Congratulations to the Class of 2024 Residents and Fellows

Amidst the jubilant cheers of family members, friends, and supporters, nearly 70 resident physicians, clinical and research fellows, and clinical psychology interns and externs of the Columbia Department of Psychiatry graduated at ceremonies that took place on June 11 in the Hellman Auditorium of the New York State Psychiatric Institute. 

During the residency graduation, Melissa Arbuckle, MD, PhD, Vice Chair for Education and Director of the Adult Residency Program, thanked the trainees for their commitment to empathy, communication skills, and cultural competency that has made them confident and compassionate physicians.

"As a group, you have challenged us to think about our own commitment to our patients, particularly to health equity," Dr. Arbuckle said. "You have not only advocated for providing language-concordant care, you have also led the way in developing training in providing psychotherapy in Spanish. You not only advocated for more training in addiction, you also developed a senior-level didactic course in addiction. You examined gaps in our training in LGBTQ education and worked to expand training in this domain."

Thirteen residents comprise the Department's Class of 2024. The top row of residents pictured above (left to right) include Adam M. Sands, Kavin Fatehchand, Joseph Pereira, Ryan T. Dosumu-Johnson, and Anna-Luisa Mirto. Bottom row, left to right, Isabelle Marcelin, Yokarla Veras, Gwendolyn R. Cody, Catherine Castro, Deirdre G. Caffrey, Claire E. Koljack, and Destiny J. Price. (Evan Kyzar could not attend.)

Fifty-six additional trainees graduated from clinical psychology programs and clinical and research fellowship programs in psychiatry:
Mood and Anxiety T32 Research Fellowship; T32 Schizophrenia Research Training Fellowship; Psychiatry Faculty Practice Organization Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellows; Columbia University Clinic for Anxiety and Related Disorders Fellowship; Columbia Gender and Sexuality Program Fellowship; Columbia Day and Adolescent DBT Program Fellowship; Public Psychiatry Fellowship; Psychology Internship in Health Services Psychology – Adult and Child Tracks; Consultation-Liaison Fellowship; Forensic Psychiatry (Clinical) Fellowship; Geriatric Psychiatry; Addiction Psychiatry Clinical Fellowship; Women's and Reproductive Mental Health Fellowship; Promise Program Fellowship; Psychiatry Faculty Practice Organization Psychology Post-Doctoral Fellows; Child Psychiatry; Addiction Psychiatry T32 fellowship; and the T32 Global Mental Health Research Fellowship.

Pictured (left to right), are the members of the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship program: Margaret Hamilton (Interim Co-Director), Mark Nathanson (Program Director), Jason Gandelman (Fellow/Graduate), Shayna Ratner (Fellow/Graduate), Karen Cruz (Program Coordinator), Katharine Brewster (Program Co-Director), and Davangere Devanand (Faculty). 

At the ceremony, residents and fellows thanked parents, spouses, other family members, faculty, and fellow trainees, and residents presented awards to several faculty members for their inspiration and guidance. 

Six members of the Department received awards:

Christina Brezing, MD, Assistant Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, was honored with the MacKinnon Award, which recognizes the “Residency Teacher of the Year.” The award is named for Dr. Roger MacKinnon, a master clinician, teacher, and emeritus professor who died in 2017. 
Oliver Stroeh, MD, the Clarice Kestenbaum, MD, Associate Professor of Education and Training in the Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (in Psychiatry), was awarded the Generativity Award recognizing his commitment to establishing and guiding the next generation of child psychiatrists. 
Ina Becker, MD, Assistant Clinical Professor, received the Mindful MD Award in recognition of her leadership in resident education and mentorship related to physician wellness. 
Nicole Tchalim, MD, Instructor in Psychiatry, was given the Early Career Award for her exceptional teaching, mentorship, and leadership. Jean-Marie Bradford, MD, Associate Dean for Student Affairs, Support & Services, Vagelos College of Physicians & Surgeons, and Elizabeth Ford, MD, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychiatry and Director, Clinical Services at NYSPI, received the Role Model Award in recognition of their leadership in core values of clinical care, collegiality, and advocacy.