University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix Program

The Geriatric Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix is dedicated to preparing a skilled workforce to serve the aging population, both in Arizona and nationwide. The program emphasizes a comprehensive approach that integrates clinical care, community practice, research, and specialized training.

The fellowship is structured to offer an interdisciplinary clinical practice environment, allowing fellows to gain expertise in geriatric psychiatry through close supervision from specialists. Graduates of the program are anticipated to be adept in managing complex challenges inherent in geriatric psychiatric care while benefiting from specialized training in dementia care through affiliation with an Alzheimer's Disease Research Center.

Program Highlights

The program includes numerous distinguishing features: individualized training tailored to fellows' needs, close clinical supervision, diverse patient populations, protected time for scholarly activities, and supportive faculty. Additionally, it includes research opportunities and experiences across various care settings.

The training also features elective opportunities in palliative care, neurology, and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as well as exposure to integrated care and telemedicine. Notably, the fellowship has a unique structure with no on-call obligations, thereby allowing for work-life balance.

Curriculum Structure

The fellowship consists of 12 months of intensive clinical rotations specifically focused on geriatric psychiatric subspecialty training. Trainees engage progressively in responsibilities while working collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams across various practice settings, including both medical centers and community environments. Supervision is provided by experienced clinical faculty in every practice venue, ensuring a thorough training experience that builds competence and confidence.

Research and Scholarly Activity

Scholarly activities during the fellowship include participating in ongoing clinical research facilitated by the resources available through the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix. The curriculum incorporates didactic work, which includes seminars, directed readings, case conferences, and journal clubs focused on recent advances in geriatric psychiatry.

Rotations Overview

Fellows at the program will rotate through several key sites to gain a breadth of experience:

• Banner Alzheimer's Institute (BAI): Serving as the primary base for fellows, BAI provides rich clinical experience focused on cognitive impairment and other neurodegenerative disorders.
• VA Inpatient Psychiatry: This rotation involves evaluating and treating geriatric patients admitted to an acute psychiatric service. Fellows learn about geriatric pharmacology and environmental safety concerning psychiatric care.
• Consultation-Liaison Services: Fellows offer psychiatric consultations for medically complex patients in various settings, including inpatient and outpatient environments.
• Geriatric Patient Aligned Care Team (GeriPACT): Conducted at the Phoenix VA, this rotation focuses on interdisciplinary collaborations for patients with co-occurring psychiatric and medical needs.
• Neurostimulation Techniques: There is dedicated training in ECT and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to understand the role of neurotherapeutics in treating geriatric mental health disorders.

Didactics and Seminars

An integral part of the training includes a robust didactic curriculum. Key activities include:

• Core Lectures: Weekly discussions covering diverse topics related to geriatric psychiatry, including ethics, legal aspects, neurostimulation, and mental health issues specific to the elderly population.
• Case Conferences: Hosted by BAI, these conferences allow fellows to engage with complex cases in cognitive health, improving peer-learning and interdisciplinary collaboration.
• Journal Club: This quarterly event allows fellows to critically review recent publications in geriatric psychiatry, fostering a culture of scholarly inquiry.
• Grand Rounds: Mandatory attendance at the Psychiatry Grand Rounds at the University offers insights into a wide range of relevant topics.

Training Sites

The fellowship offers diverse clinical training experiences through various affiliated training sites, giving fellows the chance to learn from a broad spectrum of healthcare professionals. Highlights include the Banner – University Medical Center, Phoenix VA Health Care Center, and Banner Behavioral Health Hospital, each providing unique learning environments and patient demographics.

Application Requirements and Competitiveness

Applicants must complete an ACGME-accredited adult psychiatry residency and possess a valid ECFMG certificate if they are non-US medical school graduates. Additional application components include two letters of reference, a letter from the residency training director, a personal statement, a CV, and a completed application form. The fellowship offers rolling admissions starting in July, accepting applications during the third and early fourth years of residency training.

Visa Support

The program provides visa support for international medical graduates, sponsoring visa types necessary for participation in the fellowship.

This fellowship is competitive, and candidates with a robust academic record and relevant experiences in geriatrics may have an advantage in the application process.