Current Residents & Program Graduates

Welcome Message from the Chief Residents

Welcome to Loyola University Medical Center’s Psychiatry Residency Program Website!

We are proud to introduce you to our program where humanistic care, diversity, and community are at the heart of our mission. Our program thrives on a collaborative spirit, where learning and teaching go hand in hand. You’ll work alongside a team of passionate faculty and fellow residents who are committed to your growth and success. We celebrate the unique backgrounds and perspectives each resident brings to our community, believing that our collective experiences enhance our understanding and empathy.

We understand the challenges of residency and are committed to supporting your well-being. We are dedicated to building a supportive environment that provides strong clinical training while allowing work-life balance and the opportunity to explore the beautiful Chicagoland area.

We hope to recruit like-minded individuals who will shape our community and drive forward our shared commitment to compassionate, inclusive mental health care. As you explore our website, we hope you can appreciate the dedication and enthusiasm that define our residency program. Whether you are a prospective resident or a current member of our community, we are here to support you. Welcome!

Monica Boughdady, MBBS

Akpene Sarah Agamah, MD, MPH, MBA

Nene Takahashi, DO, MPH

PGY-1 Residents

Adam Hyde, MD

Hometown: Tustin, CA 
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: California State University Fullerton, Major in Kinesiology, Minor in Health Professions and Chemistry 
Psychiatry interests: Public psychiatry, inpatient psychiatry, interventional psychiatry, addiction psychiatry.  
Hobbies:  I love cycling all over the city with my partner and poodle, growing as a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu martial artist, eating at as many restaurants as possible, traveling as much as possible, watching anime (Berserk, Hunter x Hunter, Psychopass, Claymore), and living in Chicago!

DeWitt (DJ) Jones, DO, MS

Hometown: Freeport, New York 
Medical School: Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine  
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BA English 
Graduate School: Case Western Reserve University, MS Medical Physiology 
Psychiatry interests: Addiction Psychiatry, Emergency Psychiatry, LGBTQ+ Mental Health. 
Hobbies: I began cycling during the pandemic as a way to get active. I recently took my love of cycling to a new level and became very involved with the Peloton community. I have always been an avid tennis player. One of my favorite ways to decompress and relax is to immerse myself in reality television. Specifically, I am a huge fan of the Real Housewives franchises and I love to binge-watch when I have free time!

Erin Leestma, MD

Hometown: Zeeland, MI 
Medical School: Wayne State University School of Medicine 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: Michigan State University, Major in Genomics and Molecular Genetics, Minor in Spanish 
Psychiatry interests: Addiction, Interventional Psychiatry (TMS, ECT, Psychedelic-assisted Psychotherapy), Inpatient Psychiatry 
Hobbies: Attending festivals, reading, cooking, sewing, disc golf, spending time with family.

Samuel Levin, MD

Hometown: Buffalo Grove, IL 
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: University of Minnesota: BA Spanish Studies / BS Ecology, Evolution and Behavior 
Psychiatry interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, LGBTQ+ affirming psychiatry, interventional psychiatry (ECT, TMS, etc), and psychodermatoses 
Hobbies: I am an avid trivia fan, I enjoy gardening. I have been fascinated by paleontology since I was a young child, I love to read for pleasure, particularly fiction; Another passion of mine is musical theater.

Julia Organ, MD

Hometown: Chicago, IL 
Medical School: Loyola Stritch School of Medicine   
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: Loyola University Chicago: Biology/Bioethics 
Psychiatry interests: Child adolescent psychiatry, women's mental health, and cross-cultural psychiatry  
Hobbies: Spending time with my two mini doodle pups, yoga, classical ballet, gardening, traveling and hiking 

Gabrielle Perez, MD 

Hometown: Joliet, IL 
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: University of Illinois at Chicago: BS Biological Sciences 
Psychiatry interests: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, women's mental health, psychotherapy. 
Hobbies: Kickboxing, tutoring, watching college football

PGY-2 Residents

Akpene Sarah Agamah, MD, MPH, MBA

Hometown: Chicago, IL 
Medical School: University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) 
Undergraduate School: Wheaton College Major: BS Biology 
Graduate School: UIC: MPH, MBA 
Psychiatry interests? Reproductive Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Integrative Psychiatry, Community Psychiatry 
Hobbies: Tennis, reading, hiking, water coloring, taking care of my plant babies

Monica Boughdady, MBBS

Hometown: Wirral, United Kingdom 
Medical School: King's College London 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: King's College London, Psychology 
Psychiatry interests: Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Global mental health and Spirituality integrated mental health 
Hobbies: Traveling, listening to podcasts, spending time with friends and family.

Jack Chovanec, MD

Hometown: Waukesha, WI 
Medical School: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: University of Wisconsin-Madison; Major/Minor: Biology/Environmental Studies 
Psychiatry interests: Inpatient psychiatry, Addiction psychiatry, and Interventional Psychiatry 
Hobbies: League trivia, watching sports (especially Wisconsin sports, Go Pack!), card games, and going to the movies

Dipthi Ranganathan, MD

Hometown: Stamford, CT 
Medical School: University of Connecticut School of Medicine 
Undergraduate School: New Jersey Institute of Technology Major/Minor: Biology / Chemistry 
Graduate School: Rutgers University, Biomedical Sciences 
Psychiatry interests: Women’s mental health, reproductive psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry 
Hobbies: Yoga, cooking, going to breweries, laying on the couch and watching Netflix for multiple hours

Nene Takahashi, DO

Hometown: Tokyo, Japan 
Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: University of California Davis Major: Neurobiology, physiology and behavior 
Psychiatry interests: Schizophrenia research 
Hobbies: Pottery making, interior design, trying new restaurants

Sophia Tsu, MD

Hometown: Irvine, CA 
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University 
Undergraduate School: University of California, San Diego Major: General Biology; Minor: Psychology 
Psychiatry interests: Women’s mental health, cross-cultural psychiatry, suicide prevention, and psychotherapy 
Hobbies: Rock climbing, concerts, cats, and trying new restaurants

PGY-3 Residents

Rachel Blanda, MD

Hometown: Akron, Ohio 
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine 
Undergraduate School: Georgetown University; Major: Classical Languages, Latin and Ancient Greek 
Psych interests? Women’s mental health, psychotherapy, TMS/ECT, CL 
Hobbies: Long walks on the beach, pretending I can cook, tennis, plants, dogs

Philip Burns, MD

Hometown: Franklin, TN 
Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: DePaul University; Major: Neuroscience; Minors: Psychology, Biology, Chemistry 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Child & Adolescent, Addiction, LGBTQ+ Care 
Hobbies: Digital artwork, long walks listening to podcasts, musical theater

Jocelyn Herrera, MD

Hometown: Northlake, IL 
Medical School: Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: Eastern Illinois University; Majors: Biology & Chemistry 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Child and Adolescence and outpatient psychiatry 
Hobbies: Traveling, Tennis, Movies, Camping, hiking, and spending time with friends and family

Arjun Kaverimanian, MD

Hometown: Naperville, IL 
Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine 
Undergraduate School: Saint Louis University; Major: Investigative and Medical Sciences 
Minor: Biology, Health Care Ethics 
Hobbies: Cooking, violin

Jonathan Newgren, MD

Hometown: Lakeville, MN 
Medical School: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: Loyola University Chicago; BA: Music; BS: Chemistry; Minor: Neuroscience 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Child and Adolescent psychiatry, LGBTQ+ mental health, psychotherapy 
Hobbies: Backpacking through national parks, volunteering, journaling, maintaining my 75 gallon tropical aquarium, sleeping

Thomas O'Brien, DO

Hometown: Roselle, IL 
Medical School: Midwestern University - Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine 
Undergraduate School: The University of Wisconsin - Madison; BS: Microbiology 
Interests in Psychiatry: Outpatient Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent, and Consult-Liaison 
Hobbies: Travel, trying new restaurants, cooking, spending time with friends and family, fantasy football, baseball

PGY-4 Residents

Danielle Gelfond, MD

Hometown: Long Grove, IL 
Medical School: Rush Medical College at Rush University Medical Center 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign; Major: Psychology; Minors: Chemistry & Russian Language and Literature 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Women's Mental Health, Addiction Medicine 
Hobbies: Traveling, trying new restaurants in the city, cooking, exercise and walks with my dog

Saadiya Jabbar, MD

Hometown: South Elgin, IL 
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine-Rockford 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: University of Illinois Chicago; Major: Psychology 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Outpatient Psychiatry, Forensics Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent 
Hobbies: Traveling, movies, trying new restaurants, working out, spending time with family and friends

Stephen Morris, DO

Hometown: Laguna Hills, CA 
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: University of Wisconsin-Madison; BS: Biology and Political Science 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Outpatient psychiatry, Psychotherapy, Consult-liaison 
Hobbies: Basketball, guitar, live music, snowboarding, hiking, eating, fantasy football

Serena Spaleny, MD

Hometown: Pembroke Pines, FL 
Medical School: Florida Atlantic University 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: Nova Southeastern University; Major: Biology; Minor: Business 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, Women's Mental Health, Forensics 
Hobbies: Reading novels, exploring new restaurants / bars, paddle boarding, going to the gym, watching Netflix

Conrad Stasieluk, MD

Hometown: Chicago, IL 
Medical School: Loyola-Stritch School of Medicine 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: Loyola University Chicago; Major: Molecular Biology; Minor: Chemistry 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Consult-Liaison, Addiction Medicine Emergency psychiatry 
Hobbies: Hiking, traveling, trying new food, basketball, and spending time with friends and family

Noor Zayed, DO

Hometown: North Olmsted, OH 
Medical School: University of Pikeville-Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine 
Undergraduate School & Major/Minor: The Ohio State University; Major: Biology; Minor: Middle East Studies 
Interest(s) in Psychiatry: Inpatient Psychiatry, Addiction, PTSD, Psychotherapy 
Hobbies: Cooking, Eating, Fashion and Interior Design, Global Affairs, Memes, Travelinig and Exploring, Spending time with my giant family

Psychiatry Program Alumni & Alumni Employment