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Psychiatry Residency

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The psychiatry residency program at MAHEC (Mountain Area Health Education Center) was created to address the critical need for psychiatrists in rural and Western North Carolina, where all 16 counties have been federally designated as mental health professional shortage areas. Our mission is to train excellent psychiatrists who can work with rural, underserved populations and who are experts at providing consultation in primary care settings.

Our outpatient clinic, the Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness, opened on MAHEC's campus in July 2019 and our expanded clinic space opened in fall of 2021. In recognition of our success to date, ACGME approved expanding our class size to six residents effective July 2020.

Our outpatient psychiatry clinic is located in the UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC building, our academic health center that is a unique collaboration with MAHEC, the University of North Carolina, Western Carolina University, and regional community partners. In addition to our psychiatry residency program and outpatient clinic, this academic health center houses the UNC School of Medicine Asheville campus, a master of public health program jointly led by UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Asheville, and research initiatives affiliated with the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy. An inter-professional learning café and incubator spaces facilitate innovative research and clinical practices.

Asheville continues to grow and become more interesting and vibrant with each passing season. We look forward to each and every interview season and hope you will consider MAHEC Psychiatry for the next step in your training!

Our Team

Elena Perea, MD Elena Perea, MD
Director, Psychiatry Residency Program
Director, Rural Psychiatry Residency Program
Faculty, Consultation/Liaison Fellowship


Symone Simmons Symone Simmons
Program Coordinator
email psychres@mahec.net

Ben Vockery Ben Vockery
Program Administrator
email psychres@mahec.net

Contact Us

For more information or questions about our program, please contact psychres@mahec.net.

4th Year Medical Student Rotations

MAHEC offers a variety of student rotations in Family Medicine, Obstetrics and Gynecology, General Surgery, Rural Medicine, and Psychiatry for both in-state and out-of-state students interested in our residency programs. Learn more about our 4th year medical student rotations

Values Statement

  • Excellence: We deliver quality activities and services that our customers and partners value.
  • Diversity: We promote equity and inclusivity.
  • Integrity: We act with fairness, transparency, and the highest level of ethics.
  • Collaboration: We value partnerships and support interprofessional approaches.
  • Improvement: We continuously innovate and improve our work.

Foundational Principles

  • Civility: We treat all people with respect and kindness, all the time.
  • Inclusivity: We value the contribution of people different than ourselves and the merits of an organization that reflects differences in our teams and our community.
  • Empowerment: We value engagement, commitment, and ownership of MAHEC’s mission, work, and budget.

Our Commitment

MAHEC is committed to creating an equitable and inclusive place to work, learn, and receive care. We actively recruit physicians, staff, and students from underrepresented minorities, and we strive to implement policies and procedures that value and support diverse backgrounds and experiences. MAHEC does not discriminate on the basis of socioeconomic status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, spiritual practice, geography, disability, or age.

PGY1

First-year residents work in two inpatient psychiatric hospitals: The Sweeten Creek Mental Health and Wellness Center, and the Charles George VA Medical Center.. Residents also have two months of Inpatient medicine and one month of inpatient neurology at Mission Hospital. The remainder of the first-year primary care requirement will be completed in a combination of family medicine and internal medicine ambulatory care clinics.

PGY2

All second-year residents rotate through an established set of outpatient psychiatry settings, including a treatment resistant clinic that includes TMS, a first-episode psychosis clinic, an IDD clinic, a university counseling center, a child safety/forensic pediatrics team, and a short term psychiatric consultation clinic for both adults and children. In addition to their rotations, second-year residents spend one full day per week in both a child and an adult continuity clinics, one half day per week in a geriatric psychiatry clinic, and one half day per week seeing psychotherapy patients.

PGY3

Third-year residents return to the inpatient setting with more specialized psychiatry rotations including child and adolescent, geriatrics, and consultation/liaison with electroconvulsive therapy, as well as a substance use disorder rotation at the Julian F. Keith Alcohol and Drug Treatment Center (ADATC). The third-year resident also returns to the general adult psychiatry inpatient unit as a junior resident. Adult and child continuity clinics are one half day each every week in addition to the one half day spent seeing psychotherapy patients. The basic requirements for residency are completed after the third year, allowing residents to fast-track into a child/adolescent fellowship if desired.

PGY4

Fourth-year residents have a one-month forensics rotation at Broughton State Hospital, two months in MAHEC Psychiatry’s IOP/PHP program, as well as two months at the VAMC doing a combination of consultation/liaison, substance use disorder, and integrated care clinic outpatient psychiatry. One half day per week is spent doing collaborative and integrated care consultations with rural primary care physicians as part of the Rural Health Initiative. Adult continuity clinic and psychotherapy are one half day each every week. The remainder of the fourth-year resident’s time is elective, allowing them to create a personalized curriculum as they prepare to begin their career in psychiatry.

All residents have one afternoon each week protected for didactics. This includes an ongoing Journal Club, case conference, resident presentations, research, and ongoing lectures overviewing the psychiatric field of knowledge with an emphasis on evidence-based care.

Our outpatient psychiatry clinic, the Center for Psychiatry and Mental Wellness, is housed at UNC Health Sciences at MAHEC along with branch campuses of the UNC School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health program jointly conferred by UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health and UNC Asheville.

Our residency program is located on the same campus with our dental, family medicine, transitional year, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, pharmacy, and surgery residencies, which provides an optimal environment for cross-fertilization of ideas and collaboration.

ACGME Program Requirements

Faculty

Elena Perea, MD Elena Perea, MD Director, Psychiatry Residency Program
Director, Rural Psychiatry Residency Program
Faculty, Consultation/Liaison Fellowship
Nick Ladd, DO Nick Ladd, DO

Director, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship

Faculty, Psychiatry Residency
Hunter Edwards, DO Hunter Edwards, DO Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
Matt Edwards, MD Matt Edwards, MD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Trace Fender, MD Trace Fender, MD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency and Consultation/Liaison Fellowship
David Freeman, MD David Freeman, MD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency and Consultation/Liaison Fellowship
Luke Johnson, DO Luke Johnson, DO Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
Nina Leezenbaum, PhD Nina Leezenbaum, PhD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Ronald Magee, MD Ronald Magee, MD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency and Consultation/Liaison Fellowship
Audrey Martinez, MD Audrey Martinez, MD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
Mark Mason, MD Mark Mason, MD

Director, Consultation-Liaison Fellowship

Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
Joseph Maxwell, MD Joseph Maxwell, MD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
Danielle Meola, MD, PhD Danielle Meola, MD, PhD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
John Nicholls, MD, JD John Nicholls, MD, JD

Chair, Department of Psychiatry

Faculty, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Karin Nylund, MD Karin Nylund, MD Faculty, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Dustin Patil, MD Dustin Patil, MD Associate Program Director, Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship
Judith Pohl, PhD Judith Pohl, PhD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
Catherine (Katie) Rowe, PhD Catherine (Katie) Rowe, PhD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
Meagan Tucker-Wiles, PhD Meagan Tucker-Wiles, PhD Psychologist
MAHEC Ob/Gyn Specialists
Sarah Volk, MD Sarah Volk, MD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program
Sarah Wells Slectha, MD Sarah Wells Slectha, MD Faculty, Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
Susan Whitley, MD Susan Whitley, MD

Program Director, Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship

Faculty, Psychiatry Residency Program

Residents PGY4

Hussein Ahmad, MD Hussein Ahmad, MD Resident
Maheen Islam, MD, MS Maheen Islam, MD, MS Resident
Sonia Koul, MD Sonia Koul, MD Resident
Jennifer “Jenny” Ondreyka, MD, MPH Jennifer “Jenny” Ondreyka, MD, MPH Resident
Julia Stephens, MD, MBA Julia Stephens, MD, MBA Resident

Residents PGY3

Angus Bennett, MD, MFA Angus Bennett, MD, MFA Resident
Alexander “Alex” Coburn, MD, PhD Alexander “Alex” Coburn, MD, PhD Resident
Garett Jacobson, MD, DPT Garett Jacobson, MD, DPT Resident
Julia Jordan, MD Julia Jordan, MD Resident
Jay Kirby, DO Jay Kirby, DO Resident
Matthew Torres, MD Matthew Torres, MD Resident

Residents PGY2

Taylor Camiliere, DO Taylor Camiliere, DO Resident
Mackenzie Chandler, DO Mackenzie Chandler, DO Resident
Andrew “Jordan” Eidson, MD Andrew “Jordan” Eidson, MD Resident
Ariana Morales, MD Ariana Morales, MD Resident
Carol Tran, MD Carol Tran, MD Resident
Onyedikachi “Ony” Uzor, MD Onyedikachi “Ony” Uzor, MD Resident
Ellen Williams, MD Ellen Williams, MD Resident

Residents PGY1

Bryan Dobbs, MD, MPH Bryan Dobbs, MD, MPH Resident
Clay Ginn, DO  Clay Ginn, DO  Resident
Matthew “Matt” Hooks, DO, MA Matthew “Matt” Hooks, DO, MA Resident
Anna Lowery, MD Anna Lowery, MD Resident
Eli Morey, MD Eli Morey, MD Resident
Mary Quaile, MD Mary Quaile, MD Resident

IMPORTANT MESSAGE

Dear Residency Applicants,

We are excited that you are interested in our program! Asheville is currently in a state of emergency following Hurricane Helene, but we want to assure you that we are moving forward with our upcoming recruitment season and look forward to meeting each invited candidate. Answering our region’s needs is a hallmark of our residency and what brings us joy. Our immediate priority is the health of our community, our patients, and the well-being of our residents, and we anticipate no issues for matched candidates to start with us next academic year. We are confident that our program will remain as strong as ever when Asheville is back to full capacity.

As is recommended by APA and AADPRT, we will continue to offer only virtual interviews this year. Our residents and faculty continue to remain in the region, committed to their training and dedicated to providing excellent care for our patients.

We are excited to share with you how community service and many other things make MAHEC a unique and exceptional place to train and grow, and we look forward to connecting with you soon.

Sincerely,

Elena Perea, MD
Program Director, Psychiatry Residency, MAHEC

Application Requirements

We invite you to apply to our program via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will review your application and contact you if we are able to offer you an interview. Typically, our interview season runs from October through January and includes ~11 total interview dates.

A complete ERAS application is required, including:

  • Curriculum Vitae (CV)
  • Photo
  • Personal statement
  • Three letters of recommendation from faculty who have directly supervised clinical performance (at least one letter should be from a psychiatrist)
  • Medical school transcript(s)
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE)
  • USMLE, COMLEX, or Canadian licensing exam completion (Step 1 or COMLEX 1 required, Step 2 or COMLEX 2 preferred)
Questions regarding the application process should be directed to the Residency Program Coordinator at psychres@mahec.net.

Eligibility and Selection Criteria

The Graduate Medical Education (GME) programs will select from among eligible applicants on the basis of residency program-related criteria such as their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity.

Minimum Requirements

An applicant must meet or exceed the following minimum qualification(s) to be eligible for selection and appointment to MAHEC’s GME residency programs:

  • Be a graduate of a medical school in the United States or Canada, accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME); or
  • Be a graduate of a college of osteopathic medicine in the United States, accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or
  • Be a graduate of a non-LCME- or AOA-approved medical school who also meets one of the following additional qualifications:
    • holds a currently-valid certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) prior to appointment; or
    • holds a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in a United States licensing jurisdiction in his or her current ACGME specialty/subspecialty program; or
    • has graduated from a medical school outside the United States and has completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by a LCME-accredited medical school.
  • Passed USMLE Steps 1 and 2 or COMLEX 1 and 2 within three attempts, as required by the North Carolina Medical Board.
  • Be eligible for a NC resident training license.
  • Be eligible to work in the U.S. (citizen, permanent resident, eligible visa including J1). MAHEC does not sponsor H1B or other visas.

VISA Sponsorship

MAHEC does not directly sponsor residents or fellows that need a J-1 Sponsorship VISA. Non-U.S. citizen applicants needing visa sponsorship must secure this directory from the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG). The ECFMG is authorized by the U.S. Department of State to sponsor foreign national physicians for the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa for the purpose of participating in U.S. programs of graduate medical education or training. ECFMG is designated by the U.S. Department of State as a BridgeUSA sponsor for J-1 exchange visitor physicians enrolled in accredited programs of graduate medical education or training, or advanced research programs (involving primarily observation, consultation, teaching, or research). Although many universities and research institutions in the United States are authorized to sponsor exchange visitors as research scholars, ECFMG is the sole sponsor of J-1 physicians in clinical training programs.

Questions regarding VISA Sponsorship should be directed to the GME office at 828-232-2946 or gme@mahec.net.

Resident Physician Contract/Letter of Agreement

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