Psychiatry Residency
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 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!
Sincerely,
Susan Whitley, MD
Chloe Bolon, MDAssistant Program Director, Psychiatry Residency
Assistant Program Director, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
In North Carolina, retaining one newly graduated physician adds approximately $2.1 million to the state economy and creates about 13 new jobs. In total, $668 million in economic output for WNC has been generated by MAHEC GME graduates since our programs began.
Of the 783 MAHEC graduates with available data,
practice in the state of North Carolina.
Of the 394 MAHEC graduates practicing in the state,
practice locally in Western North Carolina.
Of the 783 MAHEC graduates with available data,
serve in rural or partially rural areas.
50% of our total graduates practice in the state of North Carolina.
41% of our total graduates practice locally in Western North Carolina.
29% of our total graduates serve in rural or partially rural areas.
Creating
4,039 jobs locally in Western North Carolina and
965 jobs in other areas of the state.
Generating
$ 668 million in local economic output for Western North Carolina and
$ 160 million in economic output for other areas of the state.
Above data includes only graduates whose employment status could be located.
*The AMA defines “output” as direct (medical revenues, jobs/wages and salaries created by the physician, and taxes paid) and indirect (supplies/equipment purchased by physicians, practice administrative services, cleaning/property maintenance services, and clinical and laboratory services) benefits.
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
MAHEC is committed to inspiring and equipping the next generation of healthcare professionals and expanding access to care for all. Our vision is to create a healthier community in Western North Carolina and beyond.
Ben Frost
Symone Simmons