Sara Agha, M.D.

Medical School:  University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests:  Perinatal psychiatry, psychotherapy, adult outpatient psychiatry
Outside Interests:  Reading, listening to podcasts, being outdoors, exploring coffee shops and restaurants around Kansas City
What was/is your favorite rotation?  Consult/liaison psychiatry because it’s challenging and involves teamwork and a collaborative approach. I also enjoyed outpatient and the longitudinal relationship with my patients.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? What stands out to me the most is the people. The faculty, residents, and staff genuinely care about you and your success. Everyone is very approachable and supportive, which helps create a positive and nurturing atmosphere for training
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City?  Exploring KC’s coffee shop scene!

 

Levi Craghead, M.D., M.P.H.

Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine

Professional Interests: Adult outpatient psychiatry, mental health policy, rural telemedicine
Outside Interests: Dog training, Cooking, Reading
What was/is your favorite rotation? Adult Outpatient Psychiatry with University Health has been my most rewarding rotation so far. We see a variety of rare, complex psychiatric cases worthy of publication. My experience on this service has given me knowledge and confidence to take on a wide array of psychiatric disorders.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? This program does an excellent job promoting work-life quality. Residents, on average, work 8-5 weekdays with golden weekends as the norm. This grants ample opportunity to socialize with fellow residents, spend time with family, and conduct elective academic work. The people here are wonderful, and I consider them to be my great friends.
What are your plans for the future? Upon graduation, I intend to remain in my Kansas City home and be a psychiatrist for underserved populations. I would like to dedicate time each week to community outreach in support of rural populations. As well, I intend to work with state and local officials to promote policies aimed at improving access and quality of mental health services.

 

Ethan Johnston, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri Kansas-City School of Medicine

Professional Interests:  Adult Outpatient Psychiatry, LGBT+ Care, Obtaining Masters in Health Professions Education.
Outside Interests:  I enjoy exploring new cities and restaurants, sand volleyball and competitive karaoke (yes, this is a real thing!).
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be?
Hands down, the people. The vast amount of support shown from coresidents, attendings and staff make our program great.
What has been your favorite rotation so far?  Our outpatient psychiatry clinics solidified my interest in this type of patient care for my future. A diverse patient population combined with a dedicated interprofessional team provided a great learning opportunity.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City?  Besides the Kansas City BBQ, I love finding new coffee shops, local restaurants, and attending weekend festivals like “First Fridays” in the Cross-Roads and West Bottoms districts.

 

Saja Necibi, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests: I’m interested in learning more about psychotherapy and hope to incorporate it in my future practice
Outside Interests: I enjoy traveling, gardening, exploring Kansas City with friends, going to concerts, and hanging out with my cat
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? I really value how supportive the faculty and my co-residents are. Everyone is approachable, more than happy to teach, and we all function as a team.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? So far I like acute inpatient psychiatry the most- especially my geriatric psychiatry rotation
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? I like trying different coffee shops around Kansas City! So far my favorites are Rochester and Messenger coffee
What are your future career plans? Right now I am interested in child and adolescent psychiatry, and hope to serve marginalized communities, especially refugees.

Olurinde Oni, M.D., M.P.H., M.S.

Medical School: University of Ibadan, Nigeria

Professional Interests: Community Psychiatry, Research and Medical Education
Outside Interests: Spending time with family and friends, community service, working out on treadmill.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? I like the people here. Everyone is here to help you achieve or discover your goals. I am enjoying the camaraderie which I already saw during my interview here. Also I have lived in Kansas City metropolitan community for some time. It is good place to live, raise family, and enjoy a fairly balanced weather. The cost of living is affordable. In addition, the curriculum of training is clinically and academically intensive thereby providing a great learning experience.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? I have learned so much from Med-Psych, Chronic Inpatient Psychiatry, Acute Inpatient Psychiatry and Consult & Liaison rotations. Each of these rotations has added indispensable building blocks to my psychiatric knowledge
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? I spend time with families, hang out with friends going to restaurants, playing golf, and doing community services. I enjoy walking on the trail to view the serenity of nature.
What are your future career plans? I would like to work in a community-oriented outpatient adult psychiatry and also do clinical research.

Madeline Cusimano, M.D.

Medical School: University of Iowa- Carver College of Medicine

Professional Interests: General Inpatient Adult Psychiatry, Addiction medicine, community mental health, intellectual disabilities
Outside Interests: I love playing almost any and all sports (sand volleyball, soccer, whiffle ball, spikeball, pickleball). I love music and am a singer. My husband and I love finding live music spots around town.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? Both University Health and CBM expose us to a very diverse and underserved patient population, which has always been very important to me when pursuing a career in medicine.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? My favorite rotation so far has been inpatient psychiatry. It’s a busy rotation but lots to learn from. I just started consult liaison psychiatry and I can already tell that it’s going to be a great learning experience.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? I’m always down to try a new brewery, coffee shop or live music spot with my husband and friends. We love hosting and attending game nights. We are excited for this year’s football season as my husband is a lifelong Chiefs fan and newest member of the Chiefs drum line!
What are your future career plans? I aim to be a compassionate, competent and fully autonomous psychiatrist when I finish in four years. I don’t have a clear idea of what exact setting I want to practice in, or if I want to pursue fellowship. But I’m looking forward to the next four years to guide me in figuring that out.


Rashikha Dhar, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests: Acute Inpatient Psychiatry
Outside Interests: Cooking, creating Spotify playlists, spending time with friends and family, painting, watching Bollywood movies
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? The best aspect of our program is the culture. The faculty is very approachable and my relationship with my co-residents extends beyond residency. We do happy hour every Wednesday and celebrate birthdays together too. Overall, the program provides excellent comprehensive training through its various rotations, while still maintaining the work/life balance that allows us to enjoy Kansas City.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? As a medical student and now resident, I enjoyed acute inpatient psychiatry with Dr. Mabrouk and C&L with Dr. Metzner. They are two incredible psychiatrist and mentors that are part of the reason I wanted to continue my training at UMKC for residency.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? Go out to Westport or Power & Light District on the weekends to bars and clubs. Attend concerts. Shop at Country Club Plaza and Ward Pkwy. Hammock, fly kites, and roller skate at Loose Park.
 

Mariana Edwards, M.D.

Medical School: University of Lisbon, Portugal

Professional Interests: Adult Psychiatry, Mood and Personality Disorders, PTSD, Psychology of Behavior and Addiction, Creativity
Outside Interests: Adventures, Movies, Reading, Crafts, family time, comedy shows and finding humor in life
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? Sherry is the best program coordinator one could wish for! I feel supported in my learning and also feel a true bond with attendings and residents.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? Both acute and chronic Inpatient Psychiatry rotations have contributed to my professional development the most.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? Going to parks, lakes, gardens, going on road trips and grabbing a cup of coffee on the weekends with my husband and dog!
What are your future career plans? To be a valuable contribution to the program on a daily basis and to learn as much as I can. I feel fortunate to be able to take care of my patients and to strengthen my skill set as I move forward in my career as a psychiatrist. In the future I feel excited to become the best psychiatrist I can be and give back my knowledge to other students, and to contribute to mental health research and outreach initiatives of education for mental health in the community.


Ahmed Karim, M.D.

Medical School: University of Tripoli Faculty of Medicine

Professional Interests: Psychopharmacology and psychiatric neuromodulation
Outside Interests: Portrait painting (watercolor), Arabic calligraphy, animation and graphics, and weightlifting
Favorite Aspect of the Program: Supportive faculty, particularly Sherry Bushmoyer, the program coordinator, and an engaging curriculum in outpatient, forensic, and acute inpatient psychiatry
Favorite Rotation: So far, my favorite rotation was the Consultation and Liaison (C&L). Currently in outpatient service and I am eager for the experience.
Fun Activities in Kansas City: Enjoying the diverse culinary scene and Saturday concerts at the Power & Light district.
Future Career Plans: Establishing a mental health center

Erin McGaugh, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests:  Reproductive psychiatry, acute inpatient psychiatry
Outside Interests: My husband and I are renovating our 130-year-old home and that takes up a lot of my time. But, when I’m not working on the house, I love to garden, read, listen to Taylor Swift, and play tennis. I also love to watch tennis and travel to the US Open in New York City every year.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? The people. My co-residents, the attendings, and everyone involved in the program is supportive, caring, and approachable.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? Acute inpatient psychiatry has been my favorite rotation.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? I love live music at Knuckleheads.
What are your future career plans? I’m still figuring out exactly what I want to do. I enjoy inpatient psychiatry, but I also have a special interest in women’s mental health.

Evan McKinnis, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests: Addiction medicine, depression
Outside Interests: walking, working out, trying restaurants
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? The camaraderie and support of faculty and co-residents
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? I spend most of my time with my dog. I also like all the jazz around the city
What are your future career plans? I want to spend more time with family and friends. I hope to always keep learning.

Paula A. Benavides, D.O.

Medical School: Kansas City University

Professional Interests:  Forensic psychiatry, Adult Inpatient psychiatry, Geriatric psychiatry
Outside Interests:  Traveling, hiking, watching movies.
What was/is your favorite rotation?  Forensic psychiatry because you get complex cases and have more time to work with the patient. 
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? I love the diversity we have from patients, staff, attendings and residents. All very supportive.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? I love trying new restaurants, taking my kids to different parks, and hanging out with my coresidents. 
What are your future career plans?  I see myself doing adult inpatient psychiatry, hopefully working in a forensic unit.

 

Anum Chaudhry, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests: Psychotherapy, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mood disorders, Perinatal Psychiatry
Outside Interests: Being outdoors, reading, movies, crafts
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? The staff and my co-residents are all so supportive especially with transitioning from med school to residency. Our education and wellness are both prioritized.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? I really liked my forensics rotation at CBM. It was cool to work with patients who have been admitted for a longer period of time and track their progress towards competency. I was able to spend more time with patients and had a good amount of autonomy.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? I love visiting different parks in the area – Loose Park and Berkley Riverfront are my favorite and are close to the hospital. They even have bikes you can rent! I also enjoy visiting the River Market on the weekends for the Farmers Market downtown.
What are your future career plans? I’ve got a lot of interests in different fields of psychiatry, so I’m unsure at this time where exactly I’ll end up. But I’m excited to continue learning and keeping an open mind.

 

River Rivers, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests: Community psychiatry and LGBT+ community. I would eventually like to work with homeless young adult populations.
Outside Interests: Spending time with family/friends, bike riding, visiting new cigar shops/restaurants, various recreational sport leagues with friends and random house/garden projects
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? Patient population- there’s so much to learn from the patients we see through University Health.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? Acute inpatient psychiatry
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? Visit new restaurants, coffee and cigar shops with family/friends. I enjoy exercising and just being outside with my dogs as much as I can.
What are your future career plans? Community psychiatry. Long term, I would love to create an all in one shelter/transitional living facility with onsite case management, OT, psychiatry, therapy, recovery services, etc. for homeless young adults.

 

Jessica B. C. Sifford, M.D.

Medical School: University of Arkansas Medical School

Professional Interests:  Women’s Mental Health, Adult Psychiatry
Outside Interests:  My dogs, my family, trying new restaurants, exploring new places, going to museums, and reading.
What has been your favorite rotation so far?  I probably enjoyed my CBM inpatient psych rotation the most because I like getting to see my patients for an extended period and seeing them improve. But adult inpatient at UH was a lot of fun too because if it’s fast pace and the large variety of cases.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? I love how nice and supportive everyone is. It’s been really amazing to have such supportive faculty and co-residents especially as I move through the residency. Even as I become more comfortable, I’m always glad to know that there are people who I can reach out to if I need to.
What sort of research are you doing, and how does the program support you in your scholarly activities?  The program provides opportunities for research not only as part of our didactics, but through the development of a case conference. Currently, I am working on the project which I helped developed in the research class, working on my case conference presentation, and am working on a case report.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City?  I enjoy kickboxing, going to the dog park with my dogs, exploring the city, and trying new restaurants with my husband.
What are your future career plans?  Goal one is to complete residency and become an attending! Beyond that I’m not fully sure yet. Probably working somewhere with a mix of inpatient and outpatient care. Maybe seeing a majority women’s mental health patients. I’m still exploring my interests and working on figuring out exactly what I want to do!

 

Momin Tahirkheli, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests:  Child Psychiatry and Neuropsychiatry
Outside Interests: NFL, Video Games, Travel
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? The people and community
What has been your favorite rotation so far? MedPsych
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? Go to the Plaza, Explore Nelson-Atkins, Go to a Chiefs game
What are your future career plans? Hopefully have my own private practice by the end of my career.

 

Dat Truong, M.D.

Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School

Professional Interests:  Adult Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Psychotherapy
Outside Interests: Anything outdoors (camping, hiking, cycling, mountain biking), gardening, coffee brewing, pizza making!
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? The people – all of my co-residents, the upper level residents, the attendings and faculty have gone above and beyond to make sure we have everything we need. It’s been really reassuring to know that if I ever have a question, I can just text someone and get help.
What has been your favorite rotation so far? I’ve only completed my neurology rotation so far (2 month block), but I learned a lot and our team was fantastic. Lots of interesting and exciting cases from code strokes to seizure management, and everyone was super nice and approachable. I’m currently on my acute inpatient psych rotation, and it’s been busy but fun.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? My co-residents joked that I knew more about KC than some of the KC natives – I’m a Google Maps fanatic, and I love exploring and saving new spots of interest wherever I go. I love hammocking in Loose Park, Cafe Ca Phe has solid coffee, and every Thursday I try to join the local KC group cycling rides.
What are your future career plans? I hope to learn as much as I can during residency to gain more clinical expertise, but I don’t know yet if I want to pursue fellowship, or if I want to eventually practice in an inpatient or outpatient setting. I’m looking forward to figuring that out these next few years, and I feel confident in our program’s diversity of clinical training to help me decide.

 
Sanjula Bhuri, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Outside Interests: I love to read! My favorite genres are fantasy and historical fiction.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? The faculty are amazing. Everyone is so kind, patient, encouraging, and understanding. They are always open to questions and truly care for your well-being. They want to see you succeed and will do everything they can to help you reach your goals.

 

George Cochran, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests: Community outreach, Interventional psychiatry
Outside Interests:  Gardening, Hiking, Music, Reading, Cooking
What was/is your favorite rotation?  I have greatly enjoyed all of my rotations in the field of psychiatry.  If I had to pick a favorite, I would say Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? I like the people in the department of Psychiatry.   My co-residents and the faculty of our department help facilitate a great learning environment. Everyone I have met is compassionate, curious, and dedicated.
What sort of research are you doing, and how does the program support you in your scholarly activities?  I am not currently doing any research, but I am excited to get involved.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City?  I like to hike, watch sports, and listen to live music.
What are your plans for the future?  I hope to help deliver psychiatric services to people who have barriers to accessing healthcare in my community

 

Sayra Nieto Gomez, M.D.

Medical School: University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Outside Interests: Weightlifting, hiking, lounging with my cat, RPGs, and reading books on anything from classic novels to quantum mechanics, or self-help books.
What was/is your favorite rotation? C&L or inpatient acute care
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be?  One of the aspects of this program that stood out to me is how intentional they were about having a diverse population of incoming residents. Our incoming class is half female and half male with various different ethnicities represented in a single class.
My favorite thing about this program is the supportive staff, residents, and coordinator. Attending physicians enjoy teaching and have the patience to teach throughout rotations. Other residents are very welcoming and willing to help each other with advice in and out of the hospital. Our program coordinator is very organized and allows schedules, rotations, PTO days, etc to run smoothly.
What sort of research are you doing, and how does the program support you in your scholarly activities?  I recently completed a quality improvement project for caregivers of loved ones with dementia. In terms of future research, I’m interested in the economic burden that results from the lack of mental health resources in hopes of increasing economic support for psychiatric institutions.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City?  My idea of fun is eating food! Kansas City is a melting pot of different cultures and ethnicities. I love trying all the different types of cuisines in the Kansas City area with friends and family!
What are your plans for the future? I’m interested in either academic medicine or simply outpatient child psychiatry.

 

John Lin, M.D.

Medical School:  University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine

Professional Interests:  Child Psychiatry, Addiction, Psychotherapy
Outside Interests:  Coffee, cats, (cat-safe) plants, piano, tennis, singing in the shower. I like dogs too, don’t worry.
What was/is your favorite rotation?  I have only been on the Med-Psych service so far, but it has been a great start to residency! As a student at UMKC, my favorite rotation was working in the outpatient child psychiatry clinic.
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be?  This program truly cares and advocates for those who society often leaves behind. Our patients drive us in all that we do. They are the reason we put on our work clothes and strive to do better each and every single day.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City?  Kansas City has a great coffee scene and finding new places to relax is a great way to explore the city. When I have time, I also love participating in local tennis leagues.
What are your plans for the future?  In the immediate future? Scooping my cat’s litter box. In the more distant future? Working as an outpatient child psychiatrist. This would likely mean a child psychiatry fellowship in a few years, but I am still trying to keep an open mind. For instance, addiction medicine is also very interesting!

 

Ahmed Shamseldin, M.D.

Medical School: Cairo University- School of Medicine- Egypt

Professional Interests: Geriatric Psychiatry, and Addiction Psychiatry.
Outside Interests: Fishing, Travelling, and Playing Chess.
What was/is your favorite rotation? Outpatient and ECT rotation.
If you had to pick one thing you like about this program, what would it be? The collegial culture which I find invaluable for my professional and personal development.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? Even though I am still new to Kansas City I feel belonging to the city. I find countless places and things you can do. Exploring the city, going to different coffee shops, and shopping at Country Club Plaza, are my plans at the moment.
What are your plans for the future?  Being a professional psychiatrist by the end of residency is my top goal. Contribute actively to healthcare administration and quality of care.

 

Lekha Thangada, M.D., M.P.H.

Medical School: Louisiana State University-New Orleans (MD/MPH)

Professional Interests: Mood disorders, interventional psychiatry, and child psychiatry
Outside Interests: Dancing, playing around with makeup, watching sports, and honestly any activity as long as it involves being around friends!
What was/is your favorite rotation? I’ve only done neurology so far, so it’s automatically my favorite but I can’t wait to have my inpatient psychiatry experiences as the year goes on. Each rotation is so unique and has its own flavor, which is great for learning!
If you had to pick one thing you really like about this program, what would it be? There is an incredible amount of diversity in faculty, staff, and other residents so there is always something to learn from those around you, either directly related to clinical knowledge/skills or life experiences. Everyone is incredibly friendly, warm, and willing to help each other, so it truly feels like a community and family.
What do you like to do for fun in and around Kansas City? I just moved here for residency, so I am still finding my footing here, but so far I’ve loved hanging out in the tons of parks/green spaces around the city, trying new restaurants and coffee shops, and once the football season starts, I definitely plan on watching the games and getting into the city spirit!
What are your plans for the future? Graduation. Just kidding! While I am considering fellowship vs. practicing after my training, I am still figuring it out and am open to seeing how my interests evolve with my training!