Our Residents 

Chief Residents

Skylar Luu, MD

Hi! My name is Skylar, and I’m a PGY-3 psychiatry resident at Rutgers NJMS. I studied Behavioral Neuroscience at Johns Hopkins University, where I became fascinated by how early experiences shape brain development. One of my favorite courses was developmental psychology, which introduced me to theories of how early life influences future outcomes. I was especially drawn to connecting these frameworks with the underlying neural circuitry. Shadowing a child and adolescent psychiatrist showed me how powerful it is to combine developmental history with patient narratives, which drew me toward psychiatry. I also spent several years researching dopaminergic circuitry and Fragile X clinical trials, which deepened my appreciation for bridging neuroscience and patient care. At Albany Medical College, I carried these interests into clinical training, where I was struck by how patients’ interpretations of life events shape treatment.

At NJMS, I value the exposure to a diverse, high-acuity patient population and the program’s protected didactics, which provide space to connect theory with practice. Most of all, I appreciate all my co-residents—we support one another and make time to connect outside of work.

Outside of residency, I enjoy Orange Theory classes, playing tennis, taking long walks, and winding down with a good TV show.

Alexis Wirtz, DO

Hi! My name is Alexis, and I am a PGY-4 resident at Rutgers NJMS. I grew up in a small town in Michigan bordering Canada. I attended Michigan State University where I studied Cognitive and Computational Neuroscience and worked in a neuro-psychiatric research lab - this is where my love for the brain began. I went on to attend Oklahoma State University for medical school before moving to the Northeast to join the Rutgers Psychiatry family! I’m passionate about so many aspects of psychiatry, including interventional psychiatry, psychiatric research, general psychiatry, and decreasing the stigma surrounding mental health care.

Outside of medicine, I love spending time with my family, friends, and my fur baby. I love trying new restaurants, reading, playing racket sports, skiing, and spending time by the water.

PGY-4

Elizabeth Chern, MD

Hello! I’m Liz and I’m a current PGY-4 at Rutgers-NJMS. I was born and raised in New Jersey and it’s been Rutgers all the way for me! I’ve had an interest in psychology and the human mind since college, where I worked in a lab focused on resiliency and child development. I love working with children and families in medical and non-medical settings and I teach Sunday school at my local church. Outside of residency, I love rock climbing, scuba diving, yoga, reading, cooking and baking, traveling, and drinking good coffee. You can usually find me in a coffee shop! If you ask, I might just share my local recommendations.

Yu “Tina” Kong, MD

Hi! My name is Yu or "Tina", and I'm a PGY-4 resident. I was born in China, grew up in a small town in Massachusetts, moved to NY to attend New York University, and settled down here at Rutgers NJMS for medical school and residency. From childhood, I've been fond of the art of story-telling and how you can find aspects of it in just about every discipline. For me, I found that I was passionate about the narrative aspect of science, where the objective scrutiny of the body meets all the subjective things that shape a person's life. In medicine, I found the field of psychiatry to best embody that. At this point in my life, I am interested in emergency psychiatry, inpatient psychiatry, and consult liaison. However, I am excited to explore more niches in my field throughout the rest of my training!

Outside of medicine, I enjoy journaling and have a hefty—some might say, "excessive"—stationery collection of pens, stickers, and cute sticky notes. I'm also an avid reader with a soft spot for young adult fiction, and my favorite genre is fantasy. Aside from those main hobbies, I also enjoy eating good food, watching movies and anime, playing video games, and spending time with friends and family.

Shweta Chawla, MD

Hi! My name is Shweta Chawla, and I’m a PGY-4 resident at Rutgers-NJMS. I grew up in Ocean Springs, MS and went to University of Alabama at Birmingham for college. I then moved back to Mississippi for medical school at the University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson. I chose psychiatry because I love listening to people’s stories and learning about the way intrinsic and extrinsic factors can impact thoughts and behaviors. I deeply value learning from the perspectives of others, and I’m looking forward to these next few years of training. My interests within psychiatry include women’s mental health and psychotherapy, specifically CBT.

In my free time I like to go on walks with my dog Layla, watch stand-up comedy (my favorite comedian is Jenny Slate), go to concerts, and explore new dessert spots in NYC.

Jaewoo Shin, MD

Hey, I’m Jae, a PGY-4 resident at Rutgers-NJMS. I’m from New York City- I grew up in Queens, went to high school in the Bronx, moved to Manhattan to study biochemistry at NYU, and then finished medical school in Brooklyn at SUNY Downstate. Going into medical school, I thought I’d be using my biochemistry background for anesthesiology, but I did a full 180 when I discovered the field of psychiatry as an MS3 and haven’t looked back since. I enjoy talking to people much more than putting them to sleep as I learn about our richly interconnected lives and dive into deeply personal topics. In my spare time, I enjoy watching movies, anime, cooking, playing baseball, tennis, and fishing. 

Leia Chemmacheril, MD

Hello! My name is Leia Chemmacheril and I am a PGY-4 at Rutgers NJMS! My fun fact for ice breakers is that I was born in Wisconsin, but my family moved to Jersey before I turned one. I have been a Jersey girl since. I went to NJIT for undergrad, then NJMS for medical school, and now staying at good ole’ NJMS (maybe I should call myself a Newark girl now!) I have two younger brothers that love to annoy me but are super fun to be around.

During my fourth year of medical school, I did a lot of traveling. I went to India, Nashville, Florida, London, and Paris! However, my dream vacation is the Coast of Amalfi. I love reading psychological and legal thrillers. My favorite book is The Storyteller by Jodi Picoult. I hope to learn a lot at this program and am excited to work in psychiatry!

PGY-3

Mannet Dhaliwal, MD

Hey! My name is Mannet and I am a PGY-3 resident at Rutgers NJMS. I was born and raised in South Brunswick, NJ and went to Rutgers New Brunswick for undergrad. I majored in Cultural Anthropology and learned a lot about topics relating to social justice and indigenous cultures. My interest in healthcare arose within this sphere of social justice for disenfranchised populations, and I went to medical school at University of Virginia, training at Inova Hospital in Northern Virginia near DC. During my clinical rotations, I felt that psychiatry epitomized what I wanted out of a career, caring for the most vulnerable people whose illness is stigmatized in society. In addition to personal experiences of understanding the lack of mental health care within the South Asian community, I related much of my clinical training to the systemic oppression of people of color in this country, especially Black and Latinx populations. I felt that Newark uniquely serves a diverse population, and wanted to work somewhere that did not discriminate based on income.

In terms of normal person things, I love baking (ask me to make you cake pops or pumpkin pie in particular), and eating at restaurants around me. I love the access to NYC from this area, and go there whenever I can. I also have an orange cat named Zuko who is so cute but also thinks he’s an apex predator. I’ll also lie and say I love to exercise!

Taylor Anthony, MD

Hi! My name is Taylor, and I’m a PGY-3 Psychiatry Resident at Rutgers NJMS. I was born in NYC and have been back and forth between NY and NJ all my life. Proudly a nontraditional student, I started at NYU initially and eventually went back to school at Rutgers New Brunswick for pre-med/psychology to finish out my undergrad degree. I decided I wanted to pursue medicine at the age of 23 after realizing how pivotal good, compassionate doctors were in the care of family members’ chronic illnesses/disabilities. I went to NJMS for medical school, and I am thrilled to be staying on as a psych resident at my home program!

I am passionate about psychiatry because it beautifully incorporates all facets of human nature. Society all too often perpetuates the belief that mind and body operate on two separate planes. True humanism in medicine must coalesce these two areas in order to achieve the most holistic treatment plan possible for each patient. I believe that emotional health is so important to our attainment of our full and optimal humanity. I am also passionate about fighting against the stigma surrounding discussion of mental health issues, which has existed for far too long.

In my ~currently sparse~ free time, I love to spend time with my friends and family. Shoutout to my fiancé Zach, my mom, my brother Luke, and my grandma, as I would not be where I am today without their love and support. I am proudly a “crazy cat lady” and love being a mom to our two recently adopted kittens, Sebastian and Margaux, as well as my older (but just as incredible) orange rescue cat, Leslie. I love to read pretty much every genre and collect books, both old and new, to keep building my library. I also write poetry - metaphors are a very important tool to me, both in my writing and in psychiatry/medicine. I love to sing and have recently been working on making music with my fiancé, who is a drummer. I am also a huge true crime fan and love learning details about cases and offenders, as I find psychopathology and the biopsychosocial roots of human behavior to be utterly fascinating.

I’m so excited to start the journey of residency and to learn from both my colleagues and my patients at NJMS Psych!

Phillip Bempong, MD

Hello! My name is Phil and I’m a PGY-3 resident here at Rutgers-NJMS. I was born and raised in North NJ, but I’ve been to a few different places for my education. I completed my undergraduate at Boston College, earned my medical degree from Meharry Medical College in Nashville, and decided to return to New Jersey for residency. My passion for psychiatry stems from my desire to understand the complexities of the human mind, help individuals navigate their mental health challenges, and decrease stigma regarding mental health. I love talking to patients and every patient’s unique story fuels my dedication to advancing treatments and promoting mental health care. My interests in psychiatry include child & adolescent and consult-liaison, but I’m excited to see and experience a lot during residency.

Outside of medicine, I like to stay busy with various hobbies like weightlifting, reading, playing board games, cycling, basketball, volleyball, video games, and trying new restaurants.

Sajni Vora, MD

Hi! I’m Sajni, a PGY-3 at Rutgers-NJMS. I grew up in Bergen County and attended UCLA for undergrad. I found my way back home to attend Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, where I attained my MD/MBA, and am fortunate to remain close to home for residency as well. I chose psychiatry because I love hearing each patient’s story and the delicate interplay between the body and the mind. I have many interests within the field, including reproductive psychiatry, consult-liaison, and psychotherapy.  In my free time, I enjoy running, group fitness classes, pottery, going to the beach, watching reality tv, and spending time with my loved ones.

Rijul Asri, MD

My name is Rijul Asri, and I am a PGY-3 psychiatry resident here at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. I was born and raised in Central New Jersey as the only child of two Indian immigrant parents. I attended New York University for college, where I studied Chemistry, Neural Science, and French, and then came back to New Jersey to attend Rutgers NJMS. After graduating, I completed a medical educational fellowship through the Rutgers NJMS Office of Education before starting residency here at NJMS.

I am particularly interested in how psychopathology interfaces with questions of personality and identity, especially for patients who have been traditionally marginalized by societal and legal systems. For me, this manifests in a passion for forensic psychiatry, psychiatric ethics, addiction psychiatry, and LGBTQ+ psychiatry. I am also interested in using medical education, healthcare policy, and psychopharmacology as important tools to affect meaningful change in our mental healthcare system for these vulnerable populations.

In my free time, I enjoy reading (recent favorite novel: Circe by Madeline Miller), traveling, and pottery. I also love mixology – putting that chemistry degree to good use – and love trying new foods and drinks with my friends!

Kathy Chen, DO

Hello! My name is Kathy, and I am a PGY-3 resident at Rutgers NJMS. Fun fact, I was actually born in Arkansas but moved to Central Jersey with my family when I was 6 and never managed to leave. I graduated from Monmouth University with a bachelor's in chemistry with a concentration in biochemistry. I went straight to Rowan-Virtua SOM in South Jersey for medical school and moved to Jersey City for my rotations, which is where I realized how much I loved psychiatry. Currently, I'm still not sure what field of psychiatry I'd like to pursue in the future, but I have some interest in child-adolescent and forensic at the moment. In my free time, I like hanging out with my two cats at home, taking care of my houseplants, rock climbing, and baking.

Shankar Tumati, MBBS

Hi! I am psychiatry resident at NJMS Department of Psychiatry. I am driven by a sense of discovery and exploration, which has led me from my hometown of Mumbai where I completed my medical studies to the Netherlands first, where I completed PhD studies on neuropsychiatric symptoms of dementia, and then to the UK and Canada where I did postdoctoral studies, before finally landing at Rutgers NJMS for residency to complete my journey. In my free time, you might find me on a hiking trail or on the water in a kayak or sailboat or at home curled up with a book!

PGY-2

Hooria Sarwar, MBBS

Hello, I’m Hooria, and I am a PGY-2 psychiatry resident at Rutgers NJMS. I grew up in Lahore, Pakistan, and completed my medical education at Fatima Jinnah Medical College. My interest in psychiatry grew from witnessing how stigma and cultural barriers often prevent people from receiving care, which inspired me to help vulnerable individuals access the support they deserve. I value psychiatry for the way it combines empathy, advocacy, and clinical expertise to make a meaningful difference in the lives of patients who might otherwise go unheard. Outside of medicine, I enjoy traveling, reading, and learning about history and cultures.

Leanne Thomas, MD

My name is Leanne, and I’m from Houston, Texas. I earned my medical degree from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine. My passion for working with children and adolescents began during my undergraduate years, when I served as a mentor in K–12 schools. Building relationships with students and supporting them through critical stages of development was very meaningful and helped shape my future career goals.

As I progressed through medical school, I discovered my love for psychiatry, a specialty that allowed me to connect deeply and collaborate with my patients. During my days as a visiting student at Rutgers, I was especially impressed by the breadth and depth of clinical experiences and the supportive resident culture. Outside of medicine, I enjoy weightlifting, hiking, thrifting, reading, and cooking.

Spencer Moore, MD

Hi, my name is Spencer, and I am a PGY-2 resident in the Rutgers NJMS Psychiatry program. I was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and raised in the Chicago area. I completed my undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, earning degrees in Psychology and the History of Medicine & Health, where I assisted with research examining the impact of peri- and postpartum cortisol levels on rates of postpartum blues and depression. I then completed Columbia University’s Postbaccalaureate Premedical Program and subsequently matriculated at NJMS for medical school, graduating with the Class of 2025.

I have always been deeply interested in understanding how everyday experiences shape thought processes and behavior, and psychiatry felt like the ideal field to combine intellectual curiosity with meaningful patient care. Training at NJMS has allowed me to grow not only as a clinician, but also as an educator, advocate, and individual. I have a particular interest in medical education for students and residents and strongly believe in patient advocacy and treating the whole person—values that are central to both psychiatry and this program. I cannot recommend NJMS highly enough to prospective applicants.

Outside of residency, I enjoy exploring the greater NYC area, cooking new recipes, staying active, spending time with friends and family, and gaming.

Sharon Liu, MD

My name is Sharon Liu and I am a PGY-2 psychiatry resident at NJMS! I was born in Kansas but quickly moved to NJ and grew up my whole life in the area. I’ve been a Rutgers lifer: going to Rutgers New Brunswick for undergrad, Rutgers NJMS for medical school, and now doing my residency at Rutgers NJMS. I’ve always had a passion for listening and teaching, so psychiatry was the perfect blend of medicine and holistic patient care. My particular interests include emergency psychiatry and advocating against mental health stigma in the Asian American community.  In my free time I enjoy reading, running, swimming, going to the gym, and trying out every café in the area!

Christian Caravaglia, MD

I graduated from SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn before coming to New Jersey Medical School. I have extensive experience with artificial intelligence in healthcare, as well as a background in the pharmaceutical industry. I am passionate about teaching the next generation of physicians. I was also a member of the boxing team at UConn, my alma mater, and I love to DJ in my free time!

Elizabeth Bebawy, DO

Hello! My name is Elizabeth, and I’m a PGY-2 psychiatry resident at Rutgers NJMS. I grew up in North Jersey and completed my undergraduate studies at Seton Hall University, where I majored in philosophy and minored in psychology and chemistry. I then earned my medical degree from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine in South Jersey and graduated in 2025.

I was drawn to psychiatry because it blends the science of medicine with the complexity of the human experience. Studying philosophy before medical school shaped how I think about suffering and healing, and it taught me to see patients as whole individuals with unique values and stories. I view psychiatry as the specialty where science, philosophy, and human connection all come together in patient care.

In my free time, I enjoy exploring new places and cultures (especially through food), group fitness classes, watching reality television, and spending time with my family and friends.

Natasha Pujols, DO

Hi! My name is Natasha (or tash) and I'm a PGY-2 psychiatry resident at Rutgers NJMS. I grew up in Warwick, NY and attended the University of Delaware for undergrad. I made my way to Mississippi in 2021 where I studied medicine at William Carey University of Osteopathic Medicine. I did an away rotation in the Crisis ED at UH and loved my introduction to the program. I am excited to continue to learn more about my interests in psychiatry such as Child-Adolescent Psychiatry/ Forensic Psychiatry and learn more from my peers and mentors. 

During my free time I enjoy spending time with my friends around Hoboken/NYC. Some of my favorite things to do as well are hiking, swimming, traveling, dancing and trying new restaurants. 

Julie Sumski, MD

PGY-1

Anna Abrimian, DO

Hi! My name is Anna. I am a PGY-1 Psychiatry resident at NJMS. I was born and raised in Northern NJ and went to The College of New Jersey for my undergraduate studies where I majored in psychology and chemistry. I fell in love with understanding the neurological underpinnings of behavior, so I spent two years in between undergraduate and medical school participating in neuroscience research on opioid addiction at NJMS. I went to Rowan-Virtua SOM and graduated in 2026, where I continued my research endeavors and fell in love with psychiatry.

I chose to pursue this field for a few reasons. I have always been interested in studying behavior both in the lab and in class. I felt pulled to this field as I went through my rotations because I wanted to care for the most vulnerable people whose illness is largely stigmatized by society. I also noted throughout my life that speaking about mental health was taboo both in my community and in general, and I want to help break down those barriers one conversation at a time. These reasons have fueled my passion for psychiatry and embracing the humanistic side of medicine. Advocating for patients, reducing suffering, and making a meaningful impact on their quality of life is everything to me. I am still exploring everything psychiatry has to offer, however I am interested in interventional psychiatry and neuropsychiatry.

I love hanging out with my husband, family, and cats Hamov and Mar Mar in my spare time. I also love exploring new restaurants and using any and all of my free time traveling. The one country I want to go back to this year is Armenia, but I also have my sights set on the Netherlands, Greece, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Ann Marie Asamoa, MD

Hi! My name is Ann Marie, and I’m a PGY-1 Psychiatry resident at Rutgers NJMS. I grew up in Pennsylvania and attended Duke University for my bachelor’s degree in Psychology. At Duke, I contributed to research on infant language development as well as identity and bias in children and adults. I went on to earn my medical degree from Rutgers NJMS, where I have enjoyed working with diverse and underserved patient populations.

I love psychiatry because it combines medicine with the humanities, allowing me to care for patients through both perspectives. My professional interests include child and adolescent psychiatry, psychotherapy, trauma-informed care, and reducing mental health stigma.

In my free time, I enjoy reading (especially fantasy), visiting art galleries, attending concerts, playing board games, and exploring NYC with friends.

Gayatri Bajaj, DO

Hi! My name is Gayatri, and I am a PGY-1 at Rutgers NJMS! I am a born and raised Jersey girl who doesn’t know how to pump her own gas! I studied Human Physiology at Boston University and received my medical degree from TouroCOM- Harlem.

I chose to pursue psychiatry as I felt it best put into practice what I hoped to get out of being a doctor, namely empowering my patients and advocating for them. My interests in the field include reproductive psychiatry but I’m excited and open to see all that residency has to offer!

In my spare time I enjoy running, baking, reading, and bothering my cat, Boo!

Vineet Bhandari, MD

Hello I’m Vineet and I’m a PGY-1 psychiatry resident at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. I grew up on the Jersey Shore, and attended the University of Southern California for undergrad, and Rutgers NJMS for medical school before continuing with my residency at NJMS.

My passion for psychiatry stems from my belief that optimized mental health is the foundation for everything else that makes life meaningful. I love talking to people and hearing their stories, learning about what drives them and what experiences have made them who they are. I look forward to building meaningful relationships with members of our community throughout residency and to helping patients improve their quality of life by understanding and addressing their unique lived experiences.

My professional interests include general adult psychiatry, medical education and teaching, interventional psychiatry and neuromodulation, and addiction psychiatry, though I enjoy all aspects of psychiatry—from the pathologies and colleagues to the patients who make our field so rewarding. Outside of medicine, I enjoy watching and reviewing movies, traveling, exploring new music, watching and playing basketball and golf, and chatting about all sports, everything from F1 to NFL football.

Talia Durante, DO

Hi! My name is Talia Durante, and I am a PGY-1 at Rutgers NJMS. I was born and raised in Mahwah New Jersey, did my undergrad at Drew University in Madison New Jersey, and went to medical school at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine in Stratford New Jersey. I love my state, and I am so happy to be starting the next chapter of my life here as well! I majored in psychology in college with the intention of becoming a therapist, but my goals changed along the way when I began taking premed courses.

Within the field, my specific area of interest is women’s health. My goal is to have a women’s health-based practice that caters to pregnant individuals in need of psychiatric care, mental health concerns related to menopause, postpartum depression and anxiety, PMDD, and disorders that often go undiagnosed in women such as ADHD and Autism.

Outside of healthcare, I have some eclectic hobbies! I am an avid knitter (ask me about my NJMS psychiatry sweater) and enjoy creative writing. This often takes the form of Dungeons and Dragons, but that’s neither here nor there. I also love playing video games, current favorites being Baldur’s Gate 3, Stardew Valley, Hollow Knight, and Hollow Knight Silksong.

Shane Meledathu, MD

Hi! My name is Shane Meledathu, and I’m a PGY-1 Psychiatry resident at Rutgers NJMS. I was born and raised in New Jersey and completed my undergraduate degree in Public Health at Rutgers–New Brunswick before attending Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, where I discovered my passion for psychiatry. I was drawn to the field because of its unique blend of medicine and psychotherapy, as well as the opportunity to build meaningful, long-term relationships with my patients.

I'm especially interested in child and adolescent psychiatry and psychotherapy, and I enjoy learning how early life experiences and development shape mental health across the lifespan. I'm excited to continue exploring these interests throughout residency while caring for a diverse patient population and learning from incredible mentors and co-residents.

Outside of the hospital, you'll usually find me baking, searching for my next favorite café, reading, traveling, listening to K-pop, watching anime, or dancing. I'm always happy to trade café recommendations, book suggestions, or the latest K-pop playlist!

Zoya Munsar, MD

Hi! I'm Zoya, I’m a PGY-1 psychiatry resident at Rutgers NJMS. I grew up in Central Jersey, attended Emory University for my bachelor's degree in Neuroscience and Behavioral Biology, and returned home to Rutgers NJMS for medical school- and now residency! I chose psychiatry because it allows me to combine medicine with the opportunity to truly get to know people and their stories. I love that every patient brings a unique perspective, and I find it incredibly rewarding to help people through some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives. Outside of the hospital, I enjoy trying new restaurants, baking, hiking, watching movies, traveling, and spending time with my friends and family. I also take full advantage of our proximity to NYC and go to the city at least once a week. At home, I have an adorable (and very spoiled) Persian cat named Leo.

Milena Sudarikov, DO

Hello! My name is Milena, I am a PGY-1 at Rutgers-NJMS. I was born and raised in Jersey. I’m happy to say I’ve toured the whole state with my education. I went to Stevens Institute of Technology and studied philosophy. Afterwards, I went to Rowan Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine. Now I am here at Rutgers!

I am a first generation for everything: citizen, college graduate, medical professional. Navigating all of these things on my own has given me a strong sense of who I am and somehow, I always knew I wanted to do psychiatry. It is the perfect blend of the intellect/medicine/science and humanism/philosophy/art. I’ve also spent time researching neural circuitry behind disease processes such as cocaine use disorder in rat models. After residency, I plan to do an addiction fellowship. I feel very lucky to be here at Rutgers as I can continue pursing my research interests as well as have ample exposure to addiction medicine.

Outside of work, I love to paint, play music, run, hike, read, and travel. I hope to one day go back to school to study art!