Audrey Eichenberger

Why UTSW Psychiatry?
During my fourth year of medical school, I was able to complete a month-long away rotation with PGY3 psychiatry residents at UTSW. Throughout the experience, I was blown away by how genuinely close the residents were and how supportive the program leadership was. Everyone I encountered was welcoming and eager to steer me in a direction that would help me reach both my professional and personal goals. Dr. Brenner and the Associate Program Directors’ dedication to resident wellness was evident, as they frequently checked in with residents and emphasized the program’s motto, “never worry alone.” Similarly, when I returned to UTSW for my residency interview day, I was greeted by a community of sincere and kindhearted individuals who were eager to provide me with information and offer their support. I was attracted by how down-to-earth the residents and attendings were, and I thought, “these are my people.”
Moreover, I was drawn to the variety of clinical experiences offered, as UTSW residents rotate through university, county, VA, and pediatric hospital systems, as well as a large community psychiatry system. It was important for me to be able to learn how to provide patient-centered care for diverse patient populations, and I found that UTSW made this a possibility through its heterogeneity of training sites. UTSW also offers fellowships in addiction psychiatry, child and adolescent psychiatry, consultation-liaison psychiatry, forensic psychiatry, and geriatric psychiatry, and having all five of these fellowships available allows for a wide breadth of exposure in training.
As a resident, I am continuously impressed by the program’s commitment to mentorship and education. Throughout my rotations, I’ve worked with attendings who truly go out of their way to teach and promote professional development. I’ve witnessed and even helped with changes in the program’s didactics series, as there is a strong emphasis on growth and improvement within the program. I’ve had ample opportunity to get involved in important work outside of my clinical responsibilities, such as in the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and LGBTQI+ Committee. Furthermore, I’ve been able to build supportive and long-lasting relationships with my wonderful co-resident colleagues. Overall, I am happy to train within this program and be a part of this community!
Career Goals
At this time, I am planning to pursue a career in geriatric psychiatry, as I am passionate about caring and advocating for older adults. I hope to enhance quality of life among this vulnerable and underserved patient population, as well as provide support and guidance for caregivers. I’m interested in working within a variety of settings, including inpatient units and nursing homes. Fortunately, through the UTSW residency program, I have been connected with multiple mentors within the field thus far. In addition, I intend to get involved in psychiatric legislative advocacy efforts to work toward mental health care equity and social justice.
Education
|
School |
Major |
Degree Earned |
Undergraduate |
Baylor University |
University Scholars |
B.A. |
M.D. |
Texas A&M College of Medicine |
|
M.D. |
Follow Me for a Week
|
Morning |
Afternoon |
Monday |
Neuropsychological Testing Elective |
Psychotherapy and Group Psychotherapy Supervision |
Tuesday |
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Supervision |
Didactics and Group Psychotherapy |
Wednesday |
Parkland Outpatient Psychiatry Clinic (POPC) Case Conference and Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Supervision |
Psychotherapy |
Thursday |
Psychodynamic Psychotherapy Supervision and Scholarly Project Elective |
Scholarly Project Elective |
Friday |
Medication Management at POPC |
Medication Management at POPC |
Saturday |
Sleep in, make coffee and breakfast, spend time with friends or talk on the phone with family |
Spend time with friends watching movies or trying different restaurants |
Sunday |
Sleep in, clean apartment, get groceries |
Watch TV, read a book, and prepare for the upcoming work week |