University of Louisville School of Medicine Program

The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program at the University of Louisville is a comprehensive, two-year program accredited by the ACGME, aimed at equipping fellows with the necessary skills for diagnosing and treating psychiatric disorders in children and adolescents. The fellowship is situated within the Department of Pediatrics, allowing for a unique collaborative experience with pediatric residents and psychology trainees. This integration emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach to patient care, ensuring that fellows receive comprehensive training in both clinical settings and educational environments. As a result, graduates emerge as competent leaders capable of contributing significantly to clinical practice, research, and academia.

The program focuses on an extensive range of psychiatric disorders and is structured to foster competency in various critical areas defined by the ACGME core competencies, including:

• Direct Patient Care
• Medical Knowledge
• Practice-based Learning and Improvement
• Interpersonal and Communication Skills
• Professionalism
• Systems-based Practice

The fellowship includes an array of clinical rotations that enhance skill set and knowledge. Key experiences encompass:

Clinical Rotations

Year One Rotations

1. **Inpatient Psychiatry Rotation (4-6 months)**: Fellows provide care within the 20-bed Ackerly Child Psychiatry Inpatient Unit at Norton Children’s Hospital, focusing on intensive diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. Multidisciplinary teams collaborate to ensure holistic care, combining psychiatric, psychological, and educational services.

2. **Community Psychiatry Rotation (4-6 months)**: Involvement in diverse training environments, including a Crisis Stabilization Unit, offers fellows insights into community mental health services and comprehensive care for youths facing behavioral and emotional difficulties.

3. **Emergency Psychiatry Experience**: This ongoing opportunity to learn how to recognize and manage psychiatric emergencies sharpens fellows' decision-making and assessment skills. Following evaluations in the emergency department, fellows learn to determine the appropriate care for various mental health crises.

4. **Psychotherapy Clinic**: Throughout the fellowship, fellows engage in outpatient therapy sessions, allowing them to build rapport with patients and refine therapeutic techniques under the guidance of experienced supervisors.

Year Two Rotations

1. **Community and Integration Rotation (3-6 months)**: This core outpatient rotation involves providing integrated care in pediatric settings, enhancing the fellows' ability to treat mental health concerns alongside general pediatric issues.

2. **Elective Psychiatry (3-4 months)**: Fellows have the opportunity to explore various aspects of child psychiatry through elective rotations, including specialty clinics and addictions psychiatry.

3. **Consultation-Liaison Rotation (4-6 months)**: This involves active consultation efforts to pediatric wards within Norton Children’s Hospital, focusing on the emotional impacts of medical challenges.

Research and Scholarly Activities

The fellowship strongly emphasizes academic and research engagement. Fellows participate in journal clubs and case conferences, allowing them to present relevant literature and clinical cases that highlight diversity and equity issues in psychiatric care. Additionally, fellows engage in quality improvement initiatives aimed at enhancing pediatric residents' preparedness for managing mental health issues. This involvement fosters fellows' capabilities in research methodologies and promotes them to be effective contributors to the field of child psychiatry.

Living in Louisville

Fellows will stay in Louisville, a vibrant city located on the Ohio River, offering a blend of cultural, recreational, and educational opportunities. Louisville's cost of living is lower than the national average, making it an attractive place for fellows to live and work. The city is known for numerous events, including the Kentucky Derby, arts festivals, and an array of dining and entertainment options.

Visa Support

The program provides visa support for international applicants, specifically sponsoring J-1 and H-1B visas, accommodating internationally trained graduates seeking training in the United States.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship Program at the University of Louisville is considered highly competitive. It welcomes candidates from diverse backgrounds, including DO graduates and IMG applicants. Applicants must have completed at least three years of general psychiatry residency and demonstrate a commitment to serving children and adolescents in a psychiatric capacity. Importantly, the program accepts applicants who have faced one failed USMLE Step exam on the condition of overall competitive candidacy.