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As an LRH psychiatry resident you will be mentored to develop the clinical skills and research tools necessary to be an active member of psychiatry teams and initiatives. During your psychiatry residency training, you will acquire the knowledge and skills to practice efficient, contemporary evidence-based clinical care, including neuromodulation therapies.
LRH psychiatry residents will be trained by a diverse group of experienced faculty and will provide psychiatric care in our new state-of-the-art Behavioral Health and Wellness Center. You will train in multiple subspecialties of the field of psychiatry, including Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry, Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry, Emergency Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry and Community Psychiatry. Psychiatry residents will be integral members of teams in multiple settings (i.e., inpatient, outpatient, emergency, community, research etc.), and will be mentored to explore and lead initiatives in their niche areas!
Our robust research division at Lakeland Regional Health offers residents opportunities to be immersed in ongoing research studies, while supporting the development of their own research ideas, and publications. Lakeland Regional Health has a long and storied legacy of community empowerment through strengthening healthcare literacy and mental health access of the population. The psychiatry faculty in LRH’s Department of Behavioral Health are involved in mental health promotion initiatives in the Lakeland region, nationally and internationally. As an LRH resident, you will join faculty in these activities in the process learning to lead your own mental health promotion initiatives.
Lakeland Regional Health is an award-winning, tertiary level, multidisciplinary, not-for-profit health care system that has provided stellar health care to the population of Central Florida for over 100 years. Its mission to “Put People at the Heart of all We Do” has translated to a caring culture for team members built on employee wellness.
Lakeland Regional Health is one of Forbes Best-in-State Employers for 2022. We aim to remain thriving workplace for everyone on our team. We are excited to welcome our residents into our organization and support their personal and professional growth.
Program Director, Psychiatry Residency Training Program
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Dr. Alleyne is a Clinical Associate Professor at Nova Southeastern University. She previously served as the Associate Training Director for the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Florida. Dr. Alleyne has received numerous awards for clinical and scholarly excellence, teaching and research, and holds several leadership positions. She is a sitting member of the Mentorship and Neuroscience committees of the American Association of Psychiatry Residency Training Directors and serves as a member of the Council of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, its school’s committee, and as a reviewer for the academy’s journal. Her primary clinical and research interest include the development of mental health services to address mental health care disparities, and mentorship in medicine. Dr. Alleyne’s most recent research publications address the impact of the COVID-19 virus on populations with mental illness.
As your faculty leaders in psychiatry, we are committed to your wellness and well-being! The psychiatry residency program at LRH has been designed so that all rotation sites are within a five-mile radius. The central location of the city of Lakeland (equidistant from Tampa and Orlando) offers LRH psychiatry residents the benefits of living in the easy-going city of lakes and parks, known for a lower cost of living, peaceful family friendly neighborhoods, nature trails, with easy access to big city life and the beaches.
We warmly welcome you to explore our psychiatry training program and look forward to the potential that your passion for psychiatry brings to our field!
Click here to view – Clinical Rotations at a Glance – Post Graduate Year 1.pdf
Inpatient Psychiatry-During their six-month experience, psychiatry residents will be exposed to a wide variety of psychopathology. Residents will assume progressive responsibility for the management of adult psychiatric patients under the supervision of ABPN certified Psychiatrists. Psychiatry residents will be introduced to neuromodulation therapies (electroconvulsive therapy) and their utility in psychiatric care. Residents will also gain an understanding of the legal proceedings surrounding patient’s psychiatric commitment status through participation in court proceedings on the inpatient psychiatry unit.
Internal Medicine– Psychiatry residents will assume the role of Internal Medicine interns during this 4-month Internal Medicine rotation. They will participate in the management of patients with a diverse range of acute and chronic nonpsychiatric diseases. Residents will also gain awareness of the interplay between social determinants of health and the development of chronic noncommunicable diseases and mental illness. PGY1 psychiatry residents will also be exposed to the psychiatric presentations and sequalae of medical illness and the medical complications of psychotropic treatments.
Neurology– This experience will include two months (one-month inpatient and one-month outpatient) of supervised clinical experience in the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neurological disorders/conditions. Residents will be exposed to the diagnosis and management of neurological disorders including neurocognitive disorders. During this experience, residents will gain hands-on experience with the diagnosis and treatment of these diseases and conditions as they relate to the practice of psychiatry.
Click here to view – Clinical Rotations at a Glance – Post Graduate Year 2.pdf
Geriatric Psychiatry– This one-month educational experience will include diagnosis and management of mental disorders in elderly patients with coexisting medical disorders; diagnosis and management of mood and psychotic disorders in the elderly, management of the cognitive component of neurodegenerative disorders; basic neuropsychological testing of cognitive functioning in the elderly; and management of drug interactions in this population.
Addiction Psychiatry– Residents will complete a three-month inpatient addiction psychiatry experience, which includes the evaluation and clinical management of patients with substance use disorders and dual diagnoses. PGY2 residents will gain clinical experience with treatment modalities in Addiction Psychiatry including detoxification, overdose management, and maintenance pharmacotherapy. Additionally, residents will gain experience in individual and group psychotherapies used in the treatment of addiction disorders, including motivational interviewing and supportive group therapy inclusive of LRH’s Peer Recovery Specialists.
Consultation Liaison Psychiatry– The resident experience in consult-liaison (CL) psychiatry will include five months in which residents provide CL psychiatry services under faculty supervision to other medical and surgical services (e.g. Trauma ICU, Obstetrics, General Medicine and others). As residents progress in their knowledge and skills on this rotation, they will have the opportunity to assume a leadership role on the consultation-liaison (CL) psychiatry team. Senior residents on the rotation will (under attending supervision) prepare and conduct in-service lectures to medical students and residents of other disciplines on pertinent areas in CL psychiatry.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Inpatient)- Residents on this one-month rotation will be supervised by ABPN board certified child and adolescent psychiatrists. Residents will participate in evaluating and treating a variety of diagnoses in male and female adolescent clients, using a variety of pharmacological and psychological treatment modalities. PGY2 residents will also have the opportunity to co-lead family meetings with attending psychiatrist support.
Forensic Psychiatry -Residents on the one-month forensic psychiatry rotation will evaluate patients’ potential to harm themselves or others, appropriateness for commitment, decisional capacity, and competency of adults and adolescents, under the supervision of a triple board-certified forensic psychiatrist. They will also gain an understanding of the legal proceedings surrounding the patients’ psychiatric commitment status, and other aspects of psychiatry and the law through participating in the weekly in-person court proceedings on the inpatient psychiatry rotation.
Emergency Psychiatry– This one-month rotation will be conducted in a supervised emergency psychiatric service including crisis evaluation and triaging of psychiatric patients in the LRH emergency department, ranked to be one of the busiest emergency rooms in the country. Residents will provide care as part of the psychiatry team. They will also be introduced to the role of LRH’s Peer Recovery Specialists and other nontraditional team members who are essential to successful patient outcomes.
Community Psychiatry– This one-month educational experience will allow residents the opportunity to care for a cohort of patients with persistent, chronic, severe mental illness who are served across diverse treatment settings. This experience will focus on the underserved patient population located in community-based outpatient clinics as well as other community-based settings in Polk County. Lakeland Regional Health psychiatry residents will deliver psychiatric care in the Family Medicine Clinic using the Collaborative Care Model and provide psychoeducation to various high-risk populations through the Polk County Medical Center (including pregnant women). The LRH outpatient health clinics serves an indigent population with approximately 25% of patients without insurance. During this rotation, residents will learn about the influence of the social determinants of health on mental health and treatment outcomes. They will also use the community resources and services to assist with patient care planning as well consulting and working collaboratively with case managers, crisis teams, and other mental health professionals.
Click here to view – Clinical Rotations at a Glance – Post Graduate Year 3.pdf
Third year residents will be 100% outpatient with increasing opportunities for autonomy and supervisory roles in the clinic setting. PGY-3 residents will have two months equivalent experience of managing children and adolescents in the outpatient setting, and ten months of a longitudinal adult psychiatry outpatient educational experience. They will continue to perform and master psychiatric assessments under appropriate supervision. Residents will develop advanced technical skills necessary to perform more complex procedures in outpatient treatment. Residents will also select and utilize appropriate diagnostic evaluation tools, make treatment recommendations, and provide ongoing management for common and complex psychiatric disorders utilizing psychotherapy and psychopharmacology.
Learning and understanding the importance of the therapeutic alliance and developing long-term relationships with their patients is a major goal of the PGY-3 year. Third-year trainees are afforded greater autonomy in their assessment and treatment of patients. Residents develop psychotherapy skills through both didactics and case supervision.
Trainees build upon their psychopharmacology skills with more advanced didactics and exposure to neuromodulation interventions (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) as part of their training. Residents also learn to communicate effectively with children and their families and the importance of multi-modal assessment. By the end of the third year, Lakeland Regional Health psychiatry residents will be capable of managing the full spectrum of psychiatric disorders with both biological and psychotherapeutic modalities. Residents will demonstrate continued sophistication in the acquisition of knowledge and skills as well as increasing ability to function autonomously in evaluating patient problems and developing a treatment plan. By the end of the PG-3 year, residents should be capable of assuming the role of clinical chief and co-lead selected services under faculty supervision.
Click here to view – Clinical Rotations at a Glance – Post Graduate Year 4.pdf
The PGY 4 level is primarily an outpatient year except for resident selected elective inpatient rotations. Residents in the fourth post-graduate year assume an increased level of responsibility as the chief or senior resident on selected services. Residents at this level will assume greater administrative responsibilities and pursue electives in areas of sub specialization. The senior resident will apply a full range of psychiatric treatments and will continue to develop an individual style of practice fostered by opportunities for integrated care in the wider LRH medical community.
The fourth year is one of senior leadership and the resident should be able to assume responsibility for participating in the organization of their services and supervision of junior residents and medical students. The PGY4 psychiatry resident will be afforded several leadership opportunities and will be mentored on presentations for conferences and research activities. During the final year of training, the LRH psychiatry resident will be provided the opportunity to develop the mature ethical, judgment, and clinical skills needed for independent practice. The PGY4 should will understand the role of the practitioner in an integrated health care delivery system and be aware of the issues in health care management facing patients and healthcare teams.
Participation in elective opportunities will further allow Lakeland Regional Health PGY4 psychiatry residents to explore and develop their career niche. The Lakeland Regional Health Psychiatry Residency Program offers electives in Interventional Psychiatry, Administrative Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Addiction Psychiatry and Community Psychiatry. PGY-4 residents will also be offered the opportunity to customize their training experience through the selection/creation of electives in their area(s) interest.
Click here to view – Didactics at a Glance – Post Graduate Year 1.pdf
The PGY1 Year Didactics will begin with the Psychiatry ABC – Introduction to Psychiatry Residency course –The Introduction to Psychiatry Residency course will occur once weekly for 12 sessions. Each session is one-hour in duration and includes the program director and senior faculty members who will lead interactive, case-based discussions on the essential elements of practicing psychiatry, including self-care, lifelong learning skills, professionalism, psychiatric interviewing, documentation, understanding laws and legal documents governing psychiatric care and the management of crises in psychiatry. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature.
The Clinical Interviewing Seminar follows the Psychiatry ABC – Introduction to Psychiatry Residency course for 12 weeks (Each session one-hour) and will be led by the training director and senior faculty members. Psychiatric interviewing techniques will be demonstrated by experienced psychiatrists, utilizing diverse patient cases from the inpatient setting. Each patient interview will be followed by a discussion of the various interviewing techniques, along with discourse around the verbal and nonverbal patient responses to the interviewer and the associated inferences. Each PGY-1 resident will then complete an observed patient interview with confidential constructive feedback from the program director or associate training director. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature.
The Neuroscience and Psychopathology Seminar will occur every 2 weeks for the entire PGY1 year. Each one-hour session covers the neuroscience and pathophysiology of all major psychopathologies in psychiatry, limiting focus on those covered in other seminars (psychiatric conditions presenting in childhood, consultation-liaison, addiction psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry). It will reference the content guide of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology’s General Psychiatry board certification examination and provide references to supporting material from key textbooks and the scientific literature. The seminar will utilize a combination of learning techniques including active resident participation, clinical cases and multiple-choice questions. Each didactic session will commence with a brief review of the prior session, offering the opportunity for residents to review and crystalize knowledge.
The Psychopharmacology Seminar will occur every 2 weeks for the entire PGY1 year and complements topics covered in the Neuroscience and Psychopathology Seminar. It will be led by faculty members who practice across both the inpatient and outpatient settings. The didactic seminar will cover psychopharmacological treatment of all major psychopathologies in psychiatry, limiting focus on those covered in other seminars (psychiatric conditions presenting in childhood, consultation-liaison, addiction psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry). It will reference the content guide of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology’s General Psychiatry board certification examination and provide supporting reading from reference text and the scientific literature. The seminar will utilize a combination of learning techniques including active resident participation, clinical cases and multiple-choice questions. Each didactic session will commence with a brief review of the prior session, offering the opportunity for residents to review and crystalize knowledge.
Click here to view – Didactics at a Glance – Post Graduate Year 2.pdf
The Consultation-Liaison (CL) Seminar will occur once weekly for 12 sessions. During the one-hour sessions, residents will be instructed on the laws and legal documents governing patients’ hospitalization and disposition, providing team-based psychiatric consultation to other specialties and the adaptations of psychiatric interventions based on patients’ medical comorbidities and demographics (e.g. age). Additionally, the seminar will cover the psychopathologies frequently identified in CL service and evidence-based treatment guidelines. The CL seminar will be taught utilizing clinical cases and multiple-choice questions to support the crystallization of knowledge. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature.
The Addiction Psychiatry Seminar will occur once weekly for 20 sessions. During the one-hour sessions, residents will be taught to identify, evaluate, and treat addiction disorders. Residents will also learn evidence-based pharmacological and psychological treatments for patients with addiction disorders. The seminar series will be taught utilizing clinical cases and multiple-choice questions. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature.
The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Seminar will occur once weekly for 20 sessions. During the one-hour sessions, residents will explore typical and atypical child and adolescent psychological development. Residents will be introduced to the psychiatric evaluation of children and adolescents. Residents will be taught the skills to evaluate and provide evidence-based treatment of psychopathologies commonly commencing in childhood and adolescence. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature and will utilize video clips, case-based learning, and multiple-choice questions.
The Psychotherapy Seminar will occur once weekly for 12 sessions. Residents will be introduced to key modalities of psychotherapy and the associated theorists. Clinical vignettes, de-identified cases, and video clips will be used to identify defense mechanisms, teach the psychotherapy techniques utilized in supportive psychotherapy, and introduce cognitive behavioral therapy. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature.
Click here to view – Didactics at a Glance – Post Graduate Year 3.pdf
PGY-3 didactics includes The Complex Psychopathology Seminar, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of complicated (including treatment-resistant) clinical cases in psychiatry. Treatment modalities for managing complex cases in psychiatry will be discussed in detail. Attendings and residents will then present de-identified cases utilizing evidence-based treatment guidelines and the scientific literature to develop treatment interventions. PGY-3 residents’ teamwork skills will be fostered through small group collaboration in developing treatment plans and rotating presentations within the larger group. This 22-session seminar (one-hour duration) will take place every 2 weeks and will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature.
Psychotherapy Seminars are also a part of the PGY-3 year whereby Senior faculty members and invited presenters provide a detailed review of the theoretical underpinnings and tools used in the practice of psychotherapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Motivational Interviewing to name a few. Residents will be introduced to evidence-based psychotherapy treatments, utilizing their clinical cases to guide the development of psychotherapy skills. Several teaching techniques will be used including analysis of clinical video clips and resident’s de-identified case summaries. This 22-session seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature and will take place every 2 weeks and will be one-hour in duration.
The Forensics Seminar in PGY-3 will be led by a board-certified forensic psychiatrist who will guide discussions on ethics and the intersection of psychiatry and the law utilizing readings from reference text and supporting scientific literature. The seminar leaders will review the ethical principles governing our field and the requirements of psychiatrists when interacting with the judicial system. It will also use case-based learning to discuss historical and landmark legal cases giving rise to the laws governing the practice of psychiatry. Additionally, the seminar will explore legal considerations for the culpability and prosecution of persons across the developmental spectrum with and without mental illness. There will be 6 one-hour weekly sessions.
The Geriatrics Seminar is also part of the required PGY-3 curriculum and will consist of lectures and case-based discussions on the psychiatric evaluation of the elderly. The impact of psychosocial changes on the mental health and cognition of aging populations will be explored. The seminar will explore clinical presentations of general psychopathology unique to elderly persons. Additionally, residents will be instructed on common psychopathologies presenting in the elderly and the diagnosis and treatment of these disorders. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature. There will be 6 one-hour weekly sessions.
PGY-3 year will serve as an introduction to Career Development through Seminar led by the Program Director, senior faculty members, and invited presenters. The Career Development Seminar will consist of didactic lectures, presentations and activities focused on professional development and leadership skills in psychiatry residents. Opportunities to practice leadership skills will be afforded through intradepartmental quality improvement and research projects, interdisciplinary peer collaboration and teaching, presentations in the community as well as regional and national meetings. Residents will also be exposed to various disciplines of psychiatry and practice profiles of psychiatrists who may also serve as guest speakers. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature and award-winning books. There will be 6 one-hour weekly sessions.
The Telepsychiatry Seminar held in PGY-3 will consist of didactic lectures and skill demonstrations as well as regulations around providing telepsychiatry services along with technical and logistic requirements for successful telepsychiatry encounters. Telepsychiatry skills will be demonstrated by instructors and practiced by residents utilizing role play and real patient encounters. Seminar leaders will use case scenarios to illustrate the utility and limitations of telepsychiatry encounters including managing crises within those settings. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature. There will be 4 one-hour weekly sessions.
Click here to view – Didactics at a Glance – Post Graduate Year 4.pdf
PGY-4 didactics will build on The Complex Psychopathology Seminar from PGY-3, focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of complicated (including treatment-resistant) clinical cases in psychiatry. Treatment modalities for managing complex cases in psychiatry will be discussed. Attendings and residents will then present de-identified cases utilizing evidence-based treatment guidelines and the scientific literature to develop treatment interventions. PGY-4 residents’ teamwork skills will be fostered through small group collaboration in developing treatment plans and rotating presentations within the larger group. This 22-session seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature and will take place every 2 weeks and will be one-hour in duration.
Psychotherapy Seminars are also a part of the PGY-4 year whereby Senior faculty members and invited presenters provide a detailed review of the theoretical underpinnings and tools used in the practice of psychotherapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Interpersonal Psychotherapy and Motivational Interviewing. Residents will be introduced to evidence-based psychotherapy treatments, utilizing their clinical cases to guide the development of psychotherapy skills. Several teaching techniques will be used including analysis of clinical video clips and resident’s de-identified case summaries. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature. This 22-session seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature and will take place every 2 weeks and will be one-hour in duration.
PGY-4 will serve as an introduction to the Transition to Practice Seminar and will be led by the Training Director, Associate Training Director, senior faculty members, and invited presenters. The Transition to Practice Seminar will equip final-year residents with the tools and skills to explore career paths in order to be successful in their transition to the next phase of their career. The seminar will utilize presentations by experienced psychiatrists practicing in diverse capacities to expose PGY-4 residents to career options in psychiatry. The pros and cons of various career paths in psychiatry will be explored by presenters to inform senior residents’ career choices. Guidance from presenters’ experiences and scientific and career development literature will be utilized to foster residents’ abilities to evaluate career opportunities and to be successful in their aspirations. There will be 6 one-hour weekly sessions.
Administrative Psychiatry Seminar will also be introduced during PGY-4. This seminar, led by the Training Director, Associate Training Director, Senior Faculty Members, and Guest Lecturers will consist of lectures and case-based learning in order to provide residents with an in-depth understanding of important elements of Administrative Psychiatry. Residents will learn the skills to optimize service reimbursement, cost containment, and compliance in psychiatric practices. The seminar will also review the laws and regulatory requirements for psychiatry practices and the supervision of the clinical practice of other professionals by psychiatrists.
Departmental Clinical Case Conference will occur monthly for one-hour duration. Four of the Clinical Case Conferences will assume the Morbidity and Mortality Format. The conference series will consist of clinical case presentations led by residents (with attending faculty/senior resident mentorship) with group discussions on elements of the clinical presentation, the diagnostic process, diagnoses, and treatment interventions (referencing evidence-based guidelines, scientific literature, etc.) and ethical issues arising during treatment.
Journal Club will occur monthly for one-hour duration. It will consist of resident led (with attending faculty/senior resident mentorship) presentations and discussion of research methodology with a focus on the accuracy, validity, and clinical applicability of scientific research literature to their patient case(s). Residents will also engage in group discussions that focus on the clinical application of the literature to patient care, with program faculty supervising/moderating.
Research Seminar will occur monthly for one-hour duration. This practical seminar will be led by faculty members and invited lecturers who will instruct residents on research methodology using two modalities: presentation of their research projects in progress and mentorship of residents on the development of research ideas. Residents will be mentored on the Institutional Review Board (IRB) submission process, the research project execution, data analyses, and write-up for publication.
Behavioral Health/ Psychiatry Departmental Grand Rounds will occur monthly for one-hour duration. Grand Rounds consist of presentations (i.e. updates on evidence-based treatment recommendations for major psychiatric conditions, critical analyses of topical developments in the field of psychiatry, presentations on research findings, local, regional, and national initiatives in psychiatry) by faculty members, invited speakers and residents followed by group discussions on the presented topic.
Ethical Case Conferences will occur twice yearly for one-hour duration; these conferences allow for the systemic review and discussion of any cases where ethical dilemmas have occurred, identification of any ethical principles that were violated, and how the issue was appropriately addressed. The moderator will guide residents in group discussion and educate residents on ethical and professionalism resources available. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature.
The Cultural Disparities Conference will occur once yearly and consist of 1 session. Each session is 1-hour in duration and will include keynote speakers and discussions regarding the importance of appropriate communication with patients and families, colleagues, and other health care professionals across various cultural and socioeconomic backgrounds. The seminar will be supported by reading from reference text and the scientific literature.
The Process Group Seminar will occur monthly for one-hour duration and is optional. It will be led by an external psychotherapist who will facilitate discourse among the residents on their experiences in training including their emotional responses and coping mechanisms. The group will provide residents with a safe place to address concerns in training, and the opportunity for peer mentorship around skills and tools to efficiently navigate residency training and emotional coping.
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Dr. Kolta currently serves as Lakeland Regional Health’s Inpatient Medical Director. This role includes providing clinical care to the patients who have been admitted under crisis/ Baker Act. As Inpatient Medical Director, Dr. Kolta is also responsible for the development of policies and regulations for the department. His patient care philosophy is to treat all patients with the most dedication and commitment he can provide. Dr. Kolta also spends time as a volunteer at his local church where he provides free health clinics for the uninsured.
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Dr. Sadek is the Chairman of the Department of Behavioral Health at Lakeland Regional Health and has served the organization for over ten years. She has extensive experience in the field of psychiatry, serving in a clinical setting and teaching capacity across several professional organizations. Dr. Sadek is trained in juvenile forensic evaluations. She also plays an integral role in LRH’s Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation program, having completed training at the Berenson-Allen Center of Harvard Medical School.
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Dr. Settle joined the psychiatric staff of Lakeland Regional Health in 2012 and leads the Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry service for the organization. Along with his dedication to the intersection of psychiatry and other disciplines of medicine, Dr. Settle’s career in the field of psychiatry is inclusive of 22 years of private practice where he specialized in mood disorder treatment and research. Dr. Settle has extensive experience in post-graduate education in psychiatry, previously serving as the Director of Inpatient Psychiatry Education at the University of South Florida Medical School, as well as being the medical director of Acute Inpatient Psychiatry at Bay Pines VA Medical Center. Dr. Settle has also held several professional appointments which included: Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of South Florida Medical School in Tampa, Florida, as well as Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of South Florida Medical School, and West Virginia University. Dr. Settle holds a special interest in psychotropic medications and their effects on patients and has published extensively in this area.
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Dr. Chamakalayil is a double-boarded certified psychiatrist. He currently works as an inpatient psychiatrist as well as an ECT provider. He is a proponent of Positive Psychiatry/Psychology, which is a strength-based approach to behavioral health. He enjoys working with individuals of all ages and backgrounds.
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Dr. Pullara has been a core staff member with Lakeland Regional Health’s Behavioral Health psychiatry team since 2020. As a talented member of the team, Dr. Pullara has repeatedly displayed a genuine willingness to be a team player and teacher to learners of all disciplines and academic levels. Dr. Pullara has given a two-part Grand Rounds at LRH on his primary area of interest in the field, Psychedelic Psychiatry. He also serves as deputy editor of “The Journal of Psychedelic Psychiatry,” which he helped co-found during residency.
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Throughout her educational training, Dr. Polavarapu received several honors and awards, including at the TAFP and AAPI conferences for her research posters presentations on the topics of ‘Childhood and Adolescent Obesity Leading to Cardiovascular Disease in Adulthood’ and ‘The Effect of Vegetarian/Vegan Diet on Blood Pressure: An Evidence Based Review.’ Additionally, Dr. Polavarapu participated in numerous independent clinical research projects in the areas of Cardiology, Neurology, Psychology, and Communications during her undergraduate studies at Rutgers University in New Jersey.
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Dr. Nicole Shirvani was recently appointed to the position of Medical Directory of Ambulatory Behavioral Health. Before joining LRH, she served as the Medical Director of Ambulatory Behavioral Health with Asante Physician Partners of Medford, Oregon.
Dr. Shirvani was inducted into the Gold Humanism Honor Society while in medical school. Other honors and awards received by Dr. Shirvani include: The Cleveland Clinic Foundation GME Teaching Award, received consecutive years from 2014-2017. In 2019, Dr. Shirvani was the recipient of the Dorfman Journal Paper Award for original research, awarded by the Academy for Consultation Liaison Psychiatry (ACLP). Other awards include the Neurological Institute Research Day psychiatry resident award for her work on postpartum depression screening at the Cleveland Clinic. While obtaining her education, Dr. Shirvani enjoyed teaching and volunteering, including the completion of two medical missions to the Ayacucho region of Peru. Dr. Shirvani was the recipient of a GME grant while in residency, which allowed her to complete additional certification in electroconvulsive therapy through the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center during her final year of residency. Dr. Shirvani has a particular interest in women’s health across the lifespan, including pregnancy and postpartum as well as ketamine-assisted psychotherapy, for which she has received additional training. Dr. Shirvani enjoys teaching medical students and physicians in training and focusing on physician wellness.
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Dr. Catherine Principe is a licensed clinical health psychologist who specializes in the psychological management of chronic pain and complex medical conditions. Dr. Principe earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville and her Doctor of Psychology from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology in Chicago, IL. She completed her internship at Trinity Services Inc. in Joliet IL and her Postdoc at South Central Mental Health in Augusta KS. Dr. Principe joined LRH in 2022 and is currently seeing patients at the Harrell Family Center for Behavioral Wellness. She has extensive experience in providing comprehensive psychological care for patients ages 18 and older. Her expertise includes the treatment of anxiety, depression, chronic pain, complex medical conditions, trauma, and other chronic mental health conditions.
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I have been practicing as a therapist for 11 years. I began my career working at Health Care for the Homeless in Baltimore city for over 6 years. I provided individual and group therapy, as well as working in with addictions clients in the MAT program. I then took a position with Florida Cancer Specialists to create a behavioral health program for their clients. In my 3.5 years there I established and managed the program, and brought on therapists to offer online therapy to clinics throughout the state of Florida. I then took a position as the Vice President of Mental health with HUSK, a telehealth company. I created a program, and brought on multiple staff before leaving to take a position in the outpatient clinic at LRH. I have extensive experience with Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Group Therapy. I am currently in the process of becoming an EMDRIA approved EMDR therapist, and will finish in January 2024.
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Gloria Monasmith is a dedicated therapist with a specialization in Clinical Social Work (LCSW). Mrs. Monasmith focuses her expertise on a wide range of mental health concerns, including Depression, Anxiety, and Trauma stemming from Relational Dynamics. She is also a skilled Sex Therapist, Somatic Trauma Therapist, and Profession-Associated Trauma Specialist, offering support and guidance in various areas of emotional well-being. Mrs. Monasmith’s works with individuals aged 16 to 65 years old. Her educational background includes a Bachelor's degree in Social Work from Southeastern College and a Master's degree in Social Work from the University of South Florida. Beyond her clinical practice, Gloria is an accomplished author, a retreat developer, and a trainer. She holds certifications in Clinical Hypnotherapy, Psychedelic Assisted Psychotherapy, and RTM Protocol. As a member of the National Association of Social Workers (NASW), Gloria continues to contribute her expertise to the field of mental health.
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Dr. Galantino completed her General Psychiatry residency training at the University of Illinois at Peoria. She then completed her Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at UF Health. She currently serves as the Director of Behavioral Health at LoCicero Medical Group in Tampa, Florida. She also serves as faculty at Lakeland Regional Health, training psychiatry residents. Dr. Galantino provides adult and pediatric evaluations and medication management in both outpatient and inpatient settings. She is Board Certified in Adult Psychiatry as well as Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
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Dr. Goyal brings a unique perspective to our Psychiatry Program as he has a master's and bachelor's degree in engineering from the University of Michigan. He spent 4 years as a Management Consultant prior to attending medical school and completed his General Psychiatry Residency Training Program in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Dr. Goyal has been part of the LRH Psychiatry Department working in both the inpatient and outpatient setting for a little over 5 years. He is also board-certified in Adult Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
We will be recruiting 4 PGY1 residents for the 2023-2024 academic year. Applicants must submit a complete application via ERAS. Residents will be chosen through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
NRMP Number: 2323400C0
Required Supporting Documents:
We are excited to welcome all candidates to apply for our Graduate Medical Education programs. However, please note that applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. We are unable to sponsor or take over sponsorship of employment Visas at this time. Thank you for understanding.
Our GME programs are affiliated with NSU-KPCOM
