2023 Highlights

Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is at the forefront of mental health research and care, continually achieving excellence in the field. From securing a top 50 ranking in NIH-funded psychiatry departments to addressing the critical need for youth mental health support in underserved areas, our team is making significant strides. With innovative initiatives, a rich history of leadership, and a strong commitment to improving mental health care, Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences Department is dedicated to creating a healthier future for all.

Jonathan E. Alpert, MD, PhD, Professor and University Chair, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 

Dorothy and Marty Silverman Chair, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, 

Professor, Psychiatry, Neuroscience and Pediatrics

Note from the Chair

Welcome to our 2023 Highlights. I could not be more proud of the faculty, staff and trainees of our department who have risen to this year’s challenges with an unrelenting and inspiring commitment to patient care, teaching and research informed and propelled by their far-ranging knowledge and skills, creative drive and values of social justice.

DATA & STATISTICS

2023 by the numbers

600,000+

ambulatory visits

20,000+

unique patients

800+

inpatient discharges

14,000

CL and ED visits

50 Years of Leadership at the Chief Residents Leadership Conference in Psychiatry

In June 2023, the Chief Residents Leadership Conference (CRLC), also known as the 'Tarrytown Conference,' marked its 50th anniversary. It was originally founded by Emeritus Chair, Dr. T. Byram Karasu, and today, Dr. Bruce Schwartz serves as the Deputy Chair. Over the years, the CRLC has offered distinctive leadership training to thousands of chief residents, who have gone on to make significant contributions to the field of American psychiatry.

Arts and Integrative Medicine and Hear Your Song Collaborate for Bronx and Broadway Voices Concert

Montefiore Einstein’s Arts and Integrative Medicine (AIM) program in partnership with Hear Your Song (HYS), produced and hosted a concert at Cherkasky Auditorium on May 3rd, 2023. This event showcased fourteen original songs created in collaboration between Bronx youth and HYS's talented composers and musicians.

Research Review

Improving care and outcomes through research

In 2023, our department made robust contributions in research spanning a variety of topics. Members of our team published on the advancement of understanding health disparities, psychiatric conditions across the life span and translational insights about psychiatric disorders, among others.

Explore our latest

research.

Team News

New roles and additions to our department

Salimah Velji, MPH, MBA

Unified Executive Administrator, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Rubiahna L. Vaughn, MD, MPH

Director, Consultation-Liaison and Emergency Psychiatry
Program Director, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship
Founding Director, Division of Women’s Mental Health
Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Joseph Kim, MD

Attending, Moses Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service
Associate Program Director, Adult Psychiatry Residency
Attending, Department of Medicine Hospitalist Service

Samira Rabbanifar, MD

Associate Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Attending, Moses Child Outpatient Psychiatry Division

Alison Welch, MD

Medical Director, Wakefield Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Division

David Klahr, MD

Director, Inpatient Psychiatry, Moses Campus

Maria C. Alba, PsyD

Attending, Moses Child Outpatient Division
Eating Disorders Program at Montefiore
Adolescent Dialectical Behavior Therapy Program

María Fernanda Gómez, MD

Medical Director, Moses Adult Psychiatry Outpatient Division
Associate Program Director, Adult Psychiatry Residency

Jacob Hartman, MD

Associate Medical Director, Moses Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Division

Rachel Noone, MD

Associate Clinical Director of Psychiatry and Director of Emergency Psychiatry, Wakefield Campus

Shilpa Lad, MD

Associate Director, Moses Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service
Director, Medical Student Education in Psychiatry Moses Campus

Meghana R. Medavaram, MD

Associate Director of Psychiatry, Weiler Campus

Julia Vileisis, MD

Attending, Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates and Division of Women’s Mental Health

Veena Muthusamy, MD

Attending, Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates

Elisabeth Hill, MD

Attending, Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates

Michael Tau, MD

Attending Neuropsychiatrist, Comprehensive Brain Health Center
Attending, Epilepsy Service, Department of Neurology

Yash Bhambhani, PhD

Manager of Clinical Services, Substance Abuse Treatment Program

Maria Rozon, PhD

Attending, Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates

Mary Blinder, MD

Attending, Montefiore Behavioral Health Center

Angela Lee, MD

Attending, Inpatient Psychiatry Moses Campus (Klaus 2)

Anne Limowski, PhD

Attending, Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates
Director, CBT Training, Adult Psychiatry Residency Program

Zoe Luscher, MD

Attending, Montefiore Behavioral Health Center (MBHC)
Attending, Einstein Student Mental Health Center (ESMHC)

Paroma Mitra, MD

Attending, Wakefield Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Division (AOPD)
Attending, Moses Psychiatry Observation Suite (POS)

Asif Rahman, MD

Attending, Montefiore Behavioral Health Center (MBHC)

Bryan Kutner, PhD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Psychiatry Research Institute at Montefiore Einstein (PRIME)

Kashmira Rustomji, MD, MPH

Medical Director, Wakefield Child Outpatient Psychiatry Division

Kate Cingel, PhD

Attending, Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates

Fabianne Blake, PsyD

Attending, Wakefield Adult and Child Outpatient Psychiatry Divisions

Dalal Badreddine, PhD

Program Director, OnTrackNYC at Montefiore

Jessica Bayner, MD

Attending and Forensic Director, Inpatient Psychiatry Moses Campus (Klau 2)

Maria Nahmias, MD

Attending, Wakefield Adult Outpatient Psychiatry Division

Ian Rugg, PsyD

Attending, Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates

Theresa Kelly, LCSW

Administrative Director of Inpatient and Consult Psychiatry Services, Wakefield Division

Raura Doreste, PhD

Attending, Einstein Student Mental Health Center

Daniel Helman, MD

Attending, Moses Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service

Olivia Derella, PhD

Attending, Wakefield Child Outpatient Psychiatry Division

Christopher Damiani, DO

Attending, Inpatient Psychiatry Wakefield campus (7 South)

Regina Musicaro, PhD

Attending Psychologist
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences

Lynda Guagenti

Assistant Director of Operations and Training

Recent additions to the care we provide

In 2023, our department expanded its impact for Westchester and the Hudson Valley and created new programs to serve our communities.

Find out more

Patient referrals

At Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, we know that providing patients with the best possible care includes teamwork and trust. We work closely with our valued referring physicians to ensure open communication and reliable expertise.

Contact us

Tina Bonanno
Executive Assistant, Chair’s Office

1-718-430-2290 
tbonanno@montefiore.org

Jonathan E. Alpert, MD, PhD
Chair, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
jalpert@montefiore.org

Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Montefiore Einstein Psychiatry Associates