Psychiatry Residents

Allan Clelland Goddard, MD
Medical School: FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Steven Faragalla, MD
Medical School: FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Niko Linzer, MD
Medical School: FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

Jason Vayner, DO
Medical School: Arkansas College of Osteopathic Medicine

Camilla Mancuso, DO
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

About me: I was born in Italy but lived in various countries. I came to the U.S. to pursue my bachelor’s at the University of California, Davis, and my master’s at Columbia University in the City of New York. I eventually came to Florida for medical school where I established roots. I speak Italian, Spanish, and English.

Hobbies: Art, dance, and volleyball.

What got you interested in psychiatry? I have a bachelor's in Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior and a master’s in nutrition, which delved into eating disorders. However, it was during my core psychiatry rotation that I knew this was the specialty for me. I love talking to patients, hearing their stories, and finding out how I can help them live their best lives.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: General psychiatry. However, I would love to have my own eating disorder clinic one day.

Bianca Taylor, MD
Medical School: Florida International University

About me: I’m a huge true crime fan and love diving into podcasts and documentaries. I’m also really into fitness and enjoy staying. I love books and watching movies (comedies are my favorite!). I’m also a big animal lover - two dogs and two cats who definitely keep life interesting. One of my other passions is learning languages — I speak three and am always looking to learn more.

Hobbies: Movies, reading, and true crime.

What got you interested in psychiatry? Through medical school, clinical rotations, and life experience, I saw firsthand how mental health is deeply intertwined with physical health, functioning, and quality of life — and how underserved and stigmatized psychiatric care still is, and it inspired me.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Child Adolescent Psychiatry

Alfred Torres, MD
Medical School: Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine

About me: I was born in New Jersey but raised in South Florida. I attended Florida International University, where I studied biology as an undergraduate. I continued at FIU’s Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, earning my MD. I’m a proud husband to my wonderful wife, Cynthia, and a proud father to my goofy goldendoodle, Winston.

Hobbies: Tennis, ping-pong, golf, and meditation.

What got you interested in psychiatry? Psychiatry stood out to me because it blends science, empathy, and deep human connection. I’m drawn to the opportunity to truly listen to people and help them heal through some of their most difficult moments. Mental health is often overlooked, and I want to be part of changing that.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Neuromodulation

Faith Tran, MD
Medical School: Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine

About me:I was born in San Francisco and raised in different cities throughout Southern California. I am a Vietnamese American and have one younger brother and two younger cousins with whom I am very close. I got my B.S. in Biology at the University of California, Riverside, before attending Florida Atlantic University Schmidt College of Medicine. I have had a passion for science and medicine ever since I was a little kid, and I am thrilled to continue my professional journey at Memorial.

Hobbies: Reading, trying new art modalities (crocheting, painting, pottery, etc.), skiing, exercising with friends, being outdoors, traveling, video games, and playing with my two amazing cats (Pancake and Billy Bob).

What got you interested in psychiatry? I did not really imagine myself as a psychiatrist until I rotated here at Memorial as a third-year medical student. I went into third year with an open mind with interests in OBGYN and Heme-onc, however, I quickly realized that everything I found most interesting in those fields was rooted in psychiatry (such as women’s mental health and the psychological struggles that oncology patients often face). Everything changed from my psychiatry rotation here. I learned how drawn I was to the patient population. Connecting with them and building that physician–patient relationship is very gratifying, especially because they are often ostracized from society and even the healthcare system. I find everything about the field to be so fascinating, from psychopathology to the different modalities of therapy to psychopharmacology.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: I am keeping an open mind, but I came into residency to pursue general psychiatry with a focus on inpatient work. I am particularly interested in learning more about lifestyle psychiatry and neuromodulation.

Thalia Adrian, MD
Medical School: Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine

About me: I was born in Los Angeles, California, but grew up in Miami as the oldest of three siblings. After earning my GED, I explored various industries and lived what feels like several different lives, all while pursuing a pre-med track. I'm proud to be a first-generation graduate of Miami Dade College, Barry University, and now Nova MD.

Hobbies: Working out, yoga, trying new restaurants, hanging out with my dog.

What got you interested in psychiatry? My interest in psychiatry was sparked by the psychiatrists who supported a loved one during difficult times. This deepened during my third-year clinical rotations, where I saw the pervasive impact of mental illness across every specialty. I was struck by how managing mental health could dramatically influence physical illness. This realization reinforced that mental and behavioral health is the foundation of overall well-being, solidifying my passion for the field.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Reproductive psychiatry, consult liaison, forensic psychiatry

Cathaerina Appadoo, MD
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Allopathic Medicine

About me: I was born in New York and I grew up in Port St. Lucie, FL. I went to the University of Florida for undergraduate where I studied biology, health disparities, and theatre. I worked in public health for a couple of years before going to medical school. I am the oldest of four children and all my family is in South Florida. I've wanted to be a psychiatrist all my life!.

Hobbies: Cooking, hiking, gardening, listening to Taylor Swift.

What got you interested in psychiatry? I've been fascinated by human behavior and the "why" behind how we behave/how we think for as long as I can remember. My work in public health especially pulled me toward the field of psychiatry. Then once I did my third year rotation in medical school, it was clear that there was no other specialty for me!

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: General psychiatry

Emilio Hospedales, MD
Medical School: FAU Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine

About me: I grew up in Montgomery, Illinois, in a primarily Trinidadian household. I am the second oldest of four siblings. Growing up, the food we had was packed with intense flavor, with pepper sauce always on the side. I spent most of my childhood interested in science, particularly Biology, and psychology, so I decided to pursue a Neuroscience degree at the University of Miami. After coming to Miami, South Florida quickly became my second home. Now, I share two orange tabby cats (Tigger and Tüpfli) with my girlfriend. I am super excited to spend another four years in South Florida!

Hobbies: Fragrance collecting, Sartorialist, Boxing, teaching/mentoring, cooking, watching movies and reading.

What got you interested in psychiatry? I have always been intellectually curious about how social and cultural factors impact people's well-being (both biologically and psychologically). During medical school, psychiatry was my first rotation, and I was super motivated to come in every day and attempt to build rapport with all of the patients, especially the acutely ill ones. I enjoyed how, in psychiatry, the attendings took time to understand the motivating factors behind people's behaviors and provided interventions to aid in improving a specific aspect of their lives.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Keeping an open mind, but Geriatric Psychiatry for now

Betsy Trujillo, MD
Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine

About me: I was born in Cuba and moved to Miami at the age of five. I was raised in Miami most of my life until moving to North Carolina to finish my undergraduate studies at UNC Chapel Hill. I took a couple of gap years to teach and then attended UC COM in Ohio, where I discovered I hate snow. Though it was challenging to be away from friends and family, I ultimately had a great medical school experience. Now, I’m thrilled to be back in sunny South Florida with my family, amazing husband (Andy), and our precious husky (Jaxx), ready to start this exciting new chapter in my career!

Hobbies: Group fitness classes, dancing, spending quality time with my loved ones, and more recently, taking on home renovation projects.

What got you interested in psychiatry? Growing up in a Hispanic household, mental health was often a taboo subject overshadowed by societal stigma. Emotional well-being was frequently trivialized, sparking a strong desire in me to change the narrative surrounding mental health.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Undecided, but potentially Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Julianne Chu, MD
Medical School:St. George’s University School of Medicine

About me: I grew up in New York City and went to Chapin, an all-girls school in Manhattan for 13 years. I am the third child of four girls, and we all grew up playing squash. I was recruited to Harvard University where we won the Team National Squash Championship 3 of my 4 years. In college, I was initially on the premed track, but after taking psychology classes such as Personality Disorders, I became passionate about it and decided to major in Psychology. After Harvard, I completed a two-year postbaccalaureate program to complete my premed courses and then applied to medical school while working at a private plastic surgery practice in Manhattan.

Hobbies: Anything active and outdoors like Spikeball or Pickleball.

What got you interested in psychiatry? During my undergraduate studies, I spent two summers at Harvard’s Nock Lab, working alongside a dedicated team of graduate students focusing on PTSD in veterans. I was deeply moved by the stories I heard and the strength I witnessed. This experience ignited a passion in me for mental health, leading me to pursue my BA degree in psychology. As I became increasingly fascinated by the intricacies of the human mind, I realized that my passion could serve a meaningful purpose in psychiatry. Matching into a psychiatry residency felt like a natural progression from the classroom to the clinical side, so that one day I can positively contribute to mental health support.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Michael Kelson, MD
Medical School: Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine

About me: I was born and raised in Boca Raton, FL and completed my undergraduate studies in Biology at the University of Miami. My second home is at the gym, I love to stay active, and I’m excited to spend the next 4 years living by the beach.

Hobbies: Wakeboarding, hiking, fishing, sports (especially football & MMA), fitness training, nutrition, and traveling.

What got you interested in psychiatry? In college, I became infatuated with psychology and the puzzling intricacies of the human mind. What captivates me about psychiatry is that it allows the practitioner to gain greater insight into human behaviors, cognition, mood, and perceptions. Medical school augmented my craving to treat people with mental health disorders as I worked with many inspirational psychiatrists, watching them practice their craft in awe.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Addiction Psychiatry

Michelle Lanspa, DO
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine

About me: I was born and raised in Omaha, Nebraska, the oldest of seven siblings. I went to college at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service and majored in Science and Technology in International Affairs with a concentration in international health. I spent the next seven years living in Italy and Spain working in project management for anti-human trafficking nonprofit organizations, the European Commission, and the United Nations. I also completed an MBA at IE Business School in Madrid. I got married in Italy and my husband and I decided to come back to the U.S. so we could start a family and I could finally achieve my dream of attending medical school. My daughter was two years old when I started medical school and has been my inspiration throughout my medical training.

Hobbies: I love going to see Broadway shows, spending time boating with my husband and daughter, and doing a little tai chi when I have time.

What got you interested in psychiatry? I started medical school drawn to psychiatry for a variety of reasons. I loved Irvin Yalom’s books. Additionally, having worked so many years in public health, I saw how physical health, dietary, environmental, inter-generational, and trauma-related factors have an effect on a person’s mental health and quality of life, and I wanted to play a part in helping individuals and communities work through all the different influences affecting their mental wellbeing. Finally, thanks to my training in nutrition, I have become fascinated by the work being done in neuroinflammation and the gut microbiome-brain axis, and I would love to contribute more research to these lines of study.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Reproductive Psychiatry / Psychoneuroendocrinology, Nutritional Psychiatry

Rishi Prasad, MD
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine

About me: I grew up in Philly and left for the University of Miami for both undergrad and medical school. I love taking advantage of everything South FL has to offer and am very excited to stay here for another 4 years.

Hobbies: Being outdoors and in water, poker, fantasy football, pets, going out, traveling.

What got you interested in psychiatry? During undergrad, I majored in political science and find the intersection between politics and mental health care fascinating. As the societal stigma surrounding mental health decreases, funding and laws supporting mental health subsequently continue to improve, which is one of the reasons I believe psychiatry is the most exciting and innovative field of medicine.

Fellowship/Specialty of Interest: Addiction or forensic psychiatry