PGY-1 PEDIATRIC RESIDENTS 2022-2023

 

PGY-2 PEDIATRIC RESIDENTS 2022-2023
 

PGY-3 PEDIATRIC RESIDENTS 2022-2023

 

KAREN MALDONADO
Pontificia Universidad Javeriana
Bogota Facultad de Medicina
Colombia 2016

SHEREEN RASOOL
University of Mosul
College of Medicine - Iraq 2006

MIFRAH SAFI
Dow Medical College - Pakistan 2014

 

SOMIA SHAHEEN
Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro - Pakistan 2009

KATHERINE SOTO
American University of the
Caribbean School of Medicine
St. Maarten 2020

BUSHRA ZAHIR
Khyber Girls Medical College
Pakistan 2014

PGY-4 PEDIATRICS CHIEF RESIDENT 2022-2023

SAMEERA FAIZ
PGY-4 Chief Resident
Univ. of Medicine & Health Sciences
St. Kitts 2018

Jennifer H. Chuang, MD, MS
Program Director

Dr. Chuang was born and raised in South Jersey. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of Pennsylvania and her medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. She completed a combined internal medicine and pediatrics residency at the University of Medicine of New Jersey – the New Jersey Medical School (now Rutgers) and then pursued her fellowship in adolescent medicine at Columbia University Medical Center, where she also received her Masters of Science in Patient Oriented Research. Following fellowship, Dr. Chuang was the Medical Director of Adolescent Inpatient Services at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, where she was also on faculty at the Perelman School of Medicine of the University of Pennsylvania. In 2019, Dr. Chuang joined St. Joseph’s as the Section Chief of Adolescent Medicine. Dr. Chuang has been recognized by the American Academy of Pediatrics, having received the first Emerging Leader in Adolescent Medicine Award in 2015. Dr. Chuang is on the Executive Committee of the New Jersey Chapter of the AAP (NJAAP) and is also Co-Chair of NJAAP Government Affairs Committee. In her free time she enjoys the outdoors with her spouse and 2 children at the Jersey Shore, the Pocono Mountains, and the picturesque towns and landscapes of Northern New Jersey. As a die-hard Springsteen fan, she also enjoys the music scene in Jersey, New York, and Philadelphia.

Michael Blechner, MD
Associate Program Director

Dr. Blechner was born and raised in Long Island, NY. He then went upstate to Binghamton University for college and travelled to Israel where he received his medical degree at Sackler University. He returned to NY to complete his pediatrics residency at North Shore-Long Island Jewish (now Northwell), which was followed by a fellowship in Pediatric Pulmonary at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center and in Sleep Medicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. When he is not rooting for his local sports teams (go Mets and Islanders!), he is relaxing with a good book or movie, or trying to keep his piano skills up to par.

Kate Guth, MD
Associate Program Director

Dr. Guth is a graduate of St. Joseph’s pediatrics residency program. She attended medical school at St. George’s University and completed a fellowship in Pediatric Hospital Medicine at SUNY Downstate in Brooklyn. Her interests include high value care and evidence based medicine. Dr. Guth is a native of Baltimore, Maryland and loves crab cakes, football, and baseball. She now lives in Rockland County, New York with her cat, fiancé, and future stepdaughter and stepson.

Rinet Fernandes, MD
Assistant Program Director

Dr. Fernandes is an attending physician in the Primary Care Pediatric Clinic at the DePaul Center and is Co-Director of the Pediatric Residency Advocacy Program. She received her medical degree from St. Johns Medical College in Bangalore, India, where she also completed a pediatrics residency. After moving to the U.S., she completed her pediatrics residency here at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and is board certified in pediatrics. Her professional areas of interest are primary care pediatrics, care of the medically complex child, community pediatrics and advocacy, and residency mentorship. In her free time she enjoys gardening, “I love to spend time planting and nurturing the plants and watching them grow. Pediatricians are like gardeners in their own way. They use the inherent landscape and, according to the terrain of their plots and their own creativity, they foster the plants in a variety of ways and help them grow.”

The Infusion Center at St. Joseph's Wayne Medical Center

St. Joseph’s Health and Hackensack Meridian Health have partnered to bring the expertise of John Theurer Cancer Center – offering the highest levels of cancer care – to residents of Northern New Jersey. The first step in the partnership is the opening of an infusion center located on the campus of St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center. The infusion center offers a comprehensive variety of treatments for cancer, anemia, arthritis, infection and other conditions that require infusion therapy or injections. The infusion center ensures the most comfortable and healing environment possible, providing patients with safe and compassionate care. Highly skilled infusion nurses, certified in oncology nursing and chemotherapy administration, work collaboratively with physicians during patient treatment.

This affiliation brings an exceptional lineup of oncologists and highly specialized care providing patients in Passaic County and neighboring regions the highest quality in comprehensive infusion care in a convenient and patient-friendly location.

Services Offered

Therapeutic:

• Blood product transfusion chemotherapy
• Antibiotic therapy
• Hydration
• Injections
• Iron and electrolyte infusion
• Port access and maintenance
• Therapeutic phlebotomy
• Including, more services – please call our office with your specific needs

Support Services:

• Written educational material
• Personalized education regarding your condition and treatment
• Dedicated on-site pharmacy
• Specialized oncology nurse navigators
• Social worker
• Nutritionist, and genetic counselor

Amenities:

• Reclining chairs
• Cubicles with large window views
• Individual iPads
• Free Wi-Fi
• Warm blankets
• Complimentary snacks and beverages
• Free interpreter services for non-English speaking patient

Hours of Operation:

Mon - Fri, 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Sat - Sun, 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.o. * Weekend antibiotic and supportive therapies offered, please call regarding your specific need.

Address:

Medical Pavilion

234 Hamburg Turnpike, Suite 201

Wayne, NJ 07470

Phone Number:

973-389-6040

St. Joseph's Health

THE INFUSION CENTER AT ST. JOSEPH'S WAYNE MEDICAL CENTER

Medical Pavilion, 234 Hamburg Turnpike, Suite 201

Wayne, NJ, 07470

St. Joseph’s Health is pleased to announce that the Paterson Fire Department Foundation recently presented a check for $7,000 to the Binder Autism Center at the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. This check was received by members of the St. Joseph's Health Foundation as well as individuals from the Binder Autism Center on August 15, 2022. All proceeds were generated through the fire department’s annual Touch-a-Truck event and t-shirt sales.

“Over the years, we have started thinking of the Paterson Fire Department as a part of our St. Joseph’s Health Family,” said Pamela Martorana, LPC, Manager of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. “We really appreciate all that they do for us and the community.”

The Binder Autism Center is part of the Child Development Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and provides services for children diagnosed with Autism.  Children who attend the Binder Autism Center take part in individual sessions, support groups, skills groups, educational workshops, social functions and activities after receiving an evaluation and diagnosis. Additional support services, family resources, and family events are also provided.

“The Binder Autism Center has provided children with Autism Spectrum Disorder the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that mean so much to them and their families,” said Joseph Holahan, MD, Chief of the Child Development Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. “With this generous donation we will be able to continue providing these services to children with special needs.”

Photo caption

The Paterson Fire Department recently donated $7,000 to the Binder Autism Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. Pictured from left to right:  Pam Martorana, Manager, St, Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; Andre Sayegh, Mayor of Paterson; Patricia Paolucci, Director of Strategic Events, St. Joseph’s Health Foundation; Joseph Holahan, MD, Chief, Child Development Center, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; Jerome Hunter, Paterson Fire Department; Michael Lamacchia, MD, Chairman of Pediatrics, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; Marybeth Cunniff, APN, Child Development Center, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; Janet Bowen, Director, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; and Brian McDermott, Chief, Paterson Fire Department.

PATERSON, NJ (August 30, 2022) —St. Joseph’s Health is pleased to announce that the Paterson Fire Department Foundation recently presented a check for $7,000 to the Binder Autism Center at the St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. This check was received by members of the St. Joseph's Health Foundation as well as individuals from the Binder Autism Center on August 15, 2022. All proceeds were generated through the fire department’s annual Touch-a-Truck event and t-shirt sales.

“Over the years, we have started thinking of the Paterson Fire Department as a part of our St. Joseph’s Health Family,” said Pamela Martorana, LPC, Manager of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. “We really appreciate all that they do for us and the community.”

The Binder Autism Center is part of the Child Development Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital and provides services for children diagnosed with Autism.  Children who attend the Binder Autism Center take part in individual sessions, support groups, skills groups, educational workshops, social functions and activities after receiving an evaluation and diagnosis. Additional support services, family resources, and family events are also provided.

“The Binder Autism Center has provided children with Autism Spectrum Disorder the opportunity to participate in a variety of activities that mean so much to them and their families,” said Joseph Holahan, MD, Chief of the Child Development Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. “With this generous donation we will be able to continue providing these services to children with special needs.”

Photo caption

The Paterson Fire Department recently donated $7,000 to the Binder Autism Center at St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital. Pictured from left to right:  Pam Martorana, Manager, St, Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; Andre Sayegh, Mayor of Paterson; Patricia Paolucci, Director of Strategic Events, St. Joseph’s Health Foundation; Joseph Holahan, MD, Chief, Child Development Center, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; Jerome Hunter, Paterson Fire Department; Michael Lamacchia, MD, Chairman of Pediatrics, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; Marybeth Cunniff, APN, Child Development Center, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; Janet Bowen, Director, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital; and Brian McDermott, Chief, Paterson Fire Department.

ABOUT ST. JOSEPH’S HEALTH

Founded in 1867 by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, St. Joseph’s Health is a world-class hospital and healthcare network supported by more than 5,000 leading and renowned physicians, nurses and care teams. From its humble beginnings, St. Joseph’s Health has become one of the premier health systems in the state, serving more than 1.5 million patients annually. The organization continues to evolve as the leading health resource in the community, the largest employer in Passaic County, and one of the largest providers of charity care in New Jersey.

The St. Joseph’s Health system is one of the leading clinical teaching and academic centers in the country, and has been recognized for its innovative programs and cutting-edge services. The health system operates a full continuum of care, including a regional tertiary care medical center (St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson), an acute care medical center (St. Joseph’s Wayne Medical Center, Wayne) a state-designated children’s hospital (St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital, Paterson), a rehabilitation and long-term care facility (St. Joseph’s Healthcare & Rehab Center, Cedar Grove), an outpatient facility (St. Joseph’s Totowa Health Campus, Totowa) comprehensive home care (Visiting Health Services of New Jersey), and multiple ambulatory care centers located throughout Northern New Jersey. The system is further supported by St. Joseph’s Health Medical Group, which operates more than 100 physician medical and specialty practices across northern New Jersey.

Among its awarding-winning specialties, St. Joseph’s is home to the nationally acclaimed Alternatives to Opioids (ALTO®) program; the first accredited Geriatric Emergency Department in New Jersey; a five-time recipient of the prestigious Magnet® Award for Nursing Excellence (the profession’s highest honor - an accomplishment reached by only 15 hospitals nationwide); and recognized by US News & World Report with a Top Nursing Home award and a five-star rating.

In September 2019, St. Joseph’s Health established a strategic and clinical partnership with Hackensack Meridian Health, one of New Jersey’s largest and most comprehensive and integrated health networks. Together, the two health systems operate a jointly-owned home health and hospice agency, serving patients and families across Bergen, Passaic and Morris Counties. In addition, St. Joseph’s and Hackensack Meridian have collaborated on clinical affiliations in acute rehabilitation (with the HMH JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute) and comprehensive oncology care (with the HMH John Theurer Cancer Center).  For more information, please visit: www.stjosephshealth.org

St. Joseph's Health and the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department collaborated for an interactive training exercise to provide hospital employees with hands-on experience for an active shooter emergency. The exercise focused on patient and employee safety, communication, security and law enforcement response, and de-escalation protocols. 

“At St. Joseph’s Health, the safety of our employees and patients is our top priority,” said Chris Johnston, Director of Security and Safety, St. Joseph’s Health. “By working together with the Passaic County Sheriff’s Department we can ensure that we have a well-orchestrated plan should we ever need to respond to an active shooter situation.”

Passaic County Sheriff’s officers used the new health campus setting for their own training, in addition to teaching hospital employees how to react to a violent intruder. The scenarios were varied and often had multiple actors to test staff response. All involved a single shooter entering a clinical area on hospital property and employees responded based on their training.

“Although we hope to never experience an active shooter situation, we understand the importance of practicing these types of drills,” said Johnston. “By working closely with our emergency preparedness team and the sheriff’s department, we are able to not only train our employees to respond to an active shooter situation, but also recognize any areas that may need improvements.”

The contributions of the New Jersey State Police, Totowa Police Department, and Passaic County Prosecutor’s Office lent to the authenticity of the drill and helped ensure the municipal government and the hospital have a coordinated response plan.