In the Division of Inpatient Psychiatry, we are honored to provide compassionate care to patients in the hospital with the most severe psychiatric illnesses. Patients come to us from all over Virginia, and faculty and trainees work side-by-side to treat patients whose symptoms and diagnoses fall under four main categories:
- Schizophrenia
- Mood disorders
- Medical psychiatry
- Geriatric psychiatry
We take a holistic, multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with other health care professionals including nurse practitioners, occupational therapists, social workers and clinical pharmacists to provide the most comprehensive care for each patient. As a diverse team of generalists and specialists, we also manage many comorbid conditions and chronic illnesses in our patients. We also provide cutting-edge neuromodulation treatments including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).
"All our faculty and staff are gifted, caring and collaborative. The work is hard and clinically busy but having a positive work environment goes a long way."
Tushar Thakre, M.D., Ph.D.
Interim Division Chair
Education
Trainees in the Department of Psychiatry’s residency program can look forward to highly specialized rotations within this division. Through bedside learning, formal didactics, case conferences and literature review, residents experience the full range of inpatient psychiatric training and graduate fully prepared to manage the most complex patients.
Learn more about our residencyOur Team
Jessica Behner, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Jessica Behner, MSN, PMHNP-BC
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Sarah Jones Boyle, PMHNP-BC
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Sarah Jones Boyle, PMHNP-BC
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Ryan Chiarella, D.O.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Ryan Chiarella, D.O.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Associate Clinical Professor
Director, Schizophrenia Program
Interim Director, Emergency Psychiatric Services
Email: ryan.chiarella@vcuhealth.org
Sung Cheol Kim, NP
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Sung Cheol Kim, NP
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Tushar P. Thakre, M.D., Ph.D.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Tushar P. Thakre, M.D., Ph.D.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Interim Chair, 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
Alexandru E. Trutia, M.D.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Alexandru E. Trutia, M.D.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Associate Professor
Interim Medical Director, N3
Director, Geriatric Psychiatry Program
Vasu Venkatachalam, M.D.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Vasu Venkatachalam, M.D.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Clinical Professor
Interim Director, Electroconvulsive Therapy Services
John Vernon, M.D.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
John Vernon, M.D.
Adult Inpatient Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Professor
Director, Mood Disorders Program
Email: john.vernon@vcuhealth.org