Message from the Program Director

Welcome to the Kaweah Health Psychiatry Residency.

Our mission is simple: to train psychiatrists who are not only excellent clinicians but also leaders in the field. We place a strong emphasis on evidence-based care, thoughtful leadership, and the ability to adapt to every corner of psychiatry. From the very beginning, we set high expectations and provide the support needed to meet them.

The results speak for themselves. Our residents consistently score in the 90th percentile or higher on the PRITE, we have an unmatched 100% board pass rate and our graduate retention rates are outstanding, many of whom who had never heard of Visalia prior to starting their search for residency. Many of our graduates step directly into leadership positions, ready to guide programs, influence policy, and shape the future of psychiatry.

The clinical experiences here are broad and deep. Residents rotate through inpatient psychiatry, outpatient clinics in underserved rural communities, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, and structured therapy training. They also gain exposure to child inpatient psychiatry, geriatric psychiatry (the only inpatient program of its kind in the Central Valley) and addiction psychiatry in one of the few CARF-accredited ASAM 3.7 and 4.0 programs in the state. Forensic psychiatry at the county jail, a SNF STP program, and a new MHRC experience add further depth. Each year we expand our rotations so that our graduates are prepared for any role they choose.

Our faculty could succeed anywhere, yet they choose to stay here. They are united by a love for teaching and a dedication to serving the underserved. Many hold multiple board certifications and fellowships in child and adolescent psychiatry, addictions, obesity medicine, neuropsychiatry, traumatic brain injury, sleep medicine, and hypnosis. They model humility, rigor, and commitment, and we expect the same of our residents. We look for people who are bright and capable, but without ego. If you are a humble genius, this is a place where you will thrive.

We believe psychiatry training must go beyond clinical care. Residents here learn leadership, the business of medicine, and how to use technology effectively in their practice. Artificial intelligence is a central part of that. Our residents graduate fluent in using AI as a tool to improve care, making them adaptable and future-ready while always keeping their clinical judgment at the core. Research opportunities are available and well supported, but our primary goal remains producing clinicians and leaders who can excel in any setting.

We work hard, but we also believe in balance. Our culture is supportive, collegial, and grounded in the belief that training can be rigorous and enjoyable at the same time. Faculty and residents share a strong sense of purpose, but we also laugh, joke, and take care of each other along the way.

Visalia provides a low cost of living and a diverse community with significant needs. Training here means your work has a real and lasting impact.

If you are ready to be challenged, to grow, and to join a team committed to producing the best psychiatrists anywhere, the Kaweah Health Psychiatry Residency is the right place for you.

Mandee Bagga, MD, Program Director
Kaweah Health Psychiatry Residency