Father Luke Istafanous, MD
Founder and Medical Director, St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Clinic
Father Luke Istafanous is a board-certified psychiatrist and the founder and medical director of St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Clinic, a Christian faith-based psychiatric outpatient facility located in Belleville, New Jersey. The clinic offers its services to the public free of charge.Father Istafanous is also a priest of the Coptic Orthodox Church and serves as a pastor for the community of St. Mary & St. Mercurius in Belleville, NJ.He founded St. Luke’s Behavioral Health Clinic in 2011 because he saw a need to provide up-to-date psychiatric and psychotherapeutic medical care that incorporates Christian principles to also address an individual’s spiritual needs. As a highly qualified psychiatrist, Father Istafanous uses the most modern mental health modalities including pharmacology and psychotherapy. But because he is a priest of the Church, he is also able to incorporate Christian doctrine in counseling the suffering individual. His goal is to bring a patient into health and balance by addressing their medical needs—through psychiatry--as well as their need for a relationship with God.Father Istafanous’ approach is in keeping with modern trends of psychiatry that have come to recognize the best standard of care as one that includes all aspects of the individual, using the bio-psycho-socio-spiritual model.Father Istafanous is originally from Egypt. He obtained the Certification of MD from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) in 1999. He completed the psychiatry residency training program at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/New Jersey Medical School (UMDNJ/NJMS) from 2000 - 2004. He also obtained a medical board degree of general psychiatry from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN) in 2004 and a second board in the sub- specialty of addiction from the American Board of Addiction Medicine (ABAM) in 2005.He has served as a Medical Director of the Psychiatric Emergency Room in Trinitas Hospital in Elizabeth, NJ, and as an attending psychiatrist at UMDNJ/NJMS, reaching a faculty appointment of Assistant Professor of Psychiatry from 2004 to 2010. He has a Master’s degree in Theology from the Pope Shenouda III Coptic Seminary.Father Istafanous is the co-author of Purity: An Orthodox Christian Curriculum, a guide for Sunday School teachers to teach age-appropriate Christian-based sex education.He developed a teaching course on “Addiction & Spirituality” and is the author of “Are mental disorders sinful?” and “Leading in Christ Through the Medical Field.”
Dr. Rafik Youssef
Psychiatrist
Dr. Rafik Youssef is a distinguished and board-certified psychiatrist with a rich and diverse career spanning several decades. Born and raised in Egypt, he embarked on his medical journey that eventually led him to become a prominent figure in the field of psychiatry.
Dr. Youssef graduated from Ain Shams medical school in June 1979. Shortly after completing medical school, Dr. Youssef emigrated to the United States were he spent four years conducting research on the risk vs. benefit analysis of various antibiotics. This groundbreaking work resulted in publications at Tulane University Medical Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, showcasing his commitment to contributing to the scientific community. Following his years spent in research, Dr. Youssef pursued a residency in psychiatry at St Vincent Medical Center, honing his skills and gaining valuable experience.
Dr. Youssef's career then took him to the psychiatric emergency room at Jersey City Medical Center, where he further solidified his expertise in handling urgent mental health cases. Since 1994, he has been dedicated to practicing psychiatry, providing essential care to both adult and geriatric patients.
With staff privileges at esteemed institutions such as Hackensack Hospital, Holly Name Hospital, and Ramapo Ridge Psychiatric Hospital, Dr. Youssef established himself as a trusted and reliable professional in the psychiatric field. His role as a psychiatric consultant in various Rehabilitation Centers, including Christian Health, Family of Caring, and Care One Rehab Center, exemplifies his commitment to holistic patient care.
In addition to his hospital-based work, Dr. Youssef held a private practice for several years, showcasing his entrepreneurial spirit and dedication to personalized patient care. However, in the last 7-8 years, he made a deliberate shift, limiting his private practice to focus more on serving as a consultant psychiatrist at rehabilitation centers. This strategic move allowed him to concentrate on delivering specialized psychiatric services to the community, particularly in the context of rehabilitation.
Dr. Youssef's commitment to community mental health is further evidenced by his establishment of a psychiatric clinic in Jersey City that serves the public free of charge. For several years, he provided psychiatric services, including medication management and individual psychotherapy, catering to the needs of both adult and geriatric patients.
Recently, Dr. Youssef expanded his reach by joining the St Luke Community and Health service, along with his existing clinic in Jersey City. This collaboration underscores his dedication to staying abreast of the latest advancements in psychiatric care and ensuring that his services remain up-to-date and accessible to the community.
Throughout his illustrious career, Dr. Rafik Youssef has not only demonstrated clinical excellence but also a deep commitment to advancing the field of psychiatry and providing compassionate care to individuals in need.
Josephine Shenouda, PhD
Data Manager
Josephine Shenouda completed her doctoral degree in public health focused on the epidemiology of autism. Dr. Shenouda brings over 10+ years of experience in data management, public health, and biostatistics.
Dr. Shenouda is currently a research fellow at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School and an adjunct Professor of Biostatistics and Epidemiology at Rutgers School of Public Health. Dr. Shenouda is a co-Investigator on multiple studies focused on autism, and her research focuses on developing evidence-based strategies for interventions as well as addressing health disparities in public health interventions. Dr. Shenouda’s work has been supported by the CDC, NJ Department of Health and New Jersey Health Foundation.
Sandy Aziz, PhD, LCC, NCC
Counseling Manager
Dr. Sandy Aziz specializes in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with a strength-based solution focused approach to treatment. Her goal is to help reduce the frequency and intensity of the issues that her clients are suffering from. She believes that by identifying and ultimately changing self-defeating behaviors, clients are able to cultivate the skills necessary to achieve their goals. Dr. Aziz uses cognitive-behavioral theory (CBT) exercises and techniques which are specifically tailored to the individual and which help to build upon their pre-existing strengths and coping mechanisms. Her approach focuses on teaching clients the cognitive and behavioral skills they need to overcome their issues so that they are empowered and not dependent on others when future issues inevitably arise.
Specialties:
Depression
Anxiety
Lack of Motivation
Career Counseling
Women's Issues
Margret Labib
Program Manager
Margret has a Medical Laboratory Technology Degree and has been the program manager for the clinic for several years. She oversees the clinic operations of outpatient services and helps to develop necessary procedures for optimal patient care. Margret is constantly working to ensure that all policies and procedures function in accordance with state and federal laws She is also in communication with our patients and healthcare professionals in efforts to coordinate patient care plans. She is always available to both clinicians and patients to make sure any questions they may have are promptly answered.
Mary Awida
Office Manager / Scheduler
Mary has a social work degree from Cairo University and has been working at the clinic for over a year as an Office Manager and Scheduler. She is usually the first point of contact for patients who are looking to book an appointment with a clinician. She is responsible for answering calls from patients, scheduling and confirming appointments, and properly inputting patient data so that it’s readily available to our staff. She is also responsible for managing the clinical appointment calendar. Mary has been thoroughly trained in HIPPA regulations and prioritizes patient confidentiality.
(973) 897 - 0572