Penn Psychiatry

Tuua Ruutiainen, MD, MBE
Tulane University School of Medicine
PGY 2 Chief Resident

I was born in Finland and moved to Maryland when I was three.  I went to Penn for college where I fell in love with bioethics.  At the same time, I had my first formal exposure to psychiatry when I shadowed a psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Hospital working with HIV and chronic pain patients.  My experience convinced me early on that I wanted to become a psychiatrist.  After college, I completed a Master of Bioethics at Penn, with a thesis focusing on the ethics of testicular tissue cryopreservation for pediatric cancer patients.  I went to medical school at Tulane University School of Medicine.  Working with underserved patients in New Orleans, I discovered a deep passion for social justice and ethical issues related to access to care.  I am thrilled to return to Penn and Philadelphia.  I am especially excited about the Ethics Track and psychotherapy training.  Outside of the hospital, I am looking forward to exploring art museums, discovering new restaurants, and going to First Fridays.

Sheyda Sabetan, MD
University of Washington School of Medicine
PGY 1 Chief Resident

I'm originally from California, went to high school in Israel and then attended college at UC Berkeley where I studied public health.  My interest in primary care and underserved communities brought me to medical school at the University of Washington where I got to learn medicine in a wide variety of settings, and spent time in Wyoming, Idaho, and Alaska.  My interests within psychiatry include addictions, psychosis and emergency care.  In my free time, I enjoy browsing netflix, cooking, hanging out with friends & family (& dog), and playing music.

Agin Thomas, MD
Temple University School of Medicine
PGY 3 Chief Resident

Hey guys, my name is Agin.  I was born in India, celebrated my first birthday there then came to Philly and have been here since.  With that said, it is only recently that I have begun to spend time in the center city areas and really appreciate what all the city of brotherly love has to offer.  I was a religion major in undergrad, focusing on Asian studies, specifically Buddhism.  It is with that experience my interest in mental health first cropped up and started to take root.  When I did my psych rotations in medical school, I knew I had found my calling-love at first encounter.  The cherry on the top was finding and becoming a part of the Penn family.  Only a few weeks in and I knew beyond a shred of doubt life has a lot of amazing things in store for us.  Side notes: I am gung-ho about hot yoga and swear by it and love dance, especially hip-hop cultural fusions… Interest in either of those?  Would love to connect!

Albert Yu, MD
University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
PGY 4/Education Chief Resident

I was born and raised in Central New Jersey, coming to Philadelphia and Penn for medical school.  Since then, Philadelphia has become my new home and I decided without reservation to remain at Penn for the Psychiatry Residency.  My academic interests are with collaborative/integrative care, consultation psychiatry, and medical education and I plan to pursue a fellowship in consultation-liaison next year.  My partner and I dote on our three energetic and emotionally needy cats and I enjoy writing science fiction about flying robots, ace pilots, spaceships, and hyperbolic conflict in my free time.

The warmth, guidance, and mentorship that I found here at Penn have been transformative, both personally and professionally and I know you'll find the same if you choose to make us your academic home as well.