Residency Training
Texas A&M Psychiatry Residency Program Overview
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is housed in the Texas A&M University Naresh K. Vashisht College of Medicine within Texas A&M Health. It is currently the fastest growing department in the College of Medicine providing education, research, and clinical experiences for medical students and residents.
Thank you for your interest in the psychiatry residency program at Vashisht College of Medicine.
As director, I have enjoyed watching the program’s growth since its inception, and I invite you to explore what the program offers.
At Texas A&M, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and collaborative learning environment. Our residents, with their fresh perspectives, alongside our dedicated faculty, contribute significantly to our mission of excellence in psychiatric education, research, and patient care.
Residents embark on rotations through a variety of settings, including affiliated hospitals, outpatient clinics, and community-based programs. They also have the unique opportunity to care for diverse and underserved populations, including rural and military communities.
From mentoring and counseling services to wellness activities and peer support networks, our goal is to ensure every resident thrives both personally and professionally.
We look forward to celebrating the accomplishments of each resident in the coming years. Thank you again for your consideration. We hope to see you!
Warm regards,
R. Andrew Harper, MD
Program Director
Texas A&M Psychiatry Residency Program
II. About The Program
Program Overview
The Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences is housed in the College of Medicine within Texas A&M University’s Health Science Center. It is currently the fastest growing department in the college, providing education, research, and clinical experiences for medical students and residents.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Vashisht College 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, underserved, and military populations.
Mission Statement
The mission of the Vashisht College 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 experience with service in rural communities, telepsychiatry, integrated care, and treating the culturally diverse, underserved, and military populations.
Psychiatry Residency Clinical Sites
Texas A&M residents will experience a wide variety of diverse patient populations though prescribed rotations within the Vashisht College 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 Psychiatry and Behavioral Health Clinic- The Bryan-College Station campus is home to the Texas A&M Psychiatry Residency Program. This facility provides outpatient services to patients ranging in age from children to adults. PGY-3 residents complete a 1-year longitudinal rotation where they gain exposure to both medical management and different therapy modalities. Core faculty members provide dedicated clinical care and supervision. Additionally, the department has an interventional psychiatry program that will offer advanced treatment options, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), esketamine, ketamine, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT).
- Texas A&M Family Care- Outpatient clinical training also takes place at the Family Care clinic in Bryan, Texas. The facility serves the Bryan-College Station area as well as the surrounding counties in Brazos Valley. PGY-1 residents rotate for 3 months as part of the required primary care experience. They work alongside the Texas &M Family Medicine residents and faculty.
- Central Texas Veterans Health Care System- The residency program provides various types of training through CTVHCS. This system highlights two medical centers – the Olin E.Teague Veterans’ Medical Center in Temple and the Doris Miller VA Medical Center in Waco. It also houses two community living centers, a substance use domiciliary, and multiple residential rehabilitation programs.
- Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Medical Center- The Olin E. Teague Medical Center is a full-service education and research facility in Temple, Texas. It is a 90-bed teaching hospital that provides outpatient care to veterans and serves as the medical/surgical referral center for all CTVHCS campuses. Also located at the Temple Campus is a 187-bed domiciliary and a 70-bed Community Living Center. PGY-1 residents complete 2 months of neurology consultation and outpatient care. During their PGY-2 year, residents also complete 2 months of Consult-Liaison and 2 months of Addiction Psychiatry.
- Doris Miller VA Medical Center- The Doris Miller VA Medical Center has now been
designated as the “VA Center of Excellence” for psychiatric care. Located in Waco, Texas,
this facility supports the needs of veterans and offers clinical services, including inpatient psychiatric care. PGY-2 residents complete 6 months of inpatient psychiatry
where they work closely with dedicated faculty and a multidisciplinary team. PGY-4 residents return as a junior attending for 3 months. The facility also hosts two unique residential programs. The Women’s Recovery in Supportive Environment (RISE) provides treatment for female victims of military sexual trauma and combat trauma. The Seriously Mentally Ill Life Empowerment Residential Rehabilitation Treatment Program (SMILE RRTP) provides psychiatric services with the goal of improving quality of life and promoting independence. - The Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center- The Carl R. Darnall Army Medical Center
(CRDAMC) provides psychiatric care to service members and veterans in Fort Cavazos,
Texas. PGY-1 residents spend 4 months on the hospital’s inpatient psychiatric unit where they develop a strong foundation in managing high-acuity patients. The facility provides a unique opportunity to partner with the CRDAMC Psychiatry Residency Program and work alongside its residents and faculty. - CHI St. Joseph Regional Health- CHI St. Joseph Hospital in Bryan, Texas is a 235-bed
medical center, offering the Brazos Valley’s only Level II Trauma Center. With a widely
recognized surgery program, CHI St. Joseph Health is also known throughout the region for its cardiac, cancer and rehabilitation programs. The Center is accredited by the
Joint Commission. PGY-1 residents spend 3 months providing general medical
inpatient services as part of their primary care experience. - The MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley- The MHMR Authority of Brazos Valley
(MHMRABV) is a public non-profit community mental health center offering comprehensive, longitudinal, and integrated care. PGY-3 residents complete required rotations at the facility, including Adult and Child and Adolescent psychiatry. Residents provide treatment and support for adults with serious and persistent mental health issues, as well as for children and adolescents with serious emotional disturbances. Approximately 48% of adult patients and 22% of child and adolescent patients are uninsured. The population served is ethnically diverse, and residents will address both acute and chronic presentations of serious mental illness. Treatment is comprehensive and focuses on stabilization within the home, workplace, and community. Additionally, the center provides case management and peer support services, enhancing the educational experience for trainees. - Cypress Creek Hospital:- Cypress Creek is a fully accredited, 128-bed acute care psychiatric facility located in Houston, Texas. Residents complete 2 months of Geriatric Psychiatry in the inpatient setting, where they will gain additional training in
electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). The hospital also offers partial hospitalization
and intensive outpatient services, including an adult therapy program and a
substance abuse intensive outpatient program.
Didactic Curriculum
Didactics are an integral part of resident education. They are a shared responsibility between the
Texas A&M Psychiatry core faculty and the faculty at the partnering units. In addition, the
inaugural residents helped found the essence of this curriculum, including class-specific
orientation didactics in the first trimester of the academic year. This shared experience enriches
the educational involvement of the resident and provides exposure to a diversity of pathologies
as well as psychological, pharmacological, and interventional therapies. The curriculum is also
designed to prepare residents for a variety of leadership roles, including those of a clinician, an
educator, and a scholar. It also allows residents to play an important role in its shaping through
the residency didactics committee.
Core didactics are currently held every Friday afternoon. All residents are excused from clinical
duties during this time. Texas A&M and its partners also recognize the importance of
professional development. Time is therefore allocated for learning through professional
mentorship (i.e., Residency & Houses”), wellbeing retreats, residency committee meetings, journal clubs, and, finally, independent reading.
Meet our Residents
PGY-1 Residents
Name: Sarah Chau
Hometown: Arcadia, Calfornia
Undergraduate: University of California- Riverside
Medical school: University of the Incarnate Word School of Osteopathic Medicine (UIWSOM)
Favorite part of residency program: I love how small our program is and how I can connect with faculty and residents better. Everyone here is so welcoming and helpful! My co- residents and I are basically siblings; we are all close and have a lot in common!
Hobbies: Crocheting amigurumis, swimming, bouldering, video games, horror movies, live concerts, trying new boba shops.
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Inpatient psychiatry, Asian American mental health
Name: Minsoo Kim
Hometown: Frisco, TX and South Korea
Undergraduate : Rice University
Medical school: University of North Texas Health Science Center - Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite part of residency program: I was drawn to the program’s unique opportunity to learn all types of psychotherapy across diverse settings and develop close relationships with physicians from across Texas. I also loved the tight-knit feel of residents and faculty that comes
with being part of a smaller Cohort.
Hobbies: Board games, video games, karaoke, anime, and playing violin
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: I like all psychiatric subspecialties, but currently I am most interested in interventional psychiatry like TMS, ECT, DBS, and VNS to manage difficult, treatment-resistant conditions.
Name: Chanyang Park
Hometown: Dallas, TX/ South Korea
Undergraduate: Southern Methodist University
Medical school: University of North Texas Health Science Center- Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite part of residency program: One of the most compelling
aspects of the program is the opportunity to work with active-duty military
personnel as a civilian resident physician. As a former U.S. Army medic, I deeply value the chance to engage with service members—both enlisted and commissioned—and contribute to their care. Additionally, I have a strong interest in the VA healthcare system, and I’m drawn to the Texas A&M College of Medicine Psychiatry Program’s robust training experience within the VA setting.
Hobbies: I am a huge car enthusiast. I take my cars (currently 91 NSX and 05 S2000) out to track days. I do my own maintenances. I also enjoy lifting, rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, traveling.
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: I am open to variety fields of
psychiatry. I have interest in child and adolescent, trauma, sports, and general psychiatry both outpatient and inpatient.
Name: Lilian Zhan
Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI/ College Station, TX
Undergraduate: University of Texas at Dallas
Med school: Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Favorite part of the residency program: Work/life balance and proximity to family.upper-level residents.
Hobbies: Bouldering, cooking, TV/anime, games, outdoor hobbies
Future aspirations/area of specialty: LGBTQ+ psychiatry and sleep medicine, but I'm keeping an open mind!
PGY-2 Residents
Name: Saira Badar
Hometown: St. Louis, MO
Medical school: University of the Incarnate Word School of
Osteopathic Medicine
Favorite part of residency program: The family-like feel of the
program with the most supportive co-residents and engaged faculty! The program allows for a great work-life balance as well as unique learning opportunities. It is continuing to evolve in the best ways- faculty is always accessible and able to work with residents to fit their specific training needs/goals.
Hobbies: binging reality tv & hot yoga/Pilates
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: child and adolescent
psychiatry and/or women’s mental health!
Name: Benjamin Baum
Hometown: Cottonwood, Texas
Medical school: Sam Houston State University College of Osteopathic
Medicine (SHSU-COM)
Favorite part of residency program: There are several! I enjoy living in different cities and engaging with multiple types of healthcare systems. I've had the opportunity to meet quite a few fellow residents in other specialties and at other institutions; several of them have even become friends. And everyone in this program (from Faculty, to administrators, to my co-residents) have been incredibly supportive.
Hobbies: I love to read and write. I horde houseplants and books.
Current pets include ducks, chickens, a moody tortoise, and a snake. I will always say yes to tennis.
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Just about everything sounds interesting at this point, but here are a few of my favorites. Psychotherapy, Interventional Psychiatry,
Research and Academic Medicine, Addiction Medicine, Emergency Psychiatry, Adult Inpatient settings, and LGBTQ+ mental health/wellness.
Name: Rodney Boit
Hometown: Amarillo, Texas
Medical school: UTRGV School of Medicine
Favorite part of residency program: Supportive faculty and
leadership that are receptive to resident feedback.
Hobbies: College football/fantasy football, gaming, anime, and
running
Future aspirations/ areas of specialty: Child and adolescent,
addictions, or forensics.
Name: Gus Garelick
Hometown: Dallas
Med school: UT Health Science Center San Antonio
Favorite part: Felt very welcoming, with supportive faculty and
upper-level residents. Program leadership receptive to feedback.
No nights!
Hobbies: cooking, travel, taking care of my dog
Future: interventional psychiatry
PGY-3 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 (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-4 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: 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