New Psychiatry Residency Program Boosts Mental Health Access and Care in Southwest Indiana
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Indiana University School of Medicine-Evansville, in clinical sponsorship with Deaconess Hospital, is proud to announce the formal accreditation of its new Psychiatry Residency. This accreditation marks a significant milestone in expanding specialized medical education and mental health resources within the southwest Indiana region.
The program is designed to address the growing need for mental health professionals by providing rigorous, evidence-based clinical training. By combining the academic excellence of the IU School of Medicine with the clinical infrastructure of Deaconess Hospital, residents will gain comprehensive experience in diverse psychiatric settings.
A cornerstone of this residency is the academic partnership with the Mary O’Daniel Stone and Bill Stone Center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. This collaboration provides residents and faculty with unique opportunities to engage in real-world, evidence-based research, and academic training.
“There is a critical shortage of psychiatrists nationally, and community members cannot access desperately needed care," said program director, Julianne Guist, MD. " Through this partnership, we will train the next generation of psychiatrists right here in Evansville, ensuring long-term access to critical mental health services for our neighbors. Mary O'Daniel Stone and Bill Stone have been key to making this vision a reality through their extraordinary generosity and commitment to strengthening behavioral healthcare and medical education in our community.”
“Our partnership between Deaconess and IU ensures the establishment of a sustainable pipeline for specialized talent right here in southwest Indiana. Physicians are significantly more likely to practice close to where they complete their training, allowing our best and brightest residents the ability to build their careers and their lives within our community. Providing the environment where our physicians can thrive will ultimately increase long-term access to critical psychiatric care for the families and the community we serve,” said David Goodrich, MS, MBA, System Vice President, Academic Affairs at Deaconess.
The residency program is currently finalizing its curriculum and faculty recruitment and scheduled to welcome its inaugural cohort of residents in July 2027.
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About Indiana University School of Medicine
The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 15 in 2025 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.
About Deaconess Health System
Deaconess Health System is a premiere provider of health care services to a population of more than 1.5 million in southwestern Indiana, western Kentucky and southeastern Illinois. The system – based in Evansville, Indiana – includes 22 hospitals – among them Deaconess Midtown Hospital, Deaconess Gateway Hospital, The Women’s Hospital, Deaconess Henderson Hospital, Deaconess Memorial Medical Center and numerous other hospital affiliates. Deaconess Clinic, a fully integrated multispecialty group featuring primary care physicians as well as top specialty doctors, provides patients with consistent and convenient care. Additional components include the Linda E. White Hospice House, a freestanding cancer center, urgent care facilities, near-site clinics, telemedicine, virtual visits, a network of preferred hospitals and doctors and multiple partnerships with other regional health care providers.
