Psychiatry Resident Voices

While we strive to prepare all of our residents for the next step of their careers, everyone has a different experience and has different takeaways on our program.

Some value the close camaraderie amongst residents. Some find the variety in training sites most helpful.

Here you'll find first-hand accounts from current and previous residents about their experience with the residency.

Lauren Cashion, MD

2014 Graduate
Currently in Private Practice

The diversity of training sites, comprehensive didactics, and access to fantastic mentors made me well-prepared for any career path.

After a short stint in academia, I am thriving in my own private practice, contribute to medical education, facilitate community supports, and serve as an advocate.

I attribute my ability, and joy, in wearing these various hats to opportunities had in training.

Keith Gallagher, MD

2019 Graduate
Currently an Assistant Professor at Yale

I think the best part of training was the closeness I felt with my co-residents and mentors.

I think the program’s biggest strengths are the diversity of training sites, which expose you to just about any job you might do as a psychiatrist.

That combined with the quality of training and supervision leaves you feeling prepared to do just about anything.

Isabelle Seto, MD

PGY-2 Resident

Moving to Baltimore from out of state was simultaneously nerve-wracking and exciting, but I instantly felt at home with my co-residents, and exploring Baltimore with them (pre-COVID) has been a great experience!

Everyone in the department is very welcoming, and I've appreciated the efforts the training department has made to listen to resident feedback.

Regarding clinical experiences thus far, I've most enjoyed working at the state hospitals as the attendings there are very invested in teaching.

As someone hoping to work for the VA one day, I appreciate our program's opportunity to have a yearlong outpatient clinic there!

Jooyoung Lee, MD

PGY-3 Resident

I chose our residency training program because I was expecting to have a high-quality education for psychodynamic psychotherapy.

I am very satisfied by our unique psychotherapy teaching curriculum.

We have a great number of psychodynamically oriented supervisors and teachers. One of our associate program directors, Mr. Miller, is an analyst; this itself shows how our program stresses the importance of psychodynamic teaching.

Caroline Quaglieri, MD

PGY-1 Resident

I wanted to be a resident at UMMC | SEPH because of the great variety of training opportunities here.

​It's not common to find rotations in state hospitals, private hospitals, academic hospitals, the VA system, and community programs all within one psychiatry residency. ​ ​Also, if you're considering pursuing a fellowship, there are so many excellent fellowships that are already well established and available here.

​In addition, living in a city which is a travel hub, and easily accessible to Washington DC, NYC, and other areas up and down the East Coast makes it an ideal central location for travel, both personally and professionally.

Mari Faris, DO

Class of 2019

What I loved most about the program was the training sites and the people!

Being able to rotate at different types of clinical sites was such a great learning experience and helped me to feel confident when moving onto the next phase of my training.

The program creates a friendly and supportive environment filled with wonderful friends and mentors!

Viviana Alvarez Toro, MD

Class of 2019

My favorite part of residency was the friendships I made while at the University of Maryland!

I loved being able to share my passion for psychiatry with so many different people that were committed to the field.

I also really appreciated the diversity in training sites throughout the Baltimore area. It prepared me for “the real world” transitioning out of training.

Avinash Ramprashad, MD

Class of 2019

I really enjoyed the diversity of training sites that we get to work on, especially the electives offered as a PGY4.

My co-residents also made my entire experience and it was great to have such a hard-working yet relaxed group of friends alongside me!