2026 Virtual Series:
Navigating Your Career Path: Considerations for a Lifelong Career in Psychiatry
About this Series:
Psychiatry is a fulfilling career path with numerous avenues for practice. Psychiatrists can focus on certain settings, such as inpatient or outpatient, work in specialized systems, such as the VA or corrections, or create their own combination of numerous contracts and practice settings. With so many options, it can be difficult to choose a particular path or determine the best path forward when looking to change career paths or jobs. Join IPS for our next virtual series as we explore “Navigating Your Career Path: Considerations for a Lifelong Career in Psychiatry.” We’ll be joined by experienced panelists who will lead us in learning about considerations when transitioning between positions, all things private practice, best practices for testifying in commitment proceedings with a focus on outpatient commitment processes, and working in specific, specialized clinical systems. Whether you’re looking for advice for locating your first job, your fifth job, or information about opening your own practice, our panelists will be able to offer considerations and answer questions based on their personal experience. Please join us as we explore the many facets of psychiatric practice together!
This is a 4-part series with sessions falling on the third Thursday of the month between January and April 2026. (01/15, 02/19, 03/19, 04/16) Sessions will run from 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Session 4: Exploring Practice Settings
April 16, 2026 | 6:30-8:00 PM (CST)
Panelists:
Peter Chein, MD; psychiatrist at the Edward Hines Jr. VA
Kasturi Kripakaran, MD;Forensic Psychiatrist IDHS, McFarland MHC (Elizabeth Packard MHC), Springfield, Illinois
Kimberly Meyer, MD; Community Psychiatrist, Thresholds
Karen Pierce, MD; Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist currently in Private Practice
Jasleen Singh, MD; outpatient psychiatrist at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital
Abdi Tinwalla, MD; Behavioral Health Medical Director for Amerigroup/Anthem
Panelists will discuss:
Considerations for working in different practice settings - working in the V.A., in state hospitals, in Academic settings, in community psychiatry, in corrections, and with insurance companies
Also learn about a career filled with contract work
And more...
About Our Panelists:
Dr. Peter Chien is a psychiatrist at the Edward Hines Jr. VA, just west of Chicago. He is the founding Medical Director of the award-winning Acute Recovery Center, a crisis outpatient program at Hines. He is also the President-elect of the American Association for Community Psychiatry.
Dr. Kasturi Kripakaran is a psychiatrist in Springfield, Illinois and is affiliated with Andrew McFarland Mental Health Center. She received her medical degree from Stanley Medical College SMC and has been in practice for more than 20 years.
Kimberly Meyer, MD is a graduate of Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science-The Chicago Medical School. She completed an internship in Internal Medicine with Lutheran General Hospital and completed a Psychiatric residency with Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science- The Chicago Medical School. She is board-certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. She began her career in Community Psychiatry at the Community Mental Health Council. She also completed a term with the Regional Mental Health Center.
She currently serves as a Staff Psychiatrist with Thresholds- working with ACT and CST\CSI teams. She is a member of APA and IPS, a participant on the IPS Planning and HEAR -C( Health Equity Anti-Racism)committees and the IPS mentoring program.
Dr. Karen Pierce is a Child, Adolescent, and Adult Psychiatrist currently in Private Practice and Clinical Associate Professor of Child Psychiatry at Northwestern University. She is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP) and the American Psychiatric Association (APA).
She is a passionate advocate on Children’s mental health and the practice of psychiatry. She is a member on the government relations council of the American Psychiatric Association (CAGR), is co-chair of the Advocacy Committee of the American Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Chair of Resource Group of Migrant youth- AACAP, Chair of Advocacy of Illinois Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and on the Government Affairs committee at the Illinois Psychiatric Society.
As part of her academic experience, she started and directed a therapeutic day school, established a child out-patient clinic and created and directed a Partial Hospitalization Program. She writes, speaks, and consults in the area of children’s mental health. She is past president of the Illinois Association of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, past member of the Council at AACAP.
Dr. Karen Pierce received her M.D. degree from the University of Illinois and completed her residency in adult, adolescent, and child psychiatry at the University of Michigan.
Dr. Jasleen Singh is dual board-certified in Psychiatry and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. She is an Assistant Professor at Northwestern University and works in an outpatient setting at Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Singh is currently in her second year serving as Secretary for IPS and has wholeheartedly enjoyed her time on the Executive Council. She is also in her fourth year as Chair of the Newsletter committee, in her role as Editor of Mind Matters. Prior IPS leadership roles also include serving as Chair of the Resident Fellow Member (RFM) Committee for two years as a trainee. In addition, she is actively involved in several IPS committees beyond the Council, including the planning and membership committees. She has also been part of the IPS CAP and GAC committees and is currently assisting with the GAC bill review process. As an IPS member, Dr. Singh played an integral role in developing two IPS Mentorship programs, which she hopes to revitalize. Her work increased member engagement and brought recognition through honors such as IPS Fellow of the Year (2023) and IPS Resident of the Year (2021).
Dr. Singh serves as lead psychiatrist for the Children’s OCD/Anxiety Spectrum & Tic Disorders (COAST) Program, and her research efforts focus on pediatric mental health and health disparities, including projects on mental health stigma in South Asian youth. She is also involved in current projects that aim to increase access to specialized mental health services.
Dr. Abdi Tinwalla received his medical degree from Medical College of Ohio, Toledo and completed his psychiatric residency at Rush University Medical Center. He completed his Forensic Psychiatry fellowship from University of Rochester, New York. He has a Physician MBA from Indiana University Kelley School of Business.
Dr. Tinwalla is the Behavioral Health Medical Director for Amerigroup/Anthem. In his current role, he overseas the provision of behavioral healthcare services to approximately 900,000 Medicaid recipients. He also provides treatment at the Department of Human Services Treatment and Detention Facility for the Sexually Violent Person in Rushville, Illinois and in the community. He holds academic appointment with the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. He is actively involved in teaching of the Forensic Psychiatry Fellows.
Dr. Tinwalla is an active member of the Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS). He serves as the Treasurer of IPS and is part of the Executive Council. Councilor on the IPS board. He is an active member of the Governmental Affairs Committee and the Forensic Committee of IPS. He is also a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and a member of American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law.
Dr. Tinwalla has presented nationally and internationally on several topics in Correctional Psychiatry and on the Treatment of Paraphilic disorders. He lives in the western suburbs of Chicago with his family and enjoys traveling around the world and exploring different cultures. He is also a health and fitness enthusiast.
Past Sessions:
Session 1: Transitions Between Positions
Session 2: All Things Private Practice
Session 3: Best Practices for Court Testimony on Involuntary Treatment and Admissions Case