We foster a supportive educational environment centered on patient-focused care, evidence-based psychiatry, scholarly activity, professionalism, leadership development, and physician wellness.
Building the Future of Psychiatry
Training compassionate, culturally competent,
and clinically skilled psychiatrists.
Access to Care
Promoting equitable access to mental health services.
Clinical Excellence
Providing exceptional psychiatric care
to diverse patient populations.
Residents are encouraged to actively participate in academic and scholarly activities throughout training, with opportunities for mentorship, research collaboration, conference participation, and professional development.
Case Reports
Conference Presentations
Quality Improvement (QI) Projects
Scholarly Collaboration
Highlighted Conference Presentations
American Psychiatric Association (APA)
Alabama Psychiatric Physicians Association (APPA)
Indo-American Psychiatric Association
American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)
Our program is committed to supporting resident well-being through mentorship, work-life balance, educational support, and a collaborative training environment that encourages personal and professional growth.
Faculty mentorship and open-door support
Collaborative and team-oriented culture
Wellness activities and resident social events
Protected educational opportunities
Access to mental health and wellness resources
Supportive learning environment focused on resident success
Huntsville offers residents an exceptional quality of life with outdoor recreation, entertainment, arts, dining, and a growing medical and technology community.
Convenient access to Nashville, Birmingham, and Atlanta
“I went to the ER and they didn’t have a bed for me. They gave me a few options, including WellStone, but I didn’t want to go so I just went home. Eventually, my head felt so bad I knew I’d be in trouble if I didn’t get help so I checked myself into Wellstone and stayed for six days. It was the best decision I ever made.”
Lindsey*, 29-year-old WES Client
Residency Leadership
Shanthi Gatla, M.D.
WES Psychiatrist, Program Director
Dr. Shanthi Gatla is board-certified in Adult Psychiatry and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. She completed her Psychiatry Residency and Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of South Alabama, where she later served on faculty.
Dr. Gatla also served as core faculty and resident mentor at the North Alabama Medical Center Psychiatry Residency Program before joining the WellStone Psychiatry Residency Program. Since her appointment in March 2025, she has served as the Founding Program Director, playing a key role in developing the residency program. She also provides psychiatric care for children and adolescents at the WellStone Pediatric Emergency Crisis Center.
Her professional interests include resident education, mentorship, and community psychiatry. Outside of work, Dr. Gatla enjoys hiking, binge-watching Netflix, and spending time with her family.
Praveen Narahari, M.D.
WES Psychiatrist, Program Chair
Dr. Praveen Narahari, MS, MD, DFAPA, is a Dual board-certified adult psychiatrist and addiction medicine physician with extensive experience in academic psychiatry, inpatient psychiatry, emergency psychiatry, and resident education. He completed his psychiatry residency and served as Chief Resident at the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, where he later held faculty appointments as Assistant and Associate Professor of Psychiatry.
Dr. Narahari is recognized for his dedication to medical education, clinical excellence, and mentorship of psychiatry residents and medical students. He is a Distinguished Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and has received multiple awards for teaching, research, and professional leadership throughout his career.
Ajmal Khan, MD
WES Psychiatrist, Program Chair
Dr. Ajmal Khan is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with extensive experience in inpatient, outpatient, emergency, and community psychiatry. He currently provides psychiatric care through WellStone across a variety of clinical settings in North Alabama.
Dr. Khan completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) and previously served as adjunct faculty with the UAB Department of Psychiatry, where he helped educate and supervise psychiatry residents and medical trainees.
His clinical interests include mood disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, PTSD, and substance use disorders. Known for his compassionate, patient-centered approach, Dr. Khan is dedicated to providing evidence-based care while supporting the mental health needs of the communities he serves.
Donald Klasing, MD
WES Psychiatrist, Program Chair
Dr. Donald Klasing is a board-certified adult psychiatrist with more than 25 years of experience in behavioral healthcare. He currently provides outpatient psychiatric services through WellStone.
Dr. Klasing earned his medical degree from the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine and completed his psychiatry residency at the University of Alabama Medical Center. Before pursuing medicine, he earned an engineering degree from Vanderbilt University and served in the United States Navy.
Throughout his career, Dr. Klasing has held clinical and leadership roles across a variety of psychiatric settings, including inpatient, outpatient, geriatric, and telepsychiatry services. His professional interests include geriatric psychiatry, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, and dementia-related behavioral conditions.
About WellStone Crisis and Emergency Care Facilities
