Rodolfo Bonnin, PhD
Assistant Professor
 Dr Bonnin joined FIU in 2007 as the Director of Assessment and Evaluation for the Office of Medical Education. He oversees and maintains an assessment environment intended to improve college-wide programmatic learning outcomes and to meet accreditation requirements. In addition, Dr Bonnin prepares medical students for residency-readiness. He is the Co-Course Director for the Professional Behaviors I course and teaches undergraduate Research Methods courses for the Department of Psychology.
Dr Bonnin has led the charge to further develop assessments through an innovative methodology called “reliability across assessments,” which is a data-driven approach to developing exams based on the theory of cognitive consistency. He has created a comprehensive tool that provides faculty with a global view of assessment outcomes for quality improvement purposes. He continues to do research in this area and hopes to patent the tool he created with colleagues.
At DOPBH, Dr Bonnin has spearheaded the integration of a medical student-focused suicide training program into the curriculum. The goal is to increase student awareness and improve their clinical competencies in patient care. FIU is to become one of the first medical schools in the nation to integrate this type of training into a medical education curriculum. The training will officially begins now in the Professional Behaviors course, and will continue into other courses and clerkships throughout the four-year curriculum.
Xenia Aponte, MD
Voluntary Clinical Assistant Professor
 Dr Aponte is the Program Director of the Citrus Health Network-FIU Psychiatry Residency Training Program. She is an adult psychiatrist who has used her expertise to treat the underserved, mentally-ill population of Miami-Dade County. She has worked closely with the legal system and homeless programs to assist these populations with a multidisciplinary team approach. As the Medical Director of the Adult Crisis Stabilization Unit at CHN, Dr Aponte is an integral part of a new model of treatment with the fusion of both medical and psychiatric components. In 2011, she was appointed Voluntary Clinical Assistant Professor at the FIU HWCOM. Dr Aponte has also served, since 2015, as the Associate Program Director of the Psychiatry Residency Training Program, the first Psychiatry Training program to be solely sponsored by a Federally Qualified Health Center.
Dr Aponte obtained her medical degree at the University of Panama Medical School, Republic of Panama and she completed her residency in Psychiatry at The New York Psychiatric Institute at Creedmoor Psychiatric Center in New York. She subsequently completed a Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. After completing her fellowship, Dr Aponte stayed as an Assistant Professor with Baylor College of Medicine for several years.
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 Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) Services & ConsultationOur board-certified faculty psychiatrists in collaboration with the Center for Advanced Technology and Education at the FIU College of Engineering and Computing are pleased to offer the FDA-cleared MagVita TMS Therapy for depression at the FIU Health Ambulatory Care Center (ACC) located in Miami.
TMS was approved for use by the FDA as a treatment for major depression for patients who do not respond to at least one antidepressant medication in the current episode. Approximately 14 to 30 percent of people who have not responded to medication may respond to TMS. Our faculty psychiatrists have advanced training and are certified to offer TMS services. They can provide a comprehensive consultation, assessment and treatment options to individuals experiencing difficulties with depression. Patients will be able to be educated about TMS as well as receive treatment without the need of additional referrals.
If you have a patient or know someone whom you feel may benefit from TMS please refer them for an in-depth consultation to determine whether TMS is the most appropriate treatment for them. For an appointment please call the FIU Health ACC: 305.348.3627.
For research opportunities please call or email:
Malek Adjouadi, PhD: 305.348.3019/adjouadi@fiu.edu
Mercedes Cabrerizo, PhD: 305.348.7053/cabreriz@fiu.edu
Niovi Rojas: 305.348.7054/nrojas@fiu.edu
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January 2019 Champion of The Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health
The Medical Society Consortium on Climate and Health awarded Carissa Caban-Aleman, MD the January 2019 Champion for her work in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Dr Caban made numerous trips to Puerto Rico to provide psychological first aid to the affected local leaders. She also organized several workshops to help community leaders deal with stress as they tried to help others through a long and ongoing recovery process.
Distinguished Life Fellows of the American Psychiatric Association
The American Psychiatric Association inducted Eugenio Rothe, MD and Daniel Castellanos, MD as Distinguished Life Fellows at the 2019 annual meeting. Distinguished Life Fellow membership recognizes lifetime-career contributions to the field of psychiatry including scientific-scholarly publications and outstanding teaching, public service, administrative contributions and involvement, and recognition in psychiatric and other medical organizations.
Alpha Omega Alpha 2019 Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award
HWCOM awarded Regina Carney, MD the Alpha Omega Alpha (AΩA) 2019 Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award. This award recognizes community physicians who contribute to the education and training of medical students. Learners in their clinical rotation nominate faculty for the Volunteer Clinical Faculty Award with the recipient chosen by student members of the AΩA Chapter.
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Melanis Rivera-Rodriguez, PsyD
Assistant Professor
 Dr Rivera-Rodríguez is a licensed psychologist from Ponce School of Medicine and Health Sciences in Puerto Rico with a focus in Clinical Psychology. She became licensed in the state of Florida in 2014 and has worked in hospital settings, private treatment centers and community counseling settings. Dr Rivera-Rodríguez's work specializes in eating disorders, personality disorders, anxiety and depression. Her work emphasizes multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary collaborations in de-stigmatizing and enhancing the accessibility to therapeutic and counseling services. Her main role is to provide counseling and wellness services to medical students.
Nathaly Shoua-Desmarais, PsyD
Assistant Professor
 Dr Shoua-Desmarais completed her doctorate training with a specialization in Health Psychology in 2007 from Nova Southeastern University. Her pre-doctoral internship and post-doctoral training were completed at the Florida International University's Counseling and Psychological Services. She became licensed in the state of Florida in 2009 and has worked in private practice, medical hospital settings, and college counseling centers. Her areas of specialty include anxiety, depression, and relaxation therapies using Biofeedback, and compassion fatigue/burnout. Dr Shoua-Desmarais joined the HWCOM in 2011 and since then has provided counseling, wellness and biofeedback services to our medical students. In 2016, Dr Shoua-Desmarais became the director of Medical Student Counseling and Wellness. Her primary roles include administrator of the Center and full-time psychologist for the medical students. She is also co-chair of the Fit & Well Committee and has published research on the topics of burnout in medical students.
Nicolle Anne DeLeo, PsyD, LMHC
Assistant Professor
 Dr DeLeo is dually licensed and practices in the State of Florida as a Clinical Psychologist and Mental Health Counselor. She obtained her Doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern University (NSU). Previously, she earned an undergraduate degree from Loyola University New Orleans and completed a Masters in Mental Health Counseling from NSU. Dr DeLeo earned Diplomat status with the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress. She has specialty training in treating a full spectrum of the disorders of dissociation, complex post-traumatic stress disorders, and eating disorders. Dr DeLeo provides counseling and wellness services to our medical students.
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Sohrab Mosaddad, MD
Fellow, CHN-FIU Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program
 Dr Mosaddad is part of our second class of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellows. Dr Mosaddad received his MD degree from St. George’s University in Granada in 2016. Prior to that, he graduated from Concordia University in Montreal with degrees in molecular biology and political science. Before coming to our residency program, Dr Mosaddad completed his intern year at Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai in New York, NY.
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Lissa Alexandra Garcia Segui, MD
Resident, CHN-FIU Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program
 Dr Garcia Segui received her medical doctor degree from the Universidad Iberoamericana School of Medicine, Santo Domingo in February 2019. She completed her undergraduate studies in Nursing at the University of Puerto Rico. Dr Garcia Segui speaks English, Spanish, as well as American Sign Language.
Mercy Blanco, MD
Resident, CHN-FIU Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program
 Dr Blanco received her medical doctor degree in May 2019 from FIU HWCOM. Dr Blanco completed her undergraduate studies in Biology and Psychology at FIU. She currently lives in Miami and was born in Florida. Mercy speaks English and Spanish.
Nelson Ramos-Negro, MD
Resident, CHN-FIU Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
 Dr Ramos-Negro received his medical doctor degree from the Health Sciences University School of Medicine in May 2018. Dr Ramos-Negro completed his undergraduate studies in General Science/ Medicine at the Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico. Dr Ramos-Negro speaks English, Spanish, and basic Italian.
William Alexander Zambrano, MD
Resident, CHN-FIU Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
 Dr Zambrano received his medical doctor degree in December 2015 from the Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara, Facultad de Medicina. He is a native Miamian and completed his undergraduate studies in Biology at FIU. Dr Zambrano's hobbies and interests include soccer, playing the guitar, hiking, walking his dogs and swimming with his wife and daughter.
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Bonnin R, Gralnik L, Rothe E, Esposito KR, Castellanos D. March 2019. "Student-Focused Suicide Curriculum." Southern Group on Educational Affairs Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Camps-Romero E. Wohl A. April 2019. “Effective Utilization of Medication Assisted Treatment and Maximizing Buprenorphine." Florida Alcohol and Drug Abuse Association Regional Meeting, Tampa, FL.
Camps-Romero E, Anderson F, Pedoussaut M, Garba A, Dorbu J, Schneider G. May 2019. “Integrating Social Determinants of Health into a Collaborative Care Model.” America Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Bakir E, Gagni A, Golsheed N, Sanz B, Camps-Romero E, Gillis M. April 2019. “Active Learning to Promote Early and Effective Physician Interaction with Pharmaceutical Industry Marketing Practice.” American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Bakir E, Gagni A, Golsheed N, Sanz B, Camps-Romero E, Gillis M. April 2019. “Active Learning to Promote Early and Effective Physician Interaction with Pharmaceutical Industry Marketing Practice." American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Bakir E, Gagni A, Golsheed N, Sanz B, Camps-Romero E, Gillis M. March 2019. “Active Learning to Promote Early and Effective Physician Interaction with Pharmaceutical Industry Marketing Practice.” Southern Group on Educational Affairs Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Camps-Romero E, Hayes A. March 2019. “A Practical Guide to Improving Health by Addressing the Social Determinants of Health Innovation.” Primary Care Innovations Conference, Gainesville, FL.
Castellanos D. June 2019. "Facilitating Leadership...Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow: Leadership Training for Specialty Society Board Members." Florida Psychiatry Society Leadership Conference, Jensen Beach, FL.
Castellanos D. June 2019. "Depression in Pediatric Primary Care. Improving Outcomes." Broward County Pediatric Society Annual Meeting, Ft Lauderdale, FL.
Castellanos D. May 2019. "Should we continue to fund mental health peer services?" The United Way of Broward County 5th Annual Broward Behavioral Health Conference, Davie, FL.
Castellanos D. April 2019. "Enhanced Collaboration Across Specialties to Improve Outcomes in Pediatrics Webinar." USF Florida Medicaid Drug Therapy Management Program for Behavioral Health, Tampa, FL.
Castellanos D. April 2019. "Public (FIU)-Private (Private Health System) UME-GME Agreement." American Association of Medical Colleges Group on Resident Affairs & Organization of Resident Representatives Annual Meeting, Portland, OR.
Nalbandian D, Rios C, Sosa D, Castellanos D, Lozano JM. Feb 2019. "Weapon Carrying and Mental Health Concerns Among Victims of Cyberbullying." 45th Annual Eastern-Atlantic Student Research Forum, Miami, FL.
Castellanos D. (moderator and presenter). Feb 2019. "Major Depressive Disorder Medication Guidelines for Children and Adolescents with ASD & Intellectual Disability." Expert Panel Meeting to Update the 2017 ASD & Intellectual Developmental Disorder: Florida Best Practice Psychotherapeutic Medication Recommendations for Target Symptoms in Children Adolescents, Coral Gables, FL.
Chang W, Andon A, Sosa M. April 2019. “Shift in Learning: Misconceptions of how First-Year Medical Students Study.” 2019 Southern Group on Education Affairs, Association of American Medical Colleges Annual Meeting, Orlando, FL.
Cosner C, Rios C, Luna A, Galynker I, Loks B, Foster A. May 2019. “A Novel Training Modality for Identifying Suicidal Ideation and Empathetic Interaction.” American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Foster A, Sanchez G. May 2019. “Empathy in Healthcare: A Core Competency.” Citrus Health Network Psychiatry/Psychology Grand Rounds, Miami, FL.
Foster A, Cosner C, Luna A, Barzilay S, Lok B, Galynker I. June 2019 .“Connecting with Patients at Risk of Suicide: Communication Skills Revisited.” Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry Annual Meeting, Portland, ME.
Hammer S, Liu H, Gluzman E, Foster A. June 2019. “Teaching the Teacher: Methods for Instructing Preceptors in Giving Effective Feedback.” Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry Annual Meeting, Portland, ME.
Lemus-Martinez S, Lefevre F, Lupi C. March 2019. “Becoming a Teacher: An Innovative Approach for Medical Students.” Southern Group on Educational Affairs Regional Conference, Orlando, FL.
Schneider G, Weiler T, Moulik S, Athauda G, Lemus-Martinez S. June 2019. “Teaching Squares: An Innovative Approach for Developing Pedagogical Practice of Medical Faculty.” 23rd Annual International Association of Medical Science Educators (IAMSE) Meeting, Roanoke, VA.
Mosadad S. May 2019. “Pain on the Brain: Evaluating Outpatient Treatment Utilization in Patients with Depression and Co-morbid Pain.” American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Rothe E. May 2019. “Revitalizing Psychiatry—and Our World—With a Social Lens.” American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Rothe E. May 2019.“Violence Motivated by Cultural Identity: How Social Neuroscience Can Contribute to Strategies for Intervention.” American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Rothe E. May 2019. “Mental Health Issues of Haitians and Cubans in the U.S.” American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Rothe E. May 2019. “Dealing with Physician Suicide; How can Psychiatric Associations offer Support to their Members.” American Academy of Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Rothe E. May 2019. “Don Quijote de la Mancha, the Devine Madman: The Psychiatric Dimensions of his Journey and Legacy.” American Academy of Psychotherapy and Psychoanalysis Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
Trieu M, Quintana F, Foster A, Machado J, Luna A, Martin A, Moss A. May 2019. “Housing First Outcomes: A Longitudinal Pilot Study of Disability, Psychiatric Symptoms, Daily Functioning and Self-Stigma in Homeless Individuals.” American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA.
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Caban-Aleman C. (2019). Puerto Rico Se Levanta ("Puerto Rico Rises"): From Denial and Passivity to Action and Hope. Psychiatric Times.
Hannan JL, Sanchez G, Musser E, Ward-Peterson M, Azutillo E, Goldin D, Luna A, Galynker I, Foster A. (2019). Role of Empathy in the Perception of Medical Errors in Patient Encounters: A Preliminary Study. BMC Research Notes, 12, 327.
Foster A, Czelusta K, White D, Seritan A, Lomax, J. (2019). Stories of Success: Immigrants Contributing to Promotion of Mental Health and Wellbeing of their Fellow Refugees and Immigrants. In J. Kotler, S. Banu, & S. Jani (Eds), Handbook of Refugee Experience: Trauma, Resilience and Recovery (pp. 192-197). San Diego, CA: Cognella.
Rothe E, Pumariega A, Mihajlovic A, May C, Ruiz P, Perras N. (2019). Shelter from the Storm: Psychiatric Diagnosis and Treatment of the Refugee Patient. Addictive Disorders & Their Treatment.
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Nathaly Shoua-Desmarais, PsyD and Melanis Rivera, PsyD
Baptist Studio Health Channel. Commenting on "Staying Healthy with Calm Breathing." May 2019.
Nathaly Shoua-Desmarais, PsyD
WPBS Your South Florida. 1 on 1 Interview on "Exploring Workplace Wellness." June 2019.
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Florida International University's
HWCOM Class of 2019 Match Results
Congratulations to the graduates of the class of 2019 who matched in Psychiatry!
Mercy Blanco, MD Nikita Bodoukhin, MD Keneil Brown, MD
Citrus Health Network Jackson Memorial Hospital Jackson Memorial Hospital
Hialeah, FL Miami, FL Miami, FL
Chelsea Cosner, MD Briana Mizrahi, MD Nicholas Romano, MD
U Maryland Med Center NYMC-Metropolitan Hospital Center NYP Hospital-Weill Cornell Med Ctr
Baltimore, MD New York, NY New York- NY
Michelle Trieu, MD
Kaiser Permanente
Oakland, CA
PGY-4 Rotation at FIU Student Health Center
The CHN-FIU Psychiatry Residency program is now offering a PGY-4 rotation at FIU's Student Health Center. The College Mental Health PGY-4 elective, allows residents to enhance important skills for transitional age adults in an outpatient university mental health setting. Frances Howard, MD was our first resident to take part in this rotation.
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CHN-FIU Psychiatry Residency Program
Grand Rounds
Location: 4125 W. 20th Avenue, Room 420B, Hialeah, FL 33012 from 12pm - 1pm.
Date: August 14, 2019
Presenter: Jessica Keith, PhD - Licensed Clinical Psychologist, Bay Pines VA Healthcare System
Topic: PTSD and Posttraumatic Growth in Veterans with Combat and Military Sexual Trauma
Date: September 11, 2019
Presenter: Kathleen "Molly" McShane, MD, MPH - National Medical Director of Monte Nido and Affiliates,
Voluntary Clinical Assistant Professor, DOPBH, HWCOM FIU
Topic: Update on Treatment of Eating Disorders
Date: October 9, 2019
Presenter: Jeremy Pettit, PhD - Chair and Professor, Department of Psychology, FIU
Topic: Novel Strategies for Enhancing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Outcomes in Children with
Anxiety Disorders
Date: November 13, 2019
Presenter: Michael Shapiro, MD, FAPA - Assistant Professor and Clinical Director, UF Child &
Adolescent Psychiatry Clinic, Springhill Health Center, Compliance Officer, UF Department
of Psychiatry
Topic: EBM-Documented Risk Factors for Suicide and Self-Injury in Children and Adolescents
Date: December 11, 2019
Presenter: Francisco Quintana, PhD - Clinical Supervisor, KIVA, Licensed Clinical Psychologist,
CHN, Voluntary Clinical Assistant Professor, DOPBH, HWCOM, FIU
Topic: Examining the Effectiveness of the Housing First Model in a Sample of High Utilizers
Faculty & Staff Meeting and Fellows & Residents Welcome
This meeting will be held Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 12:00pm-1:00pm in AHC 2 453.
Lunch will be served.
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United Way of Broward County Commission on Behavioral Health & Drug Prevention in collaboration with Broward Health Coalition presented the 5th Annual Broward Behavioral Health Conference
In May, the department continued its involvement in community engagement and demonstrated its support by being a proud sponsor of the conference.
 
2019 Reel Minds Miami Mental Health Film Festival
In May, the department showed support for mental health in the community by being one of the proud sponsors of the film festival. The Reel Minds Film Festival creates a strong sense of community around mental health and wellness. The use of film is a powerful tool to inform the community that 1 out of 5 people live with a mental health condition and most are not diagnosed or treated due to lack of knowledge and stigma.
“13th Annual Key Biscayne Rib-off”,
Dr Rothe participated in the “13th Annual Key Biscayne Rib-off”, a yearly competition among the residents of Key Biscayne. The proceeds are donated to fund the “Robert Kemper Professionalism Award” which honors a 4th year HWCOM, student selected by the faculty, that meets the highest professional standards set by the late Robert Kemper, MD, PhD. The winner of the 2019 Kemper Award was Amara Fazal, MD.
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 Schedule an Appointment To make an appointment with one of our psychiatrists or therapists call:
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Do you have psychiatric news that you would like to share?
Send the information to psychiatryinfo@fiu.edu
Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health team
Priscilla Chaves, MBA, MPH: Associate Director
Lisa Lee, MBA: Education Coordinator
Diana Luciano, BHSA, BA: Office Specialist
Aniuska Luna, PhD: Research Coordinator
Vivian Wulff, BA: Office Specialist
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The faculty and staff of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Health (DOPBH) welcome the 2023 class of Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) medical students. We are excited to be part of your medical school education and I wish each new student professional and personal success. 
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