Professor and Chair , Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine Dept . of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
Suzanne Holroyd , M . D .
Professor and Chair , Marshall University Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine Dept . of Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine
MEGAN BEVINS
When Suzanne Holroyd started medical school , she never would ’ ve seen herself working in psychiatry . Today , not only is she the professor and chair of the Joan C . Edwards School of Medicine ’ s Department of Psychiatry but she has also spearheaded Marshall University ’ s psychiatry residency programs and two fellowships , significantly broadening mental health resources in West Virginia .
Holroyd has a connection to the Mountain State that reaches back to her childhood . Growing up in Washington , D . C ., she would often spend summers visiting her father ’ s family in West Virginia .
Her medical career began at the University of Virginia , where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry in 1982 , followed by a Doctor of Medicine in 1986 . It was during her time working on the psychiatry rotation that she gained a particular interest in pursuing a career in the field .
“ It was so interesting and challenging , and I knew my career would always be fascinating . Similarly , when I rotated on a geriatric ward , I realized I loved working with this age group ,” Holroyd says .
After completing medical school , she did a psychiatry residency and geriatric psychiatry fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital . There , she met Dr . Paul McHugh , chair of psychiatry , and Dr . Peter Rabins , a geriatric psychiatry
professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine .
Holroyd describes both McHugh and Rabbins as being major influences in her medical journey .
“ I had many people along the way who inspired and encouraged me , including Dr . Paul McHugh , who was the chair of psychiatry at The Johns Hopkins Hospital , who I actually consider one of the most brilliant people I have ever met ,” she says . “ As well , Dr . Peter Rabins sparked my interest in geriatric psychiatry , and I completed a fellowship with him before there were actual accredited fellowships in the field .”
Photo by Marshall Health .
At Johns Hopkins , she worked as a geriatric psychiatrist for two years before accepting a position at the University of Virginia , where she began developing its geriatric psychiatry program . She was the program director of the geriatric psychiatry fellowship and director of geriatric psychiatry and eventually became the vice chair of education .
Having a father from West Virginia and growing up visiting the state each summer , it was no question that Holroyd would one day move to the Mountain State . While living in West Virginia , she saw the opportunity to create mental health resources for many citizens whose needs weren ’ t being properly served .
78 WEST VIRGINIA EXECUTIVE