Kenan Penaskovic, MD, has been selected to serve as interim chair of the Department of Psychiatry. He will assume the role on March 24 from Samantha Meltzer-Brody, MD, MPH, who was announced earlier this year as the new executive dean for the School of Medicine.
Dr. Penaskovic currently serves as assistant dean of student affairs for the UNC School of Medicine and vice chair for clinical affairs for the Department of Psychiatry. “Dr. Penaskovic is a highly accomplished clinician-educator and a thoughtful leader. He is a trusted and well-respected colleague in the Department of Psychiatry and across the SOM,” said Meltzer-Brody.
He returned to UNC in 2011 after serving in the National Health Service Corps to become the medical director of the psychotic disorders’ inpatient unit. He served as the inpatient service line leader for psychiatry before transitioning to the vice chair of clinical affairs. His academic interest focuses on the implementation of active learning in medical student and resident education and has been recognized nationally. Most recently, his efforts in student affairs led to his selection by the graduating class as the 2025 Match Day Speaker.
A national search is currently underway for the chair position. Thank you to Dr. Penaskovic for his ongoing leadership in our department and across the School of Medicine.