MedWest-Haywood welcomes psychiatrist John C. Nicholls, MD, JD as medical director of Behavioral Health Services
7/23/2012
MedWest-Haywood welcomes psychiatrist John C. Nicholls, MD, JD as medical director of Behavioral Health Services
Clyde, N.C. – MedWest-Haywood welcomes psychiatrist John C. Nicholls, MD, JD as the medical director of Behavioral Health Services at MedWest, starting July 23.
Nicholls will lead the Behavioral Health Unit, an adult psychiatric inpatient program at MedWest-Haywood where individuals experiencing emotional or behavioral problems that are at crisis levels can receive inpatient care and support.
Nicholls is board-certified in general psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and is board-eligible in child and adolescent psychiatry. He received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine in Chapel Hill in 2004 and is licensed to practice medicine in North Carolina.
Nicholls was a resident in general psychiatry and received fellowship training in child and adolescent psychiatry at UNC Hospitals.
In addition to his duties as medical director, Nicholls will participate as Member at Large with the Executive Committee of the North Carolina Council of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, representing Western North Carolina.
“I was raised in Murphy and am looking forward to returning and helping expand mental health care services in Western North Carolina,” he said.
Nicholls received a bachelor of science degree in Earth Science from UNC-Charlotte where he also did post-graduate work in biology and organic chemistry. He earned a law degree from the Wake Forest University School of Law in Winston-Salem. Prior to practicing medicine, Nicholls was an attorney whose law career included work with law firms in Charlotte and Atlanta. Although currently inactive, he remains a member of the North Carolina State Bar.
As Clinical Assistant Professor, Nicholls co-directed the Child and Adolescent Forensic Psychiatry Clinic at UNC Hospitals from 2009 to 2010. He served as Medical Director of Child and Adolescent Inpatient Services at the UNC Hospital Department of Psychiatry in Chapel Hill and as Physician Service Leader for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at UNC Hospitals since 2010 and will continue his association with UNC Hospitals as adjunct faculty.
In addition to his hospital-based work, Nicholls’ previous experience includes private practice in general and child psychiatry, as well as general forensic evaluations and substance abuse treatment.
To learn more about Behavioral Health Services, call MedWest-Haywood at (828) 456-7311.