Elswick named Farnsworth Chair in Educational Psychiatry

Daniel E. Elswick, M.D., vice chair of education for the West Virginia University School of Medicine Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, has been named the Dana L. and Peggy M. Farnsworth Chair in Educational Psychiatry.

Since 2012, Dr. Elswick has served as residency program director for psychiatry. During his time with the department, the ACGME-accredited residency program has nearly doubled the number of residents and added a rural training track. This track is one of only four programs nationally to carry ACGME designation. In 2023, he became the assistant dean for Academic Initiatives for the School of Medicine’s Eastern Campus.

Elswick says he’s honored to serve in the legacy of the Farnsworth Chair, as it allows him to continue to work with multidisciplinary educators, researchers and clinicians to develop world-class resident physicians, medical students and other behavioral health trainees to serve the citizens of West Virginia.

Nearly all of West Virginia is designated as a mental health shortage area, and the state suffers disproportionately from issues such as suicide and overdose.

“Expanding our behavioral health workforce is imperative to solve some of these challenges,” Elswick said. “Through this position, I will endeavor to create broader opportunities for WVU trainees to establish professional careers in our state to help assure a brighter and healthier future for all we serve.”

At the national level, Elswick is active with multiple outreach and professional associations, focusing on rural and underserved graduate medical education training challenges. Most recently, the American Medical Association selected him to serve on the ACGME Psychiatry Residency Review Committee beginning in 2024.

“Dr. Elswick’s commitment to educational excellence makes him the ideal leader to carry on the Farnsworth Chair legacy,” Clay Marsh, M.D., chancellor and executive dean for WVU Health Sciences, said. “This new title will allow him to continue to build on our robust academic programs within the department.”

Elswick earned his bachelor’s degree from the University of Charleston and his medical degree from WVU. He completed residency training at WVU and later became a professor in that same department. He is board-certified in internal medicine, addiction medicine psychiatry, and consultation-liaison psychiatry.

The funding for the endowed chair comes from an existing $1.5 million donation by the Farnsworth Family. The fund contributes to the well-being of the state and its residents by paying homage to the designated chairholder. It stands as a lasting tribute to the benefactors who established it.

For more information on the Department of Behavioral Medicine and Psychiatry, visit medicine.wvu.edu/behavioral-medicine-and-psychiatry.