Faculty

• Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences
• Residency: Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center

“St. Luke’s psychiatry is leading the region in mental health services. Our highly qualified psychiatric team is strengthened by our unique individual experiences and qualifications as well as our diversity. We are dedicated to expanding awareness, acceptance, and support of those that suffer from mental illness. To meet the demands of the region, we are expanding our services and investing ourselves in the training of future leaders in the field. The demand is high, and we are taking charge to deliver comprehensive mental health care with great expertise that treats the individual, not just the disease.”

– James A. James, DO

• Medical School: Moscow I.M. Sechenov Medical Academy
• Internship: Washington University School of Medicine
• Residency: First Moscow State Medical University, Medical University of South Carolina, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center
• Fellowship: Medical University of South Carolina

Areas of Interest: Neurobiology of personality and substance use disorders.

Dr. Vedeniapin works as an Addiction Psychiatrist at the outpatient SHARE program of St. Luke’s University Health Network, inpatient psychiatrist, Electroconvulsive therapy program director and Rural Psychiatry residency program director. He is engaged in the Pennsylvania Medical Society, and holds a vice-chair position at International Medical Graduate section. Passionate about preservation of natural resources, Dr. Vedeniapin contributed ecologically minded resolution to Pennsylvania Medical Society, and working on Nature based therapy programs. Outside of medicine, he enjoys scuba diving, and is a PADI certified Rescue Diver.

• Medical School: St. George’s University School of Medicine
• Residency: SUNY Downstate

Areas of Interest: Community health

“I have always felt that being a physician is a privilege and have been thankful for the opportunity for each and every patient care encounter. I have especially felt gratified to be a physician when serving those in the community for whom healthcare is less easily accessible. I am delighted to be part of St. Luke's Hospital psychiatry services as we move forward with the Rural Psychiatry program. I am extremely excited about bringing young doctors into the service of others and building a program with residents who will be skilled and ready for a lifelong career of practicing psychiatry.”

– Najma Khanani, MD

• Medical School: Universidad Nacional de Asuncion
• Residency: Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia
• Fellowship: Einstein Medical Center Philadelphia

Areas of Interest: Depression, Anxiety disorder, Bipolar disorder, Alzheimer's disease, Neurocognitive disorder, Mild cognitive impairment. Expertise in the management of psychiatric and behavioral complications of neurocognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. Promoting successful aging, well-being, and quality of life across the lifespan.

“As defined in Spinoza's book, "Ethics", commiseratio (commiseration) is love, in so far as it induces a man to feel pleasure at another's good fortune, and pain at another's evil fortune.

Our goals are to address community mental health needs, conduct research, and train outstanding clinicians. Above all, we aim to share the most valuable emotion described by Spinoza and to continue providing excellent patient care to an underserved population."

– Chong Kim, MD

“I am lucky enough to work in the best field of medicine and I now have the honor to help train the next generation of psychiatrists. I want to use the skills and knowledge that my mentors gave me to usher in the next step in the growth of St Luke’s Psychiatry. What I hope most is that when our graduates leave, they will leave carrying on the mission of St. Luke’s University Health Network to provide the best psychiatric care in the region and become passionate physicians who continue to find joy in the art of medicine.”

– Christine Marchionni, MD, FAPA