Congratulations to the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital Resident and Fellow Class of 2022!

Resident & Fellow Graduation – Class of 2022

Graduates of the UPMC Western Psychiatric Hospital (WPH) residency training program gathered with friends, family, loved ones, and supporters at the Pitt University Club on June 16, 2022. The ceremony was livestreamed for those who could not attend in person. 

Michael Travis, MD (Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Senior Director for Postgraduate Physician Training) opened the ceremony remarking, “As I have watched each of our soon-to-be graduates cope with the transition into residency, and the vicissitudes of life as a training physician, and over the last almost two and a half years, stepping up in the most admirable ways possible during the pandemic—I am continually reminded that an institution is only as good as the people that work within it. This graduating class represents the best attributes of Western Psychiatric Hospital.”

David Lewis, MD (Chair, Department of Psychiatry), Kenneth Nash, MD (Chief of Clinical Services, WPH), Deborah Brodine (President, WPH), and Camelia Herisko (Chief Nursing Officer & Vice President, Operations and Patient Care Services, WPH), additionally offered congratulations and well-wishes to the graduating class.

Below are the awards and honors presented at the 2022 graduation ceremony. 

2022 Psychiatry Student Interest Group Exemplary Service Award for Excellence in Teaching

  • Faculty: Neeta Shenai, MD (Assistant Professor of Psychiatry)
  • Resident: Amy O’Donnell, MD (PGY2)

The class of 2022 presented the following awards to key faculty, staff and groups in honor of their extraordinary contributions to the medical training of WPH’s residents and fellows. 

2022 Residency Training Awards

  • Sarah Elizabeth Wolfe Exemplary Teaching Service Award for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Camila Aponte, MD
  • WPH Exemplary Teaching Service Award for Adult Faculty: Holly Swartz, MD
  • WPH Exemplary Teaching Service Award for Geriatric Faculty: Tejal Bhojak, MD
  • WPH Exemplary Teaching Service Award for Volunteer Faculty: Patrick Driscoll, MD
  • WPH Exemplary Teaching Service Award for Non-Faculty Staff: Kimberly Kirchner, C-Tagme
  • WPH Exemplary Teaching Service Award for Outpatient Services: WPH Bellefield Clinic
  • WPH Exemplary Teaching Service Award for Special Services: WPH Custodial Staff
  • WPH Exemplary Teaching Service Award for Inpatient Services: WPH Inpatient Clinical Pharmacy Team

Congratulations to all!