Thank you so much for your interest in the Mississippi State Hospital Psychiatry Residency Program. We are now entering our fifth year of training residents, and we’re very proud of the unique experience we offer here.

One of the great strengths of our program is that you will work with some of the sickest and most complex psychiatric patients. You will also have the opportunity to treat them over a longer period of time, allowing you to truly see the impact of medications and therapeutic interventions—rather than the brief, turnstile encounters that can happen in other programs.

Our dedicated faculty are deeply committed to teaching at a high level. My own background is as both a neurologist and psychiatrist, and I’ve been involved in medical student and resident education for many years. My motivation is to help train the very best psychiatrists we can. Residency should be challenging—it’s not meant to be easy—but it should also be supportive. At the end of this journey, you should feel fully prepared to pass your boards, to practice in a wide range of clinical settings, and to deliver excellent care to your patients.

I completed two residencies and fellowships myself, and spent two decades on the faculty of major universities, so I understand what it takes to become a well-rounded and skilled psychiatrist. We will prepare you for that.

I also have the great fortune of working alongside our Associate Program Director, Dr. Dakhlalla. He was once a resident of mine and has since become an outstanding clinician, teacher, and colleague. In some programs there can be friction in leadership, but I’m proud to say that Dr. Dakhlalla and I work together seamlessly—our strengths truly complement each other.

We’re also supported by our amazing Program Coordinator, who has over a decade of experience in Graduate Medical Education and is exceptionally skilled at guiding residents through every challenge and question that might arise.

You have many options as you consider where to continue your training, and I encourage you to explore them all thoughtfully. Choosing a residency is a deeply personal decision that depends on many factors. What I can promise you is that if you choose to join us, you will be challenged, you will work hard, and you will also be supported every step of the way. When you finish, you will look back on your education here with pride—and your patients will benefit greatly from the clinician you have become.

We look forward to meeting you, and we wish you the best of luck as you take this important next step in your career.

Respectfully and sincerely,

John Norton, MD

Program Director