Heather P.M. Theibert, D.O.
Residency Program Director
Hometown: Wapakoneta, Ohio
Medical School: Kansas City University, Kansas City, Missouri
Internship and Residency: Adena Health Systems Adult Psychiatry Residency in Chillicothe, Ohio
Board Certification: Adult Psychiatry by ABPN and Addiction Medicine by ABPM
Dr. Theibert’s passion for medical education started in her early career, servicing as an Associate Program Director and Clerkship Director of Psychiatry at OhioHealth in Columbus, Ohio. Her commitment to graduate medical education based in community and advocacy involvement brought her to Meritus Health to become the inaugural Program Director of the Meritus Health Psychiatry Residency Program. She is also the Psychiatry Clerkship Director for Meritus Health and serves as the OSM-1,3 Course Director of Psychiatric Education for the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine. She has been involved at the regional and state level in multiple leadership positions with the American Psychiatric Association for the last 7 years. Dr. Theibert practices inpatient, addiction, emergency, and consult-liaison psychiatry at Meritus Medical Center.
Ajay Bhandari, M.D.
Core Faculty
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Medical School: Cebu Institute of Medicine, Cebu City, Philippines
Internship and Residency: St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, Washington, D.C.
Board Certification: Adult Psychiatry by APBN
Dr. Ajay Bhandari has been and attending psychiatrist with Meritus Health since 2013. His various roles include practicing on the inpatient, consult-liaison, and emergency psychiatry services. He has a passion for teaching, precepting our family medicine residents and holding the role as site director of Meritus Medical Center for rotating medical students. He completed an adult psychoanalytic fellowship at the Baltimore Washington Center for Psychoanalysis.
Yubaraj Bhandari, M.D.
Core Faculty
Hometown: Kathmandu, Nepal
Medical School: College of Medical Sciences, Bharatpur, Nepal
Internship and Residency: Mt. Sinai St. Luke’s – Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, N.Y.
Board Certification: Adult Psychiatry by ABPN, Consult-Liaison Psychiatry by ABPN
Dr. Yubaraj Bhandari started with Meritus Health in 2017 and currently serves as a psychiatrist in the inpatient, outpatient, and emergency settings. His interests in psychiatry include providing care for those with serious mental illness including those with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. His goal as an educator is to foster a dedication for direct and compassionate patient care.
Michael Nickasch, M.D.
Core Faculty
Hometown: Anvover, Minnesota
Medical School: West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, W.V.
Internship and Residency: West Virginia University School of Medicine, Morgantown, W.V.
Board Certification: Adult Psychiatry by ABPN
Dr. Nickasch has been with Meritus Health since 2021, serving as an outpatient psychiatrist in our Behavioral Health Clinic. He also serves as a preceptor for our medical students and serves on our resident recruitment committee. He is also passionate about provider wellness, serving on Meritus Health’s physician wellness committee.
Matthew Wagner, M.D.
Faculty
Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Internship and Residency: University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Psychiatry Residency, Baltimore, Maryland
Board Certification: Adult Psychiatry and Geriatric Psychiatry by ABPN
Dr. Wagner has 30 years of experience in outpatient and inpatient psychiatry and has been with Meritus Health for 28 years. He has served as division chief for psychiatry at Meritus and as Behavioral Health Service Line leader. He was recently the Behavioral Health Director of the Meritus Health Family Medicine Residency before becoming inaugural faculty with the Meritus Health Psychiatry Residency.
John Emmet Burke, Ph.D., J.D.
Faculty
Education: Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C., and J.D. from the University of Maryland School of Law, Baltimore, Maryland
Board Certification: Maryland Licensed Psychologist
Dr. Burke has been with Brook Lane for over 40 years with past positions as the Director of Child and Adolescent Services and Admitting Psychologist. He has an appointment as a Clinical Assistant Professor with West Virginia University School of Osteopathic Medicine and has held positions as a Forensic Evaluator and Court Mediator. He currently works as a psychologist in the inpatient and outpatient settings, with evaluation, supervision, and diagnostic consultation for children, adolescent, and adult patients.
Faisal Akram, M.D.
Core Faculty
Hometown: Gujranwala, Pakistan
Medical School: King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan
Internship and Residency: Saint Elizabeths Hospital/ DC Department of Behavioral Health, Washington, DC
Board Certification: Adult Psychiatry by ABPN
Dr. Akram is an early career psychiatrist who is working primarily as an outpatient psychiatrist at Meritus Behavioral Health. His interests include quality improvement in psychiatric care, research, and teaching. He has published many research articles and book chapters in the field of psychiatry.
Garry Seligman, M.D.
Associate Program Director
Hometown: Owings Mills, Maryland
Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.
Internship and Residency: Institute of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland
Board Certification: Adult Psychiatry by ABPN
Dr. Seligman has been with Meritus Health for over 40 years, serving as our Medical Director and Chief of Psychiatry. During his time with Meritus, Dr. Seligman has been passionately involved in medical education, precepting our family medicine residents and area medical students. He currently practices outpatient psychiatry.