Psychiatry Residency

Hello and welcome to the RUHS Psychiatry Program!

I have been working with Riverside County since 2014 and was fortunate to take on the role of Program Director in 2022. Our program’s mission is to foster clinical excellence, leadership, and scholarship while providing compassionate healthcare to all, especially the underserved. We strive to prepare the next generation of psychiatrists to become exceptional clinicians, lifelong learners, and compassionate leaders equipped to meet the challenges of an evolving healthcare environment. We have kept this mission in mind every step of the way as we have built and grown this program.

Riverside County is home to approximately 2.5 million residents, many of whom face significant barriers to mental health and substance use treatment. As part of the county’s safety-net healthcare system, RUHS residents care for individuals and families with complex psychiatric, medical, and psychosocial needs. This experience develops the clinical, systems-based, and advocacy skills needed to provide high-quality mental healthcare throughout the Inland Empire.

We work closely with Riverside University Health System Behavioral Health, whose partnership and support are integral to our mission of expanding access to high-quality, culturally competent care. Through this collaboration, residents gain firsthand experience implementing changes that improve access for populations who have historically faced barriers to treatment. These efforts expand treatment options for our patients while providing residents with exposure to innovative and specialized approaches that are increasingly important in modern psychiatric practice.

Our curriculum emphasizes evidence-based practice, critical thinking, and the thoughtful integration of emerging advances in psychiatry. Residents are encouraged to evaluate new evidence, apply best practices, and pursue innovative approaches that improve outcomes for the diverse populations we serve. We also value research, quality improvement, advocacy, and scholarly inquiry. Our robust Graduate Medical Education community offers opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration and academic exploration, while our Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Forensic Psychiatry fellowships provide additional exposure to subspecialty care and specialized areas of practice.

At RUHS, we believe excellent psychiatric training extends beyond clinical knowledge and skills. Professional development and resident wellness are central to our program. We strive to create an environment in which residents feel supported in pursuing their professional and personal goals while developing meaningful relationships with colleagues, faculty, and the broader healthcare community. Mentorship, resilience, belonging, and lifelong professional growth are essential to becoming a well-rounded physician.

Ultimately, what makes RUHS special is our shared commitment to our patients, our community, and one another. We are more than a training program; we are a community working together to improve mental healthcare for underserved populations. We are proud to support our residents as they grow into confident, compassionate, and skilled psychiatrists who will make a lasting difference in the lives of their patients and in the future of our profession.

At RUHS, we believe we have built an exceptional residency program by combining clinical excellence, innovation, scholarship, collaboration, and a strong commitment to resident development. Expanding access to innovative treatments improves patient care while providing exceptional clinical experiences. Addressing healthcare disparities creates opportunities for meaningful research and scholarship. Working alongside our Behavioral Health colleagues and other specialties teaches the importance of collaboration and systems-based care. Investing in wellness, mentorship, professional development, and fellowship opportunities helps our residents develop not only into excellent psychiatrists, but also into physicians who can sustain meaningful and fulfilling careers.

I am so proud of how far this program has come, and I look forward to its continued growth and its ability to improve access to high-quality mental healthcare for those living in the Inland Empire. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. We look forward to sharing our vision with you and hope you will consider joining our community.