Meet Our Leadership
The original New York Medical College Emergency Medicine program at Metropolitan Hospital was the first EM program in Manhattan and is the second oldest in the State of New York. We offer a three-year residency that is committed to training residents who will graduate with a high degree of academic and clinical competence. The faculty members and I are committed to providing the highest quality education, promoting an environment conducive to academic and personal growth.
One of the greatest strengths of our program is the cultural diversity of patient populations, a variety of medical practice patterns, residents and faculty who work here. The residents have the opportunity to participate in patient care in different emergency medicine practice settings, which include the primary clinical site of Metropolitan Hospital in Manhattan and Harlem Hospital.
We hope you seriously consider our residency program and look forward to connecting with you this interview season.
Christina Ciraco DO
Vice Chair of Education &Faculty Development, Clerkship Director
It is an honor to be part of NYMC Met-Harlem’s impressive faculty and to work within the largest public health system in the country. Our residency is built on a supportive, mission-driven culture that makes Met-Harlem an inspiring place to learn, teach, and thrive.
My passion for medical education began as a medical student in a problem-based learning curriculum, which still drives my commitment to transforming how medicine is taught. I focus on curriculum innovation and faculty development to advance active learning strategies such as team-based learning, simulation, and gamification—all aimed at improving knowledge retention, learner satisfaction, and professional growth. I am equally committed to wellness and psychological safety, ensuring every learner feels supported, heard, and empowered both in and out of the hospital. My ultimate goal is to equip our students, residents, and faculty with the mentorship and support to excel as educators and as compassionate, socially responsible clinicians dedicated to serving diverse communities.
I completed my residency training at MetHarlem and was fortunate enough to be given the role of Medical Education Fellow and Assistant Program Director. During my fellowship I also obtained a Masters in Medical Education for Healthcare Professionals through John Hopkins University. MetHarlem has been my home throughout residency and I quickly fell in love with academics. It is now my pleasure to continue my training in Academics and bring back my experience and teachings into the program. I am extremely excited to work alongside such a talented and impressive staff. My goal is to help each individual resident grow and help train the next generation of Emergency Medicine attendings.
It is a privilege to be a part of the Met-Harlem EM residency, one that has produced so many great physicians. I completed my residency at Mount Sinai Morningside-West, where I was involved in medical education both at the medical student and resident levels. My goal is to provide residents with the education and support they need to become great attendings and leaders. Outside of the hospital, I am always looking to play or talk about basketball, explore NYC, and hang out with family and friends.
Born and raised in Long Island, NY I have been blessed with being able to train and continue to work in the NYC area. I completed my residency training here at MetHarlem and have been fortunate enough to step into the role of Assistant Program Director for the residency. Teaching has always been a passion of mine and I look forward to helping train incoming students and residents to become the best emergency physicians they can be.Outside the hospital I enjoy playing/watching soccer, snowboarding and the occasional DIY home projects.
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I’m originally from Ferguson, MO and went to Med School at Washington University in StL. I came to NYC for residency and fell in love with the city. I was drawn to emergency medicine because of the fast pace, diversity of complaints, and need for rapid decision making. But working with residents and education are what excites me the most.
Outside the department, you can find me exploring the city, reading sci-fi/fantasy novels, working out, or rolling dice in my monthly DnD game. I’m also a huge metal music nerd, a broadway fan, and a major foodie.
One of the best highlights of this residency is the vast array of interests among the residents here, and getting to know everyone on and off shift. There’s a niche here for everyone, and we come in all shapes and sizes!
Ms. Waleska Ovalles
Residency Program Coordinator, Metropolitan Site Coordinator, Clerkship Coordinator
I simply love my job. I have been at Metropolitan Hospital for 13 years, 10 years as the Residency Coordinator and Student Clerkship Coordinator and have helped many other departments in the hospital. I am not just a “coordinator” I am part of something bigger and being able to change someone’s life is one of the most fulfilling aspects of this job. Here at Metropolitan/Harlem EM Residency Program we are that and more, we are family. At MetHarlem we just don’t say these things, it is our way of life. We hope you love getting to know us through our website and please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
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Maritza Villegas is the Residency Coordinator for the Emergency Medicine Department in Harlem Hospital for Harlem Contract Residents. She has obtained a Bachelor in Psychology. Before Harlem Hospital she previously worked at Touro College of Pharmacy as an Executive Assistant for the Dean of Curriculum as well as Office Manager. Prior to Touro College of Pharmacy she worked at Montefiore Medical Center/ Women’s Center as the Coordinator for the Children’s Center an afterschool and summer program for HIV infected and affected children.