PGY-2
Anne Sophie Attoungbre, DO
Hometown: Abidjan, Ivory Coast.
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University KPCOM
Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Commonwealth University
About Me: I was born and raised in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. I moved to the U.S after high school and attended VCU. I am not much of an outdoor person, but I enjoy reading and rewatching old movies.
Hobbies: Crochet, swimming.
Career Interests: Child and Adolescent psychiatry
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Gautam Kanakamedala, DO
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA
Medical School: LECOM Bradenton
Undergraduate Studies: Moravian University, Biochemistry
Hobbies: Kayaking, working on my car, traveling, and hiking
Career Interests: Psychotherapy, Community Mental Health, Mood Disorders
Kendall Beltran, DO
Hometown: Reston, Virginia
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine - Virginia Campus
Undergraduate Studies: Virginia Tech
About Me: Although I was born and raised in Virginia, I have strong ties to my family in Bolivia. I attended Virginia Tech for undergrad and majored in Biological Sciences - Biomedical Option and minored in Medicine and Society. During my 3rd year at VCOM, I realized my passion for Psychiatry. My experiences were so positive and powerful that it opened my eyes to the benefits this specialty could provide to my personal and professional growth as well as what I could give back to it as a physician. I love meeting new people, understanding what drives them, and how they think; Psychiatry allows me to explore all of this but as a profession. What drew me to this program in particular was the family/community vibe I got from it when I auditioned here. Everyone was so welcoming and made me feel a part of the team. I could joke around with the residents and at the same time know my thoughts and opinions on cases were heard and considered. Also, we got fed a lot and I appreciate free food!
Hobbies: Survivor CBS Enthusiast, Board Games, Movies, Tennis, Spikeball, Running/Weight Lifting, Anime, Consuming Bubble Tea
Career Interests: Inpatient and Outpatient Psychiatry, Perinatal Psychiatry
Lekhya Kintada, DO
Hometown: San Antonio, Texas
Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word – School of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate Studies: University of Texas at San Antonio
About Me: I was born in Andhra Pradesh, India but have lived in San Antonio for the majority of my life! As an undergraduate student, I sought out psychology classes to gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of mental health. This prompted my interest in psychiatry which was deepened by my work with the refugee clinic in San Antonio and Street Medicine clinic at my medical school. I was able to gain insight into how socioeconomic disparities affect these populations and I became painfully aware of how trauma, substance use and lack of resources could lead to psychiatric illnesses. I am drawn to the profession of psychiatry because I believe all populations should have access to mental healthcare, especially after seeing first-hand how lack of mental healthcare resources not only affect my own South Asian community, but also the communities I worked with in San Antonio, Texas. With compassion and a holistic approach to care, I hope to positively influence patients’ health behaviors while dispelling the stigma that surrounds psychiatry.
Hobbies: In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my friends and family, dancing/hiking/being active, watching movies, and reading. I specifically love horror and mystery movies/novels! I am a self-declared foodie/travel novice and love experiencing different cultures through my taste buds!
Career Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Mental Health Advocacy
Hanna Castano, MD
Hometown: Winter Haven, FL
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Undergraduate Studies: Biomedical Sciences at University of South Florida
About Me: I was born in Cuba but was raised in South and Central Florida. Through undergrad and my first years of medical school, I never imagined I would end up choosing psychiatry as my specialty. However, after my first week of psych clerkship rotations, I was hooked! Not only did psych perfectly merge my passion for medicine with my interest in psychology, but I quickly learned how debilitating a psychiatric illness could be, and how quickly psychiatrists could help their patients regain control of their life and wellbeing.
Hobbies: Hiking, Fishing (love deep-sea fishing), Jet-skiing, Reading, Binge-watching reality TV shows
Career Interests: Keeping an open mind, but so far: Addiction Psychiatry, Community Psychiatry, General Psychiatry
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Stephany Mejias Urrutia, MD
Hometown: Naples, Fl
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Undergraduate Studies: University of Florida, B.S. Psychology
About Me: I was born in Cuba and raised in Naples Fl. My interest in mental health emerged during my undergraduate studies at the University of Florida. As I completed my Psychiatry clerkship in medical school I knew this was the right field for me. I loved the variety of the patient population and the high acuity of care provided in the inpatient psychiatric unit.
Hobbies: Cooking, Reading, Yoga, Traveling, Beach
Career Interests: Inpatient Psychiatry, Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine
Tyler Halbig, MD
Hometown: Evansville, IN
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Undergraduate Studies: St. Louis University (Major Environmental Science, Minor Health Care Ethics)
About Me: I was born and raised in the Midwest and then went to the Caribbean for medical school and never looked back! I have lived in New Jersey, New York, and now Florida. Psychiatry was my first rotation as a medical student and I still remember the day I came home and knew that this was the specialty for me. I love talking to patients and getting to know their lives on a more personal level. I am so excited to be a part of a community that uplifts its patients and recognizes the importance of mental health.
Hobbies: Trying new food, going to the movies, dancing, hanging out with friends, learning Spanish, binge watching crime documentaries, traveling, beaching
Career Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Emergency Psychiatry, LGBTQ+
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Reema Patel, DO
About Me: I was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. In undergrad, I majored in Biology and Psychology which is when I started to fall in love with the overlap between medicine and the mind. In between undergrad and medical school, I completed a Masters in Bioengineering and worked in Biotech/Pharma. . I moved to Florida for medical school and fell in love with the sunshine state. During medical school, I fell in love with psychiatry and worked as a Crisis Text Line counselor to help people deal with acute mental health crisis. My favorite aspect of psychiatry is building meaningful relationships with patients as well as advocating for mentally vulnerable populations and destigmatizing mental health. The best part of this program is the supportive learning environment, comradery among residents, and dedicated faculty.
Hobbies: Cooking, traveling, hiking National Parks, escape rooms + board games, biking, reading, binging Netflix, exploring bubble tea and coffee shops
Career Interests: Neuropsychiatry, Neurostimulation