Dr. David Byrnes is a board-certified psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of children, adolescents, and adults with complex psychiatric and neurodevelopmental conditions. He serves as the consulting psychiatrist at Keswick School (KS), where he provides comprehensive psychiatric evaluation, ongoing medication management, and close collaboration with the school’s clinical and educational teams.
At KS, Dr. Byrnes plays an integral role in supporting students who often present with multiple, co-occurring psychiatric diagnoses — including but not limited to Autism Spectrum Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, Schizoaffective Disorder, and other developmental and mood disorders. Many students have had prior treatment in hospitals or residential centers before joining KS. Dr. Byrnes’ work focuses on helping these students achieve greater emotional stability, cognitive flexibility, and resilience so that they can fully engage in learning and relationships within the structured, supportive environment of the school.
Unlike most therapeutic or residential school models, in which psychiatric services are provided off-site, Dr. Byrnes maintains an office directly on the KS campus and is present there three days a week. This integrated model enables him to observe students in their natural environment — in classrooms, during recreational activities, at meals, and in social interactions — providing him with invaluable insight into each student’s behavior and progress. This close connection with the community enables a level of diagnostic precision and treatment personalization that is rarely possible in traditional outpatient settings.
Dr. Byrnes works in close partnership with therapists, teachers, residential staff, and families to ensure that every element of a student’s care supports the same therapeutic goals. He views the psychiatric component as one of two critical inputs in a student’s progress — the first being the school environment, which provides consistency, structure, and safety; and the second being the student’s underlying neurochemistry. Dr. Byrnes uses a helpful analogy: a student’s neurochemistry is like the foundation of a house — if the foundation is strong and well-supported, the structure built upon it (the student’s skills, coping strategies, and confidence) can grow stable and resilient. By optimizing the physiological foundation through careful, evidence-based pharmacologic support, students can more effectively benefit from therapy, learning, and positive life experiences.
Dr. Byrnes completed his undergraduate degree in Biological Sciences at Duke University, earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine, and completed both his General Psychiatry Residency and Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Virginia, where he was honored to serve as Chief Fellow. He is board-certified in Psychiatry and in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.
In addition to his work at KS, Dr. Byrnes maintains a private practice at Blue Ridge Neurobehavioral Health in Charlottesville, where he provides psychiatric services to children, adolescents, and adults. He is a member of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, the American Psychiatric Association, and the Medical Society of Virginia.
Dr. Byrnes is deeply committed to the mission of Keswick School and to helping each student achieve a sense of competence, connection, and confidence. Through his presence on campus and his partnership with families and staff, he helps create the strong foundation upon which meaningful emotional and academic growth can occur.
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