medical school. Dr. Singh has seven prior publications and has been first author for several, including recent publications on the roles of arginine vasopressin and oxytocin in major depressive disorder. During residency she served as Chief Resident for Medical Student Education and was also heavily involved with Illinois Psychiatric Society where she continues to serve as editor of their Mind Matters newsletter, chair of the IPS Resident-Fellow Member Committee, and IPS Council member. She was awarded as IPS Resident of the Year in 2021. She was also given the CDR Burke Culture of Excellence Award in 2022 for Profound Therapeutic Impact and is the only resident to have received this award. During her free time, she enjoys dancing, music, trying different cultural foods, reading, gardening, and teaching/tutoring. 

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"Having trained locally, I knew that I wanted to stay in the Midwest for CAP fellowship training. It was also important to me that I train at a large academic center where I would receive a robust education, be able to work inter-disciplinarily on a team, and be able to work alongside other co-fellows to make for a better learning environment. I was lucky to have rotated at Lurie Children’s Inpatient Psychiatry Unit while on an away rotation as a medical student, and thus had first-hand experience to the quality of care, multi-disciplinary approach, and overall environment and camaraderie within the program. I also felt that the program’s affiliation to Northwestern University enhanced the emphasis on education and allowed for the ability to work with and teach medical students and adult psychiatry residents. Furthermore, Lurie Children’s Hospital has been ranked by US News and World Report as #1 in Illinois and #7 in the Midwest, so I knew that I would be getting good clinical exposure, have the opportunity to work with a diverse population and be able to learn from some of the best! Not to mention, being in the heart of Chicago was definitely a nice perk, with access to all of Chicago’s diversity, richness, and great food!"

Garseng Wong, MD

Post-Graduation: Meridian Psychiatric Partners, Outpatient Psychiatrist

Dr. Wong joins us from New York University Grossman School of Medicine after completing his third year of general psychiatry residency, where he pursued his interest in medical education by leading exam review sessions for psychiatry clerkship students and developing an e-handbook for residents and medical students to reference on their clinical rotations. Outside of medicine, he enjoys staying active, singing, and exploring the city of Chicago.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I wanted to pursue a fellowship in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry in order to deepen my understanding of people and their mental health through the lifespan. I chose to train at Lurie Children's because it offered a range of practice settings and specialty clinics, which I felt would provide me with ample exposures to confidently practice independently at the end of my training. I was also eager to return to Chicago, where you can find a great quality of life with the excitement of living in a bustling city."

Graduates - 2023

Moshe Bitterman, MD

Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor, Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Dr. Moshe Bitterman joined us from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine after completing his third year of general psychiatry residency. While in medical school at the University of Vermont College of Medicine, Dr. Bitterman presented a poster on the impact of peer-to-peer disclosure of mental illness on medical student’s stigma towards mental health. He also participated as an assistant in an NIH funded study of “Risk and Resilience in Maltreated Children.” In residency, he was an active member of the Wellness Committee helping to create peer mentoring groups and crisis management training for incoming residents. In his free time, he enjoys live music, rock climbing, and traveling.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I chose to train at Lurie Children’s because the program prioritizes fellow education through a robust and intensive clinical experience. The learning environment is one of academic rigor and great warmth and support among colleagues. I wanted to appreciate a multidisciplinary approach to care, and at Lurie Children’s there is strong partnerships in both the clinical services and didactic curriculum between social work, psychology, and psychiatry. Focusing on family systems is also key in creating change in children’s lives, and this is certainly emphasized in the training at Lurie Children’s. Additionally, Chicago a is wonderful place to live, train, and be a part of a diverse community of both providers and patients."

George Gianakakos, MD

Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor, Loyola University

Dr. Gianakakos joins us from University of Central Florida (UCF)/HCA Consortium where he was a third year psychiatry resident. He attended Northwestern University for undergrad and medical school at University of Illinois in Chicago. After graduation from college, Dr. Gianakakos served for two years as a corps member in Teach for America from 2010-12 and taught as a 7th and 8th grade general science teacher in Bridgeport, CT from 2010-2013. While in medical school at UIC, he received the AACAP Jeanne Spurlock Research Fellowship in Drug Abuse and Addiction for Minority Medical Students and spent his first year of medical school in research with patients at a Chicago methadone clinic and at Children’s Research Triangle. He presented his research findings in a poster at AACAP’s 62nd annual meeting in San Antonio. He also served as a co-president of the Klingenstein Third General Fellowship in Chicago. In his free time, Dr. Gianakakos enjoys gardening, listening to audio books, yoga, Orange Theory fitness, cooking, and watching Mystery Science theater.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"So far, I have really appreciated the emphasis placed on academic rigor in a supportive and understanding environment, whether that be through didactics or our diverse patient cases. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that, despite its size and patient volume, Lurie Children’s is a highly collaborative hospital, with all specialties regularly coming together in the best interest of patients and their families. Located in the heart of Chicago, Lurie Children's sees a variety of patient cases and truly makes a difference in the lives of a multitude of Chicagoans, regardless of where they come from or how much money they make. Best of all, faculty and co-fellows make the work fun, and I genuinely enjoy coming to work knowing we are making a difference in the lives of Chicago’s children each and every day."

Emanuel Martinez, MD

Post-Graduation: TBD

Dr. Martinez joins us from Citrus Health Network/ Florida International University (FIU) HW College of Medicine residency. He attended Florida International University for undergraduate where he was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and attended FIU for medical school. While in medical school, he received the Dottie and Ed Grosse Medical Scholarship Fund in 2014. He has participated in research on trauma and length of stay in inpatient units among adolescents. He received the MBRS-RISE Research Fellowship in 2011-2013, Citrus Health Network Resident Teacher of the Year Award from 2018-2019, FIU Resident/Fellow Clinical Teaching Award 2019-2020 and served as a Chief Resident from 2020-2021. He is fluent in Spanish and has a passion for working with Latinx populations. Dr. Martinez enjoys playing soccer, fishing, traveling, and running in his free time.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I chose to train at Lurie Children’s due to the emphasis the program places on education. The didactic curriculum which is taught by nationally renowned faculty seemed too good to pass up. Likewise, during the interview the welcoming nature of the all the interviewers made me feel comfortable with my choice. The breadth of elective rotations available will allow me to explore areas of interest. I am thrilled to have matched at Lurie Children’s as I believe the training I receive will make me a competent, empathetic, and culturally sensitive child psychiatrist."

Bavani Rajah, MD

Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor, Vanderbilt University

Dr. Rajah joins us from Loyola University Medical Center she was a third year psychiatry resident. She attended undergrad at the University of Akron and medical school at Northeast Ohio Medical University as part of an accelerated BS/MD program. While in medical school, she participated in a research study at Nationwide Children’s Hospital and reviewed data from over 3000 pediatric patients to investigate the impact of 2014 updated guidelines on palivizumab prophylaxis in premature infants hospitalized for RSV bronchiolitis. She presented her findings at the 2016 Pediatric Academic Society’s meeting in Baltimore and was published as first author in the Journal of Pediatrics in the fall of 2016. She has served as a cabin counselor at Flying Horse Farms where she worked with children with congenital heart disease. In residency, she serves on the GME Housestaff Governance Committee and was appointed as the psychiatry chief resident. She received the Loyola University Medical Center Magis Star Award in October 2018 for excellence in patient care. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hiking, metal music, golfing, drawing and video games.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"As a Midwest native and after training in Chicago for residency, I knew I wasn’t ready to leave! However, when applying for CAP fellowship programs it was important to me that I would receive a high quality education in a supportive environment with knowledgeable faculty and enthusiastic peers. I have been so happy with my choice to train at Lurie Children’s as the balance of my clinical responsibilities, supervision and structured didactics have made such a positive impact on my learning. It is a privilege to work with some of the most prominent experts in our field and to experience a variety of complex cases at a large academic center."

Wendy Rocio Martinez Araujo, MD

Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor, New York University

Dr. Martinez Araujo joins us from Nassau University Medical Center where she was completing her adult psychiatry residency. A native of El Salvador, she attended Universidad de El Salvador Facultad de Medicina for medical school. She has multiple research experiences, including having worked on studies investigating depression and anxiety among adolescents who use social media as well as Alzheimer’s among geriatric Hispanic populations. She has published in the Journal of Neuropsychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences and presented posters at the Institute of Psychiatric services Mental Health Service Conference in New York in 2019 as well as the American Psychiatric Association Annual meeting in 2020. She has presented at The European Academy of Psychosomatic medicine in Vienna, Austria and the Annual Conference of the Prader-Willi Association. She is fluent in Spanish and is passionate about working with and serving the Latinx population. In her free time, she enjoys salsa and merengue dancing, visiting art museums, collecting hand-made artisanal jewelry and backpacking.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I had many reasons to choose Lurie Children’s: it is the main children’s hospital in Chicago with one of the largest CAP programs, it has a wide variety of psychiatric complex cases, and it is affiliated with Northwestern University, which provides a highly educational environment and didactics taught by well-renowned staff and experts in the field. The staff was welcoming and friendly since the beginning of the interview process and will make you feel part of the team all the time. Most importantly, the collegial environment, which included seeing the fellows happy and heard by the department, was the cherry on top to choose Lurie Children's."

Jonathon Wanta, MD

Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor, Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Dr. Wanta attended medical school at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, OH, and completed residency at the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. He has garnered a number of awards including the American Psychiatric Association Child and Adolescent Fellowship 2020, Ellen Irving Rothchild Medical Student Award for Excellence in CL Psychiatry 2018, and the CWRU Pride LGBT Ohio Leadership Award 2015. He is the resident member of the AACAP Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Issues Committee (SOGIIC) and the resident board member on the Executive Board of AACAP’s PrideCAPA. Dr. Wanta has 9 publications including in Frontiers in Psychiatry and Transgender Health. He has presented at the AACAP Annual meeting in 2020 and 2021. In his free time, he enjoys hiking, laying out at the beach, and finding new restaurants for brunch.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"Lurie Children’s CAP Fellowship offers all the strengths of a nationally renowned academic institution without losing the warm, supporting environment that is so important as a trainee. As a fellow, I’ve had the opportunity to learn from experts in the field, many of whom are literally writing the textbook on any given subject matter. At the same time, I’ve had ample interface with attendings all the way up to the Department Chair which in my opinion fosters an environment in which I feel included and valued not only as a trainee but more importantly as a physician colleague. Ultimately, I think this combination of a rigorous but supportive environment is best suited to help me reach my career goals moving forward!"

Graduates - 2022

Abdullah Bin Mahfodh, MD

Residency: University of Missouri, Kansas City
Medical School: Jordan University of Science and Technology
Post-Graduation: Compass

Dr. Bin Mahfodh joined us from the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where he completed his third year of psychiatry residency. He attended Jordan University of Science and Technology. Prior to residency, Dr. Bin Mahfodh completed one year of research with Dr. Christoph Corell at Hofstra/Northwell where he served as a clinical research trainer, training team members to conduct diagnostic interviews including the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 and two semi-structured prodromal symptom interviews, one for psychosis and one for bipolar disorder. He participated in several clinical research studies while on Dr. Corell’s team, including the Adolescent Mood Disorder Study (AMDS), Fluoxetine-Aripiprazole Competitive Trial (FACT), and Adjunctive Vortioxetine in Schizophrenia (AVIS). He has presented ten posters at national conferences and served as the graduate medical education (GME) representative for the UMKC department of psychiatry. He has an interest in research and his presentation on the use of clozapine in children was selected to be presented as part of a “research pipeline” symposium chaired by Dr. Tim Wilens from MGH/Harvard at the annual American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) meeting in Oct 2019.  In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, cooking, and exploring new restaurants.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"The faculty seemed to be dedicated to providing an excellent educational experience, and the program offers a range of clinical and academic opportunities that would help me to achieve my goals. Training in a big children’s hospital in a diverse city like Chicago promises a robust clinical experience that will help grow my knowledge and prepare me to pursue my interests in the field. Last but not least, faculty, fellows, and staff were friendly and supportive."

Shane Burke, MD

Residency: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria
Medical School: St. George’s University
Post-Graduation: Forensic Fellowship, Northwestern University

Dr. Burke joined us from the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria where he is completing his third year of residency. Prior to attending medical school at St. George’s University, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in social work at New York University. He received the Legacy of Excellence Scholarship in medical school. While in residency, he published an article in Current Psychiatry titled “The Importance of Engaging with Local Mental Health Organizations”, has presented posters at the American Psychiatric Association national meeting, presented a talk at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI): Tri-County Illinois Educational Meeting and participated in the residency recruitment committee. In his free time, he enjoys running a half marathon every year, watching movies and spending time with family.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I sought to complete my child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship at Lurie Children's due to the comprehensive training experience it provides. Both the breadth and the depth of experience provided spoke to me throughout the interview day. I additionally was impressed by the faculty I met within the program as well as hearing multiple faculty members speak at the annual meeting of AACAP. I am looking forward to having a comprehensive experience in child and adolescent psychiatry and also more advanced training in school consultation and forensic work, all of which I am confident I can achieve within this stellar program."

Courtney Heim, DO

Residency: Lutheran General Hospital
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Post- Graduation: Plena

Dr. Heim joined us from Lutheran General Hospital where she completed her third year of psychiatry residency. She attended West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. While in college at the University of Wisconsin, Madison where she obtained a BS in Communicative Disorders, she was the lead researcher on a study that focused on children’s emotional development and psychopathology using fMRI. She also has prior experience providing home therapy for children with autism through the Wisconsin Early Autism Project.  She was the resident representative from Lutheran General to the Illinois Psychiatric Society. In her free time, she enjoys long-distance running, competitive tennis and cooking. 

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I wanted to come to Lurie Children's because I felt it would provide top-notch academic opportunities and clinical experiences. There was a sense of excitement and energy on my interview day that was unlike other programs I interviewed at. The faculty and fellows I met were all friendly and welcoming. The fellows communicated how the hospital culture exceeded their expectations in how they felt listened to and supported in each of their individual goals. Lastly, coming to this program would allow me to stay in the Midwest close to all my family and friends!"

Mike Mehta, DO, MBA

Residency: Ohio State Wexner Medical Center
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine
Post-Graduation: Suncloud

Dr. Mehta joined us from Ohio State Wexner Medical Center where he is attending his third year of psychiatry residency. He attended Ohio University Heritage College of Medicine and obtained an MBA at Oxford between his third and fourth years of medical school. He has received the Outstanding Volunteer Award by the American Osteopathic Association and the Ohio University Research Fellowship Grant. He has presented posters at AAMC Integrating Quality Conference in New York as well as the 2019 AACAP meeting in Chicago. He has an active interest in quality improvement, has completed research in this area and served as the Resident Quality Improvement Chair at Harding Hospital (the psychiatric hospital affiliated with OSU). In his free time, he enjoys travelling (has visited over 30 countries and lived in five), rowing, snowboarding and the arts. 

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"Coming into child fellowship, I want to be able to explore all the various avenues this sub-specialty has to offer. Lurie Children's allows me to do that with its wide range of strong clinical experiences and diverse patient population. Their commitment to education is evident by the stimulating didactic curriculum and up-to-date, thought provoking grand rounds held throughout the fellowship. Most importantly, the faculty and fellows were all super welcoming and it felt like the right fit."

Sonya Sandhu, MD

Residency: Jackson Memorial Hospital/ University of Miami
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Post-Graduation: Plena

Dr. Sandhu joined us from Jackson Memorial Hospital/ University of Miami where she completed her third year of residency. She completed her medical school at Wayne State University SOM where she participated in research in the Department of Psychiatry on several research projects using fMRI. She is the recipient of numerous university-based research grants including the Medical Student Summer Research Fellowship and two Wayne State Undergraduate Research Awards, the 2013 Fiat Chrysler Academic Award and the Wayne State Presidential Scholarship 2009-2013. She received the Resident Recognition Award 2018 in residency. In her free time, she enjoys interior design, cooking, and spinning.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I chose to pursue a fellowship at Lurie Children's because of the vast number of both clinical and academic opportunities the program offers to their fellows. This program offers equally strong inpatient and outpatient training experiences, along with a rich variety of psychopathology, cultural diversity, and resources available to its patients. With an interest in outpatient adolescent psychiatry in an academic setting, I am confident that upon completion of this fellowship I will be able to serve my community as a knowledgeable, capable, and competent child psychiatrist. Also being originally from the Midwest, I am thrilled to return to in the wonderful city of Chicago!"

Graduates - 2021

Jailan Hanafy, MD

Residency Training: University of South Carolina Palmetto Health
Medical School: University of Arkansas
Post-Graduation: Attending Psychiatrist; Rogers Behavioral Health PHP/IOP Chicago

Dr. Hanafy joined us from the University of South Carolina Palmetto Health where she completed her third year of general psychiatry residency. She completed medical school at the University of Arkansas. She has prior experience conducting research at the NIH studying the relationship between inflammation and degeneration in patients with multiple sclerosis, and, in residency, is participating as a study physician in an RCT analyzing the efficacy of pharmacogenomics in antidepressant selection. While in residency, she served on the Residency Selection Committee, Psychiatry Student Interest group for medical students, Social Committee and as the representative to the Residents’ Ethics Conference Series where she taught on the topic of ethical considerations in psychiatric diagnoses.  She has presented at NAMI on the topic of depression. She has two prior publications. In her free time, Dr. Hanafy enjoys hanging out with family and friends, traveling, exploring the city including restaurants and museums, watching movies and TV shows, listening to music and dancing.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I wanted to train in my CAP fellowship at Lurie Children’s because of its impressive reputation for quality for both patient care and education. The program and staff are really supportive and the educational opportunities are unmatched. So far, my training experience has already exceeded my expectations. I have met incredible educators and faculty here as well as colleagues, and I continue to feel so fortunate to be a part of this program. I am confident that training at Lurie Children's will prepare me well for my career as a Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist."

Daniel Janiczak, MD

Residency Training: Hennepin County Regions
Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Post-Graduation: Attending Psychiatrist, Outpatient; Sanford Health, Bemidji, MN

Dr. Janiczak joined us from Hennepin County Medical Center-Regions Hospital in Minneapolis, MN, where he completed three years of adult psychiatry training. He has a passion for employee wellness, prevention of burnout, and for helping physicians find meaning in medicine. Bringing these interests together, he created a curriculum while in residency for medical students and residents focused on self-care, finding meaning in medicine, and maintaining compassion and empathy. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his wife, cooking, outdoor sports, photography, DJ’ing music, and traveling.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"Lurie Children's fellowship program stood out with faculty who exemplified a dedication to quality care and high regard for the educational experience of trainees. I was drawn to a department that had exciting initiatives underway such as the collaborative care model of integrating child psychiatry and pediatric primary care. This was also an unbeatable opportunity to work in a diverse city and at a hospital where many families come because of an expectation of excellent care. It seemed like an environment full of approachable, friendly and hard-working people which would make it easy to show up to work every day! Last but not least, I was excited to have the chance to be near family and explore this great city again after several years away."

John Lee, MD

Residency Training: University of Hawaii
Medical School: Ross University
Post-Graduation: Telepsychiatry at LifeStance Health, Santa Barbara, CA

Dr. Lee joined us from the University of Hawaii where he completed his third year of general psychiatry residency. He completed medical school at Ross University. He has prior research experience in the UCLA psychology department evaluating the relationship between stress and low birth weight in low income neighborhoods. While in residency, he organized volunteering events where the residents cooked a meal for families of children with serious medical illness at the Ronald McDonald House in Honolulu, HI. He has also served as a medical student mentor, meeting monthly with medical students who are interested in psychiatry. He served on the Residency Selection Committee and was the volunteer chair for NAMI. He presented a poster on Graves’ disease and schizophrenia at the American Psychiatric Association in 2017. In his free time, Dr. Lee enjoys escape rooms, basketball, and traveling. 

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I chose Lurie Children's to do my CAP fellowship because of the program's dedication to provide a learning environment that puts education first. Plus, the combination of training at the top children's hospital in a major metropolitan area was a no-brainer. Having awesome co-fellows doesn't hurt either. Also, I've heard great things about Chicago winters."

James McKenzie, DO, MBA

Residency Training: Cambridge Health Alliance/Harvard Medical School
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Post-Graduation: Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN

Dr. McKenzie joined us from Cambridge Health Alliance (one of the Harvard Medical School residency programs) where he completed his general psychiatry residency. Dr. McKenzie completed medical school at Lincoln Memorial-DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine and obtained an MBA at Lincoln Memorial University. He has extensive prior experience working with children and adolescents and a passion for advocacy and social justice. He worked for a year as a Spanish-speaking child and youth case-manager through Centerstone Mental Health Services in Nashville before joining medical school and, while in residency, has served as a committee member of the Social Justice Coalition in Cambridge, MA. He coauthored an article published in the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law on barriers to and proposed solutions for increasing access to voting by hospitalized psychiatric patients. He also presented this paper at the annual meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law in October 2018.  In his free time, he enjoys live music, basketball, and, with his wife, shares a love of Hollywood and Bollywood films.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I chose to complete my fellowship at Lurie Children's because of the ways I thought it would complement my previous training experiences, while continuing to build and strengthen skills that will be important for my career. During my interview, I saw that trainees were given ample opportunity to learn family therapy, and encouraged to think of our young patients within their larger social context. The faculty seemed excited to teach, and current fellows highlighted the didactics as a strength of the program. Lurie Children's also provides a bright and supportive work environment, and the hospital seems to be motivated to create a system of care that provides excellent clinical work by providers who have the resources needed to do so. It also provided an exciting chance to experience downtown Chicago, with all the advantages that metropolitan living affords. All in all, it checked all my boxes and was the best match for me."

Sarah Michael, MD

Residency Training: New York University
Medical School: Baylor University
Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center; El Paso, TX

Dr. Michael joined us from New York University where she completed her third year of general psychiatry residency. She completed medical school at Baylor University in Texas. While in medical school, Dr. Michael received a Global Initiatives Grant (2014) to serve in psychiatric hospital and a Syrian refugee camp’s family medicine clinic in Beirut, Lebanon as well as the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship in 2013 to create and implement health workshops for homeless youth on sexual health, child development, healthy eating and mental wellness. She was nominated to the Gold Humanism Honor Society in medical school. She has an extensive volunteering background with children including serving with the Psychminded Psychiatry Interest Group, creating and teaching a mental health curriculum for middle school students on depression, suicide, drug use and relationships. She has had one publication and four posters. During residency, she received the award for Commitment to Scholarly Excellence (2017). In her free time, Dr. Michael enjoys African dance, travel, reading, crafts, movies, cooking and baking.

Why did you choose  to train at Lurie Children’s?

"For me, the fellowship program at Lurie Children's offered a place where education is just as important as clinical work, the staff is warm, friendly, and supportive, and an important stronghold in the city of Chicago for children's mental health. I was impressed with the effort and energy put into both didactics and teaching on clinical rotations. Despite Lurie Children's being a busy hospital, everyone was warm and friendly, seemed happy to be working there, and were very supportive. I also enjoyed the focus on the multi-disciplinary approach to patient and have found working with social workers, psychologists, and recreational therapists vital and educational. Lastly, I wanted to work at a hospital that was dedicated to bettering the community around it and allowed me to work with families from diverse backgrounds. So far, my experience has exceeded my expectations, and I continue to be excited to a part of this program."

Tyler Stoltz, MD

Residency Training: University of South Carolina Palmetto Health
Medical School: University of South Carolina
Post-Graduation: Locum Tenens

Dr. Stoltz joined us from the University of South Carolina, Palmetto Health where he completed his third year of general psychiatry residency. He attended medical school at the University of South Carolina. While in residency, he was the team lead for a QI project focused on improving the consent process for benzodiazepines in the psychiatry outpatient setting. He has also conducted research on depression and dating app use in college students and was a study physician in the PASS study (Pharmacogenomics Antidepressant Selection Study) at USC Palmetto Health. He was a member of the Psychiatry Residency Selection Committee, co-chair of the Social Committee, and a PGY-3 mentor in the residency program. He has one publication in Current Psychiatry. In his free time, he enjoys mountain biking, hiking, wakeboarding, snowboarding, scuba diving, concerts, and travel.

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children’s?

"I am very excited to be completing my Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training at a premiere hospital in one of America’s most culturally rich cities. Lurie Children’s promises to offer a wide array of interactions with patients and faculty from many different backgrounds, and I will have the opportunity to encounter patients with many different psychopathologies and learn by experience. Chicago was a main attraction for me as well, as there is no shortage of concerts, festivals, and sports. These two years will be exciting, inside and outside of work!"

Graduates - 2020

Sara Bachani, MD

Residency Training: Drexel University 
Post-graduation: Staff psychiatrist at Swanson Center, Michigan City, IN

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"While choosing CAP fellowship programs, I was focused on the Midwest. I had plenty of programs to choose from, but Lurie Children's stood out from the rest: it's an excellent combination of clinical and academic opportunities, along with having a congenial environment and a vigorous didactic program. Having worked at different locations and commuting back and forth during residency, it was important for me to have all my clinical responsibilities in one location without letting go of a culturally and pathologically diverse patient population; Lurie Children's provides just that! The faculty and fellows seem to have a great work-life balance and it’s a big plus to be able to live in such a big city with extensive food and cultural opportunities."

Maureen Joyce, MD, MPH

Residency Training: Rush University 
Post-Graduation: Telepsychiatry private practice in California

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I decided to come to Lurie Children's because I am specifically interested in the treatment of medically ill children with psychiatric comorbidities and knew that I wanted to work in a large children's hospital. I also was drawn to the camaraderie between the fellows and the attendings and am very excited to be joining this team. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with family and friends, exploring Chicago, reading, running (usually slowly), pilates and baking."

Needa Khan, MD

Residency Training: Penn State College of Medicine 
Post-Graduation: Staff psychiatrist at William-Osler HS Brampton Civic Hospital in Brampton Ontario, Canada

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"The decision to come to Lurie Children’s for my CAP training was not a difficult one to make. The friendly and welcoming atmosphere that was put forth by the faculty and fellows was where it all began. The academic drive and enthusiasm was evident throughout. I ventured this far to be able to attend a strong academic program and knew that this place would provide me with the utmost excellence in training. I wanted to be able to dedicate these next 2 years to becoming a very refined, well experienced clinician that can work with a wide array of diverse populations. I knew that this prestigious institution was going to fulfill that and beyond. I am thrilled to be starting this journey, and am confident that this experience will help me change lives for the better."

Tapan Parikh, MD, MPH

Residency Training: Cooper Medical School at Rowan University
Post-graduation: Assistant Professor at Lurie Children’s

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I found the faculty and fellows to be very friendly and helpful. I was very impressed with the availability of rich clinical exposure. The program also allows numerous electives, a list that is perfectly inclusive of all of my particular areas of interest within child and adolescent psychiatry. Lurie Children's being the best children's hospital in the region with national reputation and learning how supportive the environment is at both clinical and scholarly fronts, I was left with no doubt that I wanted to be here!"

Graduates - 2019

Timothy Balkaran, MD

Residency Training: University of Louisville
Post-Graduation: Outpatient Psychiatrist, BestSelf Behavioral Health, Buffalo, NY

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"What I wanted out of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry training was to learn from the best in a city with a rich and diverse culture. Lurie Children’s was the perfect match. It combined a state of the art facility with passionate staff, knowledgeable and approachable faculty, and numerous elective opportunities, all in the center of one of the most culturally diverse cities in America. So far, my experience has lived up to my lofty expectations. Wherever I go after training, I know I will be well prepared."

Elizabeth Kurian, DO

Residency Training: Drexel University 
Post-Graduation: Outpatient Group Practice

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"What attracted me to the fellowship program at Lurie Children's most was how friendly and approachable all of the attendings were, and how there was a strong focus on being a good clinician more than anything else. It is really remarkable to see how proud people are to work here; it really shines through in their work with children, their families, and each other. A superficial reason for being here is that the most of our training is in one (very nice) facility, allowing me to focus more of my time and energy on learning child psychiatry rather than on more mundane things such as traffic and directions to a bunch of different locations!"

EunJoo Lee, MD

Residency Training: University of Southern California 
Post-Graduation: Outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, Kaiser Permanente, Southern California

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I chose to do my CAP fellowship at Lurie Children’s because of its impressive reputation for quality for both patient care and trainee education. The program is unbelievably supportive and the educational opportunities are unmatched. Chicago is the largest metropolitan city in the area and we are fortunate to be able to see such a wide variety of cases. I am confident that training at Lurie Children's will prepare me to go into any field of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry with ease."

Shivani Sharma, MD, MPH

Residency Training: Rosalind Franklin University
Post-Graduation: Riveredge Hospital

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I am a Chicago native and I knew that I wanted to stay in this awesome city for my specialty training. Because of that, there was no question that Lurie Children's was the place to be. Not only does it have an amazing reputation in the Midwest and around the whole country, but it also offers a unique multidisciplinary approach and brings a huge array of pathologies and patient populations. So far my training experience has already exceeded my expectations; I have met amazing colleagues, educators, and faculty here and I continue to feel so fortunate to be a part of this program."

Graduates - 2018

Asra Ahmed, MD

Residency Training: Virginia Commonwealth University
Post-Graduation: Locum tenens

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"During residency, I was engaged in community-based research focused on primary prevention interventions to reduce substance abuse in child and adolescent populations. Lurie Children’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Department has a strong emphasis on academic learning and has given me the opportunity to teach and mentor other trainees."

Amandeep Jutla, MD

Residency Training: UCLA San Fernando Valley
Post-Graduation: Research Fellowship Whitaker Developmental Neuropsychiatry Scholar, Columbia University, New York

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I came to Lurie Children's in large part because I was impressed with the child psychiatry department's serious attitude towards training and the needs of trainees. Our lectures are protected and thoughtfully structured, our clinical experiences are calibrated to represent a diverse cross-section of patients, and our faculty are approachable and enthusiastic about teaching. Above all, there’s an atmosphere of scholarly collegiality that makes this a great place to work."

Joseph Kosmach, DO

Residency Training: Mayo Clinic
Post-Graduation: Clinical Director, Adolescent Partial Hospitalization Program, Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital, San Diego

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"What brought me to Lurie Children’s is that I knew I wanted my CAP training to occur at a strong academic institute and Lurie Children's is certainly that. This is the only stand-alone children’s hospital in the city. Being interested in consult-liaison and eventually collaborative care, it was important for me to see, learn and be around complicated medical cases, which you will only see at big academic stand-alone children hospitals.  Since being here, I have not been disappointed with the pathology and complexity of the cases, both medically and psychiatrically."

Janell Tabora, MD

Residency Training: University of Alabama
Post-Graduation: Locum tenens

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I chose Lurie Children’s because I was looking for a comprehensive program that provided a wealth of experiences as well as patient diversity.  Lurie Children's is well known for its amazing faculty and multidisciplinary collaborations with other mental health providers.  I wanted to work in a hospital environment that would excite and motivate me to be the best practitioner possible."

Graduates - 2017

Courtney Romba, MD

Residency Training: Rush University Medical Center  
Post-Graduation: Faculty at Northwestern University/Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I was drawn to Lurie Children’s fellowship program for its breadth of clinical experiences, strong dedication to fellow education and warm, collegial environment."

Meghan Schott, MD

Residency Training: Allegheny General Hospital 
Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor at the University of Colorado

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I was drawn to Lurie Children’s CAP program because it offered an extensive array of intensive services in child psychiatry. My career goals include working in an inpatient unit or in a child psychiatric ER and hence I wanted a program that would be able to provide me ample teaching in these areas. In addition, I wanted to live in a large city where I can still do all the things that I enjoy doing including soccer, good food, and community service."​

Juvaria Shahabuddin, MD

Residency Training: Loyola University 
Post-Graduation: Aurora Health Care in Kenosha, Wisconsin

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"I grew up in the Chicagoland area and wanted to stay close to home. I was impressed by the new Lurie Children’s and its facilities. I wanted to receive training with a diverse patient population with a multidisciplinary team. I felt welcomed by the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Department and have met some of the most compassionate individuals I have ever met along my career path. I have worked in a variety of settings and was able to have continuity with patients since all of these programs were located on the same floor within the hospital. It has been a wonderful experience!"

Rahul Sharma, MD

Residency Training: Creighton University
Post-Graduation: Dreyer Medical Group in Aurora, IL

Why did you choose to train at Lurie Children's?

"As a native of Chicago, I knew that one day I’d want to return to my hometown. Lurie Children’s offered a robust training experience where fellows have the opportunity to work with a highly diverse patient population. In addition to a strong academic culture and knowledgeable faculty, fellows are provided with the tools and resources to become successful Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists."

Graduates - 2016

Poonam Gill, MD
Residency Training: SUNY-Buffalo
Post-Graduation: ClinicalAssistant Professor, Stony Brook University Medical Center, Stony Brook, NY

John Lindo, MD
Residency Training: Western Michigan University School of Medicine / Michigan State University KUMS
Post-Graduation: Assistant Clinical Professor, UC Riverside School of Medicine, Moreno Valley, CA

Colleen McGuire, MD
Residency Training: Northwestern University
Post-Graduation: Compass Health Center, Chicago, IL

Sarosh Nizami, MD
Residency Training: University of Maryland, Sheppard-Pratt
Post-Graduation: Assistant Professor, UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX

Graduates - 2015

Sarah Florence, MD
Residency Training: Rush University Medical Center
Post-Graduation: Private Practice, Chicago, IL

Stacy Lynn Greeter, MD
Residency Training: Northwestern University
Post-Graduation: Trillium Family Services, Portland, OR

Heide Hullsiek Rollings, MD
Residency Training: University of Connecticut Health Center
Post-Graduation: Assistant Clinical Professor, Michigan State University, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services, Grand Rapids, MI; Training Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program

Sarah Diamond Steuerman, MD
Residency Training: University of Illinois at Chicago
Post-Graduation: The Bloomberg Institute, Northbrook, IL