Patrick Barry, M.D.
Medical School: Trinity College Dublin
Undergraduate School:
Clinical Interests: Psychotic disorders, Mood disorders, Addiction psychiatry
Research Interests: Psychopharmacology, Medical education
Other Interests/Hobbies: Electronic music production, live music events, MMA, weightlifting, traveling, mountain biking, sea swimming
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? Jackson/UM stands as a leading academic center in one of the world's most vibrant cities. With a strong commitment to serving an underserved and diverse patient population, it offers unparalleled clinical experience and teaching. The program's culture radiates positivity!
Hassan Bazzi, M.D.
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: The University of Michigan
Clinical Interests: Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry, Palliative Care Psychiatry
Research Interests: First episode psychosis, Clinical High Risk Psychosis, Digital Mental Health
Other Interests/Hobbies: Basketball, running, hiking, skydiving, weight lifting, backpacking, volleyball, kayaking
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? I was immediately intrigued by the diverse patient population and clinical opportunities. The faculty and residents were very welcoming and described a wide range of potential research possibilities and clinical exposures in conjunction with a tight-knit working community. Also, the allure of exploring Miami’s vibrant cultural, beach, and cuisine scene made Jackson/UM Psychiatry the ideal program for me!
Courtney Dowell-Esquivel, M.D.
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: University of Florida
Clinical Interests: Geriatric Psychiatry, Reproductive Psychiatry, Mood Disorders, and Brain Stimulation
Research Interests: Treatment-resistant depression, Cognitive aging
Other Interests/Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, tending to my plants (philodendrons and pothos), reading fiction novels, and enjoying a good cup of coffee.
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? This institution provides an unmatched clinical experience, offering opportunities to work with a diverse population facing a wide variety of pathologies. Most of all, I choose to be a resident at Jackson because I want to give back to the community I call home, Miami.
Federico Erhart, M.D.
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: Miami Dade College
Clinical Interests: Psychosis, substance abuse, neuromodulation
Research Interests: hyper-religiosity, psychosis, immigration/refugee psychiatry
Other Interests/Hobbies: tennis, kayaking, scuba diving, climbing, cooking, reading, writing, camping, old movies
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? Because of the amazing faculty, residents, and staff I worked with during my rotations, of course! Plus the chance to serve a largely underserved population displaying a wide variety of psychiatric conditions. It was also a perfect excuse to stay home!
Reem Ezzeddine, M.D.
Medical School: American University of Beirut
Undergraduate School: American University of Beirut
Clinical Interests: Mood disorders, Psychotherapy, Community Psychiatry
Research Interests: Neuropsychiatry, Interventional Psychiatry
Other Interests/Hobbies: Exploring new cities and learning about new cultures, reading, debates, pencil drawing, the outdoors, meditation, electronic dance music scene
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? I completed a clinical clerkship at Jackson this past year and fell in love with the collegial educational environment here! The clinical exposure through the different training sites and the ability to provide care for a diverse patient population allow for a rigorous training and a rich exposure to cultural psychiatry. South Florida has also become my “home away from home” and staying here would allow me to complete residency training while have my family and friend’s support here!
Steven Gargano, M.D.
Medical School: Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
Undergraduate School: University of North Carolina Wilmington
Clinical Interests: Psychodynamics, psychotic disorders, mood disorders, forensics
Research Interests: disaster psychiatry, neural pathways and psychopharmacology, psychodynamics, psychedelic medicine
Other Interests/Hobbies: surfing, rock climbing, golf, spearfishing, acoustic and electric guitar, reading about philosophy, psychology, religion, and classical literature
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? When searching for residency programs, I wanted to find one that had a diverse range of patients, psychopathologies, and clinical experiences to ensure I would have a wide-ranging training/educational experience. Following my Sub-I at Jackson, it was clear that UM met all of these expectations! The faculty and residents were eager to teach and fostered a very supportive and friendly training environment. In addition, Miami's abundant Spanish-speaking population provides an ideal setting for me to continue working with Hispanic patients and utilizing my language skills. Being from New York originally, it is also great to get back to the faster pace of a big city minus the cold weather!
Ajay Govindaraj, M.D.
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: University of Central Florida
Clinical Interests: CL Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Substance use disorders
Research Interests: substance use disorder, mood disorders
Other Interests/Hobbies: basketball, tennis, volleyball, friends
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? Being from Florida, I chose UM because of my personal connections to the populations. I also loved learning from and my interactions with UM residents/faculty as a medical student here.
Jean Henry, M.D.
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: Vanderbilt University
Clinical Interests: mood disorders, psychotherapy
Research Interests: mood disorders, mindfulness, integrative medicine
Other Interests/Hobbies: yoga, Pilates, hanging out with friends, restaurants
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? I’m from Miami and love living here! I also did medical school here and had amazing experiences with the faculty/students. It’s also a reputable program that has a lot of opportunities for research and working with unique patient populations.
Melissa Hernandez, M.D.
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: Florida International University
Clinical Interests: Inpatient psychiatry, psychosis, addiction psychiatry, TBI, neurodegenerative and vascular disorders
Research Interests: Neuropsychiatry, neuromodulation, co-occurring substance use and mental health disorders
Other Interests/Hobbies: Weight lifting, running, food, and reading
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? I chose to continue my training at Jackson/UM Psychiatry because this program holds a special place in my heart. Having completed my medical school training here, I've had the privilege of forming deep connections with the staff, educators, and fellow residents. The support, mentorship, and camaraderie I experienced as a medical student were unparalleled, and I couldn't imagine a better environment to continue my journey into psychiatry. Beyond the professional aspects, I have significant personal ties to the population served by this program. Having grown up in Miami training here allows me to give back to the community that has shaped me and to continue serving as an advocate for mental health equity and access.
Kavan Mulloy, M.D.
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: The University of Chicago
Clinical Interests: Addiction and Community Psychiatry
Research Interests: Street Psychiatry, Addiction, and Community Health
Other Interests/Hobbies: Baking, Running, Martial Arts
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? There are several reasons why I chose UMiami. The residents are exposed to a wide range of psychiatric pathologies within an otherwise diverse patient population, and I believe this type of training prepares us to be culturally-sensitive and skilled psychiatrists. The opportunity for mentorship in our program is second-to-none, and the faculty truly enjoy teaching residents and students. As a result, I always felt well supported by the residents and admin when I was a student, both professionally and personally.
Samantha Phillips, M.D., Ph.D.
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medical College
Undergraduate School: Duke University
Clinical Interests: Reproductive psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotic Disorders
Research Interests: Interventional psychiatry, Neuromodulation, Neurodevelopment
Other Interests/Hobbies: Traveling, animal rescue, novels, current events
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? I chose Jackson/UM for many reasons, one of which was the ability to work with such a diverse patient population across multiple sites. I was also excited about the many academic and clinical research opportunities. The strong sense of community amongst the administration and residents was another big draw for me. Those factors—combined with proximity to my family, the food, and the weather—made it an easy decision!
Andrei Saffioti, M.D.
Medical School: Universidad Anàhuac Escuela de Medicina
Undergraduate School:
Clinical Interests: CAP, Public mental health, suicide prevention.
Research Interests: Pharmacogenomics, Bipolar disorder.
Other Interests/Hobbies: Spearfishing,cooking, Illusionism and magic
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? I was looking for diversity and exposure. UM/Jackson gives me the opportunity to train in different settings and get exposed to a variety of diseases. There is also a lot of volunteering and community opportunities within the institution. Most importantly, during my interview day, I felt a strong connection with the faculty and residents, which made me feel at home and confident in my decision to train here!!
Arhum Saleem, M.D.
Medical School: FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Undergraduate School: Columbia University
Clinical Interests: Neuromodulation, Interventional Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Research Interests: Treatment-refractory depression, collaborative care models, Muslim mental health
Other Interests/Hobbies: Squash, pickleball, exploring new cities, coffee enthusiast, and anything food
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? The people! As a Sub-I, I felt I was surrounded by a tight-knit group of residents and faculty who valued my contributions. Program leadership is invested in your growth and there was a warmth and friendliness across everyone in the department. Along with this, we have the opportunity to train in multiple different clinical sites while learning from a diverse patient population. And of course, Miami’s weather, culture, and incredible beaches make it an awesome place to train and live.
Kevin Watson, D.O.
Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate School: Saint John’s University
Clinical Interests: Addiction, ADHD, Medical education
Research Interests: Impact of diet and exercise on treatment-resistant depression
Other Interests/Hobbies: Soccer, Ice Hockey, Running, Crossfit, Baking
Why did you choose to train at Jackson/UM Psychiatry? I have family here in south Florida and I knew that this was the region where I wanted to attend residency. As a 4th year medical student I completed a Sub-I at Jackson/UM and I had a great experience. The faculty and residents were extremely welcoming. Another big draw for me was the unique opportunities here like rotating at the VA and getting to work with a diverse patient population across a multitude of different units.
