University of Miami/Jackson Health System Program

The University of Miami/Jackson Health System Program offers a comprehensive two-year fellowship in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, designed to prepare fellows for a career in this essential field of medicine. The program’s mission is to be a leader in innovative education, research, and clinical care in behavioral sciences, focusing on understanding psychiatric illnesses and delivering evidence-based treatments. The program seeks to provide a robust educational experience through a balanced curriculum that includes clinical training, research opportunities, and didactic sessions.

The fellowship begins with a strong foundation in both inpatient and outpatient settings. For their first year, fellows spend five months on the inpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry unit, which comprises 20 beds managed by the fellows alongside senior psychiatry residents. This hands-on experience allows fellows to develop key skills in the assessment and management of complex psychiatric cases. Additionally, fellows participate in a crisis rotation that focuses on rapid evaluations for psychiatric emergencies, enhancing their ability to triage and manage urgent care cases effectively.

During the other half of the first year, fellows transition into the outpatient Child and Adolescent Psychiatry clinic, where they learn to evaluate and treat a diverse population of children and adolescents with varying neurodevelopmental disorders. The program encourages longitudinal patient relationships, as each fellow starts to build a caseload of patients for ongoing psychotherapy. The focus on developmental disabilities and autism spectrum disorders in a specialized clinic further enriches fellows' training.

Second-Year Curriculum

The second year emphasizes outpatient care with increased responsibilities, including intake evaluations and managing a growing number of patients. Fellows rotate through programs such as the University of Miami Student Affairs Counseling Center and the Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) program, where they encounter youth from diverse backgrounds presenting with multifaceted psychiatric issues. Moreover, a consultation-liaison psychiatry rotation provides exposure to medically complex cases in pediatric settings, significantly enhancing the training experience.

Research Opportunities

Research is an integral component of the fellowship, with opportunities for each fellow to develop a research project under faculty mentorship. This allows for the application of theoretical knowledge in understanding psychiatric disorders and contributes to the fellows’ professional development as academic clinicians.

Locations

The fellowship takes place in several esteemed facilities: Jackson Memorial Hospital, Holtz Children’s Hospital, and the UHealth Mailman Center for Childhood Development. Together, these locations provide a comprehensive environment for clinical education, diverse patient interactions, and community outreach.

Call Schedule

Fellows are expected to participate in a call schedule that enhances their practical exposure to acute psychiatric settings. Typically, the fellows undertake on-call duties for one week at a time, which involves receiving transfer requests and providing support during inpatient rounds.

Competitiveness and Application Requirements

The Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Miami/Jackson Health System is noted for its competitive nature. Applicants must have completed an accredited three-year psychiatry residency and passed all steps of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE). The program also sponsors J-1 visas for international medical graduates, allowing non-U.S. citizens to apply for fellowship positions.

Educational Support and Training Environment

Education is prioritized within the program. Fellows benefit from didactic lectures scheduled on Thursdays and Fridays, covering essential topics in psychiatry such as psychotherapy and psychopharmacology. The program also hosts departmental grand rounds, promoting an active learning environment through exposure to leading experts in the field.

Fellowship Highlights

Highlights of the fellowship include a 100% pass rate on the child and adolescent psychiatry boards and a high volume of clinical cases handled by fellows—averaging more than 1,000 cases annually. These statistics indicate the program's commitment to comprehensive training.

Living in Miami

In addition to rigorous training, the fellowship experience is enriched by the vibrant city of Miami. Known for its diverse culture and warm climate, fellows find a supportive community that fosters both professional and personal growth.