University of Washington Program

The Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship at the University of Washington is a fully accredited one-year program designed for residents entering their PGY-5 year following completion of a General Psychiatry Residency Program. This program aims to equip psychiatric physicians with advanced training in Addiction Psychiatry, enhancing skills, clinical judgment, and knowledge essential for effective practice in this specialty. Additionally, the program seeks to prepare leaders in the field of Addiction Psychiatry.

The fellowship is recognized as a clinical fellowship and is part of the broader efforts of the Division of Addictions at the University. The program is associated with various research centers, including the Center of Excellence in Substance Addiction Treatment and Education (CESATE) and the Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry (NTAP).

Clinical training within the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship encompasses various settings including inpatient, partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, outpatient care, consultation services, and specialized women-specific services. The training emphasizes establishing clinical excellence in diagnosing and treating substance use disorders while expanding research skills pertinent to Addiction Psychiatry.

The training curriculum is designed around core competencies which include:

• Patient Care: Achieving clinical proficiency in addiction psychiatry.
• Medical Knowledge: Gaining scientific understanding in addiction psychiatry.
• Practice-based Learning: Developing pertinent research skills in addiction psychiatry.
• Interpersonal Skills: Providing compassionate care to individuals with addiction issues.
• Professionalism: Understanding ethical issues and the cultural context related to addicted patients.
• Systems-based Practice: Comprehending the broader implications of Addiction Psychiatry across different healthcare settings.

The fellowship offers diverse clinical rotations, allowing each fellow to tailor their experience according to prior training and personal interests. Most fellows engage in about two months of inpatient work and approximately ten months of outpatient rotations. Key rotations available include:

• VA Puget Sound Addiction Inpatient and Outpatient Stabilization Program: Focused on diagnosing and managing alcohol use disorders and co-occurring mental health conditions.
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• VA Puget Sound Outpatient Co-occurring Disorders Unit: This clinic specializes in treating veterans with substance use disorders alongside serious psychiatric conditions.
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• General Addictions Treatment: Residents learn through evaluating new patients and providing group therapies.
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• VA Puget Sound Opioid Maintenance Treatment Program: Offers exposure to medication-assisted treatments for opioid use disorder.
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• Women’s Addiction Treatment: A gender-specific program treating women with addiction issues.
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Additionally, there are specialized rotations involving Harborview Medical Center, where fellows gain intensive outpatient and dual diagnosis experiences.

Training is conducted at several key sites, including:

• VA Puget Sound Health Care System
• Harborview Medical Center
• Seattle Children’s Hospital

The UW Alcohol and Drug Abuse Institute serves as a multidisciplinary research center, supporting research and education in addiction. The institute also provides access to a dedicated library for fellows.

The educational component of the fellowship includes a comprehensive didactic series held over the course of the fellowship. Key seminars focus on major concepts associated with various substances, covering:

• Cannabis
• Stimulants
• Alcohol
• Tobacco
• Opioids

These didactics are designed to foster interdisciplinary collaboration among fellows from different healthcare backgrounds.

Applicants to the Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship must meet specific criteria, including:

• Completion of a general psychiatry residency program before the fellowship starts.
• Proof of medical licensure and eligibility for an unrestricted physician medical license in Washington.
• DEA license documentation.

The program is designed to attract a diverse group of applicants, and it is noted that the program is relatively DO/IMG friendly.

The fellowship provides visa sponsorship opportunities, supporting J-1 and H-1B visa candidates, thereby allowing international medical graduates to participate in the program.

Fellows are compensated under the University of Washington Housestaff Association collective bargaining agreement. They receive numerous benefits, including:

• A minimum of 24 days of paid vacation annually.
• 17 days of paid sick leave per year.
• One week of educational leave to attend relevant conferences.

Residents may also receive funding to offset attendance costs for meetings such as the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry.