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 services at Barnes-Jewish Hospital. In addition to his administrative, teaching and clinical roles, he is active in research. He currently is studying the ability of several clinically important agents to kill neurons and glia in the developing nervous system. He is also investigating 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 Director
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.
Residency Program Staff
Dottie Kinscherf has worked in the office of the psychiatry residency director since 2000, first with Dr. Rubin and currently with Dr. Farber. Prior to that, she worked in basic science and clinical research settings at Washington University. Dottie 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 her free time, she enjoys gardening, knitting, yoga, and spending time with her grandchildren.
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, dog 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.
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: 314-362-0193
psychresidency@wustl.edu