Jamaica Hospital Medical Center Program

The Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center provides a comprehensive and immersive training experience for medical professionals in the field of psychiatry. This fellowship is designed to prepare practitioners for the complexities of consultation-liaison psychiatry and to foster a deep understanding of psychiatric care in a medical context. The training occurs at two major sites: Jamaica Hospital, a level-one trauma center, and Flushing Hospital, both notable for their commitment to providing high-quality patient care in a culturally diverse area of Queens, New York.

Fellows work closely with attendings, residents, and other fellows across a variety of clinical settings, including inpatient medical, surgical, OB-GYN, rehab, and pediatric units. This structured approach allows fellows to gain extensive experience in evaluating and treating patients within the medical and pediatric emergency departments, thereby enhancing their clinical skill set in real-world environments1.

Curriculum

The curriculum spans a full twelve months, during which fellows will engage in diverse clinical experiences. Alongside direct patient care, fellows participate in various didactic seminars and educational activities. These educational components are crucial for developing a robust foundation in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Didactic Seminars

Fellows attend formal didactic seminars that cover essential topics in consultation-liaison psychiatry, facilitated by core faculty. These seminars encompass:

• Consultation-Liaison Lecture Series
• Consultation-Liaison Clinical Pearls
• Consultation-Liaison Clinical Monographs

In addition, fellows can also participate in Psychiatry Residency classes, including courses on Board Review, Interviewing Skills, Psychopharmacology, and more, ensuring a well-rounded educational experience4.

Types of Clinical Experience

The program emphasizes the treatment of patients with psychiatric conditions resulting from medical illnesses. This includes managing delirium, dementia, somatic symptom disorders, and others. Fellows gain hands-on experience evaluating patients’ capacities to consent to treatment and handling pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment strategies.

Electives

A unique aspect of the fellowship is the opportunity to explore electives in psycho-oncology through a collaboration with Memorial Sloan Kettering. This elective experience offers fellows the chance to work in oncology settings within both Jamaica Hospital and Manhattan locations, further enriching the scope of their training5.

Research and Scholarly Activities

Fellows are encouraged to engage in various research activities, working closely with faculty on projects that pique their interest. The fellowship promotes participation in performance improvement projects and academic meetings, thus supporting fellows' professional development and their contribution to the field of psychiatry.

Research supervision is provided by core faculty, facilitating the formulation, conduct, and analysis of studies. Opportunities to present research findings at local, regional, and national venues are fully supported, reaffirming the program’s commitment to advancing psychiatric knowledge and fostering scholarly activities amongst its fellows6.

Visa Support and Sponsorship

The fellowship provides visa support, which may include sponsorship for J-1 or H-1B visas, enabling international medical graduates to participate in the program. This applicant-friendly approach is ideal for both DO and IMG candidates pursuing fellowship training in consultation-liaison psychiatry.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Consultation-Liaison Psychiatry Fellowship is highly competitive, and while it welcomes applications from both DO and IMG candidates, it is essential to meet specific qualifications. Applicants typically should not have more than a limited number of failed STEP exams, and the program may have guidelines related to the year of graduation from medical school. Interested candidates should review the fellowship’s requirements closely to ensure eligibility and competitive application strength.