NYU Grossman School of Medicine Program

The Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at NYU Grossman School of Medicine is a comprehensive one-year training program designed to prepare fellows for clinical excellence and leadership in the care of older adults. This accredited fellowship, recognized by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), emphasizes high-quality clinical education and scholarly activity.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is designed to provide fellows with the knowledge and skills necessary to evaluate and treat psychiatric disorders in older populations. The program includes both inpatient and outpatient clinical training, didactics, and mentorship opportunities.

Fellows engage in the management of acute psychiatric conditions common in geriatric populations, including schizophrenia, mood disorders, cognitive impairments, and personality disorders. There is a strong emphasis on evidence-based practices and collaborative care, ensuring that fellows gain experience in various treatment modalities, including psychopharmacology and psychotherapies.

Clinical Rotations

The fellowship includes a variety of clinical training sites:

Inpatient Clinical Training

Fellows participate in an inpatient clinical rotation at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue, where they assess and manage complex psychiatric issues in medically ill older adults. This rotation also emphasizes neuropsychological assessments and therapeutic programming for cognitive disorders.

Ambulatory Experiences

The ambulatories include:

• Center for Cognitive Neurology: Here, fellows engage in comprehensive evaluations and manage neuropsychiatric disturbances relating to dementia, further enhancing their diagnostic and treatment competencies.
• Bellevue Geriatrics Clinic: In this clinic, fellows conduct longitudinal psychiatric evaluations and collaborate with geriatricians and other specialists.
• NYU Langone Behavioral Health Program: This rotation involves assessing and treating late-life psychiatric illnesses, emphasizing psychotherapy.
• Program for Hoarding Disorders: Fellows gain practical experience through community-based assessments and treatment planning for older adults with hoarding behavior.

Consultation-Liaison Training

Consultation-liaison experiences enable fellows to manage psychiatric conditions in a range of medical settings. This training includes supervising consultations in inpatient scenarios where psychiatric and medical issues intersect.

Didactic Training

Fellows receive rigorous didactic training, which encompasses lectures, grand rounds, and interdisciplinary conferences dissecting complex cases. The curriculum is supplemented by opportunities to develop and present scholarly projects.

Research Opportunities

An integral component of the fellowship is scholarly activity, where fellows are encouraged to engage in research projects and publish their findings. This commitment to research is supported by mentorship and collaborative opportunities within the NYU Langone network.

Application Process and Eligibility

To apply for the Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship, candidates must have successfully completed an ACGME-accredited residency in psychiatry. The program is particularly welcoming to applicants from diverse backgrounds, including underrepresented minority groups. The application requires submission of a core application that includes a personal statement, a CV, and two to three letters of reference. Candidates must submit a valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate if they are international medical graduates.

Visa Support

The program provides visa sponsorship for accepted international fellows, specifically through J-1 visa sponsorship, facilitating their training in the United States.

Competitiveness and Selection

The fellowship is considered highly competitive, typically accepting only one fellow per year. The selection process emphasizes the importance of leadership potential, commitment to geriatric psychiatry, and the ability to contribute positively to the program's academic environment.

Conclusion

The Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at NYU Grossman School of Medicine offers a comprehensive training experience tailored to develop future leaders in geriatric mental health care. This program not only focuses on exceptional clinical training but also supports academic growth and research, preparing graduates for board certification and advanced practice in the field of geriatric psychiatry.