Current Fellows
Second Year Fellows
Kevin McDonald
Hometown: Newton, IA
Undergraduate: St. Ambrose University
MD/DO: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: University of North Dakota
Outside Interests: Motorcycles, road trips, and 3D printing
Professional Interests: Trauma, mood disorders, and underserved populations
Darin Quach
Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego
MD/DO: Michigan State University
Residency: Washington University in St. Louis
Outside Interests: Watching and playing sports, fantasy football, romantic comedies, and movies in the fantasy genre
Professional Interests: Affective disorders, interventional psychiatry, inflammation/nutritional psychiatry
“I greatly benefited from training in the Adult Psychiatry Program here and had exposure to Child Psych during my third year in the outpatient setting. I enjoyed being able to work closely with attendings who prioritized clinical care and graduate medical education. While they excelled at research in their respective fields, they never hesitated to offer guidance whenever I needed anything. As I transition into fellowship, I’m extremely pleased that my training continues to be prioritized and I would not hesitate to choose this program again.”
Emily Slat
Hometown: Webster, NY
Undergraduate: University of Michigan – Ann Arbor
MD/DO: Washington University in St Louis
Residency: Washington University in St Louis
Outside Interests: Dogs, jigsaw puzzles, nail art, true crime podcasts, and gardening
Professional Interests: Mood disorders, trauma-related disorders, clinical education, and physician wellness
“The faculty, staff, and trainees are very kind, smart, and approachable. They make learning fun!”
Nitya Sreevalsan
Hometown: Cincinnati, OH
Undergraduate: University of Cincinnati
MD/DO: Washington University in St. Louis
Residency: Washington University in St. Louis
Outside Interests: Cooking, gardening, and knitting/crochet
Professional Interests: Emotional dysregulation
“Everyone is incredibly helpful and welcoming. The faculty are all excited to teach and mentor, even people who are renowned experts in their fields. My co-fellows are also brilliant and motivated, and I could not have asked for a more supportive environment.”
First Year Fellows
Chhavi Chaudhary
Hometown: Mission, TX
Undergraduate: University of Texas Rio Grand Valley
MD/DO: University of Texas Medical Branch School of Medicine
Residency: University of Texas Health Sciences Center at Tyler
Outside Interests: Cats, coffee shops, interior design, cooking competition shows, and reflective writing
Professional Interests: Trauma and stressor-related disorders, social determinants of health, medical student education and mentorship, and advocacy in organized medicine networks
“The community of co-fellows and faculty is inspiring and nurturing to my growth. The assortment of distinguished expert faculty in the department is a treasure to learn from.”
Alexander Hayek
Hometown: Novi, MI
Undergraduate: University of Michigan
MD/DO: Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: St. Mary Mercy Hospital-Livonia, Michigan
Outside Interests: Piano improvisation and music composition, world travel/exploration, binge-watching TV shows, existential philosophy, and making memories with my wife, my cat “Pumpkin”, and nine younger siblings.
Professional Interests: Integration of philosophical concepts into psychotherapy (Logotherapy/Existential-Humanistic Psychotherapy/Mindfulness Meditation), changing drug abuse patterns in adolescents and young adults in the information era (designer drugs/ “legal” highs/dark web), neural network correlates in anxiety and depressive disorders (default mode network/salience network), novel treatments for mental illness (NMDA antagonists/psychedelic-assisted psychotherapy/neurosteroids/VGCC blockers), and inflammatory markers and models for mental illness (COVID-19 psychosis/BDNF)
“One of the things I have come to appreciate in my personal and professional life is the importance of the Winnicottian ‘holding environment’ to facilitate personal growth and development. WashU provides such an environment for trainees; an environment that fosters creative independent thought; confidence and competence, along with compassion and empathy, to be leaders in the field of child psychiatry.”
Kanika Ramchandani
MD/DO: Seth G.S. Medical College India
Residency: SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University
Outside Interests: Cooking, HIIT, and exploring new ice cream and brunch places
Professional Interests: Emergency psychiatry, inpatient psychiatry, psychodynamic psychotherapy, and advocacy and administration
Asmit Sanghera
Hometown: Phoenix, AZ
Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego
MD/DO: Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Creighton University School of Medicine-Phoenix
Outside Interests: Traveling, dancing, watching documentaries, catching up on some of my favorite Netflix shows, exploring St. Louis and its incredible food scene with my co-fellows!
Professional Interests: Consults and emergency psychiatry, with a growing interest in early childhood mental health, child development, and psychotherapy
“I like the wide variety of clinical experiences. You really get both depth and breadth at this program, all while working alongside leaders in the field who are eager to teach! I also love the strong sense of camaraderie amongst the fellows – we are a tight-knit, supportive group.”
Clayton Stone
Hometown: Chattanooga, TN
Undergraduate: East Tennessee State University
MD/DO: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine – Auburn Campus
Residency: Texas Institute for Graduate Medical Education and Research – Psychiatry
Outside Interests: I love to cook and bake. I am always eager for a new and challenging recipe or to try foods from other cultures. When I’m not in the clinic or the kitchen, I also enjoy hiking, gardening, traveling, and playing with my two dogs.
Professional Interests: LGBTQ+ psychiatry and gender-affirming medical care
“I like the diversity of training and clinic experiences. I feel like I get to treat a wide range of patients as well as get exposure to highly specialized clinics where I can learn from rare or difficult cases.”