Saint Peter's 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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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
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
Special interest: pediatric infectious diseases
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
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
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
Special interest: child psychiatry
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
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
Special interests: pediatric critical care, medical informatics
David Atkin, M.D. Developmental Pediatrics
Residency: Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, Ohio Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine Undergraduate: Tufts University
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
Special interests: developmental pediatrics, developmental disabilities, ADHD, child advocacy
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Special interests: child abuse, ambulatory pediatrics, child advocacy, newborn nursery, faculty advising
Linda Shaw, M.D. General Pediatrics
Residency: University of Washington School of Medicine Medical School: University of Maryland Undergraduate: DePauw University, Indiana
Special interests: child abuse, child advocacy, ambulatory pediatrics, faculty advising
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
Special interests: perinatal genetics, Pompe disease, Gaucher disease
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
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
Theresa Oey, M.D. Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine
Residency: Rutgers Medical School Medical School: Diponegoro University School of Medicine, Indonesia
Altagracia Trinidad, M.D. Pediatric Hospitalist Medicine
Residency: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School Medical School: Temple University School of Medicine Undergraduate: Brown University
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
Anup Singh, M.D. Chief, Division of Pediatric Nephrology
Fellowship: SUNY Downstate Residency: SUNY Downstate Medical School: De La Salle University, Philippines Undergraduate: University of the Philippines
Special interests: hypertension, glomerulonephritis, reflux nephropathy, nephrotic syndrome, renal failure, dialysis, hydronephrosis, faculty advising
Carlos Lastra, M.D. Chief, Division of Pediatric Neurology
Fellowship: UMDNJ-New Jersey Medical School Residency: Monmouth Medical Center Medical School: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Facultad de Medicina, Colombia Undergraduate: Colegio San Luis Gonzaga Ibagué, Colombia
Special interests: pediatric neurophysiology, epilepsy, neuromuscular disorders, head trauma, faculty advising
Lewis Milrod, M.D. Pediatric Neurology Fellowship: Boston Children’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School and New York Fellowship: New York Hospital-Cornell University Medical School Residency: Boston Children’s Hospital – Harvard Medical School Medical School: Harvard Medical School Undergraduate: Vanderbilt University At The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital since 2005 Special interests: pediatric neurophysiology, epilepsy, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, pediatric sleep medicine
Andrea Richards, M.D. Pediatric Neurology Fellowship: Schneider Children’s Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center Residency: Schneider Children’s Hospital-Long Island Jewish Medical Center Medical School: SUNY Downstate School of Medicine At The Children’s Hospital at Saint Peter’s University Hospital since 2003 Special interests: epilepsy, autism, attention deficit disorder, neuromuscular disorders
Arno Fried, M.D. Pediatric Neurosurgery
Fellowship: The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Chief Residency: Primary Children’s Medical Center-University of Utah Residency: Montefiore Medical Center-Albert Einstein College of Medicine Medical School: Meharry Medical College Undergraduate: Sophie Davis Center for Biomedical Education, City College of N.Y.
Special interests: pediatric neurosurgery, hydrocephalus, CNS tumors, pediatric spasticity, epilepsy surgery, spinal dysraphism, surgical interventions for cerebral palsy, CSF shunts, craniosynostosis, head trauma, myleomeningocele
Susan Shen-Schwartz, M.D. Chief, Perinatal and Pediatric Pathology
Fellowship: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles Fellowship: Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Canada Residency: Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh-University of Pittsburgh Medical School: University of Hong Kong
Special interests: perinatal and pediatric pathology
John Gallucci, M.D. Pediatric Surgery
Fellowship: McGill University, Canada Residency: Cooper Hospital University Medical Center, New Jersey Medical School: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Undergraduate: Montclair State College
Special interests: minimally invasive pediatric surgery, abdominal surgery
Steven Palder, M.D. Pediatric Surgery
Fellowship: Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Canada Chief Residency: University of California, Davis Medical Center Residency: University of California, Davis Medical Center Medical School: University of Brussels School of Medicine, Belgium Undergraduate: University of Maryland
Michael Fleisher, M.D. Chief, Division of Pediatric Urology
Fellowship: The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital and SUNY-Downstate Medical School: SUNY Downstate College of Medicine Graduate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology Undergraduate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
At The Children's Hospital at Saint Peter's University Hospital since 1986
Special interests: hypospadias, hernia repair, enuresis, voiding disorders, urinary reflux, cryptorchidism
Thomas Vates, M.D. Pediatric Urology
Fellowship: Children’s Hospital of Michigan Residency: UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine Undergraduate: Lafayette College, Pennsylvania
Special interests: hydronephrosis, enuresis, urinary reflux, cryptorchidism, prune belly syndrome, posterior urethral valves