Residents & Faculty
Ricki Ehrenfeld, DO
Hometown: NY
Medical School: Touro University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Richmond University Medical Center
PM&R Interests: General Rehab, Interventional Pain
Hobbies: spending time outdoors with my family, traveling, and baking.
Why Downstate: I grew up in Brooklyn, and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to my diverse community.
Fun Facts:
- I am one of seven children!
Jahmel Jordon, MD
Hometown: NY
Medical School: University of Colorado School of Medicine
Internship: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
PM&R Interests: SCI, TBI, Sports, Pain
Hobbies: Notre Dame Football, Food, Technology
Why Downstate: Here at Downstate, you get the opportunity to care for a wide variety of patients across multiple demographics, while also being able to manage rare medical diagnoses that you don’t typically see in other clinical settings due to this patient population
Fun Facts:
- I’m a Brooklyn native and was born at SUNY Downstate
Arianna Reinberg Palmar, MD
Hometown: NY
Medical School: St. George's University SOM
Internship: Lincoln Medical Center, internal medicine prelim
PM&R Interests: Sports + Spine/ interventional
Hobbies: hiking, biking, swimming, traveling
Why Downstate: My favorite rotation as a medical student, sideline coverage opportunity, quality lectures with hands-on experience/sim lab, neuro clinic
Fun Facts:
- I have to read all the menu options before making a choice, went to med school with my sister, caught my first wave in a yoga/surf retreat in Mexico
Judy Lee, MD
Hometown: NY
Medical School: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Internship: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
PM&R Interests: Pediatrics, neuromuscular, cancer
Hobbies: Running, hiking, snowboarding, eating through NYC, live music, traveling
Why Downstate: Downstate offers a variety of clinical exposure while serving a unique patient population and directly helping the local community. It is also the perfect opportunity to live in Brooklyn.
Fun Facts:
- I biked across the US and have perfect pitch!
Anna Ly, DO
Hometown: NY
Medical School: Pacific Northwest University
Internship: HCA Florida Citrus Hospital
PM&R Interests: Inpatient Rehabilitation, Sports and Spine, Performing Arts
Hobbies: Cooking, hiking, nail art, dance, piano
Why Downstate: Diverse patient population, wide variety of rotational experiences, NYC life
Fun Facts:
- I was a ballerina for over 12 years
Raheel Shah, DO
Hometown: NY
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Garnet Health Medical Center
PM&R Interests: Sports
Hobbies: Trying different restaurants in the city, cooking, lifting, running
Why Downstate: Located in the heart of Brooklyn, we have the opportunity to serve a highly diverse patient population, while gaining extensive exposure to complex pathologies.
Fun Facts:
- I briefly played basketball with Knicks legend John Starks.
Amirian Brandon, M.D.
Hometown Great Neck, NY
Medical School SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
Internship NYU Brooklyn
PM&R Interests: General, Interventional Pain, Sports/Spine
Hobbies Travel, Swimming, Football, Video Games
Why Downstate: SUNY Downstate offers multiple sites that expose us to a wide variety of patient populations and pathologies, all while having access to all the perks of living in NYC
Fun Facts
Favorite Movie: My Cousin Vinny
Favorite TV Show: Breaking Bad
Favorite Book: Count of Monte Cristo
Favorite Musician: Avicii
Favorite Meal: Pizza
Favorite App: Spotify
Would Most Like to Visit: Japan
Bucket List: See the Northern Lights
Hidden Talent: Crispy Rice Connoisseur
Benjamin Frederick Drukman M.D.
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Medical School: SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Internship: NYP Brooklyn Methodist
PM&R Interests: Sports, General
Hobbies: Basketball, Flag football, History, Exploring the city
Why Downstate: Depth and breadth of training in various settings. Rewarding and stimulating patient population to work with. Great alumni network. Get to be in Brooklyn!
Fun Facts: Non-trad, prior career working in buying/planning for Macy’s
Hamaway, Stefan Nicholas, M.D.
Hometown: Glen Cove, NY
Medical School: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
Internship: Staten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY
PM&R Interests: Pain, sports, general
Hobbies: Running, archery, cycling, exploring NYC
Why Downstate: Downstate offers an outstanding clinical training environment with a breadth of exposure to a diverse patient population.
Fun Facts:
- Favorite Movie: Pulp Fiction
- Favorite TV Show: 90 Day Finance
- Favorite Book: Catch-22
- Favorite Musician: Avicii, Blackpink, Jinjer
- Favorite Meal: Sushi
- Favorite App: Google Maps
Would Most Like to Visit: Hokkaido Japan
Bucket List: Travel to Every Continent
Hidden Talent: Gardening (including mangoes, Bonzai, Orchids)
Kohli Ajit D.O.
Hometown Dallas, TX
Medical School: Oklahoma State University Center for Health Sciences
Internship: HCA Kendall Florida
PM&R Interests: Pain management, spine, Inpatient rehabilitation, EMGs, palliative care
Hobbies: Hanging with friends and family, kitting, weight lifting
Why Downstate: I’m thrilled about the opportunity to join SUNY Downstate because of its diverse patient population, supportive faculty, and excellent clinical training that will help me grow as a physician. The program’s focus on research and resident wellness excites me. Downstate’s positive, inclusive environment and strong reputation make it the perfect place for me to thrive in PM&R!
Fun Facts: I can play Spotify through my hearing aids!
Eileen Lu D.O.
Hometown: Monterey Park, CA
Medical School: Des Moines University
Internship: Elmhurst Hospital
PM&R Interests: Neuro Rehab, Brain Injury & Stroke
Hobbies: Traveling, Going on walks, Trying new restaurants
Why Downstate: Diverse patient population, supportive faculty, and living in NYC
Fun Facts: I keep a growing list of potential dog names on my phone and I love boba!
Mirza, Verda Sohail, D.O.
Hometown: Plano, TX and Crown Point, IN
Medical School: Marian University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Internship: Parkview Hospital Fort Wayne IN
PM&R Interests: Interventional pain management
Hobbies: baking, playing tennis, hiking
Why Downstate: supportive faculty. Diverse patient population and pathology.
Fun Facts: I watch the Harry Potter series yearly.
Nikita Desai, DO
Hometown: Old Bridge, NJ
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA
Internship: Peconic Bay Medical Center, Riverhead NY
PM&R Interests: Interventional Pain Medicine, Sports/Spine
Hobbies: Cooking, Hiking, Puzzling
Why Downstate: SUNY Downstate offers strong clinical training, diversity in patient population and exposure to procedural skills which is important to me.
Fun Facts:
- Favorite TV Show: Psych
- Favorite Book: Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
- Favorite Musician: Ed Sheeran, Old Kanye, Frank Ocean
- Favorite Meal: Truffle Fettuccine Alfredo
- Favorite App: Netflix
- Would Most Like to Visit: Zürich, Banff, Kyoto
- Bucket List: Pasta food tour in Italy
- Hidden Talent: I have most of the Harry Potter movie dialogues memorized
Arooj Iqbal, DO
Hometown: Paramus, NJ
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, PA
Internship: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY
PM&R Interests: Pain, Spine, Sports
Hobbies: Tennis, Traveling, Hiking
Why Downstate: I chose Downstate because of the supportive faculty and comradery among the residents. Also, the diverse patient population to learn from and the multiple research opportunities provided to accomplish my goals in PM&R.
Fun Facts:
- Favorite Movie: Fast and Furious Series
- Favorite TV Show: Friends
- Favorite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird
- Favorite Musician: Ed Sheeran
- Favorite Meal: Lasagna
- Favorite App: Instagram
- Would Most Like to Visit: Peru—Machu Picchu and Rainbow Mountain
- Bucket List: To Zipline across Dubai
- Hidden Talent: Baking
Isha Rao, DO
Hometown: Bucks County, PA
Medical School: New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, NY
Internship: Ocean University Medical Center, Brick Township, NJ
PM&R Interests: Pain, spine, sports
Hobbies: Cooking, summer strolls, podcasts
Why Downstate: Experience the city, diverse patient populations, get to see various pathologies
Fun Facts:
- Favorite Movie: the imitation game
- Favorite TV Show: Gilmore Girls
- Favorite Book: The Silent Patient
- Favorite Musician: Rihanna
- Favorite Meal: tuxedo cake from Costco
- Favorite App: Chipotle
- Would Most Like to Visit: Italy
- Bucket List: skydive
- Hidden Talent: double jointed
Kody Sumida, DO
Hometown: Honolulu, HI
Medical School: Touro University Nevada, Henderson, NV
Internship: St. John's Riverside Hospital, Yonkers, NY
PM&R Interests: Pain, sports, general
Hobbies: Basketball, Football, Cooking, Surfing
Why Downstate: Great program with lots of resources and friendly residents. Also in New York!
Fun Facts:
- Favorite Movie: Finding Nemo
- Favorite TV Show: One piece
- Favorite Book: The Giver
- Favorite Musician: Mariah Carey
- Favorite Meal: Sashimi
- Favorite App: Spotify
- Would Most Like to Visit: Italy
- Bucket List: going to multiple football and basketball games
- Hidden Talent: Disappearing food act
Rebecca Takele, DO
Hometown: Annandale, VA
Medical School: Edward VIA College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM), Blacksburg, VA
Internship: General Surgery at Albany Medical Center, Albany, NY
PM&R Interests: Pain medicine, Spinal cord injury
Hobbies: Hiking, all things related to being by the water, kickboxing, playing my electric guitar
Why Downstate: Here there is an opportunity to treat and learn from a diverse patient population not seen at many other residencies. I was also drawn to the reputation of this PM&R program, the supportive faculty, the strong clinical training I would receive, the opportunities to make the most of my residency, the success of past residents, and the emphasis on the wellness of residents.
Fun Facts:
- Favorite Movie: Pride and Prejudice (2005)
- Favorite TV Show: Criminal Minds
- Favorite Book: Any Nicholas Sparks books
- Favorite Musician: Rascal Flatts and other country musicians
- Favorite Meal: Salmon poke bowl
- Favorite App: Spotify
- Would Most Like to Visit: Greece
- Bucket List: backpack through Europe, skydive, become fluent in Spanish, own a boat for recreational purposes
- Hidden Talent: 3rd degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do and former instructor