Welcome
The goal of the fellowship program in Pediatric Emergency Medicine is to develop the clinical, administrative, teaching and research skills necessary to manage medical, surgical and psychosocial emergencies. With the unique resources of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey, we are able to offer a fellowship of the highest caliber. Our fellowship emphasizes humanistic and compassionate care delivered in an environment of medical excellence made possible through exceptional teamwork. We are looking for physicians who have a passion for clinical care, a hunger for education and scholarship, and a commitment to community.
Faculty
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Faculty
Catherine Scarfi, MD
Director of the Fellowship Program in Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Dr. Scarfi completed her pediatric residency and served as chief resident at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. She then completed her Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship at Jacobi Medical Center. Her interests include environmental emergencies and resident education.
Adam Sivitz, MD
Medical Director of Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Dr. Sivitz completed his pediatric residency and chief residency at Schneider Children’s Hospital in New Hyde Park, NY and a Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship at Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, RI. Dr. Sivitz participates in supervision and teaching of patient care during clinical rotations. He is involved in mentorship for fellow and resident research projects. Current active research interests include the application of bedside ultrasound to pediatric emergency medicine, and adolescent STD/HIV screening. In his free time, Dr. Sivitz enjoys coaching his kids' soccer teams, boogieboarding, and rooting for the Phillies, Eagles, and Flyers.
Cena Tejani, MD
Associate Director of the Fellowship Program in Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Dr. Cena Tejani completed her pediatric residency at NYU Langone Medical Center in NY and her PEM fellowship at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in 2012. Dr. Tejani is in charge of the fellowship conference curriculum, facilitating administration of the core curriculum weekly lectures and small group seminars. Her current interests include international medicine, fellow and resident education, and wound care.
Dr. Vaishali Shah
Dr. Vaishali Shah completed her pediatric residency training at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia in 2007 and completed fellowship in Pediatric Emergency Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center/Bellevue Hospital Center in 2010. She has experience and interest in bedside ultrasound, medical student and resident education. Her interests include traveling and taking care of her two children.
Dr. Ravi Thamburaj completed his pediatric residency at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in 2007, serving as chief resident over the final year. He then completed his Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship at Newark Beth in 2010, as one of the first two graduates of the program. His interests include clinical education of medical students, residents and fellows.
Dr. Stephen Amaefuna completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Newcastle Upon Tyne in England, and went on to medical school at St. George’s University School of Medicine in Grenada in the West Indies. He practiced general medicine in Nigeria for many years prior to completing a pediatric residency at Lincoln Hospital in the Bronx,a nd has since worked in many different pediatric emergency rooms throughout New York and New Jersey. He is married to a school teacher and has 4 children. In his spare time, Dr. Amaefuna enjoys travelling, mostly ocean cruises, as well as music, particularly jazz and classical.
Dr. Charles Osei graduated from Ghana Medical School and served as a Medical Officer in Accident and Emergency Medicine at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Ghana. Dr. Osei completed his pediatric residency at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and has been a clinician/teacher at the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center Pediatric Emergency Department since June 2000.
Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellows
Third Year Fellows
Horton Lee
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Undergrad: Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo, Ontario, 2006
Medical School: St. George's University, Grenada, 2010
Residency: Mt. Sinai School of Medicine-Elmhurst, Queens, NY, 2013
Research Interests: Ultrasound
Hobbies: Traveling, basketball, hiking, watching sports
Marinelle De Los Santos Quim
Hometown: Paramus, New Jersey
Undergrad: Rutgers University, New Brunswick, 2004
Medical School: Our Lady of Fatima University, Philippines, 2009
Residency: Cohen Children's Medical Center, Queens, NY 2013
Research Interests: Adolescent contraception, sickle cell disease
Hobbies: Scuba diving, hiking
Second Year Fellows
Shamyla Farrukh
Hometown: New York, NY
Undergrad: The Sophie Davis School of Biomedical Education, New York, NY 2009
Medical School: Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH, 2011
Residency: Cohen Children's Medical Center, Queens, NY, 2014
Research Interests: Pelvic exam and cervicitis, simulation/resident education
Hobbies: Ultimate frisbee, volleyball, video games, spending time with friends
Uchechi Azubuine
Hometown: Somerville, MA
Undergrad: Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Medical School: Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, 2011
Residency: New York Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, 2014
Research Interests: Lung Ultrasound
Hobbies: travel, watching sports
First Year Fellows
Vivian Levy
Hometown: Caracas, Venezuela
Medical School: Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas, 2008
Residency: Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Miami, FL, 2015
Research interests: Language development in medical staff, use of various tools for translator services, resident education
Hobbies: Traveling, trying new foods, theater
Kavita Patel
Hometown: Dartmouth, MA
Undergrad: Tufts University, Medford, MA, 2004
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine, Dominica, 2011
Residency: Cohen Children's Medical Center, Queens, NY, 2014
Research Interests: Asthma, ultrasound, resident education
Hobbies: Traveling, running, hiking, spending time outdoors