Current Residents

Chief Residents

Fariba Abedi, MD (CHoNJ, Chief Resident)
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: I love to bake, crochet and add random, new skills to my repertoire. I also enjoy travelling and experiencing new adventures with my partner and our pupper, Jaxon!
Professional Interests: I find myself drawn to the inpatient side of pediatric medicine. Participating in quality improvement projects while personally improving my skills as a physician are my primary goals for now.

Kyle Prisby, MD (CHoNJ, Chief Resident)
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: Nights out in Manhattan, cocktails at speakeasy, streaming HBO Max, ordering takeout, and sleeping until noon.
Professional Interests: Emergency Medicine

Mirra Said, MD (CHoNJ, Chief Resident)
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: I’m passionate about fitness and wellness and inspiring others to get moving as well! My other interests include art, traveling, cooking, shopping, game nights, reading and soaking up sun on the beach.
Professional Interests: I find working with a younger population very gratifying and rewarding. The resilience of children is inspiring. I enjoy acute and intensive care and would like to pursue fellowship in Emergency Medicine. I also hope to incorporate my love of fitness and wellness into my career in the future!

Suman Dhakal, MD (CHoNJ, Chief Resident)
Medical School: Universal College of Medical Sciences, Nepal
Personal Interest: Hiking and traveling, watching movies and gardening!
Professional Interests: Exploring the world of Pediatrics, not yet decided on what professional career to choose after residency.

Isaac Snyder, DO (UH, PGY-4 Chief Resident)
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Interests: I am passionate about cooking, especially trying out new recipes and creating new dishes from leftovers. I love to read, whether it is a research article or a mythology book. I especially cherish spending time with my nieces and nephews. Lastly, I enjoy investing in the stock market, which not only gives me an opportunity to put my affinity for numbers to good use, but also helps me keep up to date with current affairs.
Professional Interests: Pediatric GI, Weight Management.

PGY-3

Safa Abdulhai, DO
Medical School: Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Interest: Cooking and photography
Professional Interests: Pediatrics Hematology and Oncology

Blakemore Gentner, MD
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: My dog (Pygmalion, or Pyg for short – 4 year old chocolate lab/best girl in the whole world), legos, video games, horror movies
Professional Interests: Critical Care (PICU, NICU)

Marie Kaakijian, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: I love going to local cafes, farmers markets, museums, outdoor walks – just to name a few
Professional Interests: I want to become a general pediatrician and to be involved in routine patient care

Ryan Kirk, MD
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Personal Interest: hiking, beach, cooking, gym
Professional Interests: primary and preventative care

Shania Leslie, MD
Medical School: Trinity School of Medicine
Personal Interest: I enjoy being outdoors, going to different restaurants with my husband, going to wineries, hanging out with friends, and taking well deserved naps.
Professional Interests: General/outpatient pediatrics and patient advocacy

Gaurav Mahato, MD
Medical School: Janaki Medical College, Nepal
Personal Interest: I love to travel and visit different places, play sports, and go hiking. I am very passionate about cars.
Professional Interests: I am more inclined towards fellowship in cardiology and interventional cardio in long run.

Kesha Shah, DO
Medical School: Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Interest: Reading, Writing, and going on long walks
Professional Interests: Outpatient Pediatrics, Preventative Care, and Advocacy

Shereen Tajalli, MD
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: I enjoy exercising, reading, watching movies, exploring new restaurants, and food blogging
Professional Interests: Pediatric Allergy & Immunology

PGY-2

Pankti Bhavsar, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: I love to travel and hope to check off different countries from my bucket list. Trying different cuisines and trying to recreate them at home. I love to binge watch tv-shows, painting, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Professional Interests: I am interested in General Pediatrics, Neonatology-Perinatology, and Pulmonology. But I am keeping an open mind and explore different specialties during residency.

Manasee Vyas, MD
Medical School: MGM Institute of Health Sciences, Navi Mumbai
Personal Interest: Spending time with my family and friends, watching sports games, and exploring new music.
Professional Interests: I enjoy working with children and I hope to pursue a future in cardiology.

Abeera Naeem, DO
Medical School: West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Interest: I love arts & crafts – anything from drawing, painting, DIY. Recently I took on crochet and have been making crochet flowers, hope to make enough to maybe start an Etsy one day. Other than spending my time on arts & crafts, I enjoy devoting my life to drinking bubble tea – yes, it is an obsession. I say "Boba everyday, all day, anytime, anywhere."
Professional Interests: I have always wanted to be a pediatrician and have a special interest in developmental pediatrics and would love to care for patients with developmental disabilities, ADHD, autism, etc in the near future. However, I also am highly interested in pediatric rheumatology and am waiting to rotate through both fields before deciding on a fellowship route.

Nicole Flaherty, MD
Medical School: St. George's University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: Yoga, swimming, eating, laughing :)
Professional Interests: Pediatric cardiology & teaching

Maritza Lino-Grover, DO
Medical School: Rowan-Virtua SOM
Personal Interest: Journaling, Prayer, Cooking authentic Mexican food, Making YouTube vlogs for my channel (like & subscribe), volunteering with our nonprofit Christian organization, spend time with my husband, shop for clean beauty: makeup and skincare, road trip, hit the gym or long walks
Professional Interests: Child Advocacy, Global Health, Medical Missions, Pediatric Nutrition, Food is Medicine, Diabetes Prevention, Hispanic/ Latino

Ilham Farhat, MD
Medical School: University of Tripoli
Personal Interest: I have enriched my love for traveling and exploring new cultures, which I often capture through photography. I am passionate about cooking diverse recipes and experimenting with different culinary techniques.
Professional Interests: I am passionate about advancing treatments for pediatric endocrine and hospital medicine.

Lajja Gadhavi, MD
Medical School: GCS Medical College, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
Personal Interest: I like singing, painting, dancing, etc.
Professional Interests: Go into fellowship, like PICU/ Peds ED currently

Jennifer Dally, MD
Medical School: George Washington University
Personal Interest: Hiking, Backpacking, Music Writing, Poetry
Professional Interests: Pediatric Behavioral Health and Psychiatry, Neonatology

Shivani Patel, MD
Medical School: AMC MET Medical College
Personal Interest: Listening to podcasts, traveling, meditation
Professional Interests: Hematology and Oncology/ Primary Care

Ayodele Ajayi, MD
Medical School: University of Lagos
Personal Interest: Cooking, reading books and spending time with family
Professional Interests: Primary care pediatrician, public health and research

Jennifer Christensen, DO
Medical School: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Personal Interest: Spending time with my step kids and husband. Taking my chocolate lab on long hikes.
Professional Interests: Open to all specialties. Interested in procedures.

Shiva Lal Bhattarai, MD
Medical School: Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University
Personal Interest: I like nature, walking, and hiking. I like volleyball.
Professional Interests: General Pediatrics

PGY-1

Tochi Alex-Okoro, MD

Medical School: Abia State University Faculty of Medicine NGA
Personal Interest: Traveling, cooking, baking, spending time with family, and window shopping
Professional Interests: Pediatric NICU

Rabika Aslam, MD

Medical School: St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: Watching reality tv shows, going to theme parks, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.
Professional Interests: General Pediatrics

Pallavi Bhogesara, MD
Medical School: G.M.E.R.S Medical College and Hospital, Sola IND,
Ahmedabad, India
Personal Interest: Hiking and exploring national parks, cooking different cuisines to host my friends and loved ones, painting scenic landscapes and abstract animal art, and practicing yoga/meditation
Professional Interests: Pediatric gastroenterology

Karishma Desai, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine, Grenada
Personal Interest: Reading, painting, drawing, trying new foods and recipes, embroidery and personalizing jackets, and power naps.
Professional Interests: Pediatrics NICU

Nayan Manish Gandhi, MD
Medical School: G.C.S Medical College, Hospital and Research Centre
Personal Interest: Competitive FPS game, experimenting with different coffee types and brewing methods. Aspire to build an extensive speaker collection
Professional Interests: Peds EM and Cardiology

Aishwarya Joy Gilkes, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
Personal Interest: Baking, crochet, hiking, trying new activities
Professional Interests: Pediatric Hematology & Oncology or ICU

Sachin Reddy Kasarla, MD
Medical School: GITAM Institute of Medical Sciences and Research
Personal Interest: Hiking, long drives to the beach, exploring natures beauty, badminton and cricket. Binge watching suspense thriller web series.
Professional Interests: Peds Cardiology

Makuochukwu Maryann Ozoude, MD
Medical School: Zaporozhye State Medical University
Personal Interest: Reading fiction books, cooking, board games, and attending music concerts.
Professional Interests: Pediatric Hematology & Oncology

Ritika Parekh, MD
Medical School: K.J. Somaiya Medical College
Personal Interest: Yoga, Rope mallakhamb (yes, I climb ropes for fun), on an eternal quest for NYC’s perfect pizza, love to travel with family & friends with my camera always on standby, and a sweet tooth forever searching for new desserts.
Professional Interests: Team tiny humans! Advocacy is my love language. Future academic pediatrician, Gen Peds at heart, exploring NICU, Peds Pulm, and Peds Endo with wide-eyed curiosity.

Yasoda Rijal, MD
Medical School: Institute of Medicine, Tribhuvan University
Personal Interest: Engaging in sports, Slow mornings and evening walks, Exploring new places, Enjoying Nepali food and a slice of cheesecake.
Professional Interests: Pediatrics GI or Pulmonology.

James Ryberg, MD
Medical School: St. George’s University of Medicine
Personal Interest: Coffee, weight lifting, comedy shows, hanging out with friends.
Professional Interests: General Surgery, Pediatric Cardiology, Peds GI

Iqra Zaheen, MD
Medical School: Jinnah Medical and Dental College
Personal Interest: Experimenting with new recipes and culinary techniques, watching engaging thriller series, exploring new places with loved ones, and capturing meaningful moments through photography.
Professional Interests: Congenital heart disease and advancing patient-centered care in pediatric cardiology.

Child Neurology

Saloni Bakkannavar, MD
Medical School: J.J.M Medical College
Personal Interest: Reading books, talking to my friends, dancing.
Professional Interests: Pediatric Neurology

Sheidel Ifrah Goldfeiz, DO, PGY-2
Medical School: Touro College of Osteopathic Medicine – Harlem
Personal Interest: Empowering and mentoring women in STEMM, health advocacy, finding new recipes, and spending time with my husband and kiddies!
Professional Interests: Neurology, Public health, Preventative health education