With the addition of a second physician on staff, The Barry Robinson Center will be expanding its quality care to residents and clients in the community.

Dr. Sharmini Santher joined the clinical team in late August, as associate medical director of Residential Services and medical director of Community-Based Services. In her residential role, she is working primarily with the younger children and adolescent girls.

Santher has worked in the southeastern Virginia community for several years, most recently at Riverside Behavioral Health. Before joining the Center, she came to know a number of its employees and enjoys working with the Barry Robinson treatment team.

“I really like being part of a team that provides continuing care,” Santher said. “It’s gratifying to work with the residents and see them progress through their treatment to discharge.”

Santher earned her medical degree from St. George’s University School of Medicine in the West Indies. She completed a general psychiatry residency at Eastern Virginia Medical School in Norfolk and went on to receive fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry, serving as Chief Fellow at the Virginia Treatment Center for Children, which is affiliated with the Virginia Commonwealth University Health System in Richmond.

Santher is board-certified in psychiatry and also child and adolescent psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She has taught in academic and clinical settings and said she hopes to have opportunities to provide training as part of her role at the Center.

Her fascination with human behavior and interest in helping children inspired Santher to work in psychiatry. She specializes in anxiety and mood disorders, childhood trauma and resilience, autism spectrum disorders and ADHD.

“Helping children and families is such a privilege,” she said. “I really enjoy my medical practice and the opportunity to work with people and get to know them.”

Learn more about the Center’s treatment approach and programs.