Current Triple Board Residents

PGY1

Ijeoma Unachukw, MDIjeoma Unachukwu, MD  
Hometown: Marlboro, NJ 
Undergrad: Rutgers University 
Medical School: Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School 
Career Interests: School-based services, community/global health, social determinants of health, working with disability communities, medical journalism.
Why I Selected the Triple Board Program: The vibes are immaculate and they really care about us! 
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: The bridges, the mountains, the trails - truly breathtaking. Whether you're a city mouse or country mouse, love being bougie or love the outdoors, you can find activities, restaurants, whatever you want to fit your style (for decent prices)!

Kendall Melvin, MDKendall Melvin, MD  
Hometown: Long Beach, CA 
Undergrad: Amherst College 
Medical School: Eastern Virginia Medical School 
Career Interests: Consultation-liaison psychiatry and working with families and patients with complex and chronic illnesses. 
Why I Selected the Pitt Triple Board Program: The people - there hasn't been a time yet where the best part of showing up to work is not the people I work with! 
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: My Sweet Lily's Bakery in the Strip District - their macarons are delicious.

 

PGY2

Steven "Sven" Lam, MDSteven “Sven” Lam, MD  
Hometown: Alhambra, CA 
Undergrad: University of Southern California 
Medical School: University of California Davis 
Career interests: Consultation-liaison, interventional psychiatry, outpatient pediatrics, and medical education.
Why I Selected the Pitt Triple Board Program: We have a lot of fun, we get great exposure, and we get support in so many different ways! 
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: Rowhouse Cinema & Bierport, Iron City Boulders, and Noodlehead.

Kristin Smoot, MDKristin Smoot, MD  
Hometown: Asheville, NC 
Undergrad: University of North Carolina/Charlotte 
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine 
Career Interests: Consultation-liaison psychiatry, working with people with autism spectrum disorder,  and developmental pediatrics.
Why I Selected the Pitt Triple Board Program: The community within the Triple Board program, and also the community within the Pediatrics program. Triple boarders integrate seamlessly with the Pediatrics program (and during my intern year I saw how this is also true with the Psychiatry side as well!) 
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: On the weekends, I like to walk my dogs, grab coffee from one of the cute cafes in Lawrenceville, and stop at my absolute favorite local flower shop (Gold Dust Floral) or go for a run around Point Breeze or Frick Park! 

 

PGY3

Colette Buser, MDColette Buser, MD 
Hometown:
Wellesley, MA 
Undergrad: University of Richmond 
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School 
Career interests: Caring for patients with eating disorders, particularly younger adolescents.  
Why I selected the Pitt Triple Board Program: The people! We love to hang out outside of the program and explore Pittsburgh together. We also get incredibly strong training in both pediatrics and psychiatry and are supported by the program directors on both sides.  
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: So much good food – some favorites include Everyday Noodle, Thai Cottage, and Red Hawk for coffee. 

Evan Keller, MDEvan Keller, MD  
Hometown:
Needham, MA 
Undergrad: University of Massachusetts/Amherst 
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Career interests: My interests are varied and include consultation-liaison psychiatry, psycho-oncology, adolescent substance use, and early psychosis. 
Why I Selected the Pitt Triple Board Program: I love Pittsburgh, for its culture, gorgeous scenery, friendly people and awesome food. Children’s Hospital and UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital are both incredible institutions with brilliant but fun and approachable faculty. My co-residents are my dear friends. 
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: The river trails, Frick park, the breweries, the drivability, the perfect size, and some top notch cuisine.


PGY4

Dr. Stephanie Chavez-YenterStephanie Chavez-Yenter, DO, MPH 
Hometown: East Lansing, MI 
Undergrad: Dartmouth College 
Medical School: Michigan State University of Osteopathic Medicine 
Career Interests: Child and adolescent consultation-liaison psychiatry, psychiatric emergency care, LGBTQ youth, and autism.
Why I Selected the Pitt Triple Board Program: The community - we have a particularly strong community here and with alumni. Many of the graduates stay around the area which allows for great exposure during training but also great mentorship opportunities with people who have the same training! 
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: The outdoor spaces! Great running trails and parks nearby (5-6 great options within 15-20 minutes). You can even walk in the Allegheny Cemetery and be so lost in greenery, you can’t see any of the city! 

Dr. Rebecca TobackRebecca Toback, MD
Hometown:
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 
Undergrad: University of Michigan 
Medical School: University of Michigan 
Career Interests: Integrated care of medically ill children and clinical ethics.
Why I Selected the Pitt Triple Board Program: I want to do both Pediatrics and Psychiatry in my future career, and I found the Pitt Triple Board program to be the strongest combination of both.
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: Climbing at Iron City Boulders followed by pizza at Spirit.

 

PGY5

Erin Calabrese, MDErin Calabrese, MD  
Hometown: Clarkston, MI 
Undergrad: University of Michigan 
Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School 
Career Interests: Outpatient pediatric and outpatient psychiatry, and medical education.
Why I Selected the Pitt Triple Board Program: The family! People are there for each other and genuinely like being together. Also, it’s amazing to have top notch  psychiatric and pediatric hospitals. 
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: Love to go to Ohio Pyle and West Virginia to hike.  I love going to Penn Mac in the Strip District for meats and cheeses and then down to the point for a picnic on the river. 

Dr. Miriam WeissMiriam Weiss, MD, MPH
Hometown:
Flint, MI 
Undergrad: Michigan State University 
Medical School:
Michigan State University 
Career interests:
Rural medicine, reproductive health, and juvenile justice.
Why I Selected the Pitt Triple Board Program:  The support and mentorship from program directors.
Favorites around the ‘Burgh: I love that I can hike, bike and go to concerts and sporting events so easily living in the city.