Message from the Program Director

Welcome to the Psychiatry Residency Program at St. Joseph’s Medical Center in Stockton, CA! I am proud to introduce our program, which welcomed its inaugural class in 2021 and has grown steadily since then.

We are a community-based program, developed in partnership with Napa State Hospital, one of the oldest state hospitals in California. Our mission is to train psychiatrists who provide the highest quality of care for the medically and psychiatrically under-served, under-insured, and culturally diverse communities of Northern California, including San Joaquin County, California Department of State Hospitals, and the VA Northern California Healthcare System. Our primary training sites include St. Joseph's Medical Center, St. Joseph's Behavioral Health Center, Napa State Hospital, Touro University Medical Group and the VA Northern California Healthcare System. Residents receive comprehensive training in all aspects of psychiatry across a variety of clinical settings and learn to care for a diverse group of patients with varied socioeconomic backgrounds.

We have an expanding team of dedicated faculty with extensive clinical experience, and diverse academic and personal backgrounds. Most of our core faculty have sub-specialty training in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Geriatric Psychiatry, Forensic Psychiatry, and Addiction Psychiatry. They provide outstanding supervision and education to our residents, blending evidence-based medicine with the art of psychiatry, along with a rich and engaging didactic curriculum.

Additionally, the research divisions at St. Joseph's Medical Center and Napa State Hospital are committed to promoting scholarly activity and quality improvement. Residents have extensive opportunities to engage in research and scholarly projects, working closely with supportive faculty to explore and develop their individual interests.

I joined the program as Core Faculty and Assistant Program Director in 2023 and have found it incredibly rewarding to be part of such a passionate and supportive community. In 2025, I had the immense honor of stepping into the role of Program Director. My own path in psychiatry has always been shaped by a deep commitment to service and mentorship. What inspires me most about this field is the privilege of walking alongside patients during their most vulnerable moments and helping our residents learn to do the same with skill and compassion.

We take great pride in offering a training program that is both rigorous and nurturing, one where residents are valued, well-supported and deeply connected to the mission of our program.

We hope you enjoy learning about our program and thank you for your interest!

Dr. Stephanie Dong