Current Residents
Matthew Kelly, MD
Chief Resident, 2020-2024
University of Nebraska
Why UNMC? I am a Nebraska native with a love of music, outdoor activities, and traveling to new places. I entered medical school intending to pursue a career in primary care but ultimately developed a passion for psychiatry, and I feel privileged to serve our patients and community. After graduating from UNMC in 2015, I spent four years working as a U.S. Navy flight surgeon and caring for the men and women serving our great country. I ultimately chose to return to Omaha to complete my psychiatry training because of the wonderful people here, the affordable cost of living, and the robust cultural scene. Nebraska Medicine is an institution that prioritizes patient-centered care and resident wellness, and I am grateful to train here under so many fantastic mentors and compassionate clinicians.
Andi Ngo, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2020-2024
University of Hawaii
Why UNMC? After returning home to humid, expensive Hawaii for medical school, I found myself longing for the red autumns and white winters of Omaha once more. When I was given the opportunity to interview at UNMC, I immediately booked my flight. Their genuine commitment to well-being and education shone through every conversation I had with each member of the team. The idea of spearheading a new residency program with experienced and esteemed faculty further enticed me to return! By the time I'm done with my training, I'll have 10 years of Omaha under my belt, and I'm sure I'll be adding onto that belt several more notches!
Emily Royer, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2020-2024
University of Nebraska
Why UNMC? We are staying in Omaha for training as this is an amazing city with a unique blend of affordable, safe, and family-friendly while still being exciting, entertaining, and innovative. As a student, I already recognized the exceptional leadership in our Psychiatry Department as I watched them rapidly expand and bring the WISE principles to life. I am excited about the immense opportunities to engage with our supportive faculty and grow alongside my awesome co-residents!
Logan Ford, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2021-2025
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Why UNMC? When I moved back to my home state of Nebraska, I selected a place as close to UNMC as I could find with the dream of attending medical school here. In the next four years, I had the opportunity to work with and get to know the people of the psychiatry department well. After seeing their dedication to patient care and commitment to teaching aspiring mental health providers, it was an easy decision to commit to another four years of residency at UNMC. The faculty and my co-residents, who have become my friends, have made for the ideal place to continue learning to practice psychiatry. UNMC has made my goal of providing patient care in Nebraska a reality, and I look forward to many more years in the state I call home!
Bryndis Grissom, DO
Psychiatry resident, 2021-2025
University of North Texas Health Science Center Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why UNMC? I couples matched to UNMC, and we are so thrilled to be a part of an institution with such open and friendly people that are supportive of our wellness, training, and future aspirations. UNMC has so many great opportunities for future psychiatrists to be able to explore the growing field. On my virtual interview day with UNMC, I was drawn to how personable and funny everyone was, and I felt that it was a place where I could see myself fitting in. Since I couples matched, we kept an Excel spreadsheet of our post-interview thoughts and compared notes when we were making our combined lists in March. The end of my UNMC notes said “I would be really happy here”, and I was right!
Tianqi (Nina) Luo, DO
Psychiatry resident, 2021-2025
Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Why UNMC? Before starting residency at UNMC, I had never set foot in Omaha. I went to medical school in Chicago and wanted to stay in the Midwest with its friendly people and affordable cost of living. For me, it was also a priority to be at a program where resident wellness was valued. I remember being impressed with how genuinely happy the residents were when I met them during the social hour. I took a leap of faith, and UNMC has truly exceeded my expectations. Wellness is not just a talking point but a core tenant of the culture here. Coming from out of state, I feel valued and included by all the kind people here. Having lived in big cities for most of my life, I can honestly say that Omaha has just about everything I would want including good ramen and bubble tea! I feel incredibly fortunate to have ended up here and can't wait to meet our next class of residents.
Maxwell Lydiatt, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2021-2025
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Why UNMC? I grew up in Bellevue, so Nebraska has always been my home. I choose UNMC because I really like living in Omaha and the program here really was a good fit for me. UNMC has (or will have) every fellowship opportunity that I am interested in, and I really vibe well with the people in the department. I've already been able to connect with great mentors and so far I have been able to learn a lot through our didactic program. When considering other programs for residency I always compared them to the culture of kindness and collegiality in the UNMC psychiatry department and couldn’t find anything better.
Olivia Ochuba, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2021-2025
Creighton University
Why UNMC? I was born and raised in Omaha and plan to stay here to practice psychiatry after I finish residency. I wanted a Nebraska program with a strong focus on education, a supportive environment, and a focus on wellness. UNMC was the obvious choice for me. I know when my training is complete I will be competent in my field while meeting great mentors and friends along the way. I truly feel like our program is a community and a great environment to learn and train.
George Blankenau, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2022-2026
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Why UNMC? I remember working the UNMC Psychiatry Shadowing Clinic. The first patient had severe anxiety which had kept them from obtaining a driver’s license, finding a job, and completing their GED. After interviewing the patient and presenting them, the psychiatrist and I returned to see the patient together. Within five minutes of talking, the patient opened up to the psychiatrist and informed them of a history of trauma that was very relevant to their treatment, and which I had missed. I was impressed by how the psychiatrist’s ability to build trust with the patient had improved their care, and I knew that I wanted to learn that skill.
Jacob Givens, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2022-2026
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Why UNMC? I cannot wait to give back to a community that has given me so much during my educational journey in medical school and now residency. Getting the opportunity to work in a community mental health clinic really was a rewarding experience. As my third-year rotations went on, I found myself gravitating toward patients with psychiatric diagnoses on other services, often finding those patient encounters more rewarding and fulfilling. On top of all of that, the public health aspect of psychiatry really interests me, and I feel my future advocacy work, especially surrounding LGBTQIA+ mental health, would be achievable in psychiatry.
Harrison Greene, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2022-2026
University of Nebraska Medical Center
Why UNMC? I’m excited to be staying here to continue my training. I had fantastic experiences with the psychiatry faculty and residents as a medical student, and I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work alongside them as a resident. Furthermore, Omaha is a great city to live in and I’ll appreciate staying close to family and friends.
Casey Reihe, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2022-2026
University of South Dakota
Why UNMC? I grew up in South Dakota, and my wife is from Nebraska. We both love the Midwest, so naturally we were happy to move to Omaha. The city is full of things to do and places to eat, and the people are great. Since it’s so affordable here we bought a house, and we couldn’t have asked for better neighbors. The UNMC community is just as wonderful. The faculty and staff prioritize wellness and education, and their ability to teach effectively is impressive. I legitimately look forward to waking up each day to continue my residency training here.
Mukanya Tchombela, DO
Psychiatry resident, 2022-2026
Rocky Vista University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Why UNMC? I was always interested in understanding human behavior and in trying to figure out why people do the things they do. As a child, I would spend countless hours alone in my head trying to process my own feelings, and I would always feel relieved after figuring out what was causing my distress. Overall, I have always been interested in learning about human behavior, and I hope someday I would gain the tools to help modify it to improve quality of life both on an individual and societal level.
Keisha England, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2023-2027
University of Kansas
Why UNMC? I chose UNMC because of the department's dedication to the wellness of their residents. The administration is adamant about us using all our vacation time and making sure we have time to take care of ourselves. Residency is hard but having the department behind you advocating for your well-being is so valuable. The people here really care about me as a person and truly want me to be successful in my field. The support is exactly what I need in my first year and I am thankful to have matched here.
Monica Nava Frenier, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2023-2027
University of Illinois, Chicago
Why UNMC? I knew this program prioritized resident wellness just as much as providing a rigorous and engaging curriculum for Psychiatry residents. Additionally, Omaha is a great place to serve the underserved, especially those of Latinx descent, which is a passion of mine. Lastly, I chose UNMC because it is close to home and being close to family is very important to me.
Christian Pollema, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2023-2027
University of South Dakota
Why UNMC? Born and raised in the Midwest, I couldn't be happier to be continuing my training at UNMC. I frequently visited Omaha while growing up, and I am proud to now be able to call this city home. I was drawn to UNMC by the leadership's emphasis on wellness and professional development in their learners. Now that I'm here, I can attest to the program's commitment to ensuring residents are afforded ample opportunities to explore the many facets of psychiatry. It is evident that despite being a newer program, our faculty strives to ensure residents are offered all of the experiences necessary to achieve their career goals. All of the faculty and residents have been so welcoming, supportive, and genuinely fun to be around. I am extremely grateful to be a part of this community and can't wait to see what the next four years hold!
Charlotte Ritchie, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2023-2027
Creighton University
Why UNMC? I first moved to Omaha for medical school in 2019. Moving to the Midwest from the Pacific Northwest was definitely a change for me, but I have come to enjoy everything that Omaha has to offer. It has been especially exciting to see the new ways that the city has changed and expanded over the past several years. Additionally, I participated in the couple's match and it truly stood out to me how communicative and supportive the faculty in both departments were during the interview season. Since UNMC Psychiatry is a relatively new program, I am eager to witness its development and even be a part of the program's growth over the next four years.
Claire Stavenga, MD
Psychiatry resident, 2023-2027
American University of the Caribbean
Why UNMC? I chose UNMC Psychiatry because of the program's commitment to resident wellness and professional mentorship.