Psychiatry Residency Program

Explore the ThedaCare Psychiatry Residency Program

Welcome! We are thrilled you are taking the time to learn about our psychiatry residency program. We are accepting six residents per class. We invite you to start exploring by hearing directly from our program leaders and faculty.

ThedaCare Psychiatry Residency: A Closer Look

For more than 15 years, our department has built clinical connections across our healthcare system, especially with primary care. These personal, trusting partnerships increase trust in our recommendations and help get patients to the right level and location of care faster.

Hear From the Experts

Discover how the ThedaCare Psychiatry Residency Program prepares psychiatrists to deliver exceptional, patient-centered care that empowers individuals to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Meet Michael Panzer, MD, Psychiatry Residency Program Director

Hear from Our Faculty: What Differentiates the ThedaCare Psychiatry Residency Program

Program Differentiators

Explore what makes us stand out:

Beyond frequent informal consultation and immediate or same-day discussion with a psychiatrist when needed, formal referrals to our psychiatry department are built directly into our electronic medical record through Mental Health Collaboration Notes. The structured process guides initial triage, treatment recommendations and ongoing discussion. This helps patients land in the right setting faster and provides case-based learning for primary care along the way.
Multiply your impact as a psychiatrist with one of the most important innovations in mental health in the last 30 years.

The Collaborative Care Model (CoCM) is the gold standard for behavioral health integration. It’s a game-changer for access in primary care while giving primary care physicians and clinicians (PCPs) case-based guidance and educational experience.

Third- and fourth-year residents take on the role of Consulting Psychiatrist, working alongside PCPs and care managers to provide psychiatric consultation for patients who might otherwise go untreated. Additionally, patient outcomes are superior and results are faster than usual care. This model shows residents how psychiatric expertise can improve the health of entire patient populations, not just the patients directly enrolled.

Through CoCM, residents build expertise in:
- Integrated care and population health
- Quality improvement and systems-based practice
- Interdisciplinary communication
- Leadership and case formulation, skills that carry over into every form of direct and indirect care
CoCM also supports PCP well-being. Fast access to psychiatric expertise helps PCPs manage even moderately complex cases with increased confidence and a decreased sense of isolation. Our published data show CoCM reduces the burden of managing behavioral health concerns and improves professional satisfaction for primary care teams. Because we enjoy excellent system support and employ original methods in our EMR, we believe that is an especially efficient and effective application of this work.

“Since helping launch Behavioral Health Collaborative Care at ThedaCare in 2018, I have been dedicated to expanding access to evidence-based mental health care in primary care settings. Working directly with patients and primary care teams has allowed me to witness the profound impact Collaborative Care can have — not only through rapid, meaningful improvements in patients’ mental health, but also by increasing primary care teams’ confidence in treating behavioral health conditions. Seeing these outcomes firsthand continues to inspire my passion and commitment to advancing integrated behavioral health care and improving access for more patients.” – Tina Pelishek, RN, BSN
Welcome! Thank you for taking the time to learn more about our program.

Residency is one of the most demanding seasons of a physician’s life — and one of the most formative. At ThedaCare, we believe the support you receive during these years matters just as much as what you learn. Well-being isn’t just a checkbox here. It’s something we take seriously, talk about openly and work on together.

I work closely with Dr. Panzer and the psychiatry faculty to ensure support exists at multiple levels, so you are never navigating the hard moments alone. Whether it is through your program, your peers or the broader resources we have built across the system, you will have people in your corner.

We would be honored to be part of your journey.

Kimberly Berg, MD

Medical Director of Physician Well-Being

Froedtert/ThedaCare, North region
Our program includes an outpatient third-year emphasis on child and adolescent psychiatry at Catalpa Health, a nonprofit, pediatric outpatient mental health and wellness organization that provides mental health services for kids and teens.

“As a mental health leader in the Fox Valley, I am thrilled to see the continued commitment to growing psychiatry in the region. This program is a natural extension of the existing medical community fabric of the Fox Valley that is committed to access, high-quality care and a patient-centric focus. Catalpa Health is delighted to partner in supporting the residents in this program and strengthening our relationship with ThedaCare based in strong patient transition, communication and mutual respect.” — Julie Meyer, president and CEO, Catalpa Health

Curriculum

Every psychiatry residency is designed to meet Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and American Board of Psychology and Neurology (ABPN) requirements. Ours does as well, but we then build a distinct set of experiences around them that you won’t find at most programs.

Training Differentiators

Most programs teach collaborating generally. We have a decade of experience with the gold standard in integrative care: the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM). PGY-3 and PGY-4 residents at ThedaCare step directly into the Consulting Psychiatrist role, working alongside PCPs and care managers on real patients who might otherwise go untreated.

You leave knowing how to improve mental health for an entire patient population, not just manage a caseload.

Here’s some of what sets us apart:

We uniquely partner with the largest county-supported diversion programs in Wisconsin. Our residents:
- Advise multidisciplinary teams, including judges, on treatment recommendations
- Attend the court hearing where that plan is formalized
Few programs give residents this level of direct involvement in the legal system.

Core Training

12 months of inpatient psychiatry on a unit recently remodeled as part of a hospital-wide renovation, primarily as PGY-1 and PGY-2
Four months of primary care, with a strong emphasis on internal medicine (IM)
Two months of neurology, including case discussions and presentations with IM and neurology
Outpatient third year, including child and adolescent psychiatry at Catalpa Health, a nonprofit, pediatric outpatient mental health and wellness organization that provides mental health services for kids and teens
Additional core rotations primarily as PGY-1 and PGY-2: geropsychiatry, consultation-liaison, emergency psychiatry, addiction medicine and community psychiatry

Didactics and supervised practice across:
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Motivational interviewing
- Supportive therapy
- Psychodynamic principles and skills
- Mindfulness
- Comparative analysis of newer therapeutic approaches
Residents also learn how to effectively work with patients who are in therapy and with their therapists. This is a skill rarely explicitly taught but is essential in practice.

Applying to Our Program

Requirements and Eligibility

We will only review residency applications submitted through the AAMC ERAS system. Our program’s ERAS ID# is 4005600001.

Applications must be submitted through ERAS by Oct. 15 for consideration for an interview. Incomplete applications may be rejected without follow-up. Please ensure your application is complete prior to ERAS submission.

We require the following:

Applicants must have passed the USMLE Step 1 examination, and we strongly prefer applicants who have passed the USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge (CK) examination.

We incorporate applicants’ results from USMLE examinations into our holistic review. However, we will consider applicants who did not pass Step 1 or 2 on their first attempt. Moreover, we do not use strict cut-offs for scores on the Step 2 CK examination to screen applicants.

International medical graduates (IMGs) who have already passed Step 3 are viewed more favorably than IMGs who have not.
A medical student performance evaluation (MSPE or “Dean’s letter”) or equivalent document must accompany each application. Moreover, we require three letters of recommendation, two of which must be written by someone in the specialty (e.g., faculty, attending).

Although not required, applicants are strongly encouraged to have at least one letter writer use the Standardized Letter of Recommendation (SLOR) template as suggested by the Association of Directors of Medical Student Education in Psychiatry (ADMSEP).

Authors should describe specific observations of the applicant leading them to support the applicant. Authors must attest that they didn’t use AI to write the letter except for correcting grammar.
We require that a personal statement accompany each application, and appreciate honesty and promote transparency. As such, we favorably view personal statements that contextualize factors such as extensions of medical school graduation date, significant gaps in training and failed attempts on either USMLE examination.

Personal statement details:
- Describe some specific personal experiences that led you to choose psychiatry.
- What are the most important one or two negatives for you about psychiatry, and how did you decide to continue to pursue psychiatry?
- After psychiatry, what type of residency appealed to you most, and how did you decide not to pursue it?
- Describe a situation when you did not feel receptive either to what you were learning because you already felt knowledgeable, or to a directive you received from a leader.
Please note, we forbid the use of AI to write statements. Applicants must attest to using AI only for the purpose of correcting grammar.

Holistic Review

We will review the complete application before making our decisions to offer interviews. Further, all program faculty involved in ranking applicants are trained on and use AAMC’s Holistic Review Framework™.

Due to the volume of applications received, our program strongly prioritizes reviewing applicants who signal.

We offer interviews based on a combination of signal status and merits of the candidate.
We review all applicants who signal prior reviewing those who do not signal. Applicants who do not signal are very unlikely to have their application reviewed.
Please note that signaling does not guarantee an interview.
We only use signaling for application review. We do not consider signaling in determining our final rank list.

When two applicants share similar accolades and potential for excellence within our program, we will tend to prefer applicants who have a geographical preference for our region.

We offer virtual interviews from October through early January of the recruitment season. We do not conduct in-person interviews.

We extend interview invitations on a rolling basis. All interview offers are guaranteed for at least five business days. Applicants will not lose their interview offer to other applicants if they respond in a reasonable timeframe. However, out of respect for other applicants, we reserve the right to rescind the interview offer after five business days have lapsed.

We commit to using interview techniques that limit bias and noise in applicants’ rankings. All faculty conducting interviews have received training on mechanisms to maximize objectivity in our selection process.
We intend to offer optional second-look events in January or February after we have certified our rank list through the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). These events may include both a virtual and in-person option. Participation in second-look events will have no bearing on rankings. We simply want to allow interested applicants the opportunity to meet our residents, see our facilities and better understand our community before finalizing their own rank list.
Applicants who send pre-interview emails or other letters of interest will gain no advantage in securing an interview. Applicants should use ERAS to send application materials and to signal genuine preference for our program.

Similarly, applicants will not be ranked based on whether they send thank-you notes or initiate post-interview communication. An applicant’s stated intent to rank us highly will not influence our own ranking of the applicant.

We reserve the right to conduct post-interview communication with applicants, but we will never use such communication to coerce applicants nor to influence ranking decisions. Post-interview communication does not imply a decision to rank. Applicants are not expected to reciprocate with a response. The program adheres to all NRMP policies regarding post-interview communications.
We consider applicants who have completed partial clinical training in another specialty through an ACGME-accredited residency program or have completed psychiatry residency training outside of the United States.

Please note that program leadership can only petition the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology (ABPN) in writing prior to the transfer. The ABPN Credentials Committee evaluates each case on an individual basis.
Our program is committed to the highest standards of graduate medical education. We fully adhere to the NRMP Match agreement and code of conduct, and we follow guidance set forth by the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training (AADPRT). All faculty, staff and learners involved in recruitment and interview activities participate in mandatory annual training on these standards and complete an attestation of compliance each year.

We are committed to transparent and structured communication with applicants. As stated above, and in accordance with AADPRT and NRMP guidelines, our program does not use post-interview visits (i.e. “second looks”) in determining applicant placement on our rank list.

Mechanisms for anonymous reporting of concerns are available through the Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, our sponsoring institution.

Our Faculty

Michael Panzer, MD, Program Director

Medical School: University of Wisconsin Medical School

Residency: University of Michigan Medical Center

Board Certification: Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin with zoology and medical degrees, I was fortunate to complete my formal education at the University of Michigan. I relished being around master clinicians, educators, and thought leaders, and getting to know my fellow residents in psychiatry and other residencies.

My eclectic training has proved very useful clinically. I hope our graduates will learn a broad skill set, including interpersonal and psychotherapeutic abilities they can apply to a varied patient population. We will also prepare psychiatrists who understand the history of our field, theories of the mind and brain, and who grasp the many commonalities and recombinations of psychotherapies.

Our graduates will understand the basis, role and limitations of somatic treatments and how to combine these modalities with personal and psychotherapeutic skills.

I have devoted much of my career to teamwork, which is more important than ever in medicine. Our residents will learn our exceptional collaborative methods, and I hope for our graduates to be great teammates, as I strive to be. Our residents will also enjoy the fellowship within our department, along with the neighborliness of the Fox Valley.
Douglas Bell, MD, Associate Program Director

Medical School: Central Michigan University College of Medicine

Residency: Michigan State University Department of Psychiatry

Board Certification: Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Following completion of residency in 2022, I joined the psychiatry department at ThedaCare and primarily practice at our innovative behavioral health walk-in clinic. This clinic is one of its kind in all of Wisconsin, allowing same-day access to psychiatry and counseling. In addition, I lead weekly review of patients within our behavioral health collaborative care program, which is embedded in various primary care offices. With establishment of the ThedaCare Psychiatry Residency Program, I have now also become the associate program director for this.

From the moment first interviewed here, it was very apparent that ThedaCare emphasizes patient care, staff and learner well-being, and an incredibly strong backing of behavioral health services. If it is something that will help patients, it happens. Our team is like family, which makes coming to work every day something to look forward to, and ongoing growth/learning that much easier. We could not be more excited to train the next generation of psychiatrists who share a similar passion for community and learning.

When not working, I try to spend as much time outdoors, whether that is just at home or going on a hike. I enjoy trying out new places to eat and exploring Wisconsin with my wife, as well as visiting our family back in Michigan. I also hold a strong interest in cars/Formula 1 racing.
Nathan Albrecht, DO

Medical School: Western University of Health Sciences

Residency: University Hospitals-Cleveland Medical Center

Fellowship: Public and Community Psychiatry, University Hospitals-Cleveland Medical Center

Board certification: Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

I trained in Cleveland, Ohio, and completed a public and community psychiatry fellowship during my last year of training. I am interested in the impact of socioeconomic factors on mental health as well as the practical integration of brief psychotherapy in medication-management visits. I divide my time between outpatient psychiatry, collaborative care and as the psychiatrist for our partial hospitalization/intensive-outpatient program.

I have loved my time at ThedaCare. I am grateful to be a part of a system that prides itself on continuous improvement and the delivery of quality care. Medicine is a team sport, and our system makes a point of emphasizing heavy integration and collaboration across teams, levels of care and disciplines. It’s an organization that strives to integrate changing technology and techniques. It’s incredibly rewarding to work for an institution that delivers top-notch care and still pushes to improve.

I live in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and I spend most of my time away from work with my family or out in the woods. I enjoy dirt-biking, mountain biking, snow-shoeing and hiking. I spent most of my life involved in competitive rowing in one form or another, and I might get back to that in the future.
Matthew A. Bayer, MD

Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin

Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics

Board Certification: Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

I came to Thedacare straight out of residency 21 years ago, and I am pleased to have been here ever since. I treat patients in every stage of adulthood, work with our substance use disorder team and handle our outpatient ECT practice. I enjoy working with adults of all ages to find solutions to often-complex psychiatric conditions. Seeing my patients improve is rewarding and motivates me to find the unique treatment plan for each person.

We have an excellent group at ThedaCare psychiatry. My colleagues are enthusiastic, friendly and open to working together on cases. The Fox Valley is a great community, and it would be wonderful for some of our resident graduates to stay in the area as we work to meet community needs. We also have worked hard on collaboration and have a great partnership with primary care and other healthcare team members. I spend most of my non-working time with my wife and eight children. This makes for a happy adventure at home. I am an active member of my Catholic parish and enjoy biking, fishing, and cross-country skiing.
John Beld, MD

Medical School: University of Louisville School of Medicine

Board Certification: Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Early in my medical education, I found that no matter what kind of help I provided for patients, it seemed to be of limited benefit if their mental health was not addressed. My background spans everything from internal medicine and primary care to neurology and aerospace medicine. This breadth of experience helps me provide more comprehensive treatment.

I want my patients to know that I genuinely care about them, listen, and value their experience and input as we work together in a trusting relationship. I find so much satisfaction in helping patients through the process of recovering from mental illness.
Tasha Farrar, MD

Medical School: University of Nebraska College of Medicine

Residency: University of Illinois Hospital

Board Certification: Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

Professional Summary

I’m a board-certified outpatient psychiatrist specializing in reproductive psychiatry and private practice management. I own Farrar and Associates Mental Health, a ThedaCare-affiliated outpatient practice that includes psychotherapists and prescribers. I maintain my own limited medication management, psychotherapy and reproductive psychiatry consultation practice at Farrar and Associates.

I was the medical director at Sherman Counseling from 2017 to 2020, and worked for ThedaCare Behavior Health from 2010 to 2017. I was the lead psychiatric curriculum instructor for the Mosaic Family Health residency program from 2018 to 2025.

I tremendously enjoy teaching residents and have lectured on a variety of topics with an emphasis on diagnostic interviewing, reproductive psychiatry, bipolar disorder and cultivating a psycho-dynamically informed perspective in patient care. I emphasize the importance of rational, evidence-based prescribing within the larger context of a healthy lifestyle, meaningful pursuits and nurturing relationships. Collaborating with therapists and medical colleagues has been a core focus throughout my career. I value the importance of patient education and shared decision making.

Personal Interests and Hobbies

In my free time, I enjoy cooking, bonsai, gardening, yoga, international travel, board games and other playful activities. I share my life with my husband, two young-adult children, three opinionated Siamese cats and some delightfully eccentric friends.
Megan Faucett, MBA, Program Manager, Psychiatry

I am a passionate problem-solver and lifelong learner. I strive to serve as a bridge between people, purpose and systems.

As the program manager for the psychiatry residency program, I support residents, faculty and staff on their unique journeys. I am driven by the opportunity to create and maintain impactful educational experiences, while cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard and empowered to excel.

My career in medical laboratories, higher education and research has taught me that the most successful programs and teams thrive on curiosity, trust, communication and a dedication to continuous improvement. I enjoy finding practical solutions to complex issues.

A pivotal lesson I have learned is the importance of every individual’s voice. Embracing my own voice has profoundly influenced both my personal and professional life, and I am committed to helping others discover the confidence to use their own in ways that are inspiring and meaningful to transform their lives. I am convinced that positive change starts when people feel empowered to contribute, advocate and lead authentically.

Multiple family members have received compassionate, respectful care at ThedaCare, and I am excited to be a part of a health system that values the entire community’s well-being while partnering with each person and their families to live their unique, best life.

In my free time, I enjoy embarking on new adventures with my husband, daughter and three dogs; exploring nature’s wonders; and reading non-fiction books. My husband and I both grew up in the Fox Valley area but returned after spending a decade in Metro Detroit to be closer to our families.
Allison Fassett, MD

Medical School: Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine

Residency: Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine

I partner with patients and their families to develop personalized treatment plans, providing guidance and support with compassion as they navigate their mental health journey.

What I love most about my work is supporting patients through critical and vulnerable moments. It is incredibly rewarding to help them recover and return home and witness the transformative impact of inpatient treatment.

I was drawn to psychiatry by my fascination with the interplay of thoughts, emotions and behaviors. I value the opportunity to use my knowledge and skills to help patients achieve lasting, positive changes in their lives.
Jessica Schnell, DNP

Post Graduate School: University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh; University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee

I believe in a holistic approach where mental health is interconnected with our mind, body and spirit. I prioritize and address all aspects of a person’s well-being, understanding that medication, exercise and therapy are equally vital components to health.

What I find most rewarding in my job is getting to know my patients, finding their root health challenges and helping them live a better life.

I was drawn to psychiatry due to personal experiences with a family member’s mental health challenges. My experience in the medical field stems from having over 12 years of service in the U.S. Army as a sergeant for our medical personnel.
Tierra Simmons, MD

Medical School: Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University

Residency: Moorehouse School of Medicine

Board Certification: Psychiatry, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology

I was born and raised in North Carolina and attended the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics before earning my undergraduate degree in business administration from the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, with dual concentrations in entrepreneurship and marketing.

I later earned my medical doctorate from the Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University before completing my psychiatry residency at Morehouse School of Medicine, where I served as educational chief resident during my fourth year and was selected as an American Psychiatric Association diversity leadership fellow.

I reside in Atlanta, Georgia, and work as an outpatient tele-psychiatrist for ThedaCare. I’m also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. I am passionate about mentoring future generations of psychiatrists and helping them grow professionally as a part of the ThedaCare Psychiatry Residency Program.

Outside of medicine, I enjoy interior design, photography, concerts and globetrotting.
Yevgeniy “Gene” Vvedenskiy MD

Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University

Residency: Rosalind Franklin University

I am an inpatient psychiatrist specializing in general psychiatry with a particular interest in the care of patients with severe and complex psychiatric illnesses. My clinical practice focuses on the evaluation and treatment of a broad range of psychiatric conditions in acute-care settings, including mood disorders, psychotic disorders, anxiety disorders and neurocognitive disorders.

My primary academic and clinical interests are in neuropsychiatry and schizophrenia spectrum disorders. I am especially interested in the relationship between brain function and behavior, the neurobiological mechanisms underlying psychiatric illness, and the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with psychotic disorders. I strive to integrate current evidence-based practices and advances in neuroscience into patient care to improve outcomes for individuals with serious mental illness.

I choose Thedacare for the close-knit community of my peers and colleagues and its mission to address he mental health disparity in our surrounding communities

Outside of work, I prioritize spending time with my fiancé and our two dogs. My personal recreational activities are woodworking, outdoor sports and cooking.