Child Psychiatry Program
Since taking the position as Training Director in 1999, my focus has been to increase the educational component of the residency training, while reducing the service requirements. Residents are given four hours of protected research time weekly, for two years. They are mentored as they develop expertise in an area of their interest, and give Grand Rounds just before graduation. Areas of special interest are nurtured, and there is some flexibility in the training schedule for residents who wish to increase their clinical experience in specific areas.
As academic expectations have increased, the service hours have been reduced significantly. Residents have twenty-one months without any call or weekend duties. Total call is two weeks, telephone only.
Our program has filled every year since 1999. We are proud that many of our positions are filled by residents coming from other universities. All of our positions are listed through the National Resident Matching Program. Many of our residents have won national awards, and after graduation, have become prominent members of the child psychiatry community.
Supervision is one of the key elements in any quality program. Our goal is to match each resident to several supervisors, with expertise in a variety of areas. Our supervision time far exceeds national requirements. We expect our residents to be competent in psychotherapy, so time for psychotherapy and psychotherapy supervision is integrated into each rotation.
Our child psychiatry residents work side by side with our triple board residents (Pediatrics, child psychiatry and general psychiatry). The triple board residents give the child psychiatry residents a pediatric perspective, while the child psychiatry residents have stronger training in psychotherapy, and the two groups share their knowledge. Both groups primarily practice child psychiatry after graduation.
Our residents are typically happy with their choice, and are able to balance their lives. Morale in the program is very good, and this is maintained by monthly meetings, a yearly retreat in the mountains, individual meetings with the residents, social events, and an open door policy.
Utah is a great place to live. Many of the residents who come to the University of Utah love the outdoors, as the hiking, skiing, biking and other outdoor opportunities are among the best in the US. People who move to Salt Lake City are often surprised at the wide range of arts and cultural events that are available, such as Broadway plays, the Utah Symphony, Ballet West, the Utah Jazz, and others. The students, faculty, and staff of the University of Utah come from all over the US, and are very diverse.
Douglas Gray, M.D.