Connecticut Mental Health Center Announces Faculty Appointments

The Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC) announces the appointment of several faculty to new positions at the center, according to Jeanne Steiner, DO, Professor of Psychiatry and Medical Director at CMHC.

Walter “Stan” Mathis, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, was appointed Medical Director of the ACT Team in 2020 and continues in the role of Associate Director of the Public Psychiatry Fellowship.

Dale Sebastian, MBBS, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, was appointed Associate Director of the Public Psychiatry Fellowship.

Aniyizhai Annamalai, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, was appointed Deputy Medical Director for Medical Services.

John Cahill, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, was appointed Deputy Medical Director for Clinical Informatics. Carmen Black (Parker), MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, was appointed Medical Student Coordinator of CMHC and represents CMHC on the department’s Medical Student Education Committee.

She replaces Sebastian, whom Steiner commended for his service. Black was also voted President-elect of the CMHC Medical & Professional Staff; she replaces Cenk Tek, MD, Professor of Psychiatry, who served as President for the past 2 years.

Steiner also announced the following appointments which will take effect in July 2021:

Andrea Mendiola, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, will be Residency Site Director and will represent CMHC on the department’s Graduate Education Committee. She will replace Timothy VanDeusen, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry, who has served in the role for several years.

Emma Lo, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, will be Medical Director of Street Psychiatry Services.

Ayana Jordan, MD, PhD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, will step back from her clinical role at CMHC but will continue her research and other activities in New Haven.

Oluwole Jegede, MD, MPH, who is completing the Yale Addictions Fellowship, will join CMHC as an Attending in MCI (Mobile Crisis and Intervention) and Team C. He will also serve as the Attending for the MAT consultation service/clinic that Jordan developed at 34 Park St.

Benjamin Kelmendi, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, is stepping back from his current clinical role in the Clinical Neuroscience Research Unit (CNRU). Anahita Bassir Nia, MD, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry, and Joao P. De Aquino, MD, Clinical Instructor in Psychiatry, will join the CNRU attending staff.

Shirin Shokooh, MD, will join CMHC as an Attending and a Fellow in Hispanic Psychiatry.