Luke R. Sponholz
Erin Rivelis
<p>Psychoeducational assessment, trauma, child maltreatment.</p>
<p>Erin Rivelis, PhD, is an attending psychologist at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Rivelis’s clinical focus centers on the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents with neurodevelopmental disabilities.</p><p>After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Michigan in 2002, Dr. Rivelis earned her Master of Education in school psychology at Teachers College, Columbia University in 2006. She remained at Columbia University and completed her Master of Philosophy and Doctor of Philosophy in applied educational psychology in 2008. The same year, Dr. Rivelis completed a psychology internship at the Jewish Care Association’s Pleasantville Cottage School, Edenwald Center, Diagnostic Center.</p><p>Dr. Rivelis’s research focuses on the intersection of mental health conditions and neurodevelopmental disabilities. Her work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals, books, chapters and review articles, and she has shared her work at many invited presentations, conferences and symposia.</p><p>Dr. Rivelis is a member of several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Association, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America and the Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies.</p>
Sean C. Pereira
<p>Sean Pereira, PhD, is a Psychologist in Pediatric Diabetes and Endocrinology at Children's Hospital at Montefiore and an Instructor in the Departments of Pediatrics and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Montefiore-Einstein.</p><p>Dr. Pereira’s work focuses on promoting healthy development for patients with chronic health conditions and providing evidence-based intervention for those patients with behavioral health concerns. He actively instructs and trains pediatric house staff, medical fellows, and psychology graduate students in social medicine and behavioral health in the context of chronic medical conditions. Dr. Pereira is also a member of the Total Integrated Genitourinary Endocrine Reproductive clinic, working with other specialists in managing the care of pediatric patients with variations of sexual development.</p><p>After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of California at Los Angeles, Dr. Pereira attended Palo Alto University. He earned his Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology following completion of his APA-accredited predoctoral training at the National Psychology Training Consortium–Central Region. He then went on to complete a fellowship with the Audrey Hepburn Children's House at Hackensack University Medical Center.</p><p>Dr. Pereira’s research interests focus on identity development and utilization of behavioral health services in integrated care settings, and professional advocacy.</p>
Ammar Y. Ahmad
Dr. Ahmad's clinical focus is psychosomatic medicine, with particular interest in heart and lung transplant psychiatry.
Dr. Ahmad’s research focuses on psychosomatic medicine and medical ethics, particularly in the area of organ transplantation selection.
<p>Ammar Yasser Ahmad, MD, is Attending Psychiatrist at Montefiore. His clinical focus is psychosomatic medicine, with particular interest in heart and lung transplant psychiatry.</p><p>In 2007, Dr. Ahmad received his Bachelor of Science in history and biology at the University of Pittsburgh. He then attended St. George’s University, where he received his Doctor of Medicine in 2014. He began his postgraduate training in 2015 with a four-year residency in psychiatry at the Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, becoming Chief Resident in his final year. In 2019, he began a yearlong fellowship in consultation-liaison psychiatry at Montefiore. In 2020, Dr. Ahmad completed the certificate program in bioethics and medical humanities at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine.</p><p>Dr. Ahmad’s research focuses on psychosomatic medicine and medical ethics, particularly in the area of organ transplantation selection. His work has been published in a number of abstracts.</p><p>In 2020, Dr. Ahmad received the Davidoff Teaching Award. He is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and a member of the American Psychiatric Association. </p>