In this special edition of On the Mind, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher is joined by Dr. Johanna Inamagua and Dr. Michelle Zhou, first-year psychiatry residents at Weill Cornell Medicine, for an Ask Me Anything (AMA) episode geared toward medical students applying to psychiatry residency. Together, all three answer med student-submitted questions including how many programs to apply to, how to gauge competitiveness, how to research program culture and fit, what factors carry the most weight in a holistic review, and what makes for a strong personal statement, letter of recommendation, and interview. This episode offers practical, first-hand guidance for medical students navigating the psychiatry residency application process, drawing on the combined perspectives of a program director and residents who went through the match themselves.

In this episode of On the Mind, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Frank Yeomans, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and Director of Training at the Personality Disorders Institute, about how to assess personality in a comprehensive psychiatric evaluation. Dr. Yeomans traces the shift from the DSM-5’s traditional categorical model of personality disorders to its dimensional alternative model, which identifies difficulties in one’s sense of self and relationships with others as the core features underlying all personality pathology. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, he walks through six key dimensions clinicians can assess in any patient: identity, defenses, aggression, reality testing, interpersonal relationships, and moral functioning, illustrating each with vivid case examples. The conversation also addresses how to sensitively discuss a personality disorder diagnosis with patients, the key distinctions between borderline and narcissistic personality disorder, and why understanding personality pathology as existing on a spectrum we all share can reduce stigma in clinical practice.

In this episode of On the Mind, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Dhruv Khullar, a hospitalist and Associate Professor of Population Health Policy and Economics at Weill Cornell Medicine and a contributing writer for The New Yorker, about the promise and peril of artificial intelligence in mental health care. Their conversation explores the rapid expansion of AI into clinical documentation, diagnostic reasoning, and patient navigation, as well as the risks of cognitive de-skilling, sycophantic chatbots, and profit-driven apps that cloak commercial motives in the language of clinical care. They also discuss how AI's simulation of empathy and relational interaction is hacking the fundamental human bonds of attachment, trust, and genuine connection that lie at the core of effective psychotherapy and healthy human development. Dr. Khullar shares his thinking on the regulatory frameworks and research infrastructure needed to help ensure these technologies serve patients rather than exploit them.

In this episode of On the Mind, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Alyson Gorun, a reproductive psychiatrist and Acting Director of the Aaron Stern, M.D., Ph.D. Program in Psychodynamic Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, about mental health during the perinatal period. Dr. Gorun discusses the psychiatric conditions most commonly associated with pregnancy and the postpartum months, how pre-existing diagnoses can be destabilized by hormonal and psychosocial changes, and the complex risk-benefit considerations that guide medication decisions. She also addresses the psychological weight of new parenthood, structural disparities in perinatal care, and evidence-based approaches to both pharmacological and psychotherapeutic treatment.

In this episode of On the Mind, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Jeff Ha, Associate Program Director of Weill Cornell Medicine's Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship Program, about the diagnosis and treatment of delirium. Their discussion covers the diagnostic criteria for delirium, its clinical presentations across the hyperactive, hypoactive, and mixed subtypes, and the underlying neurobiological mechanisms that produce its characteristic waxing and waning course. Listeners will learn about the significant morbidity and mortality associated with delirium, with particular attention to the underrecognized danger of hypoactive delirium, the often prolonged and incomplete trajectory of recovery, and the demographic and cultural factors that shape both risk and diagnosis. The episode also explores the full spectrum of treatment as well as the psychological sequelae that can persist long after the acute episode resolves, including Post-Intensive Care Syndrome.

Dr. Ha reflects on the therapeutic value of family presence and the importance of psychoeducation for both patients and caregivers. This episode provides a comprehensive and clinically grounded guide to one of the most common and consequential conditions seen by psychiatrists in medical settings.

In this episode of On the Mind, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Jonathan Avery, Vice Chair for Addiction Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine, about gambling disorder — a condition that is far more prevalent than most people recognize, yet frequently overlooked and misunderstood. Dr. Avery traces the history of gambling disorder as a diagnosis and explains the neurobiology behind why gambling can become addictive, including how it activates the brain’s reward pathways in ways that parallel substance use disorders. Their conversation explores how the explosive growth of online and sports betting has expanded the reach of problematic gambling, particularly among younger adults. Dr. Avery also discusses the warning signs clinicians and loved ones should watch for, the shame and secrecy that often delay help-seeking, and the full range of evidence-based treatments available, including psychotherapy, 12-step programs, and medications such as naltrexone and GLP-1 agonists. This episode offers a clinically grounded and compassionate look at a disorder that is hiding in plain sight.

In this episode of On the Mind, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Evelyn Attia, Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine and Director of the NewYork-Presbyterian Center for Eating Disorders, and Suzanne Straebler, Clinical Director of the Center for Eating Disorders outpatient programs, about the diagnosis and treatment of eating disorders.

Drawing on deep clinical and research expertise, they trace the history of eating disorders from ancient accounts of self-starvation to their recognition as distinct psychiatric diagnoses and contemporary cultural impact. Their discussion covers what is known about the prevalence of these conditions and the genetic, neurobiological and sociocultural factors that shape them.

Listeners will learn the defining features of anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder, and other related diagnoses--with a focus on health disparities across underserved communities, the elevated mortality and suicide risk associated with these illnesses, and the multimodal treatment landscape, spanning medical stabilization, psychopharmacology and evidence-based psychotherapies. This episode provides a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to eating disorders from two clinicians at the forefront of the field.



Additional resources for further learning:

https://www.nyp.org/psychiatry/center-for-eating-disorders

https://Prepared.nyspi.org

https://feast-ed.org/ 

https://fedupcollective.org/  

Learn more about Randall Martin, PhD 

In this episode of On the Mind, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Wilfred Farquharson about police involvement during youth mental health crises. Dr. Farquharson describes his research on the factors associated with police bringing children into psychiatry emergency rooms. Their discussion covers the social, psychological, and clinical implications of law enforcement intervention and shares solution-oriented recommendations for helping the families, schools, providers, and children involved in these challenging emergencies. Dr. Farquharson also speaks about his role leading the NewYork-Presbyterian Center for Childhood and Adolescent Behavioral Health, which is meeting the challenge of escalating youth mental health needs in the community.

In this episode, host Dr. Daniel Knoepflmacher speaks with Dr. Nili Solomonov about her innovative psychotherapy research and the emerging role of artificial intelligence in mental healthcare. Dr. Solomonov describes how her lab harnesses the computational power of AI to investigate mechanisms underlying effective psychotherapy. Her findings have led to the creation of an evidence-based treatment modality (called Engage and Connect) initially designed for older adults. Their conversation explores how research can expand access to effective psychological treatments, the ways Engage and Connect has been adapted for diverse patient populations, and the complex landscape of AI in mental health, including its significant risks and potential clinical applications. 

Learn more about the American Psychological Association’s health advisory on the use of generative AI chatbots and wellness applications for mental health 

Learn more about Dr. Solomonov’s research