Why MD/PhD Training Matters in Psychiatric Care
Why MD/PhD training matters for psychiatric care. Dr. Gabby Farkas, MD PhD, explains the dual-degree perspective.
May 13, 2026
MD, PhD · Board-Certified Psychiatrist
Expert psychiatric care
when standard treatment
isn't enough.
For adults with treatment-resistant depression, bipolar disorder, postpartum conditions, and complex psychiatric cases — sophisticated medication management grounded in MD/PhD neuroscience, NIH research center training, and pharmaceutical research experience.
NY Magazine Top Doctor
2024 · 2025
2024 · 2025
4.7 / 5 patient rating
across review platforms
across review platforms
HIPAA-compliant
secure telehealth
secure telehealth
28+
Conditions Treated
6
Core Services
60min
Initial Evaluation
3
States Licensed
A Genuinely Rare Credential Set
The depth most psychiatrists don't have — delivered with genuine warmth.
In a mental health landscape crowded with platform-based prescribers and 15-minute med checks, Dr. Farkas occupies a position no local competitor can match. The combination on the right is what makes treatment-resistant cases solvable.
MD/PhD in Neuroscience
Dual doctorates earned summa cum laude. A molecular-level understanding of how psychiatric medications interact with receptors, synapses, and circuits — not pattern-matched prescribing. Fewer than 5% of psychiatrists hold this combination.
NIH Research Center Trained
Residency completed at Zucker Hillside Hospital — one of only four NIH-designated research centers for schizophrenia. Immersion in the most complex, treatment-resistant presentations standard residencies rarely encounter.
Pharmaceutical Research
Contributed to the development of cariprazine — now a gold-standard treatment for bipolar disorder and treatment-resistant schizophrenia. First-hand knowledge of how the medications she prescribes are designed, tested, and optimized.
Who Dr. Farkas Treats
When you've already tried everything else.
Dr. Farkas treats more than 28 psychiatric conditions across the adult lifespan, with particular depth in the cases that don't respond to first-line approaches. Every diagnosis is reevaluated. Every regimen is questioned. Every decision is grounded in current evidence.
All Conditions TreatedMeasurement-Based Care
Progress, tracked objectively.
Validated rating scales (PHQ-9, GAD-7) at every visit.
Symptom severity over time Improvement
01
Flagship Specialty
02Treatment-Resistant Depression
When two or more antidepressants haven't produced relief.
High Priority
03Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar I and II — including frequently misdiagnosed presentations.
Common
04Generalized Anxiety
Without cognitive dulling or dependency-forming approaches.
Specialty Focus
05Postpartum & Perinatal
Medication safety expertise during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Adult Onset
06Adult ADHD
Often under-diagnosed in high-functioning adults and women.
Lowcountry Focus
Geriatric Psychiatry
Complex comorbidities, polypharmacy review, late-onset mood.
Our Approach
If you've cycled through medications without relief, here's what changes.
Most psychiatric failures start with diagnostic ambiguity and end with a regimen that nobody fully understands. We rebuild the picture from the ground up — and we measure progress with validated tools, not impressions.
Every initial evaluation is 30–60 minutes. Every follow-up uses validated rating scales. Every medication decision is explained at the receptor level — because patients deserve to understand what's happening in their own care.
01 · Problem
"Nothing's working."
You've tried multiple medications. You've changed providers. You're frustrated, exhausted, and skeptical that another prescription will help. Side effects are taking a toll on the parts of life you most want to protect.
02 · Solution
Comprehensive reevaluation.
A 30–60 minute intake with validated rating scales. Diagnostic assumptions are reopened. Pharmaceutical-level medication knowledge is applied. Every decision is explained, every side effect is treated as something to actively minimize.
03 · Resolution
Targeted, transparent care.
A treatment plan you understand, measured progress at every appointment, and a true partnership where your goals — symptom relief and quality of life — are both non-negotiable.
Six Core Services
Comprehensive psychiatric expertise, delivered virtually.
Every service reflects the same standards — comprehensive evaluation, neuroscience-informed prescribing, and measurement-based monitoring. All available via secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth across South Carolina, New York, and Virginia.
01 02 03 04 05 06
General Adult Psychiatry
Comprehensive evaluation and medication management for adults across the full spectrum of psychiatric conditions.
Treatment-Resistant Depression
Sophisticated augmentation, alternative classes, and rare combinations when first-line care has failed.
Geriatric Psychiatry
Specialist care for complex comorbidities, polypharmacy review, and late-onset mood disorders.
Perinatal & Postpartum
Evidence-based medication management during pregnancy and breastfeeding — without the false choice.
Second Opinion
Structured expert consultation for treatment plans that haven't produced results.
Treatment Review & Optimization
Systematic evaluation of complex regimens, with safe deprescribing where appropriate.
For the first time in twelve years, I understand why my previous treatments didn't work — and I have a plan that's actually built for me.Patient · Treatment-Resistant Depression Telehealth · Bluffton, SC
Patient Care
Common Questions
Before your first appointment.
The questions patients most often ask before scheduling — and the clearest answers we can give. For anything not covered here, call 917-267-9678 or visit our full FAQ.
Treatment-resistant depression is generally defined as depression that hasn't adequately
responded to two or more antidepressant trials at adequate dose and duration. In practice,
this often signals a need for diagnostic reevaluation — sometimes the underlying condition
is bipolar disorder, sometimes there are unrecognized medical contributors, and sometimes
the medications tried all worked through the same mechanism. The starting point is asking
better questions about why previous treatment didn't work.
All appointments are conducted via secure, HIPAA-compliant video telehealth.
You only need a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a camera and an internet connection.
The clinical depth — comprehensive evaluation, validated rating scales, ongoing
measurement-based care — is identical to an in-person visit.
Dr. Farkas is licensed in South Carolina, New York, and Virginia.
You must be physically located in one of these states at the time of your appointment.
Dr. Farkas is in-network with Aetna and Cigna. For other plans, superbills are provided
for out-of-network reimbursement. We recommend calling your insurer to confirm your
out-of-network mental health benefits before your first visit.
Initial psychiatric evaluations are 30–60 minutes. We use validated rating scales
(PHQ-9, GAD-7, and others as appropriate) for objective baselines, take a comprehensive
history, and develop an individualized treatment plan together — not a templated one.
Many psychiatric medications are compatible with breastfeeding when prescribed thoughtfully.
The amount transferring into breast milk is often very small, and untreated postpartum illness
carries its own substantial risks for both mother and infant. Decisions are made using sources
like the LactMed database and current peer-reviewed evidence — not vague reassurances.
Ready When You Are
If standard care hasn't worked, let's start with the question of why.
New patient appointments are typically available within 2–4 weeks. All visits are conducted via secure HIPAA-compliant telehealth across South Carolina, New York, and Virginia.