Jill RachBeisel, MD

Dr. RachBeisel is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University School of Medicine where she received her medical degree in 1985. She completed her four-year Psychiatric Residency Program, serving as Chief Resident in her 4th year from the University of Maryland Medical Center Psychiatric Residency Program in 1989.

A faculty member in the Department of Psychiatry since 1989, Dr. Jill RachBeisel is a professor who has provided clinical, teaching, research collaboration, and administrative leadership over the past 25 years. Dr. RachBeisel began her career in the field of acute psychiatric care, emergency psychiatric interventions and quality management in the hospital setting.

From 7/1/99 through 6/30 2016 she then served as the Division Director for Community Psychiatry at the University of Maryland, overseeing 200 staff and physicians, providing community mental health services through four major programs: Traditional Outpatient Care, Case Management Services, Psychiatry Rehabilitation Services, and Programs of Assertive Community Treatment.

During her tenure she developed a skills-based teaching program for individuals with SMI living in supervised transitional housing. Her Curriculum is titled “Academy of Independent Living,” and is designed to prepare persons with SMI to live independently. She has incorporated a Person-centered, recovery-oriented and trauma informed approach to care in all areas. 

In addition to her Division responsibilities Dr. RachBeisel was promoted to Chief of Clinical Services for the Department of Psychiatry on March 1, 2014, assuming the oversight, including program development & Performance Improvement, of all clinical services in the Department of Psychiatry. She is President of the UMMC Medical Staff, and is actively involved in understanding the impact of Population Health Management on persons with SMI as well as mental health issues in complex medical/surgical conditions. 

In 2019 Dr. RachBeisel was appointed the Chair of the Department of Psychiatry and currently is leading the department's clinical, educational and research missions. Her most recent focus is expanding translational research in the areas of addiction and treatment-resistant depression,  establishing the Advanced Depression Treatment Center and the Woman's Mental Health Program. A strong focus on diversity, equity and inclusion permeates all areas of the department, as well as mentorship and junior faculty development. Dr. RachBeisel has adopted a team approach to moving the Department of Psychiatry forward. 

Adult Psychiatry, Integrated Care, Serious and Persistent Mental Illness, Substance Use Disorders, Women's Mental Health

Maragakis,  A., Siddharthan, R., RachBeisel, J., & Snipes, C. 2015  Creating a “Reverse” Integrated Primary and Mental Health Care Clinic for Those with Serious Mental Illness. Primary Health Care Research & Development

Fenton, A. Sharps, P. Kverno, K. RachBeisel, J. Gorth, M.  A 12-Week Evidence-based Education Project to Reduce Cardiovascular and Metabolic Risk in Adults with Serious Mental Illness in the Integrated Care Setting. J of Amer Psych Nurses Ass. 2021 Mar-Apr;27(2):134-142. https://doi.org/10.1177/1078390320902825. 

Hare S, Reeves G, & Knight S, Benzer S, RachBeisel J. Virtual Civil Commitment Hearings: Convenience at the Cost of Compromised Communication and Safety Assessments. Psych Services  2023 Nov 14:appips20230217. doi: PMID: 37960864.