Who We Are

Residents, Leadership, and Alumni facts

Neal Amin, MD, PhD
Research Track

Undergraduate: Columbia College, Columbia University
Graduate: Salk Institute for Biological Studies, UCSD
Medical School: University of California, San Diego

"My interest in the brain first developed as an undergraduate studying the structure-function relationship of synaptic proteins implicated in autism. From New York City, I joined the MD/PhD program in San Diego to experience west coast living and to dive into the expansive neuroscience research community on the "La Jolla Mesa". At the Salk, I was interested in how populations of related neurons develop their unique functional and transcriptional identities. My graduate work uncovered a surprisingly fundamental role for a particular small RNA in this process. I chose the Stanford Research-Track Residency Program for the beautiful locale (with easy access to skiing, biking, city-life, etc.), the world-class neuroscience community, and the impressive resources, support, and opportunities for academic independence during residency training."

Timothy Ando, MD

Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical School: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine

"Stanford appealed to me for many reasons, including the breadth of opportunities at a world class institution, flexible scholarly concentration time to pursue unique academic interests, numerous available fellowships, and proximity to my hometown of San Francisco. What struck me most, however, was the warmth and enthusiasm I felt during my interview day. The residents and faculty were among the happiest and kindest I met on the interview trail, and their collective passion for psychiatry was evident in every interaction. I feel extremely fortunate to be a part of the Stanford family, and I couldn't be happier with my decision!"

Mamatha Challa, MD

Undergraduate: Washington University, St. Louis
Medical School: University of Illinois

"My interests in psychiatry include LGBTQ mental health, child & adolescent psychiatry, public psychiatry, and medical education. I could not be happier with my choice to train at Stanford – the community here is so incredibly warm and supportive, the resources are immense, the training is world-class, and the flexibility in our curriculum is unparalleled. No matter what your interest is, you can find the time, support, and mentorship to pursue it to your heart's content. My colleagues are some of the kindest, most fun and passionate individuals I have ever met, and I am so lucky call this program home. In my spare time, I love hanging out with my co-residents, exploring Bay Area dining and night life, and binging shows on Netflix."

Matthew Edwards, MD

Undergraduate: Princeton University
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch

"Howdy! I am originally from Dallas, Texas, and received my undergraduate degree in sociology from Princeton University. After college, I returned to Texas to attend medical school at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston, where I was active in the Institute for Medical Humanities. I am interested in consult and liaison psychiatry, community psychiatry, medical humanities, health policy, and music. I was interested in Stanford because it offered a balanced training in psychiatry and psychotherapy, and an opportunity to pursue formal medical humanities work during my scholarly concentration time. Yet what attracted me most to Stanford was the strong sense of camaraderie among the faculty and residents. There is plenty of opportunity to enjoy the great weather, excellent food, and ample recreational opportunities the Bay Area offers."

Csilla Lippert, MD, PhD
Research Track

Undergraduate: California Institute of Technology
Graduate: University of California, San Diego
Medical School: University of California, San Diego School of Medicine

"As a military brat (father a retired Marine), we frequently relocated before my parents settled in San Diego, and I remained nearby for my initial medical and graduate training. I am thrilled to have trekked up to Northern California, cultivating my interests in psychiatry and research at Stanford University. On the residency interview trail, I sought a flexible program that features a collaborative environment with dedicated residents, ample feedback from experienced mentors, a variety of clinical settings, and research time. Stanford has all that and much more! (What other program offers two months for PGY2’s to explore self-directed interests?) Stanford Psychiatry optimally matches my career plan of caring for patients, leading an NIH-funded psychiatry laboratory, and mentoring trainees at an academic center, while also offering opportunities and support in case I am inspired to pursue a different psychiatry career path during residency training. My current psychiatry interests are general adult psychiatry with a leaning towards psychosomatic medicine. Finally, I appreciate that the work-life balance at Stanford allows for adequate time to get together with co-residents outside of work and to actively help my husband raise our daughter."

Dexter Louie, MD

Undergraduate: Harvard College
Medical School: University of California, San Francisco

"A son of the Bay Area, I was reared on multiculturalism and sunshine. I escaped to see the East Coast when I attended Harvard for college, and ultimately returned with a degree in Social Studies, a post-bacc, and the tendency to cross streets very aggressively. I never thought I would become a psychiatrist. My time in the Americorps and at the UCSF School of Medicine, however, changed that forever. Helping people live meaningful lives is my passion, and in my opinion nowhere is this credo better aligned in medicine than in the field of Psychiatry. Stanford called to me because it helps me live out this mission like no other institution: Stanford is all about helping you become the best you can be. If you can dream it, you can probably do it in Palo Alto—whether in medicine, law, business, or tech. I dream of teaching, writing, public speaking, and maybe one day ending the Opioid Epidemic. It’s optimistic, but I can’t help it—I’m a Californian."

Ricardo Lozano, MD, MS

Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego
Graduate: University of California, San Diego
Medical School: University of Iowa, Carver College of Medicine

"Growing up in a small farming town in the Central Valley helped me appreciate the importance of community; a sense of belonging to a group derived from our shared background. Years later, I’ve again found a community at Stanford. This community is made up of a compassionate, caring, and intelligent group of co-residents and faculty with a wide range of interests but also with a common goal: to help people with mental illness. Although I was impressed by Stanford’s academic reputation and its beautiful location, it was the warm and welcoming faculty and residents that convinced me it was where I belonged. My focus throughout undergrad and medical school has been to empower people in marginalized groups. Making mental healthcare more accessible to underserved communities and decreasing the stigma of mental health are two of my major interests (along with public and addiction psychiatry) that I will continue to explore with the resources available to me at Stanford. I am excited about the unique opportunity this program provides to develop a scholarly project that suits those interests that will hopefully make a lasting positive impact."

Iona Machado, MD

Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Columbia University

"Originally from the D.C. area, I spent much of my pre-residency days working in the government or abroad. I’ve enjoyed the relationship between culture on psychiatric illness, from its definition to its epidemiology to its management, and hope to be able to expand access and quality of psychiatric care globally while respecting societal norms. Stanford was one of the most highly versatile, well-funded, and internationally connected psychiatric programs I applied to, and therefore, perfectly suited towards my career goals. The support the department gives you to pursue not only your avenue of interest, but also you as a person, feels unmatched. I was delighted to feel immediately connected, comfortable, and supported by mentors and co-residents alike. Psychiatry aside, I spend much of my time traveling, learning languages, delving into the lives of others, and, most recently, trying to make sure the tennis ball makes it over the net."

Patricia Pop, MD

Undergraduate: Tufts University
Medical School: Columbia University

"I have been involved in various biopsychology labs since freshman year of college. My interests range from consult-liaison to psychodynamic psychiatry! I grew up on the gulf coast of Florida and after spending a decade learning how to love the Northeast, it was time for more sunshine. Coming to Stanford is a dream come true. After the interview day, I tried to downplay how impressed I felt (it was also my first interview!) but it stayed top of mind during the entire season. Stanford is a major leader in medical education technology and there is a culture of strong teaching. Apart from the scholarly concentration and research opportunities that are among the best available, most of all I wanted a program with the best personality fit for me. I wanted a program where residents and faculty are truly collegial towards each other, thrive, and complement their dedication to learning with wonderful senses of humor. I wanted a residency that prioritized learning over hierarchy so that a resident would feel comfortable and encouraged to ask questions, engage in intellectual conversation, and dive deep. The administration truly emphasizes resident wellness in tangible ways that translate into how our schedules are created. You're also immersed in year-round amazing weather in a beautiful town with a big city, mountains, and ocean always close by. I am so excited to be training here!"

Jason Tucciarone, MD, PhD
Research Track

Undergraduate: Union College
Graduate: Stony Brook University
Medical School: Stony Brook University

"Training as a psychiatrist and neuroscientist, superb clinical training, world renowned neuroscience, flexibility and nurturing institutional support are program qualities I value deeply. Stanford combines each of these qualities with a positive, warm and welcoming environment that is truly familial. Plus, with the bonus of being anchored in the San Francisco Bay area and coded within Silicon Valley, there are ample opportunities to cultivate a groovy life outside of clinic or lab. The mind and behavior that emerges from its circuitry are cosmically complex. Stanford is fruitful ground with multidisciplinary teams of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, neuroscientists and engineers all dedicated to the common purpose of helping those afflicted with mental illness. There’s no better place I could be. I look forward to continuing our work with this diverse patient population and working hard to better understand mechanisms of psychiatric disorders and uncover innovative therapies."

Jackie Wang, MD

Undergraduate: University of Michigan
Medical School: University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine

"I grew up in Michigan, went to Chicago for medical school, and am so excited to be living on the West Coast! My #1 priority while applying to residency was finding a program that offered strong clinical training and research opportunities, but that also valued resident wellness. It was clear from my interview day that Stanford would be a great fit for me! The culture here is incredibly supportive — from the program directors and faculty to my wonderful co-residents, people are always looking out for one another. Most of all, everyone is just so friendly! I was amazed by how quickly I felt at home here. I’m interested in LGBTQ mental health, psychiatric ethics, psychotherapy, and resident/med student wellness. Outside of work, I also enjoy rock climbing, hiking, biking, tennis, and eating all the delicious food that the Bay Area has to offer!"

Diana Willard, MD

Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical School: University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine

"My interests include child and adolescent psychiatry, medical education, and addiction psychiatry. After working as a middle school science teacher and as a preschool teacher, and spending a lot of time in medical school tutoring, teaching science and health curriculums to elementary students, and providing workshops on healthy relationships to teenage girls in juvenile hall, I knew I wanted a residency program that would allow me to continue to develop my skills and interest in teaching. I was drawn to Stanford for its great mixture of flexibility and enthusiasm for each person's unique interests -- not to mention the fantastic weather, the amazing Bay Area community, and the surrounding natural beauty (Yosemite, anyone??)!"

Brandon Bentzley, MD, PhD
Research Track

Undergraduate: College of New Jersey
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine

"I grew up in rural New Jersey and studied physics at The College of New Jersey. After graduating I spent a year conducting plasma physics research in a joint project between Princeton University and NASA. I then turned my interests to addiction neuroscience and began training in the Medical Scientist Training Program (MD/PhD) at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC). At MUSC I completed my dissertation research with Dr. Gary Aston-Jones, studying the behavioral economics and neuroeconomics of drug self-administration in rats. Simultaneously, I conducted clinical research on buprenorphine maintenance therapy with Dr. Sarah Book, focusing on how patient perspectives influence treatment. I feel extremely grateful to have matched into the research track at Stanford, as it allows maximal flexibility for residents to pursue their career goals and the opportunity to work and learn among some of the most brilliant and compassionate residents and faculty. At Stanford I am focusing on the development of neurostimulation-based treatments for substance use disorders within a neuroeconomic framework."

Jessica Bentzley, MD

Undergraduate: College of New Jersey
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine

"I grew up in New Jersey about 20 minutes outside of New York City. In my free time, I explore local parks in the Bay Area (I have a very, very long list of “California Adventures” to get through!), run on Stanford’s campus, and cook new dishes starring California’s awesome produce. My interests in psychiatry include medical education, inpatient psychiatry, and physician wellness. Stanford’s Psychiatry Residency program has provided exactly what I was searching for: a program promoting physician wellness and offering unwavering support, an academic center offering tremendous opportunity, a hospital and set of clinics providing world-class healthcare to diverse patients, and a family of co-residents who are among the most inspiring, kind, intelligent and fun individuals I’ve ever met."

Wila Cidre Serrano, MD

Undergraduate: Harvard College
Medical School: Harvard Medical School

"I'm originally from the sunny island of Puerto Rico. After 8 years in beautiful, but freezing, Boston, I moved to Stanford looking for sun, adventure, and one of the best psychiatry programs in the nation! I knew that I wanted to train at a well-balanced program with a strong academic environment. And I'm so grateful and excited to be part of the Stanford family! I have many interests within psychiatry and these include: psychotherapy, C/L psychiatry (or some form of med-psych practice), the role of technology in mental health, social and behavioral determinants of health, cultural psychiatry, advocacy, Latino health, and mindfulness. I also love everything about California except its traffic jams."

Kelli Columbo, MD

Undergraduate: University of Miami
Medical School: University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine

Giovanni Dandekar, MD

Undergraduate: University of Southern California
Medical School: University of Southern California, Keck School of Medicine

"I was born and raised in LA - grew up playing tennis + surfing in Southern California’s neverending Summer. Did all my pre-Residency training at USC: Studied Biomedical Engineering in undergrad, then circuitously found my way to Psychiatry in med school, and couldn’t be happier. Stanford Psychiatry is the hidden gem of Residency programs. Highest calibur clinical and academic training, incredibly flexible, and above all wonderfully and unrelentingly supportive - all without any sort of pretentiousness or hierarchy. It’s a dream come true to fulfill my passions for neuroscience, the study of human behavior and the honing of therapeutic human connection - all in a beautiful area with a perfect climate and the most lovely and genuine people around me! I spend non-work time playing tennis, running, disc golfing and trying to convince myself to surf in the not-so-temperate waters up here."

Meena Denduluri, MD

Med school: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health
Undergrad: Yale University

I am interested in psychosis, psychotherapy, agitation, forensics, and music. Stanford psychiatry (and really the whole hospital) has a warm culture that makes me feel happy to come to work every morning. I really wanted to train at a program where I would be exposed to faculty and residents with diverse backgrounds and philosophies, and also one that values in-depth therapy training that starts early in residency. I did a month-long away rotation here during my MS4 year and worked with two attendings during that time: one with a special interest in psychodynamic psychotherapy, and one who spends 80% of his time running a pharmacogenetics lab. The three residents I worked with also had very diverse interests: one was passionate about child psychiatry and fighting homelessness, another was focused on psychotherapy, and another was planning on a career in geriatric psychiatry and research. And they were all just very fun to be around. I still feel very fortunate to be a part of this program!

Neir Eshel, MD, PhD, MSc
Research Track

Undergraduate: Princeton University
Graduate: University College London
Medical School: Harvard Medical School

"My parents are from Israel, but my sister and I grew up in Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and Washington, DC. I went to high school down the street from NIH, so I fell in love with neuroscience and psychiatry when I was 16, after volunteering at a brain imaging lab at NIMH. I went to Princeton for college, studying molecular biology, and then spent two years in London getting a Master's in Clinical Neuroscience. Moving back to the states, I joined the MD-PhD program at Harvard, earning a PhD in neuroscience. I was torn between neurology and psychiatry for most of 3rd year, but the more psychiatry rotations I did, the more I fell in love with it. My research focuses on the brain mechanisms underlying decision-making, and I've used a variety of tools along the way: human brain-imaging, neuromodulation, computational modeling, and for my PhD, mouse electrophysiology and optogenetics. I'm excited to take a more translational approach as part of the research track at Stanford. Besides science, I'm an advocate for LGBT health equality, and plan to specialize in this patient population during residency. I also play clarinet in chamber groups and orchestras. I chose Stanford because of the unmatched combination of clinical and research excellence, the flexibility to choose your own path, and the ability to coordinate with my husband, a history professor. I’ve been incredibly happy with my choice, in large part because of my co-residents: the smartest, funniest, and most caring bunch of people I’ve ever gotten to know."

Lief Fenno, MD, PhD
Research Track

Undergraduate: Harvard University
Graduate: Stanford University
Medical School: Stanford University, School of Medicine

"I grew up in the woods outside of Fairbanks, Alaska, where I spent my time in the forests, mountains, lakes, and streams playing with animals. I was introduced to neuroscience in college at Harvard, after taking a transformative class my freshman year and making spending money washing glassware in a lab. I did my MD/PhD at Stanford in Karl Deisseroth’s lab, where I worked on building molecular tools useful for understanding how the brain works normally and how it works differently in psychiatric disease. I have kept some contact with my arctic roots, playing ice hockey in San Francisco, getting out in the woods occasionally, and creating a salmon/halibut pipeline directly from the source. I’m excited to continue to work in the lab, meet patients and get to hear their stories and help them, and learn the ins-and-outs of mental healthcare in residency."

Robert Kleinman, MD

Med School: Queen’s University, School of Medicine (Kingston, Ontario – Canada)
Undergrad: University of Toronto, Trinity College

"I grew up in Canada and went to medical school at Queen's University in southeastern Ontario. I'm really excited to be part of the Stanford Psychiatry program and have the opportunity to work with the incredible residents and faculty here. In my free time, I like to swim, hike, ski, canoe, and paddleboard."

Ned Morris, MD

Undergraduate: Cornell University
Medical School: Harvard Medical School

"I grew up in the Boston area and, after college in upstate New York, returned home for medical school. I fell in love with psychiatry during my clinical rotations, mostly because of the compelling stories and the opportunities to heal unique kinds of suffering. In my free time, I enjoy writing about mental health, medical education, and health policy. I also love to cycle, hike, read, and watch movies!"

Dina Wang-Kraus, MD

Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
Medical School: Stanford University, School of Medicine

Cheri Dijamco Wu, MD

Undergrad: Stanford University
Medical School: University of Texas, San Antonio

When I applied to residency, I searched for a strong academic program that valued resident mentorship and well-being. I was initially drawn to Stanford by the impressive breadth and depth of clinical experiences, educational activities, and research opportunities available. Now, working alongside supportive training directors, approachable faculty, and amazing co-residents, I feel confident that coming to Stanford was the best decision for me. So far, I have been pleasantly surprised by the feasibility of our call schedule as well as by the diversity of the patient population we have the privilege of caring for across multiple settings, including the Palo Alto VA, Arbor Free Clinic and Stanford Hospital & Clinics. I am also grateful for the program’s immense flexibility, which will allow me to explore my interests in child psychiatry and community psychiatry during scholarly concentration time. I appreciate how highly the training directors value resident feedback and continually strive to improve the program with our input and involvement. Overall, I feel very fortunate to have matched to the psychiatry residency training program at Stanford, where I am surrounded by passionate, hardworking individuals in a relaxed and friendly culture. Plus, you can’t beat the incredible weather, outdoor activities, culinary findings, and beautiful scenery that the Bay Area has to offer!

Diane Wu, MD

Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
Medical School: Stanford University, School of Medicine
Background and Academic Interests: Editor-in-Chief of medical student creative writing and artwork magazine, co-president of Psychiatry Interest Group. Interests in advocacy for populations with cultural and social barriers to seeking mental health care, and utilizing informatics and data-driven medicine to improve health care access for vulnerable populations.
Hobbies and Personal Interests: Hiking, dragon boat team racing, drawing for art shows, creative writing, and cooking.

Kerstin Asquith, MD

Med School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Califoria, Davis

"I came to Stanford for a number of reasons but what really stood out to me when I interviewed here were the people. Aside from being remarkably talented, everyone from the faculty to the residents seemed incredibly friendly, supportive, and approachable. I was also very impressed by the flexibility in the program as well as the breadth of clinical experiences—from working at a county hospital to the VA and a university hospital. It seemed like a very well-rounded program and after being here, I can say that these impressions are certainly true. I am interested in mood and anxiety disorders, trauma, college mental health, and community psychiatry, and I have enjoyed exploring my interests in greater depth during my scholarly concentration time. I am very happy and grateful to be a resident here!"

Alexander Clarke, MD

Med School: Medical University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Jennifer Duyanen, MD, MA

Med School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Graduate: Boston University School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Santa Clara University

"My name is Jennifer Atienza Duyanen, a Filipino-American daughter, sister, and wife, who cherishes her Catholic faith, and found a way to live out her values in compassion and hope for those who are suffering, by serving as a psychiatrist. I chose Stanford for my residency because as a sub-intern on the C/L service, I was impressed by how wisdom and knowledge could be applied with great compassion for patients. As a resident, I have found it to truly be exactly that and have delved deeper into understanding this art, through the guidance of all providers: attendings, co-residents, nurses, and all staff. I have found it be a place that not only provides outstanding patient care, but also care for its residents. Although there is remarkable prestige and despite my own insecurities, I feel welcomed here. I feel like I belong. This is because of the tremendous support provided by the training program. I feel welcomed to share my thoughts, ideas, and to question whenever in doubt. Feedback is encouraged for every rotation, attending, and even didactic. Concerns are addressed in a timely, if not immediate, way. There is a sense of fluidity here, in that there is opportunity for change for the better, and you feel like you have direct impact on what your training experience will mean for you. A key example of this is with Scholarly Concentration, which gave me the opportunity to live out my passion of helping the underserved in the community I grew up in, in East San Jose. By helping to develop the work flow for an integrated behavioral health program in a local community clinic, I am helping to increase access to mental health care for the underserved. By helping to develop a suicide prevention policy for a local high school district, I am helping to promote mental health and working toward saving lives. Stanford is giving me these wonderful opportunities to share its resources with those at need at home, and I am extremely grateful. Overall, I am very happy to be here. Each day, I grow more confident in the decision I made to become a psychiatrist, and am excited for the adventures ahead!"

Adina Fischer, MD, PhD
Research Track

Med School: Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine
Graduate: Dartmouth College
Undergraduate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"My interest in neuroscience and psychiatry stems from my undergraduate coursework at MIT where I earned my bachelor’s degree in brain and cognitive sciences, and conducted research in the Early Childhood Cognition Laboratory. I then joined the MD-PhD Program at Dartmouth where I received a PhD in neuroscience. My research is focused on investigating neural mechanisms of resilience, particularly to mood and anxiety disorders in transitional age youth. I love being a part of Stanford’s Research Track Psychiatry Residency Program for many reasons. It is a program that strives to foster each resident’s individual potential based on her or his interests. The Program has allowed me to develop my clinical interest in college mental health through working with Stanford students, as well as delve into translational neuroimaging research focused on developing individualized diagnostic and treatment approaches for mood and anxiety disorders. It has provided me with excellent and unparalleled mentorship for both my clinical and research interests. Most of all, I love how family and community oriented the program is, as I experienced in the welcoming of my own son into the Stanford Psychiatry Family."

Ruth Hsu, MD

Med School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor

"I was born and raised in Michigan but fell in love with the Bay Area when I first moved here after college. As an MS4, I did an away rotation on the consult and liason service and was completely won over by the people and the program. It was a busy and challenging month, but the faculty still found time to teach, and the residents made me really feel part of the team. As I learned more about the program, I was impressed with the flexibility to pursue the many opportunities available, a good balance of research, clinical, and educational activities, exposure to a range of patient populations, and a clear value for a resident's well being. Years into my training, I couldn’t be happier with coming to Stanford as I’m continuously challenged to keep learning, while feeling supported by our talented attendings and my amazing co-residents."

Danielle Kamis, MD

Med School: University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania

"Since I was in high school I dreamed of attending Stanford University at some point during my academic career. Stanford has definitely lived up to all my expectations and more! I have experienced many unique opportunities that would not have been available in any other psychiatry residency program. I received a global health grant though Stanford during my second year of residency where I was given the opportunity to participate in a 2 month long clinical rotation as well as ongoing research project in Argentina. I also had the opportunity to take a 2 week course in medicine and global health with residents of other fields. In addition to pursuing my global health concentration, I have also been able to participate in research and clinical time in the field of sports psychiatry. I have been working with a Stanford professor, working on a manual of sports psychiatry for mental health professionals. Stanford provides such a supportive environment that any specific passions you have may be explored during your residency. I knew after my interview day that Stanford was the perfect fit for me, and every day since my arrival I have been eternally grateful."

Corey Keller, MD, PhD
Research Track

Med School: Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University
Graduate: Tufts University
Undergraduate: Tufts University

"I am passionate about combining neuroscientific tools to help improve psychiatric care. Born in VT, college in Boston, and MD/PhD in NY. I came to Stanford for residency to be trained by experts in the field of interventional psychiatry, where medication-resistant psychiatric disorders are treated with a variety of invasive and non-invasive brain stimulation tools.

The amazing residents, Mediterranean weather, mountains, and beaches made my decision even easier. I could not have been happier with my choice in residency programs. Over the past two years, I have been working in the lab of Amit Etkin to develop novel treatment and monitoring tools using concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and EEG. I am continuously impressed at the collaborative environment at Stanford. Having everyone on one campus allows you to collaborate across specialties and across research and clinical realms. In addition, working in clinics with providers that are interested in either running their own research or collaborating, is exciting when trying to bridge the gap between research and clinical work. Current projects we are working on in the lab includes:

Overseeing a multi-site clinical observational trial to track brain-network changes during rTMS treatment for depression and relate to treatment parameters and clinical symptoms
Collaborative writing efforts with other co-residents on writing review papers and chapters
Development of automated signal processing algorithms to analyze TMS-EEG data
Sham-controlled studies to determine the neurophysiological mechanisms underlying rTMS

In my free time, I love playing tennis, swimming, and exploring the beautiful outdoors that the bay area has to offer."

Joanne Lee, MD, MS

Med School: University of California, Los Angeles, Geffen School of Medcine
Graduate: University of California, San Diego
Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego

"I’m interested in cultural and community psychiatry, especially for Korean/Korean American population considering that I was born in S. Korea, immigrated here at age 13, and still speak fluent Korean. There’s extreme stigma against mental health amongst Asian population, and I’ve heard it is worst among Koreans. I am looking to going to Korea and learning more about common psychiatric presentations in Korea and how they have been dealing with the issues of stigma within the country. I’d love to see if their strategies would be applicable within Korean American/Korean Immigrant population in the US. In addition, as a graduate of Palo Alto High School just across from Stanford campus, the teenage suicide cluster found in Palo Alto school district is an active issue that’s close to my heart. I’m so grateful to be a part of a greater effort orchestrated by Stanford Psychiatry Department to educate the local community to recognize signs of depression/suicidality, to reduce stigma against reaching out for help, and to enhance communication between teenagers and their parents for increased support at home through Stanford CHIPAO project. I have created a project website (www.stanfordCHIPAO.com) and professional videos of several vignettes we use as educational materials, as well as coordinated live performances at local high schools and Junior high schools using my scholarly concentration time. We have been covered by local and national outlets such as San Jose mercury news and the NPR.

Over the years that I’ve been at Stanford, I can confidently say with a giant smile on my face that I absolutely LOVE it here. As others have mentioned, the opportunities to pursue whatever interest that you may have, and the support you will get from the program to pursue your interest, is endless. But the most compelling part of the program is the people themselves – the program directors, the faculty, and the residents across the years are so amazingly talented and accomplished, yet so humble and completely approachable. I’m so grateful that I’ve found my passion in Psychiatry and that I am given the opportunity to learn from and network with these amazing people around me at Stanford."

Grace Lee, MD

Med School: University of Texas Medical School, Houston
Undergraduate: University of Texas, Austin

"Transplanted to Texas at 7 years young, I'm enthused to have returned to my roots in the Bay! Since medical school, I've had a keen interest in the human trafficked patient population, and I aim to incorporate human rights and social justice into my future practice of Psychiatry. I must add, adolescents are my favorite!! Stanford struck me as just the place to thoughtfully and practically mold my career path. Having two months allotted for our scholarly concentration in the PGY2 year (as well as dedicated time in the PGY3) is far from commonplace. From what I've seen, there are opportunities and resources no matter your niche! I love that both the program and my stellar co-interns are well-rounded and value patient care, innovation, learning, and leadership. The cherry? I don't think I could have asked for more invested and supportive faculty and program directors."

Jennifer Papac, MD

Med School: University of California, Davis, School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University

"I wanted a residency program that would not only challenge me academically, but also one that values mentorship and resident wellness. Stanford’s psychiatry program provides residents with a balance of clinical experiences, educational activities, and teaching opportunities. Despite living the life of a busy resident, I have been able to explore my own interests, which include thought disorders and addiction psychiatry. During my second year, I used my scholarly concentration to gain additional clinical experience in various addiction settings, identified a wonderful mentor, and have started my own project that I will be working on until graduation. Despite being located in Palo Alto, the patient population is surprisingly diverse as residents rotate through a variety of clinical settings, including the VA, college mental health clinics, and the University hospital. Stanford offers flexibility, encourages exploration of personal interests, and provides scholarly concentration options that allow us to work toward our personalized career goals."

Isela Pardo, MD

Med School: University of California, San Francisco, School of Medicine
Undergraduate: Stanford University

"I am interested in geriatric and neuropsychiatry, as well as the integration of psychiatry into primary care. I was drawn to Stanford not just as a California native, but primarily because of the wealth of clinical and research opportunities that residents are actively encouraged to explore. Stanford fosters an environment that emphasizes work-life balance, communication between classes and resident feedback. It is fantastic to be part of a program in which the learning is exceptional without feeling overly hierarchical. Over the years of training, I have been amazed by the breadth of experiences that have presented themselves, ranging from incorporating psychiatry into the humanities, developing my personal interests in national scholarly programs and taking a leadership role in developing curriculum and program goals. I have also become very close to my co-residents and am grateful to be at a place with great weather and well-rounded, intellectually curious peers!"

David Spelber, MD

Med School: University of Texas Medical School, San Antonio
Undergraduate: Columbia University

"Originally from New York, I moved from Texas for my psychiatry residency here at Stanford University. What attracted me to Stanford program was a thoughtful curriculum that exposes residents to a variety of diverse clinical settings; that includes the time, flexibility and opportunity to pursue individual interests; and that focuses on education and resident well-being. I have used my scholarly concentration time to develop and implement a clinical database for the INSPIRE Clinic, Stanford's First Episode Psychosis Clinic; and write-up case reports and literature reviews for publication. I feel fortunate to be training in such a nurturing, academic environment alongside incredibly strong co-residents and supportive, dedicated faculty. On weekends I like to explore the Bay Area and beautiful coast of California with my family, including taking my son to the Hiller Aviation Museum."

Kacy Bonnet, MD

Med School: University of California, Los Angeles, Geffen School of Medcine
Undergraduate: University of Califoria, Los Angeles

"Hello and welcome! This may sound cliche, especially coming from someone in the field of psychiatry, but I decided that I wanted to come to Stanford because of the people. In my opinion, you will not find people who are more accomplished, yet even more humble and compassionate than the people at Stanford. This was the sense that I got on my interview day... and it has only been strengthened after being here for the last 3 years. While residency has its challenges, I have always felt supported and inspired because of the people around me. It also does not hurt that the program provides well rounded and diverse training, space of academic independence, a true belief in work-life balance, and an incredible place to work and live. I am interested in child and adolescent psychiatry and have had the opportunity to do community outreach in the local schools, work in a transitional age youth community clinic, a Stanford child psychiatry clinic, Stanford university student health center, and help facilitate a group at the children's hospital, all the while getting strong adult psychiatry training, getting married, and training for my first half-ironman triathlon this year!"

David Carreon, MD

Med School: Stanford University
Undergraduate: University of Califoria, Los Angeles

"I love Stanford. I've been here for medical school and did not hesitate to stay on through residency. I have broad interests that tend to be pretty unpredictable (most recently including neuroscience research and cognitive therapy practice); at Stanford, wherever my curiosity wandered, I've found world-class people with open doors. I'm most excited now about figuring out how to provide as many people as I can with the best depression treatments available, including treatments like Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation."

Francesco Dandekar, MD

Med School: University of California, San Diego, School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Southern California

"After being born and grown in Southern California, I migrated to Stanford because it offered the perfect balance of everything I was looking for in a residency program. Stanford has created a culture that is both hardworking and friendly, with rigorous training tempered by flexibility and the freedom to pursue one's own interests. Residents here are passionate about lots of different aspects of psychiatry, and the Scholarly Concentration time built in to our program is an amazing vehicle for discovering and pursuing those passions. Stanford has a reputation for producing solid and knowledgeable psychiatrists who become leaders in the field, and I can see why: top-notch faculty, a multitude of opportunities for projects/research, a responsive administration that really cares about resident well-being, a department that is highly respected by other medical specialties, and the chance to train alongside some of the best minds in the country. Not to mention amazing weather, tons of hiking/biking/outdoors activities, close proximity to San Francisco, and a Division 1 sports team!

During residency, I created a Sports Psychiatry clinic dedicated to providing psychiatric care for Stanford's athletes. We work as a multi-disciplinary team with the Psychology department as well as specialty departments such as Sleep Medicine to provide comprehensive care for our athletes!"

Amanda Franciscus, MD

Med School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Undergraduate: University of Califoria, Irvine

"Welcome to Stanford! I chose this program because I had varying interest (i.e. I liked everything!) and this program's flexibility and ample elective time would allow me to follow my many passions. And it has! While at Stanford I have been drawn to our innovative Psychosomatic Consult and Liaison service, the collaborative model of our Positive Care Clinic (+HIV), and our Veterans Affairs Hospital Trauma Recovery Program. I have explored therapeutic techniques starting early in residency, completing training and supervision in Psychodynamic Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Prolonged Exposure (PE), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).

Concentration Projects: Local pilot and national study in collaboration with our Orthopaedic colleagues looking at threshold to call a psychiatry consult. Case report in Psychosomatic Medicine pertaining to Benzodiazepine Sparing Alcohol Withdrawal Protocol. Time to rotate in collaborative care models within psychiatry, including Psychiatry and Infectious Disease. In collaboration with peer, Dr. Jessica Gold and others, explored outcomes of a resident created support group for medical students. Receive additional training and supervision in CBT. Supervise junior residents in a variety of settings: inpatient, therapy, outpatient."

Jessica Gold, MD, MS

Med School: Yale University School of Medicine
Graduate: University of Pennsylvania
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania

"Never having lived away from the East Coast, it took something special to motivate me to move cross country...and that was Stanford! I was excited by the energy of the program and residents, the protected research time, the amazing work/life balance (only one month of inpatient medicine--what?!), and the perpetual sunshine…and I have not been disappointed. What has surprised me, however, has been how much support I have received from the program to start new things. While I have been a resident here, I have taught a class that I designed to the medical students, started a lunchtime series for residents and faculty called Mind over Media (where we talk about psych related media topics), and started support groups for medical students (with a group training component for residents). I have also been given time to pursue my humanities interests, writing frequently for the Huffington Post, writing book chapters with faculty, and soon, TA’ing an undergrad class on literature and psychosis with an attending here. I am an out-of-the-box thinker and never once did someone say “no” when I had an idea. Instead, I was always met with “how can we help?”. I plan to go into academia as a clinician-educator, hopefully working clinically in college mental health, and I know Stanford prepared me in every way possible."

Jonathan Lee, MD, MBA

Med School: University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine
Graduate: University of Chicago, Booth School of Business
Undergraduate: Pomona College

"The thing that drew me most to psychiatry was not only the great need for advances in how we care for the almost universally underserved mentally ill population, but also the blending of biology, psychology, and social factors that the field necessitates. Having received an MD/MBA and worked on a startup before residency, I have always been interested in an interdisciplinary approach to problem-solving. I chose Stanford because it provides unprecedented fertile grounds for interdisciplinary projects with its unique combination of leading experts in almost any field and low hierarchy and barriers to collaboration. Above all, I came to Stanford because of the shared belief amongst all that we can change the world- one project, one patient at a time.

For my scholarly concentration I have been working on the following:

- Qualitative research exploring the educational experiences of disadvantaged youth in East Palo Alto.

- Clinical trial using an accelerated rTMS protocol for treatment-resistant depression."

Grace Liu, MD

Med School: University of Michigan Medical School
Undergraduate: University of Michigan

"I was interested in cultural psychiatry when I first became interested in psychiatry. Since being at Stanford, this interest has been challenged, shaped, and cultivated in a variety of ways through multiple projects with different types of immigrant communities in the bay area. Along the way, I fell in love with therapy, especially psychodynamic psychotherapy, and am trying to find a way to integrate that into my career. I've also had the chance to work with an extremely diverse array of communities including military veterans, political refugees, immigrants, college and graduate students, and finance executives throughout the different outpatient clinics, as well as have specialized training for bipolar disorder, OCD, schizophrenia, and addictions. What is amazing is these pursuits have not taken away from my ability to have an enriching and fulfilling personal life, and I'm able to do things like training for a marathon, weekend hikes, scuba diving, go to lots of weddings on weekends, and extensive international travels. It's hard to imagine being able to do this in another program that is not so driven by residents' interests and passions. I already know I'm going to miss residency!"

Julio Monterrey, MD, MS
Research Track

Med School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Graduate: Stanford University
Undergraduate: Santa Clara University

"I was interested in a training program with a strong clinical experience, research opportunity, and exceptional therapy training. Stanford satisfied these criteria. I currently get to work with world class clinical faculty, am doing neuroimaging research in autism and TMS-EEG in various disorders in the VA population, and attend a Stanford affiliated high-yield and effective therapy training program led by one of the pioneers in expanding cognitive behavioral therapy. There are so many opportunities to combine all of your interests - including any field - that you can really create your own tailored training experience."

Matthew Pesko, MD

Med School: Harvard Medical School
Undergraduate: University of Wisconsin, Madison

"I am interested in child and community psychiatry and am currently a child fellow in Denver. I came to Stanford psychiatry residency because of the feeling that I had around the other applicants that I interviewed with, the residents, and the faculty; there is a relaxed, friendly vibe with undertones of a creative, forward-thinking, and hardworking spirit to improve outcomes for individuals with psychiatric illness. I have only been more impressed with the clinical, research, and teaching opportunities that abound at Stanford since I have been here. And the weather is excellent as well! For my scholarly concentration, I received a grant front the medical school to complete an educational project geared towards helping medical students communicate in difficult patient situations, and I co-wrote a chapter for a book about the psychiatric evaluation of university students."

Kathleen Seaton, MD

Med School: University of Southern California, Keck School Of Medicine
Undergraduate: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

"Welcome to our residency! I’m on the non-traditional path after a 12-year career in software systems, and I feel right at home here. The varied interests and backgrounds of the faculty and co-residents make this a very rich environment for me to explore my interests. I have been well trained across the spectrum of biological psychiatry and neuroscience to psychotherapy, including both individual and group therapies. The scholarly concentration time has permitted me to branch out into areas of integrative psychiatry and topics I’m passionate about. I feel prepared to pursue my dream after residency of starting an integrative residential treatment center."

Ripal Shah, MD, MPH

Med School: Icahn School of Medicine, Mount Sinai
Graduate: Harvard School of Public Health
Undergraduate: Duke University

"My area of concentration is in psychotherapy for LGBT and minority populations, and I'm particularly drawn to working with couples and families. During training, I focused on time-limited psychodynamic psychotherapy and interpersonal therapy for those struggling with issues related to identity (whether that be religious identification, racial/ethnic minority stress, professional transitions, or acclimating to a new role of being a working mother), and cognitive-behavioral therapy for ADHD and anxiety disorders. Stanford is the only program in the country that could give me the support, funding, and time to pursue these passions. I was also fortunate to spend two months working in a psychiatric facility in rural India during my second year, learning more about the delivery of mental health care outside of the U.S. I've found the Bay Area to be an excellent place to learn and grow, personally and professionally."

Megan Tan, MD, MS

Med School: University of California, Irvine, School of Medicine
Graduate: University of California, San Francisco
Undergraduate: New York University

"My background is in post-colonial studies, human rights, and global health. I came to Stanford because of the warmth, creativity, openness, and flexibility of the program. With the support of my colleagues I survived internship with an infant, and I was delighted to have a second baby during my PGY3 year. I'm using my scholarly concentration time to delve deeper into global mental health policy and community psychiatry, with an emphasis on immigrant mental health. I feel very grateful to be here!"

Nina Vasan, MD

Med School: Harvard Medical School
Undergraduate: Harvard College

"Originally from West Virginia, I moved to the Bay Area from Boston. I love Stanford for how it has enriched my life both personally and professionally. I'm continually impressed by how supportive and encouraging our residency program is in helping customize an educational path that best meets my interests and vision for the future of psychiatry. Scholarly concentration is such a gift - it's given me the opportunity to work in healthcare systems consulting at McKinsey & Co., advise a mental health tech startup Lyra Health, and teach a Stanford graduate course "Leadership and Innovation in Mental Healthcare" that I created with Dr. Belinda Bandstra. I worked with our fantastic training directors to create a new track - the first of its kind in psychiatry - that lets me complete residency in 5 years while earning an MBA at Stanford Graduate School of Business. With the support of our chair Dr. Laura Roberts, I've been able to bring what I've learned in business school back to academic psychiatry by starting with young psychiatrists from around the country Brainstorm: The Stanford Laboratory for Brain Health Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which aims to transform mental health by fostering entrepreneurial solutions that optimize health and human potential. The Stanford leadership has created a culture where residents get to write their own definition of success in life and in work, and then receive constant support to achieve it."

Chris Hayward, MD, MPH
Director of Residency Training

Growing up I wanted to dramatically change education in schools, making education less rigid and more person-centered. Years later I have been fortunate enough to become an educator, as the Adult Division Chief and Residency Program Director at Stanford. My core beliefs about education are unchanged. My philosophy places residents as central participants in shaping and defining their training, promoting involvement in program improvement, and prioritizing well-being. The training structure here is dynamic by design. Residents who actively participate in the creation of their training experience flourish here. For me, residency training is first and foremost about education, and education is best when accounting for individual differences while sharing common goals.

Sallie DeGolia, MD, MPH
Associate Director of Residency Training

As Associate Director of Residency Training, I have been involved in the development & implementation of a variety of educational programs aimed at effectively teaching residents the broad spectrum of psychiatry based on ACGME core competencies. I have a strong interest in curriculum development and the use of innovative teaching tools both within the classroom and clinical setting. I am particularly interested in psychotherapy education and how to develop an effective method of teaching individual and group psychotherapy. Experiential and team-based learning as well as the use of technology as a tool to enhance learning are of specific interest to me. I am also curious about the impact of mentoring and how to prepare and educate mentees and mentors to get the most out of these relationships. Other interests within residency include developing a strong global health program as well as an effective and supportive scholarly environment which includes medical education.

In addition, I am passionate about caring for people who suffer from psychiatric or psychological distress. As the Section Chief of the Assessment Clinics, I seek to identify how best to educate our residents within the context of providing excellent, patient-centered clinical care.

Belinda Bandstra, MD, MA
Assistant Director of Residency Training

An academic department teeming with experts is an interesting place to specialize in the basics. And yet somehow this is where I have found myself. Being at the hub of our residency program as its assistant training director, I have the constant opportunity to delight in the beautiful depth of the various traditions that join together to comprise psychiatry – from neuroscience, to psychoanalysis, to public health, and beyond. But in that delight is also a realization of how daunting the charge is, to expose residents to an appropriate breadth of the field to optimally prepare them for their vocations.

As an educator I’ve been repeatedly drawn to the question of what “basic level training” can and should look like. I spend most of my clinical time working with PGY-1s in evaluation clinic, PGY-2s in their first psychotherapy case groups, and PGY-3s in their general continuity clinic. Residents share with me their enthusiasm and their struggles, and remind me daily how thrilling and how terrifying it can be to learn psychiatry while caring for real humans as patients. I’m passionate about being a good “generalist,” and a good partner with academia and the community, in order to best work at this level.

I believe that “the basics” include nurturing a residency culture and promoting structures that foster attentiveness to the mental health contributions and needs of diverse voices in the community, especially the traditionally marginalized. I also believe in the centrality of supporting residents in staying connected to their personal and professional values throughout residency.

My classes:

Essentials of Psychiatry: Social Determinants of Health, Culture Workshop, Language Workshop (PGY-1)
Culture and Spirituality in Psychiatry (PGY-3)
Community, Public and Global Psychiatry (PGY-3)
Leadership, Scholarship and Career Development (PGY-1, 2, 3)

Other current projects:

Mario Mercurio
Manager, Education and Training Core Programs

Mario.Mercurio@stanford.edu

Stephanie Roberts
Coordinator, Adult/General Residency Training Program

Stephanie.Roberts@stanford.edu

Quynh Dang
Coordinator, Medical Student Education/Clerkships

QDang@stanford.edu

Psychiatry Residency Program Alumni

Recent graduates have spent their early careers as...

Fellows in:

Addiction Psychiatry at UCSF
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Stanford University, UCSF, USC, University of Texas-SW at Austin
Community Psychiatry at UCSF
Neuropsychiatry at Stanford University
Psychosomatic Medicine at Stanford University
T32 Research Fellowship at Stanford University
Psychotherapy Specialization Year, Stanford University
Sleep Medicine at Stanford University
Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training at San Francisco Center for Psychoanalysis
Palo Alto Psychoanalytic Psychotherapy Training Program

Instructors & Assistant Professors at:

Stanford University
University of Texas San Antonio
UCSF

Clinical Instructors & Assistant Professors at:

Stanford University
University of Utah

Affiliated Clinical Instructors & Assistant Professors at:

Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital
Kaiser Permanente
Stanford University Vaden Health Center CAPS

Medical Directors at:

Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital
Momentum for Mental Health
Paradigm Malibu Adolescent Treatment Center
UCLA Health
El Camino Hospital
Kaiser Permanente
Family Health Centers of San Diego
Khalil Center Bay Area

Staff Psychiatrists at:

Momentum for Mental Health, San Jose, CA
Santa Clara Valley Psychiatric Emergency Services, San Jose, CA
University Medical Center of El Paso, TX
Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, MN
Community Health Clinics, San Diego, CA
Contra Costa Regional Medical Center, Martinez, CA
Student Health Services, Georgetown University
Prairie Care, University of Minnesota
San Joaquin General Hospital, Stockton, CA
Kaiser Permanente
Palo Alto Medical Foundation
Palo Alto Veterans Affairs Hospital
Baywell Psychiatry Group, San Francisco, CA
Comprehensive Psychiatric Services, Daly City, CA
Hillside Associates, Brighton, MA
New Day Psychotherapy Group, Pasadena, CA
Pacific Coast Psychiatric Associates, San Francisco, CA
Savant Care, Los Altos, CA
Ginger.io

Private Practitioners in:

Palo Alto, CA
Mountain View, CA
Redwood City, CA
Portola Valley, CA
San Mateo, CA
San Francisco, CA
Santa Cruz, CA
Los Angeles, CA
Cambridge, MA

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