My journey into psychiatry is deeply personal; it felt like a calling that I couldn't ignore. I've faced things like postpartum depression and anxiety, ADHD, hormonal imbalance and grief, and I know firsthand what it's like to feel different, like something is off, yet not have the answers. Because I've been in those difficult places, I can genuinely empathize and share in your experience.
When I'm not working or parenting, you'll usually find me listening to related audiobooks and podcasts while embarking on yet another DIY project and telling myself I will fold the laundry after.
Education and Training
After completing an undergraduate degree in psychobiology with a minor in chemistry from Holy Family University, Dr. Dillinger attended the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and obtained her doctorate in medicine. She then went on to complete residency training in psychiatry at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Psychiatry Program.
She has her Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) from Postpartum Support International (PSI), with additional trainings in reproductive mental health including the PSI Maternal Mental Health Certificate, the PSI Advanced Perinatal Psychopharmacology Certificate, the PSI Foundations in Paternal Perinatal Mental Health Certificate, and the National Consortium for Reproductive Psychiatry. She regularly attends conferences, lectures, and is an avid reader of topics from evolutionary psychiatry to the gut microbiome, supplements to genetic variants and beyond.
Awards/Accomplishments
From being a soccer captain, to founding the premedical club at my college, to serving in three separate chief resident roles during residency training, I’ve been entrusted with leadership roles for many years. Seeing others realize their potential is extremely gratifying and rewarding. As Robert Ingersoll said, “we rise by lifting others.”
I received a competitive national award for education (the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training George Ginsberg Fellowship) for my cumulative work in educating patients, caregivers, medical students and the community on stigma and mental illness. I’ve also served as a tutor, a forensic science instructor, and a curriculum developer for a substance abuse prevention program for school-aged kids using planarian worms! These experiences helped me hone skills to explain complex topics in an understandable way, which my patients have sincerely appreciated.
I was selected as a deputy editor for the American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal and served there for several years developing a discerning eye for scientific literature and mentoring others to do the same. If you scroll down, you will find a list of my own scientific publications and presentations. I’ve received awards for them including from the Maryland Psychiatric Society (paper of the year award, poster of the year award). Having this background means I’m better prepared to interpret and apply evidence-based literature to your needs.
Presentations
Dillinger, RL. Examining Paid Maternity Leave Policies in United States Psychiatry Residency Programs. Poster presented at: the University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry Annual Research Day; 2021 May 20; Virtual
Dillinger, RL, et al. Oh Baby! Examining Parental Leave in Psychiatric Residency Training. Presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2021 May 1-3; Virtual
Dillinger, RL, et al. AJP Residents’ Journal: Advancing the Future of Trainee Scholarship. Presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2021 May 1-3; Virtual
Dillinger, RL. Examining Paid Maternity Leave Policies in United States Psychiatry Residency Programs. Poster presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2021 May 1-3; Virtual
Dillinger, RL. Addressing the stigma surrounding serious mental illness in youth: a brief intervention. Poster session to be presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2020 Apr 27, Philadelphia, PA. (Conference canceled)
Dillinger, RL. Defining Stigma: youth perceptions of serious mental illness. Poster session to be presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2020 Apr 25, Philadelphia, PA. (Conference canceled)
Dillinger, RL. Pharmakeia: the use of medicine, drugs, or spells. Poster session presented at: the American Medical Association Interim Meeting; 2018 Nov 8-13; National Harbor, MD.
Dillinger, RL. Caring for Caregivers: creating a manual of psychoeducation and resources. Poster session presented at: Healthier Longer Lives for People with Serious Mental Illness International Conference; 2018 Nov 8-9; New York, NY.
Dillinger, RL. Caring for Caregivers: understanding and meeting their needs in coping with first episode psychosis. Poster session presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2018 May 5-9; New York, NY.
Dillinger, RL. Take a Nap: evidenced-based benefits. Presentation presented at: The Southeastern Consortium of Higher Education Honors Conference. 2012 April; Philadelphia, PA.
Publications
Dillinger, RL (2021). From Requisite to Right: assessing and addressing paid maternity leave in United States psychiatry residency programs. Acad Psychiatry 46, 167–171 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-021-01523-x
Dillinger, RL (2020). Addressing the Stigma Surrounding Serious Mental Illness in Adolescents: a Brief Intervention. Psychiatric Quarterly. Doi:10.1007/s11126-020-09787-6
Dillinger, RL. Interviewer. “Drug-Drug Interactions with Dr. Neil Sandson.” The American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal Podcast. 5/29/2020. http://ajpresidentsjournal.apapublishing.libsynpro.com/drug-drug-interactions
Dillinger, RL. Interviewee. “Lessons From the Editors.” The American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal Podcast. 4/28/2020. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-from-the-editors/id1415558483?i=1000472891247
Dillinger, RL, Kersun, JM. (2019). Caring for Caregivers: Understanding and Meeting Their Needs in Coping with First Episode Psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry.
Dillinger, RL (2019). Friend or Foe? Embracing Feedback in Medical Training. American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal.
Amar, J. Y., Ruta, J., Rahimian, D., Dillinger, RL, & Katz, P. (2018). Toxic leukoencephalopathy with extrapyramidal dysfunction due to synthetic cannabinoids. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 58, 213-214. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2018.10.022
Dillinger, RL. (2018). Early Psychiatric Illness: Information and Resources. Philadelphia, PA. Self published.
Amar, J. Y., Dillinger, RL, Borden, K., & Lollo, V. (2018). A Seizure by Any Other Name: Challenges and Long-Term Implications of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures. American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal,13(1), 3-6. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2018.130102
Dillinger RL, Barkley K, Wu HH, Wang LL, Harbison S. General Principles. Gunner Goggles Surgery. Elsevier: Philadelphia, PA.
Dillinger RL, Wu HH, Wang LL, Harbison S. Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue. Gunner Goggles Surgery. Elsevier: Philadelphia, PA.
Dillinger RL (2012). Spineless: Placing Profits before Patients. TuftScope 12(2), 24-25
For me, it’s personal.
My journey into psychiatry is deeply personal; it felt like a calling that I couldn’t ignore. I’ve faced things like postpartum depression and anxiety, ADHD, hormonal imbalance and grief, and I know firsthand what it’s like to feel different, like something is off, yet not have the answers. Because I’ve been in those difficult places, I can genuinely empathize and share in your experience.
When I’m not working or parenting, you’ll usually find me listening to related audiobooks and podcasts while embarking on yet another DIY project and telling myself I will fold the laundry after.
Education and Training
After completing an undergraduate degree in psychobiology with a minor in chemistry from Holy Family University, Dr. Dillinger attended the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University and obtained her doctorate in medicine. She then went on to complete residency training in psychiatry at the University of Maryland/Sheppard Pratt Psychiatry Program.
She has her Perinatal Mental Health Certification (PMH-C) from Postpartum Support International (PSI), with additional trainings in reproductive mental health including the PSI Maternal Mental Health Certificate, the PSI Advanced Perinatal Psychopharmacology Certificate, the PSI Foundations in Paternal Perinatal Mental Health Certificate, and the National Consortium for Reproductive Psychiatry. She regularly attends conferences, lectures, and is an avid reader of topics from evolutionary psychiatry to the gut microbiome, supplements to genetic variants and beyond.
Awards/Accomplishments
From being a high school soccer captain, to founding the premedical club at my college, to serving in three separate chief resident roles during residency training, I’ve been entrusted with leadership roles throughout my life. Seeing others realize their potential is extremely gratifying and rewarding. As Robert Ingersoll said, “we rise by lifting others.”
I received a competitive national award for education (the American Association of Directors of Psychiatric Residency Training George Ginsberg Fellowship) for my cumulative work in educating patients, caregivers, medical students and the community on stigma and mental illness. I’ve also served as a tutor, a forensic science instructor, and a curriculum developer for a substance abuse prevention program for school-aged kids using planarian worms! These experiences helped me hone skills to explain complex topics in an understandable way, which my patients have sincerely appreciated.
I was selected as a deputy editor for the American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal and served there for several years developing a discerning eye for scientific literature and mentoring others to do the same. If you scroll down, you will find a list of my own scientific publications and presentations. I’ve received awards for them including from the Maryland Psychiatric Society (paper of the year award, poster of the year award). Having this background means I’m better prepared to interpret and apply evidence-based literature to your needs.
Presentations
Dillinger, RL. Examining Paid Maternity Leave Policies in United States Psychiatry Residency Programs. Poster presented at: the University of Maryland Department of Psychiatry Annual Research Day; 2021 May 20; Virtual
Dillinger, RL, et al. Oh Baby! Examining Parental Leave in Psychiatric Residency Training. Presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2021 May 1-3; Virtual
Dillinger, RL, et al. AJP Residents’ Journal: Advancing the Future of Trainee Scholarship. Presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2021 May 1-3; Virtual
Dillinger, RL. Examining Paid Maternity Leave Policies in United States Psychiatry Residency Programs. Poster presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2021 May 1-3; Virtual
Dillinger, RL. Addressing the stigma surrounding serious mental illness in youth: a brief intervention. Poster session to be presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2020 Apr 27, Philadelphia, PA. (Conference canceled)
Dillinger, RL. Defining Stigma: youth perceptions of serious mental illness. Poster session to be presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2020 Apr 25, Philadelphia, PA. (Conference canceled)
Dillinger, RL. Pharmakeia: the use of medicine, drugs, or spells. Poster session presented at: the American Medical Association Interim Meeting; 2018 Nov 8-13; National Harbor, MD.
Dillinger, RL. Caring for Caregivers: creating a manual of psychoeducation and resources. Poster session presented at: Healthier Longer Lives for People with Serious Mental Illness International Conference; 2018 Nov 8-9; New York, NY.
Dillinger, RL. Caring for Caregivers: understanding and meeting their needs in coping with first episode psychosis. Poster session presented at: the American Psychiatric Association Annual Meeting; 2018 May 5-9; New York, NY.
Dillinger, RL. Take a Nap: evidenced-based benefits. Presentation presented at: The Southeastern Consortium of Higher Education Honors Conference. 2012 April; Philadelphia, PA.
Publications
Dillinger, RL (2021). From Requisite to Right: assessing and addressing paid maternity leave in United States psychiatry residency programs. Acad Psychiatry 46, 167–171 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40596-021-01523-x
Dillinger, RL (2020). Addressing the Stigma Surrounding Serious Mental Illness in Adolescents: a Brief Intervention. Psychiatric Quarterly. Doi:10.1007/s11126-020-09787-6
Dillinger, RL. Interviewer. “Drug-Drug Interactions with Dr. Neil Sandson.” The American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal Podcast. 5/29/2020. http://ajpresidentsjournal.apapublishing.libsynpro.com/drug-drug-interactions
Dillinger, RL. Interviewee. “Lessons From the Editors.” The American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal Podcast. 4/28/2020. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lessons-from-the-editors/id1415558483?i=1000472891247
Dillinger, RL, Kersun, JM. (2019). Caring for Caregivers: Understanding and Meeting Their Needs in Coping with First Episode Psychosis. Early Intervention in Psychiatry.
Dillinger, RL (2019). Friend or Foe? Embracing Feedback in Medical Training. American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal.
Amar, J. Y., Ruta, J., Rahimian, D., Dillinger, RL, & Katz, P. (2018). Toxic leukoencephalopathy with extrapyramidal dysfunction due to synthetic cannabinoids. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience, 58, 213-214. doi:10.1016/j.jocn.2018.10.022
Dillinger, RL. (2018). Early Psychiatric Illness: Information and Resources. Philadelphia, PA. Self published.
Amar, J. Y., Dillinger, RL, Borden, K., & Lollo, V. (2018). A Seizure by Any Other Name: Challenges and Long-Term Implications of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures. American Journal of Psychiatry Residents’ Journal,13(1), 3-6. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp-rj.2018.130102
Dillinger RL, Barkley K, Wu HH, Wang LL, Harbison S. General Principles. Gunner Goggles Surgery. Elsevier: Philadelphia, PA.
Dillinger RL, Wu HH, Wang LL, Harbison S. Diseases of the Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue. Gunner Goggles Surgery. Elsevier: Philadelphia, PA.
Dillinger RL (2012). Spineless: Placing Profits before Patients. TuftScope 12(2), 24-25