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Aarti Kapur, M.D.
Current Role: PGY-4 Resident
Hometown: Elon, North Carolina
Undergraduate Education: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC
Medical Education: American University of the Caribbean, St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles
Background Information
I studied psychology as an undergraduate at UNC-Chapel Hill and after graduating I worked as a research assistant at the Behavioral Research and Therapy Clinics at the University of Washington under the supervision of Dr. Marsha Linehan, who founded Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). My work with Dr. Linehan provided me invaluable experience in the intricacies of psychotherapy. At the same time I became more intrigued by the biology behind cognition and behavior.
Interest in Psychiatry
The long term relationships that are the norm in psychiatry are rarely present in other medical specialties. I feel the length of my relationships with my patients will allow me to effect change in their lives in a way I could not in any other discipline. I wanted to learn more about the interactions between the mind and the body, about how human biology can affect mental processes and about how emotion and behavior can affect disease. My primary interest became learning about the neural mechanisms that underline emotion and behavior, and how the body regulates such mechanisms. I feel that it is a particularly exciting time to be joining the field of psychiatry as recent advances in neuroscience, pharmacology, and imaging have enhanced our understanding of the mind-body connection, and new effective treatments appear every few months.
Interest in VCU Residency
I researched several psychiatry programs before deciding on VCU as my top choice. What impressed me the most was the warm and inviting atmosphere. The residents all appeared to be happy in the program and the camaraderie amongst the residents is excellent. I have been very pleased with the approachability of the faculty and their commitment to teaching. Attendings treat residents as colleagues for the most part, and are very accessible. It is an extremely supportive environment. Clinical training is solid, well-balanced, with experience in a variety of settings, and exposure to an amazingly diverse patient population. The program stresses the importance of integrating both psychopharmacology and psychotherapy and makes it a priority to spend equivalent time teaching both. In addition this program has a terrific wealth of research opportunities, in which I hope to get more involved during my more senior years.
Future Plans
I am interested in doing a fellowship in Forensic Psychiatry after completing my resident training, and would also like to be active in an academic setting.
Other Comments
Before starting this program, I never thought a residency could be “fun.” This is a program built upon faculty, staff and residents who want to be here and really enjoy what they do. The camaraderie amongst our peers is extensive. I feel that we work together well, and most importantly our residents will go the extra mile to help each other. I could not envision myself at any other program.
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Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Medicine, Dept of Psychiatry
Last Update: November, 2009 according to departmental policy
1200 East Broad Street, P.O. Box 980710, Richmond, VA 23298-0710
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