Autism Spectrum Disorder
Oscar H. Purugganan
<p>Oscar H. Purugganan, MD, MPH, is an attending physician at the Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein and Assistant Professor, Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Purugganan’s clinical focus is on the assessment and management of developmental problems in infants and young children and those with chronic health conditions that put them at risk for developmental problems.</p><p>After earning his Bachelor of Science in biology from the University of the Philippines in Quezon City, Philippines, in 1986, Dr. Purugganan earned his Doctor of Medicine at the University of the Philippines College of Medicine in Manila, Philippines, in 1991. He then moved to the United States to continue his medical training, completing his pediatric internship and residency at New York University Medical Center-Bellevue Hospital in 1995, his Master of Public Health from Columbia University School of Public Health in 1998, and a fellowship in behavioral pediatrics at Montefiore Einstein in 1998. Following this, Dr. Purugganan completed an additional fellowship in developmental pediatrics at the Children’s Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center, Rose F. Kennedy Center in 1999.</p><p>Dr. Purugganan’s research focuses on early identification of autism spectrum disorder, neonatal-follow-up, developmental surveillance and screening and intellectual disabilities. He has given many invited presentations and has shared his work through numerous peer-reviewed journals, reviews, chapters, editorials and poster presentations.</p><p>Dr. Purugganan is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics in General Pediatrics, Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics and Neurodevelopmental Disabilities.</p>
Elissa G. Yozawitz
<p>Pediatric neurology, epilepsy, neonatal neurology.</p>
Dr. Yozawitz focuses on the management of neonatal neurology and pediatric epilepsy, particularly children and adolescents with difficult-to-treat seizures. She specializes in a variety of neurological conditions diagnosed in the newborn period, including hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, stroke, and seizures. She has expertise in EEG and advanced medical treatments. She provides care from the neonatal period through adolescence.
Dr. Yozawitz’s research is focused on neonatal seizures and early-life epilepsies, including infantile spasms. She is involved in multicenter studies to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes for children with epilepsy. She is also involved in assessing EEG changes during anesthesia.
<p>Elissa G. Yozawitz, MD, is Director of Neonatal Neurology at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore Einstein and Professor of Neurology and Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Yozawitz focuses on the neurological management of children, from the neonatal period through adolescence, particularly those with difficult-to-treat seizures. She also specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, stroke and seizures in the newborn. Dr. Yozawitz’s expertise includes electroencephalography (EEG) and state-of-the-art treatments.</p><p>After obtaining a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and in health and society from the University of Rochester in 2001, Dr. Yozawitz earned a Doctor of Medicine from the State University of New York Upstate Medical University in 2005. She completed a pediatric residency at Schneider Children’s Hospital in 2007, followed by a residency in pediatric neurology at Montefiore Einstein in 2010. Dr. Yozawitz remained at Montefiore Einstein to complete a fellowship in clinical neurophysiology in 2011.</p><p>Dr. Yozawitz’s research focuses on improving the identification and efficacy of treating early-life epilepsies, including infantile spasms. Her research also explores EEG changes during anesthesia. Dr. Yozawitz participated in multicenter studies, functioned as site principal investigator and co-investigator for multiple research projects, presented her research findings at national and international scientific meetings, published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and authored several book chapters. She served as a reviewer for medical journals including <em>Epilepsia, Epileptic Disorders, Neurology</em> and the <em>New England Journal of Medicine</em>, among others. For several years, Dr. Yozawitz participated in the work of international committees tasked to revise nosology and treatment guidelines for neonatal and childhood epilepsy.</p><p>Dr. Yozawitz is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Epilepsy and Neurology, with special certification in Child Neurology. She is a member of the American Academy of Neurology, the American Epilepsy Society and the Child Neurology Society. Dr. Yozawitz repeatedly has been named in Castle Connolly’s “Regional Top Doctor,” “Top Doctors: New York Metro Area.” She additionally has been listed in <em>New York Magazine’s</em> “Top Doctors” for multiple years.</p>
Melissa Yao
<p>Routine and Complex Cataract Surgery</p><p>Medical and Surgical Treatment of Glaucoma</p><p>Comprehensive Ophthalmology</p>
<p>Glaucoma</p><p>Resident Education</p>
<p>Wen-Jeng M. Yao, MD, is an Attending Physician and Associate Professor in Ophthalmology at Montefiore Einstein. Her clinical focus is on routine and complex cataract surgery, medical and surgical treatment of glaucoma, and comprehensive ophthalmology. She enjoys establishing long-lasting relationships with her patients, delivering the highest quality clinical and surgical care in ophthalmology, and teaching residents who are training to become future ophthalmologists.</p><p>After receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree at Cornell University, Dr. Yao attended Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, earning her Doctor of Medicine in 2006. She began her postdoctoral training with a yearlong internship at Saint Peters University Hospital, followed by her residency in ophthalmology at George Washington University in 2010. In 2011, she completed her surgical glaucoma fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian Hospital.</p><p>Dr. Yao’s research interests involve identifying epidemiological associations of glaucoma and advancing surgical and laser techniques for glaucoma therapy. Her work has been shared through peer-reviewed journals, book chapters, abstracts and poster presentations.</p><p>Dr. Yao is board certified and is a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Glaucoma Society. She was listed as a Castle Connelly Top Doctor in 2021, 2022 and 2023.</p>
Erica F. Weiss
<p>Dr. Erica Weiss is a clinical neuropsychologist who completed her doctorate in Clinical Psychology with a <span class="highlight">Health</span> emphasis at the Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology at Yeshiva University. She completed her clinical internship and post-doctoral fellowship training in Clinical Neuropsychology within the division of Neuropsychology at Montefiore. Dr. Weiss is now director of that fellowship program and assistant professor of Neurology at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. She is Associate Director of Neuropsychology at the Montefiore Center for the Aging Brain, Director of Neuropsychology for the Hudson Valley Center of Excellence in Alzheimer’s Disease and Director of Neuropsychology at the Montefiore Memory Disorders Clinic. </p>
<p>Dr Weiss’ clinical work includes the cognitive evaluation of children and adults with a variety of neurological disorders including epilepsy and dementia. She spearheaded the expansion of clinical neuropsychology services through the creation of a bilingual internship and fellowship program in Clinical Neuropsychology. </p>
Dr. Weiss’ clinical work includes the cognitive evaluation of children and adults with a variety of neurological disorders including but no limited to multiple sclerosis/neuroimmunological disorders, epilepsy, and dementia.<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
Research foci include cognition in healthy aging and exceptional longevity, briefer neurocognitive evaluations and their usefulness in clinical/ research settings, and cognitive correlates of childhood epilepsies and Febrile Status Epilepticus. Particular interest in improving how various providers assess cognition.<quillbot-extension-portal></quillbot-extension-portal>
Jacqueline Weingarten-Arams
Nutrition
Pulmonary hypertension
Sepsis
<p>Jacqueline Weingarten-Arams, MD, is an attending physician and Professor, Pediatrics at Montefiore Einstein. Dr. Weingarten-Arams’ pediatric critical care expertise focuses on cardiac critical care, acute hypoxemic respiratory failure, nutrition in critical illness and energy expenditure, cardiopulmonary resuscitation (quality CPR) and extracorporeal life support (ECMO).</p><p>After obtaining her Bachelor of Science in nutritional biochemistry at Cornell University in 1982, Dr. Weingarten-Arams earned her Doctor of Medicine at the same institution in 1986. She then completed her pediatric residency at Columbia University in 1990, where she was Chief Resident in her final year. Following this, Dr. Weingarten-Arams completed a fellowship in pediatric critical care medicine at New York Hospital Cornell University Medical College in 1996.</p><p>Dr. Weingarten-Arams research focus includes the use of deliberate simulated practice in improving outcomes in pediatric critical illness, pediatric resuscitation and pediatric airway management. Her other projects involve chronic critical illness, bioethics in pediatric critical care and oxidative injury in respiratory failure. She has been principal investigator and co-investigator on several research projects, and her work has been shared through numerous peer-reviewed publications and invited presentations.</p><p>Dr. Weingarten-Arams is a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and the American Board of Pediatrics. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Chest Physicians. She is also a member of several professional organizations, including the American Medical Association, the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society and the Society of Critical Care Medicine. Dr. Weingarten-Arams has been named in Castle Connolly’s “Top Doctors: New York Metro Area” for multiple years. In 2006, she was inducted into the Leo M. Davidoff Society and in 2019, Dr. Weingarten-Arams won the William Obrinsky Award for Excellence in Medical Student Education.</p>
Melissa P. Wasserstein
Audrey M. Uong
Dr. Uong's clinical focus has been in pediatrics.
The care of hospitalized pediatric patients with asthma has been a main focus of research for Dr. Uong. She is also interested in researching the improvement of transitions of care in hospitalized pediatric patients.
<p>Audrey M. Uong, MD, is an Attending Physician, Division of Hospital Medicine at Children’s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) and an Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Since joining the Montefiore team in 2019, her clinical focus has been in pediatrics.</p><p>In 2008, Dr. Uong received her Bachelor of Arts in Asian Languages and Civilizations from Amherst College. Her studies continued at New York Medical College, where she received her Doctor of Medicine in 2014. Following this, Dr. Uong continued her studies at Albert Einstein Medical College and received her Master of Science in Clinical Research Methods in 2019. She began her postgraduate training in 2014 with a 3-year internship and residency at Cohen Children’s Medical Center. She then completed a fellowship in Pediatric Hospital Medicine at CHAM in 2019.</p><p>The care of hospitalized pediatric patients with asthma has been a main focus of research for Dr. Uong. She is also interested in researching the improvement of transitions of care in hospitalized pediatric patients. Her work has been published in numerous peer-reviewed journals and review articles, and has been presented nationally.</p><p>In 2019, Dr. Uong received the CHAM Research Day Oral Presentation Award, given to her from faculty judges for receiving top scores. Dr. Uong is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a member of numerous professional societies, including the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Academic Pediatric Association.</p>
Pauline L. Umylny
<p>Polina Umylny, PhD, is Assistant Director of the Behavioral Health Integration Program (BHIP), Director of HealthySteps Training, and Training Consultant to ZERO TO THREE/HealthySteps National at Children?s Hospital at Montefiore (CHAM) as well as an Instructor of Pediatrics at our Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Umylny?s clinical focus is on the impact of trauma and toxic stress on children?s development and integrating behavioral health programs into primary care pediatrics. Dr. Umylny joined Montefiore in 2013. </p><p>Dr. Umylny received her Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology from the State University of New York at Binghamton in 1995. She attended George Washington University and received her Doctor of Philosophy in Clinical Psychology. In 2006, she completed an internship in Clinical Psychology at Astor Services for Children and Families in the Tilden School Age Day Treatment Program and Outpatient Clinic</p><p>Dr. Umylny?s research focuses on the implementation of early childhood behavioral health programs, such as HealthySteps, into primary care pediatrics. Her work on the mental health of children has been published in reviewed journals, book chapters, invited reviews and poster presentations. </p><p>Dr. Umylny is a member of the American Psychological Association, ZERO TO THREE and the Society for Development and Behavioral Pediatrics (SDBP). She is also Co-Chair of the Postpartum Mood and Anxiety Disorders Work Group of the SDBP Early Childhood SIG. </p>