Candidate for 2026 Resident-Fellow Member Trustee-Elect (RFMTE)

Biography

Meghana Sankaran, D.O., is a first-year psychiatry resident at St. Catherine’s of Siena in Smithtown, NY. She earned her Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM) in May 2025.

Dr. Sankaran has demonstrated a sustained commitment to leadership, advocacy, and mentorship throughout her academic and professional career. During medical school, Dr. Sankaran was a Student Admissions Ambassador and Vice President of the Weightlifting Club. She also served as Lab Monitor in the Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine laboratory, mentoring students and supporting hands-on learning. As a current resident, she has been elected by her peers to serve as Chair of the Wellness Committee and to represent her cohort in the Committee for Culture, Inclusion, and Diversity. Her contribution to these committees as a leader has been invaluable; her initiatives on resident well-being, inclusive learning and consistent resident presence in administrative decision-making has been focused and effective.

As an undergraduate research assistant at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Neurological Surgery, Dr. Sankaran received the Cayman Biomedical Research Institute Undergraduate Grant to conduct independent research on synergistic drug therapies for pediatric brain tumors, specifically glioblastomas and neuroblastomas. Her projects examined how established chemotherapies and newly developed compounds could be used synergistically, focusing on in vitro studies and statistical modeling of cell survival by looking at protein levels. She also worked on developing using carbon-dots to deliver novel chalcones across the blood brain barrier to these inaccessible tumors. This work strengthened her skills in scientific inquiry, collaboration, and data analysis while deepening her appreciation for translational research.

Dr. Sankaran’s clinical interests include consultation-liaison psychiatry and the integration of physical and mental health care, and she remains open to exploring other subspecialties as she progresses in training. She looks forward to contributing to the field of psychiatry through her combined interests in clinical care, research, wellness, and advocacy.

Education

• Good Samaritan University Hospital/St. Catherine’s of Siena, Smithtown, NY
  Psychiatry Residency Training, PGY-1, July 2025 – Present
• New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine (NYITCOM), Old Westbury, NY
  Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), May 2025
• University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL
  Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Health Sciences, Cum Laude, May 2021 Minors: Biology, Chemistry, History, Psychology, Public Health

Awards and Honors

• Gold-level recognition for greater than 100 TOUCH (Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health) Volunteer Hours, 2023
• Silver-level recognition for greater than 50 TOUCH (Translating Osteopathic Understanding into Community Health) Volunteer Hours, 2022
• Cayman Biomedical Research Institute (CABRI) Undergraduate Grant, 2019
• President’s Scholarship, University of Miami, 2017–2021
• Edward Syder Scholarship, University of Miami, 2021
• Girl Scout Gold Award, 2016