Mental Health Awareness Calendar

When Kenneth Kendler, M.D., was working toward his medical degree at Stanford and completing his residency at Yale in the 1970s, the field of psychiatry was split into two factions: the psychoanalysts, descendants of Sigmund Freud, who focused on the mind and prioritized psychotherapy, and the biomedical psychiatrists, who had surfaced earlier that decade and viewed mental illness through the lens of biology, treating patients primarily through medication.

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People, Passion, and Promise

People, Passion, and Promise

Chair of Psychiatry Dr. Robert Findling discusses the Department’s achievements, past and future.

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Inaugural Community Day a Success

Thank you to everyone that helped make the inaugural Community Day this past Saturday a tremendous success!

On Saturday, July 20, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. community members gathered at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School to learn about the different mental health resources available to them. They also had the opportunity to enjoy live music, food trucks, face painting and wellness activities.

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Dr. Antonia Swink Leading the Geriatric Psychiatry Program

Dr. Antonia Swink Leading the Geriatric Psychiatry Program

The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030 one in six people will be age 60 or older. That segment of the global population is expected to further double by 2050. Sometimes called the graying of America here in the US, every community must work to adapt to the increased proportion of elderly members. 

VCU Psychiatry is embracing the challenge with the Geriatric Psychiatry Program spearheaded by Assistant Professor Dr. Antonia Swink. 

VCU Psychiatry Ranked 14th in Nation for Funding

The VCU Department of Psychiatry ranked 14th in the nation for NIH funding in 2023, as compiled by the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research

Dr. Kendler Reaches #1 Rank

Dr. Kendler Reaches #1 Rank

Congratulations to Dr. Kenneth Kendler on achieving the Number 1 lifetime ranking among all scholars worldwide in Psychiatry!

Dr. Kendler on ScholarGPS

2023 Partners in Healing Award

2023 Partners in Healing Award

Congratulations to Dr. Allison Williams, Clinical Psychologist in our Child and Adolescent Division, for receiving a 2023 Partners in Healing Award. This award, presented by the VCU Health Spiritual Care and VCU Patient Counseling Department, honors Partners in Healing, for those that have gone above and beyond their job descriptions by joining with them to provide compassionate care for patients, families, and team members during Spiritual Care Week.

Dr. Gerry Moeller, MD, Featured in NEXT Article

Dr. Gerry Moeller, MD, Featured in NEXT Article

Psychiatrist and addiction expert F. Gerard "Gerry" Moeller, M.D., was recently featured in a NEXT article published by the MCV Foundation regarding Fentanyl overdose.

"Fentanyl is really potent so if you're not tolerant to opioids, it's very easy to overdose," Dr. Moeller said. "Fentanyl can be put into other things in really small amounts and have a big effect."

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2023 Canning Award Winners

Congratulations to Jason Boyce Draeger, Lead Clinical Social Worker on the adult inpatient units and Dr. Amy Soto, PGY-3 psychiatry resident.

Please join us in congratulating both awardees and in thanking our generous donors, the Cannings for their support of our inpatient service.

Faculty Member's Editorial Featured in Journal

Dr. Katy Maher's editorial "Reflection on Coping During the COVID-19 Pandemic" was recently featured in the Journal of Radiology Nursing.
Read here: Katy Maher Editorial.

Dr. Abubaker Memorial Lecture

Click to view Dr. Kathleen Brady's Honorarium video

Employee Spotlight

Please visit our new Employee Spotlight feature, where we will be featuring various employees across the department.

Free Groups at VTCC

Join us for "Conversations with CMHRC". This a series of free groups that we are providing at VTCC.
Upcoming topics, dates and times of the groups may be found here: CMHRC Schedule

Dominique Bertolini, MD

Dominique Bertolini, MD

Dominique Bertolini, MD
Adult Psychiatry
VCU Department of Psychiatry

In Your Own Words...

Are you new to Richmond? Where were you previously?

I recently moved to Richmond this summer. Previously, I had been living in Atlanta, GA while I completed by psychiatry residency at Emory University.

What led you to choose VCU/VCUHS?

I chose VCU/VCUHS for several reasons. I was immediately drawn to the warm and welcoming culture that was evident from everyone I interacted with during the interview and onboarding process. I appreciate the collaborative and interdisciplinary approach of working in an academic medical center and I’m passionate about working with learners in various stages of their medical training.

Describe your role and area(s) of focus at VCU.

At VCU I will be working at Jackson Center as an outpatient psychiatrist. I am a general psychiatrist, so I enjoy working with patients with mood, anxiety, and psychotic spectrum disorders. I am also interested in women’s mental health and treatment resistant depression.

What inspired you to pursue a career in this field?

I was initially drawn to psychiatry in medical school due to the meaningful relationships that we are able to build with our patients as psychiatrists. I specifically enjoy the outpatient setting due to the longitudinal relationships with patients.

What gives you the greatest satisfaction in your job?

I find the greatest satisfaction from meaningful interactions with patients and working with them to achieve their goals on their mental health journey. I also greatly enjoy collaborating with colleagues and getting to work with medical students and residents.

What do you do for fun outside of work?

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two dogs. I enjoy hiking, running, and exploring restaurants/coffee shops

Where do you see yourself in 5 years and what do you hope to be doing?

In five years, I hope to have a strong and rewarding patient panel and remain actively engaged in medical student/resident education. I hope to continue to explore my interests in the field of psychiatry and to continue to expand my knowledge and clinical expertise.

Mindful Moments

Mental Health Awareness Calendar

🗓️ January

❤️ February

🧠 March

🌱 April

💚 May

🏳️‍🌈 June

☀️ July

📚 August

✨ September

🎃 October

🧡 November

❄️ December

Newsletters

Grand Rounds

Kenneth Kendler, M.D., Featured in VCU Alumni Magazine

Kenneth Kendler, M.D., Featured in VCU Alumni Magazine

People, Passion, and Promise

People, Passion, and Promise

Inaugural Community Day a Success

Dr. Antonia Swink Leading the Geriatric Psychiatry Program

Dr. Antonia Swink Leading the Geriatric Psychiatry Program

VCU Psychiatry Ranked 14th in Nation for Funding

VCU Psychiatry Ranked 14th in Nation for Funding

Dr. Kendler Reaches #1 Rank

Dr. Kendler Reaches #1 Rank

2023 Partners in Healing Award

2023 Partners in Healing Award

Dr. Gerry Moeller, MD, Featured in NEXT Article

Dr. Gerry Moeller, MD, Featured in NEXT Article

2023 Canning Award Winners

Faculty Member's Editorial Featured in Journal

Dr. Abubaker Memorial Lecture

Employee Spotlight

Free Groups at VTCC

Employee Spotlight

Dominique Bertolini, MD

Dominique Bertolini, MD

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