Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency
2022-23 Fellows 

2022-2023 Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Fellows
2022-2023 Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Residency Fellows
First Year Fellows
Raja Ramis Akhtar, MBBS

Raja Ramis Akhtar, MBBS

Medical School:
Aga Khan University Medical College; Pakistan
General Psychiatry:
Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai; New York, New York
Hobbies/interests:
Playing and watching any and all sports (Big Liverpool FC and Green Bay Packers fan here!). Currently have somehow found myself marathon training. Hiking and working my way through all the US National Parks (20/63 for now), and one day also hope to find myself on Jeopardy!. Also have a rather unhealthy obsession with the John Wick franchise, but then again who doesn't.

Pragya Kalla

Pragya Kalla, DO

Medical School:
A.T. Still University–School of Osteopathic Medicine in Arizona; Mesa, AZ
General Psychiatry:
Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital; Hartford, CT
Hobbies/interests:
Vegetarian cooking and eating, being outdoors (biking, hiking, walking) with our dog, watching snarky sitcoms or intense true crime dramas on Netflix

Ashley Sánchez Ramos, MD

Ashley Sánchez Ramos, MD

Medical School:
Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine; Bayamon, Puerto Rico
General Psychiatry:
Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital; Hartford, CT
Hobbies/interests:
Traveling; Hiking; Beginner yogi; Makeup enthusiast; Foodie; Contemporary literature; Social activism; Animal lover; Volunteer work; Live music/music festivals/art/photography/film/live poetry; LGBTQ mental health; Women's mental health; Novel developments in the management of treatment-resistant depression; Psychodynamic psychotherapy; Mindfulness and meditation as complementary approaches to the management of anxiety

Jessica Vargas, MD

Jessica Vargas, MD

Medical School:
Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM) Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud; Dominican Republic
General Psychiatry:
Berkshire Medical Center; Pittsfield, MA
Hobbies/interests:
Crafting and DIY costumes: I love crafting with my daughters (needle and wet felting) and making Halloween costumes; Gardening: I have a vegetable garden, a couple of apple trees and love making pies and apple sauce; Animal husbandry: At this time we have a small flock of chickens but in the future we plan to expand to other animals; Traveling: I enjoy traveling with my husband and kids, our next trip is to the Azores!

Second Year Fellows
Khalid Elzamzamy

Khalid Elzamzamy, MBBCh

Medical School:
Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
General Psychiatry:
Hamad Medical Corporation, Doha, Qatar
Hobbies/interests:
Graphic design, Teaching Arabic as a second language, Swimming, Martial Arts

Ainsley Backman

Ainsley Backman, MD

Medical School:
American University of the Caribbean, Cupecoy, Sint Maarten
General Psychiatry:
St .John’s Episcopal Hospital, Far Rockaway, NY
Hobbies/interests:
Playing with our golden retriever and dachshund, sailing, cooking, spending time with friends and family.

Hanife Akal

Hanife Akal, MD

Medical School:
Erciyes University, Kayseri, Turkey
General Psychiatry:
Berkshire Medical Center, Pittsfield, MA
Hobbies/interests:
Traveling, hiking, sewing and design, film criticism

Monica Nakhla

Monica Nakhla, DO

Medical School:
NYIT college of osteopathic medicine, Glen Head, NY
General Psychiatry:
The Institute of Living/Hartford Hospital, Hartford, CT
Hobbies/interests:
Playing with my puppy, cooking and trying new food, traveling