Daniel Whitesides, MD, MPH

After receiving my Bachelor of Arts in biology, I was unsure of what I wanted to do as a career. I found my way to the medical field via two years of education as a radiologic technologist, a field that I practiced in for several years before choosing to further my education by attending Physician Assistant school. After practicing in orthopedics and spinal surgery after graduation, I accepted a job at a state psychiatric hospital and have had a passion for working with patients struggling with mental illness ever since. I feel it is important to meet people where they are and allow them to guide their treatment plan.

I am a clinical assistant professor within the department of psychiatry at UNC. My primary area of clinical interest is in the treatment, support, and wellness of individuals living with serious and persistent mental illnesses, such as psychotic disorders and bipolar disorder. Most of my clinical time is at the Wake Encompass First Episode Psychosis Program as an attending psychiatrist and with the Wake Assertive Community Treatment Team (ACTT) as Medical Director. Additionally, I am committed to increasing access to mental health care across the state of North Carolina. As such, I am involved in the UNC Acute Telepsychiatry Services which provides virtual psychiatry consults across various UNC Healthcare systems. As faculty, I am also involved in the education of medical students and psychiatry residents.

Being a doctor combines my passion for learning about living things and helping people during their most difficult times. I believe people are more than just diagnoses, and achieving good mental health requires looking at peoples whole stories and meeting them where they are. I strive to build a strong partnership with my patients to find the treatments that work best for them. I specialize in treating depression, anxiety and a wide range of mental health issues. Outside of work, I enjoy hiking, painting, playing board games with my family and friends, and playing with my dog and four cats.