Psychiatry
Important Update!
It is now official that Atrium Health and Wake Forest Baptist have merged and that part of this merger will be the establishment of the first medical school in Charlotte. We are thrilled to be on the forefront of establishing a new medical school and are excited about the academic possibilities this will create for our faculty and residents.
See here for more details.
Message from our Program Director
Lynneice Bowen, MD
Director of Residency Education
Welcome to the Sandra and Leon Levine Adult Psychiatry Residency Program at Atrium Health - Carolinas Medical Center!
Humans are amazing. Our minds are a source of incredible potential. We can create and perceive beauty, solve problems, use written communication, delay gratification, demonstrate altruism, seek meaning and connection to something larger than ourselves. One in eight people in our world live with a mental disorder that impairs their abilities to fulfill their life roles. As psychiatrists we have a key role to play in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness, but also in the promotion of mental health. The World Health Organization defines mental health a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.
Our training environment is a special and unique place. We are fortunate to attract residents and faculty who believe in our mission and the mission of Atrium Health, “to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing – for all.” Whether you see yourself as future Psychopharmacologist, Interventionalist, Hospitalist, or Generalist, we offer the opportunity to train in an organization that strives to develop a transformative, clinically integrated, and sustainable system of high-quality, patient- and family- centered care. If you are someone who enjoys working one-on-one with an attending or being in a small seminar for didactic learning but also wants to have a vast range of clinical experience, then we are the program for you. We are looking for people who are curious and eager to learn all aspects of psychiatry and take the next steps in honing their unique talents and aptitudes for the role they will fill in promoting recovery and health in the community.
We look forward to meeting all who are interested in our program!
Where You Will Train
Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center
Residents will train at Atrium Health Carolinas Medical Center, including Atrium Health’s free-standing, dedicated psychiatric emergency room, the only one of its kind in the Charlotte region. This ER is for children, adolescents and adults experiencing a mental health crisis and is located at Atrium Health Behavioral Health, a facility of Carolinas Medical Center. Our residents also work closely with medical students as we are the primary site for The University of North Carolina School of Medicine - Charlotte campus.
Learn moreWhat Residents are Saying About the Psychiatry Residency Program
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“I chose CMC because it is the perfect combination of a small class size in a large medical system. I was especially drawn to the large and diverse patient population that CMC serves. The cherry on top was the city of Charlotte itself- a great city with plenty of surrounding nature for the best of both worlds!”
Tim Bilal, DO
Class of 2026
Undergrad: University of Michigan
Medical School: Kansas City University -
“I always knew I wanted to go into Psychiatry, but I didn’t know what kind of residency program I wanted. It wasn’t until I started researching programs until CMC came up on my radar, and I instantly was attracted to the size of the program, the community, and the opportunities. When I did a rotation here, I instantly felt comfortable and knew this was somewhere I could learn to grow to be the best physician and psychiatrist I can be. I truly appreciate not only how close all the residents are, but also personal relationships you can form with attendings. The program has the best of both worlds in terms of having a community feel but with the added benefit of existing within a larger academic center. The opportunities are endless, and you truly have the availability to pursue what you’re interested in, while also being exposed to every subspeciality of psychiatry. Finally, Charlotte itself is a beautiful, bustling city and perfect for anyone!”
Devan Baijal, DO
Class of 2027
Undergrad: University of Rochester
Medical School: Kansas City University -
“I chose CMC because during my 4th year rotation here, it felt like home. All the physicians are wonderful teachers and inspiring clinicians. The patient population we serve in Charlotte is vast and diverse- lending itself to the most unique learning opportunities. I’ve felt so supported here I moment I started, and I’ve been so impressed with every aspect with this program. The city of Charlotte is an amazing place to live with so much to do. I really felt like this program would allow me to grow into the best version of myself!”
Holly Staroba, DO
Class of 2028
Undergrad: University of NC – Wilmington
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial University
Meet the Team
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James C. Rachal, MDChairman, Medical Director, Behavioral Health Charlotte
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Lynneice Bowen, MDDirector of Residency Education
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Rodney A. Villanueva, MDAssociate Director of Residency Education
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Tim Bilal, DOChief Resident, 2025-2026 Academic Year
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Cheyenne Hammond, MDChief Resident, 2025-2026 Academic Year
With a nationally and internationally-renowned team of physicians in psychiatry who serve as faculty, our residents have access to a breadth of experience and knowledge in the program. See the full list of physicians and their specialties here.
Program Curriculum
Our residents train in an environment of self-motivated, inclusive professionals who are committed to providing exceptional behavioral health care to all of their patients. In the program, residents will train with faculty in a wide range of behavioral health presentations with the goal of treating patients with empathy and modern psychiatry techniques. Residents may also participate in educating our communities about mental illness and substance use disorders, encouraging early mental health screenings and wellness. Clinically, our residents benefit from training in a large healthcare system and have unique experiences in the following:
- Telepsychiatry
- First Break Psychosis Program
- Assertive Community Treatment Team
- Interventional Psychiatry (ECT, TMS, Esketamine, VNS Management)
- Maternal Wellness/Perinatal Psychiatry
- Forensics
- College Mental Health
Application Criteria
The following is a list of requirements for our program:
- Completed Application through ERAS
- National Resident Match Program (NRMP) number
- Personal Statement
- Three current letters of recommendation (within the year)
- USMLE and/or COMLEX transcripts - (must pass Step 1 and Step 2 CK and CS on first attempt)
- USA Citizenship, Permanent Resident status or J-1
- 6 months of U.S. clinical experience
- ECFMG certificate (IMGs only)
- Our program's own supplemental application
Our program’s own supplemental application that will be requested after receipt of your ERAS
application.
Helpful Links
Partial hospitalization for behavioral health can be a "bridge" between inpatient and outpatient care. Residents will learn how to care for patients that need care for mental illness or a substance use disorder that may be more intensive than intermittent therapy but less intensive than the 24-hour care the patient would receive staying in the hospital.
The only one of its kind in North Carolina. Providing care in a psychiatric emergency is a special skill that stands apart from providing services an in inpatient or outpatient setting. Learning to do that in a psychiatric emergency is a special experience that you can only have here at Atrium Health if you are planning on doing residency in the Carolinas.
Residents may select from the following electives during their time in the program:
| PGY2 and PGY4 Month Long Electives | PGY3 Longitudinal Electives |
| Reproductive Psychiatry | Psycho-Oncology |
| Psychopharmacology | Residential Treatment |
| Hospital Administration | Private Practice |
| Private Practice | Psychotherapy Enhanced Caseload |
| Rural Psychiatry | Child Consults |
| Child Partial | Child Partial |
| Research | BH Davidson Outpatient |
| Medical Student Education | VA Psychology Services |
| Addiction Psychiatry | Extended First Break Clinic |
| Forensic Psychiatry | |
| Eating Disorders |
Away electives are allowed and we encourage residents to create new electives to meet their educational needs if they have not already been established.
Residents will have a variety of experiences in each of their years in the program, where they will rotate through several Atrium Health facilities in the Charlotte region.
Learn moreIn addition to the many educational and career benefits of the Psychiatry Program, residents will receive financial benefits as well.
Learn more