Leadership
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Robert Findling, M.D., M.B.A.
Department Chair

Robert Findling, M.D., M.B.A.
Department Chair
Department of Psychiatry
Division of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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John Beyer, M.D.
Department Vice Chair
Division Chief - Adult Ambulatory
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John Beyer, M.D.
Department Vice Chair
Division Chief - Adult Ambulatory
Department of Psychiatry
Department Vice Chair
Email: john.beyer@vcuhealth.org
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James Levenson, M.D.
Department Vice Chair
Division Chief - C/L

James Levenson, M.D.
Department Vice Chair
Division Chief - C/L
Department of Psychiatry
Department Vice Chair
Chief, Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry
Phone: 804-828-0763
Fax: 804-828-7675
Email: james.levenson@vcuhealth.org
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Kenneth Kendler, M.D.
Director - VIPBG

Kenneth Kendler, M.D.
Director - VIPBG
Department of Psychiatry
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics (VIPBG) Director
Rachel Brown Banks Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Psychiatric Genetics Research Program
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Jarrod Leffler, Ph.D.
Division Chief
Child and Adolescent Psychology
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Jarrod Leffler, Ph.D.
Division Chief
Child and Adolescent Psychology
Department of Psychiatry
Associate Professor
Email: jarrod.leffler@vcuhealth.org

F. Gerard Moeller, M.D.
Division Chief
Addiction Medicine

F. Gerard Moeller, M.D.
Division Chief
Addiction Medicine
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine Division Chief

Ekaterina Stepanova, M.D.
Division Chief
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Ekaterina Stepanova, M.D.
Division Chief
Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Associate Professor
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Tushar P. Thakre, M.D., Ph.D.
Division Chief
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry

Tushar P. Thakre, M.D., Ph.D.
Division Chief
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Chief, Division of Inpatient Psychiatry
Director, Medical Psychiatry Program
Interim Director, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Services
Staff Physician, VCU Center for Sleep Medicine
Email: tushar.thakre@vcuhealth.org
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Nicole D. Cook, M.S.W., LCSW
Behavioral Health Program Manager
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Nicole D. Cook, M.S.W., LCSW
Behavioral Health Program Manager
Department of Psychiatry
Phone: 804-628-3878
Fax: 804-628-1247
Email: nicole.cook@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
Department of Psychiatry
501 N. 2nd Street
Suite 400B, Room 426
Richmond, VA 23219
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Suzanne Balduzzi-Williams, M.P.A, M.S.
Administrator
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Suzanne Balduzzi-Williams, M.P.A, M.S.
Administrator
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine

F. Gerard Moeller, M.D.
Professor
Division Chief
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F. Gerard Moeller, M.D.
Professor
Division Chief
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine Division Chief
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Albert J. Arias, M.D.
Associate Professor
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Albert J. Arias, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Fellowship Program Director
Associate Professor
Associate Division Director, Addiction Psychiatry
Interim Medical Director, MOTIVATE clinic
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James M Bjork, Ph.D.
Professor
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James M Bjork, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine
Email: james.bjork@vcuhealth.org

Lori Keyser-Marcus, Ph.D.
Associate Professor

Lori Keyser-Marcus, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine

Liangsuo Ma, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Liangsuo Ma, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine
.jpg)
Monica Melmer, M.D.
Assistant Professor
.jpg)
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Joel L. Steinberg, M.D.
Professor
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Joel L. Steinberg, M.D.
Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Health Practitioners Monitoring Program (HPMP)
Professor
Institute for Drug and Alcohol Studies
Director, Collaborative Advanced Research Imaging program

Jasmin L. Vassileva, Ph.D.
Professor

Jasmin L. Vassileva, Ph.D.
Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine

Brandon Wills, D.O.
Professor

Brandon Wills, D.O.
Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Addiction Medicine
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry

John Byer, M.D.
Professor
Division Chief

John Byer, M.D.
Professor
Division Chief
Department of Psychiatry
Department Vice Chair
Email: john.beyer@vcuhealth.org
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Sandra Barker, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
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Sandra Barker, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
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Jason Burton, M.D.
Assistant Professor
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Jason Burton, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Psychiatry

Shannon E. Cusack, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Shannon E. Cusack, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Email: shannon.cusack@vcuhealth.org

Kelsey Hagan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Kelsey Hagan, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Phone: 804-828-9452
Email: Kelsey.Hagan@vcuhealth.org

Daniel Higgins, M.D.
Assistant Professor

Daniel Higgins, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Email: daniel.higgins@vcuhealth.org

William Nay, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Interim Division Chief

William Nay, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Interim Division Chief
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Phone: (804) 828-9452
Fax: (804) 828-5058
Email: william.nay@vcuhealth.org

Ananda Pandurangi, M.D.
Distinguished Career Professor
Adjunct Faculty

Ananda Pandurangi, M.D.
Distinguished Career Professor
Adjunct Faculty
Psychiatry

Bushra Shah, M.D.
Associate Professor Residency Program Director

Bushra Shah, M.D.
Associate Professor Residency Program Director
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Residency Program Director
Email: bushra.shah@vcuhealth.org

Christina Sheerin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Christina Sheerin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry/VIPBG

Joel J. Silverman, M.D.
Professor

Joel J. Silverman, M.D.
Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Fax: 804-628-1247
Email: joel.silverman@vcuhealth.org

Antonia Swink, M.D.
Assistant Professor

Antonia Swink, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry

Sher Tucker, D.O.
Assistant Professor

Sher Tucker, D.O.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Email: sher.tucker@vcuhealth.org

John Urbach, M.D.
Associate Professor

John Urbach, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry

Susan Waller, M.D.
Associate Professor

Susan Waller, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Phone: (804) 828-9452
Email: susan.waller@vcuhealth.org

Matthew Way, M.D.
Assistant Professor

Matthew Way, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry

Tushar P. Thakre, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Division Chief

Tushar P. Thakre, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Division Chief
Department of Psychiatry
Chief, Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Director, Medical Psychiatry Program
Interim Director, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Services
Staff Physician, VCU Center for Sleep Medicine
Email: tushar.thakre@vcuhealth.org

Ryan Chiarella, D.O.
Associate Professor

Ryan Chiarella, D.O.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Director, Schizophrenia Program
Interim Director, Emergency Psychiatric Services
Email: ryan.chiarella@vcuhealth.org

Charles Kramer, M.D.
Assistant Professor

Charles Kramer, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
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Vasu Venkatachalam, M.D.
Associate Professor
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Vasu Venkatachalam, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Interim Director, Electroconvulsive Therapy Services
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John Vernon, M.D.
Associate Professor
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John Vernon, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Director, Mood Disorders Program
Email: john.vernon@vcuhealth.org
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Ekaterina Stepanova, M.D.
Associate Professor
Division Chief
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Ekaterina Stepanova, M.D.
Associate Professor
Division Chief
Department of Psychiatry
Associate Professor
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Kelsey Delph, M.D.
Assistant Professor
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Kelsey Delph, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Kathryn Jones, M.D.
Assistant Professor
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Kathryn Jones, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Mudit Kumar, M.D.
Assistant Professor
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Mudit Kumar, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Geetha Manikkara, M.D.
Assistant Professor
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Geetha Manikkara, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Psychiatry
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Lauren Nutile, M.D.
Assistant Professor

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Dorothy O’Keefe, M.D.
Associate Professor
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Dorothy O’Keefe, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Email: Dorothy.OKeefe@vcuhealth.org
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Parna Prajapati, M.D.
Assistant Professor
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Parna Prajapati, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Muhammad Raza, M.D.
Associate Professor
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Muhammad Raza, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Chelsea Sawyers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor

Chelsea Sawyers, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

Dimal Shah, M.D.
Assistant Professor

Dimal Shah, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Neil Sonenklar, M.D.
Associate Professor
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Neil Sonenklar, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Aradhana Sood, M.D.
Professor
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Aradhana Sood, M.D.
Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics
Senior Professor of Child Mental Health Policy
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Andrew Thompson, DO
Assistant Professor
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Andrew Thompson, DO
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Eric Trinh, M.D.
Assistant Professor
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Eric Trinh, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Stacy Wayne, M.D.
Assistant Professor
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Child and Adolescent Psychology
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Jarrod Leffler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Division Chief
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Jarrod Leffler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Division Chief
Department of Psychiatry
Associate Professor
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Allison Baylor Williams, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Allison Baylor Williams, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor
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Alyssa Button Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Alyssa Button Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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Paige Cervantes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Paige Cervantes, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
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Michele Cosby, PsyD
Assistant Professor
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Michele Cosby, PsyD
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Child & Adolescent Psychology Division Chair - Interim
Assistant Professor
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Anh-Thuy Le, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Anh-Thuy Le, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor
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Stella Lopez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Affiliate Faculty
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Stella Lopez, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Affiliate Faculty
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor
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Carla Wall, Ph.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
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Carla Wall, Ph.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor
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Jennifer Walter, Ph.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
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Jennifer Walter, Ph.D.
Assistant Clinical Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor
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Anna Wright, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Anna Wright, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Professor
Clinical Health Psychology
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Taylor Crouch, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Taylor Crouch, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Health Psychology
Email: taylor.crouch@vcuhealth.org
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Rashelle Hayes, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Rashelle Hayes, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Health Psychology
Email: rashelle.hayes@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
Box 980710
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Leila Islam, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Leila Islam, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Health Psychology
Address/Location:
Leila.Islam@vcuhealth.org
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Kathryn Maher, Ph.D., LCP
Assistant Professor
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Kathryn Maher, Ph.D., LCP
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Health Psychology
Email: Kathryn.Maher@vcuhealth.org
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Judy Emenalo-Strange, PsyD
Clinical Assistant Professor
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Judy Emenalo-Strange, PsyD
Clinical Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
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Stephan R. Weinland, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Stephan R. Weinland, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Clinical Health Psychology
Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry
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James Levenson, M.D.
Professor
Division Chief

James Levenson, M.D.
Professor
Division Chief
Department of Psychiatry
Department Vice Chair
Chair, Consultation/Liaison Psychiatry
Phone: 804-828-0763
Fax: 804-828-7675
Email: james.levenson@vcuhealth.org
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Alex Ambrose, M.D.
Assistant Professor
.png)
Alex Ambrose, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Consultation - Liaison Psychiatry
Email: laurel.ambrose@vcuhealth.org

Melissa Bui, M.D.
Associate Professor

Melissa Bui, M.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychology
Consultation - Liaison Psychiatry
Email: Melissa.Bui@vcuhealth.org

Lauren Mahoney, M.D.
Assistant Professor

Lauren Mahoney, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Consultation - Liaison Psychiatry
Email: Lauren.Mahoney@vcuhealth.org

Oxana Palesh, Ph.D., MPH
Assistant Professor

Oxana Palesh, Ph.D., MPH
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Consultation - Liaison Psychiatry
Email: Oxana.Palesh@vcuhealth.org
Va. Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics

Kenneth Kendler, M.D.
Professor & Eminent Scholar
Director VIPBG

Kenneth Kendler, M.D.
Professor & Eminent Scholar
Director VIPBG
Department of Psychiatry
Virginia Institute for Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics (VIPBG) Director
Rachel Brown Banks Distinguished Professor of Psychiatry
Director, Psychiatric Genetics Research Program

Ananda Amstadter, Ph.D.
Professor
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Silviu Alin Bacanu, Ph.D.
Professor
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Silviu Alin Bacanu, Ph.D.
Professor
VIPBG
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Kaitlin Bountress, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Kaitlin Bountress, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
VIPBG
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Ruth Brown-Ennis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Ruth Brown-Ennis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
VIPBG
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Shannon E. Cusack, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Shannon E. Cusack, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Email: shannon.cusack@vcuhealth.org
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Alexis Edwards, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Alexis Edwards, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
VIPBG
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Amanda Gentry, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Amanda Gentry, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
VIPBG
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Nathan Gillespie, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Nathan Gillespie, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry/VIPBG
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Robert Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Robert Kirkpatrick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry/VIPBG
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Michael Neale, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor
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Michael Neale, Ph.D.
Distinguished Professor
Department of Psychiatry/VIPBG
Phone: (804) 828-3369
Email: Michael.Neale@vcuhealth.org
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Tan Hoang Nguyen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Tan Hoang Nguyen, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry/VIPBG
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Kathryn Polak, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Kathryn Polak, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
VIPBG
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Brien Riley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
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Brien Riley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Department of Psychiatry/VIPBG
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Christina Sheerin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
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Christina Sheerin, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry/VIPBG
Research/Other
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Nancy Gee, Ph.D.
Center for Human-Animal Interaction
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Nancy Gee, Ph.D.
Center for Human-Animal Interaction
Department of Psychiatry
Center for Human-Animal Interaction (CHAI) Director
Professor
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Susan Kornstein, M.D.
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry Research
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Susan Kornstein, M.D.
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry Research
Department of Psychiatry
Institute for Women's Health Executive Director
Executive Director, VCU Mood Disorders Institute
Professor
Director of Clinical Research, Dept of Psychiatry
Advanced Practice Professionals
- Kimberly Bailey Dexter, N.P.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Rebecca Bowers, N.P.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Alana Chaffee, N.P.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Tracy Davis, N.P.
Addiction Medicine - Hallie Gorica, N.P.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Tara Horne, N.P.
Addiction Medicine - Taylor Monroe, N.P.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Adam Nichols, P.A.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Jennifer Schrecengost, N.P.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Grace Screeney, N.P.
Addiction Medicine - Abigail Steadman, N.P.
Adult Psychiatry - Crystal Watts, N.P.
Addiction Medicine - Chareece Williams, N.P.
Addiction Psychiatry, N.P.
Licensed Therapists
- Nicole Cook, LCSW
Program Manager - Lakesha Barrett, LCSW
Adult Access - Shareen Berti, LCSW
Adult Ambulatory - Latoya Cotman, LPC
Child and Adolescent - Jerard Elliott, LPC
Child & Adolescent - Darnel "Dee Dee" James, LCSW
Adult Access-Weight Loss Clinic - Amber Ferjuste, LCSW
Adult Access-Women’s Health Clinic - Brittany Fisher, LCSW
Child and Adolescent - Sandy Flemming, LCSW
Child and Adolescent - Tera Harris, LPC
Adult Access - Chanell Hudson, LCSW
Child and Adolescent - Alexis Jackson, LCSW
Adult Access-Weight Loss Clinic - Amber Jennings, LCSW
Child and Adolescent/CMHRC - Leah Kramer, LCSW
Adult Access-Transplant - Karen Landrum, LCSW
EAP Program Manager - Peyton Lassiter, LPC
Adult Access - Vivian Mann, LCSW
Adult Ambulatory - Britney Mitchell, LPC
Adult Access - Nikkia Parker-Lundy, LPC
Adult Access - Tammy Taylor-Musoke, LCSW
Child and Adolescent-VMAP - Rochelle Watson, LPC
Adult Access-Ryan White Clinic
Administrative Staff
- Tammy Beltz
Human Resources Manager
tammy.beltz@vcuhealth.org - Scott Diegelmann
Web & Communications Coordinator
scott.diegelmann@vcuhealth.org - Aahuti Gupta
Business Manager
aahuti.gupta@vcuhealth.org - Karen Houghton
Administrative Staff Specialist Child and Adolescent
karen.houghton@vcuhealth.org - Crystal L. Hudson
Associate Administrator Child and Adolescent
crystal.hudson@vcuhealth.org - Regina Piercy-Ross
Fiscal Technician
regina.piercyross@vcuhealth.org - Brianna Porch
Associate Administrator
brianna.porch@vcuhealth.org - Brittany Silk
Sr. Administrative Assistant
brittany.silk@vcuhealth.org - Deborah Webb
Executive Administrative Assistant, Adult Ambulatory & Residency Program
deborah.webb@vcuhealth.org
Educational Program Staff
- Crystal Adamchek
Clerkship Coordinator
crystal.adamchek@vcuhealth.org - Jessica Drayton
Residency
jessica.drayton@vcuhealth.org - Sharon Scott
Child and Adolescent Fellowship
Psychology Training Program
sharon.scott@vcuhealth.org - Delores Yeatts
Residency
catherine.yeatts@vcuhealth.org
Program Staff
- Karl Dorn
Program Coordinator, The Center for Human-Animal Interaction
karl.dorn@vcuhealth.org - J.T. Hosack
Teams Coordinator, Center for Human & Animal Interaction (CHAI)
james.hosack@vcuhealth.org - Amy Ressler
Administrative Director, Health Practitioners Monitoring Program (HPMP)
amy.ressler@vcuhealth.org - Nicolas Smith, LCSW
Inpatient Coordinator, Adult Psychiatry
nicolas.smith@vcuhealth.org - Morgan Thomas
Division Administrative Coordinator, Inpatient Division
morgan.thomas@vcuhealth.org
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