Psychiatry Residency
My name is Jay Kirby, and I am excited to be joining the team at MAHEC! I grew up in Greensboro, so I have lived in North Carolina pretty much my whole life. My journey into medicine began in middle school when I was diagnosed with leukemia. Going through chemotherapy treatment gave me a new perspective on life and sparked my passion for medicine. I earned my undergraduate degree from Virginia Tech studying medical biology, then came back to North Carolina for medical school at Campbell University.
Through my first years at Campbell, I thought that I would end up in internal medicine specializing in oncology, but my third-year psychiatry clerkship at Cherry Hospital changed my mind. I realized that I loved treating psychiatric disorders and seeing the difference that I could make in patients’ lives. After this, I knew that psychiatry is where I belong. Being a state hospital, Cherry saw the most severe pathology, which meant that the patients there were some of the most vulnerable to falling through the cracks in the healthcare system. Seeing this first-hand has inspired me to focus my career on being a bridge between psychiatric care and primary care medicine.
In my free time I enjoy hiking, playing board games, and reading science fiction books.
My name is Matthew Torres and I am from Raleigh, NC. I am excited to move to Asheville and begin at MAHEC psychiatry. I went to North Carolina State University for Human Biology. After college, I worked as a CNA and after that at a CRO in Cary, NC, before attending the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University.
I have always been drawn to the field of psychiatry since entering medical school as it was the one specialty that truly grabbed my interest and passion. I have a special interest in telepsychiatry and its implementation in emergency rooms and community-based psychiatry.
Outside of psychiatry, I spend my free time with my wife hiking, going to art galleries, listening to symphonies, spoiling our cat Willow, and exploring all the food/beer Asheville has to offer!
Hello! My name is Taylor Camiliere, and I am from Chandler, Arizona. I am very excited to be joining the MAHEC Psychiatry team and to be moving to Asheville, NC! I attended Arizona State University, where I received bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and psychology. After graduation, I worked in behavioral healthcare for 4 years before attending Midwestern University Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine. I have a broad range of interests in psychiatry including personality disorders, eating disorders, reproductive care, and neuromodulation.
Outside of academics, I spend most of my time adventuring outdoors or traveling with my husband and our two adorable yorkies, Rex and Macie. I also enjoy country-swing dancing, horseback-riding, and gardening.
Hi! My name is Mackenzie Chandler (she/her). I was born and raised in Cary, NC and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill majoring in Biology with minors in Chemistry and French. Before medical school, I worked as both a medical assistant for a Family Medicine practice and later as a Research Associate at RTI Health Solutions. For medical school, I attended the Lincoln Memorial University—DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine in Harrogate, TN where I developed a passion to work with people with psychiatric conditions.
I couldn’t be more excited to be joining the MAHEC community! It has been a long-held dream to become a MAHEC Psychiatry Resident and to learn from my colleagues and mentors within the MAHEC programs. The Asheville area has also held a special place in my heart since childhood when I would visit my great-grandfather’s tobacco farm in Burnsville where they raised 13 children. My father and his family still live on this land.
My husband and I are high-school sweethearts and now enjoy watching our toddler explore the newness of life and introducing him to the great outdoors – hiking, camping, and climbing and hopefully later-on ultimate frisbee, soccer and biking. We are looking forward to many happy years as a part of the Asheville community!
My name is Jordan Eidson, and I am a native of the Carolinas. I grew up in a small town called Leesville, SC before making my way up to Clemson University for undergrad, where I studied Bioengineering. Following my time at Clemson, I went straight into medical school at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine in Columbia, SC, and now I am excited to start the next part of my journey in Asheville!
My experiences thus far in psychiatry have been wonderful and have filled me with a passion to make a difference in my community. The relationships that I have been able to foster with patients are rewarding in their own right, and the impact that I have been able to make in their lives feeds my passion further. I am especially interested in caring for patients with treatment resistant conditions, and I am looking forward to seeing the impact that I can make on the communities that MAHEC serves.
Beyond psychiatry, I love to travel, hike, and explore with my wife. We also enjoy music, trying new foods, and spending time with our two wonderful cats, Wolfgang and Bertram.
Hello! My name is Ariana Morales, and I am a Queer, Puerto Rican, first-generation college student native to Greenville, SC. I am a lover of breakfast foods, my dog Dex, and of course psychiatry. For my educational career, I obtained a bachelor’s degree in microbiology and biomedicine from Clemson University, and shortly thereafter I attended the University of South Carolina School of Medicine Greenville for my medical degree. My choice to practice psychiatry comes from my fascination with the human condition and human connection as well as my passion for increasing accessibility to healthcare for marginalized populations. I believe one of life’s greatest gifts is to understand and be understood. I am passionate about diversity, equity, and inclusion, where my interests include mentorship and training in medical education and community service. My interests in the field of psychiatry include substance use disorders, personality disorders, and geriatrics. When I am not at work, you can find me at the park writing poetry, out for a run, crocheting, or singing along to my favorite Broadway tune.
I’m Carol, so excited to meet ya’ll! I’m from Charlotte, NC and did my undergraduate and medical studies at UNC Chapel Hill. Go Heels! My family is from Vietnam, I’m proud to be bilingual, and my mom makes the best egg rolls. For many years before medical school, my heart had already chosen psychiatry so it is an amazing opportunity to be serving the population in Western NC now as a resident at MAHEC. My goal as a physician is to bring mental health to where we need it most such as in rural, urban, and immigrant communities. When I am not daydreaming or working, you can find me in a coffee shop with a fruity pastry writing in a journal. I’m an amateur poet and (a very new) screenwriter, but chances are I’m just doodling the cool graffiti S that we all learned for some reason.
My name is Ony Uzor, and I am thrilled to be part of the psychiatry residency program at MAHEC-Asheville! I was born and raised in Colorado, spent middle school in Nigeria, my country of ancestral heritage, and moved to South Carolina during high school. I graduated from Clemson University in 2016 with a degree in Microbiology, and took a few years off to support my family, including my now 8 year-old daughter. I received my medical education at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine- Greenville.
My favorite hobbies include fitness training, reading philosophical literature, and enjoying the great outdoors with my family. As a native of the Rocky Mountain State, I absolutely love the Blue Ridge mountains and am excited to continue my medical training in the mountain area. After my transitional year, I hope to continue my training in psychiatry. In the meantime, when I’m not practicing medicine, you can find me road tripping with my favorite allies on the Blue Ridge Parkway, soaking up a good book in a local brewery, or hiking through the many trails that Asheville and the mountain area have to offer.
My name is Ellen, and I am originally from Smithfield, North Carolina. My great-grandmother lived in Asheville, and I have fond childhood memories of visiting her. I am thrilled to be returning to the area.
I attended East Carolina University for my undergraduate degrees in Biology and Philosophy. I stayed at ECU for my master’s degree in Biology. I continued on to study medicine at Brody School of Medicine. During my undergraduate years, I spent some time working for the Autism Society of North Carolina, which really fueled my interest in psychiatry.
I am married to a wonderful man who I met while I was obtaining my master’s degree. We have been inseparable ever since. We live with our two cats, Hagrid and Fat Severus. I started riding horses when I was seven years old, so in my spare time you can find me hanging out with my mare, Dodi, and my one eared rescue donkey, Flossy.
Hi! I’m Bryan Dobbs (he/him) and I am very excited to start my career in psychiatry at MAHEC. I grew up just outside of Charlotte in Concord, NC and lived there until I moved to New York City where I got my undergraduate degrees in neuroscience and music at NYU. After college, I continued to live in the city as I worked in clinical research and prepared to apply to medical school. While I loved my time in New York, I was happy to return home to attend medical school at UNC Chapel Hill. I was lucky enough to spend my third-year clinical rotations in Asheville and am looking forward to returning to the mountains for residency.
I went to medical school with the intention of becoming a psychiatrist and am happy to finally begin realizing that dream. My interest in psychiatry is rooted in my desire to understand and help people. There is something very special about someone sharing their story with you, and being able to then provide them with the tools to live their best life is such a rewarding position to hold.
In my free time I enjoy playing music, gardening, and cooking. I also love games of all kind, particularly board games and tabletop roleplaying games like D&D.
Hi there! My name is Clay, and I originally hail from Sylva, NC. While my entire family was born and raised here, I moved around in the Air Force for much of my childhood. It is an honor to return to Western NC at MAHEC and give back to the people who helped make me who I am today.
I attended Texas A&M University for undergraduate where I received my bachelor’s in civil engineering. However, it wasn’t long until I realized that I enjoyed the complexity of people and pursued a career in medicine instead! I went to medical school at Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel School of Osteopathic Medicine in Florida, and though the sunny weather and beaches were lovely, I ultimately couldn’t ignore the mountains calling me home.
Before medical school I was always fascinated with psychiatry. I believe our mental health is a precious resource – it’s what makes us truly “human” after all, and restoring that human experience is paramount. My interests include community mental health, marginalized/underserved communities, addiction psychiatry, interventional psychiatry, and those with severe mental illness. My goal is to always meet people where they are and treat every patient with dignity and respect.
In my spare time I can likely be spotted hiking around the mountains, being near water, spending time with family, exploring the city, trying new restaurants/eating in general, going to concerts, looking at weird art, playing instruments, watching crime documentaries, hanging out with my cat Carol, and buying way too many plants.
Greetings! My name is Matt Hooks (Matthew if you really must be formal, which I won’t hold against you). I am a WNC native, having spent the vast majority of my life in the Smoky Mountains. I was born and raised in Sylva, NC. I earned my undergraduate degree in psychology at UNC Chapel Hill. After which, I was first introduced to the world of behavioral health as a mental health technician in Waynesville, NC. During that time, I was blessed to be mentored and influenced by many wonderful human beings. They supported me through a master’s degree in clinical mental health counseling from Wake Forest that I earned while continuing to work full-time. It was these same fine folks that gave me more perspectives into caring for mental health than I could have asked for and ultimately pushed me towards medical school, which I attended LMU-DCOM for.
I am a collector of more hobbies than I care to count (photography, video games, philosophy, cinema, and cooking are some of the mainstays though), have an unending affection (and deep indebtedness to) the communities of WNC, and am a lover of parenthetical expressions (wherever I can fit them).
Having another opportunity to serve WNC through joining MAHEC is truly a dream come true, an ambition that I have held for many years. It is also a dream that I am doubly blessed to live out alongside my wife, who is joining MAHEC as an internal medicine resident. We are happy to be relocating to Asheville with our two cats, Artie and Wally (Arthur and Walter for those of you still feeling formal), and are looking forward to what adventure awaits.
My name is Anna Lowery, and I am from Mountain Home, Arkansas. I received my Bachelor of Science in Behavioral Sciences from the United States Air Force Academy, after which, I was commissioned into the Air Force. After several years on active duty, I continue to serve as a reservist. Ultimately, I decided to pursue a career in medicine and began that journey at Georgetown University where I completed a Master of Science in Physiology with an emphasis in Complementary & Alternative Medicine. While there, I had the incredible opportunity to work with the Kaplan Center for Integrative Medicine, which cemented my desire to treat every patient as a whole person. I began medical school at A.T. Still University, Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed my clinical training at the University of Missouri, School of Medicine in Columbia, Missouri. My professional interests include lifestyle medicine, integrative medicine, positive psychology, neuropsychiatry, and interventional psychiatry.
Outside of medicine, I love hiking, traveling, flying the occasional kite, and spending time with friends and family. I am excited to join the MAHEC family and live in this gorgeous area!
Hello everyone! My name is Eli Morey, and I am thrilled to be joining the MAHEC Psychiatry program in Asheville this summer! I grew up in a small town called Mousie, in deep Kentuckian Appalachia, an area not unlike WNC. I attended the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Central Kentucky and am eager to come back to the mountains for residency.
While I have many interests in behavioral health and psychiatry, I am particularly fascinated by the neuroscience underlying new interventional and neuromodulation therapies, as they relate to substance use and mood disorders.
When I’m not at work, I’m always outdoors or on the road. I love to hike and travel, as well as discovering new places to eat and drink with my significant other. I also enjoy cooking and trying to learn about different cultures’ cuisines, as well as other outdoor activities such as kayaking and fishing.
The Asheville area has always been one of my favorite areas to vacation with my family growing up. To get to live in such a place and contribute to the culture of MAHEC psychiatry feels like a dream come true!
My name is Mary Quaile, and I am excited to be joining the MAHEC team! I was born and raised in Pittsboro, NC on a small farm. I attended UNC Chapel Hill for undergrad where I studied cultural anthropology and first became fascinated with the range of human behavior. After college, I was accepted to be a MedServe Fellow, and I worked as a medical scribe at a rural health center in Western NC. I fell in love with the NC mountains and made friends for life in that community. I also learned much about rural and underserved healthcare that has become the foundation of my “why” in medicine. I attended medical school at East Carolina University. Originally, I planned on becoming a family doctor like the ones I admired during my work as a scribe, but over time my interest in the behavioral health side of family medicine evolved into a passion for a career in psychiatry. I am looking forward to exploring my interests in rural psychiatry, peripartum psychiatry, and first episode psychosis while training at MAHEC.
Outside of work, I am often at the rock-climbing gym with my husband, hiking Asheville’s trails, painting when the inspiration takes me, or snuggling with my cats.
Hi there! My name is Sarah Daabies and I am excited to be joining the Psychiatry program at MAHEC Asheville. I was born and raised in Florida where I completed my undergrad in sociology and pre-medical sciences at University of Central Florida. I moved to Knoxville, Tennessee to attend medical school at Lincoln Memorial University DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine. The fascinating interplay between physical, psychological, and social factors drew me to specialize in psychiatry.
While in medical school I completed a scholar year in Osteopathic Principles and Practice, and was a part of the National Area Health Education Center (AHEC) scholar program. I chose MAHEC due to its commitment to providing comprehensive community care.
As a Florida native, the beach will always hold a special place in my heart, but I have developed a deep love for the seasons and mountains that the Appalachian region has to offer. In my free time I enjoy hiking, paddle boarding, cooking, reading, and connecting with loved ones. I look forward to getting to know and serve the Asheville community!
Hi! I’m Tom Donnelly and I could not be more excited to be starting my career as a psychiatrist at MAHEC.
I am from Chester, a small city on the northern border of England and Wales. I moved to the U.S. in 2017 to live with my wife, who is from middle Tennessee, and for the last few years we have lived in Knoxville while I completed my medical training. Surprisingly, I have found a lot of similarities between the people and scenery of this southern Appalachian region and the part of the U.K. that I grew up in, which makes this part of America feel much more like home.
Prior to medicine, I wanted to be a mathematician or a physicist. I received an undergraduate degree in physics from the University of Warwick and completed my master’s degree in nuclear reactor physics at the University of Birmingham. Following this I worked as a physicist in the nuclear medicine department of an NHS cancer center near London. This is where I realized that if I wanted to truly help people, I needed to be a physician and not a physicist.
When I moved to America, I enrolled at a community college to start my medical school prerequisite classes. I completed these classes as part of (another) master’s degree at Vanderbilt University, where I was also working as a research analyst. When I began medical school at the University of Tennessee, I thought I would become a radiologist or neurologist. Again, I was wrong. I soon realized in my clinical years that my greatest asset, and what I enjoyed the most, was connecting with patients. I believe this skillset, my social upbringing and patience for people made it clear that I could have the biggest impact on patients as a psychiatrist.
My areas of interest in psychiatry include public health and access to mental healthcare as well as research interests in neuromodulation, which makes MAHEC an ideal place to work. Additionally, outside of the hospital, my wife and I enjoy taking our dog for walks in the mountains and overindulging at local restaurants, which also makes Asheville the perfect place to be!
Hi! I’m Joe Levey (he/him) and I’m from Sturgis, South Dakota. I’m excited to be joining the MAHEC team and to be part of a program that values compassionate, patient-centered care. I studied Biology at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln and attended medical school at the University of Nebraska Medical Center, where I found my passion for psychiatry through clinical experiences in addiction treatment and supporting medical student well-being.
I’m drawn to psychiatry by the opportunity to build strong therapeutic relationships and to understand the many factors that shape a person’s mental health. I’m especially interested in holistic approaches to care, including psychotherapy, social and environmental influences, and lifestyle psychiatry.
Outside of medicine, I enjoy road biking, hiking, camping, and spending time with my wife and our cat, Hugo. Getting the chance to live and train in North Carolina is a dream come true, and I’m looking forward to making the most of everything the area has to offer.
Originally from Boston, MA, I’ve called Charlotte, NC home since 2006. I completed my undergraduate studies at Fayetteville State University, where I majored in Psychology and minored in Biology, and went on to earn my medical degree from Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine in South Carolina. I'm excited to return to North Carolina for residency—especially to Asheville, a place I've enjoyed exploring over the years and look forward to calling home.
I’ve always believed truly caring for someone starts with understanding and supporting their mental health. I recognize how strongly a person’s well-being is influenced by their environment and community. Training at MAHEC offers a great opportunity to explore my passions in community psychiatry, interventional psychiatry, lifestyle psychiatry and sports psychiatry.
Outside of medicine, I’m usually outdoors hiking new trails, caring for my ever-growing plant collection, relaxing to jazz music, or chasing the next adventure—whether that’s a spontaneous road trip or trying something completely outside my comfort zone.
Hey Everyone! My name is Gustavo Panduro Vargas. I grew up in Hope Mills, NC, just outside of Fayetteville. I completed my undergraduate degree in Exercise and Sports Science at The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. During college, I worked as a CNA in both home-care and inpatient settings, including a surgical ICU. I continued working as a CNA during my gap year after graduation and stayed in the area to attend medical school at UNC Chapel Hill. I spent most of my third and fourth year clinical rotations in Asheville, and I’m thrilled to continue living and training in this community for residency.
Initially, I was drawn to Sports Medicine or PM&R due to my background, but I fell in love with psychiatry during my rotations. I'm deeply interested in hearing the lived experiences and narratives that shape each patient, and I have a particular passion for serving marginalized, underserved populations—especially Spanish-speaking patients.
In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my pets, working out, hiking, playing video games, and exploring new restaurants and breweries.
