Dale Sebastian, MD, associate professor of psychiatry, has been named associate program director for the Yale Psychiatry Residency Program effective July 1.
Sebastian was identified following a competitive search open to ladder faculty at the Connecticut Mental Health Center (CMHC).
He has already begun a gradual transition into this role, leveraging the expertise and mentorship of the retiring Esperanza Diaz, MD, professor of psychiatry, who has served as an associate program director in the residency program for almost 20 years. A graduate of the Yale psychiatry residency, Sebastian serves as associate program director of the Public Psychiatry Fellowship, director of the PGY-2 Curriculum, and clinical psychiatry content leader in the medical student pre-clerkship “Connection to the World” course.
His clinical and academic work has centered on community mental health, particularly long-term inpatient care for individuals with chronic and severe mental illness. As an attending psychiatrist on CMHC's fourth floor, he emphasizes strength-based, person-centered, and evidence-informed care. His contributions in curriculum development, teaching, and mentorship reflect a steady commitment to supporting trainees and faculty.