Fellows

First Year Fellows

Natalie Atallah, MD was born in Sofia, Bulgaria and raised in Lebanon. She earned her medical degree from the American University of Beirut in Lebanon. Afterwards, she moved to Boston and completed a two-year research fellowship at The Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH), working in the Mansour Lab in Infectious Diseases, focusing on biomarkers in pneumonia. She then completed her Internal Medicine residency training at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Boston, where her interest in Rheumatology deepened. This led her to further her passion by working with Dr. Zachary Wallace at MGH on ANCA-associated vasculitis. What attracted Natalie to Montefiore was the diversity of the patient population as well as the close-knit environment, creating a supportive and familial atmosphere. Outside of work, Natalie enjoys reading, participating in Pilates classes as well as hanging out with friends and family.

Murilo Bastos, MD earned his medical degree from Universidade Federal da Bahia, in Brazil, where he had the opportunity to work with impoverished and rural populations within the public health system following graduation. Transitioning to New York City, he completed his residency at Mount Sinai Morningside/West, where he solidified his passion for Rheumatology. His interests include inflammatory myopathies, connective tissue diseases, and mental health. He chose Montefiore because of the phenomenal clinical exposure, teaching culture, and collegial atmosphere. In his free time, he enjoys watching soccer, outdoor exercises, and trying different restaurants in the city.

Charles deBoisblanc grew up in New Orleans, LA, and attended medical school at LSU Health Science Center Shreveport. He completed his residency training at George Washington University in Washington, DC. He was drawn to Montefiore-Einstein for his rheumatology fellowship by the people (faculty and fellows) and the population the program serves. In his spare time, he enjoys hiking, traveling, and trying new restaurants.

Michael Liu, M.D. is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. After earning his bachelor’s degree at Washington University in St. Louis, he decided to continue his training in New York. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at Northwell North Shore University Hospital & LIJ Medical Center. Afterwards, he practiced as a nocturnist at LIJ Medical Center. Returning to the daytime, he chose to pursue his rheumatology fellowship at Montefiore for the outstanding faculty and diverse patient population. He has an interest in musculoskeletal ultrasound, rheumatoid arthritis, and gout. In his spare time, he enjoys watching movies (especially Lord of the Rings), trying out new cooking recipes, and spending time with friends in the city.

Second Year Fellows

Chen Chao, MD, MBA, was born in China and grew up in Argentina; he studied at Universidad Favaloro Facultad De Ciencias Médicas in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Later, he continued his training in Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Beijing Institute of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, part of the China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences. Chen Chao's commitment to patient care and his fascination for rheumatology was ignited when he was awarded the CIR Patient Care Trust Fund grant during his residency. His project, "Bridging health care disparities in the Bronx by using effective clinician-patient education" focused on providing literacy-sensitive educational material and appropriate counseling to patients affected by rheumatologic conditions, significantly impacting healthcare disparities in the Bronx.

He chose rheumatology at Montefiore for the broad spectrum of clinical training and the deep socioeconomic concerns of the Bronx's patients. During his first year of fellowship, he finished his Master of Business Administration at Boston University and noticed his interest in the business side of healthcare. His primary interests in rheumatology include lupus, vasculitis, and HLH. In his free time, he enjoys photography and biking. He is also a licensed recreational drone pilot.

Gopisree Peringeth completed her medical education at JIPMER in Pondicherry, India, where she also finished her internal medicine residency. In 2020, she relocated to the US and completed her internal medicine training at Jacobi Medical Center before pursuing a rheumatology fellowship at Montefiore. She is deeply passionate about the intricate pathology encountered in both internal medicine and rheumatology. Her interests include myositis, spondyloarthritis, ultrasound-guided procedures, regenerative medicine, and the impact of environmental factors such as diet and stress on immune system. Outside of her professional life, she enjoys hiking, running, and cooking.

Tariq Syed was born in Texas and grew up mostly in Pakistan where he completed his medical school at Allama Iqbal medical college . In his own words ” It's funny that a kid used to being in hot and inferno temperatures would choose New York City as my new home . The NYC based Christmas movies (especially Home Alone 2 ), incomparable skyline, plethora of sports opportunities and the bazillion food options in the city had an impact on my decision”. He completed his internal medicine residency at Jacobi Medical Center in the Bronx. It became a Bronx Tale when he was given the opportunity to pursue Rheumatology fellowship here at Montefiore. Elective rheumatology rotations at Montefiore and Jacobi offered him the opportunity to appreciate the extensive disease pathology, diversity of patients and their presentations, and most importantly the kind and welcoming nature of the attendings and mentors he came across all of which convinced him that rheumatology is where he wants to be. Every day is a learning day, personally and professionally. Here, he believes he is offered the tools to help him be a respectable rheumatologist in the future.

Sweta Tripathy earned her bachelor's degree in molecular and cellular biology with honors concentration and psychology at University of Illinois as a James Scholar. She completed medical school at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she worked on health care disparity research. Her passion for rheumatology developed during her internal medicine residency at Northwell Health Northshore University Hospital/Long Island Jewish Medical Center. For fellowship, chose to go to Montefiore for the vast variety in clinical exposure, train with outstanding faculty, and serve a socioeconomically disadvantaged community. Her particular interests are in vasculitis and MSK ultrasound. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with family, hiking, and travelling.

4th-Year Medicine/Pediatrics Rheumatology Fellow

Faith Ikalina, M.D. is originally from the NY/NJ area and is happy be back after venturing to New England for her Med-Peds residency and is excited to be Montefiore's inaugural Med-Peds Rheumatology fellow! In her spare time, she enjoys both listening to and making music with my family and friends, and by extension also loves singing karaoke. She has a very cute 2 year old daughter named Hope (yes, the Faith-Hope thing was on purpose).

Recent Past Fellows 2005-Present

2024
Juliann Allen, MBBS
Davina Chen, DO
Chinenye Osuorji, MD
Anitha Ramu, MBBS
2023
Sundus Mian, MD
(Faculty at Mt Sinai Hospital, NY)

Oscar Mena Miranda, MD
(Faculty at UPMC, PA)

Nigam Patel, MD
(Private practice, NJ)
2022
Bhavna Abbi, M.D.
Faculty at Beth Israel Lahey Health- MA

Sai Koyoda, M.B.B.S.
Private practice- NY

Dima Nimri, M.D.
Faculty at George Washington University Hospital- DC

Patrick Webster, M.D.
Academic practice, Nuvance Health/Norwalk Hospital- CT
2021
Lilian Bizzocchi
Private Practice-MO

Navneet Kaur
Academic Practice-CA

Don-Andre Jackson
Private Practice-CT

Jeanie Lee
Faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY
2020
Chrisanna Dobrowolski
Faculty at the Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Alejandra Londono
Private Practice-IA

Sneha Patel
Private Practice – TX
2019
Nevena Barjaktarovic
Private Practice – PA

Maria Gabriela Chancay
Private Practice – NJ

Eugeniya Golub
Academic Practice - NY
2018
Pankaj Jain
Keiser Permanente – Washington, DC

Joey Kim
Private Practice - CA

Shereen Mahmood
Faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY
2017
Omar Alshemeili
Abu Dhabi Health Services - UAE

Sahitya Mallipeddi
Private Practice – IN

Avneet Vig
Private Practice – FL
2016
Bojana Jovanovic
Faculty at Henry Ford Health System - MI

Khashayar Khosraviani
Keiser Permanente - CA

Tejas Sheth
Private Practice – CT

Sheena Ogando
Private Practice – CA
2015
Jordan Eli Brodsky
Private Practice – NY

Lia Matarrese McGibbon
Faculty at National Jewish, CO
2014
Arshad Sadia
Faculty at Northwell Health, NY

Asha Shrestha
Private Practice – NY

Tehila Zuckerman
Faculty at New York Presbyterian-Queens, NY
2013
Cindy Vallejo Johnston
Private Practice – FL

Monalyn De Los Reyes Labitigan
Private Practice – NY

Onome Whiteru Ifoeze
Faculty at Baylor College of Medicine, TX
2012
Jason Brucker
Private Practice – NY

Jennifer Graybill
Private Practice – FL

Saakshi Khattri
Dermatology faculty at Ichan School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, NY
2011
Rachel Gross
Private Practice – MA

Elizabeth Lyons
Private Practice – TN

Asena Bahce-Altuntas
Faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY
2010
Arlene Tan Tieng
Currently: Faculty at Bronx Care Health System, NY

Joyce Reyes Thomas
Currently: Private Practice – NY

Simona Gindea
Currently: National Health Services, United Kingdom
2009
Irene Blanco
Currently: Faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY

Elena Sanders
Currently: Private Practice - NY

Anna Broder
Currently: Faculty at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, NY
2008
Benjamin Levine
Currently: Private Practice - NY

Maryann Lee
Currently: Private Practice - NY
2007
Manuela Marinescu
Currently: Private Practice - NY

Mohammad Kamran
Currently: Private Practice - GA
2006
Liliane Min
Currently: Private Practice - PA

Bernard Hojaili
Currently: Private Practice - LA
2005
Margaret Li
Currently: Faculty at New York University-Grossman School of Medicine, NY

Anju Varghese
Currently: Private Practice - NY

Quick Links

Division of Rheumatology | Montefiore Einstein Medicine