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Core Academic Faculty

Jennifer Oakes, MD
Program Director

Medical School: Upstate Medical University, State University of New York, Syracuse, NY
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Affiliated
Fellowship: Medical Toxicology - Emory University School of Medicine / CDC Georgia Poison Center   
Professional Interests: Critical and acute care toxicology, complementary and herbal medications and their toxicology, medical education
Hobbies: Knitting, spinning


Brett D. Cherrington, MD
Associate Program Director

Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University
Residency: Upstate University Hospital, Syracuse NY
Fellowship: Medical Toxicology at Upstate University Hospital
Professional Interests: Toxicology, medical Education
Hobbies: Outdoors, sports, music, church, family


Anatoliy Goltser, MD
Assistant Program Director

Medical School: Drexel
Residency: Maimonides, Emergency Medicine (Brooklyn, NY)
Professional Interests: Critical Care, Sports Medicine
Hobbies: Weightlifting, skiing, mountain biking, changing diapers


Omar Amr, MD
GME US Director and Clinical ED US Director

Medical School: Harvard Medical School
Residency: University of California, Irvine
Hobbies: Water polo, water sports


Sahiba Chandel, MD

Medical School: University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Residency: New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
Fellowship: EM Ultrasound- New York-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
Professional Interests: Ultrasound, Ultrasound Research
Hobbies: Playing with my Dog, Outdoor activities, hiking and traveling


Tiffany Chioma Anaebere, MD
Director, Special Projects and Innovation

Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Residency: Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA
Professional Interests: Diversity in medicine, Quality improvement, patient education, healthcare utilization, mental health/wellness
Hobbies: Travel, food, fitness, spending time with friends/family


Matthew Kiefer, MD
Director of Simulation

Medical School: University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Residency: Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA
Fellowship: Medical Simulation, UC Davis
Professional Interests: Simulation, medical education, ultrasound
Hobbies: Sailing/kayaking/canoeing, playing music, spending time with my family


Dr. RapsChristine Raps, MD

Medical School: University of Nevada Reno
Residency: University of Utah 
Professional interests: Critical care, disaster preparedness, community outreach
Hobbies: cooking, gardening, hiking, spending time with friends and family


Katherine Shafer, MD
EMS Medical Director

Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital
Professional Interests: EMS, pediatrics, critical care
Hobbies: Traveling, kayaking, riding horses, and cooking


Yasamin Soltanianzadeh, MD

Medical School:
George Washington School of Medicine
Residency: Mount Sinai St. Luke's Roosevelt, New York, NY
Fellowship: Simulation - Mount Sinai Morningside West, New York, NY
Professional Interests: Emergency Medicine through education and innovation, Simulation
Hobbies:Ballet, Iranian dance, Flamenco, hiking and biking


Benjamin Wiederhold, MD
Chair, St. Joseph's Emergency Department

Medical School:
University of California San Francisco
Residency:  Highland Hospital, Oakland, CA
Professional Interests: Quality improvement, ED operations, ultrasound, resuscitation medicine, medical education
Hobbies: Wake surfing, really any kind of surfing, high adventure hiking, family and coaching kids sports teams, travel


Brian Wood, MD
Clerkship Director, Transitional Year Program Director

Medical School: Keck School of Medicine of USC
Residency: Yale-New Haven Hospital, CT
Fellowship: Medical Education Leadership, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Professional Interests: Medical education
Hobbies: Hiking, gardening, baking bread, spending time with family