Psychiatry Residency
Program Overview
Overview
Welcome to the Eisenhower Health Psychiatry Residency Program
At Eisenhower Health, we are building something exceptional—and we invite you to be part of it.
As a newly accredited program (2025) with our inaugural class beginning in Summer 2026, this is a unique opportunity to help shape a forward-thinking residency while training in a highly supportive, resident-centered environment. We are committed to your growth, your voice, and your future.
Why Choose Eisenhower?
Resident-Centered, Future-Focused
Our mission is simple but ambitious: to train psychiatrists who are clinically excellent, deeply compassionate, and adaptable in a rapidly evolving mental health landscape. We emphasize a thoughtful balance of rigorous training and resident well-being, ensuring you graduate not only skilled—but fulfilled and resilient.
Comprehensive Training with Hands-On Support
You will gain broad, integrative experience across psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, interventional psychiatry, and community-based care—all reinforced through meaningful, hands-on clinical learning.
Your training includes:
- Interactive didactics and case-based learning
- Progressive clinical responsibility with close supervision
- Longitudinal psychotherapy training
- Group supervision and process groups
- Dedicated faculty mentorship to support the development of individualized learning plan
- Exposure to interventional psychiatry, including TMS and ketamine, with ECT services launching soon
- A social medicine rotation serving vulnerable populations through street medicine, mobile health units, and community clinics
- Opportunities for scholarly activity, including journal club, presentations, quality improvement projects, and research
Our faculty are not only experts in their fields, but also deeply invested educators who are committed to your growth. You will be supported in an environment where you are known, challenged, and guided—ensuring you build both clinical excellence and professional confidence.
Holistic, Patient-Centered Care
We train you to see the whole person by integrating biological, psychological, social, ethical and cultural perspectives. You’ll develop skills in trauma-informed care, cultural humility, health equity and addressing social determinants— empowering you to promote not only stabilization but recovery, resilience, and meaningful life outcomes for your patients.
Diverse and Meaningful Clinical Experience
Based in Rancho Mirage, CA, you will train in a newly expanded facility and serve a diverse population, including adolescents, older adults, LGBTQ+ individuals, immigrant communities, and local Native populations—building strong skills in culturally responsive care.
A Leader in Community Behavioral Health
Eisenhower Health is the trusted healthcare leader of the Coachella Valley, offering comprehensive, high-quality behavioral health services. As a resident, you will be immersed in a system committed to innovation, excellence, and community impact.
Lifestyle That Supports Your Success
Enjoy year-round sunshine with abundant opportunities for outdoor and wellness activities like golfing, tennis, hiking, and yoga, alongside easy access to Joshua Tree National Park, Los Angeles, and San Diego. Experience a vibrant local scene with renowned arts, culture, and dining in the Palm Springs area —all while training in a program that values balance and well-being.
Join Us
At Eisenhower Health, you’re not just joining a residency—you’re helping build a program that reflects the future of psychiatry.
We are excited to partner with you on your journey to becoming a skilled, thoughtful, and innovative psychiatrist.
Rotation Schedules
Leadership & Faculty
Saba Syed, MD, FCLP, DFAPA
Professional Details
Primary Specialty: Psychiatry
Years in Practice: 29 years
Languages: English
Professional Education
Medical School: Dow Medical Collage
Internship: Texas A&M University – Scott and White Medical Center
Abbasi Shaheed Hospital
K.M.C
Residency: UCLA-San Fernando Valley/VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Program
Board Certification
American Board of Psych/Neuro – Psychosomatic Med – Psychiatry
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology – Psychiatry
Message from the Program Director
Greetings,
Our program is built on the belief that excellent psychiatric care is holistic, compassionate, and patient-centered. We recognize that mental health cannot be understood in isolation—it is shaped by the intricate interaction of biological, psychological, social, cultural, and ethical dimensions. As such, we are committed to training psychiatrists who approach care that extends beyond diagnosis to true healing.
We emphasize strong clinical training grounded in evidence-based practice, with thoughtful integration of psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. Residents develop the skills to form meaningful therapeutic relationships while caring for patients across diverse clinical settings, including those with complex medical and psychiatric needs.
As a community-based program, we are deeply committed to serving the Coachella Valley and expanding access to underserved populations. Cultural humility, equity, and respect are central to our approach, ensuring our graduates deliver inclusive and responsive care.
We foster a supportive learning environment that values mentorship, wellness, ethical reflection, and lifelong growth. At the same time, we encourage leadership, advocacy, and scholarship—preparing residents to shape the future of mental health care.
Our mission is to train psychiatrists who combine clinical excellence with empathy, cultural awareness, and a commitment to whole-person care.
We invite you to be part of our community.
By cultivating interests in research and scholarly activities, we foster a culture of continuous learning and improvement, empowering residents to contribute meaningfully to the advancement of the field. We instill a commitment to responsible and conscientious medication management, coupled with a robust education in psychotherapy. Our residents develop keen insights into individual therapy, honing their skills in relationship dynamics and therapeutic treatment planning to provide holistic care to their patients.
Cultural sensitivity and humility, along with wellness and ethical professionalism are core tenets of our program. We challenge bias and promote diversity, ensuring our residents are adept at navigating cultural nuances and delivering equitable care to all patients. Our program promotes a balanced approach to work and life, prioritizing resident health and personal fulfillment.
Furthermore, we foster leadership, advocacy, and engagement in shaping the future of psychiatry. Our residents are empowered to push for change, advocating for policies that promote mental health awareness and access to care.
Ultimately, our mission is to train the next generation of psychiatrists to be outstanding clinicians, educators, and researchers who embody ethical principles, empathy, and cultural sensitivity. We are committed to creating an environment where residents can thrive both personally and professionally, finding fulfillment in their careers while making meaningful contributions to the field of psychiatry.
Associate Program Director
Robert Dasher MD, DFAPA
Professional Details
Primary Specialty: Psychiatry
Years in Practice: 46 years
Languages: English
Professional Education
Medical School: University of Southern California School of Medicine
Internship/Residency: Internal Medicine, USC Medical Center
Residency: Psychiatry Veterans Administration Medical Center
Fellowship: Psychopharmacology Fellowship, UCLA/San Fernando Valley Residency Training Program
Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, 2002, 2012, and 2022
Subspecialty Psychosomatic Medicine, June 2009-2019
Appointments
Retired Clinical Professor of Psychiatry, University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine
Faculty
Lukmanafis Olakunle Babajide, MD
Professional Details
Primary Specialty: Psychiatry
Years in Practice: 1 years
Years on Staff: 1 years
Languages: English
Professional Education
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas
Internship: Western Reserve Health Education
Residency: Rutgers Medical School
Fellowship: Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
Marjaneh Rouhani, MD
Professional Details
Primary Specialty: Psychiatry*
Years in Practice: 1 years
Years on Staff: 1 years
Languages: English, Farsi
Professional Education
Medical School: Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Residency: Beth Israel Medical Center
Fellowship: Beth Israel Medical Center
Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology
Geriatric Psychiatry
*Board Certified Specialty
Mehdi Goodarzi, MD
Professional Details
Primary Specialty: Psychiatry*
Years in Practice: 3 years
Years on Staff: 3 years
Languages: English, Persian
Professional Education
Medical School: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Residency: MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center
Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
*Board Certified Specialty
Anthony G. Bassanelli, MD
Professional Details
Primary Specialty: Psychiatry*
Years in Practice: 37 years
Years on Staff: 15 years
Languages: English
Professional Education
Medical School: Albany Medical College of Union University
Internship: UCLA /VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare Sy
Residency: Resnick UCLA Neuropsychiatric Hospital
Board Certification
American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology
American Board of Psychiatry/Forensic Psychiatry
*Board Certified Specialty
Jordan Weisman, PsyD
Professional Details
Primary Specialty: Clinical Psychology
Years in Practice: 6 years
Years on Staff: 6 years
Languages: English
Brian D. Wexler, PhD
Brian D. Wexler, PhD
Professional Details
Primary Specialty: Psychology
Years on Staff: 10 years
Languages: English
Professional Education
Medical School: CA School of Professional Psychology
AHP School: CA School of Professional Psychology
Sandy Garcia-Cuevas, LCSW
Sandy Garcia-Cuevas, LCSW
Sandy Garcia-Cuevas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, seeing adult patients at Eisenhower Behavioral Health in Rancho Mirage. Sandy received a Master of Social Work from California State University, Northridge.
Sandy has spent the past ten years providing treatment to both adults and children through several government mental health programs. Working with multidisciplinary agencies, she has created treatment plans that encompass psychological, economic, vocational, socialization, physician, health and housing needs.
She sees patients dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, grief and loss, and caregiver stress, among other issues. Her focus in providing treatment and care is utilizing a Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) informed approach while being open and respectful. “I want to hear my patients’ stories and understand why they desire treatment,” states Mrs. Garcia-Cuevas. “I focus on their strengths and drawing upon their natural support systems. I work with my patients on developing self-acceptance, self-compassion and making positive changes in their lives. My goal is to work myself out of a job!”
If needed, Sandy will provide treatment in Spanish.
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