John Hartberg, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-2)
University of Queensland – School of Medicine

John completed his undergraduate studies in neuroscience at the University of Minnesota where a chance encounter with a renowned professor led him to attend his first conference on burgeoning avenues in psychiatric research. Following his undergraduate studies, John began working with MAPS, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, in Santa Cruz. At MAPS, John served as Study Coordinator of the first FDA-approved Phase II clinical trial investigating MDMA-assisted therapy in the treatment of anxiety and depression in patients with a life-threatening illness. Later, during medical school at the University of Queensland, he co-authored a study published in the Journal of Psychopharmacology analyzing the largest to date cohort of patients receiving long-term oral ketamine for treatment-resistant depression. John is a member of the National Ski Patrol and a Candidate Fellow of the Academy of Wilderness Medicine through the WMS. John enjoys surfing, skiing, and the general feeling of being outdoors.

Jennifer Lee, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-2)
St. George’s University – School of Medicine

Dr. Lee was born in Chicago but was also raised in Hawaii and Pennsylvania. She obtained her B.A. from Wellesley College where she studied biology, economics, and music. Dr. Lee then completed her Master of Public Health degree at Columbia University, where she realized she could have the biggest impact through combining the practice of clinical medicine and utilizing public health tools and resources. She carried this passion with her to medical school at St. George’s University and discovered her love of psychiatry. As an inquisitive person, her professional interests are wide-ranging, but most notably include pain medicine, forensic psychiatry, addiction medicine, neuropsychiatry, and mental health advocacy. In her spare time, Dr. Lee enjoys reading, playing piano, scuba diving, biking, gardening, and traveling to new places.

Teresa Nolfi, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-2)
Cal. University of Science and Medicine – School of Medicine

Originally from San Francisco, Dr. Teresa Nolfi has been a resident of Los Angeles for over 25 years. Dr. Nolfi earned an undergraduate degree in Psychology at the University of California Los Angeles with a focus on Health Psychology and Developmental Psychology. Accepted into the inaugural class of the California University of Science and Medicine School of Medicine in San Bernardino, she found herself increasingly more focused on the mental health and wellness of the underserved patients in her care across all services, how it intersected with various health behaviors, socioeconomic stressors, and impacted their overall health. Dr. Nolfi’s professional and educational areas of interest include working with underserved and underrepresented patient populations including LGBTQ+, gender dysphoria, women’s health, suicide prevention, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, electroconvulsive therapy, and novel psychiatric treatments currently under investigation. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family which includes three senior rescue dogs, gardening, cooking, travel, visiting museums, watching movies, and listening to music.

Rod Paulsen, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-2)
LSU – School of Medicine (New Orleans)

Rod has always thought about what makes people happy. To explore this question, he initially pursued a degree in philosophy, but was eventually called to study the mind through the lens of psychoactive substances and majored in neuroscience at NYU. While at NYU, Rod gained experience as a research assistant at the NYU Psilocybin Project, which exposed him to the power of the burgeoning psychedelic renaissance and convinced him to pursue a career in psychiatry. He received his master’s in biomedical sciences at LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans and did his thesis on the neurobiology of hyperalgesia during opioid withdrawal. He then continued for medical school at LSU, during which time he served as a night sitter on MAPS’ trial of MDMA-Assisted Psychotherapy for PTSD. His interests include neuropsychopharmacology and drug policy. He likes surfing, meditating, and being a cliché.

Yasamin Olyaei, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-2)
Univ. of California Riverside – School of Medicine

Yasamin Olyaei is a graduate of the Yale School of Public Health and completed her medical training at the UCR School of Medicine. A lifelong career in psychiatry was a natural fit for Yasamin, given her interest in psychopharmacology, women’s mental health, public health, and policy. Her clinical research interests include mood disorders, PTSD, and interventional psychiatry. In addition to her dedication to medicine, Yasamin is also an artist; She completed her classical training in piano and musical theory. She also enjoys classical figure drawing and painting. She spends her free time with her family and adorable pets.

Erin Overton, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-2)
Saba University – School of Medicine

I am originally from Moreno Valley, CA. During my free time you can find me exploring hiking trails with my dog and checking out the endless eateries that Southern California has to offer! I also love to check out local farmers’ markets and of course going to the beach! I chose the field of psychiatry because mental health is such an integral component of overall well-being and physical health and I want to help play a pivotal role in increasing awareness and help my patients reach their greatest potential. I am also fascinated with how the mind works and the different methods you can use to improve mental wellness on top of psychopharmacology. Her interests include nutritional psychiatry, mental health crisis, addiction, women’s mental health, racial trauma, and integrative medicine.

Bashir Alizada, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-1)
St. George’s University School of Medicine

Bashir grew up here in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. During his undergraduate studies at UC Riverside, he switched his career focus from computer science to medicine after his rewarding experiences volunteering in a clinic that offers care for the homeless, uninsured, or financially challenged individuals of Southern California. Bashir enrolled in Urbana University, receiving his MBA with Emphasis in Healthcare Administration. He then obtained his MD from St George’s University, where he found his passion for psychiatry while rotating at Mission Community Hospital. He is completing an MPH with a concentration on Global Medicine from the Keck USC School of Medicine. Bashir is passionate about immigrant and refugee mental health. During his free time, he enjoys gardening and playing with his dog.

Kaevon Brasfield, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-1)
Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California

Kaevon is a southern California native, having grown up in Anaheim and lived in Los Angeles where he earned his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Southern California. He earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience before moving to Seattle, WA for a year-long stint in Americorps, serving at an elder care facility for people with neurocognitive disorders. He returned home to attend the Keck School of Medicine of USC, where he furthered his interest in neuroscience by contributing to research projects focused on neuromodulation. Earning a Dean’s Research Scholarship for a year of dedicated research work, he contributed to studies evaluating the efficacy of TMS for schizophrenia and deep brain stimulation for Parkinson’s disease, including published works in Frontiers in Neurology and Clinical Psychiatry. Kaevon is a lifelong lover of music, having enjoyed spells in bands as a jazz guitarist and bass player. He also makes house and techno music in his home studio and plays DJ sets in the LA area. He likes to cook, play pickup soccer, and watch Premier League matches on the weekends.

Nayiri Guedikian, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-1)
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Nayiri got her Masters in Public Health and has an interest in integrative medicine and nutritional psychiatry along with completing research about eating disorders. Born and raised in the SFV she’s excited to serve the community that raised her along with the Armenian community in this area. During her free time Nayiri loves to cook healthy meals, lift weights and box, and go to local farmers markets.

Christopher Harwood, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-1)
University of Kentucky College of Medicine

Chris was born and raised in Ohio before he earned a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience at the University of Kentucky. After, he worked as a clinical research associate at Markey cancer center where he worked with patients diagnosed with brain cancer. He was always interested in the study of the brain and realized that he could make the biggest impact in the practice of psychiatry as so many patients need help and can’t obtain it. He is interested in treating hospitalized patients with psychosis and also in contributing to the rapid growth of evidence-based psychiatry. Chris is also a musician and enjoys performing at local venues. He plays anything from Harry Styles to Jimi Hendrix. After visiting California, he knew that it would be his home as he loves the community in southern California, the outdoors and being surrounded by mountains.

Jugyeong Lee, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-1)
Rush Medical College of Rush University

Esther received her Bachelor’s degree in Science Business with a minor in Studio Art from the University of Notre Dame, blending her analytical and artistic talents. Inspired by her own immigrant background, she is deeply committed to addressing the needs of underserved and underrepresented populations, advocating for equal access to mental health services. Her interest in psychiatry includes inpatient care where she can provide treatment to individuals facing acute mental health challenges. She is also interested in neuromodulation and psychedelic research, recognizing their potential to transform mental health treatment. Outside of her professional pursuits, she enjoys gardening, outdoor activities, watching movies, and engaging in various arts and crafts projects.

Nicole Lim, MD

Psychiatry (PGY-1)
Tulane University School of Medicine

Driven by a curiosity about the human mind, Nicole found herself drawn to the fascinating realm of psychopharmacology and the neurobiology of disease during her neuroscience studies at Tulane University in New Orleans, LA. While there, she also studied music and was given the Leaders in Service Award for helping kickstart a program that provides free string classes to underserved elementary students. Nicole continued to serve her community while attending the Tulane University School of Medicine, where she led research and educational efforts to improve tobacco cessation treatment for women being treated for concurrent substance use. She presented her findings at the 2023 APA conference in San Francisco. Professionally, she is interested in psychosis, addiction, mood disorders, and psychopharmacology. Personally, she is thrilled to explore the diverse nature and foods of Southern California, most especially finding the best Bun Bo Hue.