Kelly Harrison - PGY1

Hi everyone! My name is Kelly and I am from Massachusetts. I am thrilled to be a resident at the UConn Psychiatry Residency Program!

I went to University of Massachusetts for medical school and participated in the Population-based Urban and Rural Community Health (PURCH) program. Through this experience, I developed a strong interest in geriatric psychiatry and addiction psychiatry, as well as a deep appreciation for working with diverse and underserved patient populations.

UConn’s residency program really stood out to me because of its strong training in geriatric psychiatry, the genuinely kind and welcoming people I met during the interview process, and the size of the program, which I think creates an amazing culture of close mentorship and community! I am so excited to be training among such supportive and compassionate people!

Grace McCann - PGY1

Hi! My name is Grace, and I’m a PGY1 in the UConn Psychiatry Residency Program. I’m a lifelong Connecticut resident, born and raised in Simsbury, just about twenty minutes from Farmington, with my parents, my three brothers, and my dogs Malu and Moby. I completed my undergraduate studies at Wesleyan University, where I double-majored in Neuroscience & Behavior and Biology. From there, I continued my journey at UConn School of Medicine, and I’m proud to now call myself a double Husky!

My passion for psychiatry began with an interest in opioid prescribing practices in injured athletes. Before medical school, I worked with sports medicine physicians and my favorite research projects where those looking at prescribing patterns and how substance use influences surgical outcomes. This early exposure to addictions sparked a lasting interest that I continued throughout medical school and at UConn I founded the Addiction Medicine Interest Group. During my time at UConn, I also pursued a Master’s in Public Health, which allowed me to bridge my clinical interests with other fields. Through the Institute for Municipal and Regional Policy at UConn’s School of Public Policy, I was involved in research examining public policy related to substance use disorder treatment, Connecticut’s crisis response systems, and mental health care within the incarcerated population. That experience reinforced one of the main reasons I wanted to stay in Connecticut. The state offers incredible opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration between medicine, public health, and policy. UConn’s size and scope also makes it an ideal place to engage in this interdisciplinary work and take advantage of the many resources available across its campuses and programs.

What ultimately drew me to the UConn Psychiatry Residency was the strong sense of community. UConn provides not only an outstanding educational and clinical foundation, but also an incredible network of mentors and peers. As a medical student rotating here, I was struck by how genuinely supportive and approachable everyone was; from residents to faculty and staff. Now as a resident I have continued to experience that. Everyone truly looks out for one another, which has made the transition from student to resident so much easier. It has been so fun spending time and getting to know my new class and the other residents both at work and outside of work these past few months. When choosing a residency program, the people I would be working alongside was one of the most important factors in my decision, and I couldn’t have found a more amazing group than the one here at UConn.

Outside of work, I love staying active and exploring new places around Connecticut. You’ll often find me at SolidCore, checking out new restaurants and breweries, skiing in the winter, or cheering on UConn basketball. Connecticut might be small, (and I might be biased as a life long resident) but it has so much to offer and I couldn’t be happier to be spending the next four years here!

Victoria (Tori) Nee - PGY2

Hi! My name is Tori and I’m ecstatic to call myself a UConn psychiatry resident. I grew up in the smallest town in Connecticut, Union, where I spent a lot of time in the woods, hanging out with my dogs, and playing little league baseball. I went on to attend UConn for undergrad (go Huskies!) where I dual majored in psychology and molecular and cell biology.

Before medical school, I was a case manager at a detox center in Boston, where I helped connect patients with resources and referrals to aftercare programs for continued treatment. I then worked as a mental health technician at an inpatient psychiatric facility in Massachusetts, where I spent a lot of time with patients suffering from various psychiatric illnesses. I enjoyed spending time with them and helping them get through their hospitalization with emotional support and laughter. Working closely with these patients made me realize my passion for mental health and inspired me to become a psychiatrist.

During medical school, I volunteered for a crisis text line and the Alzheimer’s Association, where I facilitated support groups for caregivers of people with dementia. I was also involved with my school’s psychiatry interest group and the Medical Student Pride Alliance.

I was thrilled to find out I would be returning home to UConn. I was drawn to the warm and welcoming vibes of the faculty and residents, in addition to the strong clinical training and research opportunities. When I’m not at the hospital, I like to go to breweries, try out West Hartford’s many great restaurants, and spend time with my two cats.

Komal Gulati - PGY3

Hi! My name is Komal, and I am so happy to be training with UConn Psychiatry! I was born in New Haven and grew up in lovely Norwalk, CT.

I went to UConn for undergrad, where I double majored in Cognitive Neuroscience and Human Rights. After graduating, I spent a year working for a neuroscience-based management consulting company in NYC, where I collaborated on practical applications of neuroscience and learned more about myself as a person outside of the academic setting. I then moved to Philly to attend medical school at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, where I also earned my Master’s in Urban Bioethics.

While in Philly, I became involved with NAMI Philadelphia as a volunteer and later as a member of the Board of Directors, where I collaborated in leading community mental health support groups, presented to advocate for mental health needs, and now continue to fundraise and organize an annual 5K for mental health in the city. One of my favorite things about psychiatry is the unique opportunity to not only be a patient advocate at the individual level, but also an advocate for policy changes for disadvantaged populations. I relish discovering the avenues for positive change once tuning into our community’s needs.

When applying to residency, I sought a program with a warm, laid-back, and collegiate environment, which is what I’ve felt since becoming a resident at UConn. My class became fast friends within the first couple of weeks of residency, always finding new things to do or places to eat, and I wouldn’t change a thing about us! In terms of the workplace, we get to work closely with our attendings, and have plenty of opportunities to pick up different therapeutic skills and approaches from each person that we work with. In addition to the work environment, it was important for me to be closer to home and closer to great pizza (and other food), both of which are true for me in Connecticut!

Ekaterina (Katia) Vlasova - PGY3

Hi! My name is Katia and I am a PGY3 in UConn's psychiatry program. I was born in St. Petersburg, Russia and came to the US with my parents at a young age. I grew up in the Philadelphia suburbs and attended Bryn Mawr College for undergrad, where I studied molecular biology and contemplative traditions. Before attending medical school at Sidney Kimmel Medical College in Philadelphia, I completed a Watson Fellowship which allowed me to carry out a year-long, self-designed project of studying the mind-body connection in contemplative communities around the world. My fieldwork took me to India, Germany, Thailand, Japan, and Peru. I also completed a year-long healthcare design and innovation fellowship in Washington DC which shaped my interest in design thinking.

My interest in psychiatry grew out of exploration of the mind-body connection, especially in studying mindfulness and how intentional contemplative practices can have physiological impacts, even on the epigenetic level.

When looking at residency programs, I wanted to find a program that had a strong sense of community among the residents, a good work-life balance, and a solid foundation of psychiatric training. I was also interested in having opportunities to learn more about psychodynamic psychotherapy. I found all of the above and more at UConn and I am glad that my path brought me to train here. I've enjoyed working with, and learning from the faculty members, and have felt a great culture of camaraderie and mentorship between resident classes.

Alexander Luo - PGY3

Hi! I'm Alexander, and I'm very excited to be here at UConn for Psychiatry. I grew up in central Jersey but moved down south to attend undergrad at Vanderbilt. My major was Medicine, Health, and Society, which is an integrated science-medicine-sociology major that allowed to me fulfill my pre-med requirements while also taking unique courses on topics such as Women's Health in Literature and Autism Spectrum. I was also very fortunate to have the opportunity to join and eventually help lead medical mission trips abroad in Honduras and Nicaragua with some of my classmates during my Spring Breaks. I attended medical school back in New Jersey at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson where I had the pleasure of serving within my home community through our student-run clinic. I did not decide on Psychiatry until I found myself enjoying my third-year rotation, but, looking back, it's obvious to me now that many of my interests and activities had been leading me towards Psychiatry for years.

My experience here at UConn has been very positive so far. Some highlights for me have been knowledgeable yet approachable attendings who enjoy teaching and supportive co-residents and staff. Overall, I feel a strong sense of teamwork within the department, and I enjoy seeing the people I work with every day. I also think UConn does a great job balancing autonomy vs supervision, providing opportunities to hone our clinical skills while maintaining a supportive environment where questions are treated as learning opportunities rather than failures.

Outside of medicine, my hobbies include skiing, mountain biking, tennis, and food. We are located only two hours from some great Vermont destinations, and I am always looking for new ski and bike buddies! Also, my fiancé and I are raising an adorable golden retriever pup!

Luis Velez Figueroa - PGY4

Hello! My name is Luis, and I am super excited to have matched at the UConn psychiatry residency! I was born in Ponce, Puerto Rico, and grew up in El Paso and San Antonio, Texas. During my senior year of high school, my family moved back to PR. I stayed in PR for undergrad on a tennis scholarship and went on to medical school in Bayamón, Puerto Rico, at Universidad Central del Caribe. Initially, my interest was cardiology, where I led a number of research studies, including the implementation of a pharmacogenetic-driven algorithm to guide dual anti-platelet therapy in Caribbean Hispanic patients. However, after nine years on the island, pivotal experiences such as Hurricane Maria, the earthquakes in 2020, and the COVID-19 pandemic changed that focus. These instances propelled me to be an active helper in organizing excursions to affected areas through a student-run medical relief group called "Medicina Urbana." It was through this work that I was exposed to a behavioral health unit from a neighboring medical school that piqued my interest in psychiatry. From then on, I knew psychiatry was the field for me, and my clinical rotations further solidified that feeling.

To match at UConn was an absolute dream come true. The residents and faculty have always been approachable, even from day one, always ready to assist someone in need. It is the friendly and intellectually stimulating atmosphere, added to the innumerable opportunities of taking part in collaborative projects, that keeps me motivated toward developing in my career. UConn has also allowed me to start initiatives with underserved populations in Hartford while allowing me to pursue research in psycho-oncology under our own supportive care clinic.  I’ve also had the space to present my work at several conferences since intern year with UConn staff always being accommodating and supportive of pursuing research. Although my family presently resides in Seattle, this supportive and warm environment at UConn make it feel like a second home.”

Sarah Stinson - PGY4

Hello! My name is Sarah Stinson, and I am a PGY4 in UConn’s psychiatry program. I originally grew up in Santa Rosa, California. I then moved to attend UC Berkeley for college, where I studied psychology and creative writing, pursuing an interest in the mind and the human condition. I was dedicated to work helping peers with mental health on campus including serving as a coordinator of Student-to-Student Peer Counseling, and facilitating courses for undergraduate students on body image.

An interest in addiction research led me to work as a research coordinator for several years in the Stanford Prevention Research Center, contributing to two clinical research trials focused on smoking cessation interventions in the San Francisco Bay Area and rural Alaska. I remain interested in contributing to research during residency, including emerging areas in psychiatry research. California Northstate University College of Medicine was where I attended medical school near family, which propelled my interest in psychiatry forward, and connected me to the next step of my journey at UConn.

The University of Connecticut’s program has been a positive experience thus far, providing strong clinical training working with diverse patients, within a supportive culture that offers truly both autonomy and helpful supervision. There is also wonderful mentorship for scholarly projects and a warm and friendly group of residents and faculty in the program. Connecticut itself offers whatever one might seek, including experiences in nature, the arts, large cities, local places to play trivia with other residents, and seasons.