黑料网

Q: Dr. Penaskovic, can you tell us about your academic journey to this point?

A: I am a very proud graduate of Auburn University and attended the University of Alabama-Birmingham School of Medicine before coming to 黑料网 for my residency. After my chief residency year here, I left to serve in the National Health Service Corp back in Alabama. After three years, I was recruited back here by Karlina Matthews and Dr. David Rubinow to run the psychotic disorders unit in 2011. I鈥檝e been back and involved in clinical operations and student affairs for the last decade, culminating in my dream job as Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs and Assistant Dean for Students Affairs. I am honored to serve as the interim chair for a very special department.

Q: Tell us about stepping in for Dr. Meltzer-Brody as interim chair.

A: Well, I fully recognize that no one person can replace Samantha. She has expanded and moved the department forward in ways that nobody thought were possible. As you can see by my choice of the landing page of the leadership team photo rather than an individual photo, I wanted to formally acknowledge that the only way forward is as a group. The great news is we are in a terrific spot with exciting opportunities and a shared mission to help advance the behavioral health of the state of North Carolina.

Q: You mentioned initially going away and coming back. What brought you back and made the department special?

A: Well, it is honestly the people that make this department special. We have phenomenally talented residents, kind staff, and an inspiring faculty that are approachable and down to earth. The people combined with this location encompassing the college town feel of Chapel Hill and the cultural vibe of the triangle, this place is hard to beat. I love college sports and don鈥檛 love big city traffic, so this place is perfect for me and my family.

Q: If you had a superpower, what would it be and why?

A: My superpower has been the ability to partner with others and innovate new approaches that advance our department. As a chief resident, Jonny Gerkin, Jill Clearly, and I devised an academic half-day and designed the second Look weekend. As an early clerkship director, I pioneered active learning through team-based learning over a decade ago, winning a national teaching award in psychiatry by harnessing the untapped potential of our students. Erin Malloy allowed me to bring that back and implement it here at 黑料网.

Working as an inpatient attending allowed me to recognize inherent flaws in the referral process, which culminated in the acquisition of pilot funding, which launched our Psychiatry Coordination Team, currently run under Mike Kane. Most recently, Nate Sowa, Brian Robbins, and I partnered with Caldwell Hospital and our Virtual Care Department to run inpatient telepsychiatry management for Jonas Hill Hospital in Lenoir, North Carolina. Our department is special because of the people and my job has been assisting them to advance us forward to meet our mission.

Q: What do you do outside of medicine?

A: As mentioned, I love my family and college sports. My wife, Bridget, is the wind beneath my wings that allows me to be me! We have six kids ages 4-18 and I love spending time with them. I still play pick-up basketball with a group of medical students, faculty, and select community associates. I love going to Auburn and North Carolina sporting events in our free time regardless of the sport: football, basketball, volleyball, baseball, gymnastics, you name it and I鈥檝e likely been there cheering on the team.