Meet Our Faculty

Joseph Underwood, M.D., MHCDS, FACEP
Chairman, Emergency Medicine
Medical EducationRobert Wood Johnson Medical School
Emergency Medicine Residency
New York-Presbyterian – Weill Cornell Medical Center

Gregory Sugalski, M.D.
Vice-Chair, Emergency Medicine
Medical EducationRutgers New Jersey Medical School
Emergency Medicine Residency
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Operations, Patient Safety & Quality

Andrew Amaranto, M.D.
Medical Director
Medical EducationRobert Wood Johnson Medical School
Emergency Medicine Residency
New York-Presbyterian Hospital
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
ED Operations

Michael Ullo, M.D.
Assistant Medical Director, Assistant Professor
Medical EducationRutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Emergency Medicine Residency
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Operations, Patient Safety & Quality

Christina Hajicharalambous, D.O.
Residency Program Director
Medical EducationNew York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Emergency Medicine Residency
Residency: St. Barnabas Hospital. Bronx, NY
Fellowship
Fellowship: medical education and simulation. Icahn School of Medicine Mt Sinai NYC.
Masters in Medical Education, University of Pennsylvania
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Medical Education, Simulation, Wellness, Faculty Development

Alyssa Berns, D.O.
Assistant Residency Program Director, Assistant Professor
Medical EducationWest Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Emergency Medicine Residency
Hackensack University Medical Center
Fellowship
Critical Care, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Medical Education, Transitions of Care in Critical Patients, Resuscitation

Lana Shaker, M.D.
Assistant Residency Program Director, Assistant Professor
Medical Education
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Residency Training
Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Emergency Medicine Interests
Medical education, evidence based medicine, women’s health

David Walker, M.D.
Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Medical EducationColumbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Residency Training
Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Fellowship Training
Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Global pediatric emergency care, quality and safety, care standardization

Antonio Thomas, M.D.
Associate Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Medical EducationRutgers New Jersey Medical School
Residency Training
Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

Chinwe Ogedegbe, M.D., M.P.H.
Section Chief - Research
Medical EducationObafemi Awolowo University College of Medicine
Residency Training
Internal Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center; Emergency Medicine, Harlem Hospital Center

Patrick Charles, D.O.
Director of Ultrasound
Medical EducationNew York College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency Training
Hackensack University Medical Center
Fellowship Training
Emergency Ultrasound, Maimonides Medical Center

Herman Morchel, M.D., P.E.
Director of Simulation Training Lab, Medical and Engineering Director Mobile Hospital Program
Medical EducationRutgers NJ Medical School
Residency Training
Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Simulation based training, Medical education, Advanced technology application to patient care, Mobile Medical facilities.

Alison Thurber, M.D.
Director of Residency Simulation Curriculum Assistant Professor
Medical EducationRoss University School of Medicine
Emergency Medicine Residency
SUNY Upstate Medical University
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Simulation Education, In Situ Simulation, Graduate and undergraduate medical education, Patient Safety & Quality

Daria Falkowitz, D.O.
Director of Toxicology
Medical EducationNew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Emergency Residency Training
Staten Island University Hospital
Fellowship Training:
Medical Toxicology, North Shore University Hospital- Northwell Health

Shaun Patterson, D.O., M.B.S., FAEMS
Medical Director of EMS - Emergency Management Assistant Professor
Medical EducationRowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Emergency Residency Training
Morristown Medical Center Morristown, NJ
Fellowship Training
Emergency Medical Services, University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Pre-hospital Medicine, EMS Education, and International Medical Diplomacy

Kameno Bell, M.D.
Clerkship Director
Medical EducationCarle Illinois College of Medicine at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Emergency Residency Training
University of Illinois at Chicago
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Sports Medicine, Indiana University Hospitals

Christine Fernandez, M.D.
Clerkship Director
Medical EducationRutgers New Jersey Medical School
Emergency Residency Training
Mount Sinai St. Luke’s

Monica Hernandez, M.D.
Clerkship Director
Medical EducationSUNY Downstate Medical School – Brooklyn
Emergency Residency Training
Mount Sinai Medical Center Internship Jacobi-Montefiore Emergency Medicine Residency
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Undergraduate medical education, graduate medical education, Performance Improvement

Rimma Perotte, Ph.D.
Director of Biomedical Infomatics
Graduate SchoolColumbia University Graduate School of Arts and Sciences
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests
Informatics, Operations, Patient Safety & Quality

Gabrielle Procopio, PharmD, BCPS
EM Clinical Pharmacist; EM Pharmacy Residency Program Director
Graduate EducationPhiladelphia College of Pharmacy
Residency Training
The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Emergency Medicine Faculty
Kevin Hewitt, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: State University of New York
Emergency Medicine Residency: The Brooklyn Hospital Center
Emergency Medicine Research and Clinical Interests: Bedside teaching, Administrative leadership, Operational compliance
Paarth Raj, D.O.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: University of North Texas Health Science Center
Residency Training: Hackensack University Medical Center
Richard Nierenberg, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty, Assistant Professor
Medical Education: Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California
Residency Training: University of Chicago Medical Center
Fellowship Training: Critical Care, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Anesthesiology, Massachusetts General Hospital
Emergency Medicine Interests: Critical care in Emergency Medicine, Medical Education
Jennifer Kleven, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty, Assistant Professor
Medical Education: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Residency Education: Hackensack University Medical Center
Emergency Medicine Interests: Medical education, Patient safety and quality, Evidence based medicine, Wellness and resiliency, Social Justice, Health policy
David Negron, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: SUNY Downstate Medical School – Brooklyn
Residency Training: Brooklyn Hospital Center
Ann Nguyen, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: McGill University Faculty of Medicine
Residency Training: Mount Sinai St. Luke’s/Cook County Hospital
Mai Saber, D.O, M.P.H
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency Training: St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center
Aakash Shah, M.D., M.B.A., M.Sc.
Director of Addiction Medicine, Medical Director of Project HEAL, Assistant Professor
Medical Education: Harvard Medical School
Residency Training: Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Emergency Medicine Interests: Addiction Medicine, Community Violence Intervention, Health Policy
Hemlata Sharma, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency Training: Nassau University Medical Center/Lincoln Medical Center
Edward Yamin, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Universidad Nacional Pedro Henriquez Urena
Residency Training: Montefiore Medical Center
Jared Ditkowsky, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine- Brooklyn
Residency Training: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Emergency Medicine Interests: Operations, Patient Safety and Quality, Health Policy, Health Economic Analysis
Biren Bhatt, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Residency Training: New York Presbyterian Hospital
Phyllis Caces, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty, Assistant Professor
Medical Education: New York University School of Medicine
Residency Training: Beth Israel Medical Center
Emergency Medicine Interests: Simulation Education
Amanda Eis, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Sackler School of Medicine NY State/American Program
Residency Training: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Ronald Fernandez, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Residency Training: Mount Sinai St. Luke’s
Young Min Kim, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Hahnemann University School of Medicine
Residency Training: Albert Einstein Medical Center/Jacobi Medical Center
William Fleischman, M.D., MHS
Clinical Physician Faculty, Assistant Professor
Medical Education: University at Buffalo School of Medicine
Residency Training: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Emergency Medicine Interests: Health Services Research, Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, Quality & Pt safety, health services research
Kelly Signorelli, D.O.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency Training: St. Barnabas Hospital
Edward Lee, MD
Medical Education: Rutgers, NJMS, Newark
Residency Training: Rutgers, NJMS
Mohammad Abboud, MD
Medical Education: Rutgers, NJMS, Newark
Residency Training: Temple
Fellowship Training: Research, Temple
Rebecca Hellmann, DO
Medical Education: Touro
Residency Training: St. Barnabas, Bronx
Michael Quinn, DO
Medical Education: NYIT, Osteopathic Medicine
Residency Training: NS-LIJ Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Fellowship Training: Simulation, Northwell
Abby Lowe
Medical Training: Marian University COM, Indianapolis, MN
Residency Training: Hackensack University Medical Center
Jonathon Haverty, DO
Medical Training: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency Training: Northwell, North Shore
Fellowship Training: Ultrasound, Northwell, North Shore
Russell Elmes, MD
Medical Training: Zucker School of Medicine at Northwell
Residency Training: Beth Israel Deaconess/ Harvard Affiliated Program
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Faculty
Antonio Thomas, M.D.Associate Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Caroline Black, M.D., M.Sc.
Lead, Quality & Safety Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Fellowship Training: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Emergency Medicine Interests: Quality and Patient Safety
Temima Waltuch, M.D.
Lead, Resident Education, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Fellowship Training: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Marni Kriegel, M.D.
Lead, Medical Student Education, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Emergency Medicine Interests: Medical Education, Quality
Praneetha Chaganti, M.D.
Lead, Ultrasound, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center Fellowship Training: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Nisha Polavarapu, M.D.
Lead, Trauma, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Fellowship Training: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Case Western Reserve University/Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
Sondra Maureen Nemetski, M.D., Ph.D.
Lead, Simulation, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: New York University Grossman School of Medicine
Residency Training: Pediatrics, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center
Fellowship Training: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Emergency Medicine Interests: Simulation Education, Medical Education, Pediatric Preventive Health Care, School-related Public Health Policy
Karen Eigen, M.D., M.P.H.
Lead, Community Outreach & Telehealth, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Ruth Borgen, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Residency Training: Pediatrics, North Shore University Hospital
Donna Lee, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Medical Education: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Fellowship Training: Pediatric Pulmonology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Alex Hyppolite, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Ofunne Obaze, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: University of Benin Medical School
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Howard University/District of Columbia General Hospital
Saqiba Khan, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Allama Iqbal Medical College
Residency Training: Pediatrics, NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln
Leah Raguindin, M.D.
Clinical Faculty Physician
Medical Education: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Fellowship Training: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Mihir Vyas, D.O.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell at Cohen Children’s Medical Center
Fellowship Training: Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Atlantic Health/Goryeb Children’s Hospital at Morristown Medical Center
Magdaline Kopacz, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Jagiellonian University Medical College
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Malkhazi Mikadze, M.D.
Clinical Physician Faculty
Medical Education: Tbilisi State Medical University
Residency Training: Pediatrics, Rutgers New Jersey Medical School