VCU Department of Psychiatry

02/27/2026

Introducing our 2026-2027 Psychology Doctoral Interns!

02/27/2026

VCU's Dogs on Call therapy program shows dogs reduce loneliness in hospital patients, research finds

New research suggests VCU Medical Center's "Dogs on Call" therapy program may be doing more than just lifting spirits.

02/27/2026

Congratulations to all of our providers who were listed as this year's Top Docs by Virginia Business!

Virginia Business has published its annual list of top doctors in the Virginia. Published by Virginia Business in cooperation with the Medical Society of Virginia, Virginia’s Top Doctors is a peer-selected, statewide list of the top physicians across 87 categories of medical specialties.

02/06/2026

https://www.chrichmond.org/blog/details/dr-allison-williams-explains-nicu-psychology-and-how-it-helps-families-adjust-to-life-with-a-new-little-one

Psychologist Dr. Allison Williams has a unique role on our neonatal intensive care unit team. While her colleagues specialize in providing care for their petite patients, she supports parents and caregivers as they adjust to an often unexpected beginning to life with their new family member. Her wor...

02/06/2026

02/06/2026

Congratulations are in order for Dr. Debbie DiazGranados, Director of Evaluation and Team Science at VCU’s Wright Center, on the publication of her article, “Examining and Evaluating Team Science Competencies Through Sensemaking,” in the American Journal of Evaluation (December 2025).

https://blogs.vcu.edu/cctr/2026/02/03/moving-beyond-the-checklist-a-new-roadmap-for-evaluating-the-heart-of-team-science/

01/06/2026

Dr. Kenneth Kendler co-leads a study shedding light on why the majority of people diagnosed with a psychiatric disorder will ultimately be diagnosed with a second or third in their lifetime:

Co-led by VCU expert Kenneth Kendler, a global research group has developed the most comprehensive genetic map to date, revealing five families of disorders with high levels of overlap.

12/19/2025

Addiction specialist Jasmin Vassileva earns a Fulbright – and a return home

The VCU researcher had left Bulgaria when Communism fell, and her five-month program will help her improve neuroscience technology there.

12/12/2025

Congratulations to Dr. Molly Hyer, who was named one of the Top 40 Under 40 by Richmond Style Weekly Magazine for her work through the VCU Institute for Women's Health!

Director of Research Development and Innovation, VCU Institute for Women’s Health

12/10/2025

We are thrilled to announce that the Addiction Medicine Fellowship filled in the match! We had a very competitive recruitment season and matched three fantastic clinicians! Thank you to Brianna, our current fellows Brian, James, Jess, and the faculty recruitment team for all of your hard work!!

Kwame O. Affram, MD, PhD
PhD: Uniformed Services, Neuroscience
Residency: Piedmont Athens (GA), internal medicine

Joe Testa, MD
Residency: UCON, emergency medicine​
Fellowship: VCU, medical toxicology

Adrianna Uhlar, MD
Residency: VCU-Bon Secours: family medicine

11/13/2025

Nicole D. Cook, MSW, LCSW, our Behavioral Health Program Manager for the VCU Department of Psychiatry, was recently on the Brainwaves Unplugged: Real Talk on Mental Health podcast. Click below to listen!

"Behavioral Health Program Manager for the VCU Department of Psychiatry Nicole Cook, LCSW joins Grace Gallagher, Co Founder and Chair of the Board for the Cameron K Gallagher Foundation and host of the Conversations with CKG podcast, for a candid conversation titled Parenting with Trauma: Carrying Scars While Raising a Family. From unhealed wounds to moments of deep resilience, this discussion explores how trauma shows up in our parenting and how awareness and compassion can become powerful tools for healing. The conversation is honest, real, and full of hope, reminding us that while trauma may leave scars, it can also deepen our capacity for connection, strength, and grace."

Podcast Episode · Brainwaves Unplugged: Real Talk on Mental Health · 11/03/2025 · 46m