Our residents are by far the best part of this program. We are incredibly lucky to have a diverse group of vibrant, intelligent, passionate, and fun individuals. All are passionate about combined care and eager to provide the best holistic care we can to patients. Beyond combined care, our residents have a host of interests – from narrative medicine to healthcare advocacy to palliative care to global health. These wide range of interests in addition to the fun personalities of our group combine to make the program a great atmosphere for training and for pursuing individual passions.
Hometown: Lawrenceburg, TN
Undergraduate: Lipscomb University
Medical School: University of Kentucky
Born and raised in a small town in Middle Tennessee, Ben moved to Nashville for college where he studied molecular biology while working part-time as a laboratory assistant and tutor. After transitioning to medical school, he began to develop an intere
st in psychiatric illness, specifically in regards to the impact of mental health on comorbid illnesses and overall quality of life. He was attracted to the Med/Psych program at Tulane due to the approachability of the residents and staff, the service-centered culture, and its notable respect for residents maintaining an appropriate work-life balance. Ben has a professional interest in outpatient and inpatient integrative mental health models. In his spare time he enjoys jogging, video games, frequent trips to the zoo, and discovering new local eateries.
Jeff Sibrack, PGY-5, class of 2018
Hometown: Raleigh, NC
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Medical School: Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University
After studying Spanish at UNC, Jeff attended medical school at East Carolina. At ECU, he was drawn to Med/Psych because of the high prevalence of mental illness in all of fields of medicine and the challenge that comorbid mental illness brings to delivering effective care for any type of patient. Jeff chose residency at Tulane because of the patient population in New Orleans, the resident-centered programs, and a good feeling from the residents and faculty he met on interview day. Jeff thinks he may try to pursue a career in inpatient medicine or geriatrics. After just two years, living in New Orleans has exceeded his high expectations, and Jeff is looking forwards to becoming even more of a New Orleanian over the next several years.
Gabe Fette, PGY-4, class of 2019
Hometown: Denton, TX
Undergraduate: Tulane University
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Gabe Fette is a Tulane lifer and wouldn't have it any other way. His wife Molly is a Med/Peds resident and they're raising baby Josephine in their French Quarter apartment. Gabe can be found sweaty after cycling or playing soccer and can figure out a way for vitamins and sunshine to change your life. He is the behavioral activation ninja in primary care clinics. His favorite elements of New Orleans include the people, the attitude, the smell, City Park, and Bayou St. John.
Sarah Miletello, PGY-4, class 2019
Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA
Undergraduate: Northwestern University
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
In medical school, Sarah noticed the emphasis on integrative and comprehensive care, leading her to understand the relevance of Med/Psych training and that every patient is a Med/Psych patient. Tulane was an easy choice for Sarah after interviews were all said and done. Moreso than other programs, she felt that the patient care mission at Tulane permeated all aspects of both the medicine and psychiatry residency programs. She felt that people come to this program because they are excited to work with this community, in this city. She believes that that motivation creates an amazing team. And it doesn’t bother her that the music and food scenes are actually the best in the world
Rachel Hammer, PGY-3, class of 2020
Hometown: Portland, OR
College: Seattle Pacific University
Medical School: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Rachel notes that she has been in love with New Orleans for some time. She considers it an otherworldly sort of place with pathology most people only ever see in textbooks. She is thrilled that Tulane has Med-Psych, to be able to live in Midcity, her dream neighborhood, and to enjoy a program that feels like a family; strangely, a family of people who are as smart and talented as they are compassionate. Big thinkers with bigger hearts. That is Tulane Med Psych to her. Outside of the wonderful city and Med/Psych, she enjoys baking sourdough bread, food blogging, creative writing, long-distance running, jazz, bulldogs, chickens, vegetables, painting….pretty much, much to her chagrin, everything.
Amanda Satterthwaite, PGY-3, class of 2020
Hometown: Dallas, TX
College: Princeton University
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
The patient population in New Orleans and the current residents at Tulane sold Amanda on the program. She wanted to work with an underserved population and wanted a residency training that would prepare her to face any challenges her future career would present. She considers that the people of New Orleans will do just that, and the city provides her with all of the distraction and fun she needs outside of work. Amanda states that Tulane Med/Psych is a great blend of excellence and compassion, as well as a supportive group of great individuals. Outside of work, Amanda loves live music, spontaneous outings, and themed events (Halloween being her favorite).
Kurt Wall, PGY-2, class of 2021
Hometown: Iowa City
College: Washington University in St. Louis
Med school: University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Med-Psych first grabbed Kurt's attention during his third year of medical school as he came to appreciate the fascinating ways that medical and mental illnesses coexist and coalesce. Combined residency training in Medicine and Psychiatry allows him to work with vulnerable populations, and is helping him develop the skills necessary to treat complicated patients in a holistic manner. Tulane was an early favorite for him given his personal history with the city of New Orleans, but it was the people he met on my interview that sold him on the program. Living in New Orleans and surrounding himself with Tulane’s Med-Psych residents and faculty has been a dream come true.
Chelsea Thouvenot, PGY-2, class of 2021
Hometown: Belleville, IL (suburbs of St. Louis)
College: Clemson University
Med school: St. Louis University
Chelsea’s original plan was to study medicine and subspecialize in infectious disease to become an HIV doctor, but in her medical school clerkships, she was drawn to the psychosocial aspects of disease. She knew that she couldn't really help her patients unless she addressed both their physical and mental health. When she interviewed at Tulane, she felt a strong sense of community within the med-psych family. New Orleans suffers from high rates of homelessness, chronic infections, substance abuse, and mental illness, which makes it a great city to train in, and the place to be for those who really want to make a difference.
Melina Zuniga, PGY-2, class of 2021
Hometown: Aliso Viejo, California
College: Spelman College in Atlanta
Med school: Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta
Melina became interested in Med Psych when she realized how many psychiatric patients from under-served backgrounds were falling through the cracks in terms of medical management of their chronic conditions. During the interview process, she was looking for a program that cared about people from underprivileged and under-served populations as much as she did. Melina felt that from that same focus found that the minute she stepped into the Tulane community. Caring for a group of people often forgotten about was not just a claim made by the program, but was a strong focus. She felt her goals to work with the indigent population would be supported. Most importantly, she felt that the community of Med/Psychers were incredibly supportive of her professional and personal interests, as well as supportive of one another.
Connie Hsaio, PGY-1, class of 2022
Hometown: New Jersey (NYC suburbs)
College: University of Michigan
Med school: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
While New Orleans had been her favorite US city to visit, Connie never imagined herself living in the Big Easy—or in the South. But having gone to medical school to build the skills to understand and address health disparities, and then pursuing Med/Psych to integrate behavioral health and primary care for people with mental illness and substance use disorders, she was immediately drawn to the energy of Tulane’s vibrant and talented community. Connie found Tulane to be filled with passionate individuals who truly believe in something bigger than themselves. And there’s just something so special and inspiring about a city that’s been through so much, yet the music is always playing, the food is always hearty, and the people are always looking out for one another and taking every opportunity to celebrate life. Outside of work, Connie loves jamming to disco records on her turntables at home, Costco, and oysters. All the oysters.
