Current Fellows—The MedStar Health—Georgetown University Hospital Fellowship Program in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Alexandra Carter, MD, MSW, MA spent her childhood in rural Virginia and moved to Northern Virginia for high school. She received her BA in American Studies and Linguistics with a minor in Russian from Georgetown University. She went on to earn a MA in Asian American Studies from the University of California, Los Angeles. After spending several years in Los Angeles working in the documentary film industry she returned to Virginia and completed a MSW at Virginia Commonwealth University. Her training and experience in social work sparked her curiosity and desire to pursue a degree in medicine. She attended medical school at Howard University College of Medicine and completed her residency training in adult psychiatry at Virginia Commonwealth University. Dr. Carter grew up horseback riding and was a registered therapeutic horseback riding instructor. In the future she hopes to incorporate animal assisted interventions into her clinical work. She is also passionate about working with underserved communities and advocating for health equity. She is so happy to return to her alma mater, to be closer to family and friends, and to be a part of the Georgetown CAP family!

Israel I. Taylor, MD, MPH is from Miami, FL. She earned her Bachelor of Health Science from University of Florida (Go Gators!), then attended the University of Miami where she completed the dual-degree MD and MPH program. As part of her Capstone, Israel was awarded the Kuvin Foundation Scholarship and spent 7 weeks abroad as a partner with the Jerusalem District Health Office to engage in the practice of public health. This served as a formative experience in her growing interest in community health. Israel completed her Adult Psychiatry training at the University of Central Florida, where she spearheaded numerous case conferences and published work related to Black mental health disparities during the pandemic. Israel is excited to fast-track into Child and Adolescent fellowship to continue her training in DC. She has special interests in working with underserved populations, adolescent mental health, and health advocacy. She is also a dancer, creative writer, home cook, and lover of the arts. Fun fact: she won first place in her first-ever baking competition in medical school and has recently published her own e-cookbook!

Dr. Francois Williams, MD, grew up in Dallas, Texas. He obtained his B.S. in Biology from Xavier University of Louisiana and went on to earn his medical degree from Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. During his time at Morehouse, he explored the unique relationships between mental health and public spaces, as well as the political and social determinants of mental health.
 
While in medical school, Dr. Williams led the Cut Hypertension Initiative at Fade-A-Way Cutz Barbershop in Atlanta. Through the American Psychiatric Association Foundation Helping Hands Grant, he connected blood pressure screenings with a mental health campaign that included depression screenings and mental health forums in the barbershop.
 
Following medical school, Dr. Williams completed his adult psychiatry residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Dr. Williams was awarded the 2021-2022 SAMHSA Minority Fellowship, enabling him to further his understanding of group dynamics as a means of running psychotherapy groups that promote both change and healing. 
 
With one year of postgraduate training in group psychotherapy, Dr. Williams brings a unique perspective to his clinical work.  He completed his training through the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, an affiliate of the American Group Psychotherapy Association. His preferred theoretical frameworks encompass a diverse blend of DBT, family systems, and psychoanalytical orientations, which collectively shape his approach.
 
His interests extend to diverse areas, including the collective parenting of Black children, the challenges of fatherhood, men's mental health, transitional aged youth, school-based mental health, and the transformative power of group psychotherapy.
 
Dr. Williams enjoys exploring new neighborhoods in Washington, D.C., and trying new restaurants. His passion for menswear reflects his keen eye for detail and his appreciation for individual expression.

Wendy Clay, MD, MPH grew up in Blackstone, VA.  She received her B.A. in History and Global Studies with a minor in Chemistry at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She subsequently earned her MPH at Eastern Virginia Medical School prior to obtaining her MD at Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed adult psychiatry training at Wright State University and currently serves as a Diversity Leadership Fellow for the American Psychiatric Association. She is excited to fast track into CAP training at Georgetown University and return to the DMV. Her professional interests include diversity, equity and inclusion, underserved populations, and healthcare pipeline programming. Outside of the clinic, she enjoys hiking, visiting museums, traveling, and discovering new bakeries. 

Jonathan Extein, MD grew up in Florida and then Northern Virginia. He received his B.A. in Politics from Princeton University, graduating magna cum laude. After college, he spent a year teaching English at a bilingual public elementary school in Madrid, Spain. He then moved back to the D.C. area and spent several years working in both philanthropic and government sectors on local K-12 public education reform. He completed his post-baccalaureate premedical studies at Goucher College and then earned his medical degree at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. He completed his adult psychiatry residency training at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. His professional interests include school-based mental health, community psychiatry, health policy, adolescent mental health, and working with transitional-age youth. Outside of work, he enjoys hiking, kayaking, reading, and exploring D.C. area restaurants with family and friends.

Josh Palmer, DO, MPH grew up in Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania. He received his B.S. degree in Physiology and Neurobiology from the University of Connecticut then earned a Masters of Public Health degree from Drexel University in Philadelphia, PA. He then completed his medical degree from the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) in Blacksburg, VA. He completed his adult psychiatric training at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital. Dr. Palmer’s career interests include collaborative care, neuromodulation, acceptance and commitment therapy, inpatient work and caring for underserved populations. Having played division, I college tennis at the University of Connecticut, he still enjoys playing tennis today while outside of the clinic. He is also passionate about Italian food, his golden retriever, and spending time with friends and family exploring the DMV. He is very excited to continue his training at Georgetown and join the CAP family!