Psychiatry Residents

Our Psychiatry Residents take an active role in the interview process and selection of incoming residency class. They advocate for patients and access to quality care.  The residents experience a multicultural environment and diverse backgrounds while supporting each other's wellness.

PGY-5

A professional headshot of Mindy Prows in dark attire against a gray background.

Mindy Prows, DO

PGY-4

Adeel Ahmed

Adeel Ahmed, MD

Medical School: Ross University
Professional Career Interests: Adult psychiatry, consult liaison psychiatry, ECT
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Trying different ethnic foods, weightlifting, traveling, car enthusiast
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Beautiful trails around Michigan

Ashley Jones

Ashley Jones, MD

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Consult-liaison
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, yoga, meditating, and Netflix
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Hiking trails

Jared Pugh

Jared Pugh, DO

Medical School: Burrell College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry 
Why did you choose CMU: The main reason I chose CMU was because of the overall vibe I got when I interviewed
Personal Hobbies/Interests: I like the outdoors whether it be hiking, fishing or just playing in the water. However, this usually gets overshadowed by my other hobby of binge watching Netflix. That being said as long as my wife and daughter are able to be involved I like doing most things
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Hike (walk on trails) and get out on the rivers and lakes

Matthew Vartanian

Matthew Vartanian, MD

Medical School: Ross University
Professional Career Interests: Adult Inpatient Psychiatry, Academic Medicine
Why did you choose CMU: The CMU program cultivates a very safe and friendly environment, equipping us with all the tools for success.  The staff, faculty, and co-residents are extremely supportive, and are invested in our personal and professional growth.  Additionally, patient population is diverse and offers all the psychopathology you will need to succeed anywhere
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Playing and watching sports, golfing, eating, watching movies, exercising, relaxing, and spending time with family/friends
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Golfing, spending time at the lakes, trying new restaurants, visiting downtown Detroit, and attending sporting events

PGY-3

Carmen Avaramut

Carmen Avramut, MD

Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychodermatology, Global Mental Health, Cultural Psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: CMU has been my home for the past 4 years of medical school and I wouldn't be who I am or where I am today without the endless support and warmth of those that surrounded me throughout this journey. When researching residencies, I sought out psychiatry programs that offered me ample professional opportunities for delving into my specialty of choice while simultaneously gifting me the freedom to discover and create the path best fit for my changing interests. CMU checked all the boxes and then some – it provides the resources to support whatever I wish to pursue, whether it be research, volunteer or work-related endeavors. As a first-generation immigrant and college student, the ability to work with underserved individuals as well as a diverse patient population was important to me when making my final decision. Following my powerful experiences as a medical student on my psychiatry rotations, I foresee myself pursuing a Child & Adolescent Psychiatry fellowship in the future right here where it all began
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Gardening, running with (and tripping over) my dog, cooking vegan meals, traveling near and far
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Bonfires, spending time with my family & friends outdoors, running trails while fighting mosquitos, visiting Mackinac island in the pouring rain

Nithya Gandham

Nithya Gandham, MD

Medical School: Ross University
Professional Career Interests: Child and Adolescents
Why did you choose CMU: I loved the feeling I had when I interviewed with this program. I felt I could attain my career goals while learning from the excellent attendings at CMU. The residents and faculty made me feel like I would be entering a family at CMU, and they did not disappoint!!!
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Hanging out with little dog, spending time with my co-interns (outside of work, they are a fun group), cooking new recipes, dabbling in photography, and reading psychological thriller novels
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: I have not had the opportunity to travel around Michigan yet but I am looking forward to to camping around Michigan, experiencing Michigan's lakes in the summer, and traveling to to cities like Traverse City

Swetha Kondaveeti

Swetha Kondaveeti, MD

Medical School: St. George's University
Professional Career Interests: Women's health; LGBTQIA+ mental health; inpatient and outpatient psychiatry; possibly child psychiatry as well
Why did you choose CMU: During my interview, I remember feeling like the program was somewhere I could truly be myself and feel like I am a part of a family. Everyone was so kind, honest, and easy to talk to, and everything I wanted in a program was what CMU psych had to offer - wonderful people, strong training, and a great work-life balance!
Personal Hobbies/Interests: I love dogs (pretty much obsessed with all animals) - really hope to adopt one while I'm here, trying my best to be a good plant mom currently, eating out at different restaurants, watching a ridiculous amount of Netflix, reading, and visiting/traveling to new places with friends/family!
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Wineries, Traverse City, Frankenmuth, Detroit for more city vibes, exploring all the parks, lakes, and overall greenery that Michigan has to offer

Trusha Patel

Trusha Patel, MD

Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Help improve access to mental health resources for medically underserved communities; Public Health; Forensic psychiatry; Child & Adolescent psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: Because the faculty/staff and residents are all amazing!
Personal Hobbies/Interests: baking, running, yoga, watching Bollywood movies, spending time with my family and friends
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Downtown Rochester Holiday Big Bright Light Show, visiting local breweries, biking on Mackinac Island, and exploring all the great places that Michigan has

Maria Qadir

Maria Qadir, MD

Medical School: St. George's University
Professional Career Interests: Child psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: I chose CMU because of our program director, Dr. Janssen, and the holistic learning environment of this program
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Reading, hiking, camping, baking, knitting and yoga!
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Hiking, biking, swimming, and camping at all of the beautiful nature of Michigan                 

Yousif Tawadros

Yousif Tawadros, DO

Medical School: NYIT COM
Professional Career Interests: Child and adolescence psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: I choose CMU because during the interview, I immediately felt like a part of the CMU family and knew that I would gain the right experience to help me in my path to becoming an empathetic psychiatrist
Personal Hobbies/Interests: I love spending time with my family and going on adventures such as road trips and cruises, I like collecting coins and I love going to the beach
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: I'm still exploring and learning more about Michigan

PGY-2

Headshot of Kelsey Kershaw wearing a black blouse.

Kelsey Kershaw, MD

Medical School: St. George’s University
Professional Career Interests: Adult inpatient psychiatry, child & adolescent inpatient psychiatry.
Why did you choose CMU: Close to family and friends, excellent psychiatry residency program, great work life balance.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Going to the beach, playing soccer and volleyball, Yoga. 
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Camping, hiking with my dog, trying new restaurants with my co-residents. 

Headshot of Marvi Memon wearing a blue and white striped blouse.

Marvi Memon, MD

Medical School: Ross University
Professional Career Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: I really enjoyed my interview and knew that I would be joining a supportive environment. I also value a program that will nurture my professional goals and help me hone my skills to become the best psychiatrist I can be. 
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Tennis, traveling, spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and enjoying a good Netflix binge!
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: I just moved here and am still exploring Michigan! I want to check out Traverse City, Mackinac Island, and everything else Michigan has to offer.                 

Headshot of Irfan Oymaqil wearing a dress shirt and tie.

Irfan Oymagil, MD

Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: I was aware of the great advantages that come with training at this program, which include the value placed on education, the emphasis on resident's learning, the diversity of trainees, the expertise of faculty, as well as the opportunity to play a role in an underserved area. I also felt great connection with the faculty and residents during my interview. Lastly the program director, Dr. Khan struck me as a supportive, diligent, and humble mentor.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Mixed Martial Arts, Underwater Hockey, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Guitar playing and singing.
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Doing activities with other residents such as exercising, laser tag, and spending time with my brother.                

Headshot of Nancy Saleh wearing a brown blazer with a black colored hajib covering around her head and neck.

Nancy Saleh, MD

Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Professional Career Interests: I have many interests including Women's mental health, Global mental health, Addiction, and Geriatric psychiatry. 
Why did you choose CMU: For the camaraderie and diverse patient population
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Painting, drawing, cooking, and photography
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Hiking, biking, exploring art scenes, and find great restaurants

Headshot of Bahar Salehi wearing a black blouse.

Bahar Salehi, MD

Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
Professional Career Interests: Emergency psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: The program’s supportiveness of residents, the focus on helping disadvantaged communities, and the positive and supportive feelings I got during my interview all drew me to CMU
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Hiking, snowboarding, horseback riding, rock climbing, kayaking, gaming, crochet, bothering my friends
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Kayaking             

Headshot of Aaron Schneider wearing a blue polo shirt.

Aron Schneider, DO

Medical School: Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Geriatric Psychiatry, Interventional Psychiatry, Psychotherapy
Why did you choose CMU: During this time, it’s incredibly beneficial to surround yourself with individuals that genuinely love helping one another. It was clear that this program provides a supportive culture among residents and faculty.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Golf, Basketball, Tennis, Watching football, Traveling, Spending time with friends and family
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Golfing, Discovering new restaurants, Summer days out on the water, Detroit/Michigan State sporting events                

Headshot of Larry Wang wearing a blue dress shirt.

Larry Wang, MD

Medical School: St. George's University
Professional Career Interests: Child & Adolescent, Integrative Psychiatry, Bilingual Services 
Why did you choose CMU: It was apparent from the interview that the program prioritized resident education and professional development over the hospital's need for service. There was a very friendly, laid-back vibe from all of the residents, whom all seemed very happy, and stated that there was a great work-life balance. Lastly, Saginaw is only a 4hr drive from my hometown of Mississauga, Canada! 
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Pokémon, German Shepherds, MMA, Nutrition, Longevity
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Berry Picking, Kayaking, Pickleball, Laser Tag, Farmer's Markets, Sleeping Bear Dunes Park, Road Trips home to Canada!

PGY-1

Headshot for Lissette Estrada wearing a white top.

Lissette Estrada, MD

Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Adult/Geriatric psychiatry, Interventional psychiatry, Cultural psychiatry and intersectionality w/ underserved communities, mentorship
Why did you choose CMU: I chose CMU because of the culture of the program and the patient population. I had a great experience as a student with our residents and faculty. You also get to work with patients from various backgrounds and see a wide range of psychopathologies in an underserved area.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: All things Harry Potter (Ravenclaw by house!), spending time with my family, drinking coffee, traveling, soccer, scrolling through too many streaming services, hosting hangouts/game nights with friends
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Trying new restaurants and coffee spots, going on hikes, exploring new cities

 

Headshot for Ahmed Ftouni wearing a blue button up shirt.

Ahmed Ftouni, MD

Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Cultural Psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: I had a great experience as a medical student and wanted that same great education as a resident
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Video games, computer building, bike riding, tennis
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Farmers markets, searching for the best coffee shops, checking out local museums and gardens

Headshot for Tanner Hewitt wearing a black polo shirt.

Tanner Hewitt, DO

Medical School: Michigan State College of Osteopathic Medicine
Professional Career Interests: General Psychiatry, Private Practice Psychiatry, Telemedicine, Mental Health Initiatives.
Why did you choose CMU: The residents here are friendly, welcoming, and very supportive. Saginaw has a large and diverse population that is great for training. There is an emphasis on support for residents and a good work-life balance. There continue to be new opportunities and improvements within the program year after year.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Health and fitness. Golf. Pickleball. Beach. Food. Movies. Dog parks and walks. Beekeeping.
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Traverse City, Grand Rapids, Grand Haven, and Holland. Lots of good food, great beaches, dog parks, and drinks.

Headshot of Obianuju Madu wearing an orange top.

Obianuju Madu, MD

Medical School: St. George's University
Professional Career Interests: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Cultural Psychiatry, Psychotherapy
Why did you choose CMU: It was clear from the interview that there was a close-knit, supportive community at CMU and I instantly gravitated toward that. The program also provided the opportunity to receive great training in my desired specialty while remaining close to family in Canada. 
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Music, theatre, reading, cooking, playing basketball, adventuring, anime, spending time with friends and family
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: I'm new to Michigan so I still have a lot to discover. So far I've enjoyed the farmers markets and exploring Frankenmuth. 

Headshot of Bradley Miller wearing a purple button up shirt.

Bradley Miller, MD

Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, interventional psychiatry, psychotherapy, education
Why did you choose CMU: Having seen CMU psychiatry as a medical student here, I knew that this program was educationally focused with mutually supportive residents. It's almost a cliché at this point to say your residency is like a family, but the people here truly are one of the core strengths of the program, along with strong training and faculty.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Board games, video games, D&D, reading (mostly sci-fi/fantasy)
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Pretty much any activities with family and/or friends in the region, Mackinaw Island, wineries, trivia, experiencing new food/restaurants

Headshot for Zachary Nine wearing a blue button-up shirt.

Zachary Nine, MD

Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Child and Adolescent psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: I chose CMU for the supportive family environment, the wonderful faculty, and the excellent learning opportunities.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Video games, taking care of my dog, reading, and anime
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Hiking, camping, visiting Frankenmuth, and tubing along the rivers

Headshot of Samantha Ryan wearing a flower print top.

Samantha Ryan, MD

Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: On both the day of the resident social and interview, I fell in love with the culture at CMU. The sense of unity and understanding made me feel like my skills would be nurtured and that I'd be in an environment that would bring out the best in me.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Drawing, hiking, boating, fishing, and playing tennis
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Traveling up to the wineries in Traverse City, going to the cider mills, and visiting the coastal towns of Holland, Grand Haven, South Haven, and St. Joseph. I also love salmon fishing in Frankfort!

Headshot of Shereef Zaky wearing a black polo shirt.

Shereef Zaky, MD

Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine
Professional Career Interests: Inpatient Adult Psychiatry, sports psychiatry
Why did you choose CMU: Strong program with great faculty and residents. Rotating through as a student exposed me to the various aspects of the program and its culture. The residency is continuing to grow and truly values resident feedback. CMU also offers MIDOCs positions. I’ve grown to like the area over the past couple of years as a student and look forward to continuing my career here.
Personal Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with family, weightlifting, soccer, basketball, UFC, binge-watching Netflix, collecting Yu-gi-oh cards
Favorite Things to do around Michigan: Trying new restaurants in the metro-Detroit area, hiking, skiing