Residency Training
Texas A&M Psychiatry Residency Program Overview
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is housed in the School of Medicine within Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center. It was originally part of Family Medicine but then emerged as its own department. In August 2018 the Department was formally established. It is one of eight departments and currently the fastest growing department in the School of Medicine providing education, research, Telebehavioral health care and clinical experience for medical, graduate and professional students and postdoctoral fellows.
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences’ Psychiatry Residency Program is a collaborative initiative promoting health services for the people in the state of Texas and beyond specifically addressing the mental health and treatment needs of the underserved residents in the rural counties.
The Psychiatry Residency Program is accredited by ACGME and is the newest residency program at Texas A&M University.
Psychiatry Residency Program Mission
The mission of the Texas A&M University School of Medicine Psychiatry Residency Training Program is to develop outstanding psychiatrists well prepared to become excellent clinicians and leaders in all realms of psychiatry who are committed to provide evidence-based, compassionate, patient centered care, innovative discovery, advocacy and leadership. Program graduates will be prepared for any career opportunity and challenge providing care in the state of Texas and beyond. Residents training in the program will have particular experience with service in rural communities, telepsychiatry, integrated care, and treating the culturally diverse, under-served and military populations.
Psychiatry Residency Training Facilities
Texas A&M residents will experience a wide variety of diverse patient populations though prescribed rotations within the School of Medicine and our affiliated training sites. Working in collaboration with our affiliated sites, this program strives to balance patient care with educational and scholarly activities.
Our affiliated training sites include:
- Texas A&M Family Primary Care – College Station, TX
- Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center - Killeen, TX
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System - Waco and Temple, TX
- CHI St. Joseph Regional Health - Bryan, TX
- MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley – Bryan, TX
Meet our Residents
PGY-1 Residents
Name: Elizabeth Joseph
Hometown: Houston,TX
Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite part of the residency program: No night call, Being able to work in different rotations throughout Central Texas (Temple, Waco, Round Rock, Woodlands)
Hobbies: Gym, Yoga, Hiking, Travel, Videogames, Anime
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Adult Outpatient Psychiatry, Sleep Medicine, Healthcare leadership
Name: Abraham Munnerlyn
Hometown: Tomball, Texas
Medical school: Texas A&M SOM
Favorite part of the residency: supportive faculty and staff; exposure to diverse practice settings; no overnight call and limited weekend call; my awesome coresidents
Hobbies: pets, paddle boarding, art, and watching RuPaul's drag race with my spouse
Future aspirations: child and adolescent fellowship, community mental health and/or private telehealth
Name: Alycia Ovalle
Hometown: Coppell, TX
Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite part of the residency program: The unique opportunity to work with a variety of patient populations, especially active military. I really value getting to implement change in a newer program that will pave the way for future residents. I also appreciate the collaborate and supportive learning environment – faculty and attendings are all very approachable.
Hobbies: I enjoy walking the aisles of Costco and Sam’s Club, baking, being a plant mom, traveling, and true crime.
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: I would like to do a combination of outpatient and inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry with a personal interest in Forensic Psychiatry within the child and adolescent population.
Name: Ariel Petranek
Hometown: The Colony, TX
Medical School: University of Texas Medical Branch
Favorite part of the residency program: The opportunity to work with unique patient populations. And my fellow residents, of course!
Hobbies: board games, knitting, hiking, swing dancing
Future aspirations/areas of specialty: adult inpatient and outpatient
PGY-2 Residents
Name: Ethan Evans
Hometown: Coppell, Texas
Medical School: Texas Tech Health Sciences Center School of Medicine
Favorite part of the residency program: The combination of environment, flexibility, and caring. This residency is really a hidden gem. From the incredible faculty, to the overall mission of the program, I felt supported and listened to even before starting my first day. Coming from a military family, having the opportunity to work with active duty military is also a very rewarding and gratifying part of the program. Most of all, I value the chance to customize my residency experience and connect with my co-residents.
Hobbies: being outdoors, road trips, strength training, podcasting, anything/everything Yankees baseball, and, of course, my dog Wilson.
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Psychotherapy, medical education, community outreach and access. I hope to use the training I get at Texas A&M to truly help those struggling with mental illness; not just bring them up from the lowest lows of depression/trauma or the highest highs of anxiety/panic but to help them live an interconnected, embodied, and meaningful life.
Name: Anya Holzhauser
Hometown: Moscow, Russia
Medical School: Texas A&M School of Medicine
Favorite part of the residency program: Caring for active-duty military at Darnall Army Medical Center
Hobbies: Running half-marathons, skiing, beach, traveling to historic destinations and playing with my nieces and nephews.
Future aspiration/ areas of specialty: Outpatient Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Name: Kay Pham
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston
Favorite part of the residency program: supportive co-residents and faculty, collaborative learning environment, military patient population
Hobbies: hiking with my dogs, scuba diving, traveling, playing the harp
Future aspiration/ areas of specialty: Inpatient, Consult-liaison, Research
Name: Andrew Wang
Hometown: Houston
Medical School: Texas A&M School of Medicine
Favorite part of the residency program: I love our super accessible faculty and staff who legitimately want us to succeed and will work with us to make sure we get proper training.
Hobbies: I like to travel, hike, cook, game, and read because residency affords so much time for these activities, right? Right?
Future aspiration/ areas of specialty: I hope to do a mix of inpatient and outpatient psychiatry when I grow up, and I enjoy working with both adult and children/adolescents.
PGY-3 Residents
Name: Eva Johnson
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical school: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Favorite part of residency program: I love the unique opportunity to serve both active duty and veteran military service members. I am so appreciative of how approachable the faculty are at the rotation sites and the abundant mentoring and teaching they provide. I also love the smaller town life of Central Texas.
Hobbies: baking and cooking, DIY home projects, watching period pieces, camping and travel
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Currently interested in pursuing general psychiatry with particular interest minority mental health, transitional age youth, and veteran populations
Name: Tri Le
Hometown: Houston, TX
Medical School: Texas A&M School of Medicine
Favorite part of the residency program: I am forever grateful for the wonderful people that I have met in this program! My fellow residents are some of the most amazing people that I have met in my life. Our program director Dr. Harper is a very kind and nurturing mentor. Ms. Pappas always goes beyond her call of duty to attend to the residents’ needs. I can honestly say that they are my second family!
Hobbies: gym, basketball, running, spending time with my twin nieces Madelyn and Abigail, foods of all cultures
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Child psychiatry, inpatient psychiatry, outpatient psychiatry
Name: Michael Li
Hometown: Port Lavaca, TX
Medical School: Texas A&M School of Medicine
Favorite part of the residency program: I appreciate working with different faculty from each training site. They have taught me something new, whether it is in terms of interviewing styles, diagnosis, or medication management. Working with these faculty members has allowed me to gain more perspective on how I want to craft my own style.
Hobbies: Trail running, trying new ethnic foods and attempting to make them, psychological thriller movies
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Adult psychiatry, Consult-Liaison
Name: Marilou D. Opina
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Medical School: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite part of the residency program: There is genuine respect and care among the residents, faculty, and staff. The attendings are supportive and eager to teach, which makes for a great learning environment. The healthy work-life balance also allows me to bring my best to not only my training but also my family and loved ones.
Hobbies: Saltwater bay fishing, dancing, baking, playing piano/clarinet, and hiking and camping at national parks
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Inpatient General Adult Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison