Kelly Harrison - PGY2

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 - PGY2

Hi! My name is Grace, and I’m a PGY-2 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) Herr - PGY3

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.

Ekaterina (Katia) Vlasova - PGY4

Hi! My name is Katia and I am a PGY4 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.