IMPACT OF YOUR GIVING
in support of the The Sandra & Leon Levine Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship
presented with gratitude to The Leon Levine Foundation
The Sandra & Leon Levine Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program
An Accredited, Two-Year Academic Program funded by The Leon Levine Foundation
The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) is an independent, 501(c)(3), not-for-profit organization that sets and monitors voluntary professional educational standards essential in preparing physicians to deliver safe, high-quality medical care to all Americans. The organization oversees the accreditation of residency and fellowship programs for over 13,393 residency and fellowship programs in the US.
The Sandra & Leon Levine Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program was granted initial Accreditation by the ACGME on February 7, 2025, for three fellows per year – a total of six positions over two years.
Faculty Leadership
Senior Academic Chair of Psychiatry
Program Director of Fellowship Education
Associate Program Director of Fellowship Education
New Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Nilima Thakkar is the Program Director for the Atrium Health Sandra and Leon Levine Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program. She is a board-certified psychiatrist in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. With over 20 years of experience, she is deeply committed to providing compassionate, patient-centered care tailored to the unique needs of each child and family.
Dr. Thakkar completed her residency in psychiatry at East Tennessee State University. She pursued a fellowship in child and adolescent psychiatry at Wake Forest University School of Medicine and held a faculty position there as the Associate Child and Adolescent Fellowship Director after graduation.
She continues to be actively involved in medical education as a Problem-Based Learning (PBL) faculty facilitator at the Wake Forest School of Medicine Charlotte Campus, contributing to the Integrated Biomedical Sciences pre-clerkship curriculum. Her passion for teaching extends to mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows, ensuring the next generation of clinicians is well-prepared to address the evolving mental health needs of our communities.
New Faculty Spotlight
Dr. Brittainy Erby is the Associate Fellowship Director for the Sandra and Leon Levine Child and Adolescent Fellowship, and we look forward to her innovative contributions to the program. Dr. Erby is board certified in general psychiatry and child and adolescent psychiatry. She received her bachelor's degree in Biological sciences with a minor in psychology from Ohio University and graduated with her medical degree from Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine. Dr. Erby has held faculty positions at the Medical University of South Carolina and the REACH Institute.
Her passion for mental health advocacy is evident through her partnerships with local non-profit organizations in North and South
Carolina and the REACH Institute. Her passion for mental health advocacy is evident through her partnerships with local non-profit organizations in North and South Carolina. Some organizations that she has partnered with include Social Emotional Learning for South Carolina, MAD Park Community, and the Up Company. She continues to participate in community fairs promoting mental health and has curated and given keynote addresses on topics such as trauma and social media in school based and mental health settings.
As REACH faculty since 2023, she continues to help to educate primary care practitioners on screening, diagnosing, and managing common diagnoses for children and teenagers in the primary care setting.
Through REACH Institute, she has been featured as a key researcher and interview informant to provide psychoeducation and to inform primary care practitioners on topics such as racial disparities and differences in diagnoses such as PTSD and ADHD in children and teenagers.
Program Timeline
Recent planning and implementation activities include:
Early Decision Fellowship
Recruitment
Program Webpage Outline and Launch
June 29, 2025
On track
Early July 2025
Webpage outline completed and website launch pending
Confirming program agreements and establishing rotation schedules Ongoing On track Development of Curriculum and Lecture Topics
Early September 2025
Participate in First Match Process through ERAS
Applications open July 2025
In the process of confirming faculty, teaching staff, and community partners
1st class of fellows will start July 2026
Vision Statement: In response to community needs and our Behavioral Health Service Line's clinical mission to develop a sustainable system of high-quality patient and family centered care, we have continued to expand our training programs. In the new Sandra and Leon Levine Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program, fellows will be exposed to a comprehensive and broad-based education in diverse clinical settings. Our goal is to equip our fellows with the knowledge, skills, and expertise to excel in the evolving role of child and adolescent psychiatrists and provide access to care for our most vulnerable patients.
With this vision in mind, below is the overview of the program curriculum:
The curriculum at the Sandra and Leon Levine Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program is designed to provide extensive training in the diagnosis, treatment, and management of mental health disorders in children, adolescents, and young adults. It combines rigorous didactic education with hands-on clinical experience, covering essential areas such as psychopharmacology, psychotherapy, developmental psychopathology, and the impact of familial and social dynamics on mental health. Trainees will gain exposure to various settings, including inpatient, outpatient, and community-based care. They will learn to collaborate effectively with multidisciplinary teams and community agencies and provide care to underserved populations.
Program Curriculum
The program emphasizes cultural competence, ethical decision-making, and evidence-based practices in treating diverse patient populations. Unique learning opportunities in this program include:
• Telepsychiatry
• School-Based Mental Health Services
• Addiction Psychiatry
• Training at midlevel care facilities, such as partial hospitalization
• Family Systems Training
• Emergency Psychiatric Services in a 24/7 Behavioral Health Emergency Department
Program Curriculum
Year 1
BH Charlotte
Inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Partial hospitalization program
Carolinas Medical Center Pediatric Neurology (inpatient and outpatient) and Consultation
Carolinas Medical Center
BH Charlotte
Developmental Pediatric
Eagle Clinic, Watkins Clinic, and Psychotherapy
Kindercare / Chantilly Montessori Normal Development
BH Charlotte Neuropsych Testing
BH Charlotte Child Outpatient clinic
West Charlotte High
School or
West Steam Academy School-based services
Teen Health Connection Social Determinants
Pat’s Place Child Maltreatment
Year 2
BH Charlotte
Child Outpatient Clinic
BH Charlotte Emergency Psychiatry
Electives
Behavioral Health Integration and Maternal Wellness
West Charlotte High School School-based services
West Steam Academy School-based services
Teen Health Connection Eating disorders Group Psychotherapy
Year 1 & 2
BH Charlotte Didactic/Supervision
Didactics / Seminar Curriculum
• Basics of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry – A Crash Course
• Child and Adolescent Development
• Psychopharmacology and Neuroscience
• Developmental Disorders and CAP Psychopathologies
• Pediatric Psychosomatic Medicine Seminar
• Principles of Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and Psychodynamic Case Formulation
• Child and Adolescent Psychotherapies
• Forensic and Legal Matters Pertaining to Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Journal Club
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Research Seminar
• Leadership and Professional Development in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Professionalism and Cultural, Ethical, and Social Issues in Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
• Multidisciplinary Case Conference
• Board Review
