2026 Welcome Message for Trainees, Faculty

Dear psychiatry residents, fellows, and psychology trainees,

As we begin 2026, I want to extend my warmest wishes to each of you and to share how proud I am of our training programs and our learning community here in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at UC Davis.

Our trainees continue to bring extraordinary energy, curiosity, and commitment to patient care, education, research, and service. These are qualities deeply felt by our patients, our teams, and our community. On behalf of our education leadership, thank you for the work you do every day.

We are at an important moment for mental health education nationally and locally. The ongoing mental health needs of our communities underscore the urgency of training the next generation of psychiatrists, psychologists, and allied mental health professionals across disciplines. I am grateful for the creativity, teamwork, and collaborative spirit that define our learning environment.

Looking ahead, I am excited about the work planned for the months and years to come. We will be engaging in a focused education strategic planning process to guide program growth and innovation, including residency and fellowship complement expansions and the development of a Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship led by Mary-Ann Abraham, M.D. (to start July 2027). This work will build on the strong foundation already in place and align our educational mission with emerging workforce and community needs.

I am also proud of the department’s recent (four) CalMedForce+ grants (funded by the State of California), which will support meaningful expansion of training opportunities and strengthen our role in workforce development across California. This effort reflects the outstanding leadership and shared vision of our education community.

None of this would be possible without the exceptional work of our training directors, the faculty Education Council, and our training staff led by Christine Bertini, whose dedication to learners is evident every day. I am deeply grateful for their leadership, thoughtfulness, and sustained commitment to educational excellence. I also want to thank our department chair, Helen Kales, M.D., and Jerry Elder, Chief Administrative Officer, for their unwavering support of our training mission.

Finally, our training team remains committed to fostering a learning environment grounded in safety, respect, professionalism, and belonging, and to supporting ongoing reflection and improvement within our training programs and systems of care.

Thank you for all that you do. I look forward to working with you in the year ahead.

With appreciation and best wishes for a healthy and fulfilling 2026,

Lorin

Lorin M. Scher, M.D., FACLP
Professor and Vice-Chair for Education
Roy T. Brophy Endowed Chair
Director, Integrated Behavioral Health Services