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Allesa English, MD, director of psychiatric residency for UTHSC

During her third year of medical school, Allesa English, MD began a psychiatry rotation, and admits at the time, she had little understanding of psychiatric illnesses. Yet, from that moment she began a fascination with the processes of the mind, and switched her concentration from pharmacy to psychiatry.

One of my favorite parts, and the reason I love psychiatry is you meet people at a really low point, then watch them get better and see their personalities come out and be able to function," English said.

Mental illness is poorly understood by the general population, and that fact drives her to work toward uncovering those mysteries and spreading awareness about the role mental health plays in overall health.

"People have a lot of sympathy for a broken leg but they don't really understand what you mean when you're depressed," said English. "It's been nice to be able to support people in those kinds of situations and see them be able to function again and do well and live full lives, the best that they can."

Appointed the director of psychiatric residency at University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) in April, English oversees the clinical content and training of all psychiatric residents. In Memphis, residents have a unique opportunity to gain exposure to diverse facets of psychiatry, from state hospitals like the MED and VA Hospital to private and non-profits such as St. Francis and Le Bonheur. From child psychiatry to geriatrics, English said the residency program is robust.

The most enjoyable aspect of being director, she said, "is helping the residents figure out what they want to do and what they envision for their career. Working with residents one-on-one and helping them to meet their goals is the best part of the job."

Within the residency program, English said she would like to increase even further the amount of exposure residents have to different aspects of psychiatry, and advocates for expanding the knowledge base of the specialty, such as in forensic psychiatry with the local incarcerated population. In 2009 a new research initiative will offer incoming residents the opportunity to be a cohort and develop their own research projects.

"I believe that psychiatry residents and psychiatrists need to have a strong understanding of medicine in general," she noted. "I'd like to see our program continue to develop very well-rounded psychiatrists."

The residency directorship takes nearly 50 percent of English's time, while the rest is spent as psychiatrist to university healthcare students. English also maintains a small private practice at UTMG four hours per week.

A transplant from Baltimore, English completed her internship at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center and residency at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. There she focused on community psychiatry, working in a high-volume urban clinic and supervising staff therapists as well as participating in mobile treatment. After Johns Hopkins, she accepted a position at Howard University in Washington, D.C., as the university psychiatric support for undergrad and graduate students.

When English came into the specialty innovative medicines were advancing the abilities of psychiatric treatment. Now technological advances are allowing clinicians to get a better look at how the brain works.

"We're learning so much more about the biological basis of psychiatric disorders, so it's a really exciting time to be in the field," added English.

In 2006, English moved to Memphis with her husband who received a scholarship to the University of Memphis psychology program.

The rich experience in community mental health and outpatient service has been a strong foundation for English, and further heightened one of her biggest professional passions – depression in African American women. She has given talks about the subject in Memphis and is reaching out to that population locally.

"It's really been very rewarding because still in this age when we know more about it, and the feedback that I've gotten (is people) finally feel that someone is addressing it in a way they understand," she said. "I've had a lot of people come up to me and want more information."

Currently she's looking into research on how to best treat and educate that population. Her long term goal, she said, is to look at the differences in drug metabolism in African American women.

Where she'd like to see changes in the specialty are education and awareness for the public, which, she said, "can make a lot of difference in terms of funding and insurance parity, and the role that psychiatry plays (in healthcare)."

She'd also like to see more partnering with primary care physicians on an ongoing basis to better identify the true needs of patients and the best course of therapy.

One of the areas in which she'd like to see improvement is indigent care.

"If you don't have TennCare or private insurance, you really don't have very many options or the resources to pursue those options," she said. "We really have to address that."

Overall she enjoys working within the complex population of Memphis, which is challenging, she said, not only because of the illnesses but because of social acceptance. She also looks forward to the opportunities the local population will offer toward her work with depression in African American women.

When she's off duty, English is busy being a new mom to her 10-month-old son. She and her husband have engaged in the community and are active in their church. They've optimistically planted their roots in Memphis.

"There is a lot of potential here and we'd like to be a part of that improvement."

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Allesa English, University of Tennessee Health Science Center

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