Message from the Associate Directors

Welcome to the Louis A. Faillace, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences! As graduates of the McGovern Psychiatry Residency program who returned to this department as faculty, we strongly believe that this is a place that will genuinely invest in who you become as a psychiatrist beyond just your education. We’ve seen that investment through the program’s continued dedication to change and grow over time, from didactic restructuring based on resident feedback, to organizational policy shifts that promote resident wellbeing.

Our program is based in the world’s largest medical center, giving our trainees the opportunity to pursue specialized interests and experiences that couldn’t be found elsewhere. From transplant psychiatry at Memorial Hermann to psycho-oncology at MD Anderson, we are dedicated to helping our residents train in this unique environment. Here in Houston, we also have the opportunity and privilege to work with a wide range of patient populations, including training in competency restoration and IOP. We both work in inpatient psychiatry at the Harris County Psychiatric Center (HCPC), which together with the Dunn Behavioral Sciences Campus, comprises the largest academic psychiatric hospital in the country, providing high-acuity, safety-net care for Harris County.

As associate program directors, our areas of focus complement one another. Dr. Karnes concentrates on faculty and trainee wellbeing, strengthening trainee skills and confidence in establishing boundaries, and helping trainees become strong clinician educators. Dr. Ding focuses on building deeper, more intentional connections between trainees and faculty through mentorship. Together, our goal is to help each resident grow into a confident, competent psychiatrist who feels genuinely supported along the way. We look forward to meeting you soon!

– Brandi Karnes, MD and Stephanie Ding, MD,
Associate Program Directors, Psychiatry Residency