Faculty

Alexa Whoriskey, MD
Residency Program Director

Dr. Whoriskey graduated from the University of Delaware Honors Program and from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine. She completed her residency at Harvard Longwood Psychiatry Residency Training Program and a fellowship in Public Psychiatry at Columbia University. Dr. Whoriskey joined Saint Joseph’s in 2019.  She currently serves as Chief of Outpatient Services at the St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester Division. She previously served as Medical Director at The Guidance Center of Westchester and Pathways to Housing, Inc., as well as clinical roles with community-based mental health providers in Westchester County and New York City.  She enjoys spending time with her family in outdoor activities such as skiing, sailing, and hiking.  She loves to travel and cook.   

Dean B. Harlam, M.D.
Faculty - Director of Psychiatry

Dr. Harlam graduated from Columbia University and from Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  He completed his residency at Albert Einstein and a fellowship in Inpatient Psychiatry at Cornell University Medical Center. After five years at Cornell’s Westchester Division, Dr. Harlam moved to St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester, where he served as Director of the Partial Hospital, Associate Medical Director and Chief Medical Officer. He has been Director of Psychiatry at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center for eight years. When not working, Dr. Harlam enjoys spending time in Mattituck, on the North Fork of Long Island.

Rachel Schoolcraft, MD
Faculty - Site Director, Saint Joseph’s Medical Center and Addiction Psychiatry

Originally from the Midwest, Dr. Schoolcraft has had a long-standing commitment to teaching and learning. She completed undergraduate degrees in biology and education and graduated from Ross University School of Medicine. She completed her psychiatry residency at Stony Brook University Medical Center and fellowship in Addiction Psychiatry at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center. She has previously served as faculty in the Department of Family Medicine at New York Medical College and in Psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine and American University of the Caribbean. Prior to joining the Saint Joseph’s team, Dr. Schoolcraft worked at Bronx-Care Health Center where she served as Medical Director of the Life Recovery Center, Associate Director of the Division of Addiction Psychiatry, and Associate Program Director of the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship.  Dr. Schoolcraft joined Saint Joseph’s in early 2022. She currently serves as the Medical Director of Addiction Services at Saint Joseph’s Positive Directions program and Attending Psychiatrist in the Mental Health Clinic at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center. She is passionate about psychiatry and teaching and enjoys cooking and creating meaningful experiences with her family.

Christopher S. Aloezos, MD
Faculty – Addiction Psychiatry

Dr. Aloezos is an adult psychiatrist board certified in General Psychiatry and Addiction Psychiatry. He graduated from the West Virginia University and the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He completed adult psychiatry residency at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Following residency, he completed fellowships in Administrative Psychiatry at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and in Addiction Psychiatry at the NYU School of Medicine. While a psychiatry resident, he also attended a fellowship at the New York Psychoanalytic Society and Institute, to deepen his understanding of psychodynamic theory and practice. Dr. Aloezos joined Saint Joseph’s in 2019.  He currently serves as the Medical Director of Outpatient Addiction Recovery Services at St. Vincent's Hospital Westchester where he participates in clinical work, education, advocacy, and research. His hobbies include hiking, painting, and beekeeping.

Maria Khan, MD
Faculty – Geriatric Psychiatry

Maria Khan, MD, is board certified in general psychiatry and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. She completed her undergraduate studies at Binghamton University and received her Bachelor of Science after completing a double major in Biology and English. She was awarded her Doctor of Medicine from Ross University School of Medicine. Dr. Khan completed her training in General Psychiatry at New York Medical College-Westchester Medical Center, where she was intern of the year and Chief Resident. She then went on to complete her fellowship in Geriatric Psychiatry at Albert Einstein College of Medicine-Montefiore Medical Center. Dr. Khan joined St. Vincent’s Hospital, Westchester in 2019 as an outpatient provider. In addition to this, she is a consulting psychiatrist at Burke Rehabilitation Hospital.

Dr. Khan specializes in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of psychiatric disorders occurring in later life. She has expertise in the management of psychiatric manifestations of neurocognitive disorders. Her clinical interests lie in the utilization of cognitive assessment tools to help develop treatment plans, with a focus on improvement in quality of life and caregiver/care provider education and support. She is committed to the establishment and improvement of psychiatric care for the elderly population, with an emphasis on successful aging.

Anita Kulangara, MD
Faculty

Dr. Kulangara graduated from the University of Rochester and from St. George’s University School of Medicine. She completed a psychiatric residency program at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center, where she was chief resident of medical education. She joined St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester recently, serving as a psychiatrist on the inpatient service. She likes dancing, but has a soft spot for Indian classical and folk styles, which she grew up learning. She likes attending live music concerts, traveling, and likes discussing development of characters from her favorite TV shows and films.

Shajiuddin Faraz Mohammed, MD, MPH
Faculty

Dr. Mohammed graduated from Deccan College of Medical Sciences in India, and Southern Connecticut State University. He completed a residency in adult psychiatry and a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at New York Medical College/Westchester Medical Center. He is a psychiatrist treating children, adolescents and adults at the St. Vincent’s Behavioral Health Center in White Plains, and also works as a child and adolescent psychiatrist at Jewish Child Care Association, Westchester Day Treatment Program. He is the current President-Elect of West-Hudson Psychiatry Society and is involved with APA. He is very much involved in the community and has been at the forefront of cyberbullying and its effect on the child and adolescents mental health. He is passionate about cricket and is an active member of Westchester local cricket team.

Carlos Sotolongo, MD
Faculty – Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Dr. Sotolongo graduated from Wilkes University and from the Instituto Technologico de Santo Domingo. He completed his residency at Elmhurst Hospital and a fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital.   Dr. Sotolongo has been at St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester since 2000.  He currently serves as the Clinical Director for the Outpatient Mental Health Service, Adolescent Partial Hospital Program, the EXCEL program ( Substance Abuse program for Adolescents), and the Latino Clinic at St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester, a Division of Saint Joseph’s Medical Center. He is also an avid cyclist who has done several Century rides.

Sonia Velez, MD
Faculty

Upon graduating from Fordham University with a bachelor’s degree in Biology, Dr. Velez enrolled in the American University of the Caribbean for her medical studies. Ever in search of knowledge and education, Dr. Velez attended and graduated from Boston University School of Law. Following her graduation from law school, Dr. Velez decided to return to her first passion – Medicine. Dr. Velez completed her residency in Family Medicine at Saint Joseph’s Medical Center, where she served as a chief resident. Dr. Velez continued at the residency program as a core faculty member and in 2006 was appointed as the Program Director of the Family Medicine Residency Program. In addition to her work and dedication to medical education, Dr. Velez has become an integral part of the community in Yonkers, where she serves as a member of the Mayor’s Health Advisory Board for the City of Yonkers.

Irwin Lubell, LCSW-R
Faculty - Psychotherapy

Mr. Lubell graduated from the State University of New York at Albany and from the Hunter College School of Social Work. He completed an externship in family therapy at the Philadelphia Child Guidance Center and a post-graduate training program in family therapy at the Bronx Psychiatric Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine.  Mr. Lubell joined St. Vincent’s in 2008.  He currently serves as Administrative Director of Outpatient Mental Health Programs at the St. Vincent’s Hospital Westchester Division of Saint Joseph’s Medical Center, where he oversees two outpatient mental health clinics, a partial hospital program and a personalized recovery oriented services program. His 40 years of professional experience has also included clinical and training roles in hospital and community-based settings throughout metropolitan New York City.  He has a strong professional interest in facilitating the systemic and individual changes needed to support creative program development and implementation, and is excited about playing a core role in helping Residents become effective and caring Psychiatrists.

In his leisure time, Mr. Lubell enjoys spending time with family, reading, listening to jazz and classical music, watching movies and streaming TV series, and finding adventurous new places to get a great meal!

Jen Spitz, DSW, LCSW-R
Faculty - Psychotherapy

Dr. Spitz completed a bachelor’s of science degree in social work from the New York University School of Social Work, a master’s degree in social work from the Columbia University School of Social Work and a doctor of social welfare degree from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work. She has had broad clinical and teaching experience.  In December 2019, after several years in academia, Dr. Spitz very happily returned to St. Vincent’s where she had worked in the early 90s as a brand new MSW. Recognizing the role St. Vincent’s played in grounding her professionally; Dr. Spitz has established the first graduate student MSW intern program in the Outpatient Mental Health Service (OMHS). Through partnerships with New York University, Fordham University, and Rutgers, OMHS has hosted 10 students since its inception.

Dr. Spitz joined St. Vincent’s just prior to the start of the pandemic.  She had the challenge of leading her team through an unprecedented public health crisis, and with her guidance the team continues to be more resilient every day. Dr. Spitz’s favorite activity is spending time with her family. She also enjoys reading and exercise.