Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center Program

Program Overview

The Psychiatry Residency at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a four-year, ACGME-accredited program that typically admits five to six residents each year. The program emphasizes a friendly professional work environment that supports the balance between work and family while providing comprehensive training in both the mind and body aspects of medicine.

Residents engage with faculty who are international experts in their respective fields, contributing to a robust educational experience that includes a rich blend of clinical exposure and didactic education. The program is recognized for its supportive environment, emphasizing mentorship and individualized attention.

Curriculum

The residency curriculum is structured across the four years of training, with progressive responsibilities and clinical experiences. The first year (PGY-1) includes rotations in emergency medicine, neurology, internal medicine, and adult inpatient psychiatry, among others. Subsequent years expand to include child psychiatry, community psychiatry, and elective rotations tailored to the resident's interests.

In PGY-2, residents continue with inpatient psychiatry and begin focused rotations in child psychiatry. By PGY-3, residents gain experience in various subspecialties such as forensic psychiatry and addiction psychiatry while also participating in outpatient clinic settings. The final year (PGY-4) focuses on senior responsibilities, allowing residents to shape their final year around areas of particular interest through electives.

Rotations

The program includes diverse rotations, such as:

• Emergency Psychiatry: Involves evaluating psychiatric emergencies and developing management plans for patients in the emergency department.
• Adult Inpatient Psychiatry: Residents participate in the interdisciplinary care of patients in an inpatient setting with a focus on acute psychiatric disorders.
• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry: Provides substantial exposure to treating younger populations and understanding unique developmental perspectives in mental health.
• Community Psychiatry: Rotations focus on providing care to underserved populations, emphasizing holistic approaches to mental health.

Research Opportunities

The program fosters a strong research culture, encouraging all residents to engage in scholarly activities. Research spans various areas, including mood disorders, psychotic disorders, sleep study, and addiction. Residents can collaborate with established faculty on ongoing projects or develop their own studies, with each resident expected to complete at least one scholarly project by graduation. Opportunities to present research at local, regional, and national conferences are encouraged, and financial support is available for conference attendance.

Unique Aspects of the Program

Notable features of the program include:

• Strong Mentorship: Residents receive individualized attention from faculty mentors who guide their professional development and career planning.
• Diversity and Inclusion: The program actively supports diversity among residents and faculty, facilitating cultural competence in practice.
• Wellness Initiatives: The program emphasizes wellness, providing resources to maintain residents' mental and physical health throughout their training.

Training Sites

Training occurs at multiple state-of-the-art facilities, including:

• Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center: The flagship institution offering comprehensive psychiatric services and advanced treatment options.
• Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute: A university-affiliated facility providing inpatient and outpatient care with rich opportunities for resident training in diverse psychiatric settings.
• Lebanon VA Medical Center: Offering valuable exposure to geriatric and addictions psychiatry within a veteran population.

Application Process

For application, the program seeks applicants who demonstrate a strong interest in psychiatry, preferably through experiences in the field. Although there is no minimum score requirement for USMLE or COMLEX, candidates below specific score thresholds or with multiple attempts at passing may face competitive disadvantages in the selection process. The program sponsors J-1 visas for international medical graduates, but does not offer observerships or externships.

Visa Support

The residency program provides support for J-1 visas for international medical graduates. Applicants needing visa assistance should ensure they meet the program’s requirements, including ECFMG certification prior to the start of residency.

Competitiveness

Acquiring a position within the Psychiatry Residency at Penn State is highly competitive. The program welcomes applications from diverse backgrounds, including DO candidates and international medical graduates, as long as they meet the specified requirements.

Application Requirements

Applicants are required to submit three letters of recommendation, medical school transcripts, a CV, USMLE or COMLEX scores, and a personal statement through ERAS. There is no maximum cutoff date for years since graduation, allowing a range of candidates to apply as long as they can demonstrate a genuine interest in psychiatry through prior experiences.