Meet Our Residents
Brandi Quintanilla, DO, MS – PGY4
Brandi received her medical training at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine. She conducted a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at the Experimental Therapeutics and Pathophysiology Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). Her post-doctoral studies at NIMH have been aimed at identifying mechanisms by which rapid-acting psychoactive antidepressants (RAPAs) exert therapeutic effects in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Brandi’s career goal is to identify predictive and diagnostic biomarkers for TRD in ethnic minority groups, to enhance development of efficacious rapid-acting interventions for TRD for these groups.
Why I chose UTH Psychiatry Research Track: I chose the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston due to their dedicated focus on treatment resistant mood disorders. Additionally, I felt a deep sense of resident unity and faculty support during my interview, something that was later confirmed to be true.
Namrata Walia, MD, MHA, MPH – PGY3
Namrata earned her MD from Yerevan State Medical University in Armenia, followed by MHA from UTRGV and MPH from UTHealth. Before joining residency training, she trained as a T-32 Postdoctoral Research Fellow with the Department of Family and Community Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine. Her clinical and research interests are focused on educating the underserved population on the devastating impact of the drug overdose crisis as well as available treatment options, including harm reduction practices, and reducing health disparities by promoting access to care.
Why I chose UTH Psychiatry Research Track: I chose the UTHealth research track to engage in research opportunities that match my interest, eventually leading to a research-oriented academic career.
Ning Olivia Zhao, MD – PGY3
Olivia completed her medical training from McGovern Medical School, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. Her current research involves identifying molecular mechanisms and clinical implications of biomarkers in blood-brain barrier dysfunction in mood and psychotic disorders. Her other research interests involve education research and advocacy, specifically on physician’s role in addressing firearm safety counseling. This work has been recognized nationally and has been adapted into medical school and residency training curricula across the country.
Why I chose UTH Research Track: I chose the UTHealth research track because of the endless opportunities and exposure to a breadth of research avenues, offering me the flexibility to discover and further develop my research interests. The ability to combine my research aspirations with my clinical and civic engagement interests caught my attention, but it was the warm and supportive atmosphere of the faculty mentors that confirmed my decision.
Keiko Kunitoki, MD, MPH – PGY2
Keiko received her medical degree from Tohoku University School of Medicine, Japan, and her Master of Public Health degree from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She completed a post-doctoral research fellowship at Massachusetts General Hospital. With her specialized background in neuroimaging and epidemiology, she aims to elucidate risk factors of mental disorders, identify pathways to reduce risk and transform society through scientific evidence.
Why I chose UTH Research Track: My interactions with several residents before joining confirmed a welcoming and collaborative atmosphere. Being one of the largest medical centers, I know the robust institutional support UTH offers. Furthermore, the diverse backgrounds and interests of the residents and faculties greatly appealed to me.
Nausheen Baig, MD– PGY2
Nausheen received her medical training at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. Before medical school, she spent a year conducting research in the Hematology and Pathology Laboratories at the Center for Translational Research and Education at Loyola University Chicago. During medical school, she was accepted for an NIH T35 Training Grant for an 8-week summer research program and continued to attend national and international conferences. In residency, she plans to continue researching the role of various inflammatory biomarkers in the diagnosis/prognosis of psychiatric diseases, the effect of psychosocial stress on inflammation, and neuropsychopharmacology in mood disorders.
Why I chose UTH Research Track: Located in the heart of the largest medical center in the country, I saw that UT Houston offered an abundance of unique opportunities to further my research interests. Throughout my interactions with the community, I witnessed the genuine support and excitement of the leadership in fostering the next generation of physician-scientists. I knew that choosing UT Houston Research Track would help me refine my skills as a clinician-researcher by providing quality leadership, supportive community, diversity of research endeavors/clinical experiences, and opportunities to engage with community to pay it forward.
Gustavo dos Santos Alves Maria, MD, PhD – PGY 1
Dr. Maria received his medical degree from the Federal University of Minas Gerais, Brazil. He received his degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the Postgraduate Department in Molecular Medicine of the same university. His main research focus is neuromodulation for refractory mood disorders, and his interest in research is to deepen the knowledge in interventional psychiatry.
Why I chose UTH Psychiatry Research Track: I chose the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston due to its strong bonds between clinical activities and research practices. Moreover, I felt that I would receive the support necessary to reconcile my clinical duties and my research curiosity, what confirmed to be true in the Research Track.
Ethan Faries, MD – PGY 1
Dr. Faries received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine. During his time at Baylor, he conducted original research on substance use trends among patients with borderline personality disorder. In residency, he plans to continue researching the pathophysiology of mood and personality disorders and he hopes his work will elucidate novel therapies for these conditions.
Why I chose UTH Psychiatry Research Track: As a Houston native with a passion for scientific inquiry in psychiatry, the UTHealth research track made perfect sense for me. The breadth and depth of faculty expertise, cutting-edge techniques and methods, and inviting atmosphere make UTHealth a one-of-a-kind opportunity for intellectual growth, productivity, and camaraderie.
Joseph Kazan, MD – PGY 1
Joseph received his medical degree from the American University of Beirut. Before joining residency training, he completed a T32 post-doctoral research fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and was selected for the Burroughs-Wellcome Fund (BWF) Physician-Scientist Incubator Program. He collaborated on several projects with focus on late-life depression and neuroimaging biomarkers. He also helped lead the implementation of a NIMH-funded virtual intervention to prevent depression in recently bereaved older adults.
His other research interests include interventional modalities for treatment-resistant mood disorders.
Why I chose UTH Psychiatry Research Track: I believe UTH provides the perfect balance between nurturing support and rigorous discipline in training the next generation of physician-scientists. Located in the Texas Medical Center, the opportunities for collaboration are unparalleled, and the support of the program leadership validated my decision. The diversity of backgrounds in our program provides us with a unique opportunity for culturally informed innovation and science.