Meet the Team

We are the faculty group practice of psychiatrists, psychologists, and social workers in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences of Montefiore Medical Center and Albert Einstein College of Medicine. We are the only health system in NYC recognized for distinction in integrated behavioral health by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

Our leadership

Jonathan Alpert, MD, PhD

Chairman

Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science
Professor

Psychiatry

Neuroscience

Pediatrics

Psychopharmacology

Depression

Anxiety

OCD

Bipolar Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Simon Rego, PsyD

Chief of Psychology

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Anxiety

OCD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Depression

Insomnia

Matthew Schneider, MD

Vice Chair for Clinical Services

Depression

Anxiety

OCD

Psychopharmacology

Salimah Velji, MBA, MPH

Unified Executive Administrator

Sabrina Mueller, LCSW

Senior Director of Clinical Operations

Anthony Rocchio,

Senior Director of Business Development & Finance

Yael Belinkie, PhD

Senior Director, Substance Abuse Treatment Program (SATP) and Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates (MEPA) Faculty Practice Operations

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Substance Use

Depression

Personality Disorders

Our team members

Jonathan Alpert, MD, PhD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Psychopharmacology

Depression

Anxiety

OCD

Bipolar Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Gifty Ampadu, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Anxiety

Depression

Adolescents

Emerging Adults

Acculturative Stress

Dalal (Dala) Badreddine, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Relational

Acculturative & Minority Stress

Emerging Adults

Depression

Identity Exploration

Yael Belinkie, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Substance Use

Depression

Personality Disorders

Carol Bernstein, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Depression

Anxiety

Yash Bhambhani, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Mindfulness

Racial Stress/Trauma

LGBTQIA+

Minority Stress

Queer

Michelle Blackmore, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy/Mindfulness

Anxiety

Depression

Insomnia

Aaron Breslow, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

LGBTQ

Transgender

Sexual Orientation

Gender Identity

Minority Stress

Psychodynamic

Melissa Cintron-Arroyo, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker

Expertise

Emerging Adulthood

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Mood/Anxiety

LGBTQIA+

Women’s Health

Parenting

Gladys Crespo-Ramos, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Adults

Spanish/English

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Depression

Anxiety

Austin Eklund, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

LGBTQ

Anxiety

Depression

Trauma

Attachment

Psychodynamic

Jenise English, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Supportive Therapy

Motivational Interviewing

Couples Therapy

Anxiety

Depression

Bipolar

Nicole Feirsen, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Neuropsychology

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Depression

Anxiety

Martin Florimon, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Child/Adolescent

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Anxiety

Depression

Spanish Speaking

Howard Forman, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Anxiety

Depression

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Psychotherapy

Psychopharmacology

Melanie Fox, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Eating Disorder

Anxiety

Youth & Emerging Adult

Relationships

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Wendy Fuller, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Adults

Anxiety

Depression

Couples

Women

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Laurie Gallo, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Anxiety

Trauma

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Mindfulness

Stamatoula Georgiou, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Anxiety

Depression

Trauma

Psychodynamic Therapy

Miguelina German, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Child/Adolescent/Young Adult

Attachment Therapy

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Depression

Anxiety

Trauma

Spanish Speaking

Allison Glasgow, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Trauma

Depression

Anxiety

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Benjamin Glueck, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Parent-Child Interacceptance and Commitment Therapy

Parent Management Training

Anxiety

Depression

Merrill Herman, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Addiction

Psychotherapy

Teresa Hsu-Walklet, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Acculturative Stress

Anxiety Disorders

Adjustment

Child/Adolescent/Young Adult

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Anita Jose, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Depression

Anxiety

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Couples

Nelly Katsnelson, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Cultural Psychodynamics

Individual/Group Psychotherapy

Mind-Body Psychopharmacology

Sarah Kay, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Depression

Anxiety

Trauma

Psychodynamic Therapy

Gary Kennedy, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Dementia

Geriatric Depression

Old Age Adjustment

Rebecca Klein, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Child/Adolescent/Young Adult

LGBTQ+

Mood Disorders

Panic Disorder

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Amy Kranzler, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Anxiety

OCD

Emerging Adults

Women’s Health

Insomnia

Burn Out

Shilpa Lad, MS, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Depression

Anxiety

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Psychodynamic Therapy

Supportive Therapy

Psycho-oncology

Pauline Levy, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Spanish Speaking

Relationships

Depression

Trauma

Grief

Cultural/Identity Stress

Anne Limowski, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Exposure and Response Prevention

OCD

Anxiety Disorders

Insomnia

Trauma/Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Natalia Markova, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Adult Psychiatry

Geriatric Psychiatry

Juan Martinez, LCSW

Clinical Social Worker

Expertise

Spanish Speaking

Depression

Anxiety

Substance Use

Psychodynamic

Couples

Fredrick Matzner, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Child

Adolescent and Adult Psychopharmacology

Traci Maynigo, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Couples

Marital

Family

Multicultural

Emotionally Focused

Katrina Mccoy, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Anxiety

Depression

Mindfulness

Jenny Merkin, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Integrative

Relationship Issues

Person-Centered

Trauma

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Barbara Milrod, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Panic Disorder

Agoraphobia

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Anxiety Disorders

Child Anxiety

Paroma Mitra, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Geriatrics

Neurocognitive Disorders

Depression

Anxiety

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for older adults

Hindi and Bengali speaking

Moshe Moeller, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Couples

Parenting

Fatherhood

Emotion Focused Therapy

Trauma

Psychodynamic

Shahab Motamedinia, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Depression

Anxiety

Panic

Relationships

Psychodynamic

Eric Nelson, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Depression

Anxiety

Bipolar Disorder

Veterans

Individual/Group Psychotherapy

Medication

Bao-Tran Nguyen, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Mindfulness

Multicultural

Vietnamese Speaking

Ana Ozdoba, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Spanish Speaking

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Psychopharmacology

Sarika Persaud, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

LGBTQ+ Patients

Immigrant Populations

Racial Identity Issues

Trauma

Sexuality

Adults & Adolescents

Sandra Pimentel, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Youth & Emerging Adult

Anxiety

Depression

OCD

Liza Pincus, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Trauma/Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Anxiety

OCD

Insomnia

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy

Melissa Platt , PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Trauma

Neurodivergence

Mindfulness

Relationships

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Renata Podolec , MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

General Adult Psychiatry

Maryann Popiel, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Melissa Ramrattan, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Depression

Anxiety

Trauma

Child/Adolescent/Young Adult

Simon Rego, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Anxiety

OCD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Depression

Insomnia

Usman Riaz, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Mental Health Disorders

Psychiatric Disorders

Addiction Disorders

Substance Abuse

Sleep Disorders

Insomnia

Hypersomnia

Sleep Apnea

Rachel Ross, MD, PhD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Neuroscience

Neuroendocrine

Anxiety

Trauma

Eating Disorder

Obesity

Maria Rozon, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Child/Adolescent

Anxiety and Related Disorders

OCD

Tics

Parent Training

Ian Rugg, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

Anger

Boys, Men and Masculinity

Anxiety

Depression and Mood Disorders

Informed Dialectical Behavior Therapy

Kashmira Rustomji, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Anxiety

Depression

Trauma/Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

LGBTQ

Adolescents

Alessandra Scalmati, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Geriatrics

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Mood Disorder

Neurocognitive Disorder

Elyssa Scharaga, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Neuropsychology

Adjustment to Medical Conditions

Caregiver Burden

Cognitive Remediation (15 years old +)

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Matthew Schneider, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Depression

Anxiety

OCD

Psychopharmacology

Bruce Schwartz, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Bipolar Disorder

Depression

Anxiety

OCD

Jenny Seham, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Anxiety

Trauma

Depression

Family

Relationships

Addiction

Scott Shaffer, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Child/Adolescent/Young Adult

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Anxiety

LGBTQ+

Mahrokh Shayanpour, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Addiction

Mood Disorders

Autism Spectrum Disorder

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Addiction Disorders

Jessica Silver, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Depression

Anxiety

Relationship Issues

Trauma

Brett Simpson, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Chronic Pain

Depression

Anxiety

Adjustment

Health Psychology

Family Therapy

Lucas Sjulson, MD, PhD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Deep Brain Stimulation

OCD

Depression

Anxiety

Chantal (Remi) Sowemimo-Coker, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Acculturative/Minority Stress and Trauma

Sexual Orientation and Gender Affirming Care

Systemic Oppression; Working in PWI

HAES; Body Positivity

Kink and Poly Affirming

Medical Industrial Complex/Medical Trauma

Sharon Spitzer (Sverd), PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Relational

Depression

Trauma

Couples

Individuals

Crisis Management

Michael Tau, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Mood Disorders

Anxiety Disorders

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

OCD

Psychotherapy

Psychopharmacology

Lisa Teh, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Depression

Anxiety

Trauma

CBT for Insomnia

Angelica Tsakas, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Children, Adolescents, & Young Adults

Integrative Psychotherapy

Mood Disorders

Trauma

Relationships

Identity Exploration

Brittany Velardi, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Executive functioning

Crisis

Mindfulness

Adjustment

Relationships

Julia Vileisis, MD

Psychiatrist

Expertise

Perinatal Psychiatry

Gender Identity

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Mood Disorders

Postpartum Psychosis

Emerging Adulthood

Lauren Yadlosky, PhD

Psychologist

Expertise

Child/Adolescent

Emotion Dysregulation

Disordered Eating

Family Conflict

Amanda Zayde, PsyD

Psychologist

Expertise

Emerging Adulthood

Parenting

Relationships

Attachment

Anxiety

Trauma

Healthy minds
for healthy lives.

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