Hometown: Belize City, Belize

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of North Florida, Biology

Medical School: University of Central Florida College of Medicine

About: Shena loves novel experiences, the arts, gourmet dining experiences, wine and good company. Her hobbies include calligraphy, zentangle, and learning to become a master chef using her instant pot. Her interests in psychiatry expand broadly but centrally; she has a deep love for authentic connection with others and helping patients during some of their most vulnerable times. She is particularly interested in psychodynamic psychotherapy.

Hometown: Tampa, FL

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of South Florida, Biomedical Sciences and Psychology
Additional degree: Masters in Medical Sciences, University of South Florida

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton

About: When Michelle moved to Tampa at the age of 12, she knew it was the place she wanted to stay. Michelle loves being outdoors and takes any opportunity she can to go outside. She and her husband enjoy hiking and exploring new nature trails across the state and the US. As of now Michelle is trying to keep all of her options open in regards to the field of Psychiatry, but her main goal is to continue to contribute to the field to help erase the stigma that surrounds mental health.

Hometown: San Juan, Puerto Rico

Undergraduate Institution & Major: Syracuse University, Psychology

Medical School: Universidad Central del Caribe

About: Laura’s interests in Psychiatry include trauma-related disorders, young adult mental health, women's mental health, Hispanic mental health, and more. In her free time, she likes to be around family and friends. She also likes being in touch with nature. She enjoys trips to the beach and springs, watching sunsets, paddle boarding, and hiking.

Hometown: Tampa, FL

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of South Florida, Biomedical Science

Medical School: University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine

About: Chemar’s scholarly pursuits within psychiatry include brain stimulation techniques, addiction psychiatry, and medical education. He is currently working on a website to facilitate psychiatric medical education. His subspecialty interests are in consultation-liaison psychiatry and neuropsychiatry. His hobbies include playing saxophone, building computers, and cooking new recipes.

Hometown: Sarasota, FL

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of Miami, Neuroscience

Medical School: University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine

About: Lauren loves psychiatry because it combines her interests in neurobiology, human behavior, medicine, and getting to know people who have diverse life experiences. She hasn’t had enough experience to say for sure what area of psychiatry she wants to practice in, but she is currently considering child & adolescent. Outside of medicine, you will usually find her cooking, eating, hanging out on the couch with her dog, or working on any number of crafting projects. She also enjoys playing and listening to music as well as reading fiction (because everyone needs some escapism!).

Hometown: Tampa, FL

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of South Florida, Biomedical Science

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Seton Hill

About: Kaajal was born and raised in Tampa, and is so happy to be back at USF for residency. She is interested in a lot of different fields within psychiatry. She thinks she want to specialize in forensics, child, or both. Her hobbies include golf, Indian dance, traveling, reading, cooking, working out, going out to restaurants and spending time with friends and family. She is looking forward to learning as much as she can, developing new interests, and diving deeper into the world of psychiatry.

Hometown: Miami, Florida

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of North Carolina, Biology

Medical School: University of South Florida

Hometown: Rochester, NY

Undergraduate Institution & Major: State University of New York at Geneseo, Biology
Additional degrees: MS in Neuroscience, SUNY Buffalo

Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton

About: Megan grew up in the tundra that is Rochester, NY, and upon stepping foot in Florida vowed to never lose her car in a snowbank again. She is thrilled to be training in beautiful Tampa, where she spends as much time outside as she possibly can. In her spare time, she enjoys kickboxing, yoga, hanging out with her cats and husband, and reading any book she can get her hands on. Megan's subspecialty interests include consultation-liaison psychiatry and neuropsychiatry.

Hometown: New City, NY

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of South Florida, Biomedical Science

Medical School: University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine

About: Rojan grew up in New York but has been a Floridian for several years now. He enjoys sports ranging from basketball and baseball to powerlifting and BJJ. In his spare time, he likes to read or try out new sous vide recipes. He enjoys new challenges, intrigued by metacognitive skill acquisition paradigms as well as strategies such as kaizen, or continuous improvement. Long interested in such human behavior and mental processes, psychiatry turned out to be a seamless fit. He’s enjoyed Consultation-Liaison greatly so far but who knows what the future holds.

Hometown: Sioux Falls, SD

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of Miami - Neuroscience
Additional degree: Case Western Reserve University - Master of Science in Applied Anatomy

Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine

About: Brianna’s academic interests include General and Forensic Psychiatry. She completed medical school in Cleveland, Ohio, and is a recent transplant to Tampa. She is looking forward to exploring all that Tampa has to offer, including attending some Lightning games. In her downtime, she enjoys training in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, practicing yoga, and spending time with her dog.

Hometown: Tampa, FL

Undergraduate Institution & Major: University of South Florida, Biomedical Science

Medical School: University of South Florida, Morsani College of Medicine

About: Katherine’s current interests include nutritional psychiatry and psychotic disorders/drug-induced psychosis. She is also a big proponent of raising mental health awareness in the community. Outside of the workplace, she loves to lift weights and is a huge foodie.