A Message from Our Chair

“Not only is our department strong, vibrant and growing, our medical center is unique in its commitment to kindhearted, state-of-the-art care. Psychiatry is a valued and admired department, and that well-deserved respect comes not only from the work of our faculty, but also from the outstanding contributions of our residents.” Robert Findling, M.D., M.B.A.

Meet our team
A Message from Our Chair A Message from Our Chair
VCU Psychiatry: Welcome from the Chair

Our History

1904

Dr. H.H. Levy delivered the Medical College of Virginia’s first psychiatry lecture, titled “Mental Alienation.”

1912

Dr. H.H. Levy advocated for a mental health care facility for children; the answer was no.

1941

The Department of Psychiatry was established as an official department at MCV.

1956

In response to a critical shortage of resources in child and adolescent behavioral health, the Virginia Treatment Center for Children (VTCC) was established. The VTCC operated as a state facility for more than 25 years.

1968

State legislature merged MCV with the Richmond Professional Institute to form Virginia Commonwealth University.

1983

Dr. Robert Friedel established the Division of Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry with a fellowship program and started a sleep lab.

1991

The VTCC transferred to the Department of Psychiatry at VCU School of Medicine.

1996

Researchers Kenneth Kendler, M.D. and Lindon Eaves, D.Sc., formed the Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics, a multi-disciplinary research institute devoted to understanding the etiology of psychiatric and substance abuse disorders and other major biomedical conditions

2001

Department faculty member Dr. Sandra Baker became the Bill Balaban Endowed Chair for Center for Human Animal Interaction.

2004

The Summer Institute in Psychiatry for Medical Students was first held at VCU. Every year since, 12 students from colleges across the U.S. have attended the program.

2010

Dr. Ananda Pandurangi, with Dr. Silverman’s support, established a teaching relationship with the Postgraduate Institute for Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India. This collaborative program continues today.

2013

Dr. Gerry Moeller assumed leadership of the Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies.

2016

The Jackson Center, which houses the department's adult ambulatory and administrative offices, opened.

2017

Dr. Moeller opened the ambulatory Multidisciplinary Outpatient Intensive Addiction Treatment (MOTIVATE) Clinic at the Jackson Center, where patients have access to psychiatric care and treatment for addiction.

2018

The new VTCC facility opened.




Department Chairs Through the Years

Clinical Sites