Gary A. Brown, DO, FAPA
Program Director
President, Capital Health Medical Staff
Dr. Brown has been in practice for more than 30 years, specializing in psychiatry. He received his medical degree at Des Moines University – Medicine and Health Sciences in Des Moines, Iowa and completed his post-doctoral training in psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry – School of Osteopathic Medicine in Newark, New Jersey. Dr. Brown completed additional training at the Institute of The Philadelphia Association for Psychoanalysis in Bala-Cynwyd, Pennsylvania. He is board certified in psychiatry by the American Osteopathic Board of Neurology and Psychiatry and certified in buprenorphine detoxification by the American Psychiatric Association.
Dr. Brown has educated learners of all disciplines throughout his career, including medical students, residents, and the community at large. He has been a guest speaker on both domestic and international TV stations. He provides crisis intervention training education to law enforcement and has organized and presented on various topics at both annual psychiatric and multispecialty conferences.
Nayan Bhatia, MD
Associate Program Director
Dr. Bhatia is medical director of the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Service at Capital Health in Trenton, New Jersey, where he brings his expertise in community and psychosomatic medicine to the forefront of patient care. Board certified in psychiatry, Dr. Bhatia completed his residency at the Carilion Clinic-Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine in Roanoke, Virginia following his medical education at the Medical University of Silesia in Poland. He also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Dr. Bhatia is a dedicated educator and has made significant contributions to the field of psychiatry through both teaching and research. His academic achievements include co-authoring a chapter in the “Textbook of Antisocial Personality Disorder.” He has received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Psychiatry Residency Training Program and Preceptor of the Year Award from Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, highlighting his commitment to mentoring the next generation of medical professionals.
In addition to his professional accomplishments, Dr. Bhatia is known for his diverse personal interests, which range from the thrill of skydiving to the tranquility of meditation. These activities reflect his dynamic personality and his holistic approach to both life and medicine, emphasizing the importance of balance and well-being.
Melissa Coluccio, MD
Core Faculty
Dr. Coluccio is a clinical psychiatrist on the inpatient mental health unit at Capital Health Regional Medical Center in Trenton, New Jersey. She competed her medical school education and psychiatry residency training at Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) in New Brunswick, New Jersey, where she also serves as a clinical assistant professor at Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine. Dr. Coluccio has received the Outstanding Teaching Award from the Robert Wood Johnson Psychiatry Residency Training Program and an Outstanding Student Teaching Award from Rutgers-RWJMS.
Christopher Saslo, DO
Core Faculty
Dr. Saslo serves as the medical director of Behavioral Health Hospital Based Services at Capital Health. He is a board certified psychiatrist who completed his medical school training at UMDNJ-SOM in Stratford, New Jersey. He then went on to complete his psychiatry residency at Rutgers Medical School in Piscataway, New Jersey, where he served as the chief resident.
Dr. Saslo is an experienced psychiatrist with over 10 years of work in consultation psychiatry, inpatient psychiatry and emergency psychiatry. He is also a dedicated educator who has been honored with multiple teaching awards throughout his career, including an award for being an outstanding teaching resident during his residency at Rutgers, a Voluntary Faculty Award from the medical students of Rutgers Medical School, a Preceptor of the Year Award from the medical students of Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, and two Outstanding Teaching Awards from Rutgers Psychiatry Residency Training Program.
Asad Shaikh, MD
Core Faculty
Dr. Shaikh is a board-certified psychiatrist with expertise in evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of medical health disorders. He completed his psychiatry residency at Richmond University Medical Center in New York after receiving his medical degree from Jinnah Medical and Dental College in Pakistan. Dr. Shaikh has extensive experience in inpatient and outpatient settings, crisis management, consult-liaison psychiatry, and telehealth services. He has strong teaching skills and a strong commitment to quality patient care and continuous professional development.
Madhulika Sharma, MD
Core Faculty
Dr. Sharma has been in practice for more than 20 years and is currently a psychiatrist at Capital Health and Rutgers University – New Brunswick. Dr. Sharma completed her residency training at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, where she also completed a Chief Residency year. Dr. Sharma previously worked as an attending physician in the emergency department at Long Island College Hospital. She received her medical degree from N.H.L. Municipal Medical College in India.
Daniel F. Goldsmith, MD, FACP
Internal Medicine Subspecialty Education Coordinator
Dr. Goldsmith received his medical degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York City and trained in internal medicine at Boston University. After his training, he joined Johns Hopkins Community Physicians, a community-based internal medicine practice where he served as a firm leader for the resident practice for three years prior to joining Capital Health in 2001.
Dr. Goldsmith mentors residents in submitting abstracts and scholarly activities, resulting in numerous acceptances for presentations at national and regional conferences every year. He has a special interest in teaching bedside physical diagnosis. Dr. Goldsmith also has an academic appointment as clinical assistant professor of Medicine at Rutgers – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey. He is Chair of the Institutional Review Board and Chair of the Continuing Medical Education Committee at Capital Health.
Dr. Goldsmith is very likely to ask about the music you listen to, the restaurants you frequent, and what else you like to do outside of work.
Jamal Hussain, MD
Emergency Medicine Subspecialty Education Coordinator
Dr. Hussain is an attending physician in the Emergency Departments at Capital Health and program director for Capital Health’s Emergency Medicine Residency Program. He has more than 20 years of experience in emergency medicine.
Dr. Hussain received his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry in Newark, New Jersey and completed his emergency medicine training at North Shore University Hospital in Manhasset, New York. Dr. Hussain is board certified in emergency medicine and is a member of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
Before joining Capital Health, Dr. Hussain was an emergency medicine consultant physician at a teaching hospital in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates for 11 years, where he also served as the associate program director (and later, program director) for the Emergency Medicine Residency Program.
Dustin Rochestie, DO
Neurology Subspecialty Education Coordinator
Director, Neurology and Neuro Critical Care at Capital Health
Director, Capital Health Stroke Program
Dr. Rochestie is board certified in neurology and neuro critical care and received his medical degree from Nova Southeastern College of Osteopathic Medicine in Davie, Florida. After his neurology residency at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Dr. Rochestie completed his fellowship training in neurocritical care at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia.
Prior to joining Capital Health, Dr. Rochestie was an attending physician in neurocritical/stroke care at Wellstar Medical Group/Wellstar Neuroscience Network in Marietta, Georgia. He also served as senior associate/instructor in Emory University’s departments of Neurology and Neurosurgery. Dr. Rochestie has held research positions at the Behavioral Neurosciences Laboratory at Emory University and the Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. He has also contributed to research published in a number of medical journals and is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and the Neurocritical Care Society.
Amina Chowdhury, MBBS
Site Director, Monmouth Medical Center
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Rotation
Dr. Chowdhury is a psychiatrist based in Edison, New Jersey and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including JFK University Medical Center at Hackensack Meridian Health and Monmouth Medical Center – Long Branch Campus. She received her medical degree from Chittagong Medical College in Bangladesg and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Chowdhury has expertise in treating bipolar disorder and depression, among other conditions.
Michael Colston, MD
Site Director, Ann Klein Forensic Center
Forensic Psychiatry Rotation
Dr. Colston graduated from Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland and completed his residency in psychiatry at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Bethesda. He completed fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry at Northwestern University. Dr. Colston is board certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in both adult and child and adolescent psychiatry.
Dr. Colston has an extensive resume that includes service as Chair of the Mental Health Department at the Naval Hospital Great Lakes in Great Lakes, Illinois and background as a nuclear engineer and surface warfare officer aboard the nuclear carrier USS Carl Vinson. He is a published author and has testified before Congress on behavioral health topics.
Narsimha Pinninti, MD
Site Director, Oaks Integrated Care
Addiction Psychiatry Rotation
Dr. Pinninti is a psychiatrist in Mount Laurel, New Jersey and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Jefferson Washington Township, Jefferson Cherry Hill, and Jefferson Stratford hospitals as well as Virtua Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Camden, New Jersey. He received his medical degree from Gandhi Medical College in Secunderabad, India and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Pinninti has expertise in treating bipolar disorder, depression, anxiety disorders, and other conditions.
Arnold Williams, MD
Site Director, RWJBarnabas Health
Geriatric Psychiatry Rotation
Dr. Williams received his medical degree from UMDNJ – New Jersey Medical School in Newark, New Jersey, where he also completed his psychiatry residency training. He is the medical director at RWJBarnabas Behavioral Health Center in Toms River, New Jersey and previously worked at a community medical center in New Jersey for almost 10 years as an emergency room psychiatrist. Dr. Williams also serves as Chair of the Psychiatry Department at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, New Jersey.