Ucla San Fernando Valley Psychiatry Residency Program
- San Mateo Psychiatry Residency Program
- Ucla Kern Psychiatry Residency Program
- Ucla San Fernando Valley
Director
Dr. Helen Lavretsky is a Professor In-Residence in the Department of Psychiatry at UCLA, a geriatric psychiatrist with research interest in geriatric and caregiver depression, as well as complementary and alternative medicine and mind-body approaches to treatment and prevention of mood and cognitive disorders in older adults. She received the 2001-2007 and 2010-2015 Career Development awards from NIMH and other prestigious research awards. Her current research studies include an NIMH-funded randomized trial of methylphenidate augmentation of citalopram to improve clinical and cognitive outcomes in geriatric depression, and the NCCAM funded study of complementary use of Tai-Chi to improve antidepressant response in geriatric depression, as well as a meditation study for family dementia caregivers, and a study of milnacipran for treatment of pain in older adults with rheumatoid arthritis. She has developed an elective rotation in clinical research for Medical Students at UCLA. After receiving her Medical Degree from the Moscow Medical Institute, Dr. Lavretsky performed her residency in Psychiatry at UCLA-San Fernando Valley Residency Program, followed by the UCLA Fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry, and the national VA Research Fellowship in Neurosciences. She received her Degree of Master of Science in Clinical Research from UCLA in 2004.
Faculty
Geriatric Psychiatry Psychiatry Department Affiliation: Psychiatry. Psychiatry, UCLA-San Fernando Valley Psychiatry Training Program, 2008-2011 Internship Psychiatry, UCLA-San Fernando Valley Psychiatry Training Program, 2007-2008 Degree Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, DO, 2007. Webinar URL Webinars The 3Ds of Geriatric Psychiatry. Find the best residency program for you. Read reviews and see ratings from program alumni. Sign In; Residency Navigator / Psychiatry. UCLA-San Fernando Valley/VA Greater Los Angeles. Psychiatry Residency Program Sepulveda, CA 35Total Filled Spots.
Dr. Katherine Narr is a Professor in the Departments of Neurology and Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA and a faculty member of the Ahmanson-Lovelace Brain Mapping Center, a neuroimaging program and resource within the UCLA School of Medicine. Dr. Narr's research has centered on using multimodal imaging, including structural, functional and diffusion imaging and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) to advance understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms associated with depression, schizophrenia and other complex psychiatric conditions in adults and children. A primary focus of her current research includes targeting imaging predictors and correlates of rapidly acting therapeutic response in depressive disorders.
Statistician
I am an applied biostatistician - I design studies, formulate hypotheses, do power calculations, analyze data, interpret and report results and write grants. I concentrate on data from medicine, public health, and biology; in particular, I have developed and applied novel statistical methods in mood disorders, Alzheimer's disease, memory and aging, traumatic brain injury, pediatric epilepsy, learning and communication disorders, and schizophrenia. I am fascinated by early neuroimaging and genomic biomarkers of these disorders that can be useful for designing preventive and treatment approaches. I have also worked in other fields such as environmental health and kinesiology, and I even have experience modeling stock markets! This variety is precisely what makes me passionate about statistics. That, and the people - I love meeting and talking to people about their projects and working closely with them to understand and visualize their data.
Postdoctoral Scholars
Beatrix is a postdoctoral scholar at the Department of Geriatric Psychiatry at the UCLA Semel Institute. After completing her BSc in biological psychology and MSc by research in neuropsychology at Maastricht University in the Netherlands, she earned her PhD (DPhil) at the Department of Experimental Psychology and the Centre for Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Brain (FMRIB) at the University of Oxford in England. Her expertise is in the field of neuroimaging and non-invasive electric brain stimulation. She has worked in the past with a variety of healthy patient populations investigating cognition, pain, and (neuro-)psychiatric symptoms. She was certified as a yoga teacher in 2016 and gained experience teaching yoga, breathing and meditation in different types of environments. Her interest in science-based holistic health approaches has led her to work with Dr. Helen Lavretsky. She also focuses and collaborates on the neural effects of mind-body therapies and medication in geriatric depression with Dr. Katherine Narr. Her general research interests are in the scientific exploration of the mechanisms of mind-body treatments, optimization of, and individual factors in treatment response.
Dr. Laird is a postdoctoral researcher in the Late-life Mood, Stress, and Wellness Research Program. She received her Ph.D. in Clinical Science at Vanderbilt University and completed her clinical internship at the West Los Angeles VA. Her research interests focus on evaluating the efficacy of mind-body therapies for improving mental health and cognition across the lifespan. She also has experience investigating psychological therapies for improving physical health and adjustment in functional GI disorders and chronic pain.
Psychometrist
Brandon Heimberg received his Masters of Science in Clinical Psychology at California Lutheran University. He is currently pursuing his doctoral degree in clinical psychology with a specialized focus in clinical neuropsychology. He is involved in test administration, scoring, training, and standardization within multiple labs at UCLA in both the geriatric psychiatry and neuro-oncology departments. Additionally, he is the geriatric psychiatry practicum student at UCLA where he is involved in neuropsychological assessment to diagnose a wide range of neurodegenerative disorders.
Research Associates
Ashlyn Applegate (Tsung) is a staff research associate in the Late-life Mood, Stress, and Wellness Research Program at UCLA. She works primarily as a study coordinator for the OPTIMUM clinical research study for older adults with treatment resistant depression. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in Neuroscience at UCLA in 2017.
Michaela M. Milillo is the current Research Coordinator of the Late-Life Wellness Tai Chi Depression Study and Coordinating Manager of the Conference on Integrative Medicine & Mental Health. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 2018 with a degree in Biopsychology, Cognition, and Neuroscience. After completing her postbac in the lab, Michaela plans to apply to psychology and neuroscience PhD programs to pursue a position in a multi-modal, interdisciplinary neuroimaging laboratory. She is interested in psychiatric research, with a particular interest in studying schizophrenia and psychosis as a whole.
Visiting Scholar
Psychiatry
Jorge Luis Sotelo, MD, FACLP, FAPA
Inpatient Psychiatry and Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
Board Certification: Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
Medical Degree: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine
Residency: University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Medical Center
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship: Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Neuropsychiatry Fellowship: Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center
Ibrahim Abi-Rafeh, MD, FAPA
Emergency Psychiatry
Board Certification: Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry
Medical Degree: Universidad Tecnologica de SantiagoResidency: Cooper Hospital
Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship: University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital
Gil Abramovici, MD
Inpatient Psychiatry
Board Certification: Psychiatry
Education
Medical Degree: Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University
Residency: University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
Neil H. Edison, MD
Mentoring and Supervision
Board Certification: Psychiatry and Neurology
Education
Medical Degree: New York Medical College
Rotating Internship: Beth Israel Medical Center of New York
Residency: Payne Whitney Clinic, New York Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center
Juan B. Espinosa, MD, Life Fellow APA
Inpatient Psychiatry
Board Certification: Psychiatry, Neurology
Education
Medical Degree: Universidad de Cartagena
Residency: University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital
Thomas Macaluso, MD, MBA
Mentoring and Supervision
Board Certification: Psychiatry
Education
Medical Degree: UMDNJ–NJ Medical School
Residency: UCLA-San Fernando Valley Residency Program
Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship: USC Institute of Psychiatry and Law
MBA Healthcare Sector Management and Policy: University of Miami
Lina Maria Reyes, MD, FAPA
Outpatient Psychiatry
Board Certification: Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry
Education
Medical Degree: Universidad del Valle
Residency: University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Residency: University of Miami-Jackson Memorial Hospital
David M. Rube, MD, CPE, FAPA
Medical Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Board Certification: Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry
Education
Medical Degree: Mt. Sinai School of Medicine
Residency: University of California, San Diego
Fellowship: Columbia College of Physician and Surgeons/NY State Psychiatric Institute
Adnan Subei, DO
Neurology, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuroimmunology
Board Certification: Neurology
Education
Medical Degree: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Michigan State University
Neuroimmunology Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic
Non-physician Faculty
San Mateo Psychiatry Residency Program
Alberto Augsten, PharmD, MS, BCPP, DABAT
Ucla Kern Psychiatry Residency Program
Psychopharmacology and Clinical Toxicology
Board Certification: Psychiatry Pharmacy
Education
Pharmacy Degree: NOVA Southeastern University
Residency: Touro University
Simone Cousins, PharmD
Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Psychiatry
Education
Pharmacy Degree: Nova Southeastern University
PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency: Memorial Regional Hospital
Marcy Girolamini-Smith, PsyD
Neuropsychologist
Education
Masters in Counseling Psychology: Nova Southeastern University
Masters in Clinical Psychology: Nova Southeastern University
Doctorate in Psychology (Neuropsychology Tract): Nova Southeastern University
Psychodynamic Psychology Post Doctorate training: Dr. Bady Quintar, Nova Southeastern University
Neuropsychology Informal Fellowship: Dr. Charles Golden, Nova Southeastern University
Ucla San Fernando Valley
Samantha Themas, PharmD
Outpatient Clinical Pharmacy Specialist – Psychiatry
Education
Pharmacy Degree: University of Iowa College of Pharmacy
PGY-1 Pharmacy Residency: Memorial Regional Hospital
PGY-2 Psychiatric Pharmacy Residency: Memorial Regional Hospital
Claudia P. Vicencio, LCSW, LMFT, PhD
Clinical Social Work, Addiction, Trauma Informed Care
Education
Doctoral & Masters Degrees: Barry University, Ellen Whiteside School of Social Work