ZUCKER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE AT HOFSTRA/NORTHWELL LENOX HILL HOSPITAL PROGRAM

The General Adult Psychiatry Residency Training Program at Lenox Hill Hospital, part of Northwell Health and closely affiliated with the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, offers an innovative and flexible training environment tailored to develop exceptional clinicians in psychiatry. This program aims to provide a unique educational experience, with only four residents accepted each year, ensuring individualized attention and mentorship that is not commonly available in larger programs.

Designed to graduate clinically proficient psychiatrists, the program promotes a mix of rigorous academic training and practical clinical experience to empower residents in their future roles as leaders in the mental health field. The program acknowledges the significance of behavioral health disorders and strives to bridge the gap in access to quality psychiatric care.

Curriculum Overview

The curriculum is aligned with best practices in psychiatry and committed to integrating various disciplines within the medical field. It emphasizes a holistic approach to mental health that includes biological, psychological, and socio-cultural perspectives. Starting with an outpatient training initiative in the intern year, the residents engage with early treatment programs specifically addressing first-episode psychosis and progress through a comprehensive series of psychiatric rotations. These rotations include inpatient settings, consultation-liaison psychiatry, and exposure to special populations, such as children and adolescents, addicts, and geriatric patients.

The teaching structure consists of notable components, including an Advising Program that pairs each resident with a faculty advisor to set professional and educational goals while also providing mentorship throughout their training. This approach is supplemented with the Pathways to Expertise program where residents can tailor their experiences and scholarly activities according to their interests, facilitating their transformation into emerging experts in psychiatry.

Clinical Rotations

Residents of the program engage in diverse rotational experiences across four fundamental years. The first year (R-1) is oriented towards establishing foundational clinical skills through inpatient psychiatry, neurology, and internal medicine, ensuring a robust basis in psychiatric practice.

The second year (R-2) allows residents to enhance their clinical capabilities, particularly in consultation-liaison settings and emergency psychiatry. The exposure is accompanied by a focus on patient safety and intensive education in psychotherapeutic modalities.

In the third year (R-3), the residents concentrate on outpatient psychiatry, specializing in various psychotherapeutic techniques and developing a broader understanding of psychiatric disorders through hands-on experiences.

The fourth year (R-4) culminates in advanced training where residents integrate administrative roles, furthering their skills in managing clinical practices while devoting significant time to elective opportunities that refine their interests and career trajectories.

Research Opportunities

This program provides access to extensive research opportunities as part of Northwell Health, allowing residents to engage with ongoing studies and scholarly activities that contribute to the field. Collaborating with centers such as Zucker Hillside Hospital and the Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, residents benefit from a vibrant research culture rooted in clinical innovation.

Application Details

Applicants to the Psychiatry Residency at Lenox Hill Hospital must possess a strong academic background, including a passing score on USMLE Step I and Step II or COMLEX Level I and Level 2. The program accepts graduates from accredited medical schools, both domestic and international, as long as ECFMG certification is obtained prior to application. The residency is competitive, with an emphasis on comprehensive application materials including a personal statement and letters of recommendation from faculty that substantiate applicants’ clinical performance.

Northwell Health accepts J-1 and H1B visa sponsorship for international graduates. While prior clinical experience in the United States is not a strict requirement, it is highly encouraged.

Unique Aspects of the Program

The program distinguishes itself through a commitment to an individualized and integrated education approach while emphasizing a culturally diverse patient population. Located in one of the most culturally rich areas of Manhattan, it provides residents with unparalleled access to diverse clinical faces and educational resources. The program is proud to foster an environment characterized by personal connection and dedicated mentoring that transcends conventional training methods, establishing a foundation for residents to thrive in their future psychiatric practices.