Einstein Student Mental Health Center Students and post-docs can contact the center for appointments at 718-839-7400 or email Dr. Battaglia at joseph.battaglia@einsteinmed.edu The center will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and until 7 p.m. Wednesdays. For non-life threatening emergencies, contact the Montefiore Psychiatric Emergency Department at 718-920-7460 to be directed to a directed to a psychiatry resident. Staff Joseph Battaglia, M.D., director of Einstein’s Student Mental Health Center, is an assistant professor of psychiatry and behavioral services and deputy director of Einstein’s psychiatry and behavior sciences residency training program. He earned his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia School of Medicine and completed his residency at Montefiore Medical Center. Raura Doreste, Ph.D., is a licensed Clinical Psychologist at Einstein’s Student Mental Health Center. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Ponce Health Sciences University in Puerto Rico, where she trained in evidenced based treatments (CBT, ACT, Motivational Interviewing), as well as Neuropsychology and Neurosciences, which she integrates in her psychotherapy models. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, mood disorders, substance use, and neuropsychological disorders. She completed a research postdoctoral training in Geriatric Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. Zoe Luscher, M.D., is a psychiatrist at Einstein's Student Mental Health Center. She earned her medical degree from the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, and completed her psychiatry residency at Johns Hopkins. She sees patients for medication management and psychotherapy and has a special interest in anxiety disorders and obsessive compulsive disorder. In psychotherapy, she uses an integrative approach based on her background in cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy and emotionally focused therapy. Sarika Persaud, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist at Einstein Student Mental Health Center. She earned her doctorate in Combined Clinical-School Psychology from Pace University, New York, where her research centered on youth suicide prevention in under-resourced international settings. She has taught seminars and graduate courses on psychoanalysis, multicultural issues in psychology, and has led psychoanalytic case conferences. She specializes in the treatment of sexuality, body image, complex trauma, identity, and relationship issues, with a wealth of experience working with immigrant, LGBTQAI+, Middle Eastern, Caribbean, and South Asian populations. Rebecca Kurtz, Psy.D., is a licensed psychologist at Einstein’s Student Mental Health Center. She earned her doctorate in combined Clinical-School Psychology from Yeshiva University, and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in student mental health at Yeshiva University. She specializes in the treatment of anxiety, mood, life transition, and relationship difficulties, and uses an integrative approach incorporating cognitive-behavioral and psychodynamic practices. Related Features Einstein Student Mental Health Center Opens Mental Health Care Comes to the Heart of Campus
