Meritus Medical Center Program

The Meritus Health Psychiatry Residency Program is dedicated to providing a comprehensive psychiatric education focused on community engagement, advocacy, and social action. The program aims to develop the skills of future psychiatrists who are trained in evidence-based medicine and psychotherapy, positioning them as leaders and healers within their communities.

Key Distinctions

The program is recognized for its emphasis on direct community action and advocacy, offering unique learning experiences outside of clinical rotations. Notable features include regular participation in the Meritus Mobile Clinic, engagement with community-based mental health clinics, and collaboration with local grassroots organizations. As the only rural psychiatry residency in Maryland, Meritus Health aims to train a cohort of 20 residents (5-5-5-5) starting in July 2025.

Education predominantly occurs at two main sites: Meritus Medical Center and Brook Lane, the second largest stand-alone mental health facility in Maryland. These facilities offer diverse services including adult and child inpatient care, outpatient therapy, addiction programs, and various consult services. The program also plans to achieve Osteopathic Recognition within the next few years, which will make it one of the few ACGME-accredited psychiatry residency programs with such recognition nationwide.

Curriculum

The curriculum is designed around practical community involvement, beginning with a longitudinal outpatient experience starting in the intern year through the Mobile Clinic program. Residents are exposed to diverse patient populations and clinical settings, promoting development of skills in both psychopharmacology and psychotherapy. Inpatient psychiatry rotations are structured progressively from the first year through the final year, allowing for increasing responsibility and independence.

Rotation highlights include:

• Inpatient Psychiatry: Multiple blocks across the residency focusing on acute psychiatric illness.
• Neurology: Two blocks to understand the interplay between neurological and psychiatric conditions.
• Community Psychiatry: Designed to foster an understanding of community dynamics and patient advocacy.
• Addiction Psychiatry: Training in both outpatient and inpatient settings to treat patients with substance use disorders.
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Rotations in both inpatient psychiatric units and outpatient settings.

Additionally, residents will engage in administrative functions, neuromodulation practices (including ECT and TMS), and participate in psychotherapy training throughout their four years.

Research and Scholarly Activity

Residents are required to complete at least one scholarly activity during their training. They are encouraged to pursue specific interests within the field, with support from faculty supervisors and access to an IRB committee and research facilities associated with the proposed Meritus School of Osteopathic Medicine.

Wellness and Community Involvement

The psychiatry residency places a strong emphasis on physician wellness, offering initiatives to support mental health and resilience among residents. Regular supervision and structured time off are incorporated into the program to promote well-being.

Moreover, community involvement is tightly woven into the residency experience. Residents will participate in advocacy efforts and community projects, which are integral to the program's mission of addressing social and structural barriers to mental health care.

Application Process and Competitiveness

The application deadline is December 1, 2024, and the program participates in the NRMP Match process. Specific criteria for selection will be forthcoming, and candidates from diverse backgrounds—including both D.O.s and IMGs—are encouraged to apply. Applicants should ensure that they meet any special application requirements set by the program, including limits on the year of medical school graduation and failed exams.

Visa Support

The program provides visa sponsorship options for qualified international medical graduates, including J-1 and H-1B visa types, facilitating their participation in the residency program.