Electronic Winter 2025 | Issue 65
Member Spotlight: Ryan D. Finkenbine, MD
Chair and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry, UICOMP
Interview conducted by Dr. Sudhakar Shenoy, MD and Dr. Andrew Lancia, MD
In this edition of the Member Spotlight, IPS Early Career Psychiatrist Dr. Sudhakar Shenoy and IPS Past-President Dr. Andrew Lancia interview Dr. Ryan D. Finkenbine, Chair and Professor of Clinical Psychiatry at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria (UICOMP). Dr. Finkenbine is a distinguished educator, a nationally recognized forensic psychiatrist, and a long-standing leader within the Illinois Psychiatric Society, including serving as IPS President from 2016 to 2017. His contributions have shaped psychiatry training, advocacy, and clinical care across Illinois.
Dr. Shenoy: Dr. Finkenbine, thank you for joining us. To begin, could you share a bit about your background and what led you to a career in psychiatry
Dr. Finkenbine: Thank you, it’s a pleasure. I grew up in a small town in Indiana and was fortunate to receive a strong educational foundation. At Wittenberg University, I studied philosophy and chemistry, and later spent time at Lancaster University in England, where my interest in medicine took root. At Indiana University School of Medicine, I discovered psychiatry - a field that marries science, ethics, and human connection. I completed residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, served as Chief Resident, and then completed a Forensic Psychiatry fellowship at the University of South Carolina. Psychiatry, and especially its intersection with the law, felt like the right fit.
Dr. Lancia: You’ve had an accomplished career in forensic psychiatry. What draws you to this subspecialty?
Dr. Finkenbine: Forensic psychiatry occupies a unique interface between medicine and the law. It demands careful reasoning, clarity of communication, and a commitment to fairness. At West Virginia University, I established a Forensic Psychiatry fellowship, which was later recognized as a top program by the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law (AAPL). Today at UICOMP, I co-lead our Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology Center and maintain a robust consultation practice across numerous counties in Illinois. It remains deeply meaningful work.
Dr. Shenoy: Since joining UICOMP in 2009 as Chair, you’ve built a thriving academic department. What principles guide your leadership?
Dr. Finkenbine: Effective leadership in academic psychiatry relies on cultivating an environment that fosters excellence. When we launched our ACGME-accredited residency program in 2011, our philosophy was simple: create a welcoming, supportive learning environment while maintaining high expectations. We emphasize curiosity, professionalism, and a culture of psychological safety. Seeing residents and faculty grow is the most rewarding part of this work.
Dr. Lancia: UICOMP’s residency program is widely known for its educational innovation. Which initiatives are you especially proud of?
Dr. Finkenbine: I’m proud of our work integrating neuroscience education, strengthening our psychotherapy curriculum, and expanding training in leadership and professionalism. We’re also involved in national educational research efforts supported by grants from the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, and we remain committed to rural mental health, integrated care, and telepsychiatry. These initiatives have broadened access while giving trainees a diverse and meaningful clinical experience.
Dr. Shenoy: You served as President of the Illinois Psychiatric Society from 2016 to 2017. How has IPS shaped your career and the broader psychiatric community?
Dr. Finkenbine: Serving as IPS President was a tremendous honor. IPS plays a vital role in psychiatry in Illinois - from advocacy and legislative engagement to professional education and mentorship. During my presidency, we focused on strengthening relationships across the state, supporting early career psychiatrists, and ensuring psychiatrists had a unified voice in Springfield. For my trainees, IPS has been a gateway to leadership, networking, and advocacy. I continue to value IPS for its commitment to elevating both our field and our patients.
Dr. Lancia: Your scholarly work spans forensic psychiatry, medical education, and residency assessment. Is there a recent project that reflects your interests?
Dr. Finkenbine: One project I’m proud of is our MedEdPORTAL publication on holistic review in residency selection, which became especially relevant after Step 1 moved to pass/fail. It allowed us to rethink how to evaluate applicants fairly and comprehensively. I’m also excited about work on psychiatric educational assessment, informed consent and capacity, and innovative mental health screening that incorporates AI, like Voice Vitals.
Dr. Shenoy: You’ve mentored countless trainees. What is your favorite advice to offer future psychiatrists?
Dr. Finkenbine: Stay curious, stay humble, and stay connected. Psychiatry evolves quickly, and an open mind will serve you well. Treat every patient interaction as a chance to build trust and deepen your understanding. Maintain relationships with mentors and peers, as they will sustain you throughout your career. And remember to cultivate balance - taking care of yourself helps you take better care of others.
Dr. Lancia: A final question — what do you enjoy outside of work?
Dr. Finkenbine: Time with family is most important. We enjoy traveling together and playing board games - Ark Nova is a recent favorite. I also enjoy reading, playing pickleball, and riding my e-bike. I follow sports and keep up with college basketball, rugby and look forward to the coming World Cup. These activities bring perspective and joy.
Dr. Shenoy: Dr. Finkenbine, thank you for sharing your journey and your leadership across Illinois psychiatry.
Dr. Lancia: We’re grateful for your service to IPS and for your ongoing commitment to training the next generation of psychiatrists in our state.
Dr. Finkenbine: Thank you both — it’s been a pleasure.
Dr. Shenoy to Dr. Lancia:
Before we end, I want to turn to Dr. Lancia: Congratulations on your promotion to Professor and your new role at UICOMP as Associate Chair of Clinical Affairs. I have a question for you. Can you please reflect a little about Dr. Finkenbine and his role in your career, to psychiatry, and to Peoria?
Dr. Finkenbine has had a pivotal role in my career as he hired me (his "first hire" at UICOMP) to a truly amazing opportunity of developing an academic consultation-liaison service and helping to run the new UICOMP Psychiatry residency program. I jokingly, but honestly, have said over the years that he has been my boss several times over as the Chair of the department, Program Director of the residency, Executive Medical Director of the hospital behavioral health department, and as President of the Illinois Psychiatric Society (IPS). Like so many residents and students over the years, he has mentored me and my colleagues as faculty as well. He has pushed us to improve and take on challenging new adventures. Personally, I did not want to engage in organized medicine; however, after the third time of asking if I would be interested in a position at IPS, I took the hint. I joined the IPS Council and many more positions until I too took on the IPS President role. This is the type of thing that you can witness Dr. Finkenbine constantly doing. He may carry a thousand leadership titles and roles, but he hates to be the person in front. He will see the values of those around him and foster them so they can take on the vital roles which fit them best. He will lead from the front, if need be (with a 24-step plan, each with multiple thought out steps between), but he often simply holds the group together, seeding it to grow in the right direction. I am blunt, loud, and to the point. This has been pretty effective at times, but Dr. Finkenbine has taught me so much with his leadership style. I try to emulate his quiet, listening, guiding approach which is effective and appreciated by all in attendance. I loved hearing his answers to this interview because we share so much of a common vision for psychiatry in Peoria and beyond. We are very different when it comes to politics and religion, but we hold family, humanity, curiosity, hard work, and making the world better through education and example. I am proud to have had this tremendous 15 years of service along Dr. Finkenbine. I hope I can have a fraction of the accomplishments he has in this life. I wish him the happiest of retirements. And I want him to remember that his legacy will never die, as it lives on in all who he has touched.
