In what may be a first for the department, a father and son were honored June 20 at the Yale Department of Psychiatry’s annual commencement ceremony at the New Haven Lawn Club.
Lawrence Levenson, MD, assistant clinical professor of psychiatry, and his son, Jeremy Levenson, MD, a rising third-year resident and co-president of the Yale Psychiatry Residents’ Association (PRA), joined more than two dozen of their department colleagues in being honored with awards at the event.
Lawrence Levenson received the Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award while Jeremy Levenson was honored with the PRA’s Benjamin S. Bunney Award.
The ceremony marked the graduation of 25 residents from the Yale Psychiatry Residency Program.
The graduates are: Sarah Abdallah, MD; Taiwo Alonge, MD, MPH; Loay Alrojolah, MD; Nientara Anderson, MD, MHS; Robin Bonomi, MD, PhD; Sirikanya Chiraroekmongkon, MD; Joanna Chuang, DO; Dervin Cunningham, MD; Erin Davidowicz, MD; Paul Eigenberger, MD; Tova Gardin, MD, MPP; Nathan Gwilliam, MD; Marcus Hughes, MD; Sarah Jefferson, MD, PhD; Matthew Johnson, DO, MBA; Janet Adeola Keku, MD; Bradford Martins, MD, PhD; Michael McClurkin, MD, MPP; Eli Neustadter, MD, MSc; Samuel Sondalle, MD, PhD; Barbara Trejo Ortega, MD; Stephen Wemakor, MD; Sandhi Wijayaratne, MD; Stephanie Wu, MD; and Justin Young, MD.
“Our graduating residents and fellows provided outstanding care, engaged in scholarly activities, excelled as teachers and mentors for medical students, and worked to support the New Haven community,” said John H. Krystal, MD, chair of the Yale Department of Psychiatry. “They have also contributed to identifying the enduring legacy of racism within the department and ongoing efforts to make the department more diverse, equitable, and inclusive. Upon graduating, these residents will continue to change the practice, science, and culture of psychiatry.”
Krystal urged the graduates to “get involved,” “work with incredible people,” and “be a change agent.”
“In whatever area that you work, do not settle for the status quo,” he said. “There are opportunities to shape the changes occurring around you. Stay informed. Get involved. Work with incredible people. And make the future.”
The department's Fellowship Programs held virtual graduation ceremonies on June 21. The following fellows graduated:
Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship
Drs. Eliseo Barajas, Andrea Guerrero Cignarella, Monthe Kofos, Yevgeniy Mayr, Crystal Obiozor, Kelly Park, Jose Perez Martell, Terence Tumenta, and Olivetta Uradu.
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship
Drs. Deborah Benevenuto, Grace Fredman, Benjamin Jacobi, and Elizabeth Meller.
Forensic Psychiatry Fellowship
Drs. Stephanie Eng, Melissa Lavoie, Luca Pauselli, Charlotte Schwarz, and Harshit Sharma.
Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship
Drs. Amber Khan, Chelsea Mendonca, Erawadi Singh, and Stephen Smilowitz.
Public Psychiatry Fellowship
Drs. Jeremy Weleff, Sirikanya Chiraroekmongkon, Barbara Trejo Ortega, Sandhira Wijararatne, and Stephanie Wu.
Awards
Stephen Fleck Award
Dr. Srinivas Muvvala: Awarded to a faculty member (s) who demonstrates the highest standards of a clinician and educator, following in the footsteps of the late Dr. Stephen Fleck, a long-time member of the Yale faculty who served as a shining example of a clinician-scholar who insisted on giving the highest priority to patient care and teaching.
Chairman’s Award
Dr. Emma Lo: The Chairman's Award is given to a junior, full-time faculty member who has excelled in the department's goals of enriching knowledge, transmitting understanding and providing excellence in the delivery of care.
Frank G. Fortunati Award
Dr. Hun Millard: The Department of Psychiatry established this award to celebrate the memory of Dr. Frank Fortunati so that others may be inspired to follow his example. Until his untimely death in 2023 at the age of 58 after a long battle against illness, Dr. Fortunati served as Deputy Chair for the Yale New Haven Health System for the Yale Department of Psychiatry and Vice Chief of Psychiatry and Behavioral Health.
Outstanding Clinical Faculty Award
Dr. Lawrence Levenson: The recipient for this award is chosen from the voluntary (clinical) faculty and has demonstrated an ongoing commitment to the department, on a completely voluntary basis. The areas of service include, but are not limited to, teaching, supervision, and committee work.
Resident Teaching Award
Drs. Clare Cameron, Matthew Johnson, and Nick Pratt: The Resident Teaching Award is given in memory of our former resident and colleague, Dr. James Longhurst. It acknowledges and recognizes the contribution of a Yale Psychiatry Resident as an outstanding teacher and role model. The residents are nominated for this award by students, peers, and faculty.
Ira Levine Award
Drs. Dan Camacho and Nick Pratt: The Ira Levine Award was established in 2004 to recognize outstanding PGY-2 psychiatry residents who best embody the qualities of clinical excellence, breadth of learning, and devotion to the care of severe psychiatric illness exemplified by Dr. Levine.
PRA Teaching Award
Drs. Rabin Dahal and Yun Feng: This award acknowledges the outstanding contribution of one or more attending physicians to the education and development of the residents.
PRA Benjamin S. Bunney Award
Dr. Jeremy Levenson: The Benjamin S. Bunney Award is awarded annually to a resident who has demonstrated exceptional service to the Psychiatry Residents’ Association (PRA) mission of advocacy for residents and patients, clinical care, and education.
PRA Award for Outstanding Supportive Service
Sam Novak: This award goes to an outstanding nurse, social worker, or other support staff.
PRA Resident Diversity Award
Dr. Abiba Salahou: This award recognizes residents who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity in our communities.
PRA Faculty Diversity Award
Dr. Miyun Kang: This award recognizes one or more attending physicians who have demonstrated an exceptional commitment to fostering diversity and inclusivity in our communities.
Chief Team Certificates
Drs. Sarah Abdallah and Robin Bonomi, Administrative Chief Residents
Dr. Nat Gwilliam, Chief Resident of Diversity and Inclusion
Outstanding Staff Awards
Kimberly Blackman, Tricia Dahl, and Yudilyn Jaramillo: The recipients for these awards are chosen from the full-time staff (M&P and C&T) of the Department of Psychiatry. The awardees are selected on the basis of exceptional commitment to the success of the Department of Psychiatry in any of its missions or strategic initiatives.
Featured in this article
- Lawrence Levenson
- Jeremy Levenson
- Sarah Barbara Abdallah, MD
- Taiwo Alonge
- Loay Alrojolah
- Nientara Anderson, MD, MHS
- Robin Bonomi
- Sirikanya (Sanya) Chiraroekmongkon, MD
- Joanna Chuang
- Dervin Cunningham
- Erin Davidowicz
- Paul Eigenberger, MD
- Tova Gardin, MD, MPP
- Nathan Gwilliam
- Marcus Hughes
- Sarah Jefferson
- Matthew Johnson, DO, MBA
- Janet Adeola Keku, MD
- Bradford Martins, MD/PhD
- Michael McClurkin, MD, MPP
- Eli Neustadter
- Samuel Brady Sondalle, MD, PhD
- Barbara Trejo Ortega
- Stephen Wemakor
- Sandhira Wijayaratne
- Stephanie Wu
- Justin Young, MD
- John Krystal, MD
- Srinivas Muvvala, MD, MPH
- Emma Lo, MD
- Hun Millard, MD
- Clare Cameron, MD, PhD
- Nicholas Pratt, MD, RN
- Daniel Camacho, MD, PhD
- Rabin Dahal
- Yun Feng
- Abiba Salahou, MD
- Miyun Kang, MD
- Kimberly Blackman
- Tricia Dahl, BS
- Yudilyn Jaramillo, MPH
- Eliseo Barajas
- Andrea Guerrero Cignarella, MD, MBA
- Monthe Kofos
- Yevgeniy Mayr
- Crystal Obiozor
- Kelly Park
- Jose Perez Martell, MD
- Terence Tumenta
- Olivetta Uradu
- Deborah Benevenuto
- Grace Fredman
- Benjamin Jacobi
- Elizabeth Meller
- Stephanie Eng
- Melissa Lavoie
- Luca Pauselli
- Charlotte M. Schwarz, MD
- Harshit Sharma, MD
- Amber Khan
- Chelsea Mendonca
- Erawadi Singh
- Stephen Smilowitz
- Jeremy Weleff, DO