Christine Bilbrey

christine.bilbrey@vtmednet.org

I absolutely adored the city of Burlington at first sight.  I’m originally from Texas and Colorado and have spent my entire life moving between the two places.  I’ve always appreciated the serenity of the mountains and the beauty of the seasons.  I graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder with a degree in Biochemistry and then moved back to Texas to attend medical school.  In college, I loved biochemistry and teaching general chemistry laboratory and almost declined the medical school offer at the last minute to get a Ph.D. I often have an indecisive nature and therefore contemplated for what seemed like ages about finding a career that could encompass my interests in biochemistry, pharmacology, psychiatry and philosophy.  I’m happy that I chose psychiatry and hope to eventually have a psychotherapy-oriented private practice as well as participate in psychopharmacology research.  I decided on UVM because of the friendly faculty and residents, comfortable atmosphere and beautiful scenery. I was certain that this was the best place for me and went with my intuition. 

Mark McGee

mark.mcgee@vtmednet.org

Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, I first moved to Vermont as an undergrad at UVM where I studied religion and philosophy.  After graduate study in counseling psychology in the Boston area, I returned to Vermont to work as a psychotherapist, first in southern Vermont at a residential treatment facility for adolescents, and then at the UVM Substance Abuse Treatment Center where I worked with opiate dependent patients.  While working at UVM, I completed the Post-bac premed program before matriculating to the UVM College of Medicine, where I graduated in 2008.

I am thrilled to be training in psychiatry at UVM/FAHC.  As a small program, we have the opportunity to work with and learn from clinical and research faculty in ways that are unimaginable at larger programs.  As such, the program can be highly responsive to the ever changing educational needs of trainees.  Although not required of residency trainees, research activities at UVM are many and varied and research faculty are actively exploring ways to maximized research opportunities for residents.

My clinical and research interests include substance abuse, neurobiology, computer based psychotherapy, and philosophy of psychiatry.  I plan on training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and hope to practice community-based family psychiatry upon completing training.

Outside of work, the good life for me involves spending time with my wife working on our 110 year old house, playing music, hanging out with friends, and getting outside with hiking, biking, camping, gardening, and telemark skiing topping our "cool things to do when you live in Vermont" list.

Laura Sponseller

laura.sponseller@vtmednet.org

I graduated from Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, and also have a Master’s of Divinity from Yale Divinity School.  Before studying medicine I taught English in Niigata, Japan, and studied in Nanjing, China.  I'm interested in PTSD and refugee mental health.  I enjoy the outdoors, so Burliington is a wonderful place to be.  A great part of doing residency training at Fletcher Allen/UVM is the continuity of care that occurs here, with one hospital system serving the region.  You have the opportunity to stay with patients and learn about their history and work with them over time, and really gain an understanding of the longitudinal course of a disease and the process of treatment and recovery.

Arvind Yekanath, MD

arvind.yekanath@vtmednet.org

PGY-II RESIDENTS

Alisson Richards, M.D

alisson.richards@vtmednet.org

I was born and raised in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas in a college town called Fayetteville.  I moved to Little Rock to attend medical school with my husband and two sons, and, after spending four years there, we decided to pursue residency somewhere other than a big city.  I scheduled three interviews in New England with the first here, and I knew immediately that Burlington was the right place for me and my family.  I ranked UVM first based on my interactions with the residents and attendings that I came into contact with in addition to the quality of life that can be enjoyed in Vermont. 

Outside of residency, I spend time with my children, hiking the hills, playing in the swimming holes and living life simply.  We were able to make the choice to live outside of Burlington, in the "country" without a long commute and I don't mind at all driving home through the mountains with Mt. Mansfield in the background.  I feel right at home in my residency program, enjoying the camaraderie of my fellow residents and being challenged by my attendings.

Jennifer Hall, D.O

jennifer.hall@vtmednet.org

I’m originally from Erie, PA.  I’m the youngest of our crew because I went straight from undergrad at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA to medical school at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM) in Erie, PA to residency.  I moved to the Burlington area because I really liked the residents in this program, Vermont is great, and my boyfriend works for Customs and Border Protection at the US-Canadian border.  I am a DO, Doctor of Osteopathy, which means I fulfilled all the core medical school requirements that are offered in Allopathic institutions plus I can do physical manipulation of the spine and extremities much like a chiropractor.  When I started medical school Psychiatry was not on my list of possible career options, but through my clinical years I really enjoyed the field and quickly became fascinated and intrigued by the people and pathology.  In my short career here, I’ve become interested in emergency and pain psychiatry with a specific interest in alternative medicine.  My ultimate goal is to incorporate my manipulation techniques that I have learned as a DO with acupuncture, traditional psychotherapy and psychopharmacology to treat depression and other mood disorders.  

Lari Young, M.D.

lari.young@vtmednet.org

I was born and raised in NC and moved to Boston in 1985. After college I worked for nearly a decade at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) developing and implementing a cardiovascular outcomes database.  I left MGH to obtain my masters degree in Evaluative Clinical Science at Dartmouth.  I also entered medical school there and soon after met my husband, Mike.  Shortly after we married, we re-located to Burlington, VT where I completed my medical training at UVM. My interest in psychiatry developed during my 3rd year clerkship and was strengthened during my 4th year. During my 4th year I developed an interest in chronic pain and was able to work on a research project with Dr. Magdalena Naylor comparing use of antidepressant and pain medications in patients with chronic pain utilizing TIVR (telephone interactive voice response system). My current career objective is to contribute to the evidenced-based approach to psychiatry, in particular the treatment of chronic pain. I hope to develop a clinical outcomes database to track patients and procedures that will help guide clinician decision-making and allow patients to participate in randomized clinical trials.

When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my husband, two small children, Lilly and Kaelan and puppy, Max. I am a food enthusiast and love to share home-cooked meals with family and friends. In my rare free time I enjoy gardening, rock climbing, snow shoeing and cross-country skiing.

subhadeep.barman@vtmednet.org

I grew up in India and went to medical school in Calcutta at one of the oldest medical schools in Asia. I became interested in psychiatry towards the end of medical school and spent about a year after graduation working in the specialty in both academic and community hospitals in India. I then decided to move to the UK to pursue training in psychiatry. I spent about three years there as a resident where I was exposed to most of the subspecialties in the field but developed a special interest in Consultation Liaison and Emergency Psychiatry. I wanted to consolidate my training experience and decided to pursue residency in the US. I wished to have some experience working in different health care systems and worked towards getting into an American program. I interviewed at various places but chose Vermont due to its balance of psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. I should also confess that I fell in love with Burlington when I interviewed and could not think of any other place I would rather be! 

Rebecca-Lynn Dolgin

Rebecca.Dolgin@vtmednet.org

Originally from Syosset, NY, I set out on a path to become a psychologist due to my unquenchable thirst for an understanding of the mind and behavior.  I was interested in the relationship between people's thoughts, life situations, actions, and health.  I was drawn to pursuing a career in psychology where I could use an in depth understanding of each patient's mind and current life situation to help them figure out the ways in which they might have diverged from their path of wellness and to help re-direct them on their path towards peace of mind and body.    It was only after my second year at Washington University in St. Louis that I realized that in order to more positively affect people's lives in the ways I envisioned, I needed to supplement a thorough understanding of the mind with a deep understanding of the body.  At that juncture, I began the path towards a career in medicine.  After medical school at Tufts, I entered an internship in Internal Medicine at Fletcher Allen, thinking that Primary Care medicine would be an ideal setting for me to learn about and practice the science of medicine as well as the art of its application to each patient (and, it was).  During my year of Internal Medicine, I learned a tremendous amount about physiology and caring for patients; however, I have recently chosen to switch into a Psychiatry residency.  I am interested in shifting my focus towards delving deeper into the mind of each patient and using that deeper understanding of each person to help them create an optimal emotional, physical, and spiritual life experience.  I intend to continue to use the tremendous amount of medicine I have learned in the last year as well as the tremendous array of resources I have been blessed with to guide each patient towards their own path of deep healing. 

On a lighter note, I love anything related to the outdoors as well as African Music.

PGY-III RESIDENTS

Karl Papineau, M.D. (PGY-III) 
karl.papineau@vtmednet.org

One of the most fortunate events of my life in the recent years, in addition to the birth of my daughter, is to find myself studying psychiatry. When I was a veterinarian, I wished to go beyond the biological aspect of my work and expand into the psychological issues that affected the animal owners I was meeting. That is mostly why I went back to school to complete my MD and later, after a short visit into another medical specialty, into psychiatry. I truly enjoy the team spirit amongst residents in this program, our passion for learning about this fascinating discipline and our contacts with the faculty. I believe that to be a helpful psychiatrist, one must also be in balance in his/her life. Apart from clinical and didactic activities, what is left I spend with my wife and young daughter. I feel privileged to learn my specialty in this program with wonderful people and in such a beautiful environment.

Erin Kelly, M.D. (PGY-III)
erin.kelly@vtmednet.org

I was born and raised in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  I received my BSCH in Psychology from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario, where I first became interested in the complexities of the mind.  I then decided to receive my medical degree and travel around Europe while doing it, graduating from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, located in the ever vibrant city of Dublin. 

I am interested in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, particularly mood and anxiety disorders.  I am also interested in women’s mental health and perinatal psychiatric illness. This program attracted me because there was an obvious camaraderie amongst the residents and the attendings, as well as a strong focus on education as well as life outside of the hospital.  The city of Burlington also attracted me as it is a small but cosmopolitan city with incredibly friendly, relaxed people and many activities always at your fingertips.  Not to mention it is close to home!

My personal interests include spending time with family and close friends, dance of all kinds, yoga, Pilates, music, good wine, great food, and travel.

Keith Berner, M.D. (PGY-III)

keith.berner@vtmednet.org

I was born and raised in the urbane setting of Russellville, AR, on the edge of the Ozarks.  Despite my proclivity for a slightly more erythematous neck than most, I usually do not go shoeless in public places or enter into relationships with people that are a little closer to me on the ole' family tree than most geneticists would be comfortable (but I do have a tendency to let out a "y'all" every now and then).  I interviewed all over the country, and only showed up here on a whim, but to my surprise I found that it offered the best combination of good training, collegial atmosphere, and opportunities to live a full life outside of my job.  Without making it too cerebral, I just felt right with this program, and I ranked here first.  After my time here thus far, I can certainly say that my decision was correct.  It doesn't hurt that they have a great Child and Adolescent Psych department with very active research, and this year, I have been able to enter into some research with them.  My other academic interests include psychotherapy and the factors involved in the development of both mental health and mental illness.

In my spare time, I enjoy spending time outdoors in whatever way possible.  I learned to cross-country ski last winter, so now I can show these East Coast skiers just how quickly Arkansans can fall down.  I play guitar and mandolin and have a tendency to read rather incessantly.  My major daily entertainment is cooking dinners with my wife for friends. I work hard, but I have found that I have still been able to keep up with having plenty of fun.  I occasionally manage to get in a little studying too.

Jesse Ritvo, M.D. (PGY-III)

jesse.ritvo@vtmednet.org

I grew up in Montpelier, VT, and attended public schools there.  Two years after graduating from Harvard College, I started my premedical studies through the Goucher College Post-Baccalaureate Program.  Subsequently, I participated in the Brown-Dartmouth Medical Program, graduating from Brown Medical School in 2006.  I started as a Family Medicine resident here at Fletcher Allen Health Care, and although I was very fond of my colleagues in that department, I realized near the end of internship year that I had made a mistake in choosing primary care as a career.  Happily for me, I was able to transfer in as a second-year Psychiatry resident.  I love my new position.  We have a phenomenal residency program here and I feel very grateful to be part of it.  Eventually I plan to practice in the Montpelier environs.  During my free time, I practice yoga and spend as much time as possible outdoors. Feel free to ask me about residency or about the Boston Celtics.

Trevor Melamed, M.D. (PGY-III) 
trevor.melamed@vtmednet.org

I am originally from NJ, but always loved the mountains. I was an undergrad at UVM and fell in love with psychology first through reading Carl Jung and eastern views on mindfulness. I spent some of my senior year completing research projects in substance abuse and learning (specifically working with the learning and short-term memory). So, I decided to pursue a career in medicine which led me to Saba University School of Medicine (a Caribbean medical school). I had great experience learning about a new culture while studying medicine, but I wanted to move back to the Northeast for residency. I enjoy hiking, camping, arts, and music which make Vermont a great place to live.

In my tenure at Fletcher Allen I have noticed that this program has many strengths.  I have had the opportunity to learn a lot about psychopathology, psychopharmacology, and psychotherapy. There are also research opportunities for those that are inclined.

PGY-IV RESIDENTS

Jeremiah Dickerson, M.D. (PGY-IV)

jeremiah.dickerson@vtmednet.org

I grew up in Watkins Glen, NY, a small village in the Finger Lakes region in Upstate NY.  For college, I majored in biology with minors in both studio art and sociology. Throughout college and medical school in Syracuse, NY, my interests remained varied as I enjoyed both science and the humanities, dabbling in theater, arts, and research.  In medical school, I had a difficult time narrowing my career path, but my interests in adolescent medicine and child mental health, along with interests outside of the medical world, led me to consider psychiatry.  It seems to be a discipline that encompasses aspects of both hard science and the humanities into a stimulating, intimate, and very intriguing field of study.

For residency, I interviewed all over the country, and found that my fit with the UVM/Fletcher Allen program was practically ideal. I wanted to be in a place where I would be the most content, both personally and educationally.  Vermont, with its progressive culture and fantastic outdoor opportunities, has proved to be a great place to live. Also, the sense of community within our program is truly invaluable, especially given that psychiatry can be so emotionally taxing.  I am able to pursue my clinical interests of adolescent psychiatry, gender issues, psychodynamic psychotherapy, psychotic disorders, and suicide, while enjoying theatre, Indie film, travel, live music, painting, hiking, and Lake Champlain.  After completing my PGY-IV, I plan to pursue a child and adolescent psychiatry fellowship.

W. Allen Schaffer, M.D. (PGY-IV) 

william.schaffer@vtmednet.org

I am a graduate of the University of Washington, Seattle.  I trained and practiced internal medicine in the South, and then worked in Connecticut as a clinical leader and medical executive.  I have also served on clinical faculty at the University of Louisville and the University of Connecticut Schools of Medicine.

Training in the UVM Psychiatry Residency is proving to be one of the best experiences in my career.  Five years ago I began to plan a transition into Psychiatry and surveyed programs to identify residencies where I could obtain the best clinical training.  I chose UVM over other programs, for reasons that you will see first hand during your visit.  My clinical interests include psychosomatic medicine, addiction psychiatry, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and medical education.

My wife, Katie, and I enjoy our evening life of cooking (local foods, mostly), music, theater, Indie cinema, and books.  Our weekend life includes many outdoor and family activities in and around this remarkable community.   Personal interests include reading, kayaking, raising chickens, seasonal cooking, traditional food smoking and salting, twentieth century opera, and firewood.

 RECENT GRADUATES:

  

2007 GRADUATES* / TRANSFERS	MEDICAL SCHOOL/ GRADUATION YEAR	PRACTICE/EDUCATION AFTER GRADUATION
Pam Fadness, MD*	SUNY Syracuse, 1990	Private practice in Burlington, Vermont
Liz Pontzer, MD*	SUNY Stony Brook, 2002	Stone House Associates, Burlington Vermont
Ted Shopov, MD*	Finch University, 2003	Practicing in Massachusetts
Derek Vines, MD*	East Tennessee State Univ., 2003	Howard Center for Human Services in Burlington, Vermont