Faculty

Educational Leadership

William Bernstein, M.D.
Pediatric Residency Program Director
Chief, Division of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Education

Chief Residency: North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical School
Pediatric Residency: North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical School
Medical School: Cornell University Medical School
Undergraduate: The Johns Hopkins University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1993

Special interests: pediatric residency and medical student education, ambulatory pediatrics, practice management, patient safety, immunizations, school health, preventive health care, child advocacy

Bipin Patel, M.D.
Chairman, Department of Pediatrics
Physician-in-Chief, The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital
Vice President, New Jersey Chapter of American Academy of Pediatrics

Residency: SUNY Downstate and Rutgers Medical School
Medical School: Baroda Medical College, India
Undergraduate: Faculty of Sciences, India

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1979

Special interests: pediatric residency and medical student education, general pediatrics, medical ethics, craniofacial abnormalities, lead poisoning, child advocacy, child abuse, practice management, systems-based practice

Frances Rhoads, M.D.
Associate Residency Program Director
General Pediatrics

Fellowship: Child Development, Honolulu Kauikeolani Children's Hospital
Residency: Philadelphia General Hospital
Medical School: Oxford University, England
Undergraduate: Cambridge University, England

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1989

Special interests: pediatric residency and medical student education, resident curriculum development and revision, child development, child advocacy, child literacy, clinical research, maternal-infant HIV treatment and prevention, inpatient pediatrics, preventive health care, faculty advising

Michael Lucas, M.D.
Associate Residency Program Director
General Pediatrics

Chief Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Rutgers University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1995

Special interests: pediatric residency and medical student education, craniofacial abnormalities, preventive healthcare, faculty advising, pediatric informatics, child advocacy, continuity clinic

Brian Lurie, M.D.
Assistant Residency Program Director
General Pediatrics

Residency: North Shore University Hospital-New York University Medical School
Medical School: Sackler School of Medicine, Israel
Undergraduate: Tufts University

At The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital since 2007

Special interests: pediatric residency and medical student education and mentoring, inpatient pediatrics, practice-based learning, public health, health services management

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Division of Adolescent Medicine

Susan R. Brill, M.D.
Director, Division of Adolescent Medicine

Residency: North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical College, Manhasset
New York Medical School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx
New York Undergraduate: The Johns Hopkins University

Joined The Children's Hospital November 2006.

Special interests: polycystic ovarian syndrome; menstrual disorders; gynecology; causes of and treatments for overweight and obesity; diet, exercise and weight loss; substance abuse; adolescent development; psychosomatic illness

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Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Robert Tolan, M.D.
Chief, Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Fellowship: Saint Louis Children's Hospital
Residency: Indiana University School of Medicine
Medical School: Washington University School of Medicine, Missouri
Undergraduate: Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2004

Special interests: pediatric infectious diseases, central nervous system infections, meningococcal disease, fever of unknown origin, sepsis, pneumonia, parasitic infections, toxic shock syndrome influenza

Kristina Feja, M.D., M.P.H.
Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Fellowship: Columbia University/New York Presbyterian Hospital
Residency: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Ohio
Medical School: Semmelweis University School of Medicine, Hungary
Graduate: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

At The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital since 2005

Special interests: pediatric infectious diseases, infection control, enteroviral infections, cytomegalovirus, tuberculosis, candidal infections, pediatric residency and medical student education, clinical research, faculty advising

Hemant Kesarwala, M.D.
Pediatric Allergy, Immunology and Infectious Diseases

Fellowship: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Fellowship: UMDNJ-Rutgers Medical School
Residency: Lincoln Hospital-Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Postgraduate: Columbia University School of Public Health
Medical School: University of Bombay, India
Undergraduate: University of Bombay, India

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1977

Special interests: pediatric allergy and immunology and infectious diseases

Gary Zuckerman, M.D.
Pediatric Allergy and Immunology

Fellowship: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Fellowship: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Residency: SUNY Downstate
Medical School: SUNY Health Science Center at Brooklyn

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2004

Special interest: pediatric infectious diseases

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Pediatric Cardiology

Cheryl Kurer, M.D.
Chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiology

Fellowship: The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)
Residency: Mt. Sinai Hospital, New York
Medical School: Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Vassar College

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2004

Special interests: heart murmurs, congenital heart disease, pediatric arrhythmias, syncope, mitral valve prolapse

Sumekala Nadaraj, M.D.
Pediatric Cardiology

Fellowship: Schneider Children’s Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Residency: Saint Vincent’s Catholic Medical Center, Staten Island, New York
Medical School: Coimbatore Medical College, India
Graduate: Rutgers University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2005

Special interests: heart murmurs, congenital heart disease, fetal echocardiography, chest pain, pediatric arrhythmias, syncope

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Child Psychiatry

Suzanne Lind, M.D.
Chief, Pediatric Psychiatry

Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine
Residency: Thomas Jefferson University
Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Lehigh University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2002

Special interests: mood disorders, ADHD, psychosis, eating disorders

Richard Worth, M.D.
Pediatric Psychiatry

Fellowship: New York University School of Medicine
Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Yale University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2004

Special interest: child psychiatry

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Pediatric Critical Care

Siva Jonna, M.D.
Chief, Division of Pediatric Critical Care

Fellowship: Georgetown University Medical Center
Residency: Howard University Hospital
Medical School: S.V. Medical College, India
Undergraduate: S.V. Agricultural College, India

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1998

Special interests: pediatric critical care, pediatric transport, ventilator management and pulmonary mechanics, pediatric resuscitation, pediatric board review

Bhavani Chalikonda, M.D.
Pediatric Critical Care

Fellowship: Lutheran General Children’s Hospital, Illinois
Fellowship: Louisiana State University School of Medicine
Residency: Lutheran General Children’s Hospital, Illinois
Medical School: Rangaraya Medical College, India

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2004

Special interests: pediatric critical care, shock, sepsis, ventilator management and pulmonary mechanics, pediatric resuscitation, pediatric board review, pediatric resident and medical student education, faculty advising

Christoph Ohngemach, M.D.
Pediatric Critical Care

Fellowship: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Chief Residency: Maine Medical Center
Residency: Maine Medical Center
Medical School: Medical School of Ludwig-Maximilians University, Germany

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1999

Special interests: pediatric critical care, pediatric transport, plueral effusions

Tiong The, M.D.
Pediatric Critical Care

Fellowship: Jackson Memorial Hospital-University of Miami
Residency: Howard University Hospital
Medical School: University of the West Indies Faculty of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of the West Indies Faculty of Natural Sciences

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2002

Special interests: pediatric critical care, medical informatics

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Developmental Pediatrics

David Atkin, M.D.
Developmental Pediatrics

Residency: Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Tufts University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2005

Special interests: developmental pediatrics, developmental disabilities, ADHD, child advocacy, medical acupuncture

Michele Willems-Plakyda, M.D.
Developmental Pediatrics

Fellowship: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Chief Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Rutgers University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2005

Special interests: developmental pediatrics, developmental disabilities, ADHD, child advocacy

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Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Frank Cunningham, M.D.
Chief, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Fellowship: Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Chief Residency: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Residency: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Medical School: New York Medical College
Undergraduate: Saint Peter's College

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2002

Special interests: emergency medical services for children, disaster preparedness, faculty advising, systems-based practice, clinical research, pediatric life support

Khoshnood Ahmad, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Fellowship: New York Medical College
Residency: Lincoln Medical Center-Cornell University Medical College
Medical School: Nishtar Medical College, Pakistan
Undergraduate: Government Forman Christian College, Pakistan

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2002

Special interests: pediatric emergency medicine, clinical research, toxicology

Prashant Chutke, M.D., M.P.H.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Chief Residency: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Residency: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Medical School: Topiwala National Medical College, India
Postgraduate: University of Alabama School of Public Health
Undergraduate: B.N. Bandodkar College, India

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2002

Special interests: pediatric emergency medicine, clinical research

Kyon Hood, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Harvard University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2002

Special interest: pediatric emergency medicine

Noah Kondamundi, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Fellowship: Montefiore Medical Center-Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Residency: Brooklyn Hospital Center
Medical School: Osmania University, India


At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2002

Special interests: pediatric emergency medicine, clinical research, asthma

John Lopez, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh
Chief Residency: Atlantic Health System
Residency: Atlantic Health System
Medical School: Albany Medical College
Undergraduate: Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2004

Special interests: pediatric emergency medicine, clinical research

Grace Ponce, M.D.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Fellowship: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Residency: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Medical School: University of Santo Thomas, Philippines
Undergraduate: University of Santo Thomas, Philippines

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2002

Special interests: pediatric emergency medicine, clinical research

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Pediatric Endocrinology

Max Salas, M.D.
Chief, Division of Pediatric Endocrinology

Fellowship: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh
Residency: Children's Hospital of Sheffield, England
Medical School: National University of Mexico School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Centro Universitario Mexico and Saint Mary's College

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1980

Special interests: pediatric growth disorders, diabetes, thyroid disorders, pubertal delay

Kathryn Skuza, M.D.
Pediatric Endocrinology

Fellowship: UMDNJ-Children's Hospital of New Jersey
Residency: UMDNJ-Children's Hospital of New Jersey
Medical School: Warsaw Medical School, Poland
Undergraduate: Rutgers University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2001

Special interests: precocious puberty, pediatric growth disorders, diabetes, thyroid disorders

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Pediatric Gastroenterology

Jay Dadhania, M.D.
Chief, Pediatric Gastroenterology

Fellowship: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Chief Residency: Saint Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York
Residency: Saint Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York
Medical School: Baroda Medical College, India
Undergraduate: M.S. University, India

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1990

Special interests: inflammatory bowel disease, dysphagia, hepatitis, feeding disorders

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General Pediatrics

William Bernstein, M.D.
Pediatric Residency Program Director
Chief, Division of General Pediatrics and Pediatric Education

Chief Residency: North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical School
Pediatric Residency: North Shore University Hospital-Cornell University Medical School
Medical School: Cornell University Medical School
Undergraduate: The Johns Hopkins University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1993

Special interests: pediatric residency and medical student education, ambulatory pediatrics, practice management, patient safety, immunizations, school health, preventive health care, child advocacy

Elizabeth Hodgson, M.D.
General Pediatrics

Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital
Medical School: Yale University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Mount Holyoke College, Massachusetts

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1997

Special interests: child abuse, child advocacy, ambulatory pediatrics, preventive health care, quality assurance, health care financing

Vaidehi Jonna, M.D.
General Pediatrics

Residency: Howard University Hospital
Medical School: S.V. Medical College, India

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2005

Special interest: ambulatory pediatrics

Roxanne Kendall, M.D.
General Pediatrics

Fellowship: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
Residency: Long Island Jewish Medical Center
Medical School: Yale University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Tufts University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1989

Special interests: ambulatory pediatrics, child advocacy, public health, lead poisoning, community pediatrics, faculty advising

Samantha Leib, M.D.
General Pediatrics

Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Rutgers University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1999

Special interests: ambulatory pediatrics, child advocacy, preventive health care, faculty advising

Michael Lucas, M.D.
Associate Residency Program Director
General Pediatrics

Chief Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Rutgers University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1995

Special interests: pediatric residency and medical student education, craniofacial abnormalities, preventive health care, faculty advising, pediatric informatics, child advocacy, continuity clinic

Gladibel Medina, M.D.
General Pediatrics

Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Undergraduate: Rutgers University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1995

Special interests: child abuse, ambulatory pediatrics, child advocacy, newborn nursery, faculty advising

Frances Rhoads, M.D.
Associate Residency Program Director
General Pediatrics

Fellowship: Child Development, Honolulu Kauikeolani Children's Hospital
Residency: Philadelphia General Hospital
Medical School: Oxford University, England
Undergraduate: Cambridge University, England

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1989

Special interests: pediatric residency and medical student education, resident curriculum development and revision, child development, child advocacy, child literacy, clinical research, maternal-infant HIV treatment and prevention, inpatient pediatrics, preventive health care, faculty advising

Linda Shaw, M.D.
General Pediatrics

Residency: University of Washington School of Medicine
Medical School: University of Maryland
Undergraduate: DePauw University, Indiana

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1995

Special interests: child abuse, child advocacy, ambulatory pediatrics, faculty advising

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Genetics

Debra-Lynn Day-Salvatore, M.D., Ph.D.
Director, Institute for Genetic Medicine

Fellowship: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Residency: Cleveland Clinic
Medical School: Case Western Reserve School of Medicine
Post Graduate: New York University
Undergraduate: Harvard University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1990

Special interests: perinatal genetics, Pompe disease, Gaucher disease

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Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Doug Cipkala, M.D.
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology

Fellowship: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Residency: Ohio State University College of Medicine
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University
Undergraduate: Stanford University

At The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital since 2006

Special interests: leukemia, solid tumors, clinical research, faculty advising, pediatric residency medical student education

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Division of Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine

Shobha Amara, M.D.
Chief, Division of Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine

Residency: Bronx Lebanon Hospital-Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Medical School: Gandhi Medical College of Osmania University, India

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2003

Special interest: inpatient pediatrics

Farhat Nageen, M.D.
Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine

Residency: Saint Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital
Medical School: Rawalpindi Medical College, Pakistan

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2004

Special interest: inpatient pediatrics

Theresa Oey, M.D.
Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine

Residency: Rutgers Medical School
Medical School: Diponegoro University School of Medicine, Indonesia

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2003

Special interest: inpatient pediatrics

Altagracia Trinidad, M.D.
Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine

Residency: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School
Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Brown University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 2003

Special interest: inpatient pediatrics

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Neonatology

Mark Hiatt, M.D.
Chief, Division of Neonatology

Fellowship: Babies Hospital-Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
Residency: New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical College
Medical School: Cornell University Medical College
Undergraduate: Cornell University

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1980

Special interests: neonatology, clinical research, practice management, patient safety, newborn screening

Mujahid Anwar, M.D.
Neonatology

Fellowship: Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
Residency: Lincoln Hospital, New York Infirmary
Medical School: Nishtar Medical College, Pakistan
Undergraduate: Government College Gulberg, Pakistan

At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1977

Special interests: neonatology, intraventricular hemorrhage, cerebral blood flow