Residency Program Directors
Director
Nuri B. Farber, MD assumed the directorship of the residency training program in July 2007 after having been the Assistant Director for over ten years. He received his psychiatric training at Washington University and is board certified in general adult psychiatry. After completing his residency training in 1993, he joined the faculty at Washington University. His clinical interests include psychosis, dementia, depression, and mental retardation. He is an attending on the inpatient and ECT/ketamine services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In addition to his administrative, teaching and clinical roles, he is active in research. He currently is studying ECT and the antidepressant effects of ketamine.
Associate Director
Melissa A. Harbit, MD has served as Assistant Director of Residency Training since July 1, 2007 and was promoted to Associate Director on July 1, 2022. Dr. Harbit received her medical degree from the University of Iowa and then completed her general psychiatry training at Washington University in 2001. Following residency training, she completed a fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. She has been a member of the Washington University Department of Psychiatry faculty since 2002 when she assumed the position as Director of Forensic Services. In addition to inpatient and outpatient clinical practice, she has been active in psychiatry resident education and supervision.
Assistant Directors
Matthew B. Chapman, MD assumed the position of Assistant Director of Residency Training on July 1, 2022. Dr. Chapman received his medical degree from Creighton University and then completed his general psychiatry training at Washington University in 2022. He has been involved in various administrative roles, functioning as one of the first members in the Leadership in Education and Administration Program (LEAP) as well as serving as Chief Resident from 2021-2022. As Assistant Program Director, he focuses on the curriculum development and on enhancing the training of PGY1s on the inpatient service where he also practices.
Angela Lin, MD, MPHS joined the program as an Assistant Director of Residency Training on July 1, 2023. Dr. Lin received her medical degree from Washington University and stayed to complete her general psychiatry training here in 2022. Her clinical practice is predominantly in the outpatient setting. She also is involved with outpatient interventional psychiatry services and in supervising residents in the resident clinic. As Assistant Program Director, she focuses on the on the training of the PGY2 residents across different settings, including various outpatient clinics and emergency/inpatient consultation services.
Brendan O’Connor, MD, stepped into the role of Assistant Director of Residency Training at Washington University on July 1, 2023. A graduate of Creighton University School of Medicine in 2010, he completed his general psychiatry training at Washington University in 2014, where he served as Chief Resident. Dr. O’Connor has a rich background in medical education, having served as the Psychiatry Clerkship Director, and currently holding the roles of Associate Clerkship Director and Co-Director for the Brain and Behavior Module. Clinically, his focus areas are Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) and Hospital Psychiatry, primarily practicing within inpatient psychiatry. As Assistant Director, he manages issues related to the Undergraduate Medical Education to Graduate Medical Education transition, including recruitment.
Akinkunle Owoso, MD became an Assistant Director of Residency Training on July 1, 2023. Dr. Owoso received his medical degree from the University of Oklahoma and then completed his general psychiatry training at Washington University in 2011. Following residency training, he completed an NIMH T32 Research Fellowship at Washington University and has been a member of the Department of Psychiatry faculty since that time. He has been Medical Director of the Resident Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic since 2016 and is involved in both clinical practice and teaching in the outpatient and consultation psychiatry services. His clinical and research interests include psychotic disorders, psychosomatic medicine, and cancer psychiatry. As Assistant Program Director, he focuses on the educational experience of the PGY3 residents.
Residency Program Staff
Brigitte Northrop has been working with residency and fellowship programs at Washington University since 2003. Brigitte is involved in various aspects of the program, including compliance with ACGME and WU GME requirements, recordkeeping involved with ABPN certification for graduates, and communication with other departments where residents rotate. In addition to her residency responsibilities, Brigitte directly supports the vice chair of education. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, traveling to anywhere near the ocean and finding a good trivia night.
Cindy Hartwig joined the psychiatry residency group in 2020 after having gained 18 years of experience in the orthopaedic surgery residency program. Serving as the main contact for residents and applicants, Cindy maintains psychiatry residents’ licensures, certifications, and hospital privileges and coordinates resident tasks and obligations as well as office functions for the program. Cindy enjoys movies and visiting National Parks with her husband. Her favorite quote: “The mountains are calling and I must go.” John Muir
Coming from child psychiatry research, Susan Vugteveen joined the psychiatry residency program in 2018. Susan serves as the main contact for the Psychiatry Residency Research Education Program (PRREP) and the Leadership in Education and Administration Program (LEAP). In her free time, Susan enjoys yoga, hiking, cooking, and spending time with her husband and three children.
Kellie Midkiff joined the psychiatry department and the general adult training program in 2022, after working for Barnes-Jewish Hospital for 7 years. In her role of administrative coordinator, she focuses on supporting the residents, especially the interns on the inpatient unit, scheduling conferences, and helping organize interview days. She is pursuing a degree in Healthcare Administration. In her free time, she enjoys playing with her dogs, spending time with family and friends and exploring around St. Louis.
PGY4 Recruiting Chief
Vasilis C. Hristidis, MD was selected as Chief Resident for Recruitment in March 2024 for the 2024-2025 academic year. Dr. Hristidis obtained his medical degree from Stony Brook University School of Medicine and is currently pursuing his residency training at Washington University, set to be completed in June 2025. He is interested in outpatient clinical care, mentoring residents and medical students, and research in resistant mood and affective disorders. As Chief Resident for Recruitment, he focuses on assisting with the PGY3 outpatient clinical rotations and recruitment for the residency program. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and music, collecting guitars and mechanical watches, and spending time with his cat and his fiancée.
General questions should be directed to:
The Psychiatry Residency Training Program
Washington University School of Medicine
MSC 8134-17-2000
660 S. Euclid Ave.
St. Louis, MO 63110-1093
Phone: 314-362-2462
Fax: 314-970-9002
psychresidency@wustl.edu