Your Guide to Researching Caribbean IMG Residencies in Pediatrics-Psychiatry

Understanding the Landscape: Pediatrics-Psychiatry and Triple Board for Caribbean IMGs

For a Caribbean medical school residency applicant interested in pediatrics-psychiatry, researching programs requires a more strategic and focused approach than for broader specialties. You’re dealing with:

• A small, niche field: combined Pediatrics–Psychiatry–Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (“triple board”) programs and other peds psych residency pathways are limited in number.
• Extra hurdles as a Caribbean IMG: Some programs are IMG-friendly, others are not, and this varies widely.
• Complex training structures: You may be choosing between:
  • Triple board programs (5 years: pediatrics + adult psychiatry + child/adolescent psychiatry)
  • Categorical pediatrics followed by a child psychiatry fellowship
  • Categorical psychiatry with a child psychiatry fellowship and pediatric exposure
  • Other combined training pathways where available

Before you dive into how to research residency programs, you need clarity on your goals:

• Do you want full dual competence in both pediatrics and psychiatry, with board eligibility in all three areas (peds, psych, child psych)? → Focus on triple board.
• Do you prefer a more traditional path (pediatrics residency → child psych fellowship)? → Focus on pediatrics programs with strong behavioral/developmental and mental health emphasis and connections to child psychiatry.
• Are you open to psychiatry-first pathways? → Include general psychiatry programs with strong child and adolescent psychiatry exposure in your research.

Your program research strategy should be built around three key realities:

1. The niche nature of peds-psych training – fewer programs, more competition.
2. The Caribbean IMG factor – importance of documented IMG-friendliness.
3. Fit and feasibility – balancing your aspirations with match data, visa issues, and board pass rates.

The rest of this guide will walk you step-by-step through how to research residency programs effectively as a Caribbean IMG targeting pediatrics-psychiatry pathways, with plenty of practical, actionable advice along the way.

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Step 1: Clarify Your Training Pathway and Target Program Types

Before you start gathering program names, get specific about pathways. This will shape how you research residency programs and what information you prioritize.

A. Core Pathways in Pediatrics-Psychiatry

1. Triple Board Programs (Pediatrics–Psychiatry–Child & Adolescent Psychiatry)

   • 5-year integrated program.
   • Graduates are board-eligible in:
     • Pediatrics
     • General Psychiatry
     • Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
   • Ideal if you see your future in:
     • Integrated medical-psychiatric care for children and adolescents
     • Academic medicine with cross-disciplinary roles
     • Leadership in pediatric mental health systems

2. Categorical Pediatrics → Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship

   • 3 years pediatrics + 2 years child and adolescent psychiatry (often after some practice or research time).
   • You are first and foremost a pediatrician, then sub-specialize.
   • Best if you:
     • Love general pediatrics but want advanced training in mental health
     • Want options to practice as a general pediatrician, with or without subspecialization

3. General Psychiatry → Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship

   • 4 years adult psychiatry + 2 years child/adolescent psychiatry (sometimes 3+2 accelerated tracks).
   • You are primarily a psychiatrist with a child focus.
   • Consider if:
     • You lean more towards psychotherapy and psychiatry models
     • You want some pediatric exposure but not full pediatric training

B. How Your Pathway Impacts Program Research

Your program research strategy differs by pathway:

• If targeting triple board:

  • Your list will be short and national in scope.
  • Deep-dive research on every program is feasible and essential.
  • You must assess how IMG-friendly they are and how many triple board positions they offer.

• If targeting categorical pediatrics or psychiatry with strong peds-psych emphasis:

  • Your list can include:
    • Categorical pediatrics programs with robust behavioral health offerings.
    • Categorical psychiatry programs with strong child psychiatry tracks.
  • You’ll need a system to filter a large number of programs down to a realistic, IMG-friendly set.

Action step:
Write down your primary and secondary pathways. For example:

• Primary: Triple board programs (national search).
• Secondary: Pediatrics residency programs with strong behavioral/developmental pediatrics and mental health focus, IMG-friendly.

This clarity will keep your research consistent and focused.

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Step 2: Build Your Initial List – Where and How to Find Programs

Once your pathway is defined, you need to build a master list of potential programs. For a Caribbean medical school residency candidate aiming at pediatrics-psychiatry, you should cast a broad initial net, then systematically narrow down.

A. Core Databases and Official Sources

1. FREIDA (AMA Residency & Fellowship Database)

   • Filter by:
     • Specialty: Pediatrics, Psychiatry, and/or combined programs.
     • Program type (categorical vs combined).
     • Visa sponsorship (J-1/H-1B) – crucial for many Caribbean IMGs.
   • Use the “Program Characteristics” filters to identify:
     • Community vs university-based
     • Size of program
     • Research focus
   • For peds psych residency interest, search:
     • Pediatrics
     • Psychiatry
     • Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (for fellowship linkages)

2. NRMP/ERAS Specialty Listings

   • When ERAS season opens, cross-check:
     • Which triple board programs are participating.
     • Which categorical programs highlight child psychiatry or developmental-behavioral pediatrics.

3. Official Triple Board Lists

   • Many triple board programs are listed via:
     • American Board of Pediatrics (ABP)
     • American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
     • Program or specialty society websites
   • Search terms:
     • “Triple board residency programs list”
     • “Pediatrics psychiatry child psychiatry combined program”

B. Using School-Specific Match Lists (Especially SGU and Other Caribbean Programs)

If you attend (or graduated from) a large Caribbean medical school such as St. George’s University, Ross, AUC, etc., you have an advantage: historical match data.

1. SGU residency match lists and similar Caribbean school reports

   • Review SGU residency match outcomes by:
     • Specialty: Pediatrics, Psychiatry, Child & Adolescent Psychiatry.
     • Program name and location.
   • Identify:
     • Which programs have taken SGU or other Caribbean IMGs in pediatrics or psychiatry.
     • Any Caribbean IMG patterns in combined or child psych tracks.

2. How this helps

   • Programs with prior SGU residency match or other Caribbean IMG matches are more likely to:
     • Understand Caribbean training.
     • Be open to Caribbean transcripts and exam histories.
     • Have current or former IMG residents you can contact (if appropriate).

Action step:
Create a spreadsheet with columns such as:

• Program name
• Specialty type (Triple Board / Peds / Psych / Peds with child psych emphasis)
• City/state
• Visa sponsorship (Y/N/Unknown)
• Prior Caribbean IMG? (Y/N/Unknown)
• Notes (children’s hospital affiliation, research, combined track details)

Start by populating this with programs from FREIDA, official triple board lists, and your school’s match lists.

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Step 3: Evaluate Programs Systematically – What Matters for a Caribbean IMG in Peds-Psych

Now that you have a list, you need a structured way of evaluating residency programs. This avoids decision fatigue and helps you compare programs fairly.

For each program, examine the following domains.

A. IMG-Friendliness and Visa Policies

For a Caribbean medical school residency applicant, the first filter is: “Can I reasonably match here?”

Key indicators:

1. Do they accept international/Caribbean graduates?

   • Check the program’s website:
     • “International medical graduates welcome”
     • “We sponsor J-1 visas” (sometimes H-1B)
   • Look at current residents:
     • Are any from Caribbean schools (SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba, etc.)?
     • Are any from other international schools?

2. USMLE score and attempt policies

   • Do they specify cutoffs? Common examples:
     • Minimum Step 1 or Step 2 CK scores.
     • “No more than 1 attempt” policies.
   • Programs with flexible or non-specified cutoffs may be more open, but you must still be realistic.

3. Visa details

   • Most IMG-friendly programs sponsor J-1.
   • Fewer sponsor H-1B, and often require:
     • All USMLE Steps passed, including Step 3 at time of application.
   • If you require a specific visa type, highlight this clearly in your spreadsheet.

B. Fit for Pediatrics-Psychiatry Interests

Whether or not the program is a triple board, you must assess how well it supports your peds-psych interests.

1. For Triple Board Programs

   • Check:
     • Structure of rotations (how peds, psych, and child psych are integrated).
     • Availability of pediatric subspecialty rotations.
     • Exposure to:
       • Developmental-behavioral pediatrics
       • Eating disorders, autism, ADHD, anxiety, depression in youth
     • Continuity clinics balancing physical and mental health.

2. For Categorical Pediatrics Programs

   • Look for:
     • Dedicated behavioral/developmental pediatrics rotations.
     • Integrated mental health curriculum (collaborative care, embedded psychologists, child psychiatrists in clinic).
     • Strong link with a child & adolescent psychiatry division or fellowship.
   • Examine faculty profiles:
     • Are there pediatricians with interests in mental health, developmental delay, psychosomatic medicine?

3. For Categorical Psychiatry Programs

   • Assess:
     • Availability of child and adolescent psychiatry rotations early in training.
     • Opportunities for pediatric consultation-liaison psychiatry.
     • Research or QI projects focused on youth mental health.
   • Look for programs with:
     • Fast-track 3+2 child psychiatry pathways.
     • Close collaboration with a children’s hospital or pediatric service.

C. Training Quality and Outcomes

When evaluating residency programs, consider:

1. Board pass rates

   • For peds: ABP board pass rates.
   • For psych: ABPN board pass rates.
   • For triple board: success in all three exams.
   • Sustained high rates suggest good teaching and support.

2. Fellowship placement

   • For peds grads:
     • Placement in child and adolescent psychiatry or developmental-behavioral pediatrics.
   • For psych grads:
     • Placement in child & adolescent psychiatry fellowships.
   • For triple board grads:
     • Mixed careers: academic, hospital leadership, complex care clinics.

3. Program size and supervision

   • Smaller programs may offer:
     • Closer faculty relationships.
     • More flexible, individualized schedules.
   • Larger programs may provide:
     • More subspecialty experiences.
     • Broader research options.

D. Location, Culture, and Support for IMGs

Your well-being influences your performance and long-term success.

Ask:

• Is the location somewhere I can realistically live for 3–5 years?
• Cost of living, safety, transportation?
• Does the program have:
  • Formal mentorship systems?
  • DEI initiatives that include IMGs?
  • Wellness resources and support for residents far from family?

Action step:
Rate each program (for yourself) on a 1–5 scale in several domains:

• IMG-friendliness
• Peds-psych fit
• Training quality
• Location and lifestyle

Use these scores to start ranking and grouping your programs into “reach,” “target,” and “safer” options.

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Step 4: Deep-Dive Program Research Strategy – Going Beyond the Website

To truly understand whether a program is right for you, you must look deeper than the official brochure.

A. Analyzing Program Websites Efficiently

Your program research strategy should include a consistent review routine:

For each program website, quickly locate:

1. Curriculum pages

   • Rotation schedules by PGY year.
   • For triple board: exact breakdown of peds vs psych vs child psych.
   • Check for:
     • Long-block rotations in pediatrics and psychiatry.
     • Integrated or longitudinal experiences with children and families.

2. Faculty pages

   • Identify:
     • Pediatricians or psychiatrists with interests in:
       • Autism, ADHD, developmental delay
       • Pediatric liaison psychiatry
       • Trauma-informed care for children
     • Faculty with backgrounds similar to yours (international training, Caribbean school, etc.).

3. Resident profiles

   • Look for:
     • Current or past Caribbean IMGs.
     • Residents with global health, child advocacy, or mental health interests.
   • If they list med schools, note any patterns:
     • Do they include DOs and IMGs?
     • Is it exclusively US MD?

4. Program director messages or philosophy sections

   • Look for language like:
     • “We value diversity and international perspectives.”
     • “We welcome applicants from a wide range of backgrounds.”
   • Take note of:
     • How they describe resident support.
     • Their commitment to education vs service workload.

B. Leveraging Databases, Reviews, and Social Media (Carefully)

1. FREIDA & Doximity

   • FREIDA: Cross-check data on:
     • Program size
     • Benefits
     • Research opportunities
   • Doximity: Use cautiously to get:
     • A rough sense of program reputation.
     • Subspecialty strength (e.g., child psych or pediatrics).
   • Do not overvalue rankings; combined or niche programs may not be fully reflected.

2. Reddit, SDN, and Other Forums

   • Use them to:
     • Identify trends (e.g., “program X is very IMG-friendly”).
     • Learn about call schedules, culture, and red flags.
   • Avoid:
     • Making decisions based solely on one or two anonymous posts.
   • Look for consistent patterns across multiple comments instead.

3. Program Social Media (Twitter/X, Instagram, LinkedIn)

   • Scan:
     • Resident wellness activities.
     • Educational conferences.
     • Work in child mental health, advocacy, quality improvement.
   • This gives insight into:
     • How proud the program is of its residents.
     • Their actual engagement with pediatrics-psychiatry themes.

C. Reaching Out Professionally (When Appropriate)

You can sometimes gain high-yield insights with polite, concise outreach.

1. When to contact programs

   • If a program’s IMG policy is unclear.
   • If you have a genuine, specific question not answered on their site (e.g., structure of peds-psych experiences).
   • If the program historically matches Caribbean IMGs and you want to ask a targeted question.

2. Who to contact

   • Program coordinator (for:
     • Visa information
     • Application materials or requirements)
   • Chief residents or residents (for:
     • Culture
     • Peds-psych opportunities)
   • Triple board program directors (for:
     • Combined program structure and expectations)

3. How to phrase your message

   • Be brief and professional:
     • Introduce yourself: name, current school (Caribbean medical school), year.
     • State your interest: pediatrics-psychiatry, triple board, or child mental health.
     • Ask 1–2 specific questions that show you’ve already done your homework.

Example (very short):

I’m a final-year student at a Caribbean medical school with a strong interest in integrated pediatrics-psychiatry training. I’ve reviewed your curriculum and was especially interested in your child and adolescent psychiatry rotations. May I ask how frequently residents interested in triple board or child mental health pursue related research or electives at your program?

Keep it respectful and avoid anything that sounds like fishing for preferential treatment.

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Step 5: Prioritizing and Finalizing Your List – Balancing Ambition and Realism

By now, you should have:

• A substantial list of programs.
• Basic data on IMG-friendliness, peds-psych fit, training quality, and location.

The final step is to narrow and balance your list strategically as a Caribbean IMG targeting peds-psych or triple board.

A. Categorize Programs: Reach, Target, and Safer

Use your spreadsheet ratings and your own academic profile (USMLE, clinical performance, research) to group programs:

1. Reach Programs

   • Highly competitive or brand-name institutions.
   • Limited history of taking Caribbean IMGs.
   • Strong emphasis on research or academic output.
   • Often include some triple board programs.

2. Target Programs

   • Solid training with documented Caribbean IMG matches (via SGU residency match data or your school’s records).
   • Balanced expectations and supportive learning environment.
   • Good peds-psych exposure, even if not a nationally famous name.

3. Safer Programs

   • Clear history of accepting multiple IMGs or Caribbean graduates.
   • Reasonable score expectations.
   • Perhaps less prestigious location but still offer necessary training and some mental health exposure.

B. Ensuring Adequate Coverage for Your Goals

For a Caribbean IMG aiming for peds-psych, consider:

• If triple board is your dream:

  • Apply to all triple board programs for which you meet basic criteria.
  • Supplement with:
    • Pediatric programs with strong behavioral/developmental offerings.
    • Psychiatry programs with substantial child psychiatry exposure.

• If you’re primarily peds or psych with strong child mental health interest:

  • Focus majority on categorical pediatrics or psychiatry programs that:
    • Have robust child psychiatry links.
    • Are IMG-friendly.
  • Add a few triple board programs if you meet requirements and are truly interested.

C. Reassess Against Your Personal Reality

Take a step back and ask:

• Does my list reflect:
  • A mix of reach/target/safer programs?
  • Enough programs to be competitive in the match (commonly 30–60+ for IMGs, depending on scores and specialty)?
• Am I prioritizing places that will:
  • Train me well clinically?
  • Offer real pediatrics-psychiatry exposure or pathways?
  • Support me as a Caribbean IMG?

If the answer is yes for most, you’re on a strong path.

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FAQs: Researching Pediatrics-Psychiatry Programs as a Caribbean IMG

1. How many triple board or peds-psych programs should I apply to as a Caribbean IMG?

Apply to all triple board programs for which you are reasonably competitive, because the total number is small and interest is high. Then, to protect your chances in the Match, add a broad base of categorical pediatrics and/or psychiatry programs that are IMG-friendly and have strong child mental health exposure. Many Caribbean IMGs apply to at least 30–60 programs total, but the exact number depends on your scores, clinical record, and other strengths.

2. How can I tell if a program is truly IMG-friendly?

Look for several converging signs:

• Explicit mention of welcoming IMGs and sponsoring visas on the program website.
• Current or recent residents from Caribbean schools (e.g., SGU, Ross, AUC, Saba).
• No rigid or extreme USMLE cutoff policies.
• Positive reputation among IMGs on forums (with consistent patterns, not just one comment). Combine these data points rather than relying on a single source. Your school’s past match outcomes are especially useful—programs that frequently appear on SGU residency match lists or other Caribbean match reports are often more open to IMGs.

3. What if my school doesn’t have a strong history in pediatrics-psychiatry or triple board?

That’s common, even at many US schools, because the field is niche. Focus on:

• Demonstrating genuine commitment to child mental health (clinicals, electives, research, advocacy).
• Targeting programs with:
  • Established child & adolescent psychiatry services.
  • Behavioral pediatrics rotations.
• Highlighting any unique experiences you’ve had (e.g., working with vulnerable youth, global mental health, community outreach). Lack of a school “pipeline” doesn’t disqualify you; it simply means your application and program research need to be particularly deliberate.

4. Is it better for a Caribbean IMG to prioritize pediatrics or psychiatry if I’m interested in child mental health?

There’s no single right answer. It depends on:

• Whether you’re more drawn to medical management of physical illness + mental health (then pediatrics or triple board may fit better).
• Or primarily to psychiatric care, psychotherapy, and psychopharmacology, with some pediatric exposure (then psychiatry + child fellowship may be ideal). From a match feasibility perspective, many Caribbean IMGs successfully match in pediatrics and psychiatry. Focus your research on programs in whichever primary specialty you’re strongest for, then ensure they have robust child/adolescent mental health opportunities.

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By following a structured approach to how to research residency programs—clarifying your pathway, using data-driven program research strategies, and systematically evaluating residency programs for both peds-psych fit and IMG-friendliness—you can build a realistic, ambitious application plan as a Caribbean IMG pursuing pediatrics-psychiatry.