One South: Portrait of a Psych Unit

Laura Braider, PhD, is a pediatric psychologist and assistant vice president at Northwell Health, and assistant professor of psychiatry at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. Her clinical work focuses on the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders (OCD) and Tourette syndrome. She co-founded the OCD program at Zucker Hillside Hospital and established the Behavioral Health College Partnership (BHCP). She contributes to publications such as Psychology Today and Psychiatric Times and is frequently asked to share her expertise with national and local media.

Crystal Brown is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Zucker Hillside Hospital’s One South unit. Her focus is on young adults, with a special interest in psychosis. She works with foster care agencies to facilitate adoptions for children in the foster care system. “It’s fulfilling to provide hope to both the patients and families in their time of need,” says Brown. “I enjoy seeing the change in the patient when they are getting better. I feel a sense of fulfillment knowing that I helped shape the way they see mental health.”

Jerry Chang, MD, has been an attending physician at Northwell for 16 years with a focus on inpatient psychiatry. He started as the director of medical student education, helping to create the psychiatry curriculum for the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell. He was later the director of inpatient psychiatry and is currently the float attending psychiatrist for inpatients. “Part of the reason I love [working with] inpatients is the team approach to care,” he says. “I believe every single member of the team provides valuable information and feedback . . . and can make a difference in the lives of our patients.” 

Danielle Cimafonte (known professionally as Danielle Morrissey) is a behavioral health supervisor (previously a coordinator) for the BHCP program at One South. Her focus is working with college-age students experiencing depression, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder and psychosis. “From a young age I knew that I wanted to work in a profession that would help people through challenging times,” says Cimafonte. “I have witnessed hundreds of students focus on their mental health, take time away from school, manage their symptoms, and then go on to graduate and lead very successful lives.”

Amanda Harris McClelland, MD, has been a faculty member at Zucker Hillside Hospital since July 2019. As unit chief on One South, she led an interdisciplinary team caring for youth in acute mental health crisis. In January 2024 she became the psychiatry clerkship director at the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, where she oversaw the educational experience for third-year medical students. She currently sees young adults in the Zucker Hillside Hospital Outpatient Specialty Centers. “I have the privilege of being able to hear people’s stories, help them to understand themselves, and help ease their suffering,” says Haris McClelland. “I love seeing patients be able to work towards their life-worth-living goals.”

Stephanie Quito is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Zucker Hillside Hospital’s One South unit. Her role includes care assessment and providing an effective discharge plan for follow-up appointments with psychiatrists or therapists and/or group sessions. She also provides crisis intervention for both patients and families, offering any needed psychoeducation and coordinates outside resources to assure the patient remains supported after hospitalization. “Connecting with patients and parents and being the ear that listens in difficult conversations has been the most powerful and uplifting moments in my career,” says Quito. “I love that I can make such a positive impact in helping people help themselves during the most vulnerable moments in their life.”

Jason P. Stasi, PhD, is a senior psychologist in Zucker Hillside Hospital’s One South inpatient unit and DBT team leader. His areas of focus include dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), suicidality, self-injury, aggression, borderline personality disorder, acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), depression, anxiety, and young adult mental health. “Watching someone grow from admission to discharge with a new perspective and hope in life is truly rewarding,” he says. “I love hearing from the outpatient department when my past patients are doing well and following their goals and values.”

Jason Yan, MD, has been practicing psychiatry since 2017 and joined Zucker Hillside Hospital in 2021. He specializes in treating young adults enrolled in college and those who are first developing symptoms of psychosis. He also supervises medical students and residents in his current role. “Education has always been an important part of my career,” says Yan. “While seeing patients improve is rewarding, the cases truly come alive when trainees experience the same aspects of psychiatry that initially drew me to the field, fostering a new generation of health care professionals.”