Anton Nigusse Bland, MD, (MED’08)

Anton Nigusse Bland is a graduate of Dillard University and an alumnus of the Early Medical School Selection Program (EMSSP). After completing medical school at BUSM, he completed his psychiatry residency at Sheppard Pratt Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, and completed an addiction psychiatry fellowship at BMC.

Since then, Dr. Nigusse Bland has worn many hats including: Chief of Psychiatry at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center in Martinez, California; Director of Mental Health Reform for the San Francisco Department of Public Health; and currently, Chief Clinical Consultant for the Department of Health Care Services in Sacramento, California.

In addition, he co-authored “Risk Management and Liability Issues in Integrated Care Models,” a resource for the American Psychiatric Association that establishes guidelines for integration of behavioral health treatment into primary care settings.

Q: If you could give advice to current and incoming medical students, what would you say?

A: I offer two pieces of advice that hold great meaning for me. 

• “If someone offers you an amazing opportunity and you’re not sure if you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later.” – Sir Richard Branson

• Time in medical school will pass very quickly. Find the right pace and process for you to go slow and go deep. You will emerge with the most comprehensive medical education possible and be prepared to do anything