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Meet the MU School of Medicine Psychiatry Department residents.

PGY-1

Noor UL Ain, MD

Noor UL Ain, MD

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Rawal Institute of Health Sciences, Islamabad- Pakistan
  • Why did I choose this program? I liked the faculty during my interview and I loved the supportive and welcoming culture during my resident meet and greet. I liked that the program had many international graduates and it is in a beautiful city that is close to my family home in Missouri. The program surely offers broad exposure to pathologies and learning opportunities, that made me prioritize it for my career
  • Clinical Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Adult Outpatient Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Watching dramas, love to go for a walk and see nature around, spending time with family and friends
Fatima Ali, DO

Fatima Ali, DO

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Kansas City University
  • Why did I choose this program? As a Missouri native, staying close to home was important to me. During my rotation here, I immediately felt welcomed by both the residents and faculty, and the collaborative, supportive environment confirmed that it was a place where I could thrive. I was also drawn to the program's strong clinical training and the opportunity to gain broad exposure across a variety of psychiatric subspecialties, allowing me to build a well-rounded foundation while continuing to grow as a psychiatrist
  • Clinical Interests: Inpatient Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Traveling, reading, walking, binge-watching horror documentaries
Joel Bilyeu, MD

Joel Bilyeu, MD

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

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Mary Harry, MD

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

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Chidalu Ibeneme, MD

Chidalu Ibeneme, MD

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Abia State University, Nigeria
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose the University of Missouri because I was looking for a program that offers strong clinical training in a supportive academic environment. During my interview and interactions with the program, I was particularly impressed by the sense of community among the residents and the genuine support they provide one another. I also had the opportunity to rotate at one of the University of Missouri's affiliated hospitals, where I was struck by the attendings' dedication to resident education. Their approachability, enthusiasm for teaching, and commitment to mentorship reinforced my belief that this is an excellent place to train. In addition, I was drawn to Columbia itself. I appreciate that it is a midsized city with many of the amenities and opportunities of a larger metropolitan area while maintaining a welcoming, close-knit community. I believe this environment will provide an excellent balance for both my professional development and personal well-being
  • Clinical Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry and General Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: I enjoy dancing, watching faith-based movies and spending time with my family
Photo Yak Nak, MD

Yak Nak, MD

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

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Matthew Tobaben, DO

Matthew Tobaben, DO

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: A.T. Still University
  • Why did I choose this program? I rotated here during my 4th year and really loved the program and the city. All the residents and faculty I met were so friendly and open to helping me learn. I knew I would feel at home here and get the education I was looking for
  • Clinical Interests: Adult Outpatient Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: I enjoy board games, disc golf, watching Survivor, playing Halo, and spending time with my wife and cat. I'm a lifelong fan of the Chiefs and Kansas State
Jordan Whitney, MD

Jordan Whitney, MD

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

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Mariam Zaidi, DO

Mariam Zaidi, DO

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: ARCOM
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose Mizzou because it felt right, both personally and professionally. During the pre-interview socials, residents were genuinely positive about the program, and interview day felt supportive rather than stressful. Every single resident I talked to throughout the application process was friendly, welcoming, and had good things to say. I loved that PGY-1s get exposure to child and adolescent psychiatry early on, which is exactly where my interests lie. This program also offers a ton of variety in clinical settings and works with a diverse patient population, which felt important for becoming a well-rounded psychiatrist. It also didn't hurt that my dad did his IM residency at Mizzou and always talks about how great his training was! Coming back to Columbia felt like a full circle moment
  • Clinical Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Women's Mental Health
  • Hobbies: Traveling, photography, spending time with family and my two cats, baking and cooking, making matcha, binging tv shows and watching movies, exploring new places to eat, floral arrangements, shopping, interior decorating
Nourhan Zalat, MD

Nourhan Zalat, MD

PGY-1 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: NewGiza University
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose Mizzou because I immediately felt how supportive and welcoming the faculty and residents were. The program offers excellent training across multiple psychiatric facilities, providing diverse clinical experiences, and I was especially drawn to the strong exposure to forensic psychiatry. I also fell in love with Columbia. Its peaceful atmosphere, beautiful green spaces, and friendly community make it the perfect place for me. I’m not a big city person, so I really value being in a calm environment where I can focus on both my training and personal well being
  • Clinical Interests: Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Juvenile Forensic Psychiatry, personality disorders and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy
  • Hobbies: Arabic calligraphy, hosting get togethers, reading, coloring, singing and babying my cat

PGY-2

Mehamed Abdi, MD

Mehamed Abdi, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: University of Missouri – Columbia
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose to stay at Mizzou because I felt genuinely at home within the psychiatry program. Throughout medical school, I was drawn to the high-quality teaching, broad clinical exposure, and the supportive relationships I saw between residents and faculty. Staying in Missouri also allows me to remain close to my support system and continue giving back to the people and communities that shaped me. It was clear this program would help me grow both as a physician and as a person
  • Clinical Interests: Adult psychiatry, psychopharmacology, consult-liaison psychiatry, cultural psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Outside of medicine, I love making espresso and experimenting with different brewing techniques. I’m a huge soccer fan and follow both Arsenal and FC Barcelona. I enjoy playing soccer, checking out new coffee spots, hiking, watching crime shows and documentaries, and winding down with a few games of FIFA on my PS5
Sanaa Amin, MD

Sanaa Amin, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: FMH College of Medicine and Dentistry - Lahore, Pakistan
  • Why did I choose this program? During my interview there were many stand-out moments. The camaraderie and support among residents, the wonderful faculty who were friendly and approachable, and the incredible growth opportunities thanks to the diverse patient population and well-rounded curriculum. Columbia also offers the perfect balance for quality of life, all the conveniences of city living without any of the stress. It is peaceful, with an abundance of natural beauty and a wonderful community!
  • Clinical Interests: Adult Outpatient Psychiatry, Autism, Mood Disorders
  • Hobbies: Reading, singing and traveling
Claire Armour, DO

Claire Armour, DO

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose this program because it offers a variety of clinical opportunities that I wanted to experience. The vibe I received from faculty and residents was that here was a supportive, friendly, and diverse environment
  • Clinical interests: Adult outpatient psychiatry, psychotherapy
  • Hobbies: Watching movies and Korean dramas, going on walks
Dasia Caraballo, MD

Dasia Caraballo, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: University of Missouri – Columbia
  • Why I chose this program? I chose to stay at Mizzou for residency because of the supportive and knowledgeable staff, the diverse range of pathologies, and the opportunity to gain exposure to a broad variety of rotations
  • Clinical Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Outpatient Psychiatry, and Addiction Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Watching reality TV, shopping, reading, and spending time with family and friends
Omolayo Fowler, MD

Omolayo Fowler, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Oba Okunade College of Health Sciences, Igbinedion University Okada
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose this program for its strong emphasis on comprehensive patient-centered care and its supportive, collaborative learning environment. The program offers a robust mix of academic rigor, diverse clinical exposure, and early psychotherapy training, all within a welcoming community. I was drawn to the faculty’s investment in resident education and mentorship, and the program’s commitment to serving both rural and underserved populations. These elements align with my long-term goals of becoming a well-rounded, compassionate child psychiatrist and mental health advocate.
  • Clinical interests: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Soccer (An ardent supporter of Chelsea FC), and Cooking
Alexandra Gokee, MD

Alexandra Gokee, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: UMKC
  • Why did I choose this program? I loved that the program has educational opportunities in a wide array of psychiatric services
  • Clinical interests: Inpatient Adult Psychiatry, Neuromodulation, Forensic Psychiatry (especially competency restoration treatment), Addiction Psychiatry, and Psychotherapy
  • Hobbies: Art, reading, drawing, working on home projects, running, and playing with my cat
Rachel Hines, DO

Rachel Hines, DO

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? I did a sub-I as a fourth year visiting student at Mizzou and absolutely fell in love with the sense of camaraderie among residents and attendings. My rotation on child psychiatry inspired me greatly in my ability to connect with patients. I quickly found mentors in the attendings, and I felt so welcomed among the students, staff, and residents. During my interview, I felt a sense of genuine excitement among the program leadership that I did not experience elsewhere. I am also excited about making the Midwest my new home and making an impact in this beautiful part of the country. Mizzou has numerous avenues provided in order for me to reach my career aspirations
  • Clinical interests: Child and adolescent psychiatry, general adult inpatient psychiatry, social determinants of health, adverse childhood events, severe mental illness, psychiatry in the legal system
  • Hobbies: Playing piano, singing, playing guitar, film, going to concerts, thrifting, hiking, finding the best matcha in COMO, playing golf, junk journaling, spoiling my cats
Obika Chisom, MD

Chisom Obika, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: College of Medicine, University of Nigeria
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose this program because of the diverse clinical opportunities here. I knew that I would be exposed to various settings to learn. I experienced great friendships among the residents and supportive attendings. Columbia is also a family friendly place to live
  • Clinical interests: For now, it’s Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. I am looking forward to my rotations to help make me a well-rounded psychiatrist
  • Hobbies: I enjoy baking, spending time with friends and family, and traveling. Gardening is a new one for me and it’s been great
Misbah Rahman, MD

Misbah Rahman, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Medical College
  • Why did I choose this program? I always wanted to do my residency training in an academic program and Mizzou checked that box for me. I liked that they had a wide range of training options with qualified faculty. Had the best interview experience here. The camaraderie and diversity among residents were an added bonus!
  • Clinical interests: Women's Mental Health! Forensic Psychiatry, Inpatient Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Martial arts, baking, eating sushi, yoga, diving, chilling with my besties
Manaal Siddiqui, MD

Manaal Siddiqui, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose this program because of the diversity and breadth of clinical training opportunities as well as the faculty who have a wide range of clinical interests and are dedicated to teaching. I also met one of the residents at the AACAP conference and really liked the environment of the program as a whole
  • Clinical interests: psychotherapy, narrative medicine, medical education and curriculum development, cross-cultural mental health care
  • Hobbies: crocheting, baking, strength training, reading literary fiction and poetry

PGY-3

Monica Arnold, DO - Chief Resident

Monica Arnold, DO - Chief Resident

PGY-3 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Kansas City University - KC
  • Why did I choose this program? During my Sub-I, I appreciated the friendships among residents and faculty and the wide range of clinical training opportunities. Columbia's location also allows us to see patients from both rural and urban areas. The program is well-rounded, supportive, and family friendly, so I knew I'd have an excellent experience here.
  • Clinical interests: Adult Outpatient Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Reading, playing with my two dogs and three cats, cooking, Lego
John "Jay" Hartman, MD

John "Jay" Hartman, MD

PGY-3 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? My top two reasons for choosing Mizzou is the ability to work in broad array of settings (child, VA, forensics, community, etc) as well as knowing that residents at the program care about each other beyond just the working environment.
  • Clinical interests: Child & Adolescent and Addiction Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: trail running, crochet, skiing, and playing with my rats
Ugonna Ibeawuchi, MD

Ugonna Ibeawuchi, MD

PGY-3 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Abia State University, Nigeria
  • Why did I choose this program? This program offers comprehensive training that exposes residents to diverse patient populations. What truly sets it apart is the strong sense of camaraderie among the residents and the mentorship by the dedicated faculty. The supportive academic environment fosters a sense of community, making it a family-friendly location
  • Clinical Interests: Adult Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Cooking, biking, and traveling
Oluwasayo Owolabi, MD

Oluwasayo Owolabi, MD

PGY-3 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Lugansk State Medical University, Ukraine
  • Why did I choose this program? I Attendings and residents are very approachable and work seamlessly as a team. The program offers a wide range of clinical settings and serves a diverse patient population, providing extensive exposure to various fields that will help me become a well-rounded physician. The program is also family friendly
  • Clinical Interests: Consultation Liaison Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Psychotherapy
  • Hobbies: Spending time with family and friends, traveling, trying different cuisines, and watching reality TV shows
Emily Rife, MD

Emily Rife, MD

PGY-3 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: University of Missouri School of Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? Columbia is my hometown and I have always felt passionate about serving our community. While on the wards as a student I had the opportunity to work within a collaborative, engaging atmosphere where residents are supported by experienced and approachable faculty members dedicated to our professional growth. The collegiality I observed amongst residents and emphasis on work-life balance stood out as the ideal program for me to grow and thrive both personally and professionally
  • Clinical Interests: I am most interested in Geriatric Psychiatry and Addiction Medicine
  • Hobbies: I love to swim and going on float trips kayaking to explore our beautiful Missouri rivers. I am a proud cat mom of two and my guilty obsessions include binge watching cooking competitions and true crime
Vasavi Vadduri, MD

Vasavi Vadduri, MD

PGY-3 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school: Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences, Andhra Pradesh, India
  • Why did I choose this program? The program offers a robust curriculum taught by experienced faculty. It provides comprehensive clinical training, which includes a wide range of psychiatric disorders and treatment modalities. The camaraderie among fellow residents is warm and welcoming
  • Clinical Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, neurodevelopmental disorders and Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy
  • Hobbies: Gardening and exploring new places to eat
George Win, MD

George Win, MD

PGY-3 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school: University of Missouri School of Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose this program because of the robust clinical opportunities and friendly environment for medical trainees
  • Clinical Interests: Outpatient Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Tennis and cycling

PGY-4

Victor Eche, MD

Victor Eche, MD

PGY-4 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: University of Port Harcourt, Nigeria
  • Why did I choose this program? It's a comprehensive program with very adequate exposure and hands-on experience in the various areas of Psychiatry. The attendings, residents, nurses, and all other staff create a conducive environment for training with their friendly and supportive disposition
  • Clinical Interests: Addiction Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Playing and watching soccer, basketball, and tennis, listening to music
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Abdullah Genc, MD

PGY-4 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school Undergraduate: Marmara University School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey
  • Why did I choose this program? The faculty and residents are exceptionally friendly and welcoming, creating a program that is not only supportive but also family friendly
  • Clinical interests: General psychiatry, outpatient psychiatry, addiction psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Spending time with family, playing and watching soccer, traveling
Afsah Khan, DO

Afsah Khan, DO

PGY-4 Resident

Bio

  • Medical School: Midwestern University – Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? As a fourth-year medical student, I was able to rotate through the program and was most impressed by the camaraderie between the residents and faculty. I met so many wonderful people who were so passionate about psychiatry. I love how comprehensive our rotations are, and the variety in pathology is an added plus. As a Columbia native, I also wanted to return to my hometown for my residency training. For me, CoMo is full of lovely people, abundant nature, and unique things to do!
  • Clinical Interests: My interests are always changing, but for now I’m especially interested in Adult Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and ECT/TMS/S-ketamine for treatment of refractory depression (to name just a few!)
  • Hobbies: Reading poetry, cooking, spending time outdoors, painting, and chilling with the family cat
Courtney Monroe, MD

Courtney Monroe, MD

PGY-4 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school Undergraduate: University of Missouri School of Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose to stay at MU for residency because it is a supportive environment which offers well-rounded, comprehensive training with exposure to a diverse patient population. Additionally, I’m from Missouri and wanted a program that would allow me to remain close to my family and friends
  • Clinical interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LGBTQ+ mental health advocacy
  • Hobbies: Spending time with my mastiff, hiking, golf, learning pickleball, and binge-watching documentaries
Hussam Saleh, MD

Hussam Saleh, MD

PGY-4 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school Undergraduate: University of Medicine and Health Sciences, UMHS
  • Why did I choose this program? Great Residents, faculty and attendings. Diverse patient population. Provides great work-life balance
  • Clinical interests: I will let my residency experience shape my clinical interests in the field
  • Hobbies: Hiking, sports and watching movies
Rami Soukieh, MD

Rami Soukieh, MD

PGY-4 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school Undergraduate: University of Missouri School of Medicine ;
  • Why did I choose this program? I have been living in Columbia since my senior year of high school and have grown to love the city and the community here. The University of Missouri has always been supportive of me in my college and medical school years, and I was certain I wanted to continue my residency here as well. All the attendings are very welcoming and are dedicated to teaching the residents and fostering a learning environment. I have great confidence that this program will help me become a great physician for my patients
  • Clinical interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Outpatient Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, General Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: I like to work on cars and restore them, mostly German classics. I love watching and playing (European) football and I’m a diehard Real Madrid fan. Also, I like watching Formula 1 and karting in my free time. Willing to take anyone on in FIFA as well!
Michael Takes, MD

Michael Takes, MD

PGY-4 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school Undergraduate: University of Missouri School of Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? I enjoyed my time here in medical school. MU has a very unique patient population that will provide an excellent breadth of experience for future practice. I am also a Missouri native and knew I wanted to stay in Missouri for residency
  • Clinical interests: Adult and Pediatric Psychiatry, Addiction Medicine, Forensic Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Soccer, college basketball and football, history, numismatics, cars, hiking, video games and Star Wars

PGY-5

Photo Elizabeth Ehrhardt, MD - Wellness Chief

Elizabeth Ehrhardt, MD - Wellness Chief

PGY-5 Resident

Bio

  • Medical school Undergraduate: University of Missouri School of Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? The people! the faculty and residents are welcoming, encouraging, and excited to teach. I love the wide variety of areas we receive training in, including forensic psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, and ECT
  • Clinical interests: Everything! Reproductive/Women's Health Psychiatry, Child Psychiatry, Adult Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: petting and talking about my cat (and dogs), listening to podcasts, finding homeless cats and keeping them forever, volunteering as a CASA, Pelotoning, reading
Photo Joshua Gaunt, DO - Wellness Chief

Joshua Gaunt, DO - Wellness Chief

PGY-5

Bio

  • Medical school Undergraduate: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose MU because of the close relationships the residents share. The sense of comradery I experienced during my interview was unlike any other program and the residents and staff here have become like family
  • Clinical interests: Forensic and Geriatric Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: Swimming, SCUBA diving, trivia, vintage pop culture collectibles: Comic books, video games, action figures, cards and movie memorabilia
Photo Esra Genc, MD

Esra Genc, MD

PGY-5

Bio

  • Medical School: Hacettepe School of Medicine, Turkey
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose the University of Missouri because the working environment encourages learning and work. I have many opportunities for improving myself in a clinical setting, education/teaching practice and research
  • Clinical Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Neuromodulation, and Women's Mental Health
  • Hobbies: I enjoy spending time in nature, nature walks, biking and swimming. I am very lucky that Columbia has such a good geography and has a lot to offer!
Photo Lakshmi Ravipati, MD

Lakshmi Ravipati, MD - Chief Resident

PGY-5

Bio

  • Medical School: Guntur Medical College, India
  • Why did I choose this program? I heard good things about this program from a former Psychiatry Resident, friendly and knowledgeable Faculty, diverse patient population with good exposure to all age groups of kids, strong curriculum and good work/life balance
  • Clinical Interests: Child Psychiatry, Early Intervention in Autism, Preventive Psychiatry, Community Mental Health
  • Hobbies: running, biking, traveling and watching movies
Photo Daniel Singer, DO

Daniel Singer, DO - Academic Chief

PGY-5

Bio

  • Medical school Undergraduate: A.T. Still University
  • Why did I choose this program? I chose this program since it had the opportunity to see patients in both rural and urban backgrounds. It also was relatively close to my family and the residents seemed happy to be at Mizzou
  • Clinical interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
  • Hobbies: I enjoy cooking (especially spicy foods), watching horror movies, building various things, and investing
Photo Tal Tirosh Inberg, MD

Tal Tirosh Inberg, MD

PGY-5

Bio

  • Medical school: Hebrew University in Jerusalem
  • Why did I choose this program? I've done Children and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency in Israel and moved to Missouri with my husband and kids. We love living in the mid-west! I chose this program because it offered everything I wanted: didactics, experience in a variety of settings and more importantly, nice and kind mentors that I can learn from
  • Clinical Interests: Early years of childhood and the caregiver-child interactions. I believe this foundation is crucial for later life mental health and coping with life events
  • Hobbies: reading, baking, and traveling

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