Family Health Centers at NYU Langone Program

The Family Health Centers at NYU Langone Psychiatry Residency offers a comprehensive and focused training program designed to cultivate the next generation of leaders in psychiatry. This program emphasizes a robust clinical education within community health settings and a strong commitment to serving diverse and underserved populations.

Mission and Goals

The mission of the program is to provide exceptional training in psychiatry with an emphasis on public and community health. This residency is particularly unique as it is located in one of the oldest Federally Qualified Health Centers in the nation, providing an environment rich in clinical exposure and community engagement.1

Program Overview

The residency consists of four postgraduate years, each designed to build on the previous one, culminating in a well-rounded education for residents. The curriculum integrates hands-on clinical practice with didactic learning, enabling residents to gain a solid foundation in both inpatient and outpatient psychiatric care.

Curriculum Structure

Throughout the residency, there is an emphasis on interdisciplinary training, with residents engaging closely with highly experienced faculty members. The residency's structure is as follows:

• Postgraduate Year 1 (PGY-1): Focused on multidisciplinary training including rotations in internal medicine and neurology, providing foundational medical knowledge.
• Postgraduate Year 2 (PGY-2): Intensification of psychiatric training with opportunities in inpatient settings, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and outpatient community psychiatry.
• Postgraduate Year 3 (PGY-3): Resident involvement continues predominantly within community psychiatry and outpatient care settings, enhancing skills in various treatment modalities.
• Postgraduate Year 4 (PGY-4): Emphasis on leadership, with residents taking on more autonomous roles in patient care, consultation, and resident education.

Clinical Rotations

Clinical training encompasses a wide variety of settings, allowing residents to interact with a diverse patient population. Key rotation sites include:

• NYU Langone Hospital—Brooklyn: Inpatient psychiatry, neurology, and consultation services.
• NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue: Renowned for its psychiatric services, great emphasis is placed on emergency psychiatry and forensic psychiatry rotations.
• Sunset Terrace Family Health Center: Focused on outpatient behavioral health, offering training opportunities in trauma-informed care and collaborative care models.
• School Health Program: Provides psychiatric consultation within public schools, enhancing accessibility to mental health services for children and adolescents.

Didactic Education

Didactic sessions are integrated throughout the residency and are shared with NYU Grossman School of Medicine's Psychiatry Residency Program. This includes:

• Weekly seminar-style classes covering essential topics, clinical skills workshops, and guest lectures from experts.
• Morbidity and mortality conferences, journal clubs, and career development sessions fostering collegiality and interdisciplinary learning.
• Participation in a weekly process group focused on stress management and decision-making support for residents throughout the four years of training.

Research and Scholarly Activities

Residents are encouraged to engage in scholarly activities throughout their training, with regular protected time allocated for research beginning in PGY-1. This includes:

• Identifying areas of interest and developing projects potentially involving quality improvement and educational initiatives.
• Opportunities for presentations at conferences and contributions to academic publications.

Application Process

The program accepts three applicants yearly and requires completed applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Key requirements for applications include:

• A valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate for international medical graduates, if applicable.
• Three letters of recommendation, a personal statement, and official medical school transcripts.
• U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) scores, with no minimum score specified.
• Protected J-1 visa sponsorship through the ECFMG for international residents.

Competitiveness and Diversity

The application process is competitive, emphasizing a commitment to diversity. The program is designed to be inclusive and welcomes applications from individuals who identify as DO or IMG, reflecting a broader stance on equality.

Unique Aspects of the Program

The Family Health Centers at NYU Langone Psychiatry Residency stands out in its dedication to community health, offering residents unparalleled exposure to healthcare disparities and the practice of culturally competent care. Specific features include:

• Access to a range of specialized services including early intervention for psychosis and support for substance use disorders.
• Integration of psychosocial components into the treatment framework, allowing for a holistic approach towards mental health.