First Year Fellows

Nisha Brunson, D.O.

Medical School: Liberty University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Meharry Medical College School of Medicine in Lynchburg, Virginia

Where are you from?
Lynchburg, Virginia

Why did you choose KU Wichita CAP Fellowship?
I felt so welcomed when I came here for my interview at KU-Wichita. I was impressed with how close-knit the faculty, staff, and fellows were--it felt like a big family! I knew that if I came to this program, I would be welcomed with open arms, as well as receive a well-rounded learning experience that would equip me to be a confident Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist. My husband's family also lives in Wichita, which is a big plus!

Research/Special Interests
College mental health, teen and transition-age youth mental health

What do you like to do for fun?
Go for walks, travel, shop, cook, go to the gym, spend time with family

Who is your hero and why?
My Dad! He worked so hard for our family through the ups and downs, and he encouraged me to be the best I could be. He is one of my biggest supporters!

Favorite thing about Wichita?
The friendly people!

Brittni Plato, M.D.

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin
Residency: University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita

Where are you from?
Green Bay, Wisconsin (Go Pack Go!)

Why did you choose KU Wichita CAP Fellowship?
I was originally interested because I have a lot of family throughout Kansas and specifically near Wichita, and knew the location was a good culture fit for my family. I like that it’s a smaller class size of residents (my med school is also small, so I knew I would receive good one-on-one training you don’t get at some bigger programs). Once I interviewed, the faculty and residents were all very genuine and welcoming, and I was convinced.

What do you like to do for fun?
I’m equal parts adventurer and homebody. For adventures, I love travelling, trying new restaurants, snowboarding (how I met my husband!), jet skiing, theme parks, etc. As a homebody, I love binge-watching Netflix (Criminal Minds, currently), cross-stitching (working on a landscape from Lord of the Rings) and playing video games (my favorites are Dragon Age and Ghost of Tsushima).

Who is your hero and why?
Both of my Nanas. One is an incredibly successful business owner of ~50 years. The other couldn’t fulfill her own dream of becoming a teacher, so dedicated her life to instilling a passion for learning and following their dreams in all of her granddaughters. Both have taught me how to work hard, live generously, and be a courageous woman, and I wouldn’t be where I am without them!

Favorite thing about Wichita?
The people are super friendly, it has all of the amenities you could ever need (a big city without the big city vibe), and the number of amazing new restaurants of all types of cuisine is unbelievable!
Also, cost of living here can’t be beat!

Second Year Fellows

Sandhya Mainali, M.D.

Undergraduate: Wichita State University
Medical School: University of Iowa
Residency: University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita

Where are you from?
Nepal

Why did you choose KU Wichita CAP Fellowship?
During my residency, I got to work with Dr. Karlsson, Dr. Ciccolari-Micaldi and Dr. Brown, and absolutely loved working with them. I got to see closely how hard they worked in starting a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship and always thought about ways to make it better for fellows. I have no doubt in my mind that this fellowship will help me learn and gain valuable experience that will prepare me to become an independent and competent child and adolescent psychiatrist.

Research/Special Interests
Neuropsychiatry

What do you like to do for fun?
Spend time with family, especially my kiddos.

Who is your hero and why?
My parents, for everything they have done and continue to do for our family and for the community.

Favorite thing about Wichita?
No traffic, no parking issues. It’s a great place to raise a family, and there are plenty of things to do with friends and family.

David Matuszewski, M.D.

Undergraduate: University of Colorado at Boulder
Medical School: Poznan University of Medical Sciences
Residency: HealthONE at The Medical Center of Aurora

Where are you from?
I was born in Poland but have lived in Colorado for most of my life.

Why did you choose KU Wichita CAP Fellowship?
For the chance to be part of a much-needed, ambitious new program piloted by an incredibly passionate and dedicated group of people.

Research/Special Interests
Community engagement and childhood trauma.

What do you like to do for fun?
Hiking, biking, skiing, climbing, paddleboarding and just about anything outdoors.

Who is your hero and why?
Gordon Ramsay – he’s a great chef, a great teacher, and truly passionate about his work. Also, his signature Beef Wellington is probably the best dish I've ever had.

Favorite thing about Wichita?
I love how walkable the city is - it makes it really easy to explore and find new places!

Javanthi Theegala, M.D.

Medical School: Chalmeda Anand Rao Institute of Medical Sciences, Karimnagar, Telangana, India
Residency: University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita

Where are you from?
Hyderabad, India

Why did you choose KU Wichita CAP Fellowship?
I had the privilege of doing my psychiatry residency at KU Wichita. The program has a congenial work environment and the faculty here are very caring and supportive. I also noticed the extreme need for child psychiatrists in this area and wanted myself to be available to this community.

Research/Special Interests
I’m interested neuropsychiatric research and working in underserved communities.

What do you like to do for fun?
Spend time with my family and friends, and play games including chess, throwball and table tennis.

Who is your hero and why?
My parents. They always worked hard for me to have better life and encouraged me in all the ups and downs of my life.

Favorite thing about Wichita?
People here are very nice and accommodating! And short commute!