Current Residents

Class of 2026

George Blankenau, MD

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

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

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

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,

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.

Class of 2025

Logan Ford, MD

University of Nebraska Medical Center

Bryndis Grissom, DO

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

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

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. Ive 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 at in the UNMC psychiatry department and couldn’t find anything better.

Class of 2024

Andi Ngo, MD

University of Hawaii

Michaelyn Everhart, MD

University of Kansas

Why UNMC? Being born and raised in Kansas, I have a deep love for the Midwest. I had visited Omaha several times prior to residency, and I was always impressed by the wide array of local restaurants and the local music scene. When I interviewed at UNMC, I knew it was the place I wanted to be. I felt this would be a program where my wellness would be put upfront, so I could focus on learning how to be the best caregiver I can be.

Emily Royer, MD

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!

Matthew Kelly, MD

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. 

Zachary Rupp, MD

Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine

Why UNMC? UNMC is a great place to work. The faculty and staff are very approachable; sometimes when there is a break between lectures or appointments I will stop by their office to just talk with them about life. During these moments of informal mentoring, they will discuss anything from patients to what my career goals are. Another great aspect of UNMC is my fellow residents, we are always there for each other be it the good times or the hard times. I enjoy working with them, I learn so much from them, and I can say there is never a shortage of laughter when I am around them. UNMC is a wonderful place to be, I am so thankful I work here!