Willis-Knighton Health System Program

The Psychiatry Residency Program at Willis-Knighton Health System, in partnership with Brentwood Hospital, has recently received its initial accreditation from the ACGME. As the first cohort is projected to commence in July 2024, the program aims to recruit six categorical residents annually, totaling 24 positions at maturity. The mission of the program is to train compassionate and competent physicians who can deliver high-quality, evidence-based psychiatric care to the communities in Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas

Program Structure

The training is structured as a four-year program divided into 13 four-week blocks annually. This format ensures a comprehensive exposure to diverse modalities of psychiatric care, including but not limited to:

• Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• Addiction Psychiatry
• Geriatric Psychiatry
• Partial Hospitalization and Intensive Outpatient Programs
• Consult Liaison services
• Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT)
• Sleep Medicine
• Psychopharmacology Research

Curriculum and Didactics

The curriculum is designed to offer a well-rounded educational experience, ensuring residents engage in multiple clinical disciplines aligned with the requirements set by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and the ACGME. The didactic component includes:

• Daily Morning Patient Rounds
• Weekly Clinical Case Conferences
• Academic Half Day consisting of lectures and workshops every Tuesday
• Journal Club meetings every month
• Departmental Grand Rounds each month
• Annual off-site Psychiatry Wellness Retreat

Moreover, residents will have two hours weekly of faculty supervision, promoting direct mentorship and comprehensive feedback on clinical practice. All didactic sessions are monitored and evaluated to ensure the educational effectiveness of the program.

Research and Scholarly Activity

The Willis-Knighton Psychiatry Residency Program promotes an active engagement in research and scholarly activities. New residents will be educated on research methodology in their first year and are expected to participate in quality improvement projects, patient safety initiatives, and complete a significant research project by the end of their second year. Residents are also encouraged to submit abstracts and case reports for publication and will lead discussions during Journal Club or other educational activities throughout their residency

Application Process and Requirements

Applications for the program are to be submitted via the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The program is particularly welcoming to international medical graduates and sponsors J-1 visas; however, it does not sponsor H-1B visas. Candidates are encouraged to apply only if they have graduated from schools accredited by the World Directory of Medical Schools and preferably have clinical experience within the last five years. While no firm minimum USMLE score is enforced, candidates are typically expected to score above 220 on Step 2 CK

Competitiveness and Diversity

The program's structure and admissions policy emphasize a holistic approach to candidate evaluation, which accommodates diverse applicant backgrounds, including DO and international medical graduates. This inclusive approach ensures that applicants who may not have the highest scores but demonstrate potential and commitment to psychiatry are still considered. The program does favor candidates who successfully pass the USMLE exams on their first attempt but remains open to evaluating applicants with unique qualifications.

Training Sites

Residents will benefit from training at both Willis-Knighton Health System, which encompasses four hospitals and numerous outpatient clinics, and Brentwood Hospital, a standalone psychiatric facility featuring specialized units. This dual training opportunity equips residents with a broad perspective on how psychiatry integrates within a comprehensive healthcare system.

Key Faculty and Program Leadership

The leadership structure consists of experienced faculty members mentoring residents through their educational journey. The program director is charged with overseeing the residency's educational quality, providing guidance, and fostering a collaborative learning environment among residents and faculty.