Leadership team
Arya Soman, MD, DFAACAP
Residency Program Director
Current position: Psychiatrist, Child and Adolescent Day Hospital
Fellowship: Boston Children’s Hospital (child & adolescent psychiatry)
Residency: Zucker Hillside Hospital (general adult psychiatry)
Medical school: Stony Brook University
Undergraduate: Harvard University (biology)
Dr. Arya Soman began her role as the Program Director for WellSpan Health’s Psychiatry Residency Program in June 2023. She brings more than a decade of experience working as a leader in both graduate and undergraduate medical education, most recently serving as an Associate Program Director for the Psychiatry Residency Program at Zucker Hillside Hospital, Northwell Health in Glen Oaks, New York. In addition, she also led the first two years of medical student education in psychiatry at the Zucker School of Medicine as Co-course Director for the psychiatry and neurology course and as a Director for the Psychiatry Initial Clinical Experience for second year students.
In her associate program director role at Zucker Hillside Hospital, Dr. Soman oversaw the ambulatory clinical curriculum, including training in psychotherapies and pharmacotherapy, and training in ambulatory geriatric, child and adolescent, and addiction psychiatry.
Her interests in fostering a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment for patients, trainees and the broader community also led to serving as a member of both the Northwell/GME Diversity Council and the first Advisory to the Executive Director Council for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Zucker Hillside Hospital. Her passions for working with youth and supporting underserved populations led to her involvement with Northwell’s Center for Global Health, where she served as the site lead for Zucker Hillside Hospital’s global mental health resident elective experience in India.
Dr. Soman is actively involved in the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training and currently serves as a member of the Residency Curriculum and Assessment Review Task Force. She is also a former member of the Training and Education Committee of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
She received her AB (magna cum laude) from Harvard University with a concentration in biology. She obtained an MD with Recognition in Humanities from Stony Brook University School of Medicine, after which she completed residency training in general adult psychiatry at Zucker Hillside Hospital and fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry at Boston Children’s Hospital, a Harvard Medical School training program. She served as a chief resident and as a chief fellow in these respective training programs.
When not working, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring nature or experiencing the arts in all of its many forms.
John Dolena, DO
Associate Program Director
Current position: Outpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatrist
Fellowship: Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (child and adolescent psychiatry)
Residency: Rowan University
Medical school: Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate: La Salle University
Dr. John Dolena has always had a strong interest in working with and helping others. Born and raised in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania, Dr. Dolena completed his undergraduate education at LaSalle University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and minors in French and justice and society studies. He then went on to medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine, followed by residency at Rowan University’s School of Osteopathic Medicine, where he served as chief education intern — an early preview of Dr. Dolena’s interests in educating and mentoring physicians.
With his commitment to making a difference in the lives of children, adolescents and their families, Dr. Dolena next completed a child and adolescent fellowship at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, serving as Chief Fellow.
Clinically, Dr. Dolena has primarily worked as an outpatient psychiatrist in Lebanon and Lancaster counties. His clinical interests include child and adolescent neurodevelopmental, mood, and anxiety disorders. He also maintains other significant roles within WellSpan Health, such as serving as the psychiatrist liaison to the Clinic for Special Children in Strasburg, Pennsylvania; taking on the collaborating physician leadership role for the behavioral health certified registered nurse practitioners; and providing consultations at Good Samaritan Hospital, along with weekend and weeknight coverage at various sites.
Dr. Dolena has been an enthusiastic supporter of the residency program since its inception and has been a critical figure in its development and success. The program will continue to benefit from the historical perspectives, institutional knowledge, clinical wisdom, administrative leadership and passion for education that Dr. Dolena brings as the residency program’s Associate Program Director.
Outside of work, Dr. Dolena is also committed to fostering improvement in elementary and high school students by volunteering as a basketball, cross country and track and field coach. An avid sports fan (Fly Eagles Fly!), Dr. Dolena also enjoys running, reading and trips to the Jersey shore.
Nidhi Garg, MD
Medical Director, Philhaven Mt. Gretna Hospital
Current position: Director, Child Adolescent Services; Psychiatrist, Child & Adolescent Day Hospital
Fellowship: Penn State Health, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center (child and adolescent psychiatry)
Residency: Albert Einstein Medical Center (adult psychiatry)
Medical school: JJM Medical College
Dr. Nidhi Garg is a board-certified child and adolescent psychiatrist who holds both clinical and administrative leadership roles at WellSpan Health. She completed her medical training at the prestigious JJM Medical College in Davangere, India. Dr. Garg completed adult psychiatry training at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, where she earned the distinction of chief resident, followed by child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship training at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Clinically, she currently works at the Child and Adolescent Day Hospital and Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) in Lancaster, which offers mental health treatment specifically designed to serve children in grades K-12 who have a diagnosis of a mental health illness and who are experiencing serious to severe levels of emotional distress. The structured day hospital IOP is designed to deliver a high level of therapeutic intervention in a relatively short period of time.
Dr. Garg also holds various administrative leadership roles at WellSpan Health, including Medical Director of Philhaven Hospital, Division Lead of Child and Adolescent Services and Psychiatry Site Director for Lancaster County. She is also a member of the Medical Executive Committee of WellSpan Philhaven.
Dr. Garg has played an integral role in the development of the residency program since its planning first began and is an active advocate of incorporating resident training and education into the behavioral health service line. She has been a member of the residency planning committee, and with her dual leadership and clinical roles, she continues to provide invaluable insight and guidance on the development of the program.
Christy Roelke
Residency Program Coordinator
Christy Roelke brings a unique blend of experiences to the coordinator position. She earned a bachelor's degree in dietetics and a master's degree in higher education administration at Indiana University of Pennsylvania.
Prior to joining WellSpan Health, Ms. Roelke spent 20 years working at universities as a career counselor and pre-health/pre-medical advisor. Whether she was counseling undecided students or helping pre-meds secure admission to medical school, the common denominator to each of her positions was a focus on the development of college students and helping them to achieve their career goals. Similarly, residency programs also strive to help their learners reach their full potential. In 2019, Ms. Roelke joined WellSpan as a residency coordinator, shifting from helping students at the beginning of the medical education continuum to helping those at the end. She has had the distinct pleasure of seeing some of her former college students rotate through their third-year medical school clerkships, complete residencies at York or Good Samaritan Hospitals, or start their first jobs within WellSpan Health.
Ms. Roelke has a deep understanding of the sacrifices and hard work physicians have made during their educational journeys. Due to her experiences in career development and health careers, she is also aware of career pipeline issues particularly as they relate to the STEM fields, women in science and technology, and the low numbers of Black men enrolled in medical schools. She is looking forward to the psychiatry residency’s first class and the opportunities to encourage and support each resident as they complete the program.
Outside of work, Ms. Roelke enjoys participating in outdoor adventures like hiking, biking, and kayaking with her family, appreciating the beauty of nature, and spending time with loved ones.
