About the Program
The VCU Department of Psychiatry’s mission is to train tomorrow’s mental health professionals. Our comprehensive residency program balances brain science and therapeutic training with the knowledge and support to help our trainees achieve here and beyond.
We are proud to provide a uniquely challenging and supportive residency experience that offers the following:
- A commitment to producing compassionate, adaptable physicians
- A dedication to lifelong learning and teaching in the context of a rapidly changing health care environment
- Strong, involved leaders who are always available to residents
- A diverse patient population, including those with challenging psychiatric conditions and complex comorbidities
- Camaraderie and collegiality, both inside and outside the hospital
- Innovation in research, training and practice
Curriculum and Rotations
Our clinical education is structured to allow residents the flexibility to meet graduation requirements while also pursuing individual interests, with protected didactics and supervision time. In addition to intensive clinical supervision, a faculty coordinator is responsible for working with residents during each of the program’s four years to maximize the trainees’ learning experiences.
PGY-1
During the intern year, residents spend six months rotating off-service on internal medicine, emergency medicine and neurology. Residents with an interest in child and adolescent psychiatry may spend one to three blocks on pediatrics instead of internal medicine.
The other six months are spent on inpatient psychiatry at VCU Medical Center and the Richmond VA Medical Center (VAMC). VCU inpatient psychiatry rotations are split into specific teams, according to the patient’s presentation on admission. Those teams include mood disorders, schizophrenia, geriatrics and medical psychiatry.
Inpatient psychiatry (VCU): 3 blocks
Neurology: 2 blocks
Emergency medicine: 1 block
Internal medicine or pediatrics: 3 blocks
Inpatient psychiatry night float: 1 block
Inpatient psychiatry, substance abuse (VAMC): 3 blocks
PGY-2
Starting in PGY-2, residents learn the basics of supportive psychotherapy in a dedicated afternoon clinic at our outpatient facility. Second-year rotations consist of various psychiatry experiences, again in 13 four-week blocks. Residents continue to rotate through each VCU Medical Center inpatient team, so that they will have rotated through every team at least once by the end of PGY-2. Residents also rotate through each of the subspecialty rotations for a minimum of one four-week block. Residents may submit requests to tailor their schedules to their specific interests, with the potential for extra time on any given rotation.
Inpatient psychiatry, substance abuse (VAMC): 2-3 blocks
Subspecialty rotations (ECT, VTCC inpatient, adult consultation-liaison, day float): 5+ blocks
Inpatient psychiatry (VCU): 3-4 blocks
Emergency psychiatry night float: 1-1.5 blocks
VAMC night float: 1-1.5 blocks
Outpatient psychotherapy clinic: 4 hours per week
PGY-3
All PGY-3 rotations, with the exception of psychiatry consults in the emergency department, are completed on an outpatient basis, with each half-day representing a different clinic. The general psychiatry and psychotherapy clinics are longitudinal throughout the year, while the other clinics rotate every three to six months and include rotations at the Richmond VA Medical Center. The following is a sample schedule:
Monday
AM: General psychiatry
PM: Subspecialty
Tuesday
AM: Didactics
PM: Psychotherapy or subspecialty
Wednesday
AM: Emergency psychiatry
PM: Didactics
Thursday
AM: Psychotherapy
PM: Child and adolescent psychiatry
Friday
AM: Psychotherapy and case conference
PM: Grand rounds, residents’ meeting, CBT lab, psychotherapy
Psychotherapy modalities expand to include:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Family/couples therapy
- Group therapy (optional)
- Psychodynamic psychotherapy
- Psychotherapy combined with psychopharmacology
- Supportive psychotherapy
PGY-4
The program’s fourth year is divided into three blocks and includes continual outpatient psychotherapy and a longitudinal semi-autonomous medication management clinic.
As senior residents on the consultation-liaison service, PGY-4s rotate at both VCU Medical Center and the VAMC. The community psychiatry rotation is through select local community service boards, which are Virginia’s resource for public mental health care, and at the VAMC. One month of the year is dedicated to an inpatient junior attending role.
Electives include:
- Addiction medicine
- Virginia Board of Medicine
- Center for Craniofacial Care at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU
- Center for Human-Animal Interaction
- Domestic violence assessment and engagement
- Electroconvulsive therapy and other brain stimulation techniques
- Group psychotherapy at University Counseling Services
- Obstetrics psychiatry
- Program of Assertive Community Treatment
- Women's health
Call Schedule, Moonlighting and Salary
Our three night float positions provide much of the on-call coverage for our VCU Medical Center inpatient and emergency psychiatry services and the VA Medical Center psychiatry service. Residents on night float work approximately 11-hour shifts for two to three four-week blocks.
Weekend call: 11-12 call shifts divided over six on-service blocks (approximately 24 weeks). The seventh on-service block is night float, with the remaining blocks off-service rotations. Off-service rotations include evening short call of varying frequency.
Evening short call: Average once per week while on service
Weekend call: 20-21 call shifts over the year
Evening short call: Average once per week while on inpatient services
Weekend call: Approximately 10 call shifts over the year
Evening short call: Average once every two weeks
No call requirements
In-house moonlighting shifts are available for second-, third- and fourth-year residents who have passed Step 3 and obtained a full Virginia medical license. On weekdays, moonlighters assist with adult admissions; on weekends they may cover a Friday night psychiatry ER shift or cover child and adolescent admissions from home.
Due to INS and ACGME regulations, J-1 visa holders are ineligible to work moonlighting shifts.
See the VCU Graduate Medical Education page for information about current house staff salaries. Benefits for residents include:
- Medical insurance
- Dental insurance
- Life insurance
- 15 calendar days annual vacation
- 30 calendar days annual sick leave
- Tuition assistance
- Fully paid meals on call
- Subsidized parking
A full list of summaries is available here.
Life in Richmond
We encourage our trainees to maintain a healthy, balanced life, and Richmond is a wonderful place to engage in that well-rounded lifestyle. As a mid-sized city with a metropolitan population of 1.3 million, Richmond provides stimulating activities while maintaining its intimate feel and unique vibe.
Learn more about our communityResearch Track
We offer one research track position for a resident who is interested in prioritizing research during their training and has demonstrated a significant track record in research activities. Most applicants considered for this track are graduating from M.D./Ph.D. programs in medical school. Our internationally recognized research programs span many areas of modern psychiatry, including:
- Basic behavioral science endeavors
- Outcome studies
- Clinical projects with immediate applicability
All residents receive didactic instruction in research methods and design and are welcome to participate in a wide variety of research projects with the support and mentorship of our dedicated faculty.
For more information, contact Dr. Susan Waller at susan.waller@vcuhealth.org.
How to Apply
The VCU Department of Psychiatry participates in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), and you can apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS).
Application requirements
- Completed ERAS application
- Minimum passing score on USMLE or COMLEX Steps 1 and 2
- Medical student performance evaluation letter (formerly known as dean’s letter)
- Official copy of your medical school transcripts
- Three letters of recommendation, including at least one from a supervising psychiatrist
- Must be within four years of graduation from medical school or direct patient care activity
- Must have documentation of a minimum of three moths of direct patient care activity in the U.S. or Canada in the last four years (clinical rotations during medical school are sufficient for U.S. and Canadian students)
- For international medical graduates, U.S. or Canadian medical school clinical rotations or externships of direct patient care within the U.S. or Canada will suffice (clinical observer experiences and non-clinical graduate work such as research do not meet this requirement)
Interviews
We offer interviews to select applicants from mid-October through January. Interview days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
If you are selected for an interview, you will be contacted to schedule a date. The full-day interview process includes a tour, individual interviews and meetings with a variety of faculty and residents. Since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic, interviews are being conducted virtually.
Contact us:
Monique Peterson
Senior Program Coordinator
monique.peterson@vcuhealth.org
Current Residents
CHIEF RESIDENTS
Kinsey Bise
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: The University of Virginia’s College at Wise
Career Interests: Consult/Liaison, emergency psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and women’s mental health
Some things I like about Richmond: It’s the perfect “Goldilocks” city! Whether you come from a small town (like me) or a huge city like several of my peers, it’s easy to fall in love with Richmond! Excellent food and craft beer scene, festivals and events all year round, and each neighborhood has its own unique flair
Stuart Hedgpeth
Medical School: University of North Carolina School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: Duke University
Career Interests: Child and Adolescent, Psychotherapy
Some things I like about Richmond: Awesome food scene! So many murals! Great parks to walk around with friends or strangers! Around Brown's Island I like looking for the herons that nest/eat close to the James River. It feels like you can be yourself here, whatever that is.
Sher Tucker
Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
Undergraduate School: VCU
Career Interests: Psychotherapy
Some things I like about Richmond: Food, Belle Isle, Basketball (Go Rams Go!)
JUNIOR CHIEF RESIDENTS
KELSEY DELPH
Medical School: VCU School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: University of Missouri - St. Louis
Career Interests: Child and adolescent psychiatry, eating disorders, culinary medicine, psychotherapy
Some things I like about Richmond: I love gardening, especially fruits and veggies because it's so rewarding to use them in cooking. I'm a francophile and try to keep up with the language. In the fall, I do as much hiking in the beautiful mountains of Virginia as I can!
SNEHDEEP HANSPAL
Medical School: VCU School of Medicine
Undergraduate School: American University
Career Interests: Forensic psychiatry, addiction medicine
Some things I like about Richmond: I love the easy access to nature and amazing food scene in Richmond!
PATRICIA TIMI
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
Undergraduate School: Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County
Career Interests: Forensic Psychiatry
Some things I like about Richmond: Netflix and exploring Richmond's brunch spots.
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Residency Leadership

Susan Waller, M.D.
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry

Susan Waller, M.D.
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Residency Program Director
Associate Professor

Bushra Shah, M.D.
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry

Bushra Shah, M.D.
Adult Ambulatory Psychiatry
Department of Psychiatry
Assistant Professor
Residency Associate Director