Pediatrics Residency
About the Program
Welcome to our Pediatric Residency Program: Shaping the Future of Child Healthcare
This will provide you with information about our department and our residency program in Pediatrics. We are very proud of the program, which is under the expert leaderships of Kristin Pyne, MD, and Janice Lichtenberger, MD, our very talented Program Director and Associated Program Director in addition to our Pediatric Chair of the Department, Jonathan Teitelbaum, MD.
We offer a comprehensive Pediatric Residency Program designed to prepare the next generation of pediatricians. Our goal is to provide residents with clinical skills, research opportunities and mentorship they need to excel in the diverse and evolving field of pediatrics. We foster an environment that prioritizes both academic excellence and compassionate patient care, equipping our resident to make a meaningful difference in the lives of children and their families.
Our goal is to train residents to become excellent pediatricians; we base the program on the recommended competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, interpersonal and communication skills, practice-based learning and improvement, professionalism and systems-based practice.
Why Choose Us?
Diverse Clinical Experience
Our pediatric residency offers well rounded exposure to acute and chronic condition, preventive care and health disparities on rotations in our hospital and well as the community clinic.
Research and Innovation Opportunities
We emphasize the importance of advancing pediatric healthcare through research. Residents are encourage to participate and research and quality improvement projects.
Wellness and Work Life Balance
We understand that residency is a demanding time in our career, which is why we place a strong emphasis on resident wellness, which include workshops, mental health resources and flexible scheduling to ensure that you can maintain a healthy work life balance.
Community Engagement and Advocacy
We are deeply committed to community service and advocacy. We want to train our residents to become strong advocates for children’s health.
Collaborative and Supportive Environment
Residency can be challenging, but we ensure that our residents are part of a supportive and collaborative community. We foster teamwork and collegiality, with resident working together in environment that values respect, communication, and diversity. You will build lasting relationships with your peers and faculty, creating a professional network that will support you throughout your career.
Faculty and Mentorship
Our residency program is led by a team of recognized pediatricians and educators. Our faculty members are not only leaders in their respective fields, but they are also deeply committed to teaching. We offer a mentorship program so residents receive guidance and support. Whether you are interested in primary care or a pediatric subspecialty, our mentors will help you shape your path.
Department of Pediatrics,
Monmouth Medical Center
Faculty Members
Kristin Pyne, MD
Residency Program Director
Kristin Pyne, MD, joined the Department of Pediatrics as a General Pediatrician at Monmouth Medical Center and the Monmouth Health Family Center in February 2021. She took over the role of Program Director in July 2024 replacing our beloved Renuka Verma, MD. She was born at Monmouth Medical Center and raised in Monmouth County, and was very excited for the opportunity to care for children in her local community. Prior to joining the team at Monmouth, she attended medical school at Columbia, completed residency at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore, spent a year working at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and then worked at PM Pediatrics for four years. While at PM Pediatrics, she was the Director of Resident Education, and is now excited to continue to pursue her passion for educating pediatric residents and students at Monmouth. She lives in Fair Haven with my husband and children. She enjoys spending my free time doing outdoor activities, such as kid-friendly hiking and running.
Janice Lichtenberger, MD
Associate Residency Program Director
Janice A. Lichtenberger, MD, is board certified in Pediatrics and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. She earned her medical degree from the State University of New York Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She completed her Pediatrics Residency training at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York. She worked as a pediatrician for three before joining the Unterberg Children’s Hospital in July of 2010. She currently serves as the Associate Program Director for the Pediatrics Residency Program and the Medical Director of the Newborn Nursery. She participates in many statewide initiatives and is currently an Asthma Champion and Pediatric Dental Care Champion for the State of New Jersey. She is an Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Rutgers-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. She lives in Middletown, NJ with her husband and 2 sons.
Faculty by Department
Infectious Disease
Renuka Verma, MBBS
Section Chief, Infectious Disease
Medical Education PBM Hospitals & SP Medical College India, India
Residency Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ
Fellowship State University of NY, Stonybrook, NY
Nursery
Janice Lichtenberger, MD
Associated Program Director, Pediatric Residency Program
Director, Nursery
Medical Education SUNY Downstate Medical School, Brooklyn, NY
Internship Mt Sinai Hospital, New York
Residency Mt Sinai Hospital, New York
General Pediatrics
Jacqueline Brunetto, MD
Director, Inpatient Services
Medical Education Case Western Reserve Univ School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH
Internship Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital, Cleveland, OH
Residency Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital
Sonia Sethi, MD
General Pediatrics/Hospitalist
Medical Education University of Health Sciences, India
Internship Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ
Residency Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ
Narihan Osman, MD
General Pediatrics/Hospitalist
Medical Education St. George’s University school of Medicine, Grenada
Residency Flushing Hospital Medical Center, Flushing, NY
Neonatology
Meera Kale, MD
Director of Neonatology
Medical Education University of Mumbai, India
Residency Brookdale University Hospital & Medical Center, NY
Fellowship Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, NJ
Tuisha Desai, DO
Neonatologist
Medical Education Armed Forces Medical College, India
Residency State University of New York HSC
Fellowship State University of New York HSC
Cynthia Perez, MD
Neonatologist
Medical Education Northwestern University, Feinberg School of Medicine, IL
Residency NY Presbyterian Weill Cornell Komansky Children’s Hospital, NY
Fellowship NY Presbyterian Weill Cornell Komansky Children’s Hospital, NY
Erin Qualter, MD
Neonatologist
Medical Education Albany Medical College, Albany, NY
Residency Morgan Stanley Children’s Hospital of New York-Presbyterian, NY
Fellowship Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY
Christina M. Ferrucci-DaSilver, MD
Neonatologist
Medical Education American University of Antigua, College of Medicine
Residency Goryeb Children’s Hospital, New Jersey
Fellowship Rutgers RWJ Hospital, New Jersey
Balaji Sutharsanam, MD
Neonatologist
Medical Education Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, NJ
Residency Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, NJ
Fellowship Rutgers School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, NJ
Pulmonology
Robert Zanni, MD
Director, Cystic Fibrosis Center
Medical Education Autonomous University of Guadalajara, Guadalajara, Mexico
Internship United Hospital Medical Center, NJ
Residency Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, NJ
Fellowship Hahnemann University, Philadelphia, PA
Eduardo Sembrano, MD
Pediatric Pulmonary Medicine & Cystic Fibrosis Center
Medical Education University of the Philippines
Residency Elmhurst Hospital Center/Mount Sinai Services, NY
Fellowship Mount Sinai Medical Center, New York, NY
Gastroenterology
Jonathan Teitelbaum, MD
Chair, Department of Pediatrics
Chief, Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Medical Education - University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, PA,
Residency Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship Children's Hospital, Boston, MA
Ashwin Agrawal, DO
Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Medical Education Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, PA
Residency Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, NY
Fellowship Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, NY
Alexander J. Schosheim, MD
Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition
Medical Education St George’s University Medical School, Grenada
Residency St. Peter’s University Hospital, New Brunswick, NJ
Fellowship Stony Brook University Hospital, Stony Brook, NJ
Endocrinology
Frank Barrows, DO
Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes
Medical Education UMDNJ School of Osteopathic Medicine, NJ,
Residency Jersey Shore University Medical Center, NJ,
Fellowship Schneider Children’s Hospital/North Shore Univ., NY, 2004, UNC-Chapel
Hill School of Medicine, NC
Laura Novello, MD
Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes
Medical Education Drexel University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Residency Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, NY
Fellowship Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, NY
Deepa Mathew, DO
Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes
Medical Education New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY
Residency NYU Langone Hospital, Long Island, Mineola, NY
Fellowship Cohen Children’s Medical Center of New York, NY
Hematology/Oncology
Tamara J. Hagoel, DO
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Medical Education New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, NY
Residency Maimonides Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Fellowship University at Buffalo Oisheri Children’s Hospital, NY
Christeen Azmy, DO
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
Medical Education Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Fellowship Westchester Medical Center, NY
Critical Care
Sirisha Yalamanchi, MD
Director, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Medical Education St. George University, Grenada
Residency University of South Florida, FL
Fellowship University of Miami, FL
Joseph Dellassio, MD
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Medical Education St. George University, Grenada
Residency University of South Florida, FL
Fellowship University of Miami, FL
Christopher Festa, MD
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
Medical Education Hahnemann College of Medicine
Residency Cooper Medical School of Rowan University/Cooper University Hospital
Fellowship UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, NJ
Cardiology
Nakul Chandra, MD
Pediatric Cardiologist
Medical Education
Residency
Roosevelt Hospital, NY
Fellowship Tufts New England Medical Center, MA
Monica Chugh, MD
Pediatric Cardiologist
Medical Education UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, NJ
Residency New York University School of Medicine, NY
Fellowship Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY
Robert Manduley, MD
Pediatric Cardiologist
Medical Education Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York NJ
Residency General Pediatrics Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York NJ
Fellowship Columbia University College of Physician, New York
Loyda Rivera, MD
Pediatric Cardiologist
Medical Education University Central Del Caribe School of Medicine, Puerto Rico
Residency San Juan City Hospital, Puerto Rico
Fellowship Long Island Jewish Hospital, New Hyde Park, NY
Nephrology
Anup Singh, MD
Pediatric Nephrologist
St. Peter’s University Hospital
Medical Education De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines
Residency SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Fellowship SUNY-Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY
Emergency Medicine
Cecilia Jacome, MD
Director, Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Medical Education Universidad Central Del Ecuador School of Medicine
Residency Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY
Fellowship Mount Sinai School of Medicine, NY
Danielle Denise Amona, MD
Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Medical Education St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada
Residency Children’s Hospital of NJ at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, NJ
Fellowship Children’s Hospital of NJ at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, NJ
Neurology
Shirley Fisch, MD
Child Neurologist
Medical Education Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY
Residency Pediatric -Babies Hospital – Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, NY
Fellowship The Neurological Institute – New York Presbyterian Hospital
Rina Goldberg, MD
Section Chief, Child Neurologist
Medical Education Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Residency Internship Columbia Presbyterian Hospital
Fellowship Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Aviva Bojko, MD
Child Neurologist
Medical Education University of Rome, Italy
Residency Internship Cornell University Medical Center/NY Presbyterian
Fellowship Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Pediatric Urology
Charles W. Concodora, MD
Pediatric Urology
Medical Education Rutgers – New Jersey Medical School, NJ
Residency Temple University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA
Fellowship Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, OH
Residency and fellowship programs training at RWJBarnabas Health benefit from the resources and interprofessional opportunities available through the Rutgers Health institutional sponsorship. Learn more about all of the Rutgers Health sponsored graduate medical education programs on our sponsoring institution webpage.